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Charmfall (The Dark Elite #3)

by Chloe Neill (Goodreads Author)

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 · rating details · 1,789 ratings · 183 reviews

High school can be a battlefield, but for Lily Parker, surviving at St. Sophia’s School for Girls is a matter of life and death...

Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a junior. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even...more

Paperback, 242 pages

Published January 3rd 2012 by NAL Trade

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Feb 15, 2012 ◕ ◡ ◕ Arooj rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I like this series. It's one of the few "boarding school" type of YA paranormal novels, all snarky and teenager-y, that I like to read. I was really looking forward to Charmfall because I had a feeling it'd be better than the previous book, but I was a bit dissapointed.

The Good
- I like the concept, it's very unique. I mostly liked how the author made us question what's good or bad, how not everything is black and white. The Adepts and Reapers stuff is really cool and interesting and I liked this...more

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May 06, 2011 Steph marked it as to-read

Shelves: author-웃, author-favorite, series-2b-finished, series-ongoing, young-and-new-adult

Description from Chloe Neill's Website:

High school can be a battlefield, but for Lily Parker, surviving at St. Sophia’s School for Girls is a matter of life and death…

Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a sophomore. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even if it means not giving demons, vampires and the twisted magic users known as Reapers

...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 29, 2011 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Normal is a little too much to ask for when you’re Lily Parker. Forget being on the planning committee for the Sneak, St. Sophia’s fall formal—Lily’s version of normal is prowling the tunnels under her school after dark. But even that illusion of normalcy is about to be shattered. When Lily finds a Reaper on school grounds, she tries to use firespell, only to find out that she can’t—because her magic is gone. And she’s not the only one. It soon becomes clear that every Adept throughout Chicago i...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Alesha Patel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Spoilers

Ok, so when I heard there was a third installment, I was a tiny bit excited. But this book let me down in more ways than one.
It was just lacking in so much, sometimes I felt that Chloe Neill wrote stuff to fill spaces.

I was disappointed in the storyline between Lily and Jason. I mean the ending was so crap for me, I didnt even know what to do. I wanted to scream. But i didn't.

There was no follow up on Sebastian either which kind of pissed me off. I mean, this is the guy who had a con...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Leah Joyce rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really got into this book series, I loved all the mysteries that was involved, Lily's parents and who was Sabastian? These are however the only things that kept me gripped to the book! And they still are unexplained!

I love the concept of mysteries in books, how there's that one thing you will find out when the book/trilogy ends, that keeps you reading till you find out what it is. In this case its the parents and the dark but hot reaper Sabastian!

But with out these mysteries the book would be...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Samantha rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: magic

Okay, so this was horrible.

First off, the writing was all wrong. It sounded like a 7th grader was narrating, mixed in with such great revelations at all the wrong times it was almost sounded funny. Okay, so people don't think like that, it takes them a while to find out what they're missing, and when they do, it's not all written in their head already. It was so fake, and Lily irritated me, not for any reason, just because she was there.

And then Jason. His relationship with Lily didn't seem real...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Becky {Somewhere Between The Pages} rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 5-stars, review, fantasy-or-urban-fantasy, purchased

I'm not going to lie, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the first two, nor as much as I could have. It was still a good book, but I feel there are questions that are long overdue answers - such as the mystery behind Lily's parents - and those particular subplots are dragging. However, Chloe Neill has a style of writing that gives you plenty of description while still being action-packed and full of dialogue. She's a spectacular writer - one of a very few who can actually elicit emoti...more I'm not going to lie, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the first two, nor as much as I could have. It was still a good book, but I feel there are questions that are long overdue answers - such as the mystery behind Lily's parents - and those particular subplots are dragging. However, Chloe Neill has a style of writing that gives you plenty of description while still being action-packed and full of dialogue. She's a spectacular writer - one of a very few who can actually elicit emotions that most books can't bring about.

I still love both of our main girls - Lily and Scout. I think their sarcastic senses of humour are fantastic, and they're both very strong leads. I'm bored of the "damsels in distress" that are so common in YA fiction, so Lily and Scout are definitely a breath of fresh air. Now, most of you probably know that I'm a total Jason fan girl, so the fact that he totally broke my heart in this book wasn't a good thing, even though it's about time his and Lily's relationship hit a major complication. It was welcome in a let's-not-be-predictable kind of way, I just love that werewolf too much to want him to break my heart.

We have a new character introduced in this book: Fayden. Fayden is Sebastian Born's cousin and she's pretty much the villain in Charmfall. There's not really a lot I can say about her without spoiling the plot since we never really learn anything trivial about her, but I think Neill did a good thing by introducing someone new so late in the series. A lot of authors can't pull it off, but Neill managed it flawlessly. As with the first two books in the series, Charmfall has a whole slew of secondary characters - some of whom are featured more heavily than others, such as Michael - and each and every one of them has a significant part in the book. Seriously, I don't think the story would have worked without every single one of them.

As I mentioned before, Lily and Jason's relationship hit a wall in this book, so the romance is kind of depressing. It's still there and everything, it's just not there, if you know what I mean. You never know whether things are going to work out between the two of them, and that's what makes it so depressingly great. Predictability is dull, no? Certainly not a good book for the mushy stuff. Though the central storyline wasn't as great as the first two, there's something to be said for the lack of predictability in this series. I know many people will have guessed what/who was behind the magical blackout, but I'll admit that I had no idea. Thinking back, it should have been pretty obvious, but the way Neill writes her books makes it so you doubt everything. It's quite spectacular, really. Finding out who was behind the aforementioned magical blackout did surprise me, but there's one thing about the ending that didn't. I won't spoil what it is - you'll have to read the book to find that out. I can't say it was predictable, exactly, I just guessed because it's what I, as a writer, would have done myself.

For more reviews, check out my blog at Somewhere Between The Pages.(less)

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Jan 22, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was another charming episode in the Dark Elite series. I love that the author manages to combine the magical with the mundane as can be evidenced in the quote I chose. These are high school kids and they behave like them. I really like the friendship between Lily and Scout. And I like the relationships each have with their boyfriends. I like that Lily is worried about having her heart broken and is cautious as she goes into the relationship.

I also like Lily's point of view in this one. She...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Kale rated it 3 of 5 stars

Charm Falls Flat

Chicago's having a crisis of epic power proportions. There seems to be an epidemic of blackouts within the city limits. Unfortunately the shortages aren't of the electrical variety. Chi-Town's Dark Elite, Reapers and Adepts alike are amidst a magical misfortune, losing their abilities like a flip of a switch. Lilly and her crew are going to have to make some unlikely alliances to solve the mystery of missing magic and get their powers back.

Third time is not a charm for Neill's cu...more Charm Falls Flat

Chicago's having a crisis of epic power proportions. There seems to be an epidemic of blackouts within the city limits. Unfortunately the shortages aren't of the electrical variety. Chi-Town's Dark Elite, Reapers and Adepts alike are amidst a magical misfortune, losing their abilities like a flip of a switch. Lilly and her crew are going to have to make some unlikely alliances to solve the mystery of missing magic and get their powers back.

Third time is not a charm for Neill's current installment in her Dark Elite series. While the story line was good, it just didn't have that WOW factor. Charmfall is yet another lost opportunity to really develop this series and the wonderful ideas presented in it. Neill's solid story line was smothered by the surrounding filler and useless banter that kept the main characters meandering about slowly, focusing more on dance decorations, verbal bestie bonding, and the detailed travels of subterranean Chicago. Much of which has been adequately covered in the past two books. The new larger format paperback didn't help matters either. It seems more of a waste for a book barely 240 pages deep and ridiculously includes the first two chapters of book one, Firespell, for the only reason I can decipher, to bulk up the book.

I would have preferred the extra possible capacity be used toward a little more action or development of the secondary story lines. Increasingly I am finding that the supporting characters are more interesting as well, and think an alternate perspective could breathe some much needed depth to the books. Sebastian Born for example is an under utilized character. He has differing ideas about magic not inline with either faction and I think his POV could be riveting. I really liked what was happening with Nicu's thread, which was touched upon when convenient, but barely explored. I was also hoping for the real complication of Jason's background to come about, maybe a betrothed to spice things up, but he's just stressed out by the family problems vaguely mentioned. Even the author's weak attempt at painting Parker as a different thinking Adept just didn't hold. Plus she didn't touch on Parker's parents and past threads involving them at all. Neill also is becoming the timid love triangle queen. Much like her Chicagoland Vamp books, any possible angst between Jason, Lilly, and Sebastian seem null at this point, regardless of the groundwork thats there.

What this book is really lacking is that OMG factor that leaves you pining for the next installment. Charmfall is a watered down version of what the series could be, with good ideas, characters, and story lines that are never really explored. Neill's YA books feel like an afterthought and are clearly becoming a backseat series to her adult work. I really wish she would put as much effort and passion into the series as she does when describing her hometown eats. If not maybe she should forego fiction and focus on an epicurious guide to chi-town's great culinary offerings.(less)

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Jan 07, 2012 Ferdy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: meh

In the third offering in Chloe Neill's Drak Elite series, Lily and her fellow adepts-(teenagers with magic)-Scout, Jason and Michael continue to balance their adept duties, school and romantic lives. The adepts are stunned to find that their magic no longer works, they believe the reapers (the bad guys-who steal adept powers to use for themselves) are behind this. Lily and co soon find out that the reapers have also lost their magic. The adepts try to figure out who is behind the magical blackou...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lily and Scout are dealing with the same issues as in the previous books: Reapers, school, the brat pack and boys, but with one added problem – all of the Reapers and Adepts have lost their ability to perform magic, which makes the Adepts think about what it will be like when they eventually have to give it up for good.

In Charmfall, Lily works a little more with Sebastian Born, the Reaper whose actions resulted in her ability to wield firespell, and who makes her think things may be more gray ra...more Lily and Scout are dealing with the same issues as in the previous books: Reapers, school, the brat pack and boys, but with one added problem – all of the Reapers and Adepts have lost their ability to perform magic, which makes the Adepts think about what it will be like when they eventually have to give it up for good.

In Charmfall, Lily works a little more with Sebastian Born, the Reaper whose actions resulted in her ability to wield firespell, and who makes her think things may be more gray rather than the black and white that Daniel and the other Adepts have led her to believe. None of this makes her boyfriend, werewolf Jason, who is dealing with his own family wanting him to come home and with knowing that they plan on eventually marrying him off to a girl from another werewolf family, happy and he starts to question her loyalty.

The idea behind this series, people who are magical, but who will lose their abilities in a few short years and have to decide between being normal humans or turning to the (possibly) dark side and reaping human souls to hold onto their powers is really good. And in this book, Neill has made this more interesting by making us question both sides. I know this is a YA book and that the main characters are all only 15 or 16, but I kept waiting for this series to get a little deeper and darker, I mean, all of the elements are there for it not to be light and fluffy. However, the bad guys aren’t really that bad or scary, during confrontations between the sides I never hold my breath because I think that someone might get seriously hurt, let alone killed, and the fact that everyone knows where the “hideouts” are and can stroll around them at anytime is kind of goofy. In one scene Lily thinks she can keep two Reapers she and Scout have found in their suite from doing anything else bad by helping get them off the hook with the headmistress. And there’s a magic shop that is neutral territory where one of the workers talks to both sides about the other…really? I also feel like we need to learn more about the characters and, other than Sebastian, who I find a bit intriguing, it seems like the others are getting a little more one dimensional and boring (though I still like the dynamic between Lily and Scout). I’ve enjoyed this series, but I don’t think it’s progressed or improved as much as one should by the third book. Right now, I’m on the fence about picking up the next one.(less)

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Jan 14, 2012 Miss Amby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: wish-list-finished-copy

Chloe Neill out did herself with this novel. Charmfall kept me reading until the early hours of the morning. I could not put the book down once I started it! Lily and the rest of the Adepts are experiencing a power outage. After she hears from Sebastian, super hot, though maybe evil (but maybe not?) Reaper, Lily learns that not only does the power outage affect the Adepts, but it also affects the Reapers. The only good part of this equation is that they're evenly matched, or are they? Someone ha...more Chloe Neill out did herself with this novel. Charmfall kept me reading until the early hours of the morning. I could not put the book down once I started it! Lily and the rest of the Adepts are experiencing a power outage. After she hears from Sebastian, super hot, though maybe evil (but maybe not?) Reaper, Lily learns that not only does the power outage affect the Adepts, but it also affects the Reapers. The only good part of this equation is that they're evenly matched, or are they? Someone has caused this power outage, and that means someone still has power. Lily and Scout work with Sebastian in order to determine who is behind the power outage plaguing Chicago and why.

The characters in this novel are much better developed than they were in Firespell, and they keep growing and changing with each addition to the series. Lily is growing into her powers and becoming comfortable in her own skin. She has started to trust her "gut instinct," and that pays off. However, she still can't decide whether or not Sebastian is completely good or evil. She also can't decide if she's friends with him or if they're just using each other for information. This sets the stage for an interesting 4th novel, but don't worry Jason fans, he's in the novel, too, and Lily doesn't betray him.

Speaking of Jason, his family keeps putting more pressure on him to fulfill his werewolf destiny. For those of you who read Hexbound, you know that means to marry another werewolf. He's on edge throughout the novel because of that, and so is Lily. It adds a tension to the plot that may not have been there with simply the disappearance of magic. Jason seems to really care for Lily and vice-versa. He has moments of immaturity in the book, but he always comes through for her when he's really needed, and that's what matters. However, his family "obligation" makes Lily (and me) uncomfortable. I am looking forward to seeing what Neill does with Jason's situation.

Scout is angrier than usual in this novel. I'm noticing as the series progresses, Scout's bitterness keeps growing. I am not sure if that's just because of the situations she's faced with in the books or if it's setting up something for later in the series. I'll be interested to find out. Either way, Scout is still a good friend to Lily, and they fight this battle of having lost powers together. Scout surprises me when she stands by Lily no matter what and trusts her to make the right decision. It's obvious that their friendship has evolved and become more stable. They are very loyal to each other, and it's growing into a sisterly bond instead of just a friendship. There wasn't a lot of Michael in this novel, and I would have liked to have seen more of him. I don't know where he would have fit in more, though, so I understand why he wasn't present as much as usual.

A character that I don't know what to think about is Sebastian. Part of me really wants to like and trust him (like Lily), but the other part can't help but think there's more going on with him than Neill is letting on right now. One thing is clear, though. He really seems to care about Lily's well-being, and super hot soul-sucker or not, that has to say something, right? I can't wait to see where Neill takes his character.

What Dark Elite novel would be complete without the Brat Pack? Veronica and Co are back in action in this book, but Veronica is different. She has a love interest that's shocking to everyone. I'm not sure I'm buying what's going on with that, but again, Neill may have something up her sleeve that we readers don't know about yet. So instead of just writing it off all together, I'm going to wait and see what she has in mind. One thing I've learned from reading the Chicagoland Vampire Series and the Dark Elite Series, when Chloe Neill does something that doesn't exactly set well with me, she tends to fix it with a stroke of brilliance in the next book. So I'm just going to have faith in her ability as an author and see how this plays out.

Charmfall moves more quickly than the previous two Dark Elite novels. There is more action and more suspense. Neill has created a world that you can easily lose yourself (and your sleep) in. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Check out my other reviews, giveaways, author interviews, and more at http://falln2books.blogspot.com !(less)

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Jan 25, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

We're back at St. Sophia's with 15 year old Lily and the Adept(magical) fighting crew of Enclave Three. These magically inclined kids wage an ongoing war against the Reapers of Chicago who steal life essence to extend their magical tendencies. When a magic blackout hits the city and steals ALL magic, Lily and her best friend Scout start an investigation to discover who did this and how. During the hunt for clues Lily meets with Reaper Sebastian Born, making Lily's boyfriend so jealous that he wa...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Amy (Turn the Page) rated it 2 of 5 stars

A while back I was sent Firespell and Charmfall for review, books one and three of a series. I wasn’t overly impressed by Firespell and unfortunately, the same points I flagged in that review are still present in Charmfall.

The pacing is still slow. The majority of the story actually consists of Lily giving the reader inconsequential and pointless information. There’s a running commentary on the brat pack’s movements, their clothing, the decorations Lily’s putting togethe...more A while back I was sent Firespell and Charmfall for review, books one and three of a series. I wasn’t overly impressed by Firespell and unfortunately, the same points I flagged in that review are still present in Charmfall.

The pacing is still slow. The majority of the story actually consists of Lily giving the reader inconsequential and pointless information. There’s a running commentary on the brat pack’s movements, their clothing, the decorations Lily’s putting together for a school dance etc. It’s just not information we need, nor really care, to know.

The Adepts are supposedly at war with Reapers, but there never seems to be any sort of, well… fighting going on. As with the first book, there is a distinct lack of danger or action and despite words like ‘battlefield’, ‘life and death’ and ‘protecting Chicago’ thrown around in the synopsis, nobody really does anything. As far as I can tell, mostly the Adepts sneak down into the underground tunnels most nights and have meetings in their secret room, which turns out to be pretty much round the corner from the Reaper’s underground base. Perhaps I missed all the major movements in book two, but considering nothing seems to have changed or moved on plot-wise from the end of the first book, that seems unlikely.

Someone is behind a magical blackout, forcing the Adepts and Reapers to work together to gain their magic back. This could have been a potential interesting plot line, but it ends up being mostly a lot of talking, some faffing around, a convenient (and poorly written) fairy tale that provides the answers and the whole thing is fairly easily resolved with little trouble by the end of the book. There’s seemingly nothing to stop the culprit from working the same mojo again, but somehow that question never comes up.

In fact, there are quite a few unresolved questions popping up throughout this series. Do Lily’s parents really know about magic? What are they hiding? Is Adept HQ as trustworthy as first believed? (Probably not) Are Reapers truly as evil as they’ve been told? (Probably not) Can Lily trust Sebastian? (Who cares — he’s a lot more interesting than Jason.)

It’s just all a bit flat. Charmfall has a lot of unnecessary filler and no character or plot progression. A shame, as I saw some potential in book one, but I’m not inclined to continue with these books. They are shaping up to be a long, lightweight, inoffensive and rambling paranormal series. Not bad for the casual reader but why bother when there are much more satisfying books out there?

*Edit: Just read that there are no further plans to continue this series. I guess the publishers, or possibly the author, aren’t feeling this one either.

Originally reviewed at Mostly Reading YA (less)

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Oct 08, 2012 Michael Holle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Charmfall is the third book in the Dark Elite series. I’m sorry, but I was a little disappointed in this book. The premise of the Adepts and Reapers losing their magic and then the mystery of trying to find out the who, what and how was good, but that’s where it ended. This is compounded when you realize that Chloe is not writing anymore in the Dark Elite series (at least this is what I understand from her website). She spent so much time building mystery and plot in the first book and maintaine...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Catie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Charm fall by Chloe Niell is the third book in the Dark Elite series. In this fast paced novel Lilly and the rest of the Dark Elite most come to terms with losing their magical powers. Lilly must also decide if she will be able to work with the enemy. If she worked with the enemy she must also decide if it is worth hurting and losing someone that she loves.

Charm fall has a set of wonderful characters that will warm your heart. With a fast paced storyline that does not seemed rushed an any way....more

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Jan 06, 2012 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review, hardcopy

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

Even though Lily has only been "fighting the good fight" for a few months now, she's about had it up to here with all of it. So, in an effort to do something completely normal, she signs up to help with the party prep for the school's fall formal, Sneak. Of course she can't give up her protection detail completely, so when a Reaper is spotted on the school groups, Lily steps up to ward him off, only to find that her magic is gone, as well as...more Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

Even though Lily has only been "fighting the good fight" for a few months now, she's about had it up to here with all of it. So, in an effort to do something completely normal, she signs up to help with the party prep for the school's fall formal, Sneak. Of course she can't give up her protection detail completely, so when a Reaper is spotted on the school groups, Lily steps up to ward him off, only to find that her magic is gone, as well as every other adept's in the city. She will have to use every resource possible to get to the bottom of things, regardless of what her friends think of her methods, as they are all sitting ducks.

I was very happy to see Lily start to really think for herself in Charmfall. Prior to this point she has been blindly following the Adepts, and their creed that all Reapers are evil, soul sucking beings, making everything black and white. However, her reaper "frenemy," Sebastian has been trying to open her eyes to all the shades of gray there are in between. Of course she realizes that he probably has an ulterior motive, but that doesn't stop her from accepting his help with certain things. Unfortunately, the rest of the Adepts don't quite seem eye to eye with her on this, which causes a whole lot of tension. Yet, she didn't back down, and stood behind her beliefs in finding the truth, rather than blindly believing what anyone has told her in the past. This may be a little bit of a stretch, but I have a feeling that in time, Lily will do a whole lot of moving and shaking, and could potentially be the one to change the whole system. I guess only time will tell.

If you have read my reviews of the first two installments in this series, you'll know that I enjoyed the books, but not without a good bit of frustration. My biggest problems were a lack of forward momentum and an unclear plot. After finishing Charmfall, I actually breathed a sigh of relief because things are really starting to head in the right direction. It didn't take long at all for the action to pick up, and it was clear from almost the very start what the big issue would be, making for a much more engrossing read than the previous installments. However, I do have to admit there was one factor that disappointed me. I had been expecting to find out more about those "rat" things from Hexbound, as nothing was really revealed about them other than they were made by the Reapers. Also, we still do not have any new information about Lily's parents, and I am still incredibly curious about that situation. I'm hoping that the next installment comes with a good bit of information to help assuage my curiosity, but then again they did say that's what killed the cat.

Despite my frustrations in the past, I feel like Charmfall has erased all of those problems and given the series a fresh, new start. It was a perfect blend of action, romance, mystery, and character development, to make for a very entertaining read, and I'm very excited to see where things lead next. If you are a fan of Lily's adventures, then you won't want to miss this action packed installment.(less)

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Aug 10, 2012 Cece rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this series, didn't love them though. After reading the first two novels in Neill's adult series- Chicagoland Vampires- I expected WAY better than this. She's an amazing writer so this was kind of a let down. It wasn't really bad but it wasn't great. I felt like Neill was pushing the fact that the characters are teenagers too much and, WOW, the numerous times I was told how blue Jason's eyes were really irritate throughout the series. I understand that this is her first go at writing YA...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book isn't quite as good as the first two. As I've said before, there's not a lot to set this book apart from many others in the YA genre, but it has a refreshing lack of love triangle and actually has realistic relationship development. So kudos for that!

I did find this book very slow in the middle. See, when you have a book about teenage kids with magic and then take away the magic...you get a book about girls in boarding school. Not entirely, but still. Things just got a bit slow in the...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Millie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the other books in this series much more than this book because I thought it was very predictable and sligtly dissapointing. I would have liked to have found out about Lilys parents but she left it as a cliffhanger so I think it wasn't neccessary to include this story line if she wasnt going to finish it. I think the book would have been a lot more interesting if Lily and Sebeastian got together as Jason started losing character by being a jerk and their relationship just got boring. I...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

while this series isn't the greatest ever, I knew it before I started and just desperately needed something to read.

These kept me occupied and I have to admit I was just hungry for any interaction b/w Sebastian and Lily. <3 mmmm <3

BUT NO FOURTH BOOK?!?!?!? ARE YOU KIDDDDDDDDDDING ME?!
According to Chloes website at least but COME ON! Please please tell you will finish this series and tell us what happens with the Dark Elite and with Lily's parents and with her relationship with Jason/Sebas...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Arae rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It didn't take me long to read this book. Three hours if we're really keeping track. And. . .I liked it but . . . I didn't at the same time. I was disappointed. In Hexbound I was totally enthralled by Sebastian, I truly thought that despite what side he played for he wasn't all bad. Even now I don't think he is. But seeing as I don't know if there will be a fourth book no one will ever really know.

In the first book Jason Shepard is THE guy. The one that seems ideally right for Lily. But in Hexbo...more It didn't take me long to read this book. Three hours if we're really keeping track. And. . .I liked it but . . . I didn't at the same time. I was disappointed. In Hexbound I was totally enthralled by Sebastian, I truly thought that despite what side he played for he wasn't all bad. Even now I don't think he is. But seeing as I don't know if there will be a fourth book no one will ever really know.

In the first book Jason Shepard is THE guy. The one that seems ideally right for Lily. But in Hexbound, you see that spark at the end between Lily and Sebastian that might mean something. But in Charmfall, Jason throws a tantrum which I guess is normal for his characterized alpha-male persona. All because Lily took a risk trying to get information by talking to Sebastian. And in the end when it comes time to make up, Lily just forgives him. As if him doubting her was okay when not three paragraphs before she referred to him as her ex-boyfriend. I thought given the kind of person she was she would have stuck up for herself. I'm not saying I wanted them to be over--my Sebastian fantasies aside--it would have been nice to see how different Lily presented herself between the two gentlemen. Yes, Sebastian is older than her and she isn't even 16 yet but he deserved a shot if you asked me. A fair shot.

Then you have the issue with her parents. You go through the first two books and know that something isn't right with Lily's parents--that they're hiding big secrets from Lily and why she ended up in Chicago. Throughout this whole book the parental issue was never even pursued. Of course she could have just been taking Foley's advice and leaving the matter alone until she can truly ask them face-to-face.

The book was awesome. It's not a lie. I felt it was unsatisfying, but it still made me laugh continuously with the heavy sarcasm between Lily and Scout. I haven't seen any evidence that there will be another book but the way the book ended it seemed to be that sort of "the door is closed but not locked." if that made any sense, I applaud you because I totally just made that up. (less)

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Mar 19, 2013 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trilogies, witches-and-stuff

"Sarcasm and spell casting... Can I get more please"

I really enjoyed the Dark Elite series. Something about boarding schools that always makes me think of witches, cults, vampires, etc. This one captures all of that and adds a werewolf to boot. Lily is such a normally sarcastic teenager that would probably just being hanging with her BFF Scout in their dorm room... But they are not normal teens and they are always setting off on adventures. This adventure leads straight to more trouble and that...more

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Nov 04, 2012 C.C. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-teens-new-adult, reviewed, vampires

I've mentioned before that I'm also a fan of Chloe Neill and her Chicagoland Vampire Series and that's what got me intrigued with this book.

Quite frankly I'm a little disappointed with the third installment. Although it was entertaining enough there isn't really a Wow factor in there.

The Good stuff
I still like how Ms. Neill portrayed her teen characters as responsible people. They know how to prioritize their responsibilities and not just whine on how hard their lives are. A lot and I mean ...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Saniya(Will Herondale is mine) marked it as to-read

OMG! O.O Is this Lily? ^.^
Now this book holds a lot of action, I see :D

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Jul 15, 2012 Ashley Gafford rated it 4 of 5 stars

The third novel in the Dark Elite series by Chloe Neill is more mystery than action. The adepts and reapers have both lost their magic so most of the novel is spent trying to figure out what is going on, who took it and why.
While there wasn’t a ton of action in this book (due to no one have any power to create action with), Neill’s ability to create unique, fun characters make Charmfall a quick and entertaining read. The characters really are the driving forces behind this book with Scout and Li...more The third novel in the Dark Elite series by Chloe Neill is more mystery than action. The adepts and reapers have both lost their magic so most of the novel is spent trying to figure out what is going on, who took it and why.
While there wasn’t a ton of action in this book (due to no one have any power to create action with), Neill’s ability to create unique, fun characters make Charmfall a quick and entertaining read. The characters really are the driving forces behind this book with Scout and Lily taking the lead. I love their relationship and their smart comebacks. They are both very snarky and seem to truly understand each other, despite the fact that they haven’t known each other very long.
Another character I am always interested in seeing more of and learning more about is Sebastian. I was pleased to see that Sebastian has a pretty large role in this book. I feel that there is so much more that could be developed with his character. Throughout the first two books and this book as well, I feel that there have been many hints thrown about why he’s a reaper and what the reapers are really doing. Sebastian continuously tells Lily that things aren’t black and white and that the reapers aren’t all bad. I keep waiting to see what good the reapers are doing but it has yet to be explained.
I thought that the plotline about both the adepts and reapers losing their powers was an interesting one. Even though adepts plan on giving up their power when the time comes you can tell that none of them are ready to at this time. They are all desperate to figure out what is going on and get their powers back. They are so desperate in fact that they are willing to work with the reapers to get to the bottom of everything. Lily’s boyfriend, Jason, was the only one that really had a problem with this and I’m not sure what his deal was. For most of the book, Jason just seemed kind of moody. I realize he had a lot going on with his family but I just didn’t understand why he was so upset about it.
The one thing I had a problem with this book about wasn’t even really about the book itself. I’ve heard that there are no plans for any future Dark Elite novels. I feel like that when Neill began writing this series, she did so planning for it to be a very long series (like her other series, The Chicagoland Vampires). There were little tidbits of information here and there that I felt were placed there to come back to at a later time. The part about Sebastian and the reapers was one thing and also the part about where Lily’s parents are. I hope that things change and there are more books because these are both storylines I am interested in learning.
Overall, I thought Charmfall was a fun book. The character’s witty banter made for a quick read. I feel that there is a lot more to be told in this series and I sincerely hope that I eventually get the chance to see more adventures for Lily and Scout.(less)

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Feb 28, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, urban, young-adult

Third in the Dark Elite urban fantasy series for young adults and revolving around Lily Parker and her small gang of militant magic users.

My Take
Omigod, this is s-o-o-o high school! The most high-schoolish of the three.

The primary theme is reversing the theft of magic from all magic-users in Chicago all within the framework of Lily being on the Sneak [fall formal for the juniors] decorating committee for St. Sophia's. The Reapers have decided that the lack of magic is through something the Adept...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

(from parapith.weebly.com)

I think after three books, I have finally grown a little attached to these characters. I feel like I've just gotten to know them after this book, but this is the end.

I found the writing to be a little lacking. Most of the dialogue seems incredibly forced. Not to mention that there are entire scenes that do nothing to enhance the book.

I have the paperback version of this book and I found it very strange that the end has an excerpt from the first book. Seriously? I can't...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was very eager to read Charmfall - book #3 in the Dark Elite series because I found the first two, Firespell and Hexbound witty and suspenseful. Since I’m reviewing the 3rd in the series I’ll start with a little catch up…

Lily Parker the main character, has had it rough to say the least. In book one her parents uprooted her from her New York home and planted her at St. Sophia’s boarding school in Chicago. Before she knows it, Lily is thrust into the middle of a feud between Adepts (magical teen...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Chloe Neill's Charmfall picks up around the time we left off, same school year and since it's still fall it can't have been real long. We open up to seeing Lily and her pals practicing using their magic in defensive situations, and then jumps to Lily, the ordinary teen helping make decorations for Sneak. Not much time passes in the book since by the end they go to the dance, but it's still a pretty fun read!

When Lily attempts to rescue a classmate from a Reaper, she finds she has no power. None....more Chloe Neill's Charmfall picks up around the time we left off, same school year and since it's still fall it can't have been real long. We open up to seeing Lily and her pals practicing using their magic in defensive situations, and then jumps to Lily, the ordinary teen helping make decorations for Sneak. Not much time passes in the book since by the end they go to the dance, but it's still a pretty fun read!

When Lily attempts to rescue a classmate from a Reaper, she finds she has no power. None. Then she and Scout soon realize that all the Adepts have lost their power, except Jason, who is cursed and doesn't just have power for a borrowed time. The next day she sees Sebastian and learns that Reapers too are without power, so they are not behind the blackout. So who is, that's the mystery!

One thing that was not necessarily annoying, just puzzling, was why the Adepts wanted their powers back. They are the ones who acknowledge that they will one day give it up, so why can't today be that day? Why must they get their powers back? It didn't really bug me all that much, just something that kept spiraling through my mind every now and then.

Tension is brewing even thicker between the Reapers and Adepts as they each think the other is behind it, but Lily knows that that is not the case and she's determined to find out what the problem really is. No matter what. Even if it means talking to Sebastian more and more--which becomes a noticeable problem to the Adepts when she comes back with info. Causing a rift between her and Jason.

The tension was done really well. I love how Lily is conflicted with the rules and ways of Reapers and Adepts, despite being an Adept herself. She is a wonderful character. She sees the world as it is, in greys instead of black and white like the rest of her friends.

Scout is still an amazing friend to her. Together they are there for one another as they each have their downfalls. They pick each other up and work together to try to solve the mystery.

I can't say that I truly saw it coming in all the gory details, but I did have my suspicions! The ending was good too. It doesn't necessarily give a concrete happy ending, those are only set in the finale of course, but it still leaves you satisfied and craving for more!

Charmfall was a spellbinding read! It captures you into a world that is ours, but here magic is real! I love this series and so can't wait for my next trip to Chicago!

Overall rating 4/5 stars(less)

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About Chloe Neill

Chloe Neill was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest—just close enough to Cadogan House and St. Sophia's to keep an eye on things. When not transcribing Merit’s and Lily’s adventures, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys—her husband (also her favorite landsc...more

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“Magic is overrated. Courage is what matters.” — 7 people liked it

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