Coming into Drink Deep I knew that there was going to be a lot of explaining to do. I mean at the end of the last book one of our main characters was dead and considering this character is in the rest of the books some pretty major stuff was going to go down. So I went in knowing some strange things (well stranger than usual) were afoot and I was just along for the ride. What I really didn't expect was the reveal of the villain. HOLY SMOKES! 
 A main focus in Drink Deep is magic. In previous installments we've delved deeper into vampire politics and the shifter society. Now we are getting to see more of the Sorcerers, the Order, and all the magic they wield. Chicago is having some pretty crazy shit going down so of course everyone blames the vamps right off the bat. However, the real culprit is some pretty dark magic. 
 That's totally a reference that Mallory would love btw! 
 (view spoiler)[ So in the reveal of the big bad in Drink Deep we find out that Mallory has gone full blown Dark Willow from season 6 of Buffy. Like full on addicted to black magic going to destroy the city and make Ethan her magic zombie slave. Never ever would have expected this from her so as far as the narrative is concerned I think this is such an interesting road to go down. I wonder if it will end the same way as in Buffy where her best friend, Merit, will be able to pull her back from the brink. It hasn't happened so far but I'm excited to find out how it shakes out. (hide spoiler)] There is definitely going to be more magic and all of its political intrigue to come in the future and I'm not sure how it's going to play out. But I am sure it's going to be one crazy, bumpy, wild road to go down. 
 Jonah takes on a much larger role in Drink Deep. I've got to say, he's a pretty awesome guy. Like... I totally would want to date him if he was real. He's sexy, funny, and kind. He's the trifecta! But for Merit, he's just not Ethan and so there won't be anything romantic going down there. Here's the great thing about Jonah: while he does want more from Merit he doesn't treat her friendship as a consolation prize. He respects her as a person and values her friendship enough that he's not going to actively try to break up her relationship or insert himself as a romantic option. LOVE HIM SO MUCH! He's such a great example of what a man should be like in real life. (view spoiler)[I'm so incredibly excited that they are partners in the Red Guard. They work amazing together and I'm not so secretly in love with Jonah so I'm over the moon that he will be a main character from here on out. (hide spoiler)] 
 I was right that we hadn't heard the last from Tate. He's kind of like the Joker to Merit's Batman. Tate sees Merit as a worthy adversary and I'm intrigued by the possibilities of how this relationship will develop. He's not necessarily evil. He's more amoral. Considering he's likely some kind of ancient magical being (I'm betting on a god of some kind) it would make sense for him to see the world around him in a completely different way beyond the constructs of good and evil. (view spoiler)[Merit smelled that lemon sugar Tate smell right after Ethan was resurrected. I wonder if Tate had a hand in it? (hide spoiler)] P.S. Is it just me or does anyone else picture Tate as Justin Trudeau but smelling like Savannah Smiles? 
 As for the future, a lot of things are uncertain. (view spoiler)[Ethan got brought back from the dead and there may be some unknown repercussions just waiting to drop. Also, Mallory is on the loose and trying to be an evil sorceress supreme. (hide spoiler)] Personally, I want Cadogan House to give the GP the proverbial middle finger and declare their independence. Grey House would probably even back them. Navarre House are a bunch of twats so who cares about them. Also, I've had about enough of McKetrick. What a piece of work, am I right? Anyway... I'm excited to see what's next for Merit and her friends on their continuing adventures.