Moonshine

I meant to post this before I went off to sulk, but it ended up, like a lot of stuff I meant to do, as hell's road pavement.

Moonshine, Rob Thurman's second novel, debuted back at the beginning of March, and more than keeps the promise that began with book one, Nightlife. As novels go it's very edgy, with lots of surprises that I didn't see coming. Subtle things change with Cal and Nik, how they work together and relate to each other, which I thought made the book. I fell hard in love with Nik this time around, which I didn't expect to because I didn't much like him in the first novel. Cal continues to develop as a protagonist in dark and mysterious ways. George . . . well, let me not spoil that plot thread.

From a technical standpoint, let me shake my fangirl pom poms for the way Rob shifts story gears in this one. It's extremely hard to go from nonstop action pacing to deeper, more introspective moments and then back again without jarring the reader. Rob does this so well you don't even notice it, and that, folks, is quite the transmission.

Moonshine is a high-intensity dark fantasy adventure, with amazing characterizations and a thrill-ride storyline. I loved it, and I think Rob Thurman is one of the most original and talented new writers I've read in years. Expect great things from this series and its author.

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name a a book or an author who's recently thrilled you (or if you're in a boring book rut, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, March 30, 2007. I'll draw five names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned copy of Moonshine by Rob Thurman. Bonus: if you've not yet read Nightlife, I'll throw in an unsigned copy of that one, too. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.