5 comments about Die Softly (reissue).

1. this is a terrificbook! i love amazon! i order many products from them and always had fantastic customer service and results! thank you so much!



2. It began with a surreal western dream full of symbolism and death. Then reality, in the form of a small nothing-happening rural town, came crashing back. The main character, Herb, is a high school geeky male photographer with no self-confidence and a bad memory. The overwhelming majority of the novel is him talking with other characters; the serves to advance and unfold the plot. Action only happens in flashbacks, in the past tense, except for the twist-ending. I won't give the ending away, but I didn't like it.
   
   The actual book is a murder mystery involving the a clique of high school kids the main character belongs to, and their 'archenemies' -- two popular girls on the cheering squad. Cheerleaders, Cocaine, and Time-Lapse Photography play prominent roles.
   
   Pike outdid himself with the number of plot twists re-writing known events. Too bad I never felt into the novel, because all the characters ever do is talk! They talk about what happened, as opposed action shown. What could have been a suspenseful thriller turned into a 'I-top-your-topper-revelation' with my perspective on events. This felt more of an academic exercise than an interesting novel. It would make a good movie or stage play, but I didn't like the book.



3. Synopsis: Herb Trasker would be your average unpopular guy in high school, was he not an exceptional photographer. One day, his friend Sammie gives him the idea of planting a camera in the girl's school shower so that he can photograph the cheerleaders bathing, without them knowing. He thinks it's a good idea and plants the camera on Thursday night and times the camera to take photos of the cheerleaders for Friday afternoon. But a girl dies on Friday afternoon, and Herb realizes he has evidence to her death through his photos. What he doesn't realize is that someone knows he has the evidence and trying to end his life as well. Can he figure out who is trying to get him in time?
   
   
   Review: I thought this book was pretty interesting and suspenseful at times, as it also kept me guessing as to killed Lisa. Even though I liked the details Pike added, in terms of photography in general, and explaining the exact plot of Herb's plan to photograph the cheerleaders in the school shower, I felt that at times, the details dragged on for too long, and Pike could have simplified it. I did like the way Pike wrote this story in a sequence of flashbacks where Herb relates the incidents to Fitzsimmons.
   
   However, it was the ending that gave me the chills. I'm not going to give away the ending, but it was just so unexpected and creepy, that it made me appreciate the book even more. You feel so sorry for some of the characters like Sammie, Roger etc. because of all the horrible things this one person does and even gets away with. I think this is one of the best books by Pike that I have read in terms of a memorable ending.
   
   Overall, because of its exceptional ending, I give this book a 4/5 (otherwise I would have given it only a 3).



4. Herb Trasker places a camera in the girls' shower room, hoping to get some good pictures of naked cheerleaders. He gets more than he bargained for when he catches a murder on film.
   
   An interesting Christopher Pike book that is not about the supernatural, but instead about evil in its most earthly form.
   
   The characters really come to life, but they are extremely disturbed human beings. The book is very sexually-charged, and it also includes perversion and drug abuse. Not for very young readers. I read it when I was 14. It does seem a little mature for young teens but it was written for the young adult audience, so who knows.
   
   I feel weird giving it four stars. That seems awfully high for a teen horror novel. But I'm ranking it in comparison to other books of its kind because obviously it can't compare to classic literature, or even much of modern literature. It's not a terribly original story. But it's a good read.



5. A twisted story of a young high school boy named Herb. All he wants is a nude picture of the cheerleaders showering. Then, one night he thinks up this plan to place a camera in the showers of the girls room and sets it on a timer so it will take a couple of pictures in like 4 minutes apart. So, the camera takes the pictures and then that very same day, a young cheerleader goes missing after her cheerleading practice. Well Herb goes back to get his camera and the film. He develpos them himslef and he realizes that he got a picture of the girl who went missing. He then saw someone sneaking up on her with a baseball bat! He is so shocked to see what he has captured. Then he recives a picture that he took and it says..."We know what you did." So now he MUST watch his back..read and find out what happens.

1 comments about Envy (Seven Deadly Sins).

1. Let me say how happy I am to be the first to review ENVY (I do so love being number 1)! Now let's get down to it.
   
   Robin Wasserman's Envy had some sizeable shoes to fill after the release of Lust in Mid September and many (including yours truly) did not expect this book to surpass it's predecessor. But, in fact, it does. Envy is by far better than Lust in that there is just as much action and even better exploration of who the characters are and how they came to be who they are.
   
   One basic flaw of Lust was that Miranda and Adam were immediately introduced as dear friends of Alpha Girl Harper, but then there was little interaction between the characters and Harper. There was little evidence supporting many of Wasserman's claims (such as Miranda being snarky, Adam and Harper being best friends, Harper being witchy and selfish) but in this book, Wasserman raises the bar by taking the focus off of sex (shocking for a teen book of this day and age) and creates a more personal analysis of personality and background, the former more so than the latter.
   
   Kane and Kaia, for example, were portrayed in Lust as the troublemakers. The manipulative, heartless schemers who just took what they wanted and to heck with everyone else. In the latest installment of the series, there are rare moments where Kaia recalls her childhood (being passed around like luggage by two uncaring parents) and readers glimpse Kane's conscience. Wasserman makes these moments memorable without overdoing it. She doesn't try to go too far too fast in "redeeming" these characters. She just makes them understood, if not immensely liked. Also notable are the interactions between Harper and Kaia and Harper and Adam. The Harper/Adam relationship becomes believable and natural and the moments between Kaia and Harper, two virtual enemies are pure fun. Kaia and Harper's scenes light up the page with their snide remarks and witty banter. They are so much alike, and it was hilarious to see them bond and become partners in crime. The author does a fabulous job of illustrating that while they are enemies, Harper and Kaia are the real soulmates in this book.
   
   By far the best part of Envy is the action packed last chapters. Unlike Lust, the book had a huge payoff and all the plotting and schemeing came to a head. Very few will be disappointed by the conclusion.
   
   However, as delightful as this book was, there were a few drawbacks. First off, Harper became a complete witch as she abandoned Miranda in her time of need and gave up her old loyalties to chase blindly after Adam. While Harper is so well-developed a character that readers will certainly forgive her, it is disappointing to watch her downard spiral into witchiness. Miranda also spiraled down into a whiny, whimpering brat that should be smacked in the face and forced to take responsibility for her own life. There were also too many Beth scenes (the series is written in third person, but the book is separated into segments told from the point of view of different characters) and she became a stereotype, a whimpy excuse for a character who could not stand up for herself and needed a man's support. She should take a few pointers from Kaia; enough is enough already. Beth is by far the most annoying character in the book and her selfish nature and constant ridicule of her boyfriend Adam makes it impossible to sympathize with her (and easy to root for Harper).
   
   Best parts of the book: Kane segments, Kaia and Harper's weird relationship, Kane and Harper's reference to The Incident, Harper and Adam.
   
   Worst parts of the book: Miranda not standing up for herself, Beth, Beth, Beth, and Beth.
   
   Is this series worhwhile? Absolutely. Seven Deadly Sins exceeds expectations and is destined to become a favorite among teen readers. These books are incredibly addictive, and a tad bit mature. Viewer discretion advised, but otherwise, enjoy!

5 comments about Road to Nowhere (reissue).

1. It's short, small, narrative, atmospheric, with excellently realized and intense characters. I'm trying to figure out what book that review was written to build up by tearing this down. Was it even another book by Ken "Christopher Pike" McFadden?
   
   The book has a bit of suspense, it's actually not that predictable. Therefore, I'd recommend people interested in psychological horror or Christopher Pike books read it for themselves, it's somewhat spoilable.



2. This was another book I read as a young teenager. I had to buy it again. I love the suspense, and the battle between good and evil over the soul of a young girl. I remember reading this book for the first time and unfolding the plot page by page. I love this book.



3. Synopsis: Teresa Chafey is running away from home without a destination in mind. She takes her car and just starts driving north. One her way, she picks up two hitchhikers, a man named "Freedom Jack" and a woman named "Poppy Corn".
   
   They spend the time sharing stories with each other. Jack and Poppy tell Teresa the story of John and Candy, where Jack focuses on John's life, while Poppy focuses on Candy's life. In turn, Teresa starts discussing her own story of her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Bill Clark and why she decided to run away from home.
   
   What starts out as a casual ride takes a mysterious turn, when Jack asks Teresa to stop by a strange castle to meet his `mother' and have her read Teresa's fortune. Things get stranger when Poppy asks Teresa to stop by a church to meet her father, a priest for Teresa to confess her sins to.
   
   Teresa realizes these hitchhikers are not who they appear to be, and soon realizes that her life could be in danger. Can she save her life before it is too late?
   
   *NOTE* Even though I don't explicitly mention the climax of the book, my review might contain spoilers as to what happens in it, so read it only if you don't mind figuring out what happens in the end.
   
   Review: It was the flashbacks of John and Candy that really kept me hooked to this book. I felt so sorry for John's character, because no matter how hard he tried, luck just wasn't on his side. Although it is pretty obvious how John and Candy are related to Jack and Poppy, Pike put so much emotion into these characters that you actually root for them, no matter what crimes they committed. I started crying at the end of John's story because he was just too unfortunate with getting his life straightened out.
   
   The cover of this book gave me the wrong impression that it was suspense thriller. It is actually more of a tragic love story with lost souls reuniting in the end. So if you are looking for a spine tingling story to read, this is probably not a good choice. Nevertheless, it is still a very good story written by Christopher Pike, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading suspense with romance.



4. Christopher Pike's ROAD TO NOWHERE is sanctimonious and heavy-handed. It's also boring, which may be an even worse crime in YA fiction. Pike deals with the subject of suicide in several of his books, but nowhere else does he come across as quite so short-sighted or lacking in compassion. ROAD TO NOWHERE is an insult to anyone who has had suicide touch their lives in some way. Pike sacrifices good writing for anvil-dropping, resulting in a sloppy plot that feels secondary to his forced message.
   
   I recommend instead these classic Pike novels: MONSTER, SPELLBOUND, GIMME A KISS, LAST ACT, WITCH, SCAVENGER HUNT, and The Last Vampire series.



5. This was my favorite book as a teenager and after re-reading it again in my 20's I remembered why. It is about Theresa a young lady who is distraught about her life and runs away from home. On the road she picks up two hitchikers who change her life... Definitely Pike at his best!

5 comments about The Haunting.

1. Joan Lowery Nixon is a striking writer. I would read this book over and over again. She shows an evil mood, when she describes the mysterious evil that haunts the old plantation house. Nixon's style is mysterious murders, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night.
   
   I would recommend this book to people who love a good spine-chilling, horrifying, spooky tale. The exposition could use a little work but otherwise the book is breath-taking.This book gave me the jitters, but a chill that fills my mind with questions. What if ghost do exist? What if they're watching you right now? What if they're standing right behind you?
   
   The main character in the story is Lia Langley who looks back on her families' past and feels she doesn't fit in. All the women in her family have been exceptionally brave except for her. Lia loves to read and doesn't solcialize well with others. Lia is shy and very unsure of herself. After the death of Lia's great-grandmother, Sarah, an old plantation house named Graymoss is left in Lia's mother's hands. Lia's parents plan to move there and raise unadoptable children.
   
   According to a mysterious lady that lives in the wood behind Graymoss, Lia will have to set free the evil that haunts Graymoss after dusk for the house to be "liveable." Will Lia save Graymoss? Will the evil be vanquished? Who is the inscrutable evil that haunts Graymoss?
   
   The plot is very easy to follow. It's clear that Lia's goal us to get rid of the the ghost that haunt Graymoss. The plot revolves around the stories of Graymoss and the mystifying things that happen after dark.
   
   In summary, Joan Lowery Nixon knows how to write a good book from expostion to the closing sentence. If I had to rate this book from 1 to 10, without a doubt I would this book a 10.



2. Lia's great grandmother tells Lia to keep Graymoss protected. But Graymoss is protected. She cant go near it. Her mother decides she is going to move in and adopt unadoptable children. So Lia has to go to the house and convince her mom that it is haunted, but her mom doesn't believe her. She says there is no such thing as ghosts. Lia reads her great great great grandmother's diary. It tells about the house. She tells her best friend and Lia decides to get rid of the spirits. So Lia and her friend Jolie go to a voodoo shop and gets gris-gris. It keeps spirits from hurting her. She goes to the house with Joshua(a boy she meets)and he leaves because he is scared of the ghosts. At first she wanted her mom to believe in ghosts. She didn't want to share her parents with a bunch of noisy kids. But when she went to the orphanage she changed her mind completely. She couldn't bear to see those kids like that. Thats when she decides to save Graymoss. She looks in Favorite Tales of Edgar Allen Poe, for clues. She doesn't find any. She goes to the house. Thats when things start happening.



3. Lia's great grandmother tells Lia to keep Graymoss protected. But Graymoss is protected. She cant go near it. Her mother decides she is going to move in and adopt unadoptable children. So Lia has to go to the house and convince her mom that it is haunted, but her mom doesn't believe her. She says there is no such thing as ghosts. Lia reads her great great great grandmother's diary. It tells about the house. She tells her best friend and Lia decides to get rid of the spirits. So Lia and her friend Jolie go to a voodoo shop and gets gris-gris. It keeps spirits from hurting her. She goes to the house with Joshua(a boy she meets)and he leaves because he is scared of the ghosts. At first she wanted her mom to believe in ghosts. She didn't want to share her parents with a bunch of noisy kids. But when she went to the orphanage she changed her mind completely. She couldn't bear to see those kids like that. Thats when she decides to save Graymoss. She looks in Favorite Tales of Edgar Allen Poe, for clues. She doesn't find any. She goes to the house. Thats when things start happening. It is a really good book. I didnt want to put it down. The beginning isnt that great, but it gets way better. Just ask my family. It was driving them crazy. I wouldnt stop reading. I would recomend this book for any age.



4. This book was not up to the reading standards of the Book Bandits teen bookclub in Meridian, Idaho. There was no empathy between readers and the characters, the plot was totally predictable, the characters were not developed fully, and the entire story did not capture the attention of the readers. The cover art wasn't very compelling either. The group suggests that you read Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew stories as a mystery alternative.



5. Do you love suspense? The type of suspense that leaves you bitting your nails? Then you'll love Joan Lowery Nixon's "The Haunting".
   
   This might be the best book I have read this past summer. A young Katherin has to move into a deceased aunts house. The haunting history about the house has Katherin on a perilous journey to find the truth and help her family from harm. I strongly recommend anybody who loves suspense and mystery to read this book!

5 comments about The Third Evil (Fear Street Cheerleaders, No. 3).

1. This book explores many themes of trust, memory, psychological disturbance and existentialism. Along with intense plotting, and a cast of 6 characters, 4 of whom are very well developed, R. L. Stine delivers a tour de force you'll never forget.



2. In the third book about Corky and the squad, the girls go to a very creepy camp! Still upset about her sister Bobbi's tragic death, Corky finally thinks the spirt killing her sister and members from the squad is gone. Guess Again!
   I would rate this book only 4 stars because I read the series out of order and began with the 3rd one. It didn't make as much since, it was still good though. Recommemded for anybody who loves Fear Street!



3. This time Corky Corcoran, Kimmy Bass, Debra Kern and Ronnie Mitchell visit a cheerleading camp. Their cheerleading camp is so creepy because the evil is still alive. Wow!. I can't believe Corky was possesd here. Will she die?.



4. Another work of art by R.L. Stine. This book is about a young girl named Corky recovering a tragic accident of the death of both her sister and her boyfriend by an evil killing them and taking over her friends' bodies. She goes to a cheerleading camp only to find out the evil, so evil to say, overtakes her body. If you are an R.L. Stine reader...you know,your in for the third evil twist.



5. Corky's sister, Bobbi, had just been killed two books ago ('The First Evil') by the...thing. She lately has had dreams of her sis haunting her at night, opening her own head.... Then at Cheerleader Camp, there are unexplainable incidents: Hannah's plait is cut off and Corky finds the scissors on HER dresser. But what she doesn't realize is that it's because The Evil no longer inhabits Kimmy, but her...
   If you want a scary, edge of your seat book, dig into this one by R.L Stine. Even if you haven't read the other two ('The First Evil' and 'The Second Evil') the book still explains for you what had happened lately. A fantastic read!

5 comments about Blood and Chocolate.

1. This book is nothing like Twilight. I found it on a booklist for Twilight read-alikes, and I understand why it was included, I'm just saying - it's not like Twilight. In fact, if you didn't like Twilight, you may like this book. The protagonist is as full of self-confidance as Bella is full of self-doubt. Whereas Bella's relationship with her family is peripheral, Viviane is surrounded by family. She's part of a pack after all. She's a werewolf. In the end Viviane's dilemna is not far from Bella's; she wishes she could have a friend outside the pack. The theme is a perennial favorite with young adult fiction - finding where you fit in outside the stifling structure of one's family. I didn't like this one because it's too transparent. Too obvious. The angst is spelled out too clearly.



2. I read this book after watching the movie and I was suprised that such an "okay" movie could come from such a fabulous book. I really like werewolves/lycans and it was this book that really introduced me to them, showing me how magical and wonderful a story about humans that aren't really humans can be.
   
   Now, originally, I had put five stars down for this review, but then I remembered that there was just one thing that I didn't like--the ending. I wont give it away because I hate ruining things for people, but I can just say that it could've been a little better. But, I still encourage you to read this book--it really is a nice one to add to your collection. Enjoy!!!



3. Wow. The beginning of this book is easy to read but not too interesting. As you get into the book however, particularly the end, it gets great! The ending is awesome and I really want a second book! With all that said I wish the whole thing could have been as good as the end. But still an awesome book worth reading. I read it in two days. 5 stars.



4. This book is a great book to read. It has all the love in that you need. Alittle disappointing at the end, but can see why the author ended it that way. Still love the book just not what I expected.



5. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone! I've lost count of how many times I read this book, it never gets old! Excellent beginning, middle and end!

5 comments about Little Things (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. While i'm glad this wasn't an episode (it would've sucked), the idea for a short story was a good one. I assumed it would be a ridiculous plot, but it was actually pretty cute and i'm not sure about the average reader, but when i read, i really get into the story, so imagining what it'd be like to fight faeries made the story a lot more entertaining, funny and enjoyable. this is a story that is better read instead of reading the back cover and ging from there. but it's a good read, i liked it alot. just definitely one of those stories that is better off in the form of a book and NOT as an episode.



2. It's like getting an extra episode of Buffy! Not as wordy and detailed as some Buffy books, more light and fun.



3. The plot of this book was much better in theory than it was in practice. This could have easily been a 5 star PG-13 book with imagination & better writing skills. In fact, the whole concept of fairy vampires, would have made an excellent TV episode ranking up there with Season Five BTVS "Buffy vs. Dracula". The prologue itself was GREAT! It was CLASSIC Buffy. The essence of the show was captured in the perfect light in this chapter. The bad part was, none of the main characters were in it. I won't give away too much about the prologue so as not to spoil it for future readers. Sadly, the book itself, was written at a reading level & pace best suited for middle school students. I wouldn't recommend this to any adult who is easily bored.
   
   The author did a reasonable job of bringing some of the characters to life, while failing to bring out the essence in others. For example, in Chapter 2, Xander & Buffy were fighting a Tyrloch demon. Xander said "So...now we know what it would look like if the Incredible Hulk and the Statue of Liberty ever had kids". Given the description of the demon, this was absolutely hilarious and had me laughing into the next page. My laughter was cut short when Buffy made a stupid out of character comment to the same demon "are you evil or do we have a failure to commnuicate?", Gimme a break. This went on throughout the whole book.... a great one-liner followed by a stupid one-liner. Similarly, there were some good monents, and bad ones with Anya. Anya was portrayed a bit too ditzy in this story. The Scooby gang had several meetings about the fairies and Anya kept it quiet for too long that she had first hand info on them... it didn't make any sense. Even Anya is not that dumb. In a normal episode she would have immediately come forth with her knowledge. For any media-tie in book to work, the author must have the essence of all the characters down pat or it just won't fly with the fans.
   
   As the old saying goes, I try not to judge books by their covers. I did find this cover mis-leading. If you are looking for a book featuring Spike, this is NOT for you. Spike had a few good scenes, but nothing to get excited about. A cover with the whole group would have been more fitting. I would have also liked to have seen more sparks between Buffy and Spike. Featuring Spike on the front cover was done to help sell more books. Period.
   
   It kills me to give this book 2 stars. If it weren't for the concept of the fairy vampires I doubt it would earn any. I can't help but think some of the people who are rating this a 4 & 5 star book are either very young studnts who don't know any better OR they are adults who are rating it high because Spike on the cover! If you are going to read this, be warned, it is short at 200 pages. This would be an OK book to take along on a long car or plane ride.



4. Awesome book! Entertaining from front to back. A good book for anyone that loves Buffy, fairies, and/or both!



5. TIMING: During Season Five, definitely after "Forever." By the way the characters interact, it seems that this story would fit right between "Forever" and "Intervention."
   
   STORY: Not bad. It's an unique idea to say the least. Sunnydale is invaded by fairies, but not the lives-in-a-flower kind of fairy. Nope, these fairies have been cursed so that they carry the demonic essence of a vampire, which pretty much makes them angry. They have a vendetta against one of the Scoobies, though that avenue wasn't explored enough in the actual story. A few subplots deal with the characters coping with "little problems" in their lives, like Buffy's toothache (which takes up a large amount of page space and never really goes anywhere interesting), the ant infestation at Anya and Xander's house, and Giles's parking ticket. I thought it was interesting that their problems, both the supernatural and mundane, were 'little' in nature, but some of it seemed a bit contrived. The researching scenes were cool and very true to the show, but the climax was a bit of a letdown.
   
   CHARACTERS: Some characterization is good, some not so much. Giles and Willow felt very off, and made writer Rebecca Moesta look like she was trying way too hard to pull of the voices; especially with Willow, who comes off as more stupid than lightly humorous. Anya's voice is perfect, Xander's is good, Buffy's is good, Dawn's is good, and Spike's is okay. Overall, Moesta did better than most writers when it comes to capturing the characters.
   
   CONTINUITY: Some major errors. This was written before Anya began to refer to herself as "Anya Jenkins," but this book has her last name as "Emerson." Also, Xander still retains his 'military personality' in some scenes, but he lost that aspect of himself in Season Four. Also, most disturbingly, Moesta refers to Tara as Willow's 'friend.' No. Was Angel Buffy's "friend?" Was Oz Willow's "friend?" No. Call her Willow's "girlfriend" because that's what she is. Period.
   
   COVER: Misleading. Spike is featured prominently on the cover, though Anya, Xander, or even Buffy herself would have been more appropriate. In no way is this a Spike-centric book.
   
   OVERALL: Good. Not as good as the series or the canonical comics, but who was expecting that? It's worth buying, because it's still 'Buffy.' Some parts are great, others... not so much.
   
   6/10

3 comments about Judge Dredd #1: Dredd VS Death.

1. Supposedly this is based on a game story, so either that is really good, or Rennie, being a Dredd expert, has just done a fine job.
   
   Dredd, Anderson and Giant are all here.
   
   So is EverPet, a pet revivification company. This is very nasty. Not quite as nasty as the Dark Judges, though.
   
   Death has found a weakness in one of the Psi-Judges on guard rotation, and is exploiting it.
   
   This leads to a rise in the Church of Death, and an outbreak of vampirism via retrovirus. As such, Chief Judge Hershey is inclined to believe Anderson's precog warning.
   
   Now, the senior Judges have to try and stop this before the bodycount gets to sixty million like in a previous encounter.
   
   Clooney Memorial is struggling enough as it is.
   
   A very well done Dredd book.



2. Back in the mid-1980's when I was a regular reader of the Fleetway/Quality Judge Dredd comics, my favorite stories were always those that involved Dredd and Psi-Judge Anderson's arch-nemesis the ghoulish Judge Death. Death and his four Dark Judged brethren Fear, Fire, and Mortis take the center stage in this Judge Dredd adventure which is based on the video game of the same name and available for multiple video gaming platforms. I admit that I never played the game but I don't think it makes a difference.
   
   A one chapter prolog introduces readers to a literal hell on earth as the Dark Judges have brought their version of Necropolis to Megacity One, killing millions. The Dark Judges conclude that life itself is the crime so the sentence is death. Cut ahead ten years later and although it's not really explained, the Dark Judges were eventually defeated, due in part to the usual heroics of Dredd and Anderson and the four malevolent entities are now imprisoned within the Tomb, the ultra maximum security prison with the most high tech security systems as well as psi-judges on duty to constantly monitor for any psychic activity coming from the cells of the dark judges.
   
   Trouble is looming in the city, however. A new gang is making their name known, the Death Cult, dedicated to Judge Death. At first they are merely dismissed as the new flavor of the month gang, but their activities grow more and more troubling as they recruit and seemingly brainwash young people into the cult. Then, Dredd and another judge have a near fatal encounter with what seems to be vampires who were trying to rob a blood supply warehouse. An examination by tek-judges confirms that the creatures are bio-engineered vampires. Super strength, resistance to injury and infected with a retrovirus that causes them to hunger for blood.
   
   Meanwhile Judge Death is slowly and meticulously using his influence ever so subtly on a weak psi-judge until he can completely control him to free the Dark Judges. As this is going on, Anderson is returning to the Grand Hall of Justice to warn them but comes under attack by a group of the vampires, nearly killing her. Dredd and Anderson again find themselves having to thwart the dark judges.
   
   Rennie's story is a bit slow in getting started. The action doesn't start in earnest until well over a third of the way through the 256 page book and Dredd himself is barely seen through the first 80 pages or so. But once it does take off it's a fun ride. The prologue is amongst the most stark and terrifying that I've ever read in a sci-fi story. The Dark Judges are the epitome of evil, hating all life and making for the ultimate in foes for Dredd and Anderson. The vampires add an additional element of danger and horror.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



3. A wonderful action-packed reworking of the story from the game Judge Dredd:Dredd vs. Death. Mr Rennie captures the crazy atmosphere of Mega City One and Judge Dredd with skill and enthusiasm. A rollercoaster of an action book with enough crazy moments to make it stand out from the crowd. A great tie-in to a great game.

3 comments about Ritual (Vampire Beach).

1. when i pick up this book i can not put it down! it is just breath taking good and phenomenal. i usually don't write review for books, but for vampire beach i will write a review for it anyday!



2. Jason Freeman has mostly adjusted to living in vampire-infested Southern California. Jason loves a vampire, has vampire friends, and even some in his family tree. He's pretty accepting of it all. But then he finds himself with a crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest and in the hospital. He is luck to be alive. But there are others who are not as lucky as him. There is another attack and the victim does not survive. Suddenly the community finds itself in a bit of a panic. Special investigators arrive to try and catch the new serial menace.
   
   Jason's non-vampire friend is convinced that there is a modern-day vampire hunter in the are. Jason becomes convinced but the local vampires claim the Hunters died out centuries ago. There are some more attacks and theories are all over the place. The investigators don't seem to be getting any closer. Jason is convinced the vampires are not taking the threat seriously enough. But eventually events unfold and the killer is revealed. To find out who and how you will have to read the book.
   
   This is working out to be a pretty good series. Surfer vampires is a nice twist and the author handles it well. With each book we learn more of the characters and the society. This one has a good mystery and is well paced. Readers with a good memory for the earlier books might piece the story together a little faster. If you liked the first two volumes then you are sure to enjoy this one. Check it out.



3. Jason's in a world of danger, at least according to the psychic at the fair his sister forced him to attend. Jason scoffs at the idea, but after an afternoon at the beach filled with surfing and volleyball, he takes her warning more seriously. Alone on the beach, he's attacked, shot with an arrow from a crossbow.
   
   At first, he believes it to be just an accident, but when vampires start dying around him, Jason decides to uncover the truth behind the murders. Who is attacking vampires in town and why did they go after him? His buddy, Adam, believes a vampire hunter is responsible for these attacks.
   
   Jason must not only suffer through the recovery of his wound, but also personal rumors floating around about him and newly single Sienna. Can he handle all the stress in his life?
   
   VAMPIRE BEACH is an addicting series that will leave readers wishing for the next installment. RITUAL is the third book of this vampire series (following Bloodlust (Vampire Beach) and Initiation (Vampire Beach)) that takes a bite out of the "Gossip Girl" lifestyle.
   
   Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

5 comments about Out of the Madhouse.

1. Sunnydale is known to be situated right upon the Hellmouth, so it's not a big surprise when demons of all sorts start piling into the small town. But when a collection of trolls, sea monsters, werewolves, toads, skyquakes, and numerous other strange things - stranger than normal things - begin infiltrating Sunnydale, Buffy knows that something isn't quite right. And with Giles hospitalized over three-thousand miles away, Buffy knows that it's more than one Slayer can handle. Especially when each ugly is coming through an old portal from centuries ago, through time and space. Buffy knows that the hell-hole must be found and corked ASAP, which means that Buffy, Angel, and the rest of the Scooby Gang are headed to Boston to meet up with the Gatekeeper. However, once there, Buffy finds that the supernatural mansion that the Gatekeeper reigns over, is home to thousands of rooms, all of which are entrances to so-called "ghost roads," that could bring Buffy face-to-face with some of the most evil beings on earth. Evil beings who are dying to teach the Slayer a lesson.
   
   As a huge BUFFY fan, and avid reader of all things Slayer-ific, I discovered years ago that Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder are, without a doubt, the best BUFFY writers out there. So when I stumbled across THE GATEKEEPER TRILOGY, I knew that I would adore all three books. While I have only read OUT OF THE MADHOUSE - so far - I can tell you that it is, by far, one of the best BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER novels to date. The action-packed novel is filled with emotional reunions between the living and the dead upon the ghost roads, as well as the introduction of numerous new creatures looking to wreak havoc on the Slayer, her pals, and the entire world. With a cliff-hanger that will send any reader on a quest for the sequel GHOST ROADS, OUT OF THE MADHOUSE, is, without a doubt, a must read for all BUFFY fans.
   
   Erika Sorocco
   Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper



2. OUT OF THE MADHOUSE
   Book 1 of The Gatekeeper Trilogy
   Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder (1999)
   
   RATING: 4/5 Stakes
   
   SETTING: Season Three
   
   CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Xander, Cordelia, Willow, Oz, Angel, Giles, Spike, Joyce, Devon, Sheila Rosenberg, Willow's father, Kendra, Jenny Calendar
   
   MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Il Maestro (sorceror); Micaela Tomasi (traitor Watcher); Roland (Lord of the Hunt); Springheel Jack (monster); Catherine de Medici; Richard Regnier, Jean-Marc Regnier, Antoinette Regnier (Gatekeeper allies); Giacomo Fulcanelli (sorceror); Brother Lupo (Son of Entropy)
   
   BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Werewolves. Trolls. Sea Monsters. Rain of toads. Skyquakes. Sunnydale is being besieged by dark forces. But even with Buffy providing her unique style of damage control while Giles is hospitalized out of town, it's more than one Slayer can handle--especially since the abominations are coming from a centuries-old portal through time and space. Somehow, the hell-hole must be found and corked at its source. For Buffy, Angel, and the rest of her gang, that means a road trip to Boston where an ailing Gatekeeper resides over a supernatural mansion that has been, until recently, holding the world's worst monsters at bay. Once there, Buffy discovers the catastrophic truth: the magical structure houses thousands of rooms, all of which are doorways to limbo's `ghost roads,' and all of which may bring her face-to-face with the most nefarious forces in hell and on earth--forces bent on horrific plans far worse than the Slayer ever imagined."
   
   REVIEW
   
   Out of the Madhouse introduces two major settings in the Buffy mythos. The first is the Gatehouse, a huge, labyrinthine, mystical mansion in Boston that prevents all manner of monsters from escaping into the world. The second is the Ghost Roads, an ethereal, limbo-like place where the souls of the dead walk until the time has come to pass onto a higher (or presumably, lower) plane. These two elements are connected in a straightforward way in the first book of the Gatekeeper Trilogy: the Gatehouse is falling apart, allowing creatures to roam free; and only by travelling the Ghost Roads can Buffy, et al. rebuild the mansion's defences. Along the way are ancient 16th Century Italian intrigue, a new cult called the Sons of Entropy, and a plot to murder Watchers.
   
   Giles steals the spotlight in the first part of the book, as we get to see him out of his usual element. In a well-written scene, he attends the American Library Association convention in New York and becomes smitten with a fellow librarian. Unfortunately, poor Giles ends up with the required nasty bump in the noggin & his role diminishes in subsequent chapters. Buffy and gang fight several escaped monsters, end up in Boston at the Gatehouse, and eventually travel through the Ghost Roads. An exciting conclusion foreshadows the end of Season Four & sets up the next book in the trilogy.
   
   Holder & Golden do an excellent job portraying our heroes' dialogue and personalities. Scenes worth special mention include: Buffy & friends angsting over whether they'll separate after high school; rivals Angel & Xander teaming up like the first act in a buddy-cop movie to kill a troll; and Willow & Angel exploring the remnants of the frat house seen in Reptile Boy. The only downside is that some of the historical flashbacks are a bit slow moving and a scene where Angel tortures a human with Willow and Oz watching, seemingly unconcerned, is rather disturbing. On the whole, however, Out of the Madhouse is an excellent first book in the trilogy.
   
   (c) 2005 Jeremy Patrick (jhaeman@hotmail.com)
   
   Jhaeman's Buffy Reviews: http://www.geocities.com/jhaeman



3. One of the things I love most about Buffy as a whole, is character development. This book was so busy with endless action sequences, that the character's personalities were largely ignored.

   When the book stops for emotional moments it's hard to care, because the character's have all become cardboard cut-out's of themselves.

   I'll go ahead & read the next one- I'm hoping that Golden & Holder will let up a bit on the constant barrage of battle- it gets tedious after awhile.

   Proceed with caution.




4. Like I said above, the first book is slow and confusing. However near the end of the book things really REALLY picked up, and I finished it and the other 2 in less than a week and a half!! The series rocks!! Guess what happens to Xander?? ;)



5. I always read fanfiction but shied away from buying these sorts of books. I read so much ..... fanfic to find the gems, but it's free and I really wasn't interested in paying to read something like that. But *everyone* I knew in the Buffy fandom recommended this trilogy as the *best* of the Buffy books. So I immediately splurged on the whole trilogy (figuring once I started, I'd want to read them all).

   Boy was that a waste of money.

   I'm an avid reader of all types of books, and yet this book bored me to tears. The characters were all off. While I could sometimes believe their actions, I never believed their thoughts or their words. Worst of all though, the writing was atrocious. I could have written better than this.

   This book was so terrible that the other two still collect dust on my shelf. They will probably stay there for a long time, because I won't be giving anyone else these books for fear they might read them and blame me. I read almost anything available to me, so for something to turn me off this much, it has got to be pretty horribly written. If this really is the best Buffy novel, it will be my first and my last. I'm now afraid to try any of the others.