It's normal to be afraid of the monster under the bed or hiding in the shadows, but Cal Leandros is more afraid of the monster he might see when he looks in the mirror than of all the demons that walk the earth. Born a half-breed, Cal fears and loathes his demon side. And with good reason. He's met his father.

Constantly on the run from his father's people, the Auphe, Cal and his brother Niko end up living in New York City. When Niko meets an Auphe, or Grendel, as he and Cal refer to them, in Central Park, Nik decides for the both of them that it's past time to move on. They don't get far. At a local car dealership, they meet and join forces with that "shrewd and knavish sprite," Robin Goodfellow (or Puck). Robin convinces the pair to consult with an acquaintance of his, a troll who lives in the sewers under Brooklyn Bridge, for advice and information -- with disastrous results. The three barely escape with their lives and from there it only gets worse.

Tracked down by the Grendels, Cal is taken. It's up to Robin and Nik to rescue Cal before the Auphe can use him for their own maniacal scheme to roll back time and regain control of the world -- the world as it was before humans became the dominant race. It was a time when the Auphe and other dark things were in control and humankind was no more to them than amusement...or meat.

These aren't your grandmother's elves. The Auphe could and would take down Buffy, Aragorn and Granny Weatherwax combined. Fortunately, in Thurman's universe, Cal and Nik, with a little help from their friends, are more than a match for any Grendel who is foolish enough to cross their path. NIGHTLIFE never lags. Thurman sets a fast pace and keeps it up right to the last page. A strong cast of secondary characters rounds out the story and there are hints at another book or maybe a series. All in all, a most enjoyable read!