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 third installment in the Cal Leandros series. If you haven't met the Leandros brothers yet, stop reading HERE and first read books no. 1 ( Nightlife (Cal Leandros, Book 1) ) and no. 2 ( Moonshine (Cal Leandros, Book 2) ). So. What happens in "Madhouse"? (great title; read the book to find out why. I love Rob Thurman's one-word titles). In short, and trying to avoid spoilers, there are two main plotlines running here: --> Sawney Beane, the legendary head of a 48-member clan in 15th- or 16th-century Scotland, reportedly executed for the mass murder and cannibalization of over 1,000 people (as quoted from Wikipedia!), is raised to life from ashes at the New York Metropolitan Museum. The Leandros brothers are hired to find his ass (and kill it thoroughly and inventively, of course). --> A great second plotline involves an unknown attacker making repeated assassination attempts on Robin Goodfellow's life. The brothers try to find out who ('cause a guilt-ridden Robin refuses to tell them) while struggling to keep Robin alive. ...There's also a subplot involving Cal's love life...er...sex life? ...And keep in mind the Auphe are back! I loved the book. The Cal Leandros series is character-driven, and I enjoyed reuniting with half-brothers Cal and Niko and with my favorite trickster, the horny puck Robin Goodfellow. As in previous books, I loved the narrator's (Cal's) dark-snarky voice. And the author made me laugh. Repeatedly. In a very good way :) I deducted half-a-star because there were some plot solutions/resolutions I found less believable, and some motivations weren't good enough for me to justify certain actions. BUT. In spite of my nitpicking, It's a great third book. If you liked the first two books in the series, go get it!

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.

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.

Really, Mad for Cal and Niko. The Leandros brothers kick butt and take names while doing it again in book 3 of Thurman's series, which has just eeked by the Dresden Files as my favorite book series ever! Hard to beat Harry Dresden and crew, but I think the bond between Cal and Niko influenced that. As a fan of angsty fanfiction, you'll find no better family angst then what Thurman has on display with these boys. If you are a fan of the tv show Supernatural, then check these books out. You won't be disappointed. They take Supernatural and angst it times 10! Highly recommended, esp for any who enjoy the urban fantasy genre.

Madhouse is book three of the Cal Leandros series. In this book Cal and Niko face a new threat in New York City, Sawney Beane come back to life. In this manifestation Beane is a redcap who killed hundreds of people with a band of followers in Scotland before being hunted down by an army and burned at the stake. His ashes were on display at the MET, for a horror exhibit which featured Jack the Ripper and others. Somehow his body way resurrected and he escaped to once again prey on travelers. Only for him NYC is great because everyone is a "traveler" and so everyone is fair game for his next meal. On top of hunting down the insane mass murderer the brother's friend Robin Goodfellow is being hunted by assassins and is barely staying ahead of them. Robin won't tell them whose behind it. Cal suffers nasty side effects from "traveling" (his version of teleporting) in order to save Robin. The brothers make an alliance with a Central Park boggle and some werewolves to hunt Sawney. Several attempts fail to inflict damage on Sawney, and leave Cal with a huge hole in his chest from being bitten. Enter the werewolf Delilah. I wasn't such a fan of the "Cal getting laid" subplot, but it was there. I was much more interested in who was trying to kill Robin. In the end the four main characters (Cal, Niko, Rob, and Promise) come up with one final plan to try. It involves explosive bullets, Cal as the bait, and a flamethrower. Cal finally overcomes his inability to travel and is able to fight Sawney in an almost even fight. The resolution of Robin's story line wasn't as exciting as it could have been, but the person behind it all made sense. Lots of bodies and body parts hanging around at Sawney's hideout. A good solid book with a fast moving if gruesome plot. Not recommended for those who don't like a bit of horror and a lot of violence.

Another great read to add to the list. The ending was bittersweet but expected. Can't wait for next one to read.

Good book. Well written with similar detail and humor to Thurman's other books. Definitely recommend both this book and the series. If you like this style and genre you should also check out Jim Butcher if you haven't already. Both are good, and Thurman is a bit more gritty depending on your preference.

Die Halbbrüder Niko und Cal haben sich noch kaum von ihrem letzten Abenteuer erholt, bei dem sie zwar nicht mit heiler Haut, aber gerade noch mit dem Leben davongekommen sind. Cal hat noch nicht verdaut, daß jeder, der ihm nahesteht, damit zur Zielscheibe wird. Viel Zeit zum Nachdenken bleibt ihm allerdings nicht; ein uraltes Übel ist zu neuer Existenz erwacht und gibt dem Begriff Massenmord eine völlig neue Bedeutung. Als wäre das nicht schlimm genug, gerät Robin Goodfellow ins Visier eines Mörders. Bei seiner Vorgeschichte scheint die Zahl der möglichen Täter unendlich... In der dritten Folge der Serie gibt es nochmals eine erfreuliche Steigerung, was Plot, Spannung, und persönliche Entwicklung der Hauptfiguren anbelangt. Cal erzählt aus der Ich-Perspektive in zynisch-beißendem Unterton über die Erlebnisse der beiden Brüder, wobei die Anspielungen, Gags und Kabbeleien der beiden nochmal treffsicherer und unterhaltsamer werden. Bemerkenswert ist, wie sich Cal von seinem großen Bruder mit dem ausgeprägten Beschützerinstinkt beginnt abzulösen, seine eigenen Entscheidungen trifft und mit ihren Konsequenzen lebt, und wie er sich mit seiner nicht menschlichen Seite auseinandersetzt. Dies ist gut erzählt, oft witzig, manchmal auch bewegend und nachdenklich stimmend. Cal macht sich auch Gedanken über eine mögliche Partnerin; seine Abenteuer unter der enthusiastischen Unterstützung von Robin sind ein absolutes Highlight. Trotz der mehr charakterbetonten Elemente kommt der paranormale Anteil des Plots nicht zu kurz, es treten neue paranormale Wesen in Erscheinung ebenso wie alte Bekannte. Einige Wendungen sind völlig überraschend und halten die Spannung bis zum Finale auf hohem Niveau. Die Handlung schließt mit einem Cliffhanger - wer den nächsten Band schon gekauft hat, kann sich auf eine schlafarme Nacht einstellen.

As both reviews of the previous books in this series show, I am a big fan of the Cal Leandros books. I won't go over old ground here, needless to say both previous books are excellent and this novel continues this trend. This book starts off in a similar vein to the last one, whereby the brothers are on a job, albeit a relatively minor one. However after completing it they come across a number of bodies hanging in the tree's. This starts them off on the trail of Sawney Beane, a legendary Scottish serial killer from the 15th century. This part of the novel was problem my only gripe, since I live in Scotland and have never heard of him, but the way the novel portrayed him I felt like I should have known such an important part of Scottish history. But that is only a minor issue, not something that detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. There is a lot of fleshing out of characters here. Cal is currently working in a pub for other wordly creatures called the ninth circle, for a peri called Ishiah. Ishiah has a past relationship with Robin Goodfellow, and slowly we learn more about Goodfellows past through Ishiah. A sub plot deals with a mistake from Goodfellows past catching up with him, and we get to see some of his darker side. Some hints are made to Promises past as well, but nothing too revealing. But you can't help but get the feeling that more is still to come in future novels. Some of Goodfellows attraction to Niko is hinted at too, as there are a number of similarities between Niko and Ishiah. And Caliban begins to experiment with his ability to create portals. Mostly with bad results, but we begin to get a sense of the power he has access to. And also the danger of it. This is one of the things I like about Rob Thurmans novels, she consistently drives the characters forward, bit by bit, and we get to see them change from novel to novel. I also love the way she creates fantastic creatures, some of whom are based on popular mythological creatures, i.e. the Auphe and elves, and Abbagor the troll. This novel introduces us to the peri, another fantastic creation, who closely resemble Angels. However, as per Rob Thurmans usual, they are nothing like angels. Except in appearance. And of course Cal's trademark witty pessimism is back. There is also the return of a particular favourite of mine, Abbagor, and I suspect based on the encounter here and the ending of the novel he will be back again, perhaps as an ally? Although that is purely speculation on my part. Sawney Beane makes a good villian, just the right mix of crazy, violent and unkillable to make you really hate him. After the slight cliffhanger ending of the previous novel some important decisions are made in Georgina and Cal's relationship. It was about time too, however the relationship probably went in a direction most readers weren't expecting. And speaking of cliffhanger endings, this was a huge cliffhanger. I won't spoil it, but you will find yourself needing to read the next book, straight after. And that is no bad thing. It is the start of something I had suspected was coming, but was taken aback by the novel ending on this note. But really all it did was get me so excited about the next novel. I would thoroughly recommend this novel, along with all the others in the series. I count myself as a huge fan.

Der dritte Band ist nocheinmal eine Steigerung - wer hätte gedacht, dass es noch besser geht. Was als so harmloser Fall angefangen hat, steigert sich wirklich zu einem ziemlich fiesen und gemeinen Gegner, der so gar nicht geneigt zu sein scheint, sich von den smarten Jungs einfach umbringen zu lassen. Cal muss hier wieder einmal auf ein paar Fähigkeiten zurückgreifen, von denen sein Bruder (und er selbst) so gar nichts hält. Aber auch Nik macht hier ganz deutlich, wie weit er bereit wäre zu gehen, um seinen kleinen Bruder zu retten. Wer von dem Rob-Thurman-Virus befallen ist, muss hier auf die englischen Bücher zurückgreifen, eine Übersetzung ins Deutsche ist hier noch nicht einmal angekündigt. Und gleich noch eine Empfehlung, wenn ihr diesen Band kauft, dann nehmt den nächsten gleich noch mit, denn das Ende geht diesmal so nahtlos und spannend in den anderen Band über, dass das Warten sonst unerträglich wird.

I really enjoy this series from Rob Thurman. I like the brothers' relationship and the Puck makes me laugh. In this book, I was a little troubled by the way the author addressed Cal's gift. One minute he cannot use it because it makes him sick the next, he just uses it without any problem. I got the part that he can now use it because he no longer has a blockage to do so but I thought the subject was badly executed. Regardless, I enjoyed the story telling and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

If you are tired of leatherclad tattooed female heroines which seem to litter the urban fantasy bookshelves and you would like a change of scrummy things to look at, have a look at Rob Thurman's work. She's created a dark underbelly of New York, populated by supernatural creatures who rub shoulders with normal people...and if only normal people knew what lurked in the dark. This, the third book in the series (with more to come in the pipeline) is simply unput-down-able. I had to force myself to go slow, to drag out the rapidly approaching end. The characters, Cal and his brother Niko are vividly portrayed in an interesting setting with new twists on the supernatural genre. They come across as being very real in a way a lot of the urban fantasy heroines aren't - they joke, they hurt, they are sexy, kickass and totally unorthodox and incredibly moody and deadpan. Oh, the one liners - Buffy, this is the way to do it. Reading Rob's work is like like watching a Guilermo del Toro movie - anything can happen. And it does. Twice. With fangs and claws. The series starts with Nightlife and carries onto Moonshine with Madhouse being the third instalment. The first two books are equally good but I think, with Madhouse, that Rob managed to get a decent hold on the characters and it is the best book thus far in the series and knowing how hard she works to keep us, her fans happy, I'm pretty sure the rest of the series will be even better.