The setting is New York City where the supernatural lifestyle has become the norm. In a world full of mummies, giant rats, vampires, and other various monsters, humans have become almost irrelevant. In the fantasy book titled Deathwish by Rob Thurman, the main characters are the Leandros brothers, Cal and Niko, who are on the run from Cal’s demon lord father and his minions. Cal Leandros is half-human and half-Auphe demon, while his older brother is human. As you can imagine, this leads to unavoidable conflicts, misunderstandings, and even disaster.

The book opens with Cal and Niko being approached by Seamus, a vampire sent to them by Promise, Niko’s girlfriend. Seamus seeks Cal and Niko’s help because he believes he’s being followed. But Seamus isn’t totally forthcoming and doesn’t quite give Cal and Niko the whole story. You see the Vigil (a watchdog organization responsible for cleaning up supernatural problems) are watching Seamus because they believe he wants to reveal himself (and other creatures) to the human race. Their mission is to keep humans and monsters separated. On top of that they learn that Promise’s daughter, Cherish (a thief and a con artist), stole something from a creature who’s now in town to retrieve it.

This is far from the end of their troubles, though. The story hits another turn when the brothers discover that the Auphes are back looking for Cal. Between the Auphe and their constant desire to capture and kill Cal, the Vigil, and the theft the brothers have their hands full.

What makes this fantasy book truly stand out is the great character development amidst all the different events. Cal is portrayed as a young male struggling with his Auphe side. Disdain for the race and frustration at his identity make him a tangible character and show the reader that he isn’t just another hard-headed, perfect protagonist. Niko on the other hand, is a meditative human with inner strength. He has exceptional fighting and weaponry skills, belying his outer calm. Niko is the head, and Cal is the heart of this family, and they battle many forces to restore peace in their hometown. Aside from these main characters, we see a glimpse inside Niko’s vampire girlfriend, Cherish, and various other supernatural characters.

Deathwish, the fourth book in the Cal Leandros fantasy book series, is action-packed with a plot that unfolds rapidly. Along with numerous twists and turns and dark humor, the bounty of unique characters makes this book an intense read. Deathwish is another wonderful addition to Thurman’s popular fantasy book series. Get Deathwish from your favorite online bookseller.

See also Fantasy Books for Guys – Nightlife by Rob Thurman