| by Lauren  | Like the Winchester brothers? Well, they aren't the only dysfunctional demon hunting siblings in town - meet Cal and Niko Leandros. Cal is half-human, half-Auphe - a nasty race of killer dark elves from the dawn of time. To say he has issues would be an understatement. Niko is his super-warrior older brother who refuses to let Cal fall into darkness - at least not alone. Rob Thurman has created a dark, gritty, bloody world of demons, werewolves, vampires, angels, gods and monsters to rival most urban fantasy out there. |
Her flawed heroes keep it interesting, and it is an excellent series for filler when you are waiting for the next big book release.
The first book in the Cal Leandros series is Nightlife, if you are interested.
***Review with spoilers for the latest book after the break*****
The first book in the Cal Leandros series is Nightlife, if you are interested.
***Review with spoilers for the latest book after the break*****
Book 9 in the Leandros brothers series, Downfall, is an attempt at a 're-boot' book - which seems to be all the rage since Jim Butcher successfully blew-up the Dresden Files with Changes. Unlike Butcher, Thurman doesn't seem to really know where the story is going.
Don't get me wrong, it is entertaining - and primarily a love note to the author's favorite character, the immortal trickster Puck himself, Robin Goodfellow. She says as much in the dedication, and she wasn't lying.
The main villain in this book isn't Grimm like it should be. Cal's crazy half-Auphe nemesis has been built up over the last few books as the 'undefeatable bad.' However the real villain of the piece is Fate. Thurman as Goodfellow beats the reader over the head with the fact that Cal & Niko have lived many short, bloody lives over the long course of history, and that Robin has been there to live, laugh and watch them die by their sides again and again.
As their fated end grows near, Goodfellow decides enough is enough, and works behind the scenes to break the cycle of the brother's joined deaths. The conclusion comes off as anti-climactic with a whole bunch of 'puck ex machinca' - without a lot of explanation for how everyone survives, except 'oh, that Robin, isn't he tricky.'
If you are into this book series, it is worth the read, but it is by far, NOT the best book in the series - which, based on the build-up, is what it should have been.
Don't get me wrong, it is entertaining - and primarily a love note to the author's favorite character, the immortal trickster Puck himself, Robin Goodfellow. She says as much in the dedication, and she wasn't lying.
The main villain in this book isn't Grimm like it should be. Cal's crazy half-Auphe nemesis has been built up over the last few books as the 'undefeatable bad.' However the real villain of the piece is Fate. Thurman as Goodfellow beats the reader over the head with the fact that Cal & Niko have lived many short, bloody lives over the long course of history, and that Robin has been there to live, laugh and watch them die by their sides again and again.
As their fated end grows near, Goodfellow decides enough is enough, and works behind the scenes to break the cycle of the brother's joined deaths. The conclusion comes off as anti-climactic with a whole bunch of 'puck ex machinca' - without a lot of explanation for how everyone survives, except 'oh, that Robin, isn't he tricky.'
If you are into this book series, it is worth the read, but it is by far, NOT the best book in the series - which, based on the build-up, is what it should have been.
