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Cal Leandros #2
月影の罠 : 夜に彷徨うもの
After saving the world from his fiendish father's side of the family, Cal Leandros and his stalwart half-brother Niko have settled down with new digs and a new gig-bodyguard and detective work. And in New York City, where preternatural beings stalk the streets just like normal folk, business is good. Their latest case has them going undercover for the Kin-the werewolf Mafia. A low-level Kin boss thinks a rival is setting him up for a fall, and wants proof. The place to start is the back room of Moonshine-a gambling club for non-humans. Cal thinks it's a simple in-and-out job. But Cal is very, very wrong.
Cal and Niko are being set up themselves-and the people behind it have a bite much worse than their bark...
Cal and Niko are being set up themselves-and the people behind it have a bite much worse than their bark...
350 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2007
100 people are currently reading
1980 people want to read
About the author
Rob Thurman
43 books1,564 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 280 reviews
March 22, 2012
After more than a year away from reading Nightlife, I thought my love for this series would be a fluke. I'd read the second book, and the thrill would be gone. Not even close. What a fantastic world Ms. Thurman has created. I don't know how she managed to bring two characters to life that I love so much.
Cal has really come into his own. He's still a major smart-aleck, with some self-hate issues, but he's even more lethal as a warrior, incredibly strong-minded, and fiendishly clever, although so self-deprecating you would think he was useless. I have found that he is starting to sneak up in my affections, although Niko has claimed my heart.
Ah, Niko, would you marry me? I just love this man. Too bad he's not real. He of the razor sharp sword that he wields with deadly precision. His exquisitely neat housekeeping skills. He cooks beautifully. His discipline and calm. The fact that he is more deadly than the Ebola virus. And then there's his love for his younger brother. Who could ask for anything more?
Just reading about these two guys doing, well nothing, is enough for me. But, thankfully, Ms. Thurman has created a whole new adventure for these fellows. It's a roller-coaster ride from the very beginning. There are moments where the pace slows down for a little bit, to allow the reader to catch her/his breath, but then it's off again. I lost count of the number of times that either Cal or Niko got injured and needed medical attention. Be assured that their adversaries fared worse.
I like what Ms. Thurman did with the werewolf lore, although her weres come off looking not-so-glamorous. And there are plenty of other mythical creatures in this story, adding to the pizazz and overall character of the New York and sundry that Cal and Niko live and fight to stay alive in. This book veers into horrific and dark fantasy territory, which is another thing I like about it. Who knew the modern world could be such a scary place full of beasties that made the fairy tales just that little bit macabre, that you didn't think were real? Well they are, at least in this series.
Niko's relationship with Promise, he and Cal's vampire co-partner in their detective business, has blossomed beautifully. It's pretty obvious how much this tenderhearted, elegant, but deadly when it's necessary vampiress cares for him. Who can blame her? Cal's love life would be looking good if he would let the fair Georgina into his heart. But his fear about what his auphe side would bring to life is causing him to keep her at a distance. But it's apparent to pretty much everyone just how much he cares for his little seer.
Robin Goodfellow, boon companion to the brothers, returns. He keeps things light when necessary, yet kicks butt like it's going out of style. He has connections like you wouldn't believe, aiding in getting very difficult things accomplished, fights at the brothers' side, while flirting with Niko (who he has the hots for, who can blame him?). It's impossible not to love him, morally flexible, pansexual flirt that he is.
Just like Nightlife, this lovely noirish urban fantasy story about Cal and Niko Leandros has established a place in my heart and on my keeper shelf. It makes me want to dive right into the next book in the series, Madhouse, to spend more time with these guys, who I love dearly. You probably noticed that.
Cal has really come into his own. He's still a major smart-aleck, with some self-hate issues, but he's even more lethal as a warrior, incredibly strong-minded, and fiendishly clever, although so self-deprecating you would think he was useless. I have found that he is starting to sneak up in my affections, although Niko has claimed my heart.
Ah, Niko, would you marry me? I just love this man. Too bad he's not real. He of the razor sharp sword that he wields with deadly precision. His exquisitely neat housekeeping skills. He cooks beautifully. His discipline and calm. The fact that he is more deadly than the Ebola virus. And then there's his love for his younger brother. Who could ask for anything more?
Just reading about these two guys doing, well nothing, is enough for me. But, thankfully, Ms. Thurman has created a whole new adventure for these fellows. It's a roller-coaster ride from the very beginning. There are moments where the pace slows down for a little bit, to allow the reader to catch her/his breath, but then it's off again. I lost count of the number of times that either Cal or Niko got injured and needed medical attention. Be assured that their adversaries fared worse.
I like what Ms. Thurman did with the werewolf lore, although her weres come off looking not-so-glamorous. And there are plenty of other mythical creatures in this story, adding to the pizazz and overall character of the New York and sundry that Cal and Niko live and fight to stay alive in. This book veers into horrific and dark fantasy territory, which is another thing I like about it. Who knew the modern world could be such a scary place full of beasties that made the fairy tales just that little bit macabre, that you didn't think were real? Well they are, at least in this series.
Niko's relationship with Promise, he and Cal's vampire co-partner in their detective business, has blossomed beautifully. It's pretty obvious how much this tenderhearted, elegant, but deadly when it's necessary vampiress cares for him. Who can blame her? Cal's love life would be looking good if he would let the fair Georgina into his heart. But his fear about what his auphe side would bring to life is causing him to keep her at a distance. But it's apparent to pretty much everyone just how much he cares for his little seer.
Robin Goodfellow, boon companion to the brothers, returns. He keeps things light when necessary, yet kicks butt like it's going out of style. He has connections like you wouldn't believe, aiding in getting very difficult things accomplished, fights at the brothers' side, while flirting with Niko (who he has the hots for, who can blame him?). It's impossible not to love him, morally flexible, pansexual flirt that he is.
Just like Nightlife, this lovely noirish urban fantasy story about Cal and Niko Leandros has established a place in my heart and on my keeper shelf. It makes me want to dive right into the next book in the series, Madhouse, to spend more time with these guys, who I love dearly. You probably noticed that.
June 16, 2024
Without Nik, I was nothing. Living life to prove your genes wrong wasn't worth doing. Living life to be the reflection of who your brother thought you were, thought you could be, that was worth it. That made the price of existence not quite so steep.
I always seem to be going back and forth with this book and the first one as to whether I want to rate them four or five stars. Honestly I do really love the general plot of this book, but the romance angle is more defined here than any other book in the series and it gets to be a bit much at times since I don't even like anyway buuuuut it is just way way better than the first so I think I'm bumping it up to 5 this time.
This is great for character interactions after we introduced everyone in book one and it's nice to get more Promise as well. I just love Promise so much! Promise and Niko are a great couple, and I love all of Promise and Cal's scenes together too [and this book definitely has some of my favorites]. Then of course there's Robin lol. And Hob, I really like Hob even though we don't really get to see a lot of him overall. As I said before, the only thing here I'm not wild about is and thank god that's basically dead even at this point. Sorry, I am just so not here for , even if this series did set it up in a less annoying way than usual.
Anyway, this is just a really great series. Cal is my favorite character of all time and I love his POV so much. Thurman might only really be able to write one type of POV but she does it incredibly well. Also, as I've said before, I really enjoy her take on classic supernatural creatures as well as the ones she makes up along the way. In a world of horrible werewolf romance novels it's nice to be able to enjoy a book about the werewolf mafia without a lot of what I consider to be the most annoying tropes rearing their ugly heads.
[P.S. I do once again want to mention that the world 'gypsy' gets thrown about in the early parts of this series sometimes, a bit more in this book because they actually go to visit a Romani clan while looking for an ancient artifact, so just fair warning if that is going to be a definite no for you.]
I always seem to be going back and forth with this book and the first one as to whether I want to rate them four or five stars. Honestly I do really love the general plot of this book, but the romance angle is more defined here than any other book in the series and it gets to be a bit much at times since I don't even like anyway buuuuut it is just way way better than the first so I think I'm bumping it up to 5 this time.
This is great for character interactions after we introduced everyone in book one and it's nice to get more Promise as well. I just love Promise so much! Promise and Niko are a great couple, and I love all of Promise and Cal's scenes together too [and this book definitely has some of my favorites]. Then of course there's Robin lol. And Hob, I really like Hob even though we don't really get to see a lot of him overall. As I said before, the only thing here I'm not wild about is and thank god that's basically dead even at this point. Sorry, I am just so not here for , even if this series did set it up in a less annoying way than usual.
Anyway, this is just a really great series. Cal is my favorite character of all time and I love his POV so much. Thurman might only really be able to write one type of POV but she does it incredibly well. Also, as I've said before, I really enjoy her take on classic supernatural creatures as well as the ones she makes up along the way. In a world of horrible werewolf romance novels it's nice to be able to enjoy a book about the werewolf mafia without a lot of what I consider to be the most annoying tropes rearing their ugly heads.
[P.S. I do once again want to mention that the world 'gypsy' gets thrown about in the early parts of this series sometimes, a bit more in this book because they actually go to visit a Romani clan while looking for an ancient artifact, so just fair warning if that is going to be a definite no for you.]
February 24, 2016
While there's still a significant ick-factor, it was lower in this book than in the first. The plot grabbed my attention and carried me along but wasn't as disturbing as the Darkling stuff in Nightlife. I wasn't thrilled that Abbagor made another appearance, but that sequence was also less gross and more decisive. There was a fair amount of creature violence, but I found it tolerable. I'm learning to get past my squeamishness over certain subject matter.
I’m really starting to like Cal. He's a mess, battling his heritage and the monster-of-the-week. He can be somewhat frightening at times, when he isn't campaigning for Smartass of the Year; but underneath he knows what's right and his bond with his brother, Niko, carries the day. At times he's even a little endearing. Something that's really interesting about Cal--an idea I don't think I've ever seen anywhere else: he is so afraid of his Auphe DNA, so determined to be the only and last Auphe-human hybrid, that he won't even date. He's convinced that no amount of protection could stop Auphe DNA, so he doesn't want to tempt fate. (While that could change as the series goes on, I hope Thurman doesn't go the baby route.)
Niko came across as more of a character this time. His relationship with his brother is very touching. They would literally go through hell for each other.
Robin Goodfellow--AKA Rob Fellows, the puck--is still my favourite character of the series. He's egotistical, he's try-sexual (would try almost anything at least once with anyone/thing good-looking enough), and he's also hilariously funny, a loyal friend, and an impressive fighter. (One of my favourite lines of his this time around: "Damn it, would you change your antifreeze and have an emotion already?") The sequence involving Robin and some Gypsies was priceless. He also carries an ancient loneliness, maybe even an iota of regret, that makes him a little more complicated.
Thurman makes her vampires and werewolves a little different from many authors'. Both are born, not made. Good vampires can get by with taking supplements and shielding themselves from the sun, while werewolves vary in degrees of wolfishness. I still don't quite see Niko and Promise as the perfect couple, the way Cal does. I always have trouble wrapping my head around the idea of a relationship between a centuries-old vampire and a twenty-something mortal. But, at least this time around, Promise had more things to do and did them well. Flay the werewolf was an interesting, and sometimes funny, foil for Cal and Robin.
The plot had some nifty twists, and I liked the resolution of the central problem. I'm looking forward to reading the third book, hoping Thurman keeps developing the characters in interesting ways.
I’m really starting to like Cal. He's a mess, battling his heritage and the monster-of-the-week. He can be somewhat frightening at times, when he isn't campaigning for Smartass of the Year; but underneath he knows what's right and his bond with his brother, Niko, carries the day. At times he's even a little endearing. Something that's really interesting about Cal--an idea I don't think I've ever seen anywhere else: he is so afraid of his Auphe DNA, so determined to be the only and last Auphe-human hybrid, that he won't even date. He's convinced that no amount of protection could stop Auphe DNA, so he doesn't want to tempt fate. (While that could change as the series goes on, I hope Thurman doesn't go the baby route.)
Niko came across as more of a character this time. His relationship with his brother is very touching. They would literally go through hell for each other.
Robin Goodfellow--AKA Rob Fellows, the puck--is still my favourite character of the series. He's egotistical, he's try-sexual (would try almost anything at least once with anyone/thing good-looking enough), and he's also hilariously funny, a loyal friend, and an impressive fighter. (One of my favourite lines of his this time around: "Damn it, would you change your antifreeze and have an emotion already?") The sequence involving Robin and some Gypsies was priceless. He also carries an ancient loneliness, maybe even an iota of regret, that makes him a little more complicated.
Thurman makes her vampires and werewolves a little different from many authors'. Both are born, not made. Good vampires can get by with taking supplements and shielding themselves from the sun, while werewolves vary in degrees of wolfishness. I still don't quite see Niko and Promise as the perfect couple, the way Cal does. I always have trouble wrapping my head around the idea of a relationship between a centuries-old vampire and a twenty-something mortal. But, at least this time around, Promise had more things to do and did them well. Flay the werewolf was an interesting, and sometimes funny, foil for Cal and Robin.
The plot had some nifty twists, and I liked the resolution of the central problem. I'm looking forward to reading the third book, hoping Thurman keeps developing the characters in interesting ways.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2009
Second installment of Cal and Nik Leandros' series.
After successfully negating the threat of Cal's other family (the evil, death mongering elves known as The Auphe) and killing the entity that possessed Cal in the previous book, the brothers decide to remain in NY. To their surprise, after having been on the run and having only each other for so many years, they have created bonds.
First there is Promise, the lovely vampire who has awakened romantic feelings in the normally impassive Nik.
Then there is George, the lovely young psychic who raising feelings on longing in Cal.
And finally there is Rob, a.k.a Robin Goodfellow. The long lived Puck of fantasy lore who himself has been longing for friends and companions.
So the brothers have begun a business of sorts with Promise as security/bodyguards for the Fae. But their first real client entangles them with the werewolves who later kidnap George to force the brothers to find a mysterious fae relic.
Cal and Nik along with Promise and Rob set out to find the relic and free George.
Ok. This second installment is just as good as the first. The author does a great job of revealing more about the brothers and their background. But she also allows them to grow. I really enjoyed the fact that she allowed the two isolated souls to grow their little inner circle. Promise, who was a minor -- if intriguing -- walk on character in the last book was a revelation. I really enjoy her with Nik (my fictional boyfriend) and most importantly I enjoy her with Nik and Cal. She doesn't interfere with --- what to me is --- the central and best relationship in the series, and, even better, she understands and navigates it so well.
This installment was just as dark and biting with the same wit as the previous book. And most importantly, the relationship between the two brothers is just as deep and strong. I especially like that Cal is growing into his own a bit. I was also gratified to see that he was starting to use some of his Auphe self. Yes, I know he hates and rejects it intensely, but I am of the mind that if he intends to really defeat them that he needs to fight fire with fire so to speak. I actually hope that Thurman's plan is to allow Cal's Auphe abilities to grown and expand so that the field evens a bit for him.
I just love this series.
I highly recommend!
After successfully negating the threat of Cal's other family (the evil, death mongering elves known as The Auphe) and killing the entity that possessed Cal in the previous book, the brothers decide to remain in NY. To their surprise, after having been on the run and having only each other for so many years, they have created bonds.
First there is Promise, the lovely vampire who has awakened romantic feelings in the normally impassive Nik.
Then there is George, the lovely young psychic who raising feelings on longing in Cal.
And finally there is Rob, a.k.a Robin Goodfellow. The long lived Puck of fantasy lore who himself has been longing for friends and companions.
So the brothers have begun a business of sorts with Promise as security/bodyguards for the Fae. But their first real client entangles them with the werewolves who later kidnap George to force the brothers to find a mysterious fae relic.
Cal and Nik along with Promise and Rob set out to find the relic and free George.
Ok. This second installment is just as good as the first. The author does a great job of revealing more about the brothers and their background. But she also allows them to grow. I really enjoyed the fact that she allowed the two isolated souls to grow their little inner circle. Promise, who was a minor -- if intriguing -- walk on character in the last book was a revelation. I really enjoy her with Nik (my fictional boyfriend) and most importantly I enjoy her with Nik and Cal. She doesn't interfere with --- what to me is --- the central and best relationship in the series, and, even better, she understands and navigates it so well.
This installment was just as dark and biting with the same wit as the previous book. And most importantly, the relationship between the two brothers is just as deep and strong. I especially like that Cal is growing into his own a bit. I was also gratified to see that he was starting to use some of his Auphe self. Yes, I know he hates and rejects it intensely, but I am of the mind that if he intends to really defeat them that he needs to fight fire with fire so to speak. I actually hope that Thurman's plan is to allow Cal's Auphe abilities to grown and expand so that the field evens a bit for him.
I just love this series.
I highly recommend!
December 9, 2017
After escaping from his father’s kin at the end of the first book, Cal (short for Caliban) and his half-brother Niko have set themselves up as detectives/bodyguards for the preternatural community in New York. They’ve given a job working for the Kin, the werewolf Mafia, investigating what seems like a feud between two Kin leaders, but they’ve been set up to investigate an ancient relic for a very nasty client.
I really enjoyed this book – after the first book ended with a bang, this one picks up and keeps the same pace. The same things I loved about the first book are in place here: the snappy one liners and the affection between the two brothers which is such an important part of the book. George the psychic, Robin Goodfellow and Promise are back from the first book, and I liked their developing relationships. I also liked Flay (aka Snowball) the werewolf, and hope we’ll see him in future books.
If you are a fan of urban fantasy you could do worse than check this out. I intend to continue with this series, time and bookshelf-space permitting!
4 stars.
I really enjoyed this book – after the first book ended with a bang, this one picks up and keeps the same pace. The same things I loved about the first book are in place here: the snappy one liners and the affection between the two brothers which is such an important part of the book. George the psychic, Robin Goodfellow and Promise are back from the first book, and I liked their developing relationships. I also liked Flay (aka Snowball) the werewolf, and hope we’ll see him in future books.
If you are a fan of urban fantasy you could do worse than check this out. I intend to continue with this series, time and bookshelf-space permitting!
4 stars.
November 16, 2014
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I knew that this series would be my new favorite urban fantasy since when I read the first book. The second one just proves me right! Dark, with non-stop action and sarcastic, this series is a lesson of how to write a great urban fantasy book!
Cal and Niko are trying to start over and with the help of Promise they are doing jobs as bodyguards / detectives for supernatural creatures. Of course, Robin Goodfellow is keeping them company and enjoying every minute of it! But then, their friend George’s been kidnapped and they have to deal with more monsters.
Cal has changed a lot. Yeah, he still has issues with himself but he’s trying a lot to accept the reality. I find him very responsible even is sometimes seems otherwise. I believe that with the right guidance he could do great things.
Niko is definitely my favorite! Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love Cal, but Niko holds my heart! I love his sense of humor, his calmness, the strong mind he has and the disciplined warrior he is. His love for his little brother is something that I admire very much and makes him even more perfect. He’s the kind of man who you can count on and the kind of brother who would go willingly to hell in order to save his brother.
What can I say for Goodfellow? He’s a wonder! I love him very much for different reasons. His sarcasm is a defense mechanism because he’s one of the loneliest characters I’ve ever read about. I am very happy for the fact that now he has new friends. He doesn’t mind the danger and he’s willing to help Cal and Niko with all his powers.
Promise and George are both very interesting characters, although we don’t know many things about them. I am more curious about Promise because I’ve read more about her and I am sure that we’ll learn more about George soon enough.
I really liked this book and I recommend it to all the fans of this genre!
May 8, 2012
Moonshine, the second book in Thurman's series, is most definitely an improvement on the first book. My issue with Nightlife was that the story was fantastic, but the storytelling wasn't. The storytelling in Moonshine was a huge improvement, it wasn't excellent, but it was much better than the first book. My only big problem was with the filler pages that dragged on and on. There were too many super slow spots for my liking.
As for the story itself, I really enjoyed it. The whole gangster/hostage situation is beyond overdone and cliche, but it was new and different in this book due to all of the magical beasties.
The author gets lots of bonus points for his characters. He really knows how to create fantastic personalities and unique characters. None of the people in the book are forgettable. The villains and the good guys are completely original and well thought out.
My only hope for the next book in the series is that Cal mans up and grows up a little. All of his moodiness and angst is totally founded and understandable, but reading yet another book full of that will be a drag. I say it's time for some character development - no more laziness and angst.
As for the story itself, I really enjoyed it. The whole gangster/hostage situation is beyond overdone and cliche, but it was new and different in this book due to all of the magical beasties.
The author gets lots of bonus points for his characters. He really knows how to create fantastic personalities and unique characters. None of the people in the book are forgettable. The villains and the good guys are completely original and well thought out.
My only hope for the next book in the series is that Cal mans up and grows up a little. All of his moodiness and angst is totally founded and understandable, but reading yet another book full of that will be a drag. I say it's time for some character development - no more laziness and angst.
October 28, 2015
Another great installment in this series by Rob Thurman (who is actually a woman!). In this book, the characters of Niko and Cal are devoleped a bit more, though some of the other characters - like for example Georgina or Promise - stay rather two-dimensional. But I'm into these books for the relationship between the brothers and because of Robin Goodfellows, the puck, so I didn't mind much.
This book starts rather slow, but then it builds momentum and the last third of the book is an adrenaline ride. I think that it was quite a nice twist to have Cal keep some of his Auphe powers and also, to bring the Auphe back. It will be a nice link that would bind together all the books.
This book starts rather slow, but then it builds momentum and the last third of the book is an adrenaline ride. I think that it was quite a nice twist to have Cal keep some of his Auphe powers and also, to bring the Auphe back. It will be a nice link that would bind together all the books.
January 25, 2016
I'm finally starting to feel better today, but I have to catch up on homework so this review won't be much either. I liked it as much as the first, even though there were parts where it seemed to lag a bit. The brothers more than made up for it though. I need more Niko however. I'm not one of those people who have hang-ups about first-person at all. But I do have to say I kinda wish there would be a chapter or two in Niko's point of view. He's just always so mysterious seen through Cal's eyes. Perhaps he'd lose that if you got his POV, but that doesn't make me less curious. This series is very addicting.
November 16, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, but parts of it had me shaking my head in confusion. So I sadly did not enjoy it as much as I did book one; I'm giving it just four stars for being a very good story.
The parts where I felt confused were due to segue changes that took me aback. I can't now remember any examples, but there were several times when I was all, "Wait, what?!"
And then I didn't like how Cal was all "for the last time" on a few occasions. As foreshadowing, it worked great, but why? We never got to see why Cal , even though we were in his head at the time! So. . . *grrr*
Anyway, it took me too long to read this book - four or five days. It just never really reached out and grabbed me. But I think that was partly my fault. I've been in a weird mood lately, not really wanting to read. Still, though, if this book had captivated me, I think I would have stuck with it for longer and finished it faster.
I still love Cal and Niko, though. (Even if I do want to shake a few answers out of Cal.) And I enjoyed the villains in this story - and my plural there was intentional. We had They made this story fun! (Though the scenes with Abbagor - the troll - were also pretty suspenseful.) :-)
It was neat seeing Cal That made for a great bit of tense excitement, especially in the final battle. :-)
But then we had the ending, and I just don't know why Cal did what he did. Nor do I know why we couldn't have been told why he did what he did, since we saw the final scene from his perspective. (!!!) But it was what it was, unsatisfactory. :-(
Since this is a book two in series, I will share the ending for myself, and anyone else who might like a clue as to what happened in the end, before I (we) read book three: In the end, I think I read this ending and screeched in my mind. I mean, what sort of an ending was that Cal? Why?! Why? *ARGH!!!*
So. . . Do I plan to read more in this series? Yes, because though I could hit Cal upside his head, I do still love Niko. . .and Cal. And I don't want to give up on them, yet. But I'm hoping I'll love book three.
Also, an addendum, I realize that this review is lacking in a LOT of details, but my sort-of-reading-slump isn't really lending itself to reviewing things fully, so this review will stay as it is for now. I may someday reread this book and, if I do, I'll try to remember to take better notes. ;-)
The parts where I felt confused were due to segue changes that took me aback. I can't now remember any examples, but there were several times when I was all, "Wait, what?!"
And then I didn't like how Cal was all "for the last time" on a few occasions. As foreshadowing, it worked great, but why? We never got to see why Cal , even though we were in his head at the time! So. . . *grrr*
Anyway, it took me too long to read this book - four or five days. It just never really reached out and grabbed me. But I think that was partly my fault. I've been in a weird mood lately, not really wanting to read. Still, though, if this book had captivated me, I think I would have stuck with it for longer and finished it faster.
I still love Cal and Niko, though. (Even if I do want to shake a few answers out of Cal.) And I enjoyed the villains in this story - and my plural there was intentional. We had They made this story fun! (Though the scenes with Abbagor - the troll - were also pretty suspenseful.) :-)
It was neat seeing Cal That made for a great bit of tense excitement, especially in the final battle. :-)
But then we had the ending, and I just don't know why Cal did what he did. Nor do I know why we couldn't have been told why he did what he did, since we saw the final scene from his perspective. (!!!) But it was what it was, unsatisfactory. :-(
Since this is a book two in series, I will share the ending for myself, and anyone else who might like a clue as to what happened in the end, before I (we) read book three: In the end, I think I read this ending and screeched in my mind. I mean, what sort of an ending was that Cal? Why?! Why? *ARGH!!!*
So. . . Do I plan to read more in this series? Yes, because though I could hit Cal upside his head, I do still love Niko. . .and Cal. And I don't want to give up on them, yet. But I'm hoping I'll love book three.
Also, an addendum, I realize that this review is lacking in a LOT of details, but my sort-of-reading-slump isn't really lending itself to reviewing things fully, so this review will stay as it is for now. I may someday reread this book and, if I do, I'll try to remember to take better notes. ;-)
September 23, 2010
After the event in "Nightlife", Cal Leandros (half-human, half-Auphe) and his half-brother, Niko, decided to stay in New York City. They open their own agency, dealing with the problems with the inhuman worlds. Then, one case brings them to the world of the Kin, werewolf mafia, and it leads to the kidnapping of their psychic friend, Georgina. With the help from their friend, Robin Goodfellows, the female vampire Promise, as well as a werewolf called Flay, Cal and Niko must fight one of the most powerful enemies, which plans to use George for his sinister plan.
I'm really loving this series. In book one, I'm impressed with Cal and his touch of sarcasm that was just non-stop as well as Cal's relationship with his brother, Niko (Supernatural, hello!). However, in book two, I'm continuously entertained with the action and the adrenaline push it gives me. While it might starts a bit slow, this book picks up with actions and new plot and knowledge about the world that Cal and Niko must face, and it doesn't stop until the last pages. I was holding my breathe during the last chapters, when Niko was kidnapped, and Cal (now with a new power to open/close the door to Tumulus) was ready to bring Hell (literally) to save him and George.
Of course, Cal and Niko's relationship is still one of the best thing about this story. In fact, words like ... "Without Nik, I was nothing. Living life to prove your genes wrong wasn't worth doing. Living life to be the reflection of who your brother thought you were, thought you could be, that was worth it just grab my heart and make me want to hug the brothers. Their loyalty, their faith, their love, to one another, is the foundation of this series, and I don't want to see it reduced.
Cal is still one sarcasm machine. His snarkiness is non-stop. Some might find it off-putting. But hey, he's 20 years old, he is half monster and he knows what kind of Hell he can be or danger that lurks around the corner for him and his brother ... it's like defense mechanism, you see. He's like Holden Caulfield :). I find it endearing. I'm also still very much amused to the unrequited crush of Robin towards Niko (so cute!). I'm not sure about Promise or George. They are still two dimensional for me. I still hope to see a better female characters here. I'm not feeling either females for the brothers (especially George, she's just feel off!)
One criticism: in book one, Cal is said to be three years younger than Niko (it started to be five years) but here, he is two years younger (and started to be four years old)? Hmmm ...
Definitely turning on book #3
I'm really loving this series. In book one, I'm impressed with Cal and his touch of sarcasm that was just non-stop as well as Cal's relationship with his brother, Niko (Supernatural, hello!). However, in book two, I'm continuously entertained with the action and the adrenaline push it gives me. While it might starts a bit slow, this book picks up with actions and new plot and knowledge about the world that Cal and Niko must face, and it doesn't stop until the last pages. I was holding my breathe during the last chapters, when Niko was kidnapped, and Cal (now with a new power to open/close the door to Tumulus) was ready to bring Hell (literally) to save him and George.
Of course, Cal and Niko's relationship is still one of the best thing about this story. In fact, words like ... "Without Nik, I was nothing. Living life to prove your genes wrong wasn't worth doing. Living life to be the reflection of who your brother thought you were, thought you could be, that was worth it just grab my heart and make me want to hug the brothers. Their loyalty, their faith, their love, to one another, is the foundation of this series, and I don't want to see it reduced.
Cal is still one sarcasm machine. His snarkiness is non-stop. Some might find it off-putting. But hey, he's 20 years old, he is half monster and he knows what kind of Hell he can be or danger that lurks around the corner for him and his brother ... it's like defense mechanism, you see. He's like Holden Caulfield :). I find it endearing. I'm also still very much amused to the unrequited crush of Robin towards Niko (so cute!). I'm not sure about Promise or George. They are still two dimensional for me. I still hope to see a better female characters here. I'm not feeling either females for the brothers (especially George, she's just feel off!)
One criticism: in book one, Cal is said to be three years younger than Niko (it started to be five years) but here, he is two years younger (and started to be four years old)? Hmmm ...
Definitely turning on book #3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2011
In Moonshine, Cal delves deeper into the unchartered realm of his romantic feelings for seer Georgia. She has his heart. So it is gut-wrenching for Cal when she is kidnapped and he - along with his team of Nik, Promise, and Robin - must rescue her. This is a driving force, fueling him to come to terms with his emotions, not wanting to hold back, to finally, finally express his love for her. Does that happen? You’ll just have to read for yourself.
Moonshine is swimming with werewolves. I am not a fan of books revolving around werewolves. Not at all. This is totally a me thing. Regardless of the series, usually there's one book all about these beings and the book is lost on me. And why is it that a few series out there have werewolves as the central beings in book #2? So bizarre. Anyhow, said werewolves are precisely why I wasn’t hooked on Moonshine.
Regardless, while reading, I couldn't help but picture The Winchesters. Why? I am obsessed with Supernatural. And this book fits in nicely with my jonesing fits.
Per usual, the happenings of Cal Leandros and his motley crew are fast-paced, fun, and I must say, I’m very glad a tinge of romance was thrown within the pages of Moonshine. Now that is something Supernatural does not have.
Moonshine is swimming with werewolves. I am not a fan of books revolving around werewolves. Not at all. This is totally a me thing. Regardless of the series, usually there's one book all about these beings and the book is lost on me. And why is it that a few series out there have werewolves as the central beings in book #2? So bizarre. Anyhow, said werewolves are precisely why I wasn’t hooked on Moonshine.
Regardless, while reading, I couldn't help but picture The Winchesters. Why? I am obsessed with Supernatural. And this book fits in nicely with my jonesing fits.
Per usual, the happenings of Cal Leandros and his motley crew are fast-paced, fun, and I must say, I’m very glad a tinge of romance was thrown within the pages of Moonshine. Now that is something Supernatural does not have.
August 29, 2011
It took me two weeks to read this… well, to read the first half, anyway. Thanks to more inclusion of Nik, Robin and Promise in the second half, I managed to finish that part in a couple of hours. I’m not sure why it took me so long to get through the first part, but I think it may be because so much time was with emo-boy Cal alone, and he bores me to clean. (That was deliberate; I actually managed to get a fair amount of cleaning done in the past couple of weeks because I was avoiding this book.)
Cal sets out to rescuePollyanna Georgina from an evil villain and has to go undercover in a den of mafia werewolves to do it. This would have been more interesting if I felt any emotional connection between those two other than Cal emo-ing that he’s not good enough for her. I have no idea why she seems to have an unconditional devotion to him.
Anyway, the situations are interesting, the character interactions are highly enjoyable, and the pacing is good when it’s not just Cal being all angsty-introspective. I will continue to read this series because I do really enjoy the secondary characters, but I wish more time were spent developing those characters instead of watching Cal almost brood himself into quasi-heroic suicide over and over again.
Cal sets out to rescue
Anyway, the situations are interesting, the character interactions are highly enjoyable, and the pacing is good when it’s not just Cal being all angsty-introspective. I will continue to read this series because I do really enjoy the secondary characters, but I wish more time were spent developing those characters instead of watching Cal almost brood himself into quasi-heroic suicide over and over again.
February 17, 2015
4 Stars
Moonshine, book two in the Cal Leandros series does not suffer from being the sophomore outing. It does not live up to the excitement of all the first discoveries of book one, but it does a better job at further fleshing out our heroes.
Thurman has created an Urban Fantasy world with every type of creature imaginable and dropped them into a Dark and mysterious world. The brothers Cal and Nikos are even better in this Werewolf centric story. Back again is Nikos gorgeous vampire girlfriend and Robin and his swords. We get further backstory on each of them and a whole lot on the Wolves with two legs. Moonshine does not have as many different baddies as book one, but that is just fine.
These books are dark, witty, action packed, and a whole lot of fun. I really enjoyed these first couple of novels and cannot wait to read more in this series...highly recommended!
Moonshine, book two in the Cal Leandros series does not suffer from being the sophomore outing. It does not live up to the excitement of all the first discoveries of book one, but it does a better job at further fleshing out our heroes.
Thurman has created an Urban Fantasy world with every type of creature imaginable and dropped them into a Dark and mysterious world. The brothers Cal and Nikos are even better in this Werewolf centric story. Back again is Nikos gorgeous vampire girlfriend and Robin and his swords. We get further backstory on each of them and a whole lot on the Wolves with two legs. Moonshine does not have as many different baddies as book one, but that is just fine.
These books are dark, witty, action packed, and a whole lot of fun. I really enjoyed these first couple of novels and cannot wait to read more in this series...highly recommended!
July 27, 2013
I loved Moonshine just as much as Nightlife, perhaps even more. Unlike the slow start to Nightlife, Moonshine jumps right into the plot, which I appreciated. There were some more serious plot twists, which I can't talk about without major spoilers. The brothers Leandros are as kick-ass as ever. In just two books I've become attached to the characters. Thurman has done an excellent job of making Cal, Niko, and their friends feel like real people. It invested me in their story and kept me on the edge of my seat until I was sure they were okay. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
September 27, 2007
I liked this book. However, I like Promise but George really doesn't do anything for me. I know she's supposed to be really wise but she comes off like a sweetness and light child which makes Cal's interest in her kind of creepy. He's immature but in an oddly more adult way.
I continue to love Niko and Goodfellow.
I'm very glad the focus is still on the relationship between Niko and Caliban. I'm not crazy about Promise or George being elevated to the same status.
I continue to love Niko and Goodfellow.
I'm very glad the focus is still on the relationship between Niko and Caliban. I'm not crazy about Promise or George being elevated to the same status.
May 30, 2015
I know that many people swear by these series, but I didn't feel one way or the other. It wasn’t bad or anything (thankfully no characters with the emotional intelligence of a baked burrito) but I've read much better. To be completely honest I can think more than 10 books in the same genre I enjoyed more than this. So, 2,5 stars from me rounded up to 3.
April 8, 2015
Author is clearly getting better. I reference far better reviews when I say that the book is not very good, but you keep reading it until you're okay with that. Still has bad scene movement and awkward talking, but getting the hang of it.
September 18, 2009
The second installment in this series is not as tight as the first, and the humor is even more forced. However, I still found the characters sympathetic and the action interesting.
June 12, 2020
This is the second book in the Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman. Cal Leandros and his brother Niko have been on the run most of their young lives. They are not running from the authorities however, they are running from monsters. This is because Cal's father was himself a monster and his mother was human. In this one they are interviewed for a job by a creature who is supposed to be representing a powerful werewolf in charge of a criminal empire. It turns out that this creature is actually plotting to steal a powerful artifact from the werewolf and he kidnaps Cal's friend Georgina and then blackmails Cal and Niko into stealing it for him. After they find out why he really wants the artifact they gather their friends and a new ally and decide to save Georgina and keep him from gaining control of the powerful and dangerous artifact. A very good read in this series.
July 26, 2017
I don't read Rob Thurman books enough. I really like this series, but for some reason I haven't been able to keep up with it.
I like that Cal isn't just a lazy teenager any more. He is still Caliban, but he just might be growing up and gearing up to face his Auphe side of the family.
This book goes from killer clowns that give you nightmares to human sized slug like creatures. Oh and the Puck is back and in full form in this book. It had really been too long since I had read the first book in this series.
I like that Cal isn't just a lazy teenager any more. He is still Caliban, but he just might be growing up and gearing up to face his Auphe side of the family.
This book goes from killer clowns that give you nightmares to human sized slug like creatures. Oh and the Puck is back and in full form in this book. It had really been too long since I had read the first book in this series.
February 5, 2023
Cal Leandros #1 had to set the stage of the 2 brothers. Who they are and where they came from. What they do for a living and what they're trying to stay away from. Basically an introduction as an introduction should be.
Number 2 takes it further, digs deeper into Caliban and Niko's lives. When one of their friends gets kidnapped as a ploy to get them to find a lost crown which they learn holds unimaginable power, they must work together with Lycan Kin to find this object and save their friend.
Promise, Niko's vampire girlfriend, and Robin Goodfellow, the immortal puck, aid the brothers and are brilliant additions to the supernatural team. I just love them. They are brilliantly written, as are Cal and Niko.
Definitely want to read more in this series.
Number 2 takes it further, digs deeper into Caliban and Niko's lives. When one of their friends gets kidnapped as a ploy to get them to find a lost crown which they learn holds unimaginable power, they must work together with Lycan Kin to find this object and save their friend.
Promise, Niko's vampire girlfriend, and Robin Goodfellow, the immortal puck, aid the brothers and are brilliant additions to the supernatural team. I just love them. They are brilliantly written, as are Cal and Niko.
Definitely want to read more in this series.
July 24, 2017
An improvement over the first in the series. Less angsting, less dwelling on our heros' shiny hair and pretty physiques, and more interesting plot. I enjoyed the road trip, and I loved the new werewolf character(s). Three and a quarter stars.
November 4, 2017
I so like this installment in the series
October 21, 2024
2024 re-read: This is probably the weakest book in the series.
As brothers Cal and Niko begin to establish their new business as paranormal jacks-of-all-trades, they are roped into a job for the Kin, the werewolf mafia that rules the NYC supernatural underground. Meanwhile, Niko is growing closer to Promise, who is their vampire associate and the third partner in their business venture. When the job goes sideways, Georgina gets kidnapped and the gang is on a mission to save her.
It's really hard to care about the plot. The werewolves weren't anything original and their part of the story was pretty boring, in my opinion. I didn't care enough about them to keep the various werewolf characters straight-- I had trouble remembering who was who-- and then once Georgina got kidnapped, none of the wolves, aside from one, really mattered anymore.
I didn't care about George's kidnapping either, mainly because her character has been super bland so far. She and Cal have feelings for each other but can't be together because of reasons which are kind of dumb, in my opinion. It's also unclear how they came to like each other, why they do, and how they would even work as a couple, so it makes it really difficult to root for their relationship. So all of Cal's angst and turmoil about George being kidnapped (which unfortunately takes up a significant portion of this book) was super boring and annoying to read about.
The saving grace to this book is that we get to see Cal and Robin's friendship growing, which is really sweet, and also that Promise also gets some nice moments, showing both her fierce protectiveness toward Niko and also her humorous side. Promise is actually low-key hilarious.
The Leandros brothers are the same as always-- forever putting each other first and watching each other's backs and generally showing all the brotherly love they normally do.
As brothers Cal and Niko begin to establish their new business as paranormal jacks-of-all-trades, they are roped into a job for the Kin, the werewolf mafia that rules the NYC supernatural underground. Meanwhile, Niko is growing closer to Promise, who is their vampire associate and the third partner in their business venture. When the job goes sideways, Georgina gets kidnapped and the gang is on a mission to save her.
It's really hard to care about the plot. The werewolves weren't anything original and their part of the story was pretty boring, in my opinion. I didn't care enough about them to keep the various werewolf characters straight-- I had trouble remembering who was who-- and then once Georgina got kidnapped, none of the wolves, aside from one, really mattered anymore.
I didn't care about George's kidnapping either, mainly because her character has been super bland so far. She and Cal have feelings for each other but can't be together because of reasons which are kind of dumb, in my opinion. It's also unclear how they came to like each other, why they do, and how they would even work as a couple, so it makes it really difficult to root for their relationship. So all of Cal's angst and turmoil about George being kidnapped (which unfortunately takes up a significant portion of this book) was super boring and annoying to read about.
The saving grace to this book is that we get to see Cal and Robin's friendship growing, which is really sweet, and also that Promise also gets some nice moments, showing both her fierce protectiveness toward Niko and also her humorous side. Promise is actually low-key hilarious.
The Leandros brothers are the same as always-- forever putting each other first and watching each other's backs and generally showing all the brotherly love they normally do.
December 6, 2011
Having established all her characters and the basic background of her world in the first book, Thurman takes off running with this one and launches straight into the mystery/action. Our protagonist brothers have decided to open a PI agency and they're working their first case. It turns out to be more of a straightforward bash and run than a genuine mystery, but I get the sense that's the sort of story that works for this author. The tone of this book is even more grim than the last book, but since we've already established the narrator's cup of angst overfloweth, at least here it feels more justified. Right now he still seems immature, and while certainly able to kick butt, he doesn't have the confidence or the ability to regulate his emotions - not even close - so he's not as powerful as he has the potential to be. It will be interesting to see where he goes as a character over the course of the series, and how much that changes. I'm also interested to see how the female characters develop. They don't get much screentime in the first book, so while at least one of them gets fleshed out a bit more in this one, there still is a lot more to learn about them then the male characters. I enjoyed the extended trip through the werewolf mafia underground, since you got a lot better feel for at least one of the supernatural races in Thurman's world. And while the werewolves don't deviate much from 'werewolf standard', the differences were interesting enough to be a unique take.
April 22, 2009
This was good, but a little too deja vu to make 5 stars for me. The first book in this series was incredible - in it Cal was abducted. In book two, Cal's sortof girlfriend Georgina and, for a brief time, his brother Niko, are abducted. I would have prefered a different direction. I was looking forward to an improvement in the lives of Cal and Niko that allowed their detective agency to get off the ground. Instead, they are beaten down at every turn, and even the Auphe show up - they were supposed to be out of the picture! Sure, I expected one to pop back up later in the series, but not in book 2! I wanted Cal and Niko to get a break - have a chance to relax a little, make some friends, improve their skills - something like that. Instead, they nearly died. Again. It seems Mr. Thurman has it in for his heros.
Premise: Niko and Cal get a gig infiltrating a werewolf pack, only the gig turns out to be fake. Really, it was a test to see if they were strong enough to fight weres. They are. The real plot is about Georgina being held hostage in exchange for an ancient crown. (A tough were has the crown.) There are lots of levels of subterfuge, and I didn't recognize the puppetmaster for who he was until it was revealed in the book - which was great.
Premise: Niko and Cal get a gig infiltrating a werewolf pack, only the gig turns out to be fake. Really, it was a test to see if they were strong enough to fight weres. They are. The real plot is about Georgina being held hostage in exchange for an ancient crown. (A tough were has the crown.) There are lots of levels of subterfuge, and I didn't recognize the puppetmaster for who he was until it was revealed in the book - which was great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2011
Not bad. I enjoyed it. Some great interaction between Cal and Niko. Amusing banter.
Robin Goodfellows is a great character. One of my favorites.
There werewolves did not work for me. Didn’t like Flay, didn’t like the two-headed one (although the fight scene on the roof was tense and well done). Promise and George never really filled out completely for me.
I’m often told that Auphe are the baddest of the bad, but I don’t remember seeing anything that proved it out in this particular book—though I’m keeping an open mind and trusting the author.
However, the scenes beneath/inside the bridge were excellent. That creature was creepy as hell…and the opening scene of the book was very strong, very well done. I must admit I like the dark, creepy vibe of the book.
Which leads me to my major gripe and why this is 3 stars for me instead of 4. This *particular book* feels too much like the show Supernatural. I’m sorry, it simply does. Cal, tainted, half-monster, bitching about being a half monster and the possibility of going all evil, etc. Niko, his brother, who is constantly looking out for him/taking care of him. Their relationship. Their broken home life.
Still, that doesn’t make it bad or not worth reading. It was fun. I’ll definitely read more in this series.
Robin Goodfellows is a great character. One of my favorites.
There werewolves did not work for me. Didn’t like Flay, didn’t like the two-headed one (although the fight scene on the roof was tense and well done). Promise and George never really filled out completely for me.
I’m often told that Auphe are the baddest of the bad, but I don’t remember seeing anything that proved it out in this particular book—though I’m keeping an open mind and trusting the author.
However, the scenes beneath/inside the bridge were excellent. That creature was creepy as hell…and the opening scene of the book was very strong, very well done. I must admit I like the dark, creepy vibe of the book.
Which leads me to my major gripe and why this is 3 stars for me instead of 4. This *particular book* feels too much like the show Supernatural. I’m sorry, it simply does. Cal, tainted, half-monster, bitching about being a half monster and the possibility of going all evil, etc. Niko, his brother, who is constantly looking out for him/taking care of him. Their relationship. Their broken home life.
Still, that doesn’t make it bad or not worth reading. It was fun. I’ll definitely read more in this series.
April 5, 2018
I really love the characters in this book and Thurman's interpretation of classic fantasy/horror creatures. While it's not that unique in the urban fantasy genre, the tweaked elements (vampires actually have an iron-deficiency disease and are born, werewolves are born and come in castes and levels, etc) make it something a little different. The second novel in the series is an improvement in writing and characterisations - no surprise as the first book is literally Thurman's first book - and the plot was also more interesting. The main criticism I have is that there are a lot of explainer lines, as if the reader didn't read the first book. I can't believe someone would just pick up the second book and need the first one explained so much, but it adds a word count that is unnecessary, especially when reading the books in succession. I first read this book 10 years ago and this is my second reading. I don't think I enjoyed it as much this time, as a more adult reader, but I still love the world and characters Thurman has created here.
March 12, 2012
In the second book of this series, Cal and Nik's friend Georgina gets kidnapped and they must find and retrieve a crown as ransom. Cal is still denying his feelings for the young Georgina. While Cal is still brash, immature, and lazy - he does seem to buck up a bit and goes after his friend with determination and a bit of recklessness while his mysterious half-auphe bloodline grants him some new and interesting gifts. Supported by his ever-present brother Nik and their new friends Promise, a vampire, and Rob Fellows, a puck, they go undercover with a pack of weres to find the crown. I read the first book disliking Cal because of his whiny, lazy nature. He is still very whiny and lazy in this novel, but he is slowly starting to take on more responsibility. I believe he even cleaned his weapon for the first time without his brother telling him to or doing it for him. I'm still holding out some high hopes that Cal will turn himself around and be the hero I'm waiting for. I give this book about 3.75 stars.
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