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Cal Leandros #6
Blackout
I was alone, and I was lost. I didn’t know where I was; I didn’t know who I was. It doesn’t get more lost than that. Knowing what I knew and not knowing anything else at all, why would I want to be in the darkness where monsters hide?
Because killers hide there, too…
Half-human Cal Leandros has always walked a bloody line between keeping his mortal soul free and clear (sort of) and unleashing the horror of his otherworldly heritage. The one thing that’s always saved him is the memory of his brother, Niko, his friends, and those he loves.
Until now.
Cal wakes up on a beach littered with the recently slaughtered remains of a variety of hideous creatures that were obviously looking for trouble. The fact that he was the one doing the slaughtering doesn’t bother him. The fact that he feels like a natural-born killer doesn’t either. What bothers him is that Cal doesn’t remember Cal anymore…
And he’s not sure he cares.
Because killers hide there, too…
Half-human Cal Leandros has always walked a bloody line between keeping his mortal soul free and clear (sort of) and unleashing the horror of his otherworldly heritage. The one thing that’s always saved him is the memory of his brother, Niko, his friends, and those he loves.
Until now.
Cal wakes up on a beach littered with the recently slaughtered remains of a variety of hideous creatures that were obviously looking for trouble. The fact that he was the one doing the slaughtering doesn’t bother him. The fact that he feels like a natural-born killer doesn’t either. What bothers him is that Cal doesn’t remember Cal anymore…
And he’s not sure he cares.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2011
44 people are currently reading
1736 people want to read
About the author
Rob Thurman
43 books1,562 followersRob Thurman is currently writing three series for Penguin Putnam's imprint ROC FANTASY, as well as a brand-new mainstream series for Simon & Schuster's POCKET BOOKS.
Rob has also written for a Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner Anthology, WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE. This year, Rob contributed a post-apocalyptic, "grim" faerie tale Western to the anthology, COURTS OF THE FEY.
Rob's work is dark, non-stop action from beginning to end, rife with purely evil sarcasm as sharp as a switchblade - and probably nearly as illegal. If one shoved LORD OF THE RINGS,
THE SHINING, and PULP FICTION into a wood-chipper, the result would be what Rob aims to deliver in a novel or short story.
A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), ROB THURMAN lives in RURAL Indiana - land of endless fields, infinite cows and where dialup is still the only soul-crushing option.
Rob has also written for a Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner Anthology, WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE. This year, Rob contributed a post-apocalyptic, "grim" faerie tale Western to the anthology, COURTS OF THE FEY.
Rob's work is dark, non-stop action from beginning to end, rife with purely evil sarcasm as sharp as a switchblade - and probably nearly as illegal. If one shoved LORD OF THE RINGS,
THE SHINING, and PULP FICTION into a wood-chipper, the result would be what Rob aims to deliver in a novel or short story.
A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), ROB THURMAN lives in RURAL Indiana - land of endless fields, infinite cows and where dialup is still the only soul-crushing option.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
November 19, 2011
Loved, loved, loved. Thurman has done a lovely twist on the old amnesia device, successfully re-inventing Cal and writing a riveting book. While technically it could be a stand-alone book, it's genius is in the setting of the series and character development.
The sarcasm is much less dark and self-flagellating and closer to genuine playfulness--more than once I giggled with Cal's lines like "Sun in the sky, bacon in the skillet, and a cell phone for everyone past the first stage of mitosis." Then there was Miss Terrwyn saying, "You have a mouth on you, don't you? I was thinking you were the quiet sort, but maybe I was only thinking you should be the quiet sort." And Cal's boast of confidence, "While I might have the haircut of a sheepdog, I was one badass mother-effing sheepdog." Or during a fight with a pack of spiders: "The other one fell but dragged itself behind the refrigerator. Wasn't that always the way? Off to the ultimate spider sanctuary." The section with the mummified cats It was been torture to put it down so I could do those annoying things like go to work and sleep.
The writing has flashes of beauty that I don't often see in the Leandros series, perhaps because it is so preoccupied with the darkness in Cal's life. Cal's re-introduction to Promise deserves mention: "she was more of a marble statue under a cascade of moonlight, smelling like flowers and ivy--the glory of a weeping graveyard angel."
I found the plot engrossing and still somewhat unpredictable, even as we knew it would revolve around the returning memories. Cal's memories started to return in fragments Much better development than the stately pace or sudden return amnesia artifice.
Perhaps my only complain is that even on re-read, I'm still not sure about the gestalt moment when Cal pieced together .
Warning, my star rating is entirely in context of the series--until Roadkill, I've been feeling like I was losing interest in the series. Roadkill gave it a new spark and Blackout set off fireworks.
The sarcasm is much less dark and self-flagellating and closer to genuine playfulness--more than once I giggled with Cal's lines like "Sun in the sky, bacon in the skillet, and a cell phone for everyone past the first stage of mitosis." Then there was Miss Terrwyn saying, "You have a mouth on you, don't you? I was thinking you were the quiet sort, but maybe I was only thinking you should be the quiet sort." And Cal's boast of confidence, "While I might have the haircut of a sheepdog, I was one badass mother-effing sheepdog." Or during a fight with a pack of spiders: "The other one fell but dragged itself behind the refrigerator. Wasn't that always the way? Off to the ultimate spider sanctuary." The section with the mummified cats It was been torture to put it down so I could do those annoying things like go to work and sleep.
The writing has flashes of beauty that I don't often see in the Leandros series, perhaps because it is so preoccupied with the darkness in Cal's life. Cal's re-introduction to Promise deserves mention: "she was more of a marble statue under a cascade of moonlight, smelling like flowers and ivy--the glory of a weeping graveyard angel."
I found the plot engrossing and still somewhat unpredictable, even as we knew it would revolve around the returning memories. Cal's memories started to return in fragments Much better development than the stately pace or sudden return amnesia artifice.
Perhaps my only complain is that even on re-read, I'm still not sure about the gestalt moment when Cal pieced together .
Warning, my star rating is entirely in context of the series--until Roadkill, I've been feeling like I was losing interest in the series. Roadkill gave it a new spark and Blackout set off fireworks.
October 2, 2025
[old review below]
I’d been the monster all along. Me. What we’d been chasing was nothing compared to what lived inside of me—what was me. With every job we did, every case we took on, every mystery we tried to untangle, I’d been the real monster and we’d all pretended we didn’t know it. I’d been half right a week ago. A killer had woken up on that South Carolina beach. A killer and a monster; that was who I was, and it was never going to change. So what?
actual rating: 2.5
Except for Nevermore - which honestly is just The Book of Which We Do Not Speak - this is by far my least favorite of the entire series. Sometimes I don't even read it when I do the whole series and this time I actually came back to it after I read Downfall which is just a weird reading experience but I still wanted more Cal so I guess I'll do the bad books too lol. I will say the audio makes it so much more enjoyable, MacLeod Andrews does a really good job with this series and he brings some of the more sarcastic moments to life and makes the rest of it more bearable. And there are still quite a few great moments here, but I hate hate haaate the whole amnesia thing so much that it makes the book fairly annoying overall.
At least 70% of this book is just amnesia!Cal wandering around whining about whether he is a good person or not. Let me just step right in here and give you a real quick answer, Cal: NO! And that's not a bad thing! I don't read this series because I want to read about 'good' people and I like Cal better when he is more Auphe than not. I would not necessarily call Cal a flat out bad person either, but I think he is definitely willing to do bad things without much regret if it's what needs to be done [or will help Niko] and in his life that's not a bad thing. I'm sure this book appeals to a certain part of the fandom, but this watered down constantly worrying version of Cal is so far from the entire reason that I like his character that it is almost painful at times.
Luckily he comes through it and does some really savage shit at the end - I love when he thinks outside the box with using his gates - but this is a definite low point in the series for me. The one good thing about this book is that he finally works through the last of his self doubt and just accepts himself for who he is. Thankfully the next two books are probably my favorites in the whole series so even though I dread coming to this part of the series it's easy to move on. ;)
I’d been the monster all along. Me. What we’d been chasing was nothing compared to what lived inside of me—what was me. With every job we did, every case we took on, every mystery we tried to untangle, I’d been the real monster and we’d all pretended we didn’t know it. I’d been half right a week ago. A killer had woken up on that South Carolina beach. A killer and a monster; that was who I was, and it was never going to change. So what?
actual rating: 2.5
Except for Nevermore - which honestly is just The Book of Which We Do Not Speak - this is by far my least favorite of the entire series. Sometimes I don't even read it when I do the whole series and this time I actually came back to it after I read Downfall which is just a weird reading experience but I still wanted more Cal so I guess I'll do the bad books too lol. I will say the audio makes it so much more enjoyable, MacLeod Andrews does a really good job with this series and he brings some of the more sarcastic moments to life and makes the rest of it more bearable. And there are still quite a few great moments here, but I hate hate haaate the whole amnesia thing so much that it makes the book fairly annoying overall.
At least 70% of this book is just amnesia!Cal wandering around whining about whether he is a good person or not. Let me just step right in here and give you a real quick answer, Cal: NO! And that's not a bad thing! I don't read this series because I want to read about 'good' people and I like Cal better when he is more Auphe than not. I would not necessarily call Cal a flat out bad person either, but I think he is definitely willing to do bad things without much regret if it's what needs to be done [or will help Niko] and in his life that's not a bad thing. I'm sure this book appeals to a certain part of the fandom, but this watered down constantly worrying version of Cal is so far from the entire reason that I like his character that it is almost painful at times.
Luckily he comes through it and does some really savage shit at the end - I love when he thinks outside the box with using his gates - but this is a definite low point in the series for me. The one good thing about this book is that he finally works through the last of his self doubt and just accepts himself for who he is. Thankfully the next two books are probably my favorites in the whole series so even though I dread coming to this part of the series it's easy to move on. ;)
August 1, 2011
There really hasn't been a paranormal series that I have enjoyed as much Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series. I can be a harsh critic of urban fantasy because the genre has already defined itself with a series of clichés including snarky protagonists and monsters that induce romantic fantasies rather than nightmares. But Thurman's series about half-Auphe Cal and his human brother Niko worked for me because Cal had good reason to snark and the inventiveness of the series brought a freshness to a genre that seemed to quickly be collapsing under the weight of a glut of copycats trying to capitalize on the new hot thing. But, and I really hate to say this, after six books the series seems to be losing some steam as it succumbs to clunky writing and a seeming lack of ideas.
When Cal Landros wakes up on the beach in beginning of the aptly named Blackout he doesn't know he's a monster, but he does quickly realize that he is a monster-killer when he sees the bodies of several giant spiders lying in the sand and the knowledge that he's the reason for the carnage. And Cal's okay with that even though he can't remember anything else about who he is or where he comes from.
Fortunately Cal wakes up in the fairly idyllic town of Nevah's Landing where amnesiacs are taken in like strays in given work at the local restaurant without too many questions. But before Cal can settle in, his brother Niko shows up and Cal begins to realize he didn't know that much about monsters after all.
"Blackout" is a book that spends a lot of time inside the head of the amnesiac version of Cal Leandros and I haven't decided if that's a good place to be. I've always liked Cal but I'm not sure how much interaction I want with the innermost thoughts of a twenty-something guy and his thoughts about this size of his family jewels-- and Rob Thurman isn't so polite when it comes to how she refers to said jewels; which is kind of jarring when that happens more than once.
All kidding aside, "Blackout" is a big departure from what I've come to expect from this series and different isn't always a good thing. Cal is a dark character. He has a rough history that shapes his character and it is interesting to see what kind of guy he would be without carrying all that baggage. But it becomes apparent after the first one-hundred pages or so that a reader can only handle so much introspection before you get a little bored. When I pick up a book by Rob Thurman I expect rapid-fire dialog, action and a wide variety of myth-based bad guys and "Blackout" kind of falls short on every level.
But if I had to point to one thing that I have to critique, it's the clumsiness of the writing. I did notice that the last book of the series, "Roadkill," didn't always have a flow that was easy for me to follow, but I didn't want to mention that in my last review because I was reading a review copy and I was sure that sort of thing would be ironed out before the final copy hit the shelves. Now I wonder. As I read "Blackout" I had a few moments where I would have to stop and fight my way through a paragraph to make sure I understood what was being said. At first I put this down to the stream-of-consciousness thing that goes on when you're reading a narrative based on someone's thoughts. But, as time went on, it became more distracting and that's when I started marking the pages so I could go back and quote passages like the one that follows-- with particular emphasis on the italicized portion.
That's how the passage is written- exactly. I can't make heads or tails of it. When the writer speaks of the eight hearts that once contained "them" are we taking about blood being a "them?" I'm so confused. I read and re-read this over and over...and still don't get it. Is it me? If it seems as if I'm being nit-picky, let me just say that this wasn't the only sentence of dubious structure to show up. It was just the one that I chose to mention.
And that for me sums up my frustration with "Blackout." It just didn't feel like the earlier books. I like that Thurman chose to explore Cal's character, but a lot of what made the series great just isn't present here. I loved that little creatures like the bodach would find their way into the story in past books and scare the bejesus out of me. There is the requisite villain, but the character doesn't have much oomph. She's described very prettily, but has little depth. The loyalty between Cal and Niko is also still there, but I missed the shared knowledge between the two that forms the glue of so much of their story. In the end this book feels a little rushed between the choppiness of the writing and the predictability of the ending.
When you look at my review and compare it to what you seen on Amazon (mostly 5 star reviews so far) it's going to seem that I'm being unduly hard on "Blackout," but I don't think I am. From my view that simply means that readers have lower expectations when it comes to paranormal fiction and review accordingly. And maybe that's fair most of the time. But I personally think Thurman is a better author than this. She's proven that paranormal fiction doesn't have to be sweaty werewolves or preening vampires and for that reason I have set an uncommonly high standard for her. I'm sad that "Blackout" didn't work for me. I will give this series a chance to pick up the slack, but I fear that Thurman is trying to write too many books too quickly nowadays (three series'?) and the overall quality of the work is suffering. I'd still give the book 3 out of 5 stars for being better than most paranormal fiction, but still... I was hoping for more.
When Cal Landros wakes up on the beach in beginning of the aptly named Blackout he doesn't know he's a monster, but he does quickly realize that he is a monster-killer when he sees the bodies of several giant spiders lying in the sand and the knowledge that he's the reason for the carnage. And Cal's okay with that even though he can't remember anything else about who he is or where he comes from.
Fortunately Cal wakes up in the fairly idyllic town of Nevah's Landing where amnesiacs are taken in like strays in given work at the local restaurant without too many questions. But before Cal can settle in, his brother Niko shows up and Cal begins to realize he didn't know that much about monsters after all.
"Blackout" is a book that spends a lot of time inside the head of the amnesiac version of Cal Leandros and I haven't decided if that's a good place to be. I've always liked Cal but I'm not sure how much interaction I want with the innermost thoughts of a twenty-something guy and his thoughts about this size of his family jewels-- and Rob Thurman isn't so polite when it comes to how she refers to said jewels; which is kind of jarring when that happens more than once.
All kidding aside, "Blackout" is a big departure from what I've come to expect from this series and different isn't always a good thing. Cal is a dark character. He has a rough history that shapes his character and it is interesting to see what kind of guy he would be without carrying all that baggage. But it becomes apparent after the first one-hundred pages or so that a reader can only handle so much introspection before you get a little bored. When I pick up a book by Rob Thurman I expect rapid-fire dialog, action and a wide variety of myth-based bad guys and "Blackout" kind of falls short on every level.
But if I had to point to one thing that I have to critique, it's the clumsiness of the writing. I did notice that the last book of the series, "Roadkill," didn't always have a flow that was easy for me to follow, but I didn't want to mention that in my last review because I was reading a review copy and I was sure that sort of thing would be ironed out before the final copy hit the shelves. Now I wonder. As I read "Blackout" I had a few moments where I would have to stop and fight my way through a paragraph to make sure I understood what was being said. At first I put this down to the stream-of-consciousness thing that goes on when you're reading a narrative based on someone's thoughts. But, as time went on, it became more distracting and that's when I started marking the pages so I could go back and quote passages like the one that follows-- with particular emphasis on the italicized portion.
I was still tasting blood from the Wolf's kiss when we made it home. The tang didn't mix that badly with the wasabi mayonnaise, but it was still blood and we found more of the same waiting for us. The window hadn't been fixed yet...It was so high that getting anyone out there was going to be a pain in the ass. I saw learning glass replacement and where to find tall-ass ladders in NYC in my future.
The blood would've been carried through that break in the glass...and rested in the eight hearts that had once contained them. I'd smelled it a block away--as little as it was, which was why Nik unlocked the door and then went through ahead of me with a sword drawn and an elbow in my gut to keep me back.
That's how the passage is written- exactly. I can't make heads or tails of it. When the writer speaks of the eight hearts that once contained "them" are we taking about blood being a "them?" I'm so confused. I read and re-read this over and over...and still don't get it. Is it me? If it seems as if I'm being nit-picky, let me just say that this wasn't the only sentence of dubious structure to show up. It was just the one that I chose to mention.
And that for me sums up my frustration with "Blackout." It just didn't feel like the earlier books. I like that Thurman chose to explore Cal's character, but a lot of what made the series great just isn't present here. I loved that little creatures like the bodach would find their way into the story in past books and scare the bejesus out of me. There is the requisite villain, but the character doesn't have much oomph. She's described very prettily, but has little depth. The loyalty between Cal and Niko is also still there, but I missed the shared knowledge between the two that forms the glue of so much of their story. In the end this book feels a little rushed between the choppiness of the writing and the predictability of the ending.
When you look at my review and compare it to what you seen on Amazon (mostly 5 star reviews so far) it's going to seem that I'm being unduly hard on "Blackout," but I don't think I am. From my view that simply means that readers have lower expectations when it comes to paranormal fiction and review accordingly. And maybe that's fair most of the time. But I personally think Thurman is a better author than this. She's proven that paranormal fiction doesn't have to be sweaty werewolves or preening vampires and for that reason I have set an uncommonly high standard for her. I'm sad that "Blackout" didn't work for me. I will give this series a chance to pick up the slack, but I fear that Thurman is trying to write too many books too quickly nowadays (three series'?) and the overall quality of the work is suffering. I'd still give the book 3 out of 5 stars for being better than most paranormal fiction, but still... I was hoping for more.
January 12, 2016
5 Stars
Blackout is the 6th adventure for the Leandros brothers. The Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman has been a guilty pleasure series of reads for me that I have truly enjoyed reading. This is the first book in the series that I am giving full marks. Blackout is a smart set of story telling by Thurman. It was done when the series needed it most, basically giving a restart kick in the ass. Although the overall story line (amnesia) and plot (big scary baddie killing too many needs to be put down), are very simple and straightforward, Thurman handles it through creative moment.
No spoilers but I am pretty sure that every reader will know what the outcome will be from page one. No shock there. They will also see the way that Thurman is manipulating us and the series through this mechanism. Everything is transparent. Hell, Cal even has several of his own "aha" moments. But all of this doesn't detract one bit from the fact the series needed this story, Cal needed these events, and we the reader the reboot. It is freaking awesome.
The mechanics behind amnesia allowed us the reader to get insights into our favorite brooding hero that which we have never before. There were quiet moments that we beautiful. There was dialog that was thoughtful. There was even glimpses of serious intelligence and understanding. Awesome stuff.
Blackout, like all the books in the series shines through witty and smart ass dialogue. It is dynamic due to the awesome protagonists and their killer side kick friends. I love it.
Cal, Nikos, and
"“Yeah, I’m the life of the party all right. I’m surprised balloons don’t pop out of my ass and streamers fall wherever I go.”"
This is a fantastic dark urban fantasy series that gets better and better. My highest recommendations.
Blackout is the 6th adventure for the Leandros brothers. The Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman has been a guilty pleasure series of reads for me that I have truly enjoyed reading. This is the first book in the series that I am giving full marks. Blackout is a smart set of story telling by Thurman. It was done when the series needed it most, basically giving a restart kick in the ass. Although the overall story line (amnesia) and plot (big scary baddie killing too many needs to be put down), are very simple and straightforward, Thurman handles it through creative moment.
No spoilers but I am pretty sure that every reader will know what the outcome will be from page one. No shock there. They will also see the way that Thurman is manipulating us and the series through this mechanism. Everything is transparent. Hell, Cal even has several of his own "aha" moments. But all of this doesn't detract one bit from the fact the series needed this story, Cal needed these events, and we the reader the reboot. It is freaking awesome.
The mechanics behind amnesia allowed us the reader to get insights into our favorite brooding hero that which we have never before. There were quiet moments that we beautiful. There was dialog that was thoughtful. There was even glimpses of serious intelligence and understanding. Awesome stuff.
Blackout, like all the books in the series shines through witty and smart ass dialogue. It is dynamic due to the awesome protagonists and their killer side kick friends. I love it.
Cal, Nikos, and
"“Yeah, I’m the life of the party all right. I’m surprised balloons don’t pop out of my ass and streamers fall wherever I go.”"
This is a fantastic dark urban fantasy series that gets better and better. My highest recommendations.
July 24, 2011
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why this series is not more popular. Not only does Rob Thurman deliver one of the most original and amusing voices in all of urban fantasy in Cal Leandros, but the series also manages to provide some of the best sidekicks as well. Puck masquerading as a used car salesman, Robin Goodfellow provides some of my favorite comedic relief in the genre, while soybean-eating, katana-yielding Niko Leandros is a stealthy and staunch rock for his brother to lean on.
Blackout is the best of the series to date. When Cal wakes up with no memories of who he is or what has happened to him, Thurman takes the opportunity to remind readers of what drew us to the series to begin with and how far her characters have come (though not always in a good way). As always, the action is intense and insistent, providing Cal and co. little time to rest before the next crisis is at hand. As Cal slowly begins to string together the pieces of himself, we are treated to Thurman’s usual wit and to the familial closeness that has grown among these three characters.
And to date, I am still unable to look at forks without laughter bursting forth. Want to know what I mean? Do yourself a favor and read the book.
http://abookandashortlatte.wordpress....
Blackout is the best of the series to date. When Cal wakes up with no memories of who he is or what has happened to him, Thurman takes the opportunity to remind readers of what drew us to the series to begin with and how far her characters have come (though not always in a good way). As always, the action is intense and insistent, providing Cal and co. little time to rest before the next crisis is at hand. As Cal slowly begins to string together the pieces of himself, we are treated to Thurman’s usual wit and to the familial closeness that has grown among these three characters.
And to date, I am still unable to look at forks without laughter bursting forth. Want to know what I mean? Do yourself a favor and read the book.
http://abookandashortlatte.wordpress....
February 27, 2016
4 1/2 stars.
I'm impressed that this series is still going strong and getting stronger at some levels.
Given the blurb, I was afraid this book was going to be pitch dark, darker than Cal and Niko's wardrobe dark; but it surprised me. Of course it wasn't unicorns and rainbows happy--this series will never be that, and I wouldn't want it to be--but there were some genuinely funny moments and some heartfelt moments, as well.
Thurman uses the partial amnesia plot device expertly. Instead of going with a totally Auphed-out Cal, as book 5 would've led the reader to guess, she went with a Cal who has his Auphe side temporarily repressed. And he's no Boy Scout, but he believes in the possibility that he's a good person, even while a voice in his head tells him all monsters are evil. My concern for the character and dread of what he might do next were similar to what I felt back when Harry Dresden started wielding Hellfire. What Niko does, with Robin's help, to try to keep the alternate version of his brother around because he thinks Cal is happier that way is so poignant.
When I reached the end, when Cal chose to face the truth and had to deal with a new problem I'd never even considered, I definitely felt melancholy. The writing taps into the mixed emotions and expresses them wonderfully. What could have been, what could never be, what Cal and Niko have to do to survive...I had to sit with it all and think about it awhile. It's entertaining urban fantasy on one hand and something more, something amazingly deep on the other.
BTW...Thurman does a hell of a job with her action scenes, and she out-guys some male authors in terms of writing from a male point of view, with its locker-room and strip-club talk. Definitely not for those who prefer their fiction PG-rated.
I'm impressed that this series is still going strong and getting stronger at some levels.
Given the blurb, I was afraid this book was going to be pitch dark, darker than Cal and Niko's wardrobe dark; but it surprised me. Of course it wasn't unicorns and rainbows happy--this series will never be that, and I wouldn't want it to be--but there were some genuinely funny moments and some heartfelt moments, as well.
Thurman uses the partial amnesia plot device expertly. Instead of going with a totally Auphed-out Cal, as book 5 would've led the reader to guess, she went with a Cal who has his Auphe side temporarily repressed. And he's no Boy Scout, but he believes in the possibility that he's a good person, even while a voice in his head tells him all monsters are evil. My concern for the character and dread of what he might do next were similar to what I felt back when Harry Dresden started wielding Hellfire. What Niko does, with Robin's help, to try to keep the alternate version of his brother around because he thinks Cal is happier that way is so poignant.
When I reached the end, when Cal chose to face the truth and had to deal with a new problem I'd never even considered, I definitely felt melancholy. The writing taps into the mixed emotions and expresses them wonderfully. What could have been, what could never be, what Cal and Niko have to do to survive...I had to sit with it all and think about it awhile. It's entertaining urban fantasy on one hand and something more, something amazingly deep on the other.
BTW...Thurman does a hell of a job with her action scenes, and she out-guys some male authors in terms of writing from a male point of view, with its locker-room and strip-club talk. Definitely not for those who prefer their fiction PG-rated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2013
Grumble. A watered-down amnesiac Cal Leandros yapping on and on about how he hopes he's a good guy and how he wants to be worthy of his brother is not my idea of an awesome read. It certainly doesn't measure up to the books that came before.
Still, I'm sticking with the series because I think this particular plot was mostly to blame for my bad attitude. Amnesia stories are not my favorite, The Rook notwithstanding.
Might have to take a break before I pick up another one, but pick up another one I shall. Eventually.
Still, I'm sticking with the series because I think this particular plot was mostly to blame for my bad attitude. Amnesia stories are not my favorite, The Rook notwithstanding.
Might have to take a break before I pick up another one, but pick up another one I shall. Eventually.
April 3, 2011
After Roadkill, I really thought that Thurman's latest installment of the Cal Leandros series would be about Cal and his increasing battle (which worries me, as he seems to be losing) with his Auphe half. Instead, Blackout opens with Cal on a beach in South Carolina, with no memory and surrounded by really big, really dead spiders. The rest of the story follows the amnesiac Cal and, eventually, Niko and Robin as Cal tries to recover his memories and the trio tries to stop a killer who targets and eats the life force of supernatural beings. As a result, a lot of Blackout rehashes things we already know about Cal and his past, but seen through the eyes of a Cal who doesn't know he's not 100% human.
Several times throughout this book I felt like I should be annoyed at Thurman for going over things we already know about Cal, his relationship with Niko and the people (most of whom aren't actually people) that surround him. Much like I keep waiting for the neverending one liners and constant sarcasm (and I love lots of good sarcasm in my books) to start bothering me. As with the snark, this never happens; instead, I love it even more.
Thurman has, once again, written a book that has action, a great cast of characters and dialogue (much of it in Cal's head) that would make my own head explode if I had to try and write it. Robin, though he's still in a monogamous relationship, is as pervy as ever and supernaturals like Wahanket, Promise (one of the few characters I just don't really like, not sure why), Boggle and her Boglets, to name a few, show up as well. Also front and center, as it is the with all of the Leandros books (and I love it), is the us against the world relationship between Cal and Niko. Though Cal picks up on it, in large part because Niko is Niko and does whatever he can to protect Cal, and reciprocates somewhat, in Blackout, Niko is the only one that's truly aware of their tight bond and past. He has to deal with the fact that he may never get back that Cal, who's now more human and happier (Well, as happy as even an Aupheless Cal could ever really be.) than he's ever been; mostly because he's not aware of the existence of the Auphe, let alone that he's half one. In fact, the new Cal thinks all non-humans are monsters that should die, which leads to some funny interactions that include Robin and the business end of a fork.
One geek comment - bring back the original Cal on the (awesome) covers! I don't care if the guy's not living in NYC anymore. Have him pose, take a picture and e-mail it to the artist. Seriously, that's the only thing that bothered me about this book. If you've liked/loved the past Leandros novels, you'll probably feel the same way about Blackout. The last line of the book has me biting my nails because it looks like the human genes vs. Auphe genes battle may be heating up again in the next book. As usual, I can't wait for it.
Several times throughout this book I felt like I should be annoyed at Thurman for going over things we already know about Cal, his relationship with Niko and the people (most of whom aren't actually people) that surround him. Much like I keep waiting for the neverending one liners and constant sarcasm (and I love lots of good sarcasm in my books) to start bothering me. As with the snark, this never happens; instead, I love it even more.
Thurman has, once again, written a book that has action, a great cast of characters and dialogue (much of it in Cal's head) that would make my own head explode if I had to try and write it. Robin, though he's still in a monogamous relationship, is as pervy as ever and supernaturals like Wahanket, Promise (one of the few characters I just don't really like, not sure why), Boggle and her Boglets, to name a few, show up as well. Also front and center, as it is the with all of the Leandros books (and I love it), is the us against the world relationship between Cal and Niko. Though Cal picks up on it, in large part because Niko is Niko and does whatever he can to protect Cal, and reciprocates somewhat, in Blackout, Niko is the only one that's truly aware of their tight bond and past. He has to deal with the fact that he may never get back that Cal, who's now more human and happier (Well, as happy as even an Aupheless Cal could ever really be.) than he's ever been; mostly because he's not aware of the existence of the Auphe, let alone that he's half one. In fact, the new Cal thinks all non-humans are monsters that should die, which leads to some funny interactions that include Robin and the business end of a fork.
One geek comment - bring back the original Cal on the (awesome) covers! I don't care if the guy's not living in NYC anymore. Have him pose, take a picture and e-mail it to the artist. Seriously, that's the only thing that bothered me about this book. If you've liked/loved the past Leandros novels, you'll probably feel the same way about Blackout. The last line of the book has me biting my nails because it looks like the human genes vs. Auphe genes battle may be heating up again in the next book. As usual, I can't wait for it.
March 12, 2011
Cal is half-human and half-Auphe, the world’s original monsters and first beings to walk on the planet. Raised by his brother, they’ve not only had to fight off the Auphe who wanted to use Cal, but with their monster-fighting skills, take on jobs stopping other murdering creatures. They’ve come a long way since the first book where they wouldn’t stay in one place long enough to form a friendship; always running from the Auphe. Not only is Cal now the only Auphe left, but he’s embraced his Auphe-abilities to the extent that his Auphe genes are now dominant to his human ones. Cal can be a monster.
In this latest book, Cal wakes up on a beach surrounded by dead Nepenthe spiders. He understands he’s a killer—and easily makes the distinction that he’s not a murderer— but can’t recall who or what he is. It takes Niko and Robin four days to find him, but since Cal appears to be happy not remembering that he’s part monster, they keep that bit of info from him while trying to stop Ammut, a creature as old as Robin who feeds on life force, leaving the victim a dried out husk. As Cal’s memories slowly return, he must come to grips with what’s most important to him.
I had a difficult time deciding whether or not I liked the book. The things I enjoyed in the prior books are all there; humor, sarcasm, scary creatures, action, a good story and all of the secondary characters we’ve come to know. But I don’t know if this book has more internal dialogue and self-reflection—some of which is excellent—than the prior books, or if I’m just getting tired of it. Much of it was important, but there could be paragraphs of internal monologue in the middle of a conversation.
Seeing Cal’s philosophy without knowing about his monster-half is definitely interesting, as is his understanding of what his brother has done or given up for him and how Cal feels about that. We’ve only had small glimpses of this in past books, but without being weighed down with the thought that he’s a monster, Cal is able to mature in this story and eventually comes to terms.
This could easily be the last book in the series, and I hope it is. I've been there since the first book came out when learning about Cal and Niko was fresh, as was Cal's sarcasm which made the book a real treat. But it no longer feels fresh and the inner dialogue is bogging down the story.
In this latest book, Cal wakes up on a beach surrounded by dead Nepenthe spiders. He understands he’s a killer—and easily makes the distinction that he’s not a murderer— but can’t recall who or what he is. It takes Niko and Robin four days to find him, but since Cal appears to be happy not remembering that he’s part monster, they keep that bit of info from him while trying to stop Ammut, a creature as old as Robin who feeds on life force, leaving the victim a dried out husk. As Cal’s memories slowly return, he must come to grips with what’s most important to him.
I had a difficult time deciding whether or not I liked the book. The things I enjoyed in the prior books are all there; humor, sarcasm, scary creatures, action, a good story and all of the secondary characters we’ve come to know. But I don’t know if this book has more internal dialogue and self-reflection—some of which is excellent—than the prior books, or if I’m just getting tired of it. Much of it was important, but there could be paragraphs of internal monologue in the middle of a conversation.
Seeing Cal’s philosophy without knowing about his monster-half is definitely interesting, as is his understanding of what his brother has done or given up for him and how Cal feels about that. We’ve only had small glimpses of this in past books, but without being weighed down with the thought that he’s a monster, Cal is able to mature in this story and eventually comes to terms.
This could easily be the last book in the series, and I hope it is. I've been there since the first book came out when learning about Cal and Niko was fresh, as was Cal's sarcasm which made the book a real treat. But it no longer feels fresh and the inner dialogue is bogging down the story.
November 27, 2014
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After reading “Roadkill” I thought that I wouldn’t love another book from this series as much as I loved that one. I am glad I was wrong. “Blackout” was a great book for many reasons. I was expecting a different kind of book. I thought that we were going to see Cal’s internal battle and after that his dark powers coming to life. What I actually see? A better understanding and acceptance of himself.
Cal wakes up with amnesia in a beach far away from home with slaughtered monsters all around him. He tries to start a life in this place but soon his brother comes and finds him… as always.
I really liked Cal and that’s why I believe that this hard on him. While he had amnesia and when everyone was talking about him and showing him photos, he formed a not so good opinion of himself. He thought that he was dangerous and unhappy. But with that, slowly comes the acceptance. For the first time, he doesn’t mention his bond with Niko because he doesn’t recognize him. It’s like getting to know him once more and, of course, he can see that Niko is an amazing person.
Niko has a hard time watching his brother with amnesia. But he’s willing to keep him that way if he’s happy. Once more we see Niko to care more about his brother than himself. Every time I read a flashback from their childhood, I cry for Niko because he was never a child. He was always a big brother and a parent and that must be hard for him. But he loves his brother so much and he wants him happy. He’s not a perfect person. He makes mistakes and he was a weakness. But the fact that he’s only human and he fights like the devil to protect his little brother who is more powerful than him, speaks volumes for his character.
My only complaint is that I wanted more Goodfellow! Please, don’t do that again! I need a Goodfellow overdose with each book!!
I loved the plot, the characters, the writing-style, the world-building… everything! I am a huge fan of this series and I recommend it to all the fans of this genre!
March 27, 2011
4.5 stars, just great. Cal's voice is so clear and the world feels so real (even Robin's sometimes fantastic stories - Oedipus, Khan, "release the kraken" - ring true) that I forget that I'm reading a book written by a regular human author. And a female one at that. Hope, despair, abiding love, deeply twisted humor, and sharp sarcasm, Thurman has it all. Plus Fang! If you guys haven't read the books about Eric the vampire and his car Fang by her buddy J.F. Lewis, you really should. They also have a very dark, twisted sense of humor.
March 5, 2011
Ugh, why did she have to get rid of new!Cal. I hate regular Cal. He's all darkn'edgy. That's not characterisation. It's just lazy.
May 5, 2011
This book was not what I expected after the events that took place in Roadkill and the way that book concluded but the surprise was extremely pleasant I must say.
SPOILER ALERT
There are going to be spoilers ahead so anyone who wish to read the series better avert your eyes!!
In Roadkill we started to realize that the more Cal uses his power to open gates the more his dormant Auphe genes come to surface and battle with his human ones. A battle the human genes seem to lose, as his Auphe nature becomes stronger and wilder. And Cal seems to embrace his ruthless predatory nature.
So needless to say that what I expected in Blackout was a wild ride on the dark side hosted by Cal! Boy was I in for surprises!!!! Thurman took a very unexpecteted U-turn and although it looks like a regression at first in the end it is a leap forward.
Cal wakes up on a beach littered with the dead bodies of monster-like creatures. The creatures are slaughtered and he knows that he's the one doing it as he knows that he is a killer and it is in his nature...but he doesn't remember anything else, his name, his past, even his brother Niko, but most important of all he doesn't remember what he really is, a crossbreed of human and Auphe.
With the amnesia as a vehicle we are treated with a glimpse of what Cal could be without his Auphe heritage and the baggage that this heritage carries. With his kick-ass/devil may care attitude, snarky comments, laziness and love for guns still intact, we see a lighter, happier version of Cal. His inner thoughts are often hilarious but they are also very insightful. At one point Niko shows him a picture taken at Isiah's bar in order to help him remember who he is and Cal realises in shock that if he thought himself a bad-ass he has nothing on "old" Cal who seems so dark and intense and like he says to Nico: "old Cal looks like a bomb in mid-explosion" and not very happy.
What I liked even more about this book is the fact that we get to see even more deeper in Niko's psyche, we see what makes him tick, his inner core and ofcourse we see once more how absolute is his love for Cal, he would destroy the whole world in order to save his brother.
This book isn't perfect (well for one thing I would like to see my favourite Puck more) and at some points Cal's inner bubble is a bit too much eventhough it IS necessary, but despite it's faults IMO this is the best book in the series so far, plus it has all the things I loved in this story, it is dark and funny at the same time, action-packed and with a nice twist in the end.
I don't think this the end of the road for Cal, Nico and Robin and personally I can't wait for the next book.
SPOILER ALERT
There are going to be spoilers ahead so anyone who wish to read the series better avert your eyes!!
In Roadkill we started to realize that the more Cal uses his power to open gates the more his dormant Auphe genes come to surface and battle with his human ones. A battle the human genes seem to lose, as his Auphe nature becomes stronger and wilder. And Cal seems to embrace his ruthless predatory nature.
So needless to say that what I expected in Blackout was a wild ride on the dark side hosted by Cal! Boy was I in for surprises!!!! Thurman took a very unexpecteted U-turn and although it looks like a regression at first in the end it is a leap forward.
Cal wakes up on a beach littered with the dead bodies of monster-like creatures. The creatures are slaughtered and he knows that he's the one doing it as he knows that he is a killer and it is in his nature...but he doesn't remember anything else, his name, his past, even his brother Niko, but most important of all he doesn't remember what he really is, a crossbreed of human and Auphe.
With the amnesia as a vehicle we are treated with a glimpse of what Cal could be without his Auphe heritage and the baggage that this heritage carries. With his kick-ass/devil may care attitude, snarky comments, laziness and love for guns still intact, we see a lighter, happier version of Cal. His inner thoughts are often hilarious but they are also very insightful. At one point Niko shows him a picture taken at Isiah's bar in order to help him remember who he is and Cal realises in shock that if he thought himself a bad-ass he has nothing on "old" Cal who seems so dark and intense and like he says to Nico: "old Cal looks like a bomb in mid-explosion" and not very happy.
What I liked even more about this book is the fact that we get to see even more deeper in Niko's psyche, we see what makes him tick, his inner core and ofcourse we see once more how absolute is his love for Cal, he would destroy the whole world in order to save his brother.
This book isn't perfect (well for one thing I would like to see my favourite Puck more) and at some points Cal's inner bubble is a bit too much eventhough it IS necessary, but despite it's faults IMO this is the best book in the series so far, plus it has all the things I loved in this story, it is dark and funny at the same time, action-packed and with a nice twist in the end.
I don't think this the end of the road for Cal, Nico and Robin and personally I can't wait for the next book.
March 8, 2011
3.5 stars
He wakes up at a beach, remembering nothing but the knowing that he is a good killer and that monsters are bad. Then when he reaches a motel to stay, he finds three fake names. He gets a free hair cut, he works as a waiter ... then two guys, one claiming to be his brother comes to take him back to New York. They say that his name is Cal; but who is Cal and how can he believe that not ALL monsters are bad. And what is with the killer spiders and monsters asking of his brothers and sisters ...
At first, the idea is very welcoming. This is the new!Cal. He might still be an effective killer, but because he cannot remember anything, his way of looking at monsters are different. He is not as "dark" as before even if he cannot remember his brother and his friend. He questions whether he wants to go back to old!Cal because old!Cal does not look happy. He does not lose his snarks, though, which of course still amuses me to no end. And I'm waiting until Cal remembers Niko, remembers his friends, remembers everything
... Unfortunately, for me, this amnesia plot drags on. I find that Cal gets his memory back few chapters too long. I kind of lose my patience and starts skimming the books to get to that point.
I guess my biggest problem is that my favorite character in this series is Niko. It's sucks that I don't know his thinking of his little brother doesn't remember who he is. One of my favorite scenes is where Niko asks new!Cal to call him by his name, Niko ... instead of Leandros (new!Cal decides to call him Leandros, since he cannot remember anything, so Niko doesn't mean anything for him). It will be more effective for me, I think, if the book is written like book #4, so I know what Niko is feeling. At this point, I start to get annoyed with the story, because what new!Cal is doing, hurts Niko.
Also because of new!Cal is seeing things with "new" eyes and no memory, I miss his banters with Robin. Here, he doesn't trust Robin that easily though he gets more familiar with the puck as the story progress. Robin still provides some portion of the entertainment of course, by flaunting his monogamist life ("Robin Goodfellow, Monogamite, established 2010", that makes me smile widely *lol*)
The ending is good though ... I appreciate the less darkness in this one. Even if I skim most part after the first 2/3 of the story. I wish there is more editing to the technical part, because one of the flaws of this series is that sometimes the narrative is exhausting.
Still, I'd welcome the next book with open hands.
He wakes up at a beach, remembering nothing but the knowing that he is a good killer and that monsters are bad. Then when he reaches a motel to stay, he finds three fake names. He gets a free hair cut, he works as a waiter ... then two guys, one claiming to be his brother comes to take him back to New York. They say that his name is Cal; but who is Cal and how can he believe that not ALL monsters are bad. And what is with the killer spiders and monsters asking of his brothers and sisters ...
At first, the idea is very welcoming. This is the new!Cal. He might still be an effective killer, but because he cannot remember anything, his way of looking at monsters are different. He is not as "dark" as before even if he cannot remember his brother and his friend. He questions whether he wants to go back to old!Cal because old!Cal does not look happy. He does not lose his snarks, though, which of course still amuses me to no end. And I'm waiting until Cal remembers Niko, remembers his friends, remembers everything
... Unfortunately, for me, this amnesia plot drags on. I find that Cal gets his memory back few chapters too long. I kind of lose my patience and starts skimming the books to get to that point.
I guess my biggest problem is that my favorite character in this series is Niko. It's sucks that I don't know his thinking of his little brother doesn't remember who he is. One of my favorite scenes is where Niko asks new!Cal to call him by his name, Niko ... instead of Leandros (new!Cal decides to call him Leandros, since he cannot remember anything, so Niko doesn't mean anything for him). It will be more effective for me, I think, if the book is written like book #4, so I know what Niko is feeling. At this point, I start to get annoyed with the story, because what new!Cal is doing, hurts Niko.
Also because of new!Cal is seeing things with "new" eyes and no memory, I miss his banters with Robin. Here, he doesn't trust Robin that easily though he gets more familiar with the puck as the story progress. Robin still provides some portion of the entertainment of course, by flaunting his monogamist life ("Robin Goodfellow, Monogamite, established 2010", that makes me smile widely *lol*)
The ending is good though ... I appreciate the less darkness in this one. Even if I skim most part after the first 2/3 of the story. I wish there is more editing to the technical part, because one of the flaws of this series is that sometimes the narrative is exhausting.
Still, I'd welcome the next book with open hands.
March 7, 2011
This book was quite a surprise as it didn't go the way I thought the book following Roadkill would go. (Roadkill, btw, one of the sadest ending of a book I've ever read, when Catcher finally went completely Wolf and Rafferty followed him into the wild, serious lump in the throat.) I expected Cal to slip further down the dangerous Auphe-hill and into more madness. Instead we get Good Cal who can't remember a thing except that he is a killer and that there are monsters in this world.
I thought it was a brilliant way to have a new indepth look at the Leandros brothers relationship, and let's face it, they are the reason for me reading this series at all. Cal basically had to get to know Nik all over and that made for both funny and heartbreaking reading. The fact that as a reader you know all about how Nik feels about his brother made me hate Good Cal a little bit sometimes. I mean, he might have been happier, but he was in no way a nice guy.
There was also lots of Robin, Salome and Ishiah which was great. I just love Robin, he is so much fun, but he can also turn on the serious like he does when he tells Cal to stop making jokes about Nik's devotion to his safety. Ish has turned down the wrathful angel act, made me think better of him. Maybe he actually is deserving of the awesomeness that is the puck Robin Goodfellow?
Ammut and her spiders felt like they were mostly being used to further the relationship plot, and that's fine. After Roadkill's BIG baddie, it was nice with an opponent that felt more beatable and not have that "end of the world" feel to it. And also the amnesia leading Cal to finding his *shudder* brothers and sisters was brilliant. Overall, the last few chapters were perfect, with Cal saving Nik with his gate and him turning into Old Cal again, without too much emotional drama, his brother needed him back and that was that, being human was just a dream and not even a very good one.
I thought it was a brilliant way to have a new indepth look at the Leandros brothers relationship, and let's face it, they are the reason for me reading this series at all. Cal basically had to get to know Nik all over and that made for both funny and heartbreaking reading. The fact that as a reader you know all about how Nik feels about his brother made me hate Good Cal a little bit sometimes. I mean, he might have been happier, but he was in no way a nice guy.
There was also lots of Robin, Salome and Ishiah which was great. I just love Robin, he is so much fun, but he can also turn on the serious like he does when he tells Cal to stop making jokes about Nik's devotion to his safety. Ish has turned down the wrathful angel act, made me think better of him. Maybe he actually is deserving of the awesomeness that is the puck Robin Goodfellow?
Ammut and her spiders felt like they were mostly being used to further the relationship plot, and that's fine. After Roadkill's BIG baddie, it was nice with an opponent that felt more beatable and not have that "end of the world" feel to it. And also the amnesia leading Cal to finding his *shudder* brothers and sisters was brilliant. Overall, the last few chapters were perfect, with Cal saving Nik with his gate and him turning into Old Cal again, without too much emotional drama, his brother needed him back and that was that, being human was just a dream and not even a very good one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2011
When I first heard that Cal would suffer amnesia in this installment, I was afraid it would mean he'd spend the entire book alone trying to find out who he is. But, Thurman is more imaginative than that. In fact, Niko finds Cal right away (duh). Cal still doesn't remember who he is, but alá Jason Bourne, he remembers how to kill, and he's not sure he likes who he was before. Blackout is a very different book from the first five of the series. The purpose of the underlying mystery is a means for Cal to come to terms with himself; an end to self-loathing for being a "monster." It's a huge step for the character and, I think, for the series.
Cal gets bitten by a supernatural spider that causes his memory loss. More strangely, it seems to be suppressing his Auphe side as well, leading Niko to make a very tough choice. But, a choice that isn't really his to make. I think this installment has even more humor (the black kind, naturally) than the other books. Because Cal doesn't remember, readers get to "meet" many of the characters all over again and remember just why they are so endearing. Cal's constant inner monologue and his reactions to Niko's OCD- "my body is a temple," and the puck's depravity, had me laughing out loud several times. It was intriguing to watch Cal see himself and them through new eyes.
Overall, though I was thrown by how different this book was, I thought it was excellent. It is well-written, with the sharpest dialog yet, and a good launching pad for the next book. And, I was so satisfied to finally get an answer to the burning question...is Cal the only one the Auphe made? Highly recommended.
Cal gets bitten by a supernatural spider that causes his memory loss. More strangely, it seems to be suppressing his Auphe side as well, leading Niko to make a very tough choice. But, a choice that isn't really his to make. I think this installment has even more humor (the black kind, naturally) than the other books. Because Cal doesn't remember, readers get to "meet" many of the characters all over again and remember just why they are so endearing. Cal's constant inner monologue and his reactions to Niko's OCD- "my body is a temple," and the puck's depravity, had me laughing out loud several times. It was intriguing to watch Cal see himself and them through new eyes.
Overall, though I was thrown by how different this book was, I thought it was excellent. It is well-written, with the sharpest dialog yet, and a good launching pad for the next book. And, I was so satisfied to finally get an answer to the burning question...is Cal the only one the Auphe made? Highly recommended.
January 31, 2011
I'm happy to report that Blackout is a vast improvement from Roadkill, though still missing something from the first four. What I loved here is that Thurman gets to step out of her box as far as character's go. With Cal's memory loss, he becomes a completely different person. New Cal, if you will. New Cal thinks about things and possesses a far more sympathetic nature than regular Cal. As he is without his memory for the majority of the book, Thurman basically has the opportunity to create a new person. Some of the essential Cal things are still there - his love of guns, laziness and sloppiness, constant boredom stemming from Niko's lectures - but his view on monsters and killing them are different. The book is more about New Cal than any fighting or case. It was very much a character story, if that makes sense. I found it to be pleasant, which isn't a word I'd use for any of the other installments. It seemed to pause the progression into darkness that the previous books include.
For me, the biggest thing I realized was that I'm in love with Niko. I've always liked his character, but with the things he does in this book, I feel head over heels. He is amazing and just about makes up from the fact that George hasn't shown up in forever. By forever, I mean the last 3 books. (Seriously, will she EVER come back? I miss her dearly.)
For me, the biggest thing I realized was that I'm in love with Niko. I've always liked his character, but with the things he does in this book, I feel head over heels. He is amazing and just about makes up from the fact that George hasn't shown up in forever. By forever, I mean the last 3 books. (Seriously, will she EVER come back? I miss her dearly.)
March 12, 2011
4.5 (B+)
Well, Blackout was a surprise! After reading Roadkill, I was expecting dark and downright bloody. Instead Rob Thurman takes Cal and the reader on a trip to Neverland. Yes you heard right, it is Peter Pan all over again. The boy who didn't want to grow up and forgets his family because it's so much fun and easier to live a "let's pretend" life, than it is to live with reality. Thurman even reprises her own version of the land of "lost boys."
On the surface Blackout takes Cal's character backward. He's a blank slate and has to re-learn everything about himself, but in reality this is big leap forward for him. This is where Cal finally comes to terms with what and who he really is, for better or worse. There's much needed character growth for him and in my opinion this was well done by Thurman, even with the repetition found throughout the text and Cal's long internal dialogue. Blackout was a great addition to this series.
I admit to being initially disappointed and not understanding why Thurman was taking Cal's character backwards, I wanted dark Cal back. But as the story went along, the more I read the more it made sense to me. I absolutely loved the ending and that last line! Cal is now ready for what may come next -- Delilah, and/or whatever monsters are lying in wait in the dark, himself included. Bring on the next book!
Well, Blackout was a surprise! After reading Roadkill, I was expecting dark and downright bloody. Instead Rob Thurman takes Cal and the reader on a trip to Neverland. Yes you heard right, it is Peter Pan all over again. The boy who didn't want to grow up and forgets his family because it's so much fun and easier to live a "let's pretend" life, than it is to live with reality. Thurman even reprises her own version of the land of "lost boys."
On the surface Blackout takes Cal's character backward. He's a blank slate and has to re-learn everything about himself, but in reality this is big leap forward for him. This is where Cal finally comes to terms with what and who he really is, for better or worse. There's much needed character growth for him and in my opinion this was well done by Thurman, even with the repetition found throughout the text and Cal's long internal dialogue. Blackout was a great addition to this series.
I admit to being initially disappointed and not understanding why Thurman was taking Cal's character backwards, I wanted dark Cal back. But as the story went along, the more I read the more it made sense to me. I absolutely loved the ending and that last line! Cal is now ready for what may come next -- Delilah, and/or whatever monsters are lying in wait in the dark, himself included. Bring on the next book!
February 2, 2012
I admit I haven't been a faithful reader of this series, and now I'll have to go back and read the two books preceding this one that I missed. (yeah more books to read!) This novel though can be read alone. The previous books give you a nice background, but Ms. Thurman does a good job of reintroducing and explaining her world for the reader.
She can do this because Cal has developed amnesia. It is an amnesia that is specific to his identity and background. This is a plot that could go very wrong if not done right. Ms Thurman does it right. In this book we are can see the characters that inhabit this darker world with new eyes (or fresh ones if you have never read the series). We also have a Cal that by necessity, has become introspective.
Cal has always had a problem with self acceptance, by the end of this book he has finally accepted himself. He recognizes his darkness because he uses it to help people and most especially his brother. He even makes Niko tattoo this slogan on "Brothers before souls", he wants Niko and himself to remember, the Auphe and his memories, make him who he is. And who he is is Niko's brother and protector, just as Niko is his protector.
There is also plenty of action, great dialog, and some excellent world building. This is a change point for the series and I look forward to how it will continually develop.
She can do this because Cal has developed amnesia. It is an amnesia that is specific to his identity and background. This is a plot that could go very wrong if not done right. Ms Thurman does it right. In this book we are can see the characters that inhabit this darker world with new eyes (or fresh ones if you have never read the series). We also have a Cal that by necessity, has become introspective.
Cal has always had a problem with self acceptance, by the end of this book he has finally accepted himself. He recognizes his darkness because he uses it to help people and most especially his brother. He even makes Niko tattoo this slogan on "Brothers before souls", he wants Niko and himself to remember, the Auphe and his memories, make him who he is. And who he is is Niko's brother and protector, just as Niko is his protector.
There is also plenty of action, great dialog, and some excellent world building. This is a change point for the series and I look forward to how it will continually develop.
August 20, 2011
This book started out well, but then became pretty boring.
Cal wakes up on a beach in North Carolina with no memory of who he is or what he was doing there. One would think the reader would be anxious to get him back with our beloved characters as soon as possible, but, unfortunately, that's when things became far less interesting.
There are some good moments, but the humor seems forced and those beloved characters are not nearly as engaging when seen through the eyes of a Cal who doesn't know them. It's like they're being introduced to the reader for the first time again but with no new revelations from Cal's temporary outside perspective. A real missed opportunity there.
Cal's ruminations are constant and repetitive. At one point we have an action scene with a crucial point -- life or death -- and Cal goes into an inner monologue that lasts for about five pages and ends with him coming to the same conclusion he's come to about six times already in the book. Very frustrating. Especially since Thurman is usually pretty good at writing action.
I'm not sure if this series should have gone past the fourth book. It feels a bit like Cal, Niko and Robin are just vamping while Thurman searches for another arc.
Cal wakes up on a beach in North Carolina with no memory of who he is or what he was doing there. One would think the reader would be anxious to get him back with our beloved characters as soon as possible, but, unfortunately, that's when things became far less interesting.
There are some good moments, but the humor seems forced and those beloved characters are not nearly as engaging when seen through the eyes of a Cal who doesn't know them. It's like they're being introduced to the reader for the first time again but with no new revelations from Cal's temporary outside perspective. A real missed opportunity there.
Cal's ruminations are constant and repetitive. At one point we have an action scene with a crucial point -- life or death -- and Cal goes into an inner monologue that lasts for about five pages and ends with him coming to the same conclusion he's come to about six times already in the book. Very frustrating. Especially since Thurman is usually pretty good at writing action.
I'm not sure if this series should have gone past the fourth book. It feels a bit like Cal, Niko and Robin are just vamping while Thurman searches for another arc.
March 10, 2011
I've loved Rob Thurman's characters from the first Cal Leadros novel, Nightlife. With each book in the series, Thurman has brought life to Cal and his brother Niko, but it hasn't been until the last two books that the brothers' relationship to each other has become the centerpiece of the books. Does Niko care that Cal is half-Auphe (monster)? Of course he cares, but he is devoted to saving Cal from the monsters that plague and pursue him, even if it costs him his own life -- which it nearly does, several times. Does he make an almost unforgiveable error in Blackout? Yes, but even Cal realizes that he does it out of love. Niko wants Cal to be "happy." Cal is mature (really not a word I'd ever applied to him before), enough to admit that happiness, as the all too human Niko defines it, will never be his.
"Brothers before Souls" or "Bros before Souls" as Cal rather snarkily puts it, sums it all up, with enough chills and encounters with evil along to way to keep the plot racing along. Cal may be half-Auphe, but as long as he has Niko, he will also have a soul.
Really, I can't say how much I loved this book.
"Brothers before Souls" or "Bros before Souls" as Cal rather snarkily puts it, sums it all up, with enough chills and encounters with evil along to way to keep the plot racing along. Cal may be half-Auphe, but as long as he has Niko, he will also have a soul.
Really, I can't say how much I loved this book.
October 11, 2011
Not as epic as Roadkill but still an awesome entry in the Cal Leandros series. I love Cal. An entire book could be about him wandering New York for a day and I'd gobble it all up.
Seeing Cal take stock of his life was really interesting, until it got a little repetitive after half the book had gone by. I know it's realistic that he'd go around in circles trying to figure out his life this way, but at the same time, I was itching for Cal to be back to one hundred percent. And when he finally was, it was quite glorious.
I'm not sure what I thought about the epilogue.
But anyway. A great read and 3.5 stars.
Seeing Cal take stock of his life was really interesting, until it got a little repetitive after half the book had gone by. I know it's realistic that he'd go around in circles trying to figure out his life this way, but at the same time, I was itching for Cal to be back to one hundred percent. And when he finally was, it was quite glorious.
I'm not sure what I thought about the epilogue.
But anyway. A great read and 3.5 stars.
August 2, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It was really nice to see a Cal who was still badass and not constantly full of self loathing.
March 14, 2011
Outstanding! It's rare for a book in a series top the first, but this did it. This book grabs you by the shirt collar, yanks you off your feet, drags you around, and doesn't let go until you turn the last page. If you haven't picked up this series yet, all of the books are worth it so you can read this one.
The series seems to get stronger as it goes along, and Thurman doesn't miss a beat anywhere along the way. It's an action movie where the only suspension of disbelief needed is that vampires, werewolves, mummies, and their ilk exist, we just don't know about them. Cal & Niko, however, do, and they're doing their best to keep us safe, as well as the creatures of the shadows, through action, snark, and the ability to come up with fabulous one liners for that kill shot.
Be forewarned, once you pick this book up, you can't put it back down.
The series seems to get stronger as it goes along, and Thurman doesn't miss a beat anywhere along the way. It's an action movie where the only suspension of disbelief needed is that vampires, werewolves, mummies, and their ilk exist, we just don't know about them. Cal & Niko, however, do, and they're doing their best to keep us safe, as well as the creatures of the shadows, through action, snark, and the ability to come up with fabulous one liners for that kill shot.
Be forewarned, once you pick this book up, you can't put it back down.
August 14, 2014
I enjoy this series. It's not a favorite, but it generally keeps my attention. This one sucked. It truly was the worse book of the series so far and that is saying something since the first book wasn't a real good in my opinion either.
This book didn't even start out where the last one left off. The whole book is Cal trying to find out who he is because he has amnesia. Then the fact that all the characters act so very different from how they normally act made me wonder if the same author even wrote this book. For shits sake, this book had Niko poisoning Cal with the same shit that made him amnesiac in the beginning. Niko would NEVER poison his brother. They even had Robin acting stupid in this book. Meh.. Truthfully this book was horrid and I couldn't find a thing to like about it. If the next is still this bad then I'm done with the series.
This book didn't even start out where the last one left off. The whole book is Cal trying to find out who he is because he has amnesia. Then the fact that all the characters act so very different from how they normally act made me wonder if the same author even wrote this book. For shits sake, this book had Niko poisoning Cal with the same shit that made him amnesiac in the beginning. Niko would NEVER poison his brother. They even had Robin acting stupid in this book. Meh.. Truthfully this book was horrid and I couldn't find a thing to like about it. If the next is still this bad then I'm done with the series.
May 16, 2011
IMHO probably the best Cal/Niko book yet. Maybe because I just finished it. I think maybe he should have dubbed the cat Serpico tho. Spartacus is just too Smart Ass. Though there was an edited Cal pic on Robyn's Facebook page with the gingham apron-hilarious.
February 15, 2016
It was good! This story was a nice refreshing change in this series and I enjoyed it. It shows what could have been, and makes you appreciate what it actually is even more.
June 6, 2015
This was a most wonderful and thrilling ride through an amnesic Cal's life, and a remarkable example of good story telling. Thurman at her best for sure. Loved it to bits.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2021
Blackout is book # 6 in the Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman. I'd been a tad reluctant to read it, because I knew it involved Cal losing his memory, and I have to say, ye olde "amnesia trope" is one I do not care for. At all.
When Cal wakes up alone on a beach, surrounded by the dead bodies of monsters, he has no idea where he is nor who he is. From the evidence surrounding him (and the weapons he's carrying), he can tell he's a monster hunter, but beyond that...nada. Cal hoofs it into town and does his best to assimilate as he tries to remember. Four days later, a man claiming to be his brother comes for him and takes Cal back to NYC. There, Cal learns that he and his brother are both monster hunters, which suits him just fine. Monsters are evil and need to be killed, right? In the meantime, some of the monsters he encounters seem confused by him, leading Cal to believe that people are keeping secrets from him. What Cal doesn't yet realize is that the biggest secret is his own monster heritage, and that it may be the only thing that can save the city when a would-be goddess arrives to drain the local Wolves and vampires.
As mentioned, I really don't like amnesia as a plot-device. It's far too soap-opera-y. However, the author made it work in this book. We get to see what Cal might have been like, had he been born fully human. Worse, Niko gets to see what Cal would have been like, and it leads to him making some less-than-honorable decisions where Cal is concerned. While Nik is desperate to have his brother back, he's also reluctant to burst this new Cal's happy little bubble. Of course, Niko's machinations are no match for Cal's Auphe half, which begins to reassert itself as time goes on. The story did have some humor in it, from Cal getting drunk (which he never would have done in his right mind) and singing with Robin in a bar, to him dragging Niko next door to the bar and insisting his brother get a tattoo. Niko, bless him, allowed it, although he nixed Cal's first suggestion of a "Bros before Hos" tat. Ha ha! A fun, fast read that managed to be melancholy and uplifting both.
Now, this is certainly an instance where I would have loved to get some of the story in Niko's point of view. I felt bad for him, dealing with a Cal who wasn't quite his Cal, but I don't think it excused what he did to keep his brother happy and Auphe-free. I would have liked to get his reasoning, first-hand. Again, not a fan of amnesia-trope, but it certainly made for a different story in this series. Five stars.
When Cal wakes up alone on a beach, surrounded by the dead bodies of monsters, he has no idea where he is nor who he is. From the evidence surrounding him (and the weapons he's carrying), he can tell he's a monster hunter, but beyond that...nada. Cal hoofs it into town and does his best to assimilate as he tries to remember. Four days later, a man claiming to be his brother comes for him and takes Cal back to NYC. There, Cal learns that he and his brother are both monster hunters, which suits him just fine. Monsters are evil and need to be killed, right? In the meantime, some of the monsters he encounters seem confused by him, leading Cal to believe that people are keeping secrets from him. What Cal doesn't yet realize is that the biggest secret is his own monster heritage, and that it may be the only thing that can save the city when a would-be goddess arrives to drain the local Wolves and vampires.
As mentioned, I really don't like amnesia as a plot-device. It's far too soap-opera-y. However, the author made it work in this book. We get to see what Cal might have been like, had he been born fully human. Worse, Niko gets to see what Cal would have been like, and it leads to him making some less-than-honorable decisions where Cal is concerned. While Nik is desperate to have his brother back, he's also reluctant to burst this new Cal's happy little bubble. Of course, Niko's machinations are no match for Cal's Auphe half, which begins to reassert itself as time goes on. The story did have some humor in it, from Cal getting drunk (which he never would have done in his right mind) and singing with Robin in a bar, to him dragging Niko next door to the bar and insisting his brother get a tattoo. Niko, bless him, allowed it, although he nixed Cal's first suggestion of a "Bros before Hos" tat. Ha ha! A fun, fast read that managed to be melancholy and uplifting both.
Now, this is certainly an instance where I would have loved to get some of the story in Niko's point of view. I felt bad for him, dealing with a Cal who wasn't quite his Cal, but I don't think it excused what he did to keep his brother happy and Auphe-free. I would have liked to get his reasoning, first-hand. Again, not a fan of amnesia-trope, but it certainly made for a different story in this series. Five stars.
June 6, 2024
Not gonna lie, I did not think I was going to enjoy this one. The first chapter had me skimming, cuz memory-less Cal is still Cal, having the same existential crises he’s been having. But… turns out, little more in-depth than that… eventually. Honestly, the mystery of what actually happened and Cal being a lot happier pulled me through. It is pretty clear from the get-go… well, Robin’s explanation to Cal about his past anyway, that there is something more than a spider bite going on.
I think it’s interesting that Cal goes to other people asking if he was a good person. I guess that’s a good way as any to find out about yourself when you can’t remember. I like that it’s Ishiah and Promise he goes to. Close enough to know, but not close enough to want to lie to him.
I enjoyed the happier, human Cal. He was more fun and less angsty. He’s definitely right that he wasn’t the Cal we all know and love? Not sure I love Cal, exactly, but, ya know.
I think Ammut as a villain was alright. I like the way Thurman visualized her, via the description. Was a neat way to do a chimera-type critter. I’m not sure, and not about to do the research, about how the spiders connect to her. Oh yeah, spiders. If you’re an arachnophobe and tend to visualize while you read, maybe skip this one. Or I guess read the first couple chapters and then skip to the epilogue. The epilogue felt somewhat relevant. I guess we’ll see.
Good for Delilah taking over/creating her own Wolf Pack… or Clan or whatever. She’s been a cool character. Not super sure I want her as an adversary, but apparently that’s where we’re headed. (Not a spoiler since I don’t actually know, it just feels that way.) Her All Wolf thing… I haven’t mentioned it, but I’m not a giant fan of the way werewolves are done in that regard. I’m all for transformations, total and halfway there, but the part-wolf all the time in really odd ways thing… not a fan. So there’s that…
Blackout was ultimately and interesting character study. What Cal would have been like as a human. It was neat. And oh yeah, did you know Niko’s the best human fighter ever? Did you? Did you need reminding a bunch? Did you? -_-
I think it’s interesting that Cal goes to other people asking if he was a good person. I guess that’s a good way as any to find out about yourself when you can’t remember. I like that it’s Ishiah and Promise he goes to. Close enough to know, but not close enough to want to lie to him.
I enjoyed the happier, human Cal. He was more fun and less angsty. He’s definitely right that he wasn’t the Cal we all know and love? Not sure I love Cal, exactly, but, ya know.
I think Ammut as a villain was alright. I like the way Thurman visualized her, via the description. Was a neat way to do a chimera-type critter. I’m not sure, and not about to do the research, about how the spiders connect to her. Oh yeah, spiders. If you’re an arachnophobe and tend to visualize while you read, maybe skip this one. Or I guess read the first couple chapters and then skip to the epilogue. The epilogue felt somewhat relevant. I guess we’ll see.
Good for Delilah taking over/creating her own Wolf Pack… or Clan or whatever. She’s been a cool character. Not super sure I want her as an adversary, but apparently that’s where we’re headed. (Not a spoiler since I don’t actually know, it just feels that way.) Her All Wolf thing… I haven’t mentioned it, but I’m not a giant fan of the way werewolves are done in that regard. I’m all for transformations, total and halfway there, but the part-wolf all the time in really odd ways thing… not a fan. So there’s that…
Blackout was ultimately and interesting character study. What Cal would have been like as a human. It was neat. And oh yeah, did you know Niko’s the best human fighter ever? Did you? Did you need reminding a bunch? Did you? -_-
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