Buddy Review: Slashback by Rob Thurman

Buddy reviewing the newest Cal Leandros book with Leslie and/or Hilcia has become a yearly tradition - one that I wouldn't want to break :) So here we go for 2013, our thoughts about the 8th book!





Slashback by Rob Thurman
published by New American Library (ROC) in March 2013

I stopped and let them circle me, first because it was intriguing and, second, because, honestly, what could they do? Only knives, but all armed, and that made them even more interesting. Interesting. Fun.

Playtime…

Taking on bloodthirsty supernatural monsters is how Caliban and Niko Leandros make a living. But years ago—before they became a force to be reckoned with—the brothers were almost victims of a very human serial killer.

Almost.

Unfortunately for them, that particular depraved killer was working as apprentice to a creature far more malevolent—the legendary Spring-heeled Jack. He’s just hit town. He hasn’t forgotten what the Leandros brothers did to his murderous protégé. He hasn’t forgotten what they owe him.

And now they are going to pay… and pay… and pay...

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Cal Leandros, Book #8

The Story: The blurb has it pretty accurately. There's a new serial killer in New York City - a supernatural one. While it's their job to investigate such case, Cal has no intention of taking this one for multiple reasons: a) they're not getting paid for it and b) they have to focus on Grimm. However, when it becomes apparent that this religious zealot has beef with the Leandros brothers, they don't have much choice than to step in. But this one won't be as easy as they realize as it brings up memories both would prefer remain undisturbed. And as usual, their good friend Robyn Goodfellow is there to give them a hand.


Nath: Wow ladies! Can’t believe that Slashback is already the 8th book in the Cal Leandros series! Whew, time flies! So what did you think of Slashback? Is it still refreshing or becoming too familiar? :)

Leslie: You ladies know this is one of my favorite series - I simply love how Thurman writes the male perspective. I liked Slashback but didn’t love. It felt like it moved slower than the usual pace of the series. And there didn’t seem to be as many fight scenes either. I love the fight scenes! I don’t think the series is at the point where it’s become too familiar. The characters are familiar but not stagnant or boring. I feel Thurman still has more to explore with the Leandros brothers.

The flashbacks. I’m not a big fan of flashbacks and generally try to avoid them. This time I was surprised at how well they worked for me. The plot allowed for a nearly seamless back and forth flow from present day to twelve years prior. I usually find the transitions jarring but not this time. I see the flashbacks as tools to develop the current storyline which they did here. But I also simply enjoyed reading about the young brothers and could see reading maybe a novella about young Cal and Niko - Leandros Brothers: The Early Years. lol

Alternating POV - so happy we get both Cal and Niko’s POV. Niko is such an integral part of Cal, he wouldn’t be Cal without Niko, so the story feels more complete when part is told in Niko’s voice.

Hilcia: I can't believe Slashback is the eighth book of this series and the three of us are still enjoying it. In this particular installment I love that Thurman went back to using both Niko and Cal as narrators again. That was refreshing, particularly Niko's strong and rather sweet voice. Yes, sweet, because his love for Cal comes through the pages and I loved young Niko’s voice.

Leslie, I feel the same way about flashbacks, and in this instance they also worked for me. The flow was excellent between timelines and Thurman tied up the two storylines beautifully. However, I disagree about the pacing. Slashback wasn’t a slow read for me at all! Even with the lack of the usual nonstop action, I read it in two sittings. Yet, this is not one of my favorite books of the series either.

I’m finding that although I still love the characters and there are a few surprises in this book, there is also a certain repetitiveness to the overall story arc. I had a distinct sense of deja vu while reading the story. What about you Nath, what do you think?

Nath: LOL, it’s really no wonder us three get along so well when we have such similar tastes in books and writing styles!! So no surprise, I’m not a fan of flashbacks either, but in this case, they worked for me because they were really integral to the main storyline, actually complemented it. It wasn’t just random scenes, but a whole story in itself and that kept me reading. And of course, add the fact that it was told in Niko’s POV and that was a must-read. I have to say though, I particularly enjoyed these flashbacks because it gave us another look at Cal and Niko’s brotherhood. Yes, we’ve been told they were close since they were young, but here, we were shown :) By the way, I have to say Ms Thurman did such a great job at inserting some surprises in these flashbacks!! And as you both said, the flow between the present and the flashbacks was done flawlessly.

As for the pacing, I’m torn between you guys. On one hand, I know what Leslie means by the lack of fighting and as such, I feel the action wasn’t as good as previous books. However, like Hilcia, I don’t feel Slashback was a slow read. Trust me, I’ve slugged through the first couple of books of this series and I still remember how slow it was LOL. I think the problem here is as much as we enjoyed the flashbacks, they did overshadow the main storyline. Furthermore, because Ms Thurman had to compose with two storylines going on at the same time, she had less pages to develop Cal and Niko’s current case and therefore, had to cut back on the action ^_^; So for me, my issue with Slashback is that the intrigue/mystery part wasn’t as strong as I’d hope.

And you know, Hils, regarding your sense of deja vu... Well I think it was Cal’s monologue again, how he’s dealing with the human and monster sides in him. Can’t be the case because it wasn’t about the Auphe, which by the way, I didn’t mind LOL. Can’t be the flashbacks... so that leaves the characters and mainly Cal :P

Leslie: I’m not sure if it was expectations based on previous books but I did miss the action scenes. Those action scenes tended to break up Cal’s monologues, goodness but he loves to talk to himself! In Slashback, his monologues felt like they dragged on a little too long. I did get that repetitive feeling too. It was a case of too much time spent in Cal’s head. I usually like his dry, self-deprecating humor. Still like it but sometimes I just want him to be more serious and not leave all that responsibility to Niko. Hils, this one took me more than a few sittings to read. Which surprised me since I usually devour this series.

Agree with you Nath, the current case didn’t feel as developed. But the offset was getting to know the brothers in their early years. Even though we’ve known Niko has had a tremendous responsibility since a very early age, it was heartbreaking to see not only how much responsibility he shouldered but how much blame he took upon himself.

Hilcia: Leslie, wow... that’s what happened to me with previous books. That’s interesting. But you know what? I didn’t miss the action all that much, which surprises me. What kept my attention more than anything was the suspense of what was going to happen to Niko and Cal in the storyline set in the past. In this case, the suspense was more effective for me than the actual action.

But yes, Cal’s continuing monologue and struggle between the human and monster sides of himself have become repetitive, that’s definitely part of that sense of deja vu. At this point, I’m losing track of where exactly Cal is on the growth or decompensation scale as a human/monster. He takes one step forward and three back! Also, we already know how deeply Niko and Cal feel about each other, I don’t think it’s really necessary to make it all about “how they would kill or die for each other,” we know that. Can we move on? But, there was also a sense of familiarity about the mystery itself that I can’t put my finger on. I’m referring to the contemporary storyline here, the one set in the past felt fresh and I was very much into that section of the story.

Nath: Hmmm, seems like I can’t help you here, Hils. For me, the repetitiveness came from Cal’s monologues. As you said, he seems to take one step forward and three back, sigh. As you’ve also pointed out, I don’t think we need to be shown again how the brothers would kill for each other. That being said, one thing that I did enjoy in the bromance in Slashback was to see a more human and flawed side of Niko. How he thrived for a bit of normalcy and the fact he’s done some mistakes and does not want to talk about them. Niko always seems so perfect, so level-headed, but at the end of the day, he is human and flawed like everyone else. Ok, less than everyone else, but still LOL.

While Slashback didn’t have as much action as previous books, I thought it made up with some revelations. What did you think of them? Let’s take them one at a time and start with the boys finally finding out the truth about the peris. About time no?

Leslie: I loved getting to know more about the mythology of the peris and seeing their abilities in action. There’s just so much more of this world to explore, I hope we see more of the peris.

Hilcia: Sigh... I love the bromance too, Nath. I just believe that Slashback was a long, involved way to show how Niko finally comes to certain, truthful realizations about Cal’s nature, and Cal realizes what he may be capable of if he continues on a certain path. This was needed, yes, but I wish that Thurman had done so within the already established story arc, instead of going on a tangent by focusing on the peris.

As far as the introduction of angels go, I think that came out of left field at this point in the series! I mean, so far Thurman has introduced multiple mythologies and creatures, but with the angels she goes into the whole Judeo-Christian realm. I don’t really know how I feel about that. I do, however, hope we see more of the peris. I like them.

Leslie: You’re right Hils, it did come out of left field. Almost as if Thurman realized she should have given this background sooner since the peris have been involved in the series for a while now. As for the religious connection, I’m curious as to how far Thurman will take it. I do wonder if this means the peris will become even more prevalent in Cal and Niko’s personal life. Maybe a female peri as Cal’s love interest? Talk about good girl attracted to bad boy! Of course I'm still hoping Georgie comes back. lol

Nath: Actually, the revelation about the peris isn’t coming out of the left field as much as you two ladies think. Did you guys read Ms Thurman’s other series, the Trickster series? Because those two books are very much focused on angels and demons and I guess that’s where Ms Thurman did most of her world building for that aspect. So the knowledge that peris are actually angels have been out there for a while. For me, I was happy that it finally came all together :) I wonder if there is going to be some cross-over... That’d be interesting!

A female peri as Cal’s love interest would be interesting, Leslie. However, if I remember correctly, I have not seen any woman as angels or demons... Even the peris we have seen in the Cal Leandros series have all been male, so I wonder if there are any female peris. In any case, I’m still hoping for the black hair girl that Cal met in that market... was it last book or two books ago?! I’m hoping she is a Trickster :P Cal has already gone the good girl route with Georgie and he really needs someone that can handle herself. Dahlia is not the best example, but at least with her, Cal didn’t have to worry for her ^_^;

Hilcia: Les, I’m SO glad you mentioned Georgie! After reading that rather mysterious scene in the last book, I really thought there would be something, more of a hint about her in Slashback. You know that I’m not a fan of Georgie, but I was actually disappointed that that story arc was not continued in this book. Instead, we got more revelations about Robyn and his relationship with Niko and Cal? What did you ladies think about that?

Nath, it’s interesting that Thurman features peris in her Trickster series, however, I personally don’t follow that series. However, since this is the first time peris as angels are mentioned in the Leandros series, it came out of left field for me! It’s an interesting concept, but she’s going to have to further develop it, or give readers more details, in order to really make it work in this series.

And, lol, I don’t know what woman would put up with Cal!

Nath: Hils, I know what about you mean about the world building. I hope Ms Thurman will flesh it out more in the future for those who missed the Trickster series.

As for Georgie, I think the reason we did not see her at all is because she is so closely tied to the Auphe’s storyline. I’m sure she will be mentioned when Grimm surfaces back. As for the peris, perhaps she’ll incorporate more of the world building in the next book, now that Cal and Niko know. However, I’m not sure to what extent given that New York City is without angels and demons and thus, the peris don’t have much reason to get involved. Also, they are there in sufferance - if it wasn’t for Robyn, they’d have been given the boot, so I think they will continue to keep a low profile.

As for the revelation about Robyn and his relationship with Niko and Cal, I thought it was interesting! I find it’s so much fun and makes the bond between the three even stronger. However, as much as like the connection, that’s the revelation I thought came out of the left field. Although as Robyn said, he’s been dropping some heavy hints recently. Still, there’s a difference between Archilles being your ancestor and you, being a reincarnation of Archilles! Makes me wonder when Ms Thurman had decided on this twist because I’m sure it wasn’t from the beginning! Still, she did a good job at explaining why the Leandros brothers haven’t recognize Robyn and why Robyn jumped on the bandwagon so fast LOL.

Leslie: I’ve read the first book in the Trickster series but don’t remember it. As for there being female peris, it’s possible they are fewer in number and not as “out there” as the males - keeping a lower profile. IDK The black hair girl in the market I don’t think was random either. It was Doubletake when she made her first appearance. (I cheated and checked our buddy review for it) It’s only been one book so I think she’ll be back and hopefully we’ll find out more about her. But I do agree that whomever Cal pairs up with she will need to be strong and able to take care of herself. So yeah, I was also disappointed with no sightings of my Georgie girl. But who knows what she’ll be like when she comes back? She could be all bad-ass. Hey, don’t laugh, it’s possible! lol

Nath: Leslie, you eternal optimist. Not giving up on Georgie, LOL.

Hilcia: Les, I believe that Thurman is saving Georgie for Cal. She’s coming back... I know it. LOL

Leslie: Nope, not giving up on Georgie. I’m stubborn when it comes to her. lol

As for Robin and his relationship with the brothers, I do like knowing they have this long-lasting bond. Fate keeps putting them together because they were meant to be together. Did it come out of left field? I would say no if I had read these books closer together and would have hopefully picked up on the clues. But since my memory is pretty much shot, it did surprise me. But like Robyn said, they were always comparing Niko to Achilles.

I did feel sorry for Robyn, knowing the brothers will eventually die and he must wait and hope to see them again. Like Cal said, Robyn is lonely and those years he gets with the brothers must be that much more treasured with the knowledge they will be gone again. So glad Robyn now has Ishiah now too.

Hilcia: I agree with you Leslie! I also think the revelation about the relationship between Robyn, Niko and Cal makes absolute sense! This worked for me because I think that Thurman was quite clever in how she worked in the details featured in previous books and taken from the interactions among all three men. I particularly liked the surprise in the flashback part of the story. That was kind of fun and at the same time... sad. You know. . . I love Robyn. He is fun and crazy and lascivious, but underneath it all, I feel sad for him. I also hope he keeps Ishiah. :D

Nath: I’m with you two. It is sad that he keeps losing them. At the same time, he knows he’ll see them again. I guess at the end of the day, it’s just bittersweet. Although I gotta love how they met again in this life. The pervert comment LOL. Even at such a young age, Cal could recognize them :P And I think this time, Robyn won’t let go of Ishiah.

So, final verdict on Slashback?

Leslie: It’s a solid installment to the series with some interesting revelations that should keep the story arc moving. The thing is, I’m not sure what direction that arc will take. Is that good or bad? I feel like we should have some idea of where the series is going at this point. I still enjoyed the book but it took too long to finish so I’m going with a B-.

Hilcia: Ladies, I’m conflicted about Slashback. I enjoyed the dual narrative from Niko and Cal’s perspectives, the quick read, and additional depth gained by our main characters in the flashback section. However within the contemporary setting, due to Cal’s repetitive monologue and a sense of deja vu, the storyline suffered. Additionally, I believe that the overall series has stalled and needs to move forward, or as much as I love Cal and Niko, I’ll lose interest. So in the end for me this was no more than a C+ read.

Nath: Jeez, and they say I’m the tough grader! LOL. I’m going with a B. The intrigue was a bit weak and there was some repetition, but the revelations and the flashbacks definitively made up for it :)

Review: Doubletake by Rob Thurman

It has become a tradition for me to buddy review Ms Thurman's books here on Breezing Through... and I'm glad to announce that the latest in the Cal Leandros series, Doubletake, will be no exception! :) Joining me today are my two usual accomplices: Hilcia from Impressions... and Leslie from Leslie's Psyche! Thank you very much for joining me, ladies! And I'm just glad it didn't take me a year to put this one together... just a month :)

Find out how much we liked Doubletake below! Enjoy!

Doubletake by Rob Thurman
published by ROC (New American Library) in March 2012

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.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Cal Leandros series, Book #7

Nath: Wow, it’s hard to believe Doubletake is the 7th installment of the series!! It seems like yesterday since we all started this series LOL.

So ladies, what did you think of Doubletake?

Leslie: I had some very strong emotions while reading Doubletake, not all good. I was mad, sad and in shock. I won't say more for now...

Hilcia: I was a bit ambivalent about Doubletake. As always I loved the characters and the action gripped me, but found that I had quite a few concerns when I turned that last page.

Nath: Can’t wait to hear your concern, Hils! And ha, I hear you Leslie! Ms Thurman sure didn’t hold back her punches in this one! But I think that’s what made Doubletake such a great book! One that I really had a great time reading :)

So where should we start? Perhaps with Cal since he’s the main character :) Poor Cal, still seems to have a split personality ^_^;The whole “new” Cal was confusing at times!

Leslie: The new Cal vs Old Cal reminded me of Blackout. In Blackout we had the "normal" Cal working in a diner vs Auphe Cal fighting monsters. Now we have Grimm being the "what might have been" vs the Cal being raised by Niko. But you're talking about new Cal being Cal with the Auphe/gating abilities being suppressed vs old Cal who was teetering on the edge before Rafferty fixed him right? Is it any wonder Cal is a bit schizo? LOL

Nath: Yep @_@

Hilcia: This whole "new Cal vs. old Cal" bit was a bit confusing for a while, particularly with the voices going back and forth. In that I agree with Nath. Eventually this whole thing was cleared away and what I got out of it is that Cal supposedly found a balance between Cal and Caliban in Blackout -- we knew that already. In Doubletake, instead of being ashamed of the monster, Cal embraces his inner monster as well as his humanity, and supposedly has better control over Caliban (the monster). That’s where I see the difference.

Leslie: It seemed to me that Grimm brought out that acceptance of the monster in Cal. Accepting his Auphe side worked as an advantage when battling Grimm. Niko’s father emphasized the fact that while Niko and Cal might be brothers, Cal was also part monster while Niko had a human father. Which we learned isn’t always good since humans can be monsters too. I really liked how it played out showing that family isn’t always just about blood with Niko’s loyalty firmly with Cal, his half-brother instead of being loyal to his father. Actions speak louder than words has never been more true than with Niko’s relationship with his father.

Nath: I think you nailed it, Hils. I’m still bit @_@, LOL, mostly because the voices of the different Cal weren’t distinct enough. However, I’m going to disagree with you, Leslie. I think Cal acceptance of his monster side had nothing to with Grimm. I feel it happened at the end of Blackout when he saw the other half-Auphe in the cages.

It’s good that you’re bringing up family, because it was clearly the theme of this book. It’s always been about family, about brotherhood between Niko and Cal, but it was nice to see the influx of family feelings from other sources. Cal has always felt lucky that Niko has been on his side, but it seems to me Niko was also happy to have Cal as his family... because his parents? All I can say is poor Niko :(

Hilcia: This whole story was about family for our characters: Niko, Cal, Robin. It's interesting because in some ways I also felt that this storyline was a rethread. Family, family, family. I'm beginning to worry that Thurman is circling back to the beginning, and starting all over again with this series. Family, Cal losing it slowly, Georgina, the Auphe, except that our main characters Cal and Niko are more mature and can deal with situations better this time around. But think about it! Thurman takes away Cal's ability to gate and then he gets it back, the Auphe are all wiped out and then return (in another form), Cal goes too dark, lightens up and progressively goes darker again, plus we dealt with the family issues for Promise, Cal, Niko (with the Rom), and Robin with Hob before. And although this book had some great details, it's a rethread and I'm getting worried.

Nath: Nod nod, it’s one of my worries as well. It seems Ms Thurman has undone everything Cal and Niko have gone through and accomplished so far. I understand that the Auphe is the biggest threat possible for Cal and Niko, but she needs a different kind of villain to make readers sit at the edge of their seats. Right now, it seems we will walk down the same line in the next book; the storyline has a sense of deja-vu.

Hilcia: Nath, you got the sense of deja vu for the future books, and I had the sense of deja vu while reading Doubletake. I kept wanting to go back to our reviews to see exactly where I'd read this before! Then decided to wait until after I was done with the book (and the review) to do so. But that sense of having been through these same paths with our boys before was there from the moment I read that line: "Family... it is a bitch."

Leslie: Yes it did feel a little too much like a repeat of what’s been covered before. I don’t expect Thurman to move away from the family focus since Cal and Niko are at the center of the series but I do think the emphasis has become a little too strong and could maybe be taken back a notch. It’s already been established that Cal and Niko are as tight as two brothers can be and they trust Robin completely. I’m still not sure about Promise, one wrong step and she could be outta there. I think the brothers would give Robin a lot more leeway before cutting him loose

Nath: I can’t imagine Promise getting the boot. I feel the guys need a female influence LOL. But more important, Niko needs someone he can rely on and they have gone through so much already. think Promise will remain there no matter what.

What did you think of Grimm? I think he’s an interesting villain and his hatred for Cal is totally justified. I would have been happy if Ms Thurman had stopped there instead of having Grimm building an army to overtake the world, because his motives to go after Cal would have been different than the first wave of Auphe. By the way, are Cal and Grimm psychically linked in your opinion? They seem to share certain dreams... Also, I wonder why Cal didn’t sense Grimm before? Seems like Grimm has been on his tail since Nevah Landing. Does it have to do with proximity?

Hilcia: I do think that there was some sort of psychic link between Grimm and Cal. At the beginning of the story Cal began thinking the same thoughts that Grimm was thinking "Family... it is a bitch!" And then later on, he had the same dream that Grimm had... it might be that Cal has inherited some sort of Auphe psychic ability? Don't know.

Leslie: The whole Auphe sensing each other must have had some effect on Cal and Grimm. I do think it's possible we have not seen all of Cal's Auphe abilities he even he doesn't know everything he's capable of. Grimm embraced his abilities so he might have been able to project his thoughts to Cal or like Hils said, Cal has some psychic abilities when it comes to other Auphe or half-Auphe.

Hilcia: It seems like we got carried away, so let’s go back to family. What did you ladies think of Kalakos as a character, and of Niko's reaction to him? Now, that part of this story is the one that really made me sad.

Leslie: Kalakos was interesting. I didn’t trust him but was surprised with how far he had gone to achieve his goal. His heart was totally black. Poor Niko. Do you think Niko will now wonder if he might become more like his father? Possibly train even hard and become even more Zen so he doesn’t go down that path? It’s similar to what Cal’s gone through with worrying that his Auphe side might takeover.

Nath: I hope Niko won't doubt himself. Throughout his life, he’s shown how different he was from his parents. Cal and himself are living proofs that there is a difference between nurture and nature.

I have to say, I didn't expect much about Kalakos, but overall I was happy with how Ms Thurman handled this part of the story, because it really fit the Leandros brothers :) At the end of the day, it's still the two brothers and Goodfellow and Promise... as it should be.

Hilcia: I guess Kalakos didn't fool any of us, just like he didn't really fool the boys. :) The extent of his evil doing’s another thing altogether and the Vayash "burden" really caught me by surprise! I was very sad for Niko throughout the whole story though, and was devastated for him at the end. A parent is a parent and the outcome was horrific. I do think it should affect him somehow. I don't know how, but he's such a stoic and straight up kind of guy that we'll have to wait and see. The one line that stands out for me regarding this subject comes from Cal: "My brother hates..." I wish we could have experienced some of Niko's thoughts through this time.

When it comes to Kalakos, (besides his evil nature) his name caught my attention. He's Rom, yet he and Niko have Greek-based names. Then Thurman focused on Hephaestus and Janus as villains and brought up Achilles, all Greek and Roman mythological figures. Through Goodfellow, the pucks (Pan), Greek mythology is already a part of this series, but again she expanded on it by making the main villain part of this mythology. Hephaestus is the Greek god of technology and Pan the Greek god of nature, natural enemies. Achilles is a human Greek hero, which is perfect for Thurman’s purposes, and Janus was the Roman god of "beginnings and transitions." I think that was a rather extensive and interesting usage of mythology in this particular book. Very apropos.

So far Thurman has introduced so many different creatures and mythologies, Egyptian culture included, that I'm used to it by now, and I really enjoyed the use of the mixed mythologies in Doubletake. I am wondering if or when she will go back to some of those other entities she has introduced, or if they will just be part of the background. For example: what happened to that super secret human society? Where's the Kin in all this? Just wondering.

Nath: They all need to regroup and restructure after meeting Cal LOL. It's actually interesting that you bring up the extent of Greek mythology in this book, Hils. I didn't really pay attention. I feel that a lot of UF series nowadays are mixing up so many mythologies, but it is indeed interesting. Wonder if she'll take it a step farther. Sigh, that’s what she should do instead of bringing back the Auphe!

What I really liked about Kalakos appearance is that we found out more about Niko’s background and I'm glad we got some explanations as where Niko's warrior prowess comes from. Archilles’ descendant! Isn’t that awesome? But I’m wondering, it's always been said that Robin was attracted to Niko at first because he reminded him of Ishiah... but it seems that Robin actually knew that Niko resembled Achilles... wonder if there's something else in there :)

Leslie: I'm like Nath and don't pay much attention to the different mythologies and how they relate. But seeing how you linked up the Greek mythology is very creative. I'll need to pay closer attention from now on. As for the Kin, my guess is that they smelled the Auphe in Grimm, saw the destruction of Janus and decided to stay out of town for a while. I don't think we've seen the last of Delilah. *sigh* I don't like her with Cal.

I think Doubletake would have been a perfect book to have both Cal and Niko's POV. It would have been interesting to hear what Niko was thinking when Kalakos helped save Cal. Did he hold out any hope that maybe Kalakos really wanted a relationship? It felt a bit off balance with only Cal's POV since Niko's father played such a pivotal role in the story.

Nath: I would have loved to hear Niko's POV... but I think in such a book, it would really have been difficult for Ms Thurman to capture it.

Hilcia: I don't like Delilah for Cal either. So far, I don't like anyone for Cal, lol!

Nath, Thurman has done an excellent job using multiple POVs in one book (Roadkill), so I think she would have done the same in this book if she had chosen to give readers Niko's perspective as to his feelings for his father. But... that's water under the bridge, lol! It was just a wish on my part.

Nath: I do agree that Ms Thurman did a great job at using multiple POVs in past books, but I think there was so much going on in this book, it would have detracted and I don’t think Doubletake would have had the same impact.

Something else I enjoyed in Doubletake was the action :) It was pretty much awesome as usual :) But I think it took a backseat to all the storylines going on.

Hilcia: Really? I thought it was pretty much non-stop. Even while they were dealing with all the storylines, they were fighting and getting hurt left and right. Grimm was relentless and so was Janus.

Leslie: I thought Thurman did a good job keeping a balance between the action and the storylines. My only real complaint was a little too much time spent on Cal's introspective musings. It began to feel too repetitive and I did begin to wonder if the purpose was for readers who have not read any or all of the previous books.

Nath: The action was non-stop, but it was always in short sequences to me - except for the fight with Hephaestus. As Leslie said, there was a lot of Cal’s musings and they seemed much longer, slower.

Speaking of Hephaestus, I thought his feud with Robin about Aphrodite was hilarious LOL. And I really liked that Robin went back... It really shows how much of a friend Robin has become to the Leandros brothers.

Hilcia: Ah Robin! As always, I loved Robin Goodfellow in this installment. The Panic was fun! I enjoyed it, but it was too short and with not enough substance. It did serve to clarify some great points about Robin and the pucks though and that's great for his character. I liked that Robin was not always the easy going guy in this installment and that a few times he was actually scary.

Leslie: I loved seeing that other side of Robin! I don’t think he could have survived as long as he has without having that scary side to him. The whole Puck reunion was a bit of a letdown. After the build-up, I was expecting there to be more to it but it was over rather quickly and that was that. It was funny while it lasted though. :)

Nath: I agree the Puck reunion was a bit of a let-down, simply because it wasn't longer and not better integrated in the storyline... but what there was, I really enjoyed LOL. It was so funny to see Cal being tricked :P Although it’s interesting that Cal seems to be able to recognize older pucks.

I always like discovering new information about Robin and I thought it was awesome to learn that Robin was the second puck to walk the Earth LOL. By the way, the Hob that died... was that the real Hob? I have to say, I'm getting a bit confused ^_^;

Leslie: Yep, the Hob that died was the first original Puck.

***HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD, read at your own risk!***


Nath: So I kept the best for the end, Georgiana! What did you two think about it? It was such a shock! Though it does answer what's been going on with her, because I was wondering.

Leslie: I think Georgiana will be back. Yeah, I know you two probably think I'm being stubborn about this (and I am, just a little) but she vowed, she'd find a way.

"I'll find a way to change it. I don't care if it's never been done. The world can't stop me. No one can stop me."
page 157 of 339

I think both her and Grimm, of course, will be back.

Hilcia: Georgie's scene as seen through Grimm bothered me. It now seems that we are getting Georgie back at some point in the story, as a ghost? Really? A ghost of some sort? She was a coward with Cal, but supposedly redeemed herself by facing Grimm and now she'll "be back" to help Cal. Sigh... If that's the case, I won't be happy about that. Sorry. I wish she would have redeemed herself with Cal personally and not as some sort of ghostly, insubstantial being. I wouldn't have minded that at all. However, I do like that Thurman went back to Georgie. Hers was a loose thread that I wondered if it was going to be left hanging.

Nath: No, no, no!! No ghost! I mean, there’s going to be a lot of drama surrounding Georgie once Cal learns of her death, the last thing we need is her coming back as a ghost... or being reincarnated now that I think about it. She was killed for a reason...

Leslie: It’s interesting that you thought Georgie might come back as a ghost. I didn’t go in that direction but it’s certainly possible. I hope not though, shades of Vishous & Jane we do not need. I was thinking she might turn to black magic and use a spell to either alter the past or do some time traveling. But I would expect her to come back as either herself or possibly inhabit someone else’s body. I do think she’ll come back in some form, just not sure what or who it might be.

Hilcia: I don't know Leslie. Georgie is dead. Unless Thurman comes up with a way to resurrect the dead in this series, Georgie's not coming back as herself. She has to be some sort of ghost or something "not human." Hopefully nothing like Salome, lol! I just wish she had made her peace with Cal in person before meeting her "destiny."

Nath: LMAO!! Oh gosh Hils! I can't imagine anything like Salome LOL. I have to say, I wonder what was Georgie's future when Cal asked her to look.

Leslie: By the way ladies, I just found out that Rob Thurman tweeted about Georgina ~

"For the last time to all those who thought Georgina died in Doubletake, you didn't read the chapter closely enough."

So now I need to re-read that chapter and of course now I can't find my copy of Doubletake! LOL

Nath: Oh crap, no! I mean, in that case, why even bother with the whole scene? Sigh. I’m going with the “she’s dead, boohoo” LOL.

Hilcia: I’ll have to re-read as well. I can’t believe that the whole scene was so unclear that all three of us “missed” whatever it is that we missed. I’ll go with the fact that she’s dead ( “boohoo” indeed)... since that was my initial take on the scene, and see where Thurman goes with this character. And hmm..I guess we were all right and Georgie will be back! (Leslie) We just didn’t know it would be so soon. Muahahah!

Nath: One thing I just don't get is why Georgie basically let Grimm kill her. She saw the future and knew Grimm would kill her and she still went knowingly? How is that going to help Cal? I find the whole thing a bit stupid and all she achieved was burdening Cal. Like Hils, I’d rather seen her facing Cal. I don't know how Ms Thurman will turn this around... For now, I find Georgie's sacrifice to be worthless.

Leslie: I think Georgie allowed Grimm to kill her because she hadn’t figured out yet how to stop him or because she had figured out but it had to happened that way in order for her to come back. Maybe she made a deal with the devil and gave up her soul to come back to Cal. In this series it’s hard to say.

Nath: I’m still bummed out to find out she’s not dead :( So what, Grimm is keeping her in the cave?!? Now, I feel like no matter what happened, whoever is introduced, Cal will end up with Georgie because he owes her... And I still don’t like her for Cal!!! I thought her death was good news for me because it meant Cal would have a new love interest. I even believed she was introduced in this book! Remember the lady that looked like him at the black market. She’s definitely not simply a woman and the fact she knows Trixa and Goodfellow makes her intriguing to me :) By the way, I was happy to see Trixa mentioned! I really wish there’ll be a cross-over between the two series in the future and it feels like Ms Thurman just opened the door wide :)

Leslie: Well, I’m glad Georgie didn’t die but I’ve been a Georgie fan from the beginning.:) I do agree with Hils that the chapter/scene with Georgie and Grimm must not have been very clear if all three of us interpreted it wrong. (I still need to re-read it.) I was thinking the woman Robin knew, and was a little afraid of, in the black market is possibly another Trickster. That was an odd moment but I agree, I like how the series link.

Nath: That’s what I think as well, that she’s a Trickster. I just hope she’s not Trixa’s mother LOL.

***END OF SPOILERS***


Nath: Well I think it’s time to wrap up this looong review LOL. What grade are you giving Doubletake? For me, this was an A- read :) I just thoroughly enjoyed myself even though it seems we’re back to square one.

Leslie: I’m going with an A- too. It’s not my favorite of the series but I still enjoyed it and can’t wait for more Leandros brothers.

Hilcia: Well Nath, Leslie, for me Doubletake was definitely a mixed bag. I loved the characters and the action, and as always I got caught up in the story. Unfortunately, throughout this whole book I couldn’t shake the sense of deja vu and somehow this story did not feel fresh to me. In the end it felt like a case of “been there, done that,” or a bit of a rehash. So my final grade is a B-.

Nath: Awwww, a B-? Although I totally understand where you’re coming from Hils, Doubletake gripped me enough I could overlook its shortcomings :)

Before ending this review, I want to thank you both again, Leslie and Hilcia, for buddy reviewing Doubletake with me! Hope you’ll agree to buddy review the next one too! :) I’m sure we’re all looking forward to the next book to see where Ms Thurman is taking us!

Review: Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

The Georgina Kincaid Succubus series by Richelle Mead is one of my top favorite urban fantasy series ever.  And Succubus Revealed is the final book.  Needless to say, I put off reading this book for quite some time.  I really didn't want it to end!  Monroe felt the same way.  As this is the final book in the series, there are definitely some spoilers.  But here's our review!

Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead
Published by Kensington in August 2011
Genre:  Urban Fantasy
Series:  Georgina Kincaid #6

Georgina Kincaid has had an eternity to figure out the opposite sex, but sometimes they still surprise her. Take Seth Mortensen. The man has risked his soul to become Georgina's boyfriend. Still, with Lucifer for a boss, Georgina can't just hang up her killer heels and settle down to domestic bliss. In fact, she's being forced to transfer operations. . .to Las Vegas.

The City of Sin is a dream gig for a succubus, but Georgina's allies are suspicious. Why are the powers-that-be so eager to get her away from Seattle—and from Seth? Georgina is one of Hell's most valuable assets, but if there's any way out of the succubus business she plans to take it—no matter how much roadkill she leaves behind. She just hopes the casualties won't include the one man she's risking everything for. . .

Monroe: ....NOOOOOOO!!!!! I refuse to believe it's all over! =(

Ames: LOL I felt the same way, but I really really wanted to know how things would turn out for Georgina. It's always sad to see a series come to an end and Georgie's in particular, she was such a great character.

Monroe: I love how no matter what happened in her life she was so kick ass! She was a character who learned from her mistakes...this was no helpless heroine!

Ames: She was kick-ass, that's how she remained so plucky after thousands of years as a succubus.

Okay, so what did you think of Succubus Revealed itself?

Monroe: Loved it! I honestly felt that it gave me everything I was wanting but at the same time kept you guessing what the outcome would be! The only thing we didn't get was Roman...but I have a feeling we will at some point...maybe her next series??? *fingers crossed*

What about you? Were all your I's dotted and T's crossed? Was it what you expected?

Ames: Yes it was. I liked how there was a slow build-up to Georgie realizing something was wrong with the whole scenario of her being moved to Las Vegas. She was a bit naive to think hell didn't have something up it's sleeve, but I liked how Roman smartened her up. And I had the same thought about Roman too - that he might get his own series.

One thing that seemed unexplored was Doug. Remember how he said he always seemed to be aware of what she was feeling? I wonder if they had a connection in a previous life or something.

Monroe: Hmmmm...I didn't think about that! Wonder if it too might come up down the road?

As for Vegas I was fooled for a second but then everything was just falling into place too easily for her. I hated her old buddy what's his name was in on it. But I guess that's Hell for you.

I love how we are so used to her everyday life at the book store etc in all the past books and yet this one were pulled put of that aspect so we can focus on getting to the nitty gritty ya know? So for me it was sad not getting to finish the series in our normal setting but I see why it had to be done. And it shows the story itself (just like the character) evolving.

Ames: I missed the bookstore too and all the characters there. But I agree, the focus was more on the main characters in this one. I love how much we saw of her friends. And that even though they all work for hell, they were willing to go out on a limb for a friend.


Now Seth. I loved how much his family played a part in the book too. And his niece! The psychic one. And Carter, playing Santa for them. That's one of my favorites. I love Carter.

Monroe: Yes! I love that the niece was the one to break everything open with the cancer! And when Carter helped her mother I had tears! Just such a touching moment.

As for her friends...yes I loved that when it came down for it they felt she deserved so much more and decided to put their necks out for her.

My favorite part is Seth being hypnotized! Just all the past lived coming out...And I forgot about the priest! Out of all the past lives I loved that one the most. I always hoped we would get like one book that touched on all those lives....that would be awesome!

Ames: Seth being hypnotized, now that was a great scene. Just Georgie's reaction and then his reaction when he wakes up. Imagine Seth having to remember all that, and then the last thing he sees before he wakes up is when she cheated on him, in their very first life together. Harsh stuff. His reaction was believable.


One thing I was worried about was Seth's soul. In the previous book, we find out that if he died, he'd go to hell, he'd sinned so much. I was glad to find out he'd redeemed himself. Awww.

Monroe: Yes I was so happy Seth gained his soul back! I mean I just don't get him going to Hell he's too good for that!

Ok question...were you sort of hoping Carter and Georie would have something? I totally did...I mean I live in the land of Oz most days so I know it's not possible but a girl can dream right? I mean that last scene with them at the wedding? Sigh...

Ames: Throughout the whole series I always thought Carter and Georgie had something connecting them. That if Carter wasn't an angel, they'd totally hook up. LOL So yeah, I thought that last scene with Carter was very touching and I liked it. And I understand why they couldn't have something.

Monroe: Yeah, forbidden love and all that mess *eye roll* lol

You know who I still hate? Maddie! ha!

Ames: I don't hate her. I felt bad for her, falling for a man who loved Georgie. I kinda want to reread those books, where Georgie finds out Seth was with Maddie and then when Seth was with Georgie when she was human. LOL

Monroe: Omg I don't....remember how upset I was? It took me FOREVER to continue the series! Obviously I'm glad I did but still. That heartache sucked. And I know if it happened in real life it I would hate it for Maddie but because it's a book and fake I hate her lol I'm so glad she didn't really get brought up in this book except for like once.

So, grade?

Ames: Oh a solid A. I enjoyed it and thought it wrapped up the series in a good way.

Monroe: An A for me as well. Sad to see everyone leave but what a great send off!

Ames: I hope Roman gets a book or story at least.

Monroe: Me too! He was yummy!

Review: Blackout by Rob Thurman

Today is the release date of Doubletake, the 7th book in the Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman... so I thought it'd be the perfect day to put up this review :) A couple of years ago, I started reading this series and just fell in love with it... and I wasn't the only one. Leslie and Hilcia did too :) And it's become a tradition to review these books together :) Well last year, Leslie and I read Blackout... and buddy reviewed the books. However, that time, I kind of burned out on blogging... and the task of putting together the buddy review was daunting... So yes, this discussion has been in sitting in my inbox for almost a year ^_^; But I am back now!! And well better late than never, right? :) LOL, I promise the buddy review for Doubletake won't take as long! In the meantime, enjoy this review!


Blackout by Rob Thurman
published by ROC in March 2011

I was alone, and I was lost. I didn't know where I was; I didn't know who I was. it doesn't get more lost than that. Knowing what I knew and not knowing anything else at all, why would I want to be in the darkness where monsters hide?

Because killers hide there too...

Half-human Cal Leandros has always walked a bloody line between keeping his mortal soul free and clear (sort of) and unleashing the horror of his otherworldly heritage. The one thing that's always saved him is the memory of his brother, Niko, his friends, and those he loves. Until now.

Cal wakes up on a beach littered with the recently slaughtered remains of a variety of hideous creatures that were obviously looking for trouble. The fact that he is the one who did the slaughtering doesn't bother him. The fact that he feels like a natural-born killer doesn't either. What bothers Cal is that he doesn't remember Cal anymore... and he's not sure he cares.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Cal Leandros, Book #6

The Story: The blurb sums it well. Cal Leandros wakes up with no memory of who or what he is. All he knows is that monsters do exist. Niko and Robin are able to track him down and bring him back to New York City... However, Niko struggles with this new Cal. This person is not he's little brother... but it could have been. A Cal unaware of his Auphe's bloodline... so what should Niko do? Hope that Cal recovers or wish for Cal's burden to never return? In the meantime, they still have to deal with monsters.


Nath: What did you think of Blackout, Leslie?

Leslie: Wow. I'm not sure what I was expecting but Thurman certainly came through with another exceptional book. It did seem to take me longer to read, due to there being more of Cal's internal monologue.

Nath: I’m with you Leslie. I wasn't sure what to expect either, especially with the way Roadkill ended and Cal getting darker it seemed :( However, I'm pretty happy with the direction Ms Thurman took! It did feel like Blackout was a bit of a transition book, as in she stalled a little bit the overall storyline of the series, but I didn't mind. I just liked seeing the characters being together and how things have changed from the beginning :)

Leslie: This was certainly more character driven than what you might expect from a UF. I agree that Cal was getting darker. There was no doubt that he would have killed Delilah, if it needed, at the end of Roadkill and a small part of him might have enjoyed it. Blackout was like taking a step back, away from that darkness, and letting Cal see another side. So when he did get his memory back, he had something to compare how he really is to what he might have been. And he realized that he needs to be how he is in order to fight all the monsters. Kind of like that saying "It takes a thief to catch a thief". Well, it takes a monster, even half monster, to catch a monster. I do think that Cal's memory loss helped him to accept what he is.

Nath: I agree with you that Cal would have enjoyed it. There's such a fine line between being bad-ass and enjoying killing. It always seemed in the past that Cal had to kill because it was part of his job, he was protecting people or the people he killed were really evil... However, enjoying the killing would be crossing the line and go into evil/psycho. I did wonder what Ms Thurman would do and I got my answer in Blackout :)

And I think you're right about Cal accepting who he is. I thought he's come to terms with it in previous books, but this time, we really have confirmation. In the end, it all comes back to protect the person he cares most for - Niko... and if he needs to be "him" to protect Niko and for Niko to be happy, he will.

By the way, is it me or I didn’t really see the "different" Cal?

Leslie: I did see a different Cal at the beginning than what we are used to. He wasn't so quick with his snarky comments. He might think them but didn't always say them. The New Cal came with a filter where the Original Cal just said whatever was on his mind. New Cal didn't seem as pessimistic either. And can you imagine Old Cal wearing a gingham apron? LOL

The New Cal had a very black and white view of things. The monster killing for instance. He killed monsters, monsters are bad therefore he was good. Then Niko and Goodfellow (monster) show up and suddenly things begin to have shades of gray. I think so much of it was due to confusion - waking up the way he did, surrounded by giant spiders. Then to find out that monsters are real and he kills them. It was a lot to take in. But I did like getting this different perspective from Cal. He's like the Cal that might have been had normal ever been part of his world.

Nath: I don't know, those were all very small changes to me. As a whole, besides the monster part, I didn't feel like there was much difference. Perhaps it’s because I’m not an attentive reader enough. Although true, Old Cal would never have worn that apron. Black maybe, but not blue :P And there would have been a lot of complaining and comments as a result LOL.

But to get back to what you were saying, I thought Cal’s thinking process being black and white was very natural. Not knowing that you're a monster, well it does lend to "monsters being bad/evil" ^_^; And you're absolutely right, this would have been the Cal if he hadn't known that monsters existed. At the same time, given everything he went through in his life, if he had a choice, I think Cal would choose the Old Cal.

You know, what bothered me was everyone saying Cal is so "evil/bad." I've never gotten that feeling. I mean, given his circumstances, the way her grew up, I don't consider his badass-ness, his monster killing job as evil. Even killing bad humans... Of course, this is fiction. In real life, it'd be different...

Leslie: Everyone saying Cal is evil, you mean all the other supernatural beings? I think that comes from the Auphes' reputation and that they can either smell or sense the Auphe in him. I don't think Niko, Goodfellow or Promise think Cal is evil. I think Delilah was turned on by it - by what she perceived as Cal's potential for being bad since she looks down on humans.

Nath: Oh, I’m sure that Niko, Robin and Promise don’t think that Cal is evil, but all the other supernatural beings. Even Isiah, when Cal asked! I understand that the Auphe has a reputation, but it seemed to me some should know better. Yes, Cal is bad-ass... but evil or bad? It seems to me the way he’d rid the world of some threats, people should be grateful instead!

Leslie: I think with the Auphe always being a part of him, Cal will always have that potential for being evil. I think that's one of the things that drove Niko to do what he did in deceiving Cal.

Nath: Speaking of which, what did you think of the deception? Cal is such a lucky guy that no matter what the circumstances, Niko will always have Cal’s best interests in mind. The loyalty and dedication of Niko towards Cal makes him an amazing man. Because let’s face it, while Cal would have been happy, Niko would have been miserable and it would have ruined his whole life. You know how love always triumphs? Well this time, it was brotherhood and I was glad for it :)

Leslie: Niko was in so much pain in this one. Such a hard decision to make - keep the new Cal by deceiving his brother or let the old Cal come back with all that Auphe baggage? If there was ever any doubt, Blackout showed how Cal is the focal point of Niko's life and that everything and everyone else will always come in second in his eyes - even Promise. I think it killed Niko to be so dishonest but at the same time, he didn't feel like he had a choice. Very hard for our Zen loving Ninja to do.

Nath: Nod nod. I guess Niko is worried about a repeat from Nightshade... because I'm sure that if Cal ever cross the line of evilness, Niko will be there to stop him. It was a very hard decision for Niko and it seemed it added to his burden. Sigh.

Leslie: Turning the table around, what did you think of Cal's reaction to Niko? Calling him Leandros instead of Niko I'm guessing was a way to keep his distance until he felt he could trust Niko. I did like that Cal didn't go willingly with Niko and Robin. Especially considering how he felt about Robin - how many times did he try stabbing him with a fork? LOL Cal was funny, being so proud that he still had that fork up his sleeve after Niko took his knife so easily. :)

Nath: Seriously, my heart really broke for Niko in this book! Niko must have felt so sad and depressed and it must have killed him every time Cal called him Leandros. Because that’s the proof he had lost his younger brother... and still, Niko went ahead with the deception. Sigh. Then again, I think it wa's normal that Cal did not rust Niko and Robin so easily. It simply isn’t in his nature.

By the way, I loved, loved Robin in this book. Not only for the comedic moments LOL, but for his friendship with Cal and Niko. For being there for both brothers and for not choosing sides!

Leslie: Goodfellow - good grief! Between the "Sorry, I'm in a monogamous relationship, here's the suicide hotline number" to the dang feathers everywhere, LOL he added his unique perspective on the situation. I love how Goodfellow and Ishiah's relationship has developed. And Cal's embarrassment about it. LOL But what is with the feathers? Does Ishiah molt when he's in love or maybe it's something about being with Goodfellow? Yeah, it's probably a Goodfellow effect. *snort* You mention how Robin didn't take sides with Niko or Cal which I thought was another example of how far Robin's relationship with Niko and Cal has come. Early on, I would have said that Robin would side with Niko in just about anything but now, it's become a much more balanced relationship between Robin and the brothers.

Nath: Oh I'm so happy for Goodfellow and Ishiah as well. I think that those two deserve to be happy :) LOL, maybe he just like to have sex with his wings on... LOL. I am so looking forward to Robin's revenge on Cal. I think it's going to be epic LOL.

You think Robin would have sided with Niko over Cal in the beginning? I don't know. For some reasons, I always felt that there was a camaraderie between Cal and Robin that was very strong, perhaps from them being supernatural beings. In the very beginning, perhaps Robin would have sided with Niko - but that was because Niko reminded him of Ishiah. However, ever since Ishiah has been in the picture, that's been taken off the table. Instead, it seems to me Robin and Cal have a stronger bond - hanging out together, being stupid together LOL.

Leslie: I'm getting such a visual after reading your "sex with wings on" comment! Good thing Robin's apartment is big. Lots of room so they can spread out. LOL Oh, I can't wait for the revenge. With Robin, you know it will be something sexual. ;)

Nath: LOL, well don't you think so? I'm thinking it's like when you shake a tree, leaves fall... but in this case, it's feathers :D

Leslie: "When you shake a tree, leaves fall" with Ishiah the tree and Goodfellow doing the shaking. LOL You're killing me here with these visuals Nath! : )

I think in the beginning Robin would have sided with Niko because Niko isn't as rash as Cal in his actions. He thinks things through and weighs the actions with the consequences. Plus the Ishiah influence that you mentioned. But now, Robin has built up a trust with Cal, enough I think to trust Cal's instincts. In a way, Niko is the big brother/parent to both Robin and Cal when it comes to them getting into trouble and "being stupid" as you said. And we know they can be really stupid. Hello - who helped Cal loose his virginity? And didn't that turn out well.

Nath: I still feel that from the beginning, there was a complicity between Robin and Cal, an understanding. Something along the lines of supernatural beings sticking together... but also, they are simply closer in personality.

Another character I want to mention, Delilah.

Leslie: Delilah, talk about power trip! I know she always put herself first, then pack but I thought she at least cared a little about Cal. Now, she seems even colder, meaner than she did in Roadkill.

Nath: I'm actually glad Ms Thurman took the direction she did. At least, it's clear the line has been drawn and there is no going back for both of them :P And the part where Cal is all "I nailed that?!? I'm awesome!" Classic Cal LOL.

Leslie: I'm glad Delilah's out of the picture. Makes room for Georgie. :) You know I've always wanted Georgie and Cal together, or at least a chance to give it a try. I hope she comes back soon.

That whole "nailed it" comment was the pure, real Cal coming through. LOL

Nath: Ugh, not Georgie!! Unless she's changed a lot.

Leslie: Awe, where the Georgie love? hahaha I know you, and Hils too, are not thrilled with the thought of Georgie and Cal together. I do agree that she needs some maturing but that's what she's been doing while she's been gone right? She's going to come back and be smarter and more mature and her and Cal will fall head over heals in lurv. *snort*

So what did you think about the ending with the half-breeds? Most importantly - did you think the empty cage meant the occupant was dead like Cal thought or escaped? I just find it hard to believe that Cal's the only one left.

Nath: It’s not just a matter of maturity, Leslie. To be Cal’s love interested, II always felt that she needed to be strong, be able to take care of herself and be able to manage Cal’s darkness. That’s why I rooted for Delilah at first, because she could handle Cal. Georgie always seemed a bit too fragile to me. In any case, I guess we're going to find out soon if Cal has a new love interest or not :)

As for the other half-breeds... I’ve always been a bit more like Cal - I never thought of the possibility before. Although, as Niko said, it did make sense that they've tried more than once. Whether it is the end of them or not, well I was ready to accept that there was no more Auphe... so why not half-breeds? But realistically... I guess once again, we'll have to wait and see. If there is one left, then it seems that one perhaps can build portals and that'll be interesting. However, I hope it doesn’t become an habit of Ms Thurman to always bring up half-breeds as obstacles or challenges...

So, final grade?

Leslie: Okay, final grade - I'm going with A-. Really enjoyed this different look at Cal and the "what could have been" but I'm still missing Niko's POV.

Nath: It’s an A- as well for me. I really enjoyed Blackout and I think that emotionally and character-wise, this was really an awesome read. I missed Niko’s POV too and I think it would have made the book even more emotional... but at the same time, perhaps it would have been a bit too maudlin for an UF book? In any case, we’ll never know. Now, all I can do is look forward to Doubletake and wonder what Ms Thurman has in store for us!

Review: Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Wooohooo, a buddy review!! Starting from this week, I'm telling you - no, I assure you, Breezing Through is back in business :) To start off the ball, we've decided to go with one of our favorite authors, Ms Singh. A big thank you to Tabitha from ... Tabz Book Blog for embarking in this adventure LOL! I love Ms Singh's books, but discussing them is always a challenge because her books are so complex! Also, big thank you for her patience, because when buddy reviews are this long, it always takes me a while to get in gear and put them together - the task is oh, very daunting ^_^;

So we've put a lot of efforts in this buddy review, feel free to comment and discuss with us! :) Enjoy!


*Warning: The are spoilers in this review. Read at your own risk!*

Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh
published by Berkley in January 2011

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil…

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school—the assault one of sheer, vicious madness—and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders. The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed...

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Guild Hunter, Book #3

The Story: After more than a year, Elena Deveraux finally returns home to New York City. However, as the first angel-made in centuries, her life has completely changed. For one, she needs to adjust to her new life and find the balance between being an angel and a mortal... As if it wasn't enough, Elena has to deal with her enemies who have no qualms going after her loved ones and the awakening of an Ancient... who might be Caliane, Raphael's mother who left in for dead...


Nath: What did you think of Archangel's Consort, Tabitha? :)

Tabitha: I enjoyed this latest installment of the Guild Hunter series. I loved seeing Raphael so protective of Elena, putting her safety even above his own immortality. Case in point, he knows that Elena has made him weaker to heal and more susceptible to injuries but there were no hints of regrets. Even knowing that the surest way for anyone to hurt him is to hurt Elena he agreed to her request to remove the guards. Though it wasn't only Raphael conceding; both he and Elena learned to compromise with each other.

Nath: I'm not disagreeing with you as I did enjoy seeing Raphael so protective of Elena too; it's just who he is. And I think what Elena brings to Raphael is above what he lost and in that case, why have regrets? :) However, I felt that the dynamics between Raphael and Elena dragged down the book a little. There were some issues in their relationship that was brought up over and over again and at the end, it was too much. I got it the first time about the possessiveness they felt for each other, the bodyguard and freedom issues and even how much they wanted each other and felt Ms Singh didn't have to keep hammering it down. I get that she was trying to convey the sensuality and the depth of the relationship, but it seems to me she missed her mark, because these definitively lessened my enjoyment of Archangel’s Consort.

Tabitha: Yep, I agree, there were issues in their relationship that were mentioned far too often. But I think the repetitiveness was hammered to show the progression of their relationship and the emphasis on two strong people finding their footing with each other in a relationship that neither ever expected. That's not to say the repetitiveness was warranted; and it lessened my enjoyment of the book too but I think I might've forgiven it a bit more easily than you did.

Nath: I agree on the emphasis, but I'm not sure about the progression. You know what worked better for me instead? It was the little things like Elena preparing Raphael a sandwich or inviting him to join her to Sara's. Those were cute scenes showing that each had to adapt. Much better than the "Mine and you better remember it! Hubba, hubba!"

Tabitha: LOL. I liked those scenes too. For me, Elena preparing Raphael a sandwich and her inviting him to accompany her to visit her friend shows the progression that I speak of. Not just in their relationship but the extension of their family because Sara is Elena’s family.

Nath: Exactly!

I have to say, what I really liked about Archangel's Kiss was that the story took place at the Refuge, where Elena didn't have to deal with her friends and all, where she could focus only on being an angel... So coming back to New York City, I didn't really know what to expect. I did like seeing Elena getting together with her friends again, seeing their reactions.

Tabitha: Same here, I enjoyed seeing her friends’ reactions. Also, the moment when Elena realized her best friend bought the house next door? Now that's what I call a dear friend!

Although now that Elena is an angel I thought she would be conflicted and torn about sharing secrets with her human friends. But when the time came Elena didn't hesitate to withhold angel information and easily admitted that her loyalty is to Ralph. That scene made me smile and also surprise me a bit because I thought there would be some conflict about her loyalty and the other Archangels putting Raphael in the middle.

Nath: To me, there was never a doubt where her allegiance should go. Although, I guess it really depends on the information... such as Caliane waking up. I could see her sharing that information with Sara, who is also the Guild Director, but with Detective Santiago? Nah. I don't see how this information could have helped the detective and seriously, there are secrets about angels that are not good to share, to be known. As such, I don't think there was much conflict.

Tabitha: I don't mean sharing secrets with the Detective in particular. I know some things would have to be shared with Sara. I just meant that it is nice to hear her clearly voice that her allegiance is to Raphael.

Nath: Oh.

Tabitha: You know, the focus of Archangel’s Consort seems to be about family. There was the surprising revelation about Elena's father and her younger half-sister and then the awakening of Ralph's mother. I was really looking forward to "meeting" Caliane and how she has changed, if any, from the mad angel who threw her son and broke all the bones in his body. Some parts of Ralph's reminiscence of his mother were poignant and had me hoping, wanting, his mother not to be insane. Those scenes made Ralph appear more human and as he shares it with Elena there was a vulnerability to him that pulled the intimacy between them even tighter, stronger, and hotter. The dancing scene? Whoa x10. It was weird but a good weird for that tough Archangel.

Nath: LOL, for me it was when Elena said that a lot of women had problems with their mother-in-laws!!! I wished I could have seen Raphael’s face, it must have been sooo priceless! LOL.

Tabitha: I was laughing over that scene too and trying to picture his reaction as well! Truly priceless. Lol.

Nath: Otherwise, I didn’t really care much about Caliane ^_^; From the beginning, it felt like there was more to it than just Caliane waking up. I think the problem for me is that Caliane was so abstract. Raphael was so worried about how she would come out of it and I didn't really care ^_^; It does show though how strong mother and son’s relationships are, whether they’re good or bad. Not just Raphael and Caliane, but the Hummingbird, Ilium and Raphael.

Tabitha: What do you think of the scene with Ilium and his mother? I was expecting more but I felt sort of lost afterwards.

Nath: It seems like a kind of Alzheimer :( Definitively due to living too long, losing track of time. In a way, it’s her own kind of craziness… I wonder if she shouldn't go to sleep... or is that only the Cadres or archangels? Like you, I was expecting a bit more from it as well, but I guess it was there to show that Raphael has another mother, another family.

In any case, I’m more interested to see how Caliane's awakening is going to affect the power. Is she really not going to get involved in politics?

Tabitha: The other archangels would force her hand even if she doesn't want to. Personally, I think she will in later books. This book was dragging as it was so it made more sense for Caliane to settle her people first and at the same time to regroup her strength since she was forced to wake up before she was ready.

Nath: You're right. Even if she doesn't want to, nobody will leave her alone on account of being the oldest. Interesting politic plots to come :) I do wonder though if she'll adapt to how the world is right now... but I guess that’s also for the future books.

As for Elena’s family, I’m surprised at how much Archangel’s Consort focused on hers. From the blurb, I thought her “reunion” with her own family would be overshadowed by the Caliane storyline… Although that was a bit naïve considering how complex her relationship with her family is. Still, it didn’t go in the direction I expected.

Also, it’s been a while since I read the first two books and I was a bit fuzzy on her family. I didn't realize that her mother committed suicide; I thought she died at the same time as Elena's older sisters. I didn't even remember that Elena had half-sisters! Ah well. I'm pretty sure there is something more about Jeffrey's treatment of Elena. By the way, I would have liked to see more interactions between Elena and Evelyn.

Tabitha: I would've liked to see more of Elena's father's reaction to her being an angel. When he sees her for the first time with angel wings, his response was a bit disappointing for me. I mean, he can't be any more of a jerk than he is now but yet I was looking for something bigger than how he reacted.

Nath: I agree with you, I would have liked to see Jeffrey reacts to his daughter being an angel... but in this case, I think it was taken away a little as Elena was too quick on the trigger ^_^;

The thing is, if Jeffrey is smart and he seems to be, I think he must know that Elena will take care of the family. So in that aspect, he doesn't have to worry as much. Also, you know how Jeffrey says that among his children, Elena is the most like him? I think he is right. Seriously, I'm hoping that all Jeffrey did had a good reason behind it, because I'm really hoping that they'll come to term...

Tabitha: A part of me wants them to reconcile...but I'm not sure I can ever like him. Or want to read much about him. I have more interest in her half-sister, Evelyn, than in Jeffrey and Beth.

Nath: I don’t think that Ms Singh will ever be able to redeem Jeffrey’s character. After all, what he did was horrible, but if there was a good reason behind it, it could soften the blow for Elena. Because as mother and son’s bonds are strong, father and daughter as well. I also agree with you, I’m definitively looking forward to Evelyn in the future.

What did you think of the storyline?

Tabitha: The discovery and subsequent awakening of the ancient mother was a bit long drawn. But I have to say that one of my favorite parts involved Caliane waking up to fight. For me, it was an aw moment that she woke up when she did. And the first meeting of mother and son was sweet in a ways.

Nath: Nod nod. I thought the plot was interesting, because once again, things are not as they appeared regarding the awakening of the Ancient. However, I agree with you, it was long drawn and combined with the repetitiveness mentioned above, it threw off the pacing. This series is better when it is fast-paced, but there were too many lulls in Archangel’s Consort.

Tabitha: In addition, this was a darker and even more complex read than the last two books. Honestly, I'm not sure where the story arc is heading. At first, I thought there goes another mad Archangel but the ending (fight) scenes had me even more puzzled and shocked.

Nath: I'm not sure if the storyline was darker. More complex, yes, but darker? I feel it was more personal... and because of that, I'm not sure where the story arc is heading either. Especially since I heard the next book would focus on Dmitri. I do think it's a good idea though to change the focus of the series for a little while. I think that Raphael and Elena's relationship and Elena's growth as an angel need to evolve a little bit away from the spotlight.

Tabitha: I say it was darker because it delved into the personal and darker aspects of Elena and Raphael's past. But yeah, while I'm not fond of Dmitri I think it would be a nice change to have the book focus elsewhere from Elena and Raphael. But how much of Elena and Raphael and the other Archangels would we see and could there be in Dmitri's book without putting the couple back in the limelight?

Nath: I'm not a fan of Dmitri either and it’s mostly have to do with the way he antagonizes Elena ^_^; However, there's a lot that we don't know about him, so there's hope. And I do believe we'll see a lot of Raphael, after all, Dmitri is his second... it'll also be interesting to see the bond between Raphael and his Seven.

Speaking of the Seven, what did you think of Elena's relationship with them?

Tabitha: Hmm, aside from Ilium I don't think Elena has much of a relationship with the other members of the Seven. Aside from Ilium the others watch over her more so out of duty to Raphael. Though I have to admit that before this book the other members didn't really interest me and I didn't pay much attention to them. But now I'm looking forward to finding out more about Venom and Jason since we're also getting more glimpses of each of them now.

Nath: It seems to me Ms Singh has spent a lot of time fleshing their characters for subsequent books... but I agree with you, Elena doesn’t have much of a relationship. Mostly because they see her as a weakness, which she is... but I think many are starting to respect her and that's a good way to further relationships. I like it though that Ms Singh hasn’t facilitated that aspect for Elena, because she’s the heroine and everyone has to like her – kind of in a Mary Sue way, and being chummy with everyone would just be too weird. This makes it more realistic… I’m sure as she grows more powerful and they come to an understanding, the friendship will come. You already see it a little with Aodhan.

Tabitha: I do see more of the Seven starting to respect Elena now as before they were indifferent, even insufferable to her. They were concerned for Raphael's well-being; obviously, of him becoming weaker because of her but as we saw at the end of Archangel's Consort she's not his weakest link but quite the opposite!

Nath: Well I think that it’s understandable, because that’s their job, protecting Raphael… But true, it’ll be interesting to see when they realize that Elena is bringing something else to Raphael… However, that won’t happen if Elena persists with the bodyguard issue!! That part really annoyed me, sigh. I understand that Elena needs her freedom and that she was used to be on her own, but I thought she was being a little too stubborn. She said she understood the situation - that she was vulnerable and was Raphael's weakness, but she didn’t act like she understood the ramification. Seriously, I was surprised that Raphael compromised. Glad, but surprised.

Tabitha: Oh yeah, Elena was foolish to remove the guards entirely. When she called Raphael to pick her up showed how easily her life could've been compromised.

Nath: Totally agree!! She has to realize the situation - I mean, she can't even do a vertical take off yet! Or what would have happened if Illium hadn't been there with the media chopper? Plus, you know, when she goes on a mission for the Guild, she usually has back-up. Why can't she consider the Seven assigned to her as back-up instead?

Tabitha: Yeah, she can't do vertical take offs and she can't even use her wings for long before tiring. Yet, she insists on the bodyguards backing off. To me, that was TSTL.

That's a good point you mentioned about her having back-up when she's on a mission. I think Elena needs to review her survival training lessons again. ^_^;

Nath: Definitively. Lucky though she’s smart in all the other areas :)

So, what is your grade for Archangel's Consort?

Tabitha: I was debating between B and B-...but the more I think on it the more I prefer the B-. I was looking forward to Raphael's mother awakening but too much dragged on before the showdown that turned out to be a let down...and then the post-fight meeting (with a certain archangel still attending) was a WTF for me. Sadly, I'm not sure I can re-read this book without skipping around a lot of the parts.

Nath: Nod nod. LOL, I’m so happy you’re as tough a grader as me :) It means I won’t get lynched alone LOL. Kidding :)

For me, it's a B. I think it was a good book, but not as good as Archangel's Kiss. The intrigue wasn't as interesting and the repetitive parts dragged it for me and threw the pacing off. Part of me wished it had focused more on the story and action, but another part of me is happy for the focus on personal aspects of Raphael and Elena. I liked seeing Elena returning to her world - perhaps could have used more scenes, and see where Raphael and Elene's relationship is.