paulataua's review
3.0
Stefan is rising in the ranks of the mafia but has never forgotten Lucas, the brother who was kidnapped as a child. Whatever money Stefan earns is put into searching for him. When he finds him and rescues him from a compound where he is being held , he realizes that Lucas is now a genetically altered killer. As they go on the run, Stefan realizes that Lucas’s creators are in close pursuit. An interesting enough idea and a well written novel, but I soon realized that short description above, which all happens in the first few chapters (and is more less all there on the book blurb) is about all there is. What followed played out as expected and it became a fairly ordinary action story.
sneakyawe's review
4.0
While the book itself is lovely, the ending is what sold me on this author. Very happy with this one!
minotaursmaze's review
4.0
Enjoyable book Thurman always writes sibling relationships the way we all wish they really were.
But usually aren't, really good twists looking forward to the next book.
But usually aren't, really good twists looking forward to the next book.
chrissy_1010's review
5.0
One of a kind, mind-blowing and heart-warming story about dedication, duty, guilt, loyalty, love… and hope; about what makes us human and what makes us monsters; about family and blood and about a bond that is stronger than anything else in the world. Rob Thurman’s unique, bold and witty style of writing will captivate you, the fast-paced, action packed plot won’t allow you to catch your breath and the expression “one more chapter” will take on a whole new meaning while you join the Korsak brothers on their journey. Their adventure (while they are on the run from the Institute and the Russian Mafia) will bring a smile on your face and you won’t see the tears coming once you reach the very last pages.
Stefan Korsak’s life shattered into piece when he lost his younger brother while riding horses on the beach, nearby their family home. Even though ever since that fateful moment he’s been trying to put them back together, he’s never been able to do so because the most important piece has been missing for ten years – his brother Lukas. With a sheer determination and unshakable belief that Lukas is still out there, Stefan never gives up on searching for him even when their father – Anatoly Korsak - abandons both of them. Once one of the most powerful figures in the Russian mob and now only a fading memory of greatness, Anatoly is in hiding not only from the authorities, but from his own flesh and blood as well.
Despite the fact that Stefan had never wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, he realises that being a part of the Russian mob benefits his search for Lukas financially. Tirelessly he puts all of his effort, resources and energy into getting his brother back despite the years that have passed since Lukas’ abduction on the beach. When he finally finds him, however, Stefan is forced to face the fact that Lukas is not the same person that he remembers – different name, different personality, different memories… But there is one thing that is familiar about this seventeen-year-old boy that Stefan saves – his eyes, one green, one blue - the same eyes his brother had.
Even though Michael tries to tell him that there is a very simple explanation about his bicolour eyes, Stefan refuses to listen because this is the only thing that he has left from Lukas and he clutches to it like a drowning man at a straw. Even though Michael is adamant that this is one big misunderstanding and he is not the long-lost brother that Stefan is so desperate to find, Stefan never stops believing that he has finally, after all those years, found Lukas. He gives him the nickname Misha, which symbolises Michael’s freedom to create his own personality and to find out who he really is while Stefan teaches him to embrace the world that he has been denied the right to live in for so long.
Told from Stefan’s POV, it is impossible not to feel the pain of his loss while reading through the lines, the guilt that suffocates him and the hope that gives his life meaning when he is eventually able to break Misha out of Institute. The connection that he builds with Misha while on the road is deep, emotional and real. There is no doubt how easy it is to relate to Stefan’s feelings and before you know it, they are your own; and before you know it, you are in love with that kid, who has ‘theoretical’ knowledge about everything and demolishes junk food like there is a black hole in his stomach. And before you know it, you reach the ending, which makes a perfect sense (of course), but you wish it didn’t and you don’t want to believe it, and just like Stefan you choose to accept what you know is true in your heart, not in your head.
Chimera was the first book, written by Rob Thurman, which I stumbled across quite some time ago and the only book in my personal library, which I have re-read over and over and over again (and which I will keep going back to). There is something about it that gets me every single time and this is why I love it so much. Personally, I like the fact that the sci-fi element is not overwhelming and does not take down the brothers’ relationship from the pedestal, which I believe is the core element and the heart of Chimera. I completely respect the balance, which Thurman has created and for me it works incredibly well.
Stefan Korsak’s life shattered into piece when he lost his younger brother while riding horses on the beach, nearby their family home. Even though ever since that fateful moment he’s been trying to put them back together, he’s never been able to do so because the most important piece has been missing for ten years – his brother Lukas. With a sheer determination and unshakable belief that Lukas is still out there, Stefan never gives up on searching for him even when their father – Anatoly Korsak - abandons both of them. Once one of the most powerful figures in the Russian mob and now only a fading memory of greatness, Anatoly is in hiding not only from the authorities, but from his own flesh and blood as well.
Despite the fact that Stefan had never wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, he realises that being a part of the Russian mob benefits his search for Lukas financially. Tirelessly he puts all of his effort, resources and energy into getting his brother back despite the years that have passed since Lukas’ abduction on the beach. When he finally finds him, however, Stefan is forced to face the fact that Lukas is not the same person that he remembers – different name, different personality, different memories… But there is one thing that is familiar about this seventeen-year-old boy that Stefan saves – his eyes, one green, one blue - the same eyes his brother had.
Even though Michael tries to tell him that there is a very simple explanation about his bicolour eyes, Stefan refuses to listen because this is the only thing that he has left from Lukas and he clutches to it like a drowning man at a straw. Even though Michael is adamant that this is one big misunderstanding and he is not the long-lost brother that Stefan is so desperate to find, Stefan never stops believing that he has finally, after all those years, found Lukas. He gives him the nickname Misha, which symbolises Michael’s freedom to create his own personality and to find out who he really is while Stefan teaches him to embrace the world that he has been denied the right to live in for so long.
Told from Stefan’s POV, it is impossible not to feel the pain of his loss while reading through the lines, the guilt that suffocates him and the hope that gives his life meaning when he is eventually able to break Misha out of Institute. The connection that he builds with Misha while on the road is deep, emotional and real. There is no doubt how easy it is to relate to Stefan’s feelings and before you know it, they are your own; and before you know it, you are in love with that kid, who has ‘theoretical’ knowledge about everything and demolishes junk food like there is a black hole in his stomach. And before you know it, you reach the ending, which makes a perfect sense (of course), but you wish it didn’t and you don’t want to believe it, and just like Stefan you choose to accept what you know is true in your heart, not in your head.
Chimera was the first book, written by Rob Thurman, which I stumbled across quite some time ago and the only book in my personal library, which I have re-read over and over and over again (and which I will keep going back to). There is something about it that gets me every single time and this is why I love it so much. Personally, I like the fact that the sci-fi element is not overwhelming and does not take down the brothers’ relationship from the pedestal, which I believe is the core element and the heart of Chimera. I completely respect the balance, which Thurman has created and for me it works incredibly well.
tita_noir's review
4.0
I don't think I've read another author who does pure sibling love quite as affecting as Rob Thurman. Like the Cal Leandros series, this series features two brothers in an us-against-the-world scenario. Also like that series, the thing that stands out -- beyond the plot, beyond the darkly biting humor --- is the brotherly devotion.
7-year old Lukas was kidnapped as a child on Christmas while he and his older brother 14 year old Stefan had snuck out of a boring family party to ride their horses on the beach. Stefan never forgot that day. It shaped his life to the point where everything he did, everything he became had just one purpose -- to get his brother back.
Against all odds he manages that. He discovers a super-secret, super secure facility where Lukas has been kept for 10 years. In a plan that is exciting and nerve wracking, he manages in grand fashion to bust his brother out. Only Lukas is not at all anything that Stefan could have expected.
The soft spoken teenager has been trained and genetically engineered to be the perfect, versatile weapon. Lukas, who insists on being called Michael, doesn't know what to make of Stefan either. But as the two go on the lam from both the sinister scientists and the Russian Mafia (the mafia is the Korsak family business and there was a slight mis-understanding that Stefan hasn't had time to clear up) Michael slowly begins to realize what it is like to have that one person who will do anything to keep him safe both in mind and body.
The story is equal measures action/adventure fun, poignant family drama and over-the-top science fiction, complete with scary little kids who can kill with just a touch and back-stabbing, gun wielding mob-men. But it is also quick witted, deftly plotted and full of sharp, biting humor and jokey one-liners. It is nice to see Michael slowly open up and learn to trust Stefan and it is awesome to watch how absolutely relentless Stefan is in getting, keeping and protecting his brother.
Can't wait to read the next one where I know they are going to tangle with a super scary pre-teen killer named Wendy.
7-year old Lukas was kidnapped as a child on Christmas while he and his older brother 14 year old Stefan had snuck out of a boring family party to ride their horses on the beach. Stefan never forgot that day. It shaped his life to the point where everything he did, everything he became had just one purpose -- to get his brother back.
Against all odds he manages that. He discovers a super-secret, super secure facility where Lukas has been kept for 10 years. In a plan that is exciting and nerve wracking, he manages in grand fashion to bust his brother out. Only Lukas is not at all anything that Stefan could have expected.
The soft spoken teenager has been trained and genetically engineered to be the perfect, versatile weapon. Lukas, who insists on being called Michael, doesn't know what to make of Stefan either. But as the two go on the lam from both the sinister scientists and the Russian Mafia (the mafia is the Korsak family business and there was a slight mis-understanding that Stefan hasn't had time to clear up) Michael slowly begins to realize what it is like to have that one person who will do anything to keep him safe both in mind and body.
The story is equal measures action/adventure fun, poignant family drama and over-the-top science fiction, complete with scary little kids who can kill with just a touch and back-stabbing, gun wielding mob-men. But it is also quick witted, deftly plotted and full of sharp, biting humor and jokey one-liners. It is nice to see Michael slowly open up and learn to trust Stefan and it is awesome to watch how absolutely relentless Stefan is in getting, keeping and protecting his brother.
Can't wait to read the next one where I know they are going to tangle with a super scary pre-teen killer named Wendy.
reginaexmachina's review
4.0
I was a little worried about this book since I love Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series to itty bitty pieces. However, I wasn't impressed with her Trickster book. Thankfully, I thought it was definitely the same caliber as her Cal books.
It starts off where you meet Stefan, a young man who's father was involved with the Russian mafia and soon followed in his fathers footsteps. He hasn't exactly climbed very high in the ladder though and does simple bodyguard duty for a local boss in Florida. But what keeps Stefan going is really Lukas, his younger brother. The thing is though, Lukas has been missing for around ten years. One Christmas they were playing around as kids and the next moment Lukas is gone. Stefan keeps searching even though his father's given up long ago. By a stroke of luck one of the men Stefan's hired to help the search finds a lead. Miraculously Stefan seems to have found his long lost brother. But those ten years have changed Lukas in unimaginable ways. His past in the mafia will soon be put to good use when he's soon not only on the run from his brother's kidnappers but from the mafia as well.
The book starts out slow but builds in pace. It had some really great fight scenes with Stefan trying to keep Lukas safe too. Towards the end it slowed down again and lagged a bit but the ending was great. You may be like me and figure it out too, but there's a little twist to the end. Not bad, but to me it seemed well hinted at. I've been hearing the author say that her sales aren't doing well lately and needs this book to do well for her to continue writing. I picked this book up the day it was out to support her and I wasn't disappointed. It had great action and the author's signature snarky dialogue. I'm crossing my fingers that it does well because I'd love to read a sequel. I highly recommend it to people who've liked her Cal Leandros series, or to fellow urban fantasy fans who haven't tried her yet.
It starts off where you meet Stefan, a young man who's father was involved with the Russian mafia and soon followed in his fathers footsteps. He hasn't exactly climbed very high in the ladder though and does simple bodyguard duty for a local boss in Florida. But what keeps Stefan going is really Lukas, his younger brother. The thing is though, Lukas has been missing for around ten years. One Christmas they were playing around as kids and the next moment Lukas is gone. Stefan keeps searching even though his father's given up long ago. By a stroke of luck one of the men Stefan's hired to help the search finds a lead. Miraculously Stefan seems to have found his long lost brother. But those ten years have changed Lukas in unimaginable ways. His past in the mafia will soon be put to good use when he's soon not only on the run from his brother's kidnappers but from the mafia as well.
The book starts out slow but builds in pace. It had some really great fight scenes with Stefan trying to keep Lukas safe too. Towards the end it slowed down again and lagged a bit but the ending was great. You may be like me and figure it out too, but there's a little twist to the end. Not bad, but to me it seemed well hinted at. I've been hearing the author say that her sales aren't doing well lately and needs this book to do well for her to continue writing. I picked this book up the day it was out to support her and I wasn't disappointed. It had great action and the author's signature snarky dialogue. I'm crossing my fingers that it does well because I'd love to read a sequel. I highly recommend it to people who've liked her Cal Leandros series, or to fellow urban fantasy fans who haven't tried her yet.
imitira's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. Not quite bad enough to stop reading, and short enough to finish for lack of anything better to do. Entirely character-driven, a touch of suspense and violence, and a well-telegraphed plot twist wrapping up a lacklustre climax and lead-in to a potential sequel. Don't pass up the chance to floss your cat instead.