Included as a top pick in bimonthly May New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

I have a love-hate relationship with Chloe Neill's books, which means I adore one aspect of a story while being irked something else. The same is true here.

The romantic ship is phenomenal. I loved it in the first two books, and it gets even better now that Connor and Elisa are officially dating. I'm weak for a cocky, rakish werewolf alpha-to-be hero in love with his childhood nemesis. WEAK. It scratches my id, okay? Especially when the childhood nemesis is a one-of-a-kind vampire with a monstrous secret that no one knows about (except for aforementioned werewolf boyfriend. As I said earlier: I am weak). Every Connor/Elisa interaction is A+ and I am definitely reading the next book in the series.

The action subplot re: Elisa facing off against AAM vampires trying to capture her... meh. I was ambivalent for the first two-thirds of the book. Then I got super annoyed because (major spoilers ahead, do not click unless you want to know) [I am EXTREMELY not here for a storyline about a mentally ill villain/stalker with romantic obsessions re: Elisa. It just came out of nowhere. Thanks, I hate it. And everything that happened after the reveal because I do not enjoy this type of narrative! I'm trying to be more cognizant about mental illness and how it's portrayed in fiction. This was just so.... lazy and bad. It's not that I'm completely against the concept, but I didn't think this was done well at all. (hide spoiler)]

S0... three stars for a wonderful romantic ship and a mediocre action subplot. YMMV.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
SHADOWED STEEL is the third installment in the Heirs of Chicagoland series. Cannot be read as a standalone. Additionally, even though this is listed as the third in the series, it is a spin-off of the Chicagoland Vampires. I suggest new readers start at the beginning, with SOME GIRLS BITE, to experience the events that created Elisa, Connor, and Lulu.

To preface this review, I will not be speaking of the plot whatsoever. Why? It's the third novel, we readers should be well-versed in the world building at this point. Mostly, I don't wish to reveal things that might spoil the experience.

Merit and Darth Sullivan (the vampires), along with Mallory and Catcher (the witches), and their shaky alliance with Gabriel (the shifters), their actions are still impacting the future through their children, Elisa, Lulu, and Connor.

To be honest, I wasn't invested in the main plot (Elisa being who she is puts a target on her back, no matter what), because Chloe Neill shines when it comes to relationships between romantic couples, but most certainly the relationship built between family and friends. It's real, and sometimes it's raw, but it always resonates with me.

On the personal angst front, there are mysteries and issues stemming from the fact that Elisa is the first of her kind, born not made/created by one of her master vampire parents.

SHADOWED STEEL was a homecoming for me, a few stolen hours to spend with well-loved favorites. All it does is make me wish to go back to the beginning yet again and experience it with a different perspective.

Highly recommend this series and the author to those who seek Urban Fantasy. Always at the top of my recommendation list.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I’m feeling slightly disloyal at this point in Elisa’s series – I might actually like Elisa more than I liked her mother. Born into her world, Elisa is more at home in her skin and more confident in her place in the supernatural world than Merit was at the start of her series. Merit’s books were almost paranormal romance at times while Elisa is all urban fantasy.

This third book sees Elisa take a stand against the powerful Assembly of American Masters – the vampires’ governing body. Unwilling to compromise her independence, Elisa’s choices divide her friends, family, and allies. With some great action scenes and escalating threats from a stalker, this story moves quickly. Elisa’s interactions with the Assembly of American Masters are a fascinating mix of chases, battle scenes, and mind games.

I really love the way Elisa’s friends come through for her in this book. Even when her alliances are shaky, her friends remain loyal – and highly entertaining. This series is a fun mix of action, snark, camaraderie, and romance – and I’m loving it.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2021/04/30/shadowed-steel-by-chloe-neill/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

The <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/204973-heirs-of-chicagoland" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Heirs of Chicagoland</strong></em></a>  series continues with the gang back in Chicago.  I appreciated the last book because it gave us more time with Connor and Elisa alone, so we got to see their relationship building.  Their relationship continues to develop in <strong>Shadowed Steel</strong>. Her friend, Lulu, still seems silly but loyal.

The primary story here is the AAM (Vampire rules watchdog group) wants to hold Elisa accountable for the human she turned to vampire as she is not a Master.   She only did so because the human would have died because of the Pack.  Their plan is to lock her up and test her, and force her to join a Vampire house under the control of a Master.

Elisa has no interest in being in a house, having the control of a Master, becoming a Master or creating any vampires in the future.  She enjoys her work in the Ombudsman office.  I suppose Elisa will always be a bit of a "special snowflake" considering who she is and Connor, but she does a good job of figuring things out and managing her own problems here, not relying on her friends or family to solve them.

The villains were easy to spot and one motive was clear.  The other motive and details were much harder to see and had to be untangled throughout the story.  <strong>Shadowed Steel</strong> is a solid installment with world-building, character development and an interesting mystery.

Shadowed Steel is another fun entry into the Heris of Chicagoland series. The heart of the story is dependent on events from the previous book, but it does a great job providing the important information. You absolutely can jump into this book cold without the previous entries. But you'll enjoy it even more having the character and relationship development.

Elisa Sullivan is continuing to grow and come to terms with herself, her monster(s) within, and her relationship with Connor. We see development on all fronts that teases us to look forward to even more development in the books to come. I will say the one thing I found lacking in this book is the treatment of Lulu. I feel like Lulu deserved a little better, but I can't wait to see how her relationship continues to develop with Alexei. That's a story I want to read!

Shadowed Steel is the third installment in author Chloe Neill's Heirs of Shadowland series. Because of an incident that happened in Wicked Hour, Elissa Sullivan, the only vampire to ever be born, not made, faces the Vampire ruling body known as the American Assembly of Masters. The Compliance Bureau arm of the AAM accuses Elissa of breaking their laws against turning a human into a vampire unless permission is given by a Master, or the AAM. They demand that Elissa join a House or face the consequences which include testing and/or facing a kind of imprisonment until she complies. Testing is not something she will agree to.

When Blake, one of the vampires from the Compliance Bureau, is found dead, Elissa is pulled in for questioning by the Ombudsman Office where she has been working. She's put on administrative leave while the investigation goes on which makes her very determined to find out who killed Blake. Elissa has also attracted the attention of a mentally unhinged stalker who sends her creepy notes which talk about their non-existent relationship. Elissa has no idea who's sending the messages but she's concerned that the stalker seems to be targeting her friends including Connor because he's not a vampire.

To make matters even more twisted, a monster lives inside Elissa thanks to magic that allowed Merit to conceive the first born vampire. The only people who know about this is Connor Keene, heir apparent to the North American Central Pack, and Lulu Bell, her best friend and roommate. For reasons that boggle the mind, Elissa hasn't told her parents (Ethan or Merit) about her monster half and how hard she's been struggling to keep the monster from taking control. There are literally two consciousnesses in a single body. Her struggle with the monster has been an ongoing conversation since this new series began. Let's hope it resolves itself.

Then, of course, comes Connor's own pack who aren't exactly jumping for joy knowing that he is mixed up with Elissa. Even though Elissa basically saved their skins in Wicked Hour, the hatred is so thick that you could cut it with a knife. This book brings back Merit and Ethan in more ways than the previous two installments didn't. They are fully invested in not seeing their daughter be used as a tool by machinations of a few bad seeds. However, I absolutely do not like that Elissa is keeping secrets from her parents. I agree that she should be able to live her own life outside of Cadogan House.

The relationship between Connor and Elissa has grown leaps and bounds even with their playful banter. One could say that they've taken it a whole new level. It's actually nice to remember that these two grew up with each other and were often trying to one up the other when it came to causing melee for their parents. I like that Elissa has a core group of trusted friends including Lulu, Alexei Breckenridge, Theo, and Petra along with her boss Roger Yeun.

I made a comment about not being sad if this was the last installment. I highly doubt that is the case. There is a whole lot more to be unraveled and whether or not Elissa will be able to deal with the monster or if she will ever tell her parents about her true struggles.

Elisa Sullivan has returned from her adventure in Minnesota only to be confronted with vampire politics. ARC from NetGalley.

Heirs of Chicagoland series continues to rock with Elisa Sullivan showing the paranormal world that she will not be pushed into something she does not want to do. This story picks up not long after the last book. This book should not be read as a standalone.

Not only should Elisa not have turned a human into a vampire, she shouldn't have been able to it at her young age. Elisa is special because she is the only known born vampire in the entire history of vampirism. Her difference and abilities make many leery of her untracked powers. Specifically, a group within the Assembly of American Masters wants to get back at Elisa's parents. They will stop at nothing to use her, her friends and others to get what they want.

I enjoyed the pace of this book. It kept me guessing as to what is really going on and who the real bad guys may be. Who killed a vampire and blamed Elisa? The intrigue and suspense woven into this books makes it more complex and enjoyable. This is more than just a story about the next generation. It is a story of the next generation of supernaturals growing into their own as well as trying to change the world to be a better place for humans and non humans.

The interactions between Elisa and Gabriel continue to heat up as they decide the next level of their relationship. A vampire princess with an alpha werewolf is so Underworld and I love it. Fortunately for Elisa, her parents are not like Victor in the Underworld series. There are those who find this pairing to be distasteful. Watching Elisa put people into their place with facts and veiled threats makes me so proud. To see this little girl grown up and ready to fight her own battles is fantastic. There are several new players in this series which wants something from Elisa. It will be interesting to see where Ms. Neill will take the story next. Because it seems as if Elisa is starting to finally reconcile her "other" self but to what end? I want to learn more. I love these dual nature plot devices and it fascinates me to see how authors write it out. This urban fantasy is recommended to readers who enjoy female leads who stand their grounds and won't let anyone push them or their friends around.

Elisa Sullivan: the only vampire who was born as one not made. She has a thorny relationship with that fact that is sometimes a blessing and at others a curse. The supernatural community including other vampires are not quite sure what kind of creature really Elisa is and, not surprisingly, many of them don’t like it. After a kerfuffle involving her wolf shifter boyfriend, Connor, and his North American pack, Elisa comes under fire from the vampire ruling council, the American Assembly of Masters. She is accused of breaking a serious law after Elisa saved the life of a human during the pack problems by turning her into a vampire even though it is forbidden unless done by a Master. To complicate matters, Elisa has been hiding a terrible secret from just about everyone but Connor. Not even her parents know that Elisa has an Other presence, a dark twin if you will that has been with her since birth. And the monster wants to come out to play when Elisa is intense situations especially fights.

If that is not enough trouble, someone with a romantic obsession is stalking Elisa so she has to figure that out while evading the AAM Compliance Council. They insist she submit to incarceration and vampire testing to find out exactly what kind of vampire Elisa might be; which is something she had been trying to avoid mostly because of the big secret. Elisa has a job with the agency tasked with keeping the supernatural community in line; however, pending the investigation of a murder accusation on top of everything else, she is suspended which is another blow.

Connor is the heir apparent, Prince of the shifters; most of which are none to pleased that he has a vampire for a girlfriend even though she helped them out of a mess in the previous book. He and Elisa having been dancing around each other for years and now, their relationship is becoming solidified. With vampires, there is always major drama and with shifters, fight first, ask questions later, so it is not surprising there are a lot of dust ups in this story.

In this third of the Heirs of Chicagoland series, Elisa’s personality seems more distinct. She comes across as more of her own person rather than a copy of Elisa’s mother, Merit, from the original series. Elisa and Connor take their relationship to the next level deepening and strengthening their commitment as a couple and as a force to be reckoned with against enemies. Fans of the series will enjoy the developments in Elisa’s personal life as well as her maturing into the role required by her job and learning to deal with her dual nature.

Elisa and Connor are back in the third installment of the Heirs of Chicagoland series. Elisa is trying to find her footing when the Assembly of American Masters arrives in Chicago to harangue her about creating unsanctioned vampires - see previous title in which she saved a dying girl by turning her into a vampire. Before she can even begin to address their concerns, an AMA member is murdered and they think Elisa did it. Now Elisa, Connor and Lulu will need to figure out what happened before the AMA finds a way to take Elisa into custody.

Every book set in Chicagoland is filled with action and adventure. The Elisa/Connor dynamic is growing well and it was great to see the characters from the original series again. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.

In this third book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series, Elissa Sullivan finds herself in trouble with the Assembly of American Masters for making a human into a vampire in the previous book in this series.

Vampires from the Compliance Bureau have come to Chicago to demand that Elissa join a House or face the consequences which include testing and/or facing a kind of imprisonment until she complies. Testing is not something she will agree to. She hasn't even told her parents about her monster half. Only her best friend Lulu and her boyfriend Connor know about it.

When Blake, one of the vampires from the Compliance Bureau, is found messily dead, Elissa is pulled in for questioning by the Ombuds Office where she has been working. She's put on administrative leave while the investigation goes on which makes her very determined to find out who killed Blake.

Elissa has also attracted a stalker who is sending her creepy notes which talk about their very close relationship. Elissa has no idea who's sending the messages but she's concerned that the stalker seems to be targeting her friends including Connor.

This was a very entertaining story filled with both action and vampire politics. I like the way Elissa's relationship with Connor is progressing. I also like her determination to make her own choices and not let anything, including disappointing her parents, get in the way of making the right choices for her life. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the near-future setting of the story.

I absolutely LOVE this book!

New players introduced
New enemies made
New threats to her life and her freedom

Just another night in Chicago for Elisa and the gang!

The storyline is exciting and captured my interest until the very end! There’s so much action and mystery and crazy chemistry between Elisa and Connor! Loved it! The secondary characters are vital to the story and amazing! Ms. Neill’s character development is carefully and brilliantly crafted with purpose and precision. I couldn’t put the book down!

I love watching Elisa growing into her own skin and trying to figure out who she is and what she wants for her life. She refuses to compromise herself or her integrity and will not conform to the roles vampire society--or her parents--want her to play. Elisa is so strong and so brave and loyal and I admire her greatly! Not to mention she has a wicked sense of humor that I absolutely adore!

I laughed so much and loved everything about this book! Can’t wait for the next one!

5 Hearts, Recommended Read!
SJ, Romance Junkies

SHADOWED STEEL is the third book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series, starring born vampire Elisa Sullivan and her crew of fun friends. This story continues on from events which occurred in the last book, WICKED HOUR, but can be read as a standalone. Still, you'll get more enjoyment if you read the books in order.

As a result of saving the life of a human due to a pack fracas, Elisa changed a human into a vampire. Apparently, the Assembly of American Masters (AAM) takes umbrage with that and demands Elisa account for her actions. She must either swear allegiance to a house or submit to testing by the AAM.

But Elisa chooses option C—none of the above. She can't join another house or submit to any testing that will show she's much more than a normal vampire. Elisa has a monster that lives buried inside her, one that allowed for her to be born in the first place. But refusing the AAM has dire consequences. Blamed for a vampire's suspicious death, she's put on administrative leave from her job while being continually hunted by the AAM.

It'll take all the help from her friends, coworkers, and her boyfriend, Connor, werewolf and son of the pack Apex (leader), to survive.

SHADOWED STEEL is a highly entertaining paranormal romance which further develops Elisa. Packed with action, romance, and an intriguing plot, SHADOWED STEEL is not to be missed! The furthered relationship between Elisa and Connor is delightful, and Elisa's growth continues to intrigue. I can't wait to see her and her "inner monster" working together again. Watching her come into her own makes the book so much fun. I couldn't put it down and read the story from first page to last in one sitting. A real keeper!

Heirs of Chicagoland books:
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour
Shadowed Steel

Shadowed Steel by Chloe Neill is the 3rd book in her wonderful Heirs of Chicagoland series. I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, and happy to say Shadowed Steel was equally as good. I cannot wait to read more of this great series, as I love Elisa, who had become one of my favorite heroines. Refresher: Elisa Sullivan, our heroine, is the only vampire child ever born, and her parents (Ethan & Merit) are the powerful leaders of the vampires that lead Chicagoland. Connor Keen, our hero, is a werewolf and the heir apparent to the North American Central Pack Apex (Alpha); in the last book, Connor and Elisa found their friendship becoming more romantic as they were falling for each other, and the chemistry between them is sizzling.

In the last book, Elisa saved the life of a dying young lady, making her a vampire. Weeks have passed, and now out of nowhere, the AAM (new ruling body of vampires) has come to her threatening her to either bond with a house or she will be arrested. Elisa refuses, with Connor and friends supporting her, which ignites one of the leaders (Clive) into a major fight to get her and force her to do what they ask. Elisa, Connor and friends manage to win the battle, with the AAM saying they will be back. Turns out there is also a stalker, who is willing to hurt others to protect her, including hurting Connor. Elisa needs to find out who is the stalker, as well as find a way out of the AAM threats.

I love Elisa and Connor together, even knowing that she is a vampire and he is a werewolf, and the chemistry between them was amazing. I also loved the friends (LuLu, Alexei, Theo and of course the devil cat, Eleanor of Aquitaine,etc) who supported Elisa, who were also great characters created by Neill.

What follows is an exciting action filled adventure, especially in the last half of the book as the danger escalates, with threats coming from all over. It was great to see her parents show up to help her.
I thought Elisa was a wonderful heroine; strong, smart, sensible and truly likeable. She does have a secret that Connor knows about (he saw the change in her when an episode happened when they were children); she feels the monster inside of her, but when she is in danger, her monster is what will help her fight like a berserker, and she struggles to control it. It was nice to see her accept her other part, and slowly begin to work with it. I look forward when she will be able to use this more when needed. Connor was very supportive, telling Elisa to use the power from the monster to help her fight.

Chloe Neill gives us another great story, with a wonderful couple, great secondary characters. Shadowed Steel was an exciting, tense, nonstop action filled addition to this wonderful series that is very well written by Chloe Neill. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Shadowed Steel is the third book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series by Chloe Neill. This series is part of the Chicagoland Universe. It provides a deeper insight into the world of the vampires of Chicago and the North American pack. This universe is based twenty years after the epic battle in the last Chicagoland book. While some of the characters from the earlier book series do make appearances in this book, the focus is on illuminating new mythos and relationships. We were introduced to this series with Wild Hunger and Wicked hour, and the story continues with Shadowed Steel.

Elisa Sullivan is a rarety among supernaturals, the only vampire who was born not made due to a confluence of magic and circumstances surrounding the great battle of Chicago. She's very intelligent and independent and has spent her life learning new skills and emerging out of the towering shadows cast by her illustrious parents, Ethan and Meritt Sullivan.

Connor Keene is the only son of the Apex of the North American pack, the potential heir apparent to the throne. He is a strong and intelligent alpha in training and has the potential to lead his people into the future and protect the next generation of the pack.

Together, Connor and Elisa have already stopped a supernatural evil and saved Chicago, witnessed the magic of a sacred and secret pack event while solving a great mystery but their journey has yet begun. Connor and Elisa face a new threat with the Assembly of American Masters breathing down their necks. However, they are soon beset by dangers at every turn and must work together to come to the bottom of the situation and repel the evil stalking Chicago. This book is truly spellbinding and a must-read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Another strong entry in the Heirs of Chicagoland series, with a solid and coherent plot that wraps up nicely.

"In the third installment in the USA Today bestselling Heirs of Chicagoland series, the vampires in Elisa Sullivan's world are out for blood.

Elisa Sullivan is the only vampire ever born, and she bears a heavy legacy. After a sojourn with the North American Central Pack of shifters in the wilderness - where she turned a young woman into a vampire to save her life - Elisa returns to Chicago.

But no good deed goes unpunished. The ruling body of vampires, the Assembly of American Masters, is furious that Elisa turned someone without their permission, and they want her punished. When an AAM vampire is found dead, Elisa is the prime suspect. Someone else is stalking Chicago - and Elisa. She'll need to keep a clear head, and a sharp blade, to survive all the supernatural strife."

Seeing as I can't go to Chicago right now despite being only three hours away because of Covid, time for some armchair travelling I think!

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.



Chloe Neill returns to the streets of Chicago with Shadowed Steel as the adventures with Elisa Sullivan—daughter of our favorite vampire couple—continues to find her place in the city that she loves. But what would a story be without trouble afoot and this book was chockful of it! Elisa finds herself in trouble with the AAM aka vampire council for turning a human and if that wasn’t trouble enough, a killer has set sights on her.

You can enter any Chloe Neill novel and expect to have a magical time! I love returning to Chicago with her books, be they with Merit or Elisa! Elisa is very much like her parents in all the best ways possible! She’s a fierce heroine with a sense of humor and her mother’s appetite. Setting aside the vamprisim, she’s a character you can relate to. When she gets called out by the AAM for turning a human without permission she finds herself in hot water. Not only will she have to suffer punishment but she will be forced to choose a House and to be Tested—something her parents worked hard to prevent, since she is the first vampire child ever.

But that’s only the beginning of her problems, suddenly one of the AAM members is murdered and Elisa is the prime suspect. It’s not long until a mysterious stalker turns up in Elisa’s life claiming to have done what was necessary to protect her. It gets pretty creepy after that. Now Elisa and Connor have to work double time to find the stalker/murderer and to figure out a way to get the AAM off her back.

I am loving this new generation of Chicagoland! Seriously, these characters are the greatest! I love Elisa and Connor, Lulu and Alexei…who I might add have the best chemistry ever! They may only appear on the pages some of the time, but I love that these two bicker like teenagers, yet each have softer sides to them. Seriously, I am wanting more of that story and hopefully Chloe delivers on their part throughout Elisa’s story! Which thankfully, we know that there’s at least one more book to be had!

The pacing of this one was an easy flow! The action was constantly in motion, though not always focused on the mystery solving. It’s a nice blend of plot points and all those little moments that come in between…such as the growing relationship between Elisa and Connor. I love how easy going their relationship has become. Their past friendship is still there too, as it’s not all lovey-dovey moments and I love how they have that balance with one another. There are still common issues to be had, but they are not problems, at least not for now.

The ending was exciting as well. Perhaps part of it was a bit rushed, I feel like Elisa makes this same comment too and does in her own way, but there were still more resolutions to come and in the end, everything is nicely settled. I am enjoying that Chloe continues to end these novels with a conclusion, I think it’s more due to an unknown length of series, but I have to say it is so relieving not to suffer through cliffhangers. I personally never want to go through one like Hard Bitten again! Lol.

Shadowed Steel was a most entertaining read and pays homage to the classic days of Urban Fantasy! This is a series all vampire fans should read because it’s a nice easy going read coupled with well-paced action, romance, humor, and mystery…it’s a series that has it all!



Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars





Shadowed Steel releases May 4, 2021

Chloe Neill's latest poffering in her spin off of her famous Chicagoland Vampire series gives fans more Elisa and Connor goodness when the vampire princess is forced to explain her actions from Wicked Hour. Thirlls and chills with the usual humor and smexytimes will keep readers firmly hooked until the last page.

Loved it! The strongest of the spin off series thus far. What's not to love? More Connor and Elise shipping! Good plot twists, action and pending doom for more books!

#ShadowedSteel
#NetGalley
Another kick ass installment of the Heirs of Chicagoland series! It might be the most well written one so far! Pick it up!
#MustRead2021