5 comments about Afterimage (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. I love Buffy books, but I did not enjoy this one... The characters were not true to the show. The writing was ok and so was the plot. I actually stopped reading about 3/4's of the way. The plot just wasn't working for me.



2. This book is based somewhere mid season two of the show, however it lacks any mention of Jenny Calendar and guessing by how Angel is still good and Xander and Cordelia are still keeping their relationship a secret, she was still a part of the show at the time. Besides from that a strong storyline with an interresting choice for the villan.



3. I did not enjoy reading this Buffy book at all. I found it to be very boring--way too much dialogue and way to little action. The author had the Scoobys arguing and explaining everything over and over again, as if the characters were strangers and had no chemistry. I didn't feel as though the author captured the characters or their relationships well at all. He had Buffy constantly feeling negative thoughts and irritation toward Willow, when their friendship (especially in the early years) was quite respectful and true blue. Giles and Buffy seemed to be depicted as not close at all and even early in their relationship, there was still love and understanding there, which I was not feeling from this book. And don't get me started on Xander, who was depicted as no-nonsense, hard-working and independent. Where was our happy-go-lucky, bumbling, jokester? (Remember, this book is supposed to be one year after Buffy came to town, so season 2, right?) I just wasn't buying it. Maybe part of the reason was that the time frame was never really clear until late in the book, or did I miss something? On that note, I must have missed something because Buffy and Angel hardly seemed to know each other, but Xander and Cordelia were already sneaking around, which didn't happen until Buffy and Angel were already going pretty hot and heavy (but before the whole Angelus stuff, so not that hot and heavy, but in love, ice skating rink, kissing Angel's demon face, ring a bell?).
   Anyway, I did like that the book featured Cordelia a lot and didn't depict her as a total idiot or completely heartless. I thought her character was a little more true to form. Also, I thought the plot was cute, original and not totally predictable.
   Even so, I can't bring myself to give the book more stars because I just didn't buy it and had a hard time getting through it. I don't agree with the other reviews and just had to vent!



4. This book was good if a little dry at times. For the most part it keeps you entertained. I like that Cordelia had a big role in the storyline. Usually in the Buffy books she is persona non grata. I did think there should be more focus on Buffy though. It did annoy me that the book didn't narrow down the time period it was set in until close to the end (the writer finally revealed it was set about a year after Buffy came to town). I wanted more about the back story of Buffy. But for a short read this was pretty good. I would recommend it to anyone with a few free hours on their hands.



5. If I hadn't just read 'Spark and Burn,' I would say that 'Afterimage' boded well for the future of Buffy as a book series. Pierce Askegren wedges this story into the time period just as Xander and Cordelia are about to become an item. It's Buffy's junior year during that brief but magical time when things seemed to be going well. Well, as well as slayage ever gets. As stranger (Balsamo) comes to town with a plan to resurrect the Sunnydale drive-in in true 50's style and suddenly waves of strange events haunt the world's most haunted town.
   
   On patrol Buffy and Angel find themselves confronted with werewolves and nightmarish bikers who disappear into thin air when injured. Books disappear from Giles library with the aid of new school nurse and a cheerleader garbed in pink. Both of which also disappear. The Bronze gets a new visitor or two, and suddenly people are taking extra long naps. It takes a while to pin the source of the problem down, but it should be no surprise that Balsamo is not a good guy and that all the ectoplasmic weirdness has something to do with his real identity. The Scooby gang to the rescue, of course.
   
   Askegren does an excellent job of recreating the characters. He handles Cordelia especially well, emphasizing her better qualities. The story borrows its location from other chronicles of the Buffiverse, but it is by no means a slavish effort to simply repeat the same old stuff. As a result the story manages to maintain its freshness. Not at all a bad effort, especially for someone's first try at a Buffy story. It lacks the drama of some of the other novels, but I'm sure most fans will enjoy this visit to the hellmouth.

2 comments about Resurrection #3 (The Wereling).

1. In the third and last book of the Wereling trilogy we catch up to Tom and Kate as they arrive in Chicago after receiving a missive from their friend, Adam Blood, which warned them not to go anywhere near Chicago. This is because of the fact that Takapa, Marcie and all the other bad 'wolves are congregating there for a super secret gathering of purebloods. Tom and Kate know that its dangerous but they are both sick of running and are determined to stop Takapa at all costs.
   
   I have to say that I absolutely loved the first chapter of the story which finds Tom and Kate split up (again) by the bad guys and Kate chased by a car into an alleyway with no escape. Tom's heroic wanna be rescue was wonderfully illustrated by the author as was the surprise of who it was chasing Kate. After this chapter the book continues on into the fast paced, action packed frenzy which was markedly prevelant in the second book. Tom and Kate are thrown from one tight situation to another, constantly separated by either Kate's freakiness about her feelings for Tom or by circumstance and consequence. Once again I enjoyed the book but a breather for the reader (and the characters) once in a while to allow the characters a chance to reflect or feel a bit of emotion would have made the story even more enjoyable. I would have also loved to see another chapter at the end taking place one month after the ending scene, for me it would have made the trilogy complete.
   
   That being said I really liked this story and the trilogy overall and do not hesitate to recommend it as a great teen werewolf story.



2. Tapakapa plans a new revolution, this time in Chicago. His plan is to take the oldest werewolf, whose body has been preserved for hundreds of years, and bring him to life. The resurrection is to take place on Christmas. Kate and Tom don't have much time to stop this, but as always they have some friends to help them. Stacy, Blood and Jicaque are back along with some new purebloods. As if the resurrection isn't enough, they also have to face old Germans who use chants to paralyze and even kill.
   Find out if they can finally defeat the werewolves or if they'll die trying.

5 comments about What Holly Heard (Fear Street, No. 34).

1. i am in love with r.l. stine books..... any scary or bloody books! if ayone has a good book u think i should read reply as a review for this book. im thirteen almost fourteen. reply!



2. Synopsis: Holly Silva is the Gossip Queen of Shadyside High, and tells her best friends Miriam Maryles and Ruth Carver the latest gossip she hears; the latest one being that Mei Kamata is fighting with her mother because her mother doesn't approve of Mei's boyfriend Noah Brennan. Even though Holly has a boyfriend (Gary Foster), she is crazy about Noah, but he only has eyes for Mei. Miriam is satisfied with her life because she has good friends like Holly and Ruth, and is in a stable relationship with her boyfriend, Jed Holman. However, Jed seems to be more uptight and agitated lately, and doesn't tell Miriam what's making him so upset. Miriam asks Holly if she can find out anything about Jed. Later, Miriam sees Jed choking a fellow player to death at the basketball game. Meanwhile, Holly tries anyway she can to get near Noah. But one day, she overhears Noah and Mei talking about killing Mei's mother, and Holly gets really scared. She tells Miriam and Ruth what she overheard, but they tell Holly that Mei probably didn't mean it. Afterwards, news spreads the Mei's mother is really dead and Holly fears for her life, because she feels Noah and Mei heard saw her listening to them.
   
   One night, when Holly spends the evening in the school gym, decorating for the victory rally, she calls Miriam and tells her that someone is trying to scare her. The line goes dead, and Miriam hurries to the gym to know if Holly is okay. She is shocked to find Holly dead in the school gym. Miriam is devastated and tries to figure out who could have murdered Holly and why. The rest of the story becomes a murder mystery as Holly tries to figure out who the murderer could be. She suspects Jed, Mei or Noah to be the murderers, but can she get proof before she is also killed?
   
   Review: I already knew who the real killer was after reading just half the story, because Stine smartly provides hints in the beginning to show how unstable that particular character was. Therefore, even though it didn't come as a shock to me to learn who killed Holly in the end, this was nevertheless, a very entertaining book, because it kept me guessing as to why the other potential suspects would act so strangely as well. Stine kept writing each character so suspiciously that when I was reading some chapters, it made me second guess my own prediction as to who could have done it.
   
   Overall, this is a predictable Fear Street story, but it is still entertaining because of all the twists, and I would say this was one of the better Fear Street novels, but it is not the best one.



3. Do you like secrets? Holly does. She's Shadyside High's Gossip Queen. She's got the hottest news everyday. This time, she's heard a really terrible secret and she told it to all her friends. But someone didn't want Holly to know. Now someone wants to make sure Holly never talks about it again. Lying.........Threats...........Even murder!



4. In the book, What Holly Heard by R.L. Stine, is a book about fiction. There are many characters and many events happen. The main character is a girl named Holly. She tells her friends all the rumors that she hears. Holly is thin and tall who always loves to wear a blue scarf. All these rumors cause her to die. Someone knows what she knows, so she feels scared that they might want to kill her.
   The character that I admire most would be Miriam. She likes all her friends. She never says bad things about any of them. The character I dislike would be Ruth. Ruth at first is Holly's and Miriam's friends but then she gets really mean. She lies to her friends and even kills her pets and even her own friend! She hurts her bestfriend to be with her friends boyfriend.



5. Really pretty bad the worst fear street book. Way to pridetctable [pridected halfway through book!]

5 comments about The Confession (Fear Street, No. 38).

1. Julie and her friends can't stand Al. But they didn't kill him. She's sure of that until one of them confesses. They make a pact to keep the killer's secret, for surely it will never happen again. Right?
   
   Another great one from Stine.



2. Book was unnerving.
   Book arrived in a very timely fashion.
   Book arrived in excellent condition.



3. Julie and her friends, Hillary, Taylor, Sandy and Vincent, all hated Al. Al used to be part of their group, he used be their friend. Just lately he started hanging out with some tough guys from a city called Waynesbridge, which is near Shadyside. They drink beer and smoke. Al has started drinking and smoking to now. Al is always drunk. Hillary, Julie and Taylor were hanging out at Julie's house. Taylor just became part of their group. She just moved here and is going out with Sandy. So she became part of the group. When they were hanging out, Al came to the backdoor. They went to answer it and saw Al. He was completely drunk. He started bugging them. Then he threw a beer can into the sink. He started asking for $20. But Julie wouldn't give it to him. Then he lit a cigarette. Julie's parents don't allow smoking at their house. So he threatened to make a cigarette burn on the counter if she didn't give him the money. Then he dropped it onto the floor. He started pestering Hillary. He said that if she didn't give him the money then he would tell the teacher that she cheated on the chemistry test. But Hillary didn't cheat; Al GAVE the answers to her. She didn't ask for them. Al was blackmailing them all. So Hillary gave him the money. When Al was leaving, Julie's mom walked in. She saw the beer bottle and the still lit cigarette and grounded Julie. Julie tried to tell her mom it was Al's fault but she wouldn't listen. After that, Al started bugging Hillary, he started borrowing money or her car. He was blackmailing her, along with Julie. They went over to Sandy's house. He told them that Al got into a fight and was suspended from school. Then Al was at the back door. He came in and stated pestering them. He looked in the refrigerator. And was asking if they had any beer. They said no. They realized that he was REALLY drunk this time. Sandy tried to calm him down and he punched Sandy and knocked out his tooth. Then Hillary went on a rampage and attacked him. Al thought he could fight and beat Hillary but he was surprised to see that she was just as strong as he was so he left. Julie was late to meeting Vincent for a chemistry experiment. When she got there he was pacing in his yard. He wasn't goofing around like usually. He was worried. He told Julie that he let Al borrow his parent's car. Vincent went out for a ride the other night in the car when he wasn't supposed to. He accidentally sped and got a ticket. Al was walking by when he got a ticket. Al threatened to tell his parents about the speeding ticket if Vincent didn't let him borrow the car. He promised to return it when Vincent got home. But now he was late. Then they saw the car come down the road. It was totaled. Al said it wasn't his fault. Yeah right. Vincent was so upset. When his parents got home he was grounded for life. Julie went rollerblading with her friends. Then everyone had left and she skated a little longer. Then when she went into the alley she found Al... Dead! Everyone thought she killed him but the detectives believed her. Then after the funeral they all went to Sandy's house. He got them into a group for a confession... He killed Al...



4. I liked it. But i didn't love it. R.L.stine has done better. I suggest "the halloween party" if you want to see a good book. the goosebump books are really good too. This book was predictable and boring. UNEVENTFUL throughout most of the book. The good parts were here and there, there was some good parts. But i have read better from R.L. Stine and this is not one of his best. Don't let the awsome cover decive you.



5. Julie, Hillary, Taylor, Sandy, and Vincent all hate Al. Al has been ruining all their lives and getting them in trouble. But that doesn't mean that they want to kill him. Right? Wrong! Not when Sanndy confesses the murder. But we know Sandy will never kill agin... Right?
   
   --Scottie Schaeffer age ten

5 comments about Secret Circle Vol III: The Power (The Secret Circle, Vol. 3).

1. We see Cassie develop from an "everywoman" to a strong and powerful leader. This book turned me into a reader of fantasy books. In this series, magic and sisterhood go hand in hand and it is an irresistible combination.



2. Faye proceeds to tell Diana about Adam and Cassie, twisting the actual truth to suit her needs, making it looks as if the two have carried on an affair behind the coven's and Diana's back. After hearing her "version" of events, Adam tells her to shut up and tells the truth to the coven and Diana; explaining that as far as he knew Cassie was nothing more then an outsider girl that protected him from three witch hunters this summer, even though it got her hurt in the process. Adam thanked her and never expected to see her again after that. Diana says that she's heard enough and the group heads to their homes, Cassie stopping by a neighbor's to check on her mom before heading to Diana's for the night.
   
   At her grandmother's funeral to group meets and recognizes the new form of Black John; it's the new high school principal John Brunswick. Mr. Brunswick makes short work of insuring that the circle can't have free rein of the school anymore and seduces Faye to his side as his assistant. Cassie soon discovers her connection to him, she's John's daughter and he wants her to help him lead the coven in the direction he wants and she also finds out the coven is of his own making, setting himself up as the leader of it.
   
   The coven fights as best it can without Faye and elects Cassie to lead them in her place, since it has become clear where Faye's loyalties lie. As a hurricane that could wipe out the town approaches, John calls to Cassie and the final showdown between good and evil begins.



3. I first read this book and the two before it as a teenager about a decade ago and still enjoy re-reading them. Through the story the characters change and grow lending an air of conviction and meaning to their actions and their fight. The true "villian" is not Faye, but the same dark force fought by the young coven's parents, with devestating results, the generation before. Cassie, Diana, and Faye come together to fight in the end.



4. The first time around, I read this trilogy out of order. I picked this book up in a used bookstore when I was about ten, and I loved it so much that I went out and bought the two other books in the trilogy, and every other one that L.J. Smith had written at that point. Eight years later and it's still probably my favorite book by her.
   
   The development of Cassie throughout all three books is fantastic, and so gradual that you almost don't see it until the second or third book, when you suddenly go, "Cassie, my girl! When did you grow a spine?" In the first book she's a mouse, and by the third one she's a heroine in every sense of the word, without being so larger-than-life and perfect that you can't identify her. The development of the other characters is equally fabulous.
   
   As I mentioned in my review for the second book, I absolutely adore the fact that this author can have half a dozen seemingly disparate plots running, then tie them together in a way which is both elegant and believable. In this book, all of the loose ends are tied up: the Master Tools are found, Black John makes his appearance, the murders are solved, and the coven is faced the choice of standing together or falling apart. The final confrontation with the villain is more mystical than violent, and a fitting conclusion to this marvelous series.
   
   The entire trilogy is excellent, but this is without a doubt the best book of the three.



5. I liked the twist in this book. I really wasn't expecting some of the things that happened, though they may have been right under my nose. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but you're going to be surprised.
   
   This book, more than the first two, is very complex. Smith really does an excellent job of playing on many of the central themes of most pagan philosophy. The story is woven around the ideas of balance and sort of yin-yang philosophy. Plus, she obviously did her research on stones and herbs (as with the previous novels). The only complaint I really have is that there isn't a fourth book.

4 comments about Midnight Games (Fear Street Nights #2).

1. It was a decent book good suspense. It started off as a little slow and got faster then went to slow and boring and confusing. It picked up and got to be faster and easier to understand.
   I'm going to show you a little bit of the book to get you a little taste of it.
   There were these friends and they heard about this mansion and the family that had lived in the mansion. The family knew all about magic and witchcraft. The wife named Angelica Fear was knew all about witchcraft and had a blue jewel that gave her immortality. So she used it and came back in a body that wasn't hers... It was Jamie's...
   One day Dana Fear came into the town for the summer to spend with her family and Dana is related to the Fears and Bad things started happening and they all blamed Dana ....so read the rest of the book to find out what happens......it'll blow your mind.



2. The horrors continue for the Night People.Jamie's cousin Dana Fear comes to Shadyside to spend her senior year at shadyside high.Yet the Fear name isn't popular at Shadyside and with good reason for the Fears are consider Evil murderers.This proves true with Dana's arrival for evil things start to happen and people are dying.Yet Dana claims she innocent is she?Has Angelica Fear returned?To find out you'll have to read the book



3. Dana Fear can imagine one hundred other places in the world she'd rather spend the rest of her senior year, but imagining won't change the fate that has come ot her. For Dana Fear is forced to spend the rest of her senior year at Shadyside High, with her cousin Jamie. The Fear name doesn't have a very good reputation in Shadyside, what with all of the evil history told about them, so Dana receives a very strange welcome. People either want to get to know her in an attempt to learn more about the Fear's, or they steer clear of her, treating her like a witch. But then she's invited to join the Night People. Dana realizes now that Shadyside isn't so bad when you're getting a buzz with some of your closest friends at a bar called Nights. That is, until the evil strikes again. Soon, the Night People are being picked off one by one. Dana tries to tell everyone that she's innocent, but all fingers are pointing at her. After all, she is a Fear...
   
   Sequels are rarely better than their predecessors, but in Stine's case, MIDNIGHT GAMES outshines MOONLIGHT SECRETS - if that's even possible. MIDNIGHT GAMES, narrated by Dana Fear, introduces a new character who raises suspicion in every scene she appears in. Her high-fashion good looks, and I-could-care-less personality will make her appealing to readers; while the characters from the last book in the trilogy, MOONLIGHT SECRETS, will make readers feel at home with some old friendly faces. Overall, this is a fabulous sequel to MOONLIGHT SECRETS, that screams of more death, blood, and...evil.
   
   Erika Sorocco
   Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper



4. This was a great book. It was fast paced with lots of action, charecter descriptions, and two deaths. I liked Dana, but I wish Angelica had been revieled in the last book, and the ending was kinda wierd. Overall a good book.

5 comments about Party Summer (Fear Street Super Chillers, No. 1).

1. In this horriffying thriller, 4 teenagers get a job at "Wolf Inn". They got a friend's aunt to drive them there, then she starts having pains. So they take her to a cousin to help her, then they go to the island. Then they meet the man of the hotel, he tells them the hotel needs fixing and that they should go. The teenagers convince him into fixing the hotel to stay. So he says, " Yes." Then weird things start happening. My opinion is that you should read this great thriller, if you enjoy horrifying books. Also if you enjoy the books R.L. Stine writes,then this book is for you!



2. the 4 teenagers never know when to look behind them because they are staying in an old creepy hotel.it is an action packed thriller.and I would recomend kids of ages 7-12



3. 'Party summer' is a thriller that I can assure you would love. Maybe you find it confusing, but later on you will understand everything perfectly, so I don't recommend you to star reading the book but then you must finish it 'cause you won't get it.
   When I started reading this book, by the way amazing, I fin it a little bit boring... But in the middle.... Oh, my God! It was really suspenseful and I just couldn't stop! I totally advice you reading it, you will extremely enjoy it! It is for all ages, but specially for teens!
   I hope it helped you.



4. I totally recommend everyone reading this book. In my opinion, it is one of R. L. Stine's best books. At the beginning, a girl named Cari and three friends go for a job at an old hotel. When they get there, someone tells them to leave immediately. They don't listen and start working. Everything was okay until they see a ghost, until Simon Fear dies, until they try to escape the island and notice they're TRAPPED!



5. I do not really remember what the story was about except some parts. I am in the 8th grade and had last read the book in the 5th grade when the other day I started thinking of the book and how good it was. I couldnt remember the title and I have spent hours trying to find this book on the internet. After I looked at some titles that looked familiar I found Party Summer, and knew that was the book. I looked at some of the reviews, and sure enough it was! I was sooo happy and after I am finished writing this review I am going to buy this book! Please read, because after about 4 years I remembered how good the book was, and I know that you will love it too. Dont listen to the bad reviews because if you do, you dont know what youre missing! Read!Read!Read!

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!

2 comments about Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (Scholastic Classics).

1. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Scholastic Inc. 194 pp. $3.99 ISBN # 0-439-29575-0
   Robert Louis
   Stevenson
   
   
   Have you ever had a friend that you cared about, good or bad, turn against you? Then your friend might meet a bad person and hop on their boat instead of staying on yours. In this book, Mr. Utterson finds himself trying to solve a mystery about this same situation, with an old friend and a new foe.
   The plot of this book is hard to explain because it's very easy to give this book away. I'll just say that there is a situation between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that involves murder, drugs, death(s), and an unexplained ending.
   Mr. Stevenson also did a good job of making the genre difficult to figure out in this book. The book could go under mystery because of the plot, but I say it goes under science fiction because none of the actual drugs in this book have been created yet. Also, this book deals with medicine and in a way evolution.
   The theme of this book is man vs. man because Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll are fighting each other for dear life!
   Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a must read that deserves 8/10 stars. I recommend the book for sci-fi, mystery, and horror lovers and ages 10 and up.



2. A astounding collection of classic tales of the macabre. Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde takes up about half of the book; the remainder contains storie such as Markhiem, The Bottle Imp, and the Body Snatcher. Written in a fast paced, articulate manner, this book leaves one hanging at the edge of his seat. I hope you don't fall off.

5 comments about Ghost Roads (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. If you were a Buffy/Angel and Scooby gang fan this second installment in this trilogy is a MUST have book!!! Wonderfully written it brings you back to a time when Sunnydale was the place for the fight of the worlds fate! A Great read and a recommendation to buy all 3 books for this story!



2. I'll start off by saying I enjoyed the last book, and for the most part enjoyed this book. But their was a few major problems. While in Europe Buffy and friends get attacked by a person with a lot of guns, instead of leaving the guns, which is what Buffy would of done they take them. This is completley out of character for Buffy. After all she's never been big on guns. Another problem is throughout the book Buffy watches humans die with little to no emotion. Sure they are the bad guys but Buffy doe'snt kill humans period. She always finds a way around it. This book does not stay true to the things Buffy stands for, and for that I give it one star. I mean Buffy with guns, come on guys you know more about the Buffyverse than that.



3. GHOST ROADS
   Book 2 of The Gatekeeper Trilogy
   Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder (1999)
   
   RATING: 3/5 Stakes
   
   SETTING: Season Three
   
   CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Angel, Oz, Giles, Cordelia, Willow, Xander, Spike, Drusilla, Joyce, Sheila Rosenberg, Amy Madison
   
   MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Jean-Marc Regnier, Henri Regnier, Jacques Regnier, Antoinette Regnier, Giuliana Regnier (Gatekeepers); Il Maestro (sorceror); Belphegon (demon); Ian Williams, Micaela Tomasi (traitor Watchers); Claire Bellamy (manager of The Bronze); Brother Anthony, Brother Lupo (Sons of Entropy); Giacomo Fulcanelli (sorceror)
   
   BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Buffy, Oz, and Angel are Europe-bound, only they're not flying any airlines. They're traveling limbo's `ghost roads' in search of Jacques Regnier. Jacques is the sole heir of the dying Gatekeeper whose Boston mansion is the supernatural barrier restraining thousands of the world's monsters. The evil Sons of Entropy will do anything to destroy the gate--even if it means trading the power-laden Spear of Longinus to the wicked vampires holding Jacques. Back home, the ghost ship Flying Dutchman has set sail for Sunnydale, determined to shanghai new crewmen--dead or alive. For Willow, Xander, Cordelia, and Giles, it's an ocean of trouble, especially when the monstrous Kraken reemerges with a vengeance. But everyone's assistance will be needed once Buffy locates Jacques, and uncovers the shocking plans the Sons of Entropy have already placed in motion--a plan that, if successful, will destroy the world and create a horrible new realm ruled by monsters."
   REVIEW
   
   A gigantic sea monster, a manticore, and a skeleton-crewed pirate ship called The Flying Dutchman? It must be either back-to-back Scooby Doo episodes or Book Two in The Gatekeeper Trilogy. With the Gatehouse slowing falling to pieces, more and more fantastic (in the old sense of the word) monsters are escaping into the world. In Ghost Roads, we see Buffy, Oz, and Angel traveling through Europe trying to find a young boy who is destined to become the next Gatekeeper--but as these things go, Spike & Dru stand in their way. Back home in Sunnydale, Willow, Giles, Xander, and Cordelia work feverishly to repair the breaches between this world and the "Overworld" where the monsters originate.
   
   Sounds cheesy doesn't it? Somehow it works, especially the Buffy trio vs. Spike & Dru story thread. It's refreshing to see some of the Scoobies outside of their traditional haunts and the authors obviously had fun researching European cities for the book. Teaming Oz up with Buffy & Angel is a surprisingly effective way of shedding some more light on everyone's favorite lycanthrope and helps show him as something more than just Willow's tag-along boyfriend. Dialogue is excellent--Golden & Holder, unlike most Buffy scribes, are able to write Spike & Dru with just the right mix of menace, playfulness, and insanity.
   
   The Sunnydale thread is the weaker of the two and narrowly escapes being cartoony. Scenes like Giles being forced to walk the plank by skeletal pirates are amusing but too close to farce for comfort. It gets surprisingly serious near the end, however, as Joyce gets kidnapped and a major character gets shot, prompting a trip to the Ghost Roads.
   
   The villains of the book, the Sons of Entropy, are well-depicted. In too much fiction, criminal organizations are either stunningly organized and competent or unbelievably ineffectual. Here, the Sons are individualized to show a wide variety of people in the group with a good depiction of the cult mindset. The Sons' leader, Il Maestro, is a fairly typical evil mastermind.
   
   With excellent dialogue & characterization, and a decent plot, Ghost Roads is a satisfactory middle book in the Gatekeeper Trilogy.
   
   (c) 2005 Jeremy Patrick (jhaeman@hotmail.com)
   
   Jhaeman's Buffy Reviews: http://www.geocities.com/jhaeman



4. Ghost Roads is a heck of a lot better than Out of the Madhouse- there are actual conversations in this novel & not just a bunch of action sequences piled up on one another.
   
   The plot gets more interesting as Oz, Angel & Buffy follow the ghost roads in search of the heir to the Gatekeeper. Willow, Giles, Cordelia & Xander try to keep things in check back home in Sunnydale. Of course, the Sons of Entropy are out in full force & as a refreshing change of pace Spike & Dru are thrown into the mix.
   
   Typical of the Buffy books, this one is fast & easy to read & 100% avoidable if you haven't seen every episode of Buffy a gazillion times already. I only read them because I'm Buffy deprived- purely a guilty pleasure.



5. The Buffy books aimed for adults have always been good and this trilogy is no exception. If you are a fan of the show, you will appreciate how authentic the story line is. Nancy Holder does it again and truly captures buffy and the gang in full action. You cannot stop reading until you have finished all 3 books. Please start with the first book ,"Out of the Madhouse" and continue the books in order. (Ghostroads is book #2) The story will make sense and i promise that you will be fully satisfied at the end. I only wish that this and other buffy books had a chance to be added as shows for the tv series!