Ok... let's just push pause for a minute here! Hard Bitten is the fourth installment of the Chicagoland Vampires series. I was impressed at how well-crafted this urban crime mystery story was. It was really a lot of fun to play detective with Merit and follow clues using your gut instinct. However, I think this whole book can be boiled down to one main event right at the end. 
 O MY GOSH! WHAT IS THIS!? I'M SHOCKED! 
 Before we get into that ending let's talk about the rest of the story first. Merit is still finding her place as a woman and vampire and thus becoming someone she never thought she would be. There's something to be said about rolling with the punches but Merit goes beyond that and is thriving. While Merit does kick a fair amount of ass she also has a vulnerable side. It's so amazing to have a heroine with good self-esteem. She consistently makes good decisions and has a sense of integrity that is remarkably kind. All of these attributes make me adore her even more. Even when she's making decisions that usually would bother me (IE: holding Ethan at arm's length for self-preservation) she doesn't annoy me in the slightest. Perhaps it's because she's not doing it just to be stubborn for the sake of being stubborn. She has well thought out reasons for making these decisions. 
 On a side note, I just realized one thing that seems to be completely lacking in this series. I haven't been able to find one instance of sexism anywhere. The main character is a woman and no one bats an eye at it. She not a strong "woman" she's a strong person who also happens to be a woman. Personally, I love the distinction. No one tells her she can't do something because she's a woman. None of the men try to "protect" her because she doesn't need it. Is Ethan protective of her? Yes, but that doesn't make him stop her from doing her job. I'm not sure why it took so long for me to catch on to the feminism that's inherently a part of this series but now that I'm aware of it, I LOVE it. 
 Also, the humor still remains. There are really great one liners in here. Before I get into that ENDING I'll just quote one of the lines that made me laugh to prove my point... 
 This time, my voice was softer. "Give me something to go on, here. What kind of black magic are we talking? Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West-type stuff or Slytherin-type stuff?" 
 OK... THAT FREAKING ENDING! This will all be in a spoiler so I can just speak can just speak candidly. (view spoiler)[ Ethan and Merit are finally getting back on track with their epic romance and then boom... ETHAN GETS KILLED BY CELINA WHILE SAVING MERIT'S LIFE! What. In. The. Actual. Fuck? While I appreciate the mic-drop ballsyness of it, I just can't get over how bonkers it is. Obviously Ethan's not going to stay dead since he's in all the rest of the series but I'm not sure how that's getting fixed. I have some theories though. Gabriel did share that vision with Merit where she saw green eyes that were like Ethan's but also not so perhaps what that means is that he will come back but in a new body? Maybe it's something Mallory will be involved with? She did go on a ghost hunt with Simon so maybe there could be some magic to bring his soul back or something. Speaking of which, I don't like Simon. Not sure if that's because I'm just suspicious of everyone or if he will actually be a black hat in the future. I don't know, I just think I'm feeling black magic vibes from him. I had a feeling the mayor was up to something. Everything just kept circling back to him so often that it started to feel like the proverbial smoking gun. Maybe he's a dark sorcerer or maybe he's a fairy? We learned that the fairies hate humans and only hate vamps slightly less. Who knows? I doubt it's the last we will see of him. Also, I'm glad Merit got to stake Celina. I hope she doesn't get brought back too. Ugh... I'm over her. (hide spoiler)] 
 OK now I'm on to Drink Deep so see how this whole mess in the ending is going to get sorted out. It's probably going to be insane!