Madhouse (Cal Leandros Series #3)
4.5
82
5
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780451461964 |
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| Publisher: | Penguin Publishing Group |
| Publication date: | 02/26/2008 |
| Series: | Cal Leandros Series , #3 |
| Pages: | 352 |
| Sales rank: | 298,993 |
| Product dimensions: | 4.30(w) x 6.80(h) x 0.90(d) |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Madhouse (Cal and Niko Series #3)
4.5 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
82 reviews.
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I loved the first two books, but this one just wasn't as good because the story wasn't as strong -- probably because there wasn't as much at stake as in the first two. In Book 1, the mystery of Cal's life was revealed and in book 2 the love of his life was kidnapped. In this one, there's a horrible demon on the loose in NY, but there's nothing really that much on the line (well, except Cal's virginity...) Still the writing is great and Cal's narrative continues to be engaging. There's also a tantalizing glimpse at the end of the book that might lead back to the central narrative that made the first two so darn good...
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So much more fun than the last one, probably because Cal was actually participating in his life instead of unconsciously trying to end it. I did figure out who the big bads were within a couple of chapters of starting, but that didn't bother me since I read these more for the journey than the destination. Niko was fun, Promise actually spoke occasionally, and Robin emoted in non-leering ways -- I'm really enjoying watching his character evolve. Also, Ishiah - squee!I wish I hadn't put myself on a no-buy, because I really want to pick up the next book post-haste!
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For me 2 stars means ok book. 1 star means good to read once probably not again. If i dont give it any stars then its not worth your time. (Though I have a lot of books that are on here that I haven't gone back to rate yet!)This like the others is an ok book. Thurman has improved over the past 2 novels, but she still needs work on how she writes. The prose or sentence structure is just difficult to read. That said, Thurman has great ideas, an engaging plot, and very interesting characters. Character development is pretty decent too. Also Thurman basically takes a Grimm's fairy tale approach to everything and makes anything the brothers come across really really dark. Nothing is light and fluffy in this world. If your looking for a decent dark urban fantasy this is for you. (I can generally sit down and read a 300 page paperback in a few hours. This series takes a few days to read. Hard to read straight through.)
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The Leadros brothers have faced Auphe, vampires, trolls and boggles, but their most deadly opponent, Sawney Bean (cannibalistic mass murderer of legend) has returned from the dead and is loose in New York. To make things a bit more interesting, an unknown assassin is targeting Cal and Niko's friend, Robin Goodfellow, using monsters of Middle Eastern myth. Rob Thurman continues to create a gritty, realistic fantasy world full of action, humor and emotion in this third installment in the adventures of Cal and Niko Leadros. The characters are well-developed and have believable strengths and weaknesses, while the plot is fast-paced, detailed and contains enough twists to keep the reader avidly scouring pages through the last chapter. Keep an eye out for this up and coming fantasy author. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy the Dresden Files and similar novels.
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In this installment of life among the conflicted and angst-ridden of New York City's supernatural set, the Brothers Leandros are confronted by the legendary mass killer Swaney Beane, come back from the ashes to continue his havoc-strewn career of murder. At least this isn't when Cal & Niko aren't trying to keep Robin Goodfellow alive from a probably richly-deserved series of assasination attempts. One also Cal doing his damdest to drive off Georgiana for her own good, in the grim expectation that the Auphe aren't done with him yet; and they're not.Also, having just discovered that the author is a she (duh!), I have to admit that it makes me more impressed with the series. I figured that it would take a male writer to do such a good job of capturing the flavor of the brother/brother relationship.
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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.
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Thurman does not disappoint in this third installment of the series. Excellent character development, turn page plotting, the ability to set the mundane turn of every day life against a backdrop of chaos and unique characters make this series a roller-coaster of a ride.
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