Madhouse

I really enjoyed the first two books of this series. Thankfully the author keeps the quality, and the adrenaline, high for this third installment. While I felt Moonshine wasn't quite as good as Nightlife (having a little too much description), Madhouse exceeded them both with excellent pacing, slick dialog and good old-fashioned action. An exhibit on Famous Serial Killers at the museum takes on "new life" when one of the residents is resurrected. Sawney Beane supposedly killed and ate some 1000 people - actually more like 6 or 700 according to Robin Goodfellow. Cal and Niko are on his trail, but he's recruiting help among the revenants. Only, the first couple times they take him on they barely escape with their lives. To make matters worse, someone is trying to kill Robin and they can't even begin to narrow down his list of enemies. Despite the dire situation, Thurman injects some humor and humanity into the story to balance all the action and bloodletting. Cal has decided he's ready to lose his virginity, and Robin can hardly wait to help him. Though this does add some great laugh out loud moments (like when Robin suggests a tryst with a water nymph & Cal declares he can't get it up in 50 degree water!!) there is a serious side that gives readers more insight into Cal's fears about his heritage. He's afraid to father children that could turn out to be monsters (as he sees himself), which is part of why he's afraid to have a relationship with George. Thurman never lets readers forget how dangerous Cal's world is, or how fragile his self-image. This really helps readers connect with Cal - I want him to succeed, I want him to find love, I want him to win. I agree with another reviewer that it was nice to see Cal making some decisions on his own, in contrast to Niko's wishes. Such as practicing his new ability to make gates, and making tough choices about George. Niko is very protective of Cal, and their strong relationship is the foundation of the series. However, Cal can't live in Niko's shadow indefinitely. As indicated in the last book, the Auphe have returned with a vengeance, and Cal needs to step up to the challenge as the one who may have to protect his brother for a change. Cal grows a lot in this book, and it was a welcome development. One thing I didn't like - the huge cliffhanger ending in the last sentence! But just as intended, I am nearly salivating for Deathwish (Cal Leandros, Book 4). Overall, this series is very strong and I highly recommend it. The writing is so well done, I hope the author considers doing another series - either based in the world, or another. Yes, that good.

Madhouse is the best of the Leandros series so far. It combines all the strengths of the last two books, bringing in new plot lines and characters, weaving them in with the old and blending it all together seamlessly. Rob Thurman once again demonstrates that she is the guru of Snappy Sarcasm. I would crawl through splinters of glass just to have a third of her talent. Cal's version of the birds and the bees was the funniest thing I've ever read. The characters just keep getting better. Cal is just as prickly and lovable as ever. His strength as a narrator is what makes this book so enjoyable. The sarcastic commentary on every aspect of the supernatural world is brilliant. Not only does Thurman go out of her way to dig up mythology and breathe new life into it, but she also uses Cal to mock it. But even as much as I love Cal, he would be a little grating (not to mention, dead) if it wasn't for Niko. Intellectual, cool and honorable, this older brother lends some balance to the story. As does his vampire girlfriend, who unfortunately does not show up as much as I would like in this book. I love both of them - they are the ice to Cal's fire. The only gripe I had with Madhouse is Cal's continued obsession with George. George has always had hints of Mary-Suedness about her, and nothing has changed. In these books full of well-rounded and brilliant characters, she is definitely the weakest link. Overall, Madhouse was a fun read. It's dark, sarcastic, witty, adventurous and beautifully written. And it's got the word 'boglet' in it. What's not to love?

I was introduced to these books when a friend loaned me her copy of the first volume, Nightlife. I read it in one sitting and have been a completely undignified fanatic since. I went on to buy my own copy and when I loaned it to yet another friend I got a text message about 32 hours later (when she had finished reading it) calling me a few choice names for her lack of sleep and needing to go to work. I recently finished the third book and my only complaint is that I have to wait another year for book four. Rob Thurman is a remarkably talented writer who can raise her readers heart rates and make them laugh at the same time. Her work is original, taking every stereotype of urban fantasy, and telling it to get bent. Her characters are engaging, charming, infuriating, and beautiful (on multiple levels *rawr*). If you like fantasy/SF you will love this book. If you hate fantasy, you might still like this book, because it is just that good.

This is the third installment in Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series, and it just keeps getting better. Cal and Niko are still in New York City, hunting monsters on the side, and just managing to pay their rent. A seemingly routine job puts them on the trail of long dead, non-human, homicidal maniac who doesn't seem phased by the whole "long dead" part. On top of that, it looks like someone on Robin Goodfellow's long list of enemies wants a little payback. Now, if only they could figure out which one? And don't forget about the Auphe. It's really not a good idea to forget about the Auphe. Madhouse takes you even deeper into the sinister underbelly of New York. There's plenty of kick-butt action, snarky dialogue, and terrifying villains, but for me that's just icing on the cake. It's the character interactions that really stand out. Cal learns the true meaning of friendship-- sometimes showing that you care about someone means hitting them over the head with an expensive candelabrum -- and Robin confronts one of the more painful parts of his past while dealing with it's consequences in the present. All in all, the book was hard to put down. It's going to be even harder waiting for the sequel, but at this point, that's just to be expected.

Lady luck allowed me to get my hands on a copy of Madhouse before the official street date, and after quickly devouring it I've eagerly awaited a chance to leave my review. Since the first book of the series I've been anticipating each subsequent title. It should come as no suprise by now that Rob Thurman is such a gifted writer with a flair for smart and witty dialogue but I'm repeatedly amazed. The latest installment of the Leandros brothers' adventures revolves around a serial killer returned from the dead. What begins for the brothers as a simple investigation into an apparent museum break-in leads to a personal battle to take out the cannibalistic and nigh invulnerable Sawney Beane and his increasing body count. Complicating matters, at the same time, someone is trying to kill the world's favorite puck, Robin Goodfellow. The problem is, with having angered so many people over his long life, it's tough for our heroes to narrow down the list of suspects. Madhouse also finds our young Cal starting to expand his horizons and grow to make his own decisions out from under the protective (but still present) wing of his brother Niko. Madhouse has everything we've come to expect from Rob Thurman, just more of it. More exotic, fresh monsters, more drama, more humor, more snark, more werewolves, more violence, and much more puck. Horror and humor exist side by side with seemingly little effort. Five stars isn't enough.