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Roadkill by Rob Thurman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I cracked and picked up Roadkill on Friday evening and finished it this morning. It's the fifth book in Rob Thurman's "Cal Leandros" urban fantasy series. Once again told in alternating first-person points of view, although this time, aside from Cal, there were some chapters written in Catcher's pov. Catcher is the werewolf cousin of healer Rafferty and he is stuck in his wolf form.

Cal is horrified and dismayed when his brother Niko agrees to meet with the Rom queen whose machinations nearly got Nik killed once before. It seems Abelia Roo needs a favor--someone has stolen a coffin from her clan, one that contains an anti-healer who makes the Pestilence version of the Four Horsemen seem like a mutton-bustin' toddler. Reluctantly, the brothers take the case, but it involves hitting the road to track down the thief who stole Suyolak, coffin and all. Coming along for the ride: Robin (whose main squeeze, Ishiah, wants him to try monogamy for a change), Salome (Robin's lethal, mummified cat), Delilah (Cal's main squeeze, who may or may not be planning to kill him), healer Rafferty (who saved Cal's life when Niko tried to kill him), and Catcher (Rafferty's all-wolf cousin). Only Promise (Niko's main squeeze) seems to have had the sense to sit this one out.

On a race against the clock, Cal and company are desperately trying to catch up to Suyolak. The seals on the coffin are failing, unleashing death and destruction in his wake. There are also some monsters to deal with along the way, not the least of which is Cal himself. The ease with which he can now open gates and travel through them is bringing his Auphe half to the fore, and as far as Cal is concerned, it feels good.

Mercy. Okay. To begin with, I can safely say this has been my least favorite book in the series so far. Fight scenes were not as prevalent, and I didn't like seeing Cal go off the rails. At his lowest point, he seriously contemplated killing his brother--the only person in the world he loves and trusts. I suppose that's what addiction can do to you, however, and Cal was definitely getting addicted to the high of being (half)Auphe. Catcher's pov seemed an odd choice, but it helped to get his perspective on his situation. He knew he was losing his human self to the wolf and that Rafferty couldn't fix him. In a way, it mirrored Cal's descent into his demonic half. This time, I really would have liked to get Niko's pov. What torture it must have been for him to see and feel Cal slipping through his fingers--the brother he's spent nearly his entire life protecting. It was a melancholy and at times depressing read. Rafferty was wallowing in self-recrimination as he blamed himself for Catcher's state, Robin was wallowing in woe as he sought to remain faithful to Ish, Niko was growing despondent as he watched Cal unravel, Catcher was fighting to hang on to his humanity for Rafferty, not for himself, while Cal (and Delilah to some extent) watched the world burn. I think only Salome had a good time.

( Favorite lines )

This one earns a four. Don't get me wrong, I loved it; I just didn't enjoy it as much as the others in the series.


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Madhouse by Rob Thurman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Not even a week went by, and I cracked and gobbled up book three in the "Cal Leandros" urban fantasy series, by Rob Thurman. This one was appropriately titled Madhouse. As in the previous books, this is told in first-person point of view from our favorite snarky half-Auphe.

When vampire Promise brings a potential case to Cal and Niko's attention, none of them could have foreseen the nightmare they would be stepping into. An exhibit featuring serial killers at the Met is short one killer when the infamous cannibal, Sawney Beane, is resurrected from his ashes and escapes into the city. With all of New York for a hunting ground, pickings are great for a monster of Sawney's caliber. Niko and Cal hadn't meant to get in so deep, but there's no one better qualified in the city than they are to take care of the problem. Sawney, however, is only one of their problems. Cal's newfound ability to create gates is exacting a heavy toll, someone is out to kill Robin Goodfellow, Cal is still angsting over Georgina, and there's that matter of his pesky virginity. The brothers have one another's back, and this time, they have Robin's too. Cal is making friends, and he doesn't like it.

Holy shit, what a punch to the gut this one was. More gory and violent than the first two books (if you can imagine), more fraught with emotion (to Caliban's immense horror), and just...wow. I knocked this back in two evenings. Could have done it in one if I'd wanted to short myself about two hours of sleep. I refrained. We get to see more of Robin and Promise, along with an interesting character from Robin's past. Niko is his usual Zen ninja self, and poor Cal is just so flawed and damaged, but he keeps on keepin' on. The author could have almost split the two main plot points into two separate books (More Cal books? Yes please!), but each helped move the story along. I am proud of myself for figuring out who was behind Robin's misfortunes, long before even brainiac Niko did, although he provided the clue. Sawney was a force of nature, and poor Cal and Niko kept getting their asses handed to them each time they tried to take him on. If ever any mad monster needed to be eliminated, it was Sawney. Guh.

Favorite lines:
♦ Niko Leandros: As brothers went, he was a good one, despite a horrifying obsession with health food, meditation, and things generally not revolving around pizza and beer. But we all have our crosses to bear. Mine was to be smacked when I wasn't with the program and his was to be over-educated, as self-aware as the Dalai Lama, and to keep my ass alive. Poor bastard.
♦ "I keep telling you, if you'd go with the whole trophy boyfriend thing, life would be a lot easier."
Is it wrong that when Cal said that, I thought at first he meant Niko should take on Robin as a boyfriend...only to realize he meant Niko should set himself up as Promise's trophy boyfriend? Damn it, Cal. You're letting me down, here.
♦ Niko was a teacher's assistant at NYU (pity the kid who walked in late to one of his classes - decapitation is a big deterrent for tardiness).
( Cutting the rest, because yes, I quoted the whole damned book )

This was my least favorite of the series I've read thus far. Don't get me wrong; it was magnificent, but rife with angst. My heart broke for Cal. Still awarding this one five stars.


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Nightlife by Rob Thurman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I brought my office book home last night to finish it. The book was Nightlife by Rob Thurman, and it's the first in the "Cal Leandros" urban fantasy series. The story is told in first-person pov by Cal...for the most part. Foreshadowing, dun dun dun!

Monsters live among us, and Cal would know. He is one. His mother was human, but his father was the stuff of nightmares. For the past four years, Cal and his older brother, Niko, have been on the run, trying to stay a step ahead of the monsters who will stop at nothing to reclaim Cal. Unfortunately, they can only run for so long, and Cal's past catches up to him in New York, where he learns he alone holds the key for an ancient, demonic race to take over the world. Cal has no intention of assisting them, but the choice is wrested from him when he is possessed by a male banshee, called the Darkling, who is working in conjunction with the Auphe to unleash hell on earth. Niko, however, will stop at nothing to get Cal back.

This book has been languishing on my shelf for about 15 years. There were times I almost purged it along with other books to be donated, but for some reason I hung onto it. Wow, am I glad I kept it! Reading it was a bit of a departure for me. I love urban fantasy, but I typically read about female protagonists. While it took me awhile to get into this (not helping that I only had about 20 minutes during my lunch hours to read it at all), once the story reeled me in, it had me utterly hooked. It wasn't enjoyable in the sense that a fun read is, but it was so compelling that I had to force myself not to drag it home sooner to finish.

Cal is a typical surly, lazy teenager who enjoys pestering Niko and twanging Nik's last nerve. Cal may have been the main character, but Niko could have starred as the hero in any other story. Although they are only half-brothers, he has been taking care of Cal most of his life. Niko is a warrior, proficient at martial arts and an accomplished swordsman. He's sacrificed everything for Cal and seems to think nothing of it. I would have loved to have read some of this in his point of view. The only allies the brothers have is a pretty young psychic (whom Cal admires), a lovely vampire (whom Niko admires), and Robin Goodfellow, the pan or puck of legend that Cal and Niko meet while shopping for a used car. He turned out to be the most staunch ally they had.

The lone low-point for me was ( Spoiler! )

Favorite lines:
♦ Niko was such a Boy Scout, albeit one with a lethal turn and a Merit Badge in deadly weapons.
♦ "You know all good little ninjas should be in bed, visions of homicidal sugarplums dancing in their heads."
♦ I didn't comment on the large knife he slid under his pillow. We all have our security blankets in this world. Some are just sharper than others.
( More under the cut )

The story was fast-paced, heart-stopping, violent and glorious. I regret that I didn't read it sooner, and you can bet I'll be snapping up the other books in the series. Five stars!

( Ship-middling under the cut; don't bother if you're not into shipping )


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Grave War by Kalayna Price

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Polished off book number four just prior to bedtime last night. Winning! The book was Grave War by Kalayna Price, which is the 7th (and final!) installment in her "Alex Craft" urban fantasy series, featuring grave witch and half-fae, Alexis "Alex" Craft.

Now that Falin has had to assume the mantle of the Winter King, he has tasked Alex with heading up the Fae Investigation Bureau (FIB). Alex is still learning how to even be a fae, let alone how to navigate the intricate politics and intrigues of Faerie. She is feeling out of her depth, and when there's an explosion at the Eternal Bloom during her first week on the job, she is left floundering. With the door to Faerie now destroyed, Alex is cut off from her fae magic, as is every other fae who was in the mortal realm when it happened. As more and more doors to Faerie are attacked, it becomes clear that someone is bent on usurping the throne of the High King, no matter what the cost. Alex is not without resources, however, including her own, innate wyrd magic, which is far different than fae magic and not something her nemesis is able to anticipate. New alliances must be forged quickly, if Faerie itself is going to survive.

I've loved every book in this series, and this one was no exception. That's why I was deeply disappointed to see that it's the last the author intends to write. I do appreciate and respect that she let her readers know, rather than just dropping the series like a hot potato. And, most loose threads were wrapped up by the end.

Also, ( Spoiler )

Favorite lines:
♦ "This is totally not why I shaved my legs."
♦ Not even off my own property yet and I was already questioning my life choices.
♦ Waltzing around in a towel searching for a missing castle seemed like a bad idea.

Excellent story, but I'm sad it ended. Five stars

Charmed & Dangerous by Candace Havens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I just now finished reading Charmed & Dangerous by Candace Havens. This is the first book in the author's "Bronwyn the Witch" series. I'm not sure if I'd categorize it as paranormal romance or urban fantasy. The narrative is told via Bronwyn's journal entries.

Bronwyn is a high witch, one of the most powerful in the world, and she has a great job traveling all over the world as she works to keep the British PM safe from harm. When not globetrotting, Bronwyn calls Sweet, Texas home. It's a safe haven for magical folk, guarded by the local coven, and benefitting from Bronwyn's presence.

Although Bronwyn is an accomplished witch, she's never been successful in the romance department. Men seem to find her intimidating. Therefore, it comes as a surprise to Bronwyn when she has not one, but two men vying for her affections: doctor and warlock Sam, and sexy sheik Azir. Her problematic love-life has to take a backseat, however, when Bronwyn learns that a powerful warlock is out for blood. Hers.

First of all, this story 'opened at the close', which I truly detest. I cannot fathom why an author will do that. I suspect it's meant to whet the appetite, but I find it gives too much away. That being said, I did enjoy the epistolary aspect of the story. Bronwyn is wry and witty, loyal and loving, brave and fierce. Since it wasn't clear at first who wanted her dead, I found myself suspecting several of her friends and confidants. The suspense was killing me! I was able to get a good sense of the other main 'characters' through Bronwyn's writing, and the action moved along at a good pace, with enough down time for her (and the reader) to relax and recharge.

Favorite lines:
♦ There's no sign here that says "No Demons Allowed" but you get the feeling that people here like to keep things on an even keel.
♦ It's so friggin' cold my tits actually hurt from pointing hard.
♦ Not everything in pants is something at an amusement park for you to ride.

Fun and sexy, four stars

You're the One That I Haunt by Terri Garey

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I plowed through my work book this week, and since I had very little left of it to read I brought it home and finished it this afternoon. It was You're the One That I Haunt by Terri Garey, and it's the third part of her "Nicki Styx" series, featuring newly psychic goth chick, Nicki Styx.

Nicki is dismayed when the devil opens a record store across the street from her shop, Handbags and Gladrags. It seems that Samael, or Sammy as she calls him, hasn't given up on luring her to the dark side. Nicki finds him tempting indeed, but she's given her defective heart to Joe, the doctor who brought her back to life. Sammy won't go away quietly, however. He sends the angry spirit of a newly deceased girl, Crystal, to torment both Nicki and Joe, and he causes Nicki to inadvertently out herself on video as being able to speak to the dead. Now she has people coming to her, wanting her to channel the spirits of their loved ones. In addition, she's come to the attention of the local coven. When they invite Nicki to join their ranks, she angers their leader by turning them down. Nicki gets cursed as a result, and now her life is really going to hell.

Two words: Stupid. Slut.

Never mind Nicki's defective heart; the bitch needs a spine. I just cannot with her and Sammy. She knows he's bad news (he's the freaking devil, ffs!), but whenever he comes around, Nicki can barely keep her tongue in her mouth or her clothes on her body. Imagine me in high falsetto saying, 'I know he's evil, but he's so dreeeeeeeeamy!' Not that Nicki said that, but that's the impression I got. I mean, I've seen guys so attractive before that I nearly gave myself whiplash doing a double take, but if one of them was deliberately trying to ruin my life, sabotage my boyfriend's career, and destroy our relationship, that attraction would fizzle out in a heartbeat. Guh. Enough said.

Favorite line: "The hag that did this had best recite her Rede and cower by her cauldron..."

I won't be seeking out any more in this series, unless I can get them cheap as an ebook or at a second hand shop. Not worth the full price of admission. I read for entertainment, and when I find a book far more annoying than entertaining, it doesn't get a high score. Giving this book a two.

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Once again, I spent the morning finishing a book. It was Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris. This is the second book in her "Southern Vampires/Sookie Stackhouse" series. Story is told in first person pov by Sookie, cocktail waitress and telepath.

Now that the vampires know Sookie can read minds, she is a hot commodity. The vampires in Dallas seek her services to help them find one of their lost "brothers". The local vampires graciously loan Sookie to Dallas. She chafes at this new burden but agrees to take it on. Before she leaves for Dallas, however, Sookie is up to her knees in trouble closer to home. Someone murders one of her coworkers, although no one seems to care about it as much as Sookie does, and she encounters a dangerous creature in the woods who harms her as a message to the vampires. As a result, Sookie is already salty before she arrives in Dallas. There, she meets the local vampire nest, headed by geeky appearing Stan. She also encounters a cabal of humans who operate as a religious cult, with their only goal being to eliminate vampires. When Sookie tries to infiltrate their base so she can read minds, she is imprisoned in the fortified basement. She manages to escape, with the aid of supernaturals. The vampires recover their missing brother, and Sookie is relieved. However, the Fellowship is not yet done with the vampires in Dallas, and there's still the matter of who murdered her friend.

This was at turns touching, funny, and frightening. At one point, Sookie tells a human, who remarks about her obvious injuries, that the monsters didn't hurt her, people did. I found that rather sobering. I admire Sookie's tenacity and loyalty, along with her willingness to endanger herself for a good cause.

Favorite lines:
♦ "Okay, who's there?" I called. "If you're going to eat me, let's just get it over with."
♦ I looked like I was going to a party at the outpatient ward for battered women.
♦ "For bar hours, press one. To make a party reservation, press two. To talk to a live person or a dead vampire, press three. Or, if you were intending to leave a humorous prank message on our answering machine, know this: we will find you."

Very good book, fraught with danger, creepy in places (especially where the members of the Fellowship were concerned), sexy, and thought-provoking. Five stars!

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I stayed up past my bedtime last night, but I had to finish reading Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones. It's the fourth installment in the "Charley Davidson" urban fantasy series, with the main character of Charlotte "Charley" Davidson, who is a PI...and a grim reaper.

After the events of the third book, Charley is suffering from PTSD. As a result, she's holed up in her apartment and begun binge shopping via TV programs. It's not until a woman seeks her out, wanting to hire Charley because she's convinced that someone is trying to kill her, that Charley starts to claw her way out of her own doldrums.

Charley now has a case to sink her teeth into, her family are trying to stage an intervention, she's not speaking to her father, the son of Satan is out hunting demons on her behalf, she can't help but think there's something familiar about a group of robbers who've been holding up local banks, an arsonist is setting fires all over Albuquerque, and things are coming to a head faster than she's prepared for. All in a day's work for the Grim Reaper!

Although this story was humorous, like others in the series, the underlying issue of Charley's trauma made it less...lite. She was still capable of snappy lines and comebacks, but things that she dove into without fear previously now gave her pause. Fortunately for Charley, she has a very strong (if unusual!) support system around her.

Favorite lines:
♦ If liars were the main course at a Shriners convention, she'd be a pork chop.
♦ I'd never longed for an invisibility cloak as much as I did at that moment.
♦ Well, that sucked more ass than liposuction.
♦ If you must eat a banana in public, never make eye contact.

Delightfully fun, and I rocked through it in one day. Love these books, highly recommend! Five stars.

Hell in a Head Gasket by G.A. Chase

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Last night, I finished reading Hell in a Head Gasket by GA Chase. It's the first book in his "Devil's Daughter" urban fantasy series, featuring Serephine (Sere) Mal-Laurette, who is, indeed, the devil's daughter, and a fair demon hunter, to boot.

Sere managed to escape hell, but she isn't free from its influences. When a soulless demon also manages to escape, it is bound and determined to kill its mortal equivalent and take over the man's life. Sere can't let that happen, or the loas of the dead will realize who she is, and she'll be stripped of her immortality. Hunting down the doppelganger will take all of her skill, and Sere discovers she's going to have to accept some help along the way. In the meantime, the doppelganger is on a killing spree, perfecting its technique before it eliminates its "real" in the mortal realm. With mortal lives on the line, as well as her immortal soul, Sere must stop the doppelganger and prevent hell on earth.

The more I read this, the more I wondered if it was a spin-off series. Turns out, it is. I didn't have too much trouble following along, but the author could have done a much better job with the backstory. Don't assume your readers have read your earlier series! I liked Sere; she was a tough badass, which is why I was disappointed that ( Spoiler Alert! )

Favorite line: "I realize we never taught you how to flirt, but just so you know, that wasn't it."

Interesting story, feisty heroine, some humor, some gore. A good read, but not great. I'd like to give it 3.5 stars, but I'm going with 3.

A Fistful of Evil by Rebecca Chastain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



On Wednesday night, I finished the ebook A Fistful of Evil, which is the first installment in author Rebecca Chastain's "Madison Fox" urban fantasy series.

Madison is out of work and running out of money. Desperate for a job, she interviews for a position with a company that makes bumper stickers. At least, that's what their front is. In reality, the "company" is in the business of eradicating evil. As long as Maddie can remember, she's been able to use what she calls "soul sight" to see if someone is light or dark. Now, she learns that others have the same ability, and with it, the ability to destroy evil in the world. Madison is not qualified for the job, but she's eager to learn...that is, until her first training session scares her spitless. However, she is persistent, and she soon finds herself in the midst of an outpouring of evil at a local gaming convention. Her new job leaves Madison feeling frustrated, humiliated, and discouraged, but she also comprehends that it's something worthwhile. With that in mind, Maddie sets out to prove to her new boss (and her smokin' hot co-worker) that she can be the enforcer they need her to be.

The story was amusing for the most part, and a trifle frightening in others. Madison is funny, witty, and gritty, and I liked how she faced her fears and persevered. Her inner monologue was hilarious, and her lustful thoughts about both Niko (her co-worker) and Dr Love (her cat's vet) were amusing. Characters were done well, even the bad guys, and editing was clean.

Favorite lines:
♦ "You look for evil, I'll look for firemen."
♦ Welcome to the Dark Side. Are you surprised we lied about the cookies?
♦ "You disintegrated it like you were using a maxi pad on a paper cut."
♦ "Clean your panties, we're on the hunt again."

Good story, and I will definitely look to read more in this series.