Nevermore

The middling 10th entry in Thurman's urban fantasy series (following 2014’s Downfall) finds Caliban “Cal” Leandros, half-man, half-monster, targeted by the Vigil, a paranormal watchdog group, for breaking its primary rule for all paranormal species: staying hidden. When the attempt to take him out fails, the Vigil sends its assassin, called Lazarus, back in time to kill 18-year-old Cal. The older Cal follows Lazarus, but finds that warning his younger self is easier said than done. For extra protection, Cal contacts the younger version of his good friend Robin Goodfellow, a charming used-car salesman who is really a long-lived paranormal creature known as a puck. But will they be strong enough to kill Lazarus, who draws his power from an unimaginable source? With the number of supernatural aspects to this overstuffed paranormal world, this novel is definitely not the jumping-off point for the uninitiated. There’s more mythology rehashing than action, which can be wearying. But fans of the series will welcome the return of wisecracking, pop culture–referencing Cal. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency (Dec.)