Roadkill

I love this series and I loved this book. I was a little concerned going into this book that maybe the series was slipping because I didn't enjoy hearing from Nik's POV in the last book. I love Nik being his mysterious ninja self as seen through Cal's eyes. So happy we were back to that original format in this book. The sardonic wit that blows through these books is refreshingly different from the too serious take of some books in the genre or the puny tongue in cheek of others. The story moved at a hyper manic pace that kept me reading and when I misplaced the book for a couple of hours today I about had a fit until I found it behind the couch. It ended happy and it ended sad. No simple pat answers. Rob Thurman makes you think while show more entertaining you. One of the things I love best about these books is that beyond the humor and the swordplay and saving the world this is the story of two brothers who love each other. No matter what the monsters throw at them, you know that Nik will be there for Cal and Cal will be there for Nik. I hope my sons grow up to love each other as much. Only without the demons and evil gypsies. Like I tell everyone at the bookstore where I work, read these books. You won't regret it. show less

Rob Thurman does what she does best- dark, sarcastic, and endings that leave you wanting more. Cal has to be one of the best anti-heroes in modern books.
In addition to the major problems he is facing this week (IE- trying to save the world from an even bad-er monstrosity) he is in trouble with the Kin over Delilah, his friends-with-benefits. Add on the trouble with his "traveling", a moping Puck, and Rafferty's problems, this is one hell of a road trip!

Hmmm...Thurman definitely ended this with a very dark edge. And that is saying something considering the villains Cal and Niko have faced, including their own issues. The novel begins more or less like usual: the guys take a case with a near-indestructible enemy, and learn that the Kin know about Cal and Delilah. Promise skips this mission, but since the enemy is an anti-healer, they need a healer to help combat him. I was glad to see the werewolf cousins, Rafferty and Catcher, return. Their story has been a loose thread since the beginning. I wanted to know why Catcher is stuck as a wolf, and why Rafferty feels responsible - and we do. And it's pretty damn clever to boot.

In Deathwish, Thurman shook up the format by having Niko show more alternate with Cal as narrator. She does so again here, only this time Catcher alternates with Cal to tell the tale. I'm split over this. On the one hand, I like seeing Cal's actions through others' eyes. Especially since Catcher doesn't love Cal like Niko does, so he's more objective. And able to see the slow changes in Cal that Niko can't or won't see as the plot moves along. On the other hand, this shifted the dynamic of the story making this as much about Catcher and Rafferty as about Cal. With the Auphe gone, readers might've expected Cal and Niko to "go forth and be supernatural protectors of the realm." Instead, Thurman throws a curveball by introducing a very dark thread for Cal when unexpected side-effects to gating start to manifest. I'm not sure I like this theme, since I can't see how it can be resolved with my favorite anti-hero still intact. Thankfully, I have faith in the author! It does add a new dimension to the brothers relationship as we see just how far Niko will go to protect his brother, even from himself.

In direct contrast to the dark storyline, Thurman keeps the black humor rolling. Cal's famous sarcasm is as sharp as ever, and his thoughts about sex, now that he's getting some, are frequent and hilarious. Niko wastes no time cuffing him on the back of the head when he requires it either. Goodfellow, while not adding anything to the plot or story (which was somewhat disappointing), does add laughs as he wrestles with, oh the horror, monogamy! The ending was an action-packed, exciting battle where all plot threads converge to one showdown.

Overall, though the pacing of the book wasn't as tight as the previous books (mainly because they spent so much time chasing the enemy across country so we could have therapy time), the plot was well done, the ending spectacular and the characters true to form. I can't wait for the next book. show less

A few books back, half-human Cal and his brother Niko had dealings with an ancient Rom woman--dealings that almost lead to Niko's death. Now the old crone is back, this time with a job offer. Someone has stolen a coffin from her clan, and this isn't just any coffin. It contains Suyolak, the Rom who once-upon-a-time unleashed the Black Plague for kicks. Suyolak is a healer turned anti-healer. Cal and Niko reach out to their old healer friend, Rafferty, who has problems of his own--a werewolf cousin who is stuck as a wolf. Together they take to the American highway to stop Suyolak from popping free.

My feelings on this book are mixed. On one hand, I love the concept of Suyolak. I love writing healer characters, so it was fun to see how show more Thurman handled their powers. She also had a gift for pulling out very obscure, nasty creatures from mythology and bringing them to life in horrid detail. Reading these books can be educational. The action stays consistent, too.

Then there's the bad stuff. Rafferty and Catcher had larger roles in this book, with some chapters from Catcher's point of view (which made his ending far too predictable). The problem is that too many characters sounded the same. They were almost all male, bitter, profane, and unnaturally-witty at all times. As it is, Cal can be a bit too whiny and rambling, but here it felt like overkill with so many characters alike. Even Robin Goodfellow, the perpetually horny puck, was whinier in this book as he attempted monogamy. I also missed the balancing presence of Promise, Niko's girlfriend, who was omitted despite how their relationship was supposedly mended.

I'll still continue with the series when the next book is released in March, but I hope it remedies some of the narrative problems. show less

In this episode, the guys and a few friends go up against The Plague of the World, the anti-healer. The story was not as good as the previous books because it was essentially a long car chase. I also found that with the extra characters that their individual POV's tended to overlap and get repetitious. There were quite a few high points but not as many as I was used to from the previous books. I still enjoyed this supernatural adventure.

This one was a little too introspective and talky compared to previous books in the series and less action, sometimes taking up only a couple of paragraphs. The plot was fine if a little predictable. The final battle wasn't one of her best, not enough characters almost dying, but it was good. :)

But those Brothers moments just get me and there were several although I wanted more. Instead we got moments between cousins who were raised as brothers, and a delightful Wolf who was more dog-like than wolf with his happy-go-lucky personality. We also get a sweet m/m romance as well that had me "oh" sound you make when an adorable puppy face-plants: kind of "that's so adorable it makes me want to cry."

Delilah is back, who I can't stand, but we show more aren't supposed to like her as much this time around. I do like that she's lethal and can hold her own against many werewolves as a woman because there are so few women in this series but the only other woman in this story is evil.

My favorite parts, though, this time around involved Goodfellow. I've always loved his character anyway but he's vulnerable and confused here. He is wrestling with a big decision and trying to be celibate during the trip as a test to himself. His struggles are both hilarious and sympathetic as he is tempted by everything and everyone and is crabby as a result. But we see more of his goodness even if Cal doesn't always give him credit for it.

But the best part? The mummy cat. Now everyone knows I am not a cat person--they torture me with love on purpose as I am horribly allergic and they ALWAYS come to weave around my legs and climb on me; not anyone else, me. Most are strategically evil or stupid or both. But this cat is amazing. It's death on dead paws and everyone is scared of it. It's also really smart. The book explains why Robin is so enamored of it but I'm sold. I want a mummy cat too. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be allergic either. show less

This one was a little too introspective and talky compared to previous books in the series and less action, sometimes taking up only a couple of paragraphs. The plot was fine if a little predictable. The final battle wasn't one of her best, not enough characters almost dying, but it was good. :)

But those Brothers moments just get me and there were several although I wanted more. Instead we got moments between cousins who were raised as brothers, and a delightful Wolf who was more dog-like than wolf with his happy-go-lucky personality. We also get a sweet m/m romance as well that had me "oh" sound you make when an adorable puppy face-plants: kind of "that's so adorable it makes me want to cry."

Delilah is back, who I can't stand, but we show more aren't supposed to like her as much this time around. I do like that she's lethal and can hold her own against many werewolves as a woman because there are so few women in this series but the only other woman in this story is evil.

My favorite parts, though, this time around involved Goodfellow. I've always loved his character anyway but he's vulnerable and confused here. He is wrestling with a big decision and trying to be celibate during the trip as a test to himself. His struggles are both hilarious and sympathetic as he is tempted by everything and everyone and is crabby as a result. But we see more of his goodness even if Cal doesn't always give him credit for it.

But the best part? The mummy cat. Now everyone knows I am not a cat person--they torture me with love on purpose as I am horribly allergic and they ALWAYS come to weave around my legs and climb on me; not anyone else, me. Most are strategically evil or stupid or both. But this cat is amazing. It's death on dead paws and everyone is scared of it. It's also really smart. The book explains why Robin is so enamored of it but I'm sold. I want a mummy cat too. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be allergic either. show less