Review: Nightlife

 

Nightlife (Cal Leandros, Book 1)

by Rob Thurman

Book Blurb
There are monsters among us. There always has been and there always will be. I’ve known that since I can remember, just like I’ve always known I was one…Well, half of one, anyway.

Welcome to the Big Apple. There’s a troll under the Brooklyn Bridge, a boggle in Central Park, and a beautiful vampire in a penthouse on the Upper East Side—and that’s only the beginning. Of course, most humans are oblivious to the preternatural nightlife around them, but Cal Leandros is only half human.

His father’s dark lineage is the stuff of nightmares—and he and his entire otherworldly race are after Cal. Why? Cal hasn’t exactly wanted to stick around long enough to find out.

He and his half brother, Niko, have managed to stay a step ahead for four years, but now Cal’s dad has found them again. And Cal is about to learn why they want him, why they’ve always wanted him: He is the key to unleashing their hell on earth. The fate of the human world will be decided in the fight of Cal’s life….

MY REVIEW

Caliban Leandros considers himself part monster. Which is the basic truth. He is part human and part Auphe (elf). Not the whimsical elves that we instantly think of but the much darker, evil cousin. Cal's half younger brother Niko acts more like his big brother. Niko is human and has made it his life to protect Cal from the Auphe or Grendels as they call them. They make their home in New York City thinking the Auphe wouldn't follow them there since they stay to the more remote areas. Unfortunately they couldn't be more wrong. The Auphe want to open a gate into the past when they ruled the world and to do this they need Cal.

We meet many interesting characters. There is the Seer, Georgina who Cal has a crush on and Promise, a vampire who Niko is interested in. The ever humorous Robin Goodfellow, aka Puck, joins the group to save Cal after his body is possessed by a male banshee who is working with the Auphe.

Cal's character is a typical teenager. All he wants to do is eat and sleep and be normal, which he can't because of who he is. He hates that side of him and just wants to ignore it so that it will go away. He wants a place to call home and to quite running. Niko has taught himself everything he can on all the different demons and mythical creatures and also many different fighting techniques to help defend him and Cal. His devotion is unwavering and that devotion is what saves Cal.

I enjoyed this book and the build-up to the final fight is incredible and had me holding my breath! So glad that I picked this book up and took a chance on it. Fantastic read!

Rating:

4 of 5 Stars

**book was personally purchased by me**
Pictures from Rob Thurman's website