faehistory's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
wetdryvac's review against another edition
5.0
OK, that restores some faith in the series. A grim but fun run with character development.
infinite_harness9030's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rclz's review against another edition
3.0
Deathwish is the fourth book in Rob Thurman's Cal and Niko series. This was a good story but it was written with shifting perspectives and that I didn't like. I started and stopped reading this book a couple of times because of the way it was written. Only the characters kept bringing me back. Every chapter bounced back and forth between Niko and Cal. It's disconcerting when you're so use to it always being from Cal's point of view. I'll probably read the rest but most likely it will be awhile.
raven_acres's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the switching back and forth between Cal and Niko, further cementing my like of Niko. Good, brutal plot line, can't wait to see where the next books go!
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
4.0
Love the series, but not sure what I thought about the changing points of view. I like Nikos as a bit unknowable.
reginaexmachina's review against another edition
5.0
So in Deathwish, Cal and Niko are having almost as many personal problems as their usual problems. Cal discovers that he can create gates now without even trying. Promise introduces the brothers to an old vampire friend of hers named Seamus for a job. Seamus seems to believe he's being followed, but even with his vampire-heightened senses he can't seem to pinpoint by who. Niko and Promise's relationship is put on rocky status when Promise also turns out to be a not-so-proud mother of a vampire daughter. Niko doesn't mind Promise being a mother. He does however have a problem with the fact that Promise completely omitted huge parts of her life to him. Omitting the truth is pretty close to a lie to Niko, and someone who lies is someone Niko can't trust. Promise's daughter not only causes trouble with their relationship, turns out she's also stolen something from a powerful being and he's headed their way. The Auphe are still chasing the brothers too. There's only so many problems the brothers can handle before one of them begins to crack.
FINALLY we get every other chapter told from Niko's POV. I really enjoyed those chapters and it didn't decrease my undying love for him. It was interesting seeing Cal and the other characters thorough his eyes. I don't want to give too much away, but I do have to say poor Niko. Poor Cal too, but this time it's Niko's turn and that was pretty sad. I loved it though, can't wait to read the next one.
FINALLY we get every other chapter told from Niko's POV. I really enjoyed those chapters and it didn't decrease my undying love for him. It was interesting seeing Cal and the other characters thorough his eyes. I don't want to give too much away, but I do have to say poor Niko. Poor Cal too, but this time it's Niko's turn and that was pretty sad. I loved it though, can't wait to read the next one.
paperbackstash's review against another edition
3.0
"People on Dr. Phil have issues. We have atomic-powered, demon-flavored, fresh-from-the-pits-of-hell, full-blowing fucking neuroses. Freud would've been in a corner sucking his thumb after one session with us."
I've now read four books in this series, and the same issue remains for me. It's a unique series that offers a different groove of Urban Fantasy tropes: male lead; two brothers fighting against the world; a dark, demented elfish race; lack of strong romantic interest for the male lead; no supernatural powers for the lead. Despite all these interesting changes compared to other books I've read in the same genre, my interest - while there - will only stay there on an average level. Again I'm not sure of the issue because the book checks off some positive points.
First, the writing is well-done. Rob Thurman injects sarcastic humor in the internal monologue and convincing dialogue while still keeping it gritty and dark. The style is almost choppy but it keeps things flowing without much lag or issue.
Characters are well-done - Cal stands out as the loner of the group dragged through life with his brothers support, worried about the darkness inside taking over the good, appreciating (and probably only surviving) because of his brothers faith in him. Niko is a favorite of many readers, but for me in the previous books he's almost two one-dimensional bad-ass goody-two-shoes. That changed a little in this installment since Thurman decided to evenly alternate chapter POV. Now I could be inside his head and, while he's still a little one-dimensional, he comes across sympathetic. Unfortunately switching point of views like that isn't my preferred method - I prefer either first-person all the way or third person.
Promise is an interesting sort for a vampire but nothing not seen or done before. Robin is always a laugh as a puck who drinks, orgies and does what good pucks do. His humor and admitted cowardice is a welcome opposite of Niko's no-nonsense full battle and honnor approach.
Villains are always nasty and where the dark stuff seeps in. I can picture the world as dark and bluesy kind of like Gotham city in the Batman mythos. You know it's not a light, fun and shiny place they live in. From the smoke-laded and werewolf-frequented bars Cal works in, to the underground tunnels and creepy water borders and deep in the museum with the monsters, darkness reigns.
The Auphe are creepy and the author keeps introducing different cycles without dragging the storyline out. In the first book they loomed at the high danger when young Cal is absorbed into their earth's gate and escapes, and the second follows them to the new city and life. They popped up as a cliffhanger at the end of the third after a major battle, but it looks like some survived for a different kind of stand in the fourth book.
The story is intriguing and the pacing okay, but my interest ultimately hovers at a three stars "I like it" rating. I think some of the issue is the story is feeling a little repetitive now - Cal has kept the same issues for all the books, much of the same dialogue exchanges between him and Niko on not giving it up, they are still battling monsters for money and survival in the same environment.
I've now read four books in this series, and the same issue remains for me. It's a unique series that offers a different groove of Urban Fantasy tropes: male lead; two brothers fighting against the world; a dark, demented elfish race; lack of strong romantic interest for the male lead; no supernatural powers for the lead. Despite all these interesting changes compared to other books I've read in the same genre, my interest - while there - will only stay there on an average level. Again I'm not sure of the issue because the book checks off some positive points.
First, the writing is well-done. Rob Thurman injects sarcastic humor in the internal monologue and convincing dialogue while still keeping it gritty and dark. The style is almost choppy but it keeps things flowing without much lag or issue.
Characters are well-done - Cal stands out as the loner of the group dragged through life with his brothers support, worried about the darkness inside taking over the good, appreciating (and probably only surviving) because of his brothers faith in him. Niko is a favorite of many readers, but for me in the previous books he's almost two one-dimensional bad-ass goody-two-shoes. That changed a little in this installment since Thurman decided to evenly alternate chapter POV. Now I could be inside his head and, while he's still a little one-dimensional, he comes across sympathetic. Unfortunately switching point of views like that isn't my preferred method - I prefer either first-person all the way or third person.
Promise is an interesting sort for a vampire but nothing not seen or done before. Robin is always a laugh as a puck who drinks, orgies and does what good pucks do. His humor and admitted cowardice is a welcome opposite of Niko's no-nonsense full battle and honnor approach.
Villains are always nasty and where the dark stuff seeps in. I can picture the world as dark and bluesy kind of like Gotham city in the Batman mythos. You know it's not a light, fun and shiny place they live in. From the smoke-laded and werewolf-frequented bars Cal works in, to the underground tunnels and creepy water borders and deep in the museum with the monsters, darkness reigns.
The Auphe are creepy and the author keeps introducing different cycles without dragging the storyline out. In the first book they loomed at the high danger when young Cal is absorbed into their earth's gate and escapes, and the second follows them to the new city and life. They popped up as a cliffhanger at the end of the third after a major battle, but it looks like some survived for a different kind of stand in the fourth book.
The story is intriguing and the pacing okay, but my interest ultimately hovers at a three stars "I like it" rating. I think some of the issue is the story is feeling a little repetitive now - Cal has kept the same issues for all the books, much of the same dialogue exchanges between him and Niko on not giving it up, they are still battling monsters for money and survival in the same environment.
brittaniethekid's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great addition to the series with some new characters and some great details about old characters. I hope this isn't the last of the series!
The big difference is every other chapter is told from Niko's point of view which we've never seen before. You get to know a lot more about him this book and see that he's really not as different from Cal as Cal says.
The big difference is every other chapter is told from Niko's point of view which we've never seen before. You get to know a lot more about him this book and see that he's really not as different from Cal as Cal says.
thekillingedge's review against another edition
4.0
I've actually owned this book since it was released but never got around to reading it. I'm not entirely sure why since I did like the series.
When I finally started reading this, I wound up putting it down before I even reached page 90 and read three books before picking this up again. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it?
What I liked most about this was the change in PoV from Cal to Niko. I can't recall if the author did this in any of the other books but it really worked here. We also see that Niko is not actually perfect and he is not indestructible. The brother relationship really shines in this book; we get to see Cal's willingness to do what is best for the world, Niko's refusal to let that happen, Cal's terror at nearly losing his brother, and Niko's real obsession with trust and the truth. This book gave the characters a depth that I hadn't seen before.
Maybe I will run out and pick up the fifth book soon.
When I finally started reading this, I wound up putting it down before I even reached page 90 and read three books before picking this up again. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it?
What I liked most about this was the change in PoV from Cal to Niko. I can't recall if the author did this in any of the other books but it really worked here. We also see that Niko is not actually perfect and he is not indestructible. The brother relationship really shines in this book; we get to see Cal's willingness to do what is best for the world, Niko's refusal to let that happen, Cal's terror at nearly losing his brother, and Niko's real obsession with trust and the truth. This book gave the characters a depth that I hadn't seen before.
Maybe I will run out and pick up the fifth book soon.