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100 Things 四
May. 3rd, 2012 08:25 pmIf you like Supernatural, read this. If you don't (and I hadn't at the time), read it anyway:
Nightlife by Ron Thurman.
One-Sentence Review If You're Pressed For Time (Or Just Lazy): Cal is half human, half monster, and has spent most of his life running from his supernatural side of the family; he and his brother Niko are hiding out in NYC and doing bodyguard work for more civilized monsters to make ends meet when things get messy.
Why It's Awesome: My other favorite pair of emotionally codependent supernatural-hunting brothers star in this fabulous series (yes, it's a series, and again, relax--the first five novels are basically standalone). Cal is a hilarious and very likable narrator, snarky and sarcastic to a fault as well as very fond of guns and things that go boom. His big brother Niko (who is 100% human--let's just say both boys have serious mommy issues) is a freakishly smart Zen ninja badass who has trained himself and Cal relentlessly to keep them both alive. Their dynamic ranges from funny to heartwarming; they would die for each other in a heartbeat but still yank each other's chains like no one else can.
The side characters are plenty of fun. There's Robin Goodfellow, an immortal puck who has been around since the dawn of time and screwed pretty much every historical/Biblical/mythological figure you can think of (he claims to have cowritten the Kama Sutra and that tells you pretty much everything you need to know); he enjoys pissing Cal off and trying to get into Niko's pants. Promise is an elegant and well-mannered vampire, an occasional client of the boys. Boggle is a giant mud monster who eats stray joggers in Central Park, George is a serene young psychic, and Rafferty is a healer with no concept of bedside manner. The list goes on.
Moving on to the villains. You have your minor antagonists like Boggle, then bigger and creepier problems like the tentacle-covered troll living (where else?) under the Brooklyn Bridge. And then you have the Auphe, the terrifying supernatural half of Cal's lineage. They are the earth's first monsters, a story other monsters tell their children to make them behave, essentially the inventors of torture and killing. Humans have overrun what they consider their global hunting ground, but they have a plan to get it back and it hinges on Cal.
This book is an insanely quick read. The plot moves along at a fast pace, and Cal's typically caustic inner monologue always keeps things interesting. There's also a handful of well-timed "aww" moments between the brothers--in fact, one of the best facets of the book is Cal and Niko's relationship. They play off each other beautifully. And of course there are plot twists galore; some you might see coming, but some will definitely provoke a "WHAT THE FUDGEBISCUITS JUST HAPPENED" reaction.
Okay, Fine, Here's The Downside: If you're looking for deep and meaningful literature that requires tons of thought and deciphering of metaphors, don't look for it here. There's a good plot and a lot of emotion, but Nightlife won't be making English class required reading lists anytime soon. It's entertainment, and you will certainly be entertained--which I guess isn't a downside after all.
And Now For Something Completely Different:
Stripped (Shiny Toy Guns)
metropolis has nothing on this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQyb_zV51HM&list=PL0C12FDA7138DC142&index=5&feature=plpp_video
Nightlife by Ron Thurman.
One-Sentence Review If You're Pressed For Time (Or Just Lazy): Cal is half human, half monster, and has spent most of his life running from his supernatural side of the family; he and his brother Niko are hiding out in NYC and doing bodyguard work for more civilized monsters to make ends meet when things get messy.
Why It's Awesome: My other favorite pair of emotionally codependent supernatural-hunting brothers star in this fabulous series (yes, it's a series, and again, relax--the first five novels are basically standalone). Cal is a hilarious and very likable narrator, snarky and sarcastic to a fault as well as very fond of guns and things that go boom. His big brother Niko (who is 100% human--let's just say both boys have serious mommy issues) is a freakishly smart Zen ninja badass who has trained himself and Cal relentlessly to keep them both alive. Their dynamic ranges from funny to heartwarming; they would die for each other in a heartbeat but still yank each other's chains like no one else can.
The side characters are plenty of fun. There's Robin Goodfellow, an immortal puck who has been around since the dawn of time and screwed pretty much every historical/Biblical/mythological figure you can think of (he claims to have cowritten the Kama Sutra and that tells you pretty much everything you need to know); he enjoys pissing Cal off and trying to get into Niko's pants. Promise is an elegant and well-mannered vampire, an occasional client of the boys. Boggle is a giant mud monster who eats stray joggers in Central Park, George is a serene young psychic, and Rafferty is a healer with no concept of bedside manner. The list goes on.
Moving on to the villains. You have your minor antagonists like Boggle, then bigger and creepier problems like the tentacle-covered troll living (where else?) under the Brooklyn Bridge. And then you have the Auphe, the terrifying supernatural half of Cal's lineage. They are the earth's first monsters, a story other monsters tell their children to make them behave, essentially the inventors of torture and killing. Humans have overrun what they consider their global hunting ground, but they have a plan to get it back and it hinges on Cal.
This book is an insanely quick read. The plot moves along at a fast pace, and Cal's typically caustic inner monologue always keeps things interesting. There's also a handful of well-timed "aww" moments between the brothers--in fact, one of the best facets of the book is Cal and Niko's relationship. They play off each other beautifully. And of course there are plot twists galore; some you might see coming, but some will definitely provoke a "WHAT THE FUDGEBISCUITS JUST HAPPENED" reaction.
Okay, Fine, Here's The Downside: If you're looking for deep and meaningful literature that requires tons of thought and deciphering of metaphors, don't look for it here. There's a good plot and a lot of emotion, but Nightlife won't be making English class required reading lists anytime soon. It's entertainment, and you will certainly be entertained--which I guess isn't a downside after all.
And Now For Something Completely Different:
Stripped (Shiny Toy Guns)
metropolis has nothing on this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQyb_zV51HM&list=PL0C12FDA7138DC142&index=5&feature=plpp_video
