Nightlife (Cal Leandros, #1) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

Nov 03, 2008 Danielle The Book Huntress rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-or-autobuy-author, family, part-of-a-series, urban-fantasy, warrior, reluctant-or-unlikely-hero, 2020-action-adventure-aficionados-c, antihero, interracial-romance, 2020-dhasg-challenge

Reread completed in the month of August 2020 on audiobook.
I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook. The narrator is great. He nails all the characters, from the cynical, yet paradoxically whistful voice of Cal, to the composed, Zen, fiercely protective Niko, to the wonderful secondary character, and that awful voice of the Auphe. This is still one of my favorite urban fantasy novels. I'm excited to keep listening to these on audiobook.
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I lov Reread completed in the month of August 2020 on audiobook.
I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook. The narrator is great. He nails all the characters, from the cynical, yet paradoxically whistful voice of Cal, to the composed, Zen, fiercely protective Niko, to the wonderful secondary character, and that awful voice of the Auphe. This is still one of my favorite urban fantasy novels. I'm excited to keep listening to these on audiobook.
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I loved this book. It was very different and kept my interest in a way that a great urban fantasy should. I really fell in love with Cal and his brother Niko. I love books that show a positive view of siblings since I love my sister and get along so well with her. If you enjoy the relationship between Sam and Dean on Supernatural, you'd probably like this book for that reason. Some of the elements of their relationship bring to mind the Winchester brothers. Niko is a man that I could marry. His love for his brother was so intense and so all-consuming the way a sibling should love. I love his dedication to being the best warrior that he can so that he can protect Cal when his "other relatives" try to take him back. When he cut his hair off in grief, I just about lost it.

I enjoyed the new twist on elves, and I found the action sequences so vivid they jumped off the page at me. There were some genuinely scary moments that sent a chill down my spine (I love a good scare). I liked the noir-esque narrative, peppered with wry humor and in a voice that really sounded like a young man (I was surprised the author is a woman) who has seen more bad than good in the world. In fact, I think Cal is a great character and a real trooper considering what he has gone through and the heritage he has to face.

I love that Cal's sweet on a young woman who is biracial and can see the future (you know me and my love for interracial romance). Fans of shows like Buffy and Angel would like this book because it has the feel of these shows, but delves deeper than an hour long show can. I liked the very interesting secondary cast of characters and beasties (as a lifelong fan of folklore, I am always happy to see some of the beasties in fiction books). I loved that I actually had to look up a few like the boggle who lived in the pond in Central Park. Fans of Harry Dresden from the Jim Butcher novels and John Taylor from Simon R. Green's Nightside novels will probably like this book and consider it a book that might show what Harry and John might have been like as a young man. In the end, I just can't say enough good things about this book. I will buy every book Rob Thurman writes and particularly the Cal Leandros series. If you are an old fan of urban fantasy, a new fan, or wanting to branch out to this wonderful genre, please read this book. ...more

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Mar 14, 2009 Holly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2009, sci-fi-fantasy, favorite-authors

I'm a HUGE fan of this series. Thurman creates a world that is so easy to lose yourself in. I flew through the first 3 books in less than 2 days. ...more

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May 13, 2010 Cindy rated it liked it

Urban fantasy with an action plot. What I read of it was beautifully written but it was way too dark for me. Books that end with the cast counting the survivors don't do it for me - but if you can handle that it would probably be a great read.

Cal and Niko Leandros
1. Nightlife (2006)
2. Moonshine (2007)
3. Madhouse (2008)
4. Deathwish (2009)
5. Roadkill (2010)
6. Blackout (2011) ...more

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Jun 09, 2017 Terri rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, urban-fantasy, set-in-new-york

Cal is unusual. His father was a monster and his mother worthless. He and his brother Niko live a life on the run trying to stay away from the monsters. Only now, they have caught up with them and Cal's life is in great danger.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different and very dark and with some absolutely fasinating characters and horrifying monsters ...more

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May 07, 2010 A book away from an episode of hoarders rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2010, pnr-uf-fantasy, first-in-series, judged-by-its-cover, and-i-m-done, dropped-series

I really liked the beginning and the end was satisfying. However, I almost gave up on it about halfway through it. I liked the main characters of the story quite a bit but I thought that a few of the major supporting characters could use a little more 'fleshing out'. The middle was a little rough and didn't exactly flow but overall, it was a decent read. ...more

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