Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This thread is open to discuss Doubletake by Rob Thurman.



Synopsis
Half-human/half-monster Cal Leandros knows that family is a pain. But now that pain belongs to his half-brother, Niko. Niko's shady father is in town, and he needs a big favor. Even worse is the reunion being held by the devious Puck race-including the Leandros' friend, Robin- featuring a lottery that no Puck wants to win.

As Cal tries to keep both Niko and Robin from paying the ultimate price for their kin, a horrific reminder from Cal's own past arrives to remind him that blood is thicker than water-and that's why it's so much more fun to spill.

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i think i probably won't get this one started until tomorrow

Oh good, thought I was running late as usual! Wanted to finish Daisy Jones 1st so I'll start after.

I might not start until Monday or Tuesday

yeah i might actually not either but i'll see how i feel in the morning

I started last night and got thru Chpt 5 and so much is going on!

The best part had to be the Puck Reunion. Can you imagine 70 Robins in 1 room?!?! The egos, the orgy. Even Niko was unnerved :D The boasting about Eve - "I kept pelting her with apples and shouting, 'Eat it! Come on, you apple-hating nudist. Eat it!'" That has to be one of my fave moments of the series it was so funny. And the ways pucks "reproduce"... craziness.

Another Auphe-hybrid, heavier on the Auphe O.O Holy hell, I thought that was over with. And he wants to remake the world? What, bringing back the Auphe, the ones who starved and tortured him? Oh geez. He seems stronger than Cal, but that might be because of Cal's rewiring.

Add to that, Niko's father coming back and the automaton almost killing Cal, and geez, don't know where this story is going or where to focus!

I just started a bit ago and i'm in chapter 4 right now. the puck reunion just sounds AWFUL lmao. like you could not pay me enough. and of course they're all trying to get a piece of niko.

there's a lot going on in this one again but i like it and think it works well together. grimm, kalakos, and the panic are all around the central theme of family so i think it's interesting to look at what are the main characters' 'real' family and then the family they have chosen in each other.

this one might be my favorite one. either this one or the next one ...although that one has niko pov again so ...hmmm lol

also cal and niko's conversation about 'post coital intimacy' absolutely kills me

Oh that WAS good :D Can't believe he actually talked to Niko about it!

And $30k to "oversee" the reunion? Talk about easy money (even Niko fighting off the advances) and only had to kill 1.

Didn't even think about the theme. Pretty much all books in this series is about the family bond between Niko & Cal but knowing that this extends that theme makes me excited to keep reading!

I read through the end of chapter 7 today.

I agree that the best part was the Puck reunion the entire things was made of gold. I love how when they were like let the orgy begin Cal tried to make a break for it only to realize they were locked in and then tried to drink himself stupid.

It was also hilarious that all the pucks kept stuffing Niko’s apron with cash. Niko is Puck nip.

I hope Cal get’s fixed from what Rafferty did to him cause I think he’s going to need it to fight with his Auphe-hybrid relative.

Thru Chpt 8 and holy crap (view spoiler)[Grimm made more hybrids!!!! (hide spoiler)]

Gotta get some sleep but this is a crappy place to have to stop!

Claudia wrote: "I read through the end of chapter 7 today.

I agree that the best part was the Puck reunion the entire things was made of gold. I love how when they were like let the orgy begin Cal tried to make a..."

Hahaha Cal!

Can't remember but why was Niko unaffected by their pheromones?

humans aren't affected by the pheromones, but even if they were i'm sure nik would be immune by sheer willpower lol

Chpt 10 - WTF?!?!?!

(view spoiler)[Way to bring back Georginna... in a memory... of Grimm's... and him killing her... WHAT! (hide spoiler)]

Devann wrote: "humans aren't affected by the pheromones, but even if they were i'm sure nik would be immune by sheer willpower lol"

His control is quite exemplary :)

Cathy M. wrote: "Chpt 10 - WTF?!?!?!

[spoilers removed]"

OMG I know!!!

(view spoiler)[ God George that’s messed up. And when she moved away she still ran into trouble. God this whole thing really pissed me off. She looked into the future and saw what Grimm was going to do and was like hey Grimm I know you’re going to kill me don’t worry I’m not going to run and I don’t blame you for it. Like WTF? And she wiped his memory of her so Cal wouldn’t find out like how? Then still seems to be hanging around as a ghost wiping his memories or something? Gah so frustrating. Do you think Cal will find out anyway? (hide spoiler)]

Claudia wrote: "Cathy M. wrote: "Chpt 10 - WTF?!?!?!

[spoilers removed]"

OMG I know!!!

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It was so freakin unexpected and SHOCKING!!! 1st she admitted that she looked into the future with Cal. Not so good, that's why she left. Understandable, can't fault her for that, and was needed in the overall story.

Then yea, she looked at the future and knew Grimm was going to kill her. WHY DIDN'T SHE LEAVE?????? Did she think it was her destiny, at 19, to die by an Auphe-hybrid? If not Cal, then Grimm? It was really strange, but Grimm's memory was a little hazy too, probably because of what George did to wipe her from his memory. But I didn't get that whole part - him hearing her voice saying that she would find a way to change it. Like how the hell can you if you're DEAD? Gah, the more I think about it, the more frustrating it is! (hide spoiler)]

Cathy M. wrote: "Claudia wrote: "Cathy M. wrote: "Chpt 10 - WTF?!?!?!

[spoilers removed]"

OMG I know!!!

[spoilers removed]"



Yes that’s exactly how I feel about it completely frustrated and confused.
(view spoiler)[ Like you I get her leaving after she saw how bad the future was for her and Cal being together. I don’t however get her accepting her death at the hands of Grimm. Like she was like hmm well if I don’t die because of Cal it’s only fair another Auphe-hybrid kill me instead. Unless of course maybe she saw that by dying she would be able to do something to help Cal win against Grimm somehow. I don’t know how but that could be a reason crazy as it sounds. God I never really liked George’s character too much because l8ike Cal and Niko said she was too passive and like what will happen will happen but this is like next level. Like I’m hoping there is a greater purpose served by her death and not just her accepting her fate or whatever bull. Like do you think Cal does find out about George being killed and like it helps him level up on his Auphe powers so he can win against Grimm? Or like her ghost/spirit is hanging around and does something to help him? (hide spoiler)]

juuuust wanted to say that i am still around but i literally cannot comment on that topic because me explaining would be spoilers -_-;

i think i got through chapter 11 today ...somewhere around there. gotta say one of my favorite promise moments in the series is when (view spoiler)[she runs in all ready to pretend to be aphrodite and then just goes 'mary mother of god!' #amazing (hide spoiler)]

Claudia wrote: "Cathy M. wrote: "Claudia wrote: "Cathy M. wrote: "Chpt 10 - WTF?!?!?!

[spoilers removed]"

OMG I know!!!

[spoilers removed]"



Yes that’s exactly how I feel about it completely frustrated and co..."

Cal has to find out somehow. I mean, why else would it be in this story? Unless the author just wanted to give a big F U yo the readers who ask about her?i think he'll lose his shit because she was that one for him. Maybe you're right and that'll give him that edge to beat Grimm in the end!

Devann wrote: "juuuust wanted to say that i am still around but i literally cannot comment on that topic because me explaining would be spoilers -_-;

i think i got through chapter 11 today ...somewhere around th..."

She sure knows how to cut the tension/action with words like that :P

Figured that's why you weren't commenting! But that also means we'll find out soon...

Thru Chpt 16 - (view spoiler)[that scene with Mama Boggle was so sad!!!! How she kept trying to put her babies back together. Heart-wrenching! (hide spoiler)]

another of my favorite moments including niko, promise, and her new mummy cats (view spoiler)[is when cal makes the joke that the cats watch them during sex and niko is like 'how did you know that'. (hide spoiler)] kills me every time.

also the 'explanation' about george was not in this book. i'm not sure if it's actually brought up in the next one or if you guys were just supposed to get it in this book because of context clues but i'll put the explanation under the cut so you can decide if you want to click

(view spoiler)[he didn't actually kill her, she just made him think that he did. that's why his memories were all hazy and why he heard her still moving around in the classroom and why he couldn't remember getting outside because he went back in the classroom and she had to wipe his memory AGAIN and then when he saw her in the window it was actually her and not her ghost or whatever. she has a small cameo in one of the other books but i can't remember if it's the next one or the 9th one so i thought that i would just mention it here. so yeah, still not super happy with thurman's pattern of writing her female characters out to the sidelines, but at least she didn't fridge her to motivate cal so i'll call that a general positive lol (hide spoiler)]

Cathy M. wrote: "Thru Chpt 16 - [spoilers removed]"


Yeah I thought that was so sad. I mean we all know they were going to grown up to be monsters that needed putting down but still sad.

Devann wrote: "another of my favorite moments including niko, promise, and her new mummy cats [spoilers removed] kills me every time."

Oh my god, that was so funny! I bookmarked it too :) You know i wondered what happened too all the cats, funny that Robin snuck 3 to Promise & they won't leave. But he was like How did you know that? & then tries to play it off.

Devann wrote: "also the 'explanation' about george was not in this book. i'm not sure if it's actually brought up in the next one or if you guys were just supposed to get it in this book because of context clues ..."

Thank you! (view spoiler)[I was the one who did sort of like George so I'm glad it wasn't what it appeared. That totally makes sense. So I'm hoping she helps Cal in the future then to defeat Grimm! (hide spoiler)]

@Cathy re: George (view spoiler)[I didn't really mind her in general, I more just didn't like her and Cal together. but even I would have been mad if she had been killed like that because talk about stupid and pointless! (hide spoiler)]

Finished last night and another great edition to this series! Can see why this is one of your faves Devann. The more I read of this series, the more in love I am with it and seriously hating that we're getting so close to the end :(

(view spoiler)[Can't believe it was Kalakos behind everything! Well, can believe it because he was an asshole but he got off too easy in the end. Wish Cal would've transported him and Janus to Tumulus to live out their pathetic existences.

And yay, Cal is CURED!!!! One good thing came out of Kalakos, that ointment. Too bad they didn't have a jar of it left over because with Grimm still living and his thousand bae-babies (holy crap, a THOUSAND?), things are about to get even crazier! (hide spoiler)]

haha re: the person behind it at all



but yeah so glad that cal is (view spoiler)[cured now! him not being able to gate the whole book was awful. i mean i get that she HAS to put limitations on him or else he would just be able to murder anyone they need to fight in like 2 seconds and there would be no book, but still lol (hide spoiler)]

Devann wrote: "haha re: the person behind it at all



but yeah so glad that cal is [spoilers removed]"

Hahaha yes!

Cal - (view spoiler)[God yes, it was so awful. Understandable in that she wanted to pull back on him going completely Auphe (especially after that deer scene!). But in order to fight Grimm, to be on the same level, there had to be a way to reverse it. Thank god, it's finally happened. It was like Hallelujah!! So wondering now if that means we'll see an even darker Cal in the next one? Because he's going to have to start embracing his Auphe-ness. (hide spoiler)]

Okay I finished!!! I totally five starred this book. This book was great and now one of my favorites too. @ Cathy I’m sad both that the end is coming soon and that this series never got completed because I really love it so much.

(view spoiler)[ I think one of my favorite moments in this book was when Cal had the flashback of his four year old self blackmailing and bribing his neighbor to get what he needed to save Nik. I love those flashbacks to their childhood. I also love how Cal saw himself as more practical than Niko.

I was not at all surprised by Kalakos sudden yet inevitable betrayal. Like I totally saw it coming that he was a asshole and going to screw them over somehow. I was a bit surprised that they brought out Janus just to kill Cal. I was kind of expecting more along the line that he was going to disappoint Nik somehow but at the same time not too surprised his goal was to kill Cal. And I agree with Cal if anyone is Achilles reborn then it’s Niko. I think this is like the second book where the author introduces a character tries to make them likeable and then has them be the bad guy behind everything. Like when Robin had the hit on him and then it turned out to be his housekeeper who they all liked. Not exactly the same situation but I hate that Niko now has it on him that his dad used him to get to Cal and try and kill him.

I am super stoked that Cal is cured and able to gate again. I think however that it’s a double edged sword since he does become more Auphe like when he over uses the powers. I wonder though now that he has integrated his human and Auphe half if this will help him with control and he won’t lose himself.

On George I did wonder if George somehow faked her death right after reading the scene because of the fact that he heard someone throwing the apple away in the trash that he left in George’s hand. However I dismissed it because I couldn’t figure out how she did it. Like we get George is psychic but since when can she make others see things or wipe memories from people’s minds?

@Devann Like you I didn’t really like George but thinking she was killed off like that really made me mad. I’m glad she’s not really dead. (hide spoiler)]

Claudia wrote: "Okay I finished!!! I totally five starred this book. This book was great and now one of my favorites too. @ Cathy I’m sad both that the end is coming soon and that this series never got completed b..."

(view spoiler)[Yes, I loved that flashback to 4yo Cal too. It was sad that at 4, not only that he HAD to manipulate the neighbor to get Niko help, but that he knew HOW to do it. Being practical. Don't think I'll ever think of that word/meaning in quite the same way again.

Kalakos surprised me when he turned Janus against Niko, and how he had as much disdain for Niko as he did Cal. When he said said why would he claim Niko as his own, even though Niko never fully trusted him or loved him or any of that, it still had to have hurt. Even if a little.

Niko will be Cal's salvation - will help keep Cal's humanity. We have to have faith!
(hide spoiler)]

@Cathy the next one is kind of a detour from the whole grimm plot, but we get niko pov again! then book nine is the continuation of the grimm thing and yeah he definitely gets more auphe in it and i'm like yesssss [rubs hands together gleefully] lol

@Claudia usually i am not much for very small children but child!Cal absolutely kills me because he's such a little asshole lol there's more of younger cal in the next book but i think he's like 11 at that point? still 'adorable' though ;)

and i didn't really connect kalakos with sereglio but that is an interesting parallel. although really i had no idea with her and with kalakos i didn't necessarily think his betrayal was going to be that big but i figured there was SOMETHING up with him.

and i have no idea how george's mind wiping powers work lol. it's never mentioned again before or after so i guess we just have to chalk it up to 'because rob said so that's why'. maybe she was planning on doing something else with it later in the series but it got cancelled before she got there?

@ Devann I think that’s why I liked it so much was because he totally was such a manipulative little asshole. Like he totally tried to use that he was an adorable kid on her then when realized she wasn’t someone who would fall for that instead went to bribery and blackmail. I think I’m actually really curious on the next book if it shows more of their childhood.

About George….I guess sit will be an unanswered question for the ages.

On another note do you get the feeling Cal is a little bicurious? Like he’s a little fixed on Robin and his equipment. Like in the book he has that thought about Robin having a history of spending a lot of time running around in the woods nude following t up with the thought that he’s never pictured it but in a way that means he totally pictured it. Sorry it just keeps popping up in books and it makes me wonder

Claudia wrote: "@ Devann I think that’s why I liked it so much was because he totally was such a manipulative little asshole. Like he totally tried to use that he was an adorable kid on her then when realized she ..."

Hahahahah bicurious :D You know, I did think he brought it up a lot too! Just in denial that no he wasn't looking or no he wasn't thinking about it.

Looks like the next book has a lot more flashbacks to their childhood!

Devann wrote: "@Cathy the next one is kind of a detour from the whole grimm plot, but we get niko pov again! then book nine is the continuation of the grimm thing and yeah he definitely gets more auphe in it and ..."

Yes! It's been WAY too long since we've gotten Niko's POV! Gotta build up to Grimm I see. That's okay, we'll see Cal getting more comfortable with his Aupheness for that showdown, right?

i mean i definitely ship cal and robin in a weird way so yeah i think cal is a bit bicurous lol. but seriously ...the only reason you need to bring up how straight you are all the time is BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THAT STRAIGHT ;)

Devann wrote: "i mean i definitely ship cal and robin in a weird way so yeah i think cal is a bit bicurous lol. but seriously ...the only reason you need to bring up how straight you are all the time is BECAUSE Y..."

Yeah that’s totally my view on it too. Lol.

Hey question have either of you seen the Cal Leandros parody movie on youtube?

oh my god no. i'm kind of afraid to see what that is but ...link? lol

Yeah I just stumbled across it yesterday
Part 1 - https://youtu.be/UTktdQW18gg
Part 2 - https://youtu.be/VI7cb3tvMYY

I never would've even thought to look for one!! I have to watch these...

lmao, i watched like 30 seconds of it and suffered from so much second hand embarrassment that i had to stop but it's cool that someone did something like that for the series since it was never that popular

I only watched part of the 1st one and but just couldn't. You're right, it's cool they were made but maybe when I'm more in the mood, I'll try again.

When do you guys want to move to the next one?

maybe this friday? like one of you said, it works for pretty much every wheel word but i would still like to start it at the beginning of a new wheel 'week'

Sounds good!

Sorry I disappeared off the internet for a few days. I’m down to start the next book on Friday with no problems.