Trick of the Light (Trickster, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rob Thurman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2012

View our feature on Rob Thurman’s Trick of the Light.

When Trixa learns of a powerful artifact known as the Light of Life, she knows she’s hit the jackpot. Both sides—angel and demon—would give anything for it. But first she has to find it. And as Heaven and Hell ready for an apocalyptic throwdown, Trixa must decide where her true loyalty lies, and what she’s ready to fight for. Because in her world, if you line up on the wrong side, you pay with more than your life…

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Trixa Iktomi, Las Vegas bar owner, information broker and down-to-earth grad of the school of hard knocks, sasses her way into and out of trouble while avenging her brother's death in Thurman's supernatural series launch. Angels and associates of Eden House, an earthly company that employs human demon hunters with psychic talents, face off against demonic fallen angels who eat souls to gain strength. When she gets news of the Light of Life, an impenetrable shield that could protect heaven or hell from attack, Trixa and her Native American bartender, Leo Rain, are determined to locate it before the demons can. Their particular nemesis is Solomon, a handsome demon with an eye on the lovely Trixa. Thurman (Madhouse) breaks little new ground, but urban fantasy fans will find this a pleasant, unsurprising comfort read. (Sept.)
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About the Author

Rob, short for Robyn (yes, he is really a she) Thurman lives in Indiana, land of rolling hills and cows, deer, and wild turkeys. Many, many turkeys. She is also the author of the Cal Leandros Series: Nightlife, Moonshine, Madhouse, and Deathwish; has a story in the anthology Wolfsbane and Mistletoe; and is the author of Trick of the Light, the first book in the Trickster series.

Besides wild, ravenous turkeys, she has a dog (if you don’t have a dog, how do you live?)—one hundred pounds of Siberian husky. He looks like a wolf, has paws the size of a person’s hand, ice blue eyes, teeth out of a Godzilla movies, and the ferocious habit of hiding under the kitchen table and peeing on himself when strangers come by. Fortunately, she has another dog that is a little more invested in keeping the food source alive. By the way, the dogs were adopted from shelters. They were fully grown, already housetrained, and grateful as hell. Think about it next time you’re looking for a Rover or Fluffy.

For updates, teasers, deleted scenes, and various other extras, visit Rob Thurman's website and her LiveJournal.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Roc (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451462882
• ISBN-13: 978-0451462886
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #673,911 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A twist that felt a bit too tricksy, October 6, 2009

By 

Silence Dogoode "Supernatural book lover" (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trick of the Light (Trickster, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Rob Thurman has some serious urban fantasy chops with the Caliban Leandros series, so when I saw Trick of the Light on the new books shelf I was on it. But unlike the majority of readers I found this one to be a bit disappointing. Throughout most of the book I felt like something just had not quite gelled with the main character -- she seemed to be missing some component that would bring her to life for me. Or I would settle for a component that helped suspend disbelief, pull me into her story. I really did not find either quality, and I found the tricky ending to be frustrating. I felt like I had been played in a way, reading through the book, plowing along to hopefully get to a great finish maybe, since the story felt so thin to me. It's hard to write a complete review without putting in a spoiler, but I don't want to be more specific as obviously plenty of other people enjoyed the story. So, I'll put it this way, if you do not care for deux ex machina type endings, this book may not be for you. And for those who might lean the other way and say what good is urban fantasy/mystery without some twists and turns? I say twists and turns occur through the plots and surprises, but it seems a bit unfair to reveal major changes to not just one, but three main characters, all within the final pages of the book. I really wanted to like this book, too. I still think Rob Thurman is a strong author in this genre, and I definitely will read the next book in the Cal Leandros series.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "One deceit needs many others, and so the whole house is built in the air and must soon come to the ground", October 21, 2009

By 

cynicalpink (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trick of the Light (Trickster, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Felt like a good quote was needed for a subject header. Forgive me that one. :)

I agree with the majority of complaints and praise given by the other three star reviewers (in particular, Anthrophile's). Like everyone else, I decided to give TotL a try because of my absolute love for the Leandros series.

In a previous review I did (for Thurman's "Nightlife"), I mentioned that the Leandros books are golden if the voice of the narrator is one that you can enjoy. If not, well... Cal Leandros is a pretty strong character; you really get a sense of his personality and beliefs from even the most mundane of comments, so if you don't like his tone, the story might be a long haul for you.

The same holds true for our latest protagonist - Trixa. Her personality comes through in just about everything she says. Things are rarely spoken or described without a flavor of sarcasm, deceit, or a healthy boast of self-confidence. However, while I liked Cal's voice, I wasn't as fond of Trixa's. In the moments when she remarked about her faults (whether as a joke, or to give the readers a few flaws with which they could relate), it felt forced. When Cal makes those kind of remarks about himself, you know he means it. WIth Trixa, it felt hollow. Anyone read Meyers' stuff? Y'know how Bella always said she was pretty average, and yet all the world loved her? Sort of like that. It's hard to find merit in one's admitted "bad points" when the rest of the world isn't backing you up on them. In other words, to me, Trixa seemed too perfect.

BUT.. and this is a huge but, by the very end of the book (and I'm talking the last twenty pages or so), I understood her opinions and feelings a little more. If I were to read TotL a second time, I dont believe I'd feel as strongly about the above. Sorry - that sounds so vague, but I can't elaborate without spoiling things!

Last, Trixa can be repetitive. The evils of Heaven and Hell and the broken judgement of Zeke and the brightness of Eli's smile or smoothness of Solomon's voice.. some things were drilled into the pages. Yeah, yeah.. I know Cal does the same at times. But I like hearing what Cal has to say. Again, with Trixa, that wasn't always the case.

The ending was a bit of a deus ex machina. If this was a standalone book, it would have rubbed me the wrong way. Being part of a series, I didn't mind it as much (because I have hopes that the big shocking moment of the novel will be developed further along in the series).

...so, as you can see, I will continue reading.

I do lack a fondness for Trixa, but I didn't outright dislike her, either. Neither the characters or the story completely won me over, but I've enjoyed Ms. Thurman's other novels so much that I have faith that this series can make a turn for the better.

****************************

All of that said, the one comment I hope people read, if any, from this review is the following:

If you are new to Ms. Thurman's books, I really, really, REALLY recommend that you try the Leandros series first. I most definitely wouldn't recommend Trick of the Light as a gateway to the Thurman urban-fantasy experience.

However, if you are already a fan of the Leandros series, then give Trick of the Light a try. It's not Ms. Thurman's best work, but it has a lot of her trademark wit, pretty people, plot twists, and unique takes on legendary creatures.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So-so read, January 13, 2010

By 

Julie Doe (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trick of the Light (Trickster, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Others have provided synopses, so I won't rehash the story line here. I really liked Rob Thurman's Cal/Niko Leandros series, so I wanted to like this book as well. However, several things just didn't work for me:

The book is told in the first person (not necessarily bad), but the narrator, Trixa, is unrelentingly, annoyingly sarcastic. There were times when I wished I could reach into the book, shake her, and say "be serious for just *one* moment, please." I appreciate sarcasm, but all the time? It made her seem shallow, and I wasn't able to connect with her at all.

Griffin and Zeke seem like a gay, non-fraternal re-imagining of Cal and Niko - the younger one, with a dark past and trouble adjusting, who is cared for by the older, handsome, competent one. This set-up didn't feel very...original.

The big surprise at the end, for the reader, is something that Trixa already knows - and has known all along. We've been in her head this whole time, and not once did she think about anything relating to the big surprise even though it was relevant to the story. As a reader, I feel deceived by Trixa, which only adds to my not liking her.

I don't know if there is going to be another book in this series, but I won't be reading it if Trixa remains as the narrator. I am looking forward to ROADKILL, the next in the Cal/Niko series.