5 comments about Inside the Illusion (EverWorld #9).

1. This is, hands down, the best book in the entire Everworld series, my absolute favorite of them all. Put quite simply, this book is awesome overload.
   
   I was very excited to read this book, chiefly because it was narrated by none other than Senna Wales, my favorite character in the entire cast by a thousand light years. I was not disappointed. This book exceeded my hopes.
   
   Everworld is still not a perfect series, and this book doesn't quite bring it up to five star levels, but it is unquestionable that it improves on all the previous books by a wide margin in just about every possible way.
   
   Senna narrates as the group continues on their journey, and at intervals along the way, she remembers things from her past. We finally see Senna's origins, how she ended up with the family of April, the half-sister who hated her, what her parents' names were, how she feels about the rest of the group, what her plans are, how her powers work, and loads of other good stuff.
   
   For someone who has been begging, praying, hoping for deeper character introspection and history since I first read, "Search for Senna" this was a treasure chest of stark, glittering awesomeness. Senna's childhood stories were simultaneously interesting, inquisitive, hilarious, thoughtful, sorrowful, and loaded with character development. Senna's calculating and intelligent personality was a much needed relief from David's idealistic hero fantasies, Christopher's acidic and prejudiced "wit", April's self-righteous spiels, and Jalil's hardcore skepticism.
   
   I'd been fascinated with Senna since I first heard about this series. I was greatly looking forward to reading this book. I had expected Senna to be a ten. What I got was an eleven. She had the most fascinating character, the most history and development, the most unique voice, the best personality, and quite frankly, she dominated this book. She was the center of my attention back when her personality was mostly in the dark. Now that her psyche is actually explored, she makes the rest of the cast look like cardboard cut-outs.
   
   Senna Wales has to be one of the most cunning characters I've ever read about; she's the kind of magnificent, scheming chessmaster who ranks right up there with Petyr Baelish, David Xanatos, and others of their ilk. Her manipulations ran deeper than even I thought, her mastery and exploitation of human nature almost unbelievable, her cleverness and ability to adapt off the charts. She is called the witch who binds the other characters together for darn good reason!
   
   At the same time, I felt a very strong sympathy for her, almost sorrow. Her life story was very sad, very lonely, very cold. It was one of the most effective examples of a sympathetic villain/anti-heroine I've seen for a long while in fiction. After this book, I can say for sure that Senna Wales has secured a place as one of my all-time favorite characters in literature.
   
   The next best part about this book has to be the climax. "Inside the Illusion" had undoubtedly the best finish of any Everworld book. Far from an anticlimax or a hastily scrapped together series of events, the finish here was absolutely amazing. Merlin showed up again, and the ensuing confrontation was a genius blend of Merlin's power and prestige, Senna's guile and improvisation, an absolutely epic battle, and the rage of gods and the unleashing of modern weapons thrown in for good measure. I kind of wish there could have been a little more falling action and closure, but it was still much, much better than any previous Everworld climax.
   
   The best scenes, besides the climax, have to be the mind games Senna plays on Jalil and April with her magic. She has a malicious sense of revenge and humor, mixed with a great understanding of the human psyche. These scenes were wonderful and terrible and believable and awesome all at once.
   
   When I was reading this over, I noticed something. The first word in this book is "I" and the last word is "me." It's narrated from Senna's first person perspective. Someone has a bit of an ego, yes indeed.
   
   Inside the Illusion is an absolutely marvelous book, a masterpiece by Everworld standards, and still very good even by those of the literature I normally read. If you can make it through the generally mediocre and poorly realized saga with occasion gems that is Everworld to get this far, you will not be disappointed. This read was powerfully inspiring and provided priceless insight into the mind of one of my favorite characters of all time. This is the one that makes the whole journey, all the disappointments and sorrow over what might have been and drug-like addictions, all worth it.



2. This book is a bit different because it comes from Senna. I've been wondering why she is the way she is and this book helps explain it. I never really liked Senna and even with this book I still don't but I do feel a bit sorry for her. Here we meet the god of the alligators and travel on into Egypt to find Senna's mother. We find that she isn't much different than Senna herself. We also find out some of the plans Senna has in store including what she is rallying over in the real world. Her own mother even goes behind her back and lets Merlin know where Senna is. Is this a good thing or bad? Is Merlin able to catch Senna?



3. I agree with some thoughts already posted. The books have always overdone each other, which makes the series so good. But it also gets a bit tedious, as mentioned in another post. But overall, the series is the best I've ever read...

   This book, gets in deep detail with Senna, whom I have always wanted to read about. You really get to know her more, and your opinions about her will most likely change. You get to see her past and how she developed into what she is now. If you've read the previous books, read this one: It answers most of the questions you have about the series!




4. I have read the entire series and it is just the best thing ever! I mean it. I just finished the last book and it is just sooooo good of an ending I wish I could just read it over and over. If you enjoy mythology stuff and fantasy you will love these books!



5. Now this was a book I didn't want to put down! If you've read all or even some of the previous ones, this book is must. Finally, some of the mysteries of Everworld begin to unravel, as Senna finally explains her place in everthing...and everyone else's. As the five kids make their way into Egypt, hoping to find Senna's mother, instead they're captured by a large group of Amazons who have conquered the land... I won't say anything else to avoid spoiling the story, buy truly, this one is the best so far. Senna isn't a character I expected to hear from, but somehow, getting inside her twisted head for the first time, it was hard not to identify with her, and sympathize with her at least a bit. Prior to this book, I despised Senna, but now she just might be my favorite. Also, the Amazons as well were simply above cool! Nothing like some good strong females to make a story more exciting. Anyway, this book was great, and I recommend it to anyone who's been following the series. These books don't stand well on their own, and you'd be hopelessly lost otherwise.

5 comments about The Rich Girl.

1. The rich girl, was a very amazing book I read, I was extremely into reading it. So
   It starts off with a girl named Emma, and her friend Sydney, They find cash, out of no where, so they decide to hide it underground. Emma and Sydney promised they'd never tell no one, not anyone about it. Then Sydney couldn't hold in the secret no longer so she told her boyfriend Jason. Jason started to get a bit jealous, because they said they were going to share the money, equally, but Jason didn't like that. Emma killed Jason, but then Sydney started getting letters from someone with the same signature as Jason's handwriting, she tells Emma about it, but Emma doesn't possibly believe Sydney. One night Sydney hears and see's something coming to her room, and you wouldnt believe what she saw..
   
   This is an amazing book >;) so very talented, I love fear street books.. love..
   and yeah, this book was so amazing, and at the end, it was so shocking, and hilarious!



2. R.L. Stine's "Fear Street" is a classic series. He is one of those authors who's writing appeals to people of all ages, no matter how many years have gone by since the books were published. I for one, have been a fan of "fear Street" for many years now. In fact, I started with the ever popular "goosebumps" series, and then moved onto "fear street" and have been reading and collecting the series ever since. Even though I'm 19 now, I still enjoy indulging myself in these books. Sure, the storylines are a bit corny for someone of my age, yet I still find great enjoyment in reading them.
   
   I'm very fond of this particular book in the series, because it was the first "fear street" book that I ever read. Now that I've read the book numerous times, I realize that the plot is a bit ridiculous (even more so than some of the other books in the series) but there's also a great twist, and a really clever ending, which helps to make up for the semi-lame plot.
   
   The book is about two best friends, Sydney and Emma, who find a bag of money in a garbage can outside of their workplace. Sydney, the rich girl, is hesitant to keep it, but Emma, the poor one, convinces her that they should keep it, and they decide to hide the money and agree not to tell anyone about it until their sure its safe. Sydney breaks the agreement and lets their secret slip to her boyfriend Jason, and Emma becomes convinced that Jason is planning on murdering the both of them in order to keep the money for himself. In order to ensure their safety, emma and sydney agree to let Jason have a share of the money, but Emma ends up "killing" Jason after he tries to take the money for himself. Afterwards, strange things start happening to Sydney, and she's convinced that someone saw her and emma in the woods the night that they killed Jason, and she's also convinced that Jasons ghost is haunting her.
   
   But is Jason really dead...?
   
   If you've never read a fear street book, I do recommend that you read this one. Even though its not my favorite one out of the series, its the one that managed to get me addicted, so I'm sure it'll do the same for you!



3. Emma and Sydney find a duffel of money in the dump. Emma tells Sydney not to tell anyone but Sydney breaks her promise and tells her boyfriend about it. The ending is really funny!



4. This is the one of the many books of the Fear Street series, and it's really good. Fear Street is a series about scary and/or supernatural events that happen to teenagers in a ficitional town called Shadyside. In this book, two best friends find a duffle bag stuffed with thousands of dollars. The friend who comes from a wealthy family wants to turn it in, but her poor friend begs her to bury the money with her and keep it secret until they can spilt it up and share it. One tells her boyfriend, and tricks and twists proceed. This has a pretty good twist ending and gives a good taste of future books in the series.Pulitizer material it's not, but for young teens, or anyone wanting a quick thrilling read, this suits the bill just fine.



5. A rich girl who doesn't financially need to work, but only works so that she knows what it is like to have to work, and a poor girl who has to work find a bag of money. The rich girl doesn't need the money, but the poor wants it. They decide to hold it for a while and if nobody claims it, they'll keep it. The suspense is very thrilling, because you don't know if anybody will claim it or not. And I'm not going to tell because you have to read the book yourself and I don't want to ruin it for anyone.
   
   I've read many R.L. Stine Fear Street Books, and even though they are all good, this book is one of the better ones.

5 comments about A New Fear (Fear Street Sagas #1).

1. Nora Goode's husband died in a terrible fire. Now, she is an insane asylum with their child Nicholas Fear. The people there are trying to take Nicholas away from her so she runs away. Years later, Nora and Nicholas are in a different town and with different surnames. Will changing their surnames spare them from the curse?



2. I never get tired of reading this book. But my book is all torn up but I still like it! :) And R.L. Stine is still my favorite novelist.



3. R.L.Stine Did it again! ThIS BOOK was really good!!!! Just like the others that he wrote! This book is so good I finished it in one day. I kept on turning the pages... couldn't stop reading! You would NEVER firgure out wat or who the ________ was! I mean It was really a shocking ending... like thats a surprise! Lolz! Neways you should really read the book! I think you might like it! I mean the book was great! Even my friends like it! Enjoy Reading!



4. This books is great and is very intense. There is a lot of gore in this book but thank goodness no pictures.



5. Nora Goode is trying to forget the giant fire that killed every single member of the Fear family. Unfortunately, her story about what really happened the night of the fire has landed her in an insane asylum, where she must raise her and Daniel Fear's son, Nicholas. Fortunately, she is able to escape with Nicholas to a new village where no one knows about the terror they have faced.
   
   Eighteen years later, Nicholas is much older, and right as Nora dies, she tells him about a legacy in his family. Now, Nicholas is determined to find out the truth of his family's legacy. But one thing he doesn't know is that his legacy holds more terror than he could have ever imagined. Will he be able to survive the ancient curse that has terrorized his family for so long?
   
   A NEW FEAR is a much-needed sequel to the Fear Street Saga trilogy. I think this book is pretty good. It's interesting knowing Nora's future. What I didn't like was that it took quite a while for the novel to get scary. But when it finally does get scary, you'll be gripping on the edge of your seat to find out what happens. I thought I had it all planned out, but I was wrong. This is a must-read for all Fear Street fans.

5 comments about House of Whispers (Fear Street Sagas #2).

1. Amy visits her cousin Angelica Fear. She feels an evil presence in her cousin's house and fears she will never escape.



2. Being a long time fan of the Fear Street series, I've read all of the books and own a majority of them, and I've found that I particularly like the ones which go back in time and feature the members of the Fear family.
   
   This one is about a girl named Amy, who goes to stay with her cousin Angelica Fear (the wife of Simon fear) and discovers that the rumors of Angelica being into the dark arts to be true. Its predictable, as most of these books are, but its not cheesy like they usually tend to be



3. When Amy Pierce's father is injured at war, her mother is off to help him, while Amy will be staying at her cousin Angelica Fear's house. However, Amy soon begins to learn that behind all of Angelia's riches and beauty, there is terror. Many people are afraid of her, and some rumors say that Angelia practices dark magic and uses it to kill.
   
   Amy doesn't believe any of this. Until she starts to get an unpleasant fealing in Angelica's home. Something is watching her...something not human. She's sure that something isn't right when many deaths start to happen. Amy must find out quickly if she really is living with a murderer. But she better be careful, because anything she does might cause her to end up dead.
   
   HOUSE OF WHISPERS is a pretty interesting novel, especially for fans of Fear Street. A little problem I had was that at some points, it seemed like R.L. Stine forgot the story was about horror, and it became a romance novel. And the surprise ending isn't really much of a surprise. But it will definitely scare you, and have you gripping on the edge of your seat from the beginning to end.



4. This was a good book because is was about a girl name Amy who visited Angelica Fear what ever the name was anyways Amy didn't the history of the Fear family. Many fun and exciting things happen! So i you shoulud read it if you like Goosbumps and ghost stories. ^_^



5. Terrific book. It was scary,exciting,myserious with a touch of romance. Totally recomend this book. READ IT!

5 comments about The Ragwitch.

1. I liked this one - not quite as good as Sabriel. Garth Nix makes me remember being a 12 year old and staying up late to finish Ray Bradbury, Ursula Le Guin, Patricia MacKillip. As a matter of fact, that is exactly what I just did.



2. When I first picked up the book, I wasn't sure how enthusiastic or how long it would take me to read. It seemed odd, and even after I had finished it, it still struck me as strange. It's not Nix's best work, but I can't say that it was bad. I ended up recomending it to some of my friends to see what they thought of it and they agreed that it was just not that grippping. We all enjoyed it, but thought it lacked something.



3. Evan Billek 2/25/07
   
   The Ragwitch by: Garth Nix 0-06-050807-8
   
   Rag doll or Ragwitch?
   
   Can you imagine a young girl trapped inside the mind of an evil witch? Can you also imagine a young boy on a quest to rescue his sister? Well that all happens in this exciting fantasy book The Ragwitch.
   Paul and his sister Julia stumble upon an old rag doll one day. The doll takes over Julia's mind and kidnaps her to another world. Paul goes after to rescue her. Paul needs to find the four elementals, so he can rescue Julia. Julia is trapped inside the mind of the ragwitch where she meets others who the ragwitch has taken over. Paul gets four items from the elementals, which get turned into a weapon to kill the ragwitch
   
   I really enjoyed this book. It was a real page turner. It had excitement and the plot was amazing, I didn't want to put it down. The chapters end with cliff hangers which made me want to continue to see what happened next. It was also hooked me because I really enjoy Garth Nix's style of writing. He has a way of having you really get to know the characters. When I know how a character is going to react to something it makes me enjoy the book a lot more. He also did a great job of intertwining two stories, so by the end it all worked out. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who really enjoys fantasy. This was excellent fantasy book because it had strange, weird creatures, and magic, and it took place in a different world. I would also recommend this book because it was very exciting. The author leaves you hanging which keeps you begging for more. The plot was great and it makes you wish the book was longer. If you are a big fantasy fan this is the perfect book for you. It has everything you could ask for and more. This is a great book for anyone eighth grade and up. It is close to four hundred pages long, and it is a moderately difficult read. The Ragwitch excellent book and I would definitely recommend it.



4. Paul had always wondered why that sand dune on the beach was red. When his sister, Julia, finds an unusual rag and mysterious doll in the dune, both of their lives will never be the same. The doll happens to have an evil spirit that takes control of Julia's actions. The spirit, known as the Ragwitch, vanishes after walking into a wall of flames. Paul, overwhelmed by what has happened, walks into the flames to try and save his sister. Paul soon finds himself in a place other than Australia. He turns out to be on another world, where people are in constant fear of creatures such as Gwarulch, Meepers, and Agnarling; creatures who do the Ragwitch's evil bidding. When Paul finds out that Julia has become part of the Ragwitch's body, and that she feels what the Ragwitch feels, Paul knows he has to find her, before it's too late. Early in his travels, Paul meets an old man, known to be one of the wise. He tells Paul that the only way to defeat the Ragwitch is to gather the four Elemental items:air, water, fire, and earth. As Paul leaves he notices an older boy traveling in a balloon. The boy, named Quigin, was sent to take Paul to wherever he wanted to go to, and is also able to talk to animals. Meanwhile, Julia is becoming more and more of the Ragwitch, and is losing her thoughts, which are being replaced by the Ragwitch's memories. This changes when Julia finds another person imprisoned in the witch's mind. This spirit named Lyssa brings Julia out of her imprisonment and into one of the witch's memories. As Julia tries to bring the witch down one way, Paul does the same by going on a journey to collect the Elemental items. Throughout the pages, Paul collects the feather of Air, the blood of Water, the coal of Fire, and the vegetable of Earth. As he is pursued, Paul awakens to find himself next to the Patchwork King, who takes the ingredients and makes a spear that can kill the Ragwitch. In the climatic final battle, Paul goes to the Ragwitch, stabs her in the arm, and kills her. The Ragwitch, by Garth Nix, is an exceptional fantasy novel that should be read because of its action, fantasy, and because of its intense suspense.
   
   The Ragwitch, by Garth Nix, had a great amount of action. Throughout the novel, there are frequent battles in which the Ragwitch's army devastates anyone in her path. When Paul and Quigin arrive in the fishing village of Dombreye, Quigin finds that the Gwarulch are close by, with armies of Meepers accompanying them. When the battle for the village does take place, the Gwarulch fight viciously, and easily defeat the town, after Paul and Quigin escape under the sea. The last battle is also important, as many humans are killed.
   
   This novel is also a prime example of a fantasy story. When the Ragwitch escapes to her world, Paul follows her by constructing a pyramid of twigs and walks through flames. In this world, Paul finds himself captured by a race of tree-like creatures known as the May-dancers. After he is released, Paul finds a place where magic and wizards are ceasing to exist. In a world where a kingdom is falling to the Ragwitch, Paul is overwhelmed.
   
   Suspense is also a major factor in The Ragwitch. When Paul is involved in the final battle, he must escape the claim the Fire and Earth elements. However, as he does, the Ragwitch sees him running and orders her minions to pursue and apprehend him. For the next several chapters, Paul and Quigin evade her and collect the elements. However, this does not last forever, as Paul goes to the witch and is threatened that if Paul kills her, he kills Julia as well.
   
   The Ragwitch, written by Garth Nix, is an exceptional fantasy novel mostly because it is an intriguing story about a boy who tries to save his sister against all odds. When Paul fights the witch, he realizes that evil may have the upper hand, but good always comes through. This novel should be read because of its numerous battle scenes, its thrillers, and because of its excellent depiction of an alternate-realty world. I rate this novel 5 stars out of 5.
   
   A. Chappell



5. I absolutely loved the triology of "Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen", so I bought this book with great expectations. And to be honest, my impression after the first few pages was "oh dear.....". The reader is immediately plunged into the story, without any opportunity to undertand the central characters. This is a real shame, as this would have made the story of their growth as human beings even more enchanting. However, I continued, and although not up to the standard of his later works, Nix's lively imagination is portrayed richly in an interesting and unusual storyline. To anyone interested in purchasing this book, I would highly recommend that they do. Not simply because it is a good read, but it is invaluable in showing Nix's growth as an author.

5 comments about First Date (Fear Street, No. 16).

1. Chelsea has just recently moved to Shadyside. She is very shy and has never been on a date.
   A new boy in school, shy Will, seems interested in her. And at work she meets an angry but good looking boy, Sparks, who also may like her.
   But one of the boys is a murderer.
   
   This was an okay book, but nothing more. It has none of wow moments Stine is so good at.



2. I really enjoyed this book. I liked the fact that some of the book was told from the killers point of view. It moved pretty fast and kept me on my toes.
   
   I'd recommend this book. 4 stars. I finished this book in approximately 1 day.



3. This is the one of the many books of the Fear Street series, and it's really good. Fear Street is a series about scary and/or supernatural events that happen to teenagers in a ficitional town called Shadyside. In this book, a sweet, shy girl who has trouble with boys happens to meet two interesting ones. Too bad one's a deranged killer, the mystery is, which one? This has a pretty good twist ending and gives a good taste of future books in the series.Pulitizer material it's not, but for young teens, or anyone wanting a quick thrilling read, this suits the bill just fine.



4. First Date is one of the best books in the Fear Street series. Although predictable, it still had style and substance, and actually contained some very suspensful parts, unlike other Fear Street books.
   The book describes 15 year old Chelsea Richards, a shy, lonley, high school student who is looking for love.
   She soon meets two boys, a 20 year old high school dropout by the name of Tim Sparks, and a new boy at school named Will Blakely.
   Soon both of them ask her out, although when she finds out the FBI are on the trail of a serial killer who looks alot like Tim Sparks, she rats him out and chooses to go on her first date with Will Blakely.
   Unfortunately for Chelsea, Will is the actual serial killer. His real name is Lonnie Mayes, and he kills girls who look like his mother or his sister in each town he visits.
   Will Chelsea's first date also be her last?



5. I really disliked how heartless Will Blakely was..other than that this was a great read.

5 comments about Spike and Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row.

1. SPIKE & DRU: PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW
   
   Christopher Golden (2001)
   
   RATING: 5/5 Stakes
   
   SETTING: Pre-First Season (circa 1940)
   
   CAST APPEARANCES: Spike, Drusilla, Kakistos
   
   MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Sophie Cartensen (Slayer); Yanna (Watcher); Skrymir (frost demon); Marie Christine-Fontaine, Harold Travers, John Travers, Mrs. Giles (Watcher's Council); Eleanor, Ariana de la Croix (Potentials)
   
   BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY
   
   "It's 1940, and Europe is ravaged by World War II--an ideal environment for demon paramours Spike and Drusilla. The anniversary of Dru's resurrection as a vamp impends, and Spike wants to celebrate. What better gift than Freya's Strand--a powerful necklace rumored to allow its wearer to shape-shift at will? Spike learns of a demon named Skrymir, who claims to possess the bauble and is willing to trade. Spike's task is to infiltrate the Watcher's Council headquarters and get his hands on the list of young women in training to take over as Slayer should they be called. In exchange for Freya's Strand, Spike must kill the reigning Slayer, a brazen young woman named Sophie, as well as the Slayers-in-Waiting. And if he succeeds, it could mean the end of the Chosen One--all of the Chosen Ones--forever . . ."
   
   REVIEW
   
   By far the best Buffy book I've read yet, Spike & Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row focuses on the exploits of the pair during the early days of World War II as they try to exterminate the line of Potentials at the behest of a frost demon named Skrymir. The period's Slayer, Sophie Cartensen, stands in their way.
   
   What makes this novel so good? First, Golden obviously researched the time period he was writing in--the detail and history are correct, and set up the right atmosphere for the book. Second, Christopher Golden gives this sword-wielding Danish Slayer great characterization, and the reader can really visualize her personality and fighting style. Her final showdown with Spike & Dru is tragic yet amazingly well-written. Third, he does a great job capturing Spike & Dru's twisted but loving relationship.
   
   The book is explicit, both in terms of sex and violence, but it works beautifully because Spike & Dru don't draw much of a distinction between the two. Most importantly, the book makes you care about the characters involved (Sophie, her watcher, and Spike & Dru) and unlike most Buffy novels, the combat scenes are really pulse-pounding, page-turning affairs. One scene in particular, where Spike & Dru attack Sophie and her watcher on board a train hurtling through the dark of night is wonderfully written and well-paced, and more exciting than many of the television show's fight scenes. Other interesting parts of the book are an early look at Kakistos (the vampire responsible for killing Faith's first Watcher) and more insight into how the Watcher's Council functions.
   
   Obviously, the reader's enjoyment of this book turns upon how much interest they have in Spike & Dru. Readers interested only in Buffy and her sidekicks may not get much out of it, but both as a Buffy novel and a plain adventure/horror novel, this one is definitely worth reading.



2. There's not much I can add here that others haven't already touched on. I'm a big fan of mixing horror with historical settings, so the atmosphere and fresh new characters were something I enjoyed a lot. I'm a big Spike and Dru fan, and their evil ways don't really bother me at all. I've always liked stories where the bad guys win.
   There are two problems here for me. One, the epic last battle in the Watchers' Council while the bombs are falling is way too rushed, and deaths from the perspective of non-evil characters are rolled through too easily.
   Two, Spike's storyline has been set up numerous times in both Buffy and Angel, and it's been said in multiple episodes that Spike killed TWO and only two Slayers in his lifetime- the one from the Boxer Rebellion, and the one who he got his infamous jacket from. But in this book, he kills a third Slayer chronologically in between the original two. I kept waiting for them to find a way for the Slayer to die without him killing her, but no, he kills her easy as pie with no way to tie this in to the main timeline. Therefore, I can't take this book seriously as an addition to the official Buffyverse, which relegates it to being glorified fanfiction that somehow slipped through the cracks and got published.
   Really, it's well-written for what it is, but I can't get around the third Slayer. I'm just an [...] fan like that I guess.



3. I first read this book shortly after it was published in 2001 and I enjoyed it immensely. I had read every Buffy novelization written up until that point, and "Pretty Maids" struck me (in a good way) because it wasn't as formulaic as many other novelizations as it offered a completely new angle of the Buffyverse - the history of Spike and Dru. Considering that the majority of the characters are newly invented by the author, Golden does an excellent job of fleshing them out, giving them distinct personalities and making them sympathetic characters (more sympathetic than many of the potential slayers we are introduced to in season 7!).
   
   My response to some comments by other reviewers:
   
   Some readers felt that the book's violence, particularly the murders of several young girls (potential slayers) was extremely graphic - too graphic. Which is true. Golden depicts some very disturbing scenes of murder, but the graphic nature of the violence rings true to what we know about crimes committed by notorious vampires like Spike and Dru. We hear constantly on the show that Spike, Dru, and Angel have done some really nasty, unforgivable things as vampires, and here at last are examples of some atrocities they may have committed in the past. The murders may be tough to stomach, but you can imagine that Spike and Dru really have done that - and much worse - in their years as soulless, chipless vampires.
   
   In defense of the author regarding the major inconsistency in the identity of the second slayer Spike murdered ... "Pretty Maids" was published before "Fool for Love" aired, the fifth season episode in which Spike reveals the identity of the second slayer. We learn in the second season when Spike and Dru first come to Sunnydale that Spike killed two slayers - the first one in the Boxer rebellion - but the revelation of the murder of the second slayer happens three years later - after publication.
   
   This inconsistency may be a bit of a turn-off, but if you accept this one diversion from what Joss Whedon has established as Buffyverse fact, "Pretty Maids" makes for an entertaining read.



4. If you're picking up this book for a good Spike and Drusilla story, you won't be entirely disappointed. The books starts out almost completely focusing on the pair, but somewhere they get lost and you find the story focusing on the good guys. This wouldn't be a bad thing if the author had more talent, but he sadly doesn't. This piece is poorly written if you take character development, reader sympathy, and description into consideration. countless times I found myself wishing I actually cared about the character, wishing I actually knew what something vaguely described (and that is throwing a bone) actually looked like.
   
   There are exactly two great parts of this book: Spike and Drusilla. Golden portrays them fairly well. Sometimes you'd notice an awkwardness to their dialogue, or get the feeling that the sex scene wasn't as much of a literary description as much as a fan-boy's wetdream.
   
   Once you read this, you might find yourself asking who is who. The only way I could differentiate one potential slayer from another is when he gave their country of origin. Even then, I couldn't remember which ones lived and died, save for the two "main" potentials. The Louisiana girl is the only one I found myself caring about, and that comes from a single tender scene where she warms up to the current Slayer. There's a small romance under story between a potential and a watcher that is just fluff.
   
   The end of this story is a let down and not the sort of result you'd expect from your favorite pair of Vampire Lovers.
   
   Overall, the story is fast-paced and easy to read. If you're not part of the Buffyverse fandom, then you won't enjoy this book unless you're also a young male that falls in love with the section about Drusilla walking, swimming, and killing while nude.



5. I really enjoyed this book right up until the end. I liked the characters very much, i especially like how the author bought alot of little characters from Buffy and incorperated them into the story.i didnt like the ending because it didnt fit in with the show in that spike kills another slayer. I also thought that the last 20 pages were very uneventful and could have simply been left out.
   but i still liked the book and would recommend it to any buffy fan

5 comments about Prime Evil (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. This is the first BtVS book I've read, and I have to confess that I'm a little disappointed. The characters were portrayed brilliantly and the trademark Buffy humor was undeniably present, but the positive attributes of this novel stop there.
   
   Though it remains true to the show, this book suffers from amateur writing and poor editing. The plot focuses on a primal witch from early civilization with great power, but the author strays too often into reverent descriptions of nature that resemble something I would expect to see on the Discovery Channel. Many of the passages detailing the witch's past were self-indulgent and poorly dramatized. BtVS is known for its sympathetic and entertaining villains, but there is none of that to be found here. I found the character of the witch to be rather boring, and the author relies far too heavily on magic events to advance the plot and attempt to explain some of the plot's more bizarre attributes. Without revealing the story, suffice it to say that I was irritated most of the time when reading this novel, and often ended up flipping through the book in a futile attempt to figure out some of the more nonsensical elements of the plot--characters knowing things they shouldn't and saying things that they shouldn't be able to say (as a result of the witch's magic). While these complaints may seem small, they were enough to distract me from enjoying the heart the author managed to put into the characters and quite frankly ruined the experience for me.
   
   On a more petty note, the author seemed intent on making as many deliberate references to Season 3 episodes and past BtVS novels as possible. Rather than add depth to her plot, these asides seemed to come out of left field and had little to no relation to the story. Since they lack any practical purpose, I can only conclude that these references were intended to prove the author's familiarity with BtVS canon which, while effective, did nothing to prove her talent as a writer.



2. That's what I get for choosing a book based on Amazon reviews. I should really know by now that I march to the beat of a different drummer...actually it's not a drum at all, it's a bagpipe. ;P While I didn't hate the book, it wasn't nearly as good as I was led to believe. The whole feel to the book wasn't quite right, it didn't have that Buffyverse atmosphere. Part of that had to do with the overabundance of Crystal/Shugra's point-of-view, which took away from the other characters. While I didn't mind a bit here and there, the flashbacks were unnecessary, often boring and uninteresting; they really added nothing to the book and were more filler than anything. The characterizations were decent but lacked energy and didn't quite hit the mark. I didn't sense much depth and sometimes, I hate to say it, they were rather bland. There wasn't much humor but it managed to get a few smiles out of me. The ending was the best part and definitely had more of the usual Buffyness than the rest of the book.
   
   What I found amusing is the remark about nothing suspicious happening in Cleveland. Since there happens to be a Hellmouth stationed there, I would think there would be plenty of abnormalities. Demonic activity was actually mentioned in the episode 'The Wish' that came out before this book was written, but maybe I can let that pass since the episode was mainly set in an alternate time-line. Although I still don't get why there wouldn't be a Cleveland Hellmouth in both realities. Gosh, I'm such a BuffyGeek. :D
   
   Still, I enjoyed the book and appreciated the author adding in little things sprinkled throughout for the fans.



3. I enjoyed the book as it was like watching a Buffy Episode on TV. However I found that it is not one of my favourites of the series as others have been written better and with more depth. I do prefer the books written by Christopher Golden when it comes to the Buffy Series.
   The book did stick true to the characters and told an interesting tale of an ancient witch with true prime evil magic. Definitely worth a read for any true Buffy fan.



4. This was one of my favorite Buffy books I have read so far. The characters are well defined, and exactly what you would expect from the show. The best part of this story, though, is the interesting plot. It involves all of our favorite characters from the series, as well as some original characters such as Crystal Gordon, the shady new teacher at Sunnydale High. I highly reccomend this book to any Buffy fan, even if this is the your first Buffy novel. Excellent.



5. It's not the best but hardly the worst in the Buffy line of original novels that tie into the TV show. This novel takes place in what most people consider Buffy's prime, namely the third season where she is a senior at Sunnydale high school. The school has an attractive new history teacher named Crystal Gordon who just happens to be the reincarnation of an ancient primal witch. She needs to recruit and essentially use some students in order to regain her full powers. Buffy immediately notices something not right and the two share a strong dislike for each other. While Buffy shares her concern with Giles and the rest of the gang, Crystal is recruiting students to her cause...including Willow. Now the Scoobies have to stop the witch and rescue Willow before she becomes to powerful to stop.
   
   Diana Gallagher has a good feel for the character of the Buffy-verse and the various characters talk and act just as they do on the TV show. Of course part of that is due to the control that Fox puts on the writers of these books. I understand they have pretty tight reins and call for lots of re-writes. The book does bog down a bit in the research phase of things as we learn about Crystals past but all in all it's a good effort and one of the better of the original Buffy novels.

5 comments about Forbidden Secrets: Fear Street Sagas #3.

1. i dont remember too much about this one, other than i couldnt put it down. it's been 10 years since i read it last, so here i am, 24 years old and trying to pay bills like an adult, spending my hard- earned money on a kids book that im sure i will keep around longer than the last time i owned it!



2. This book is one of the more silly books of the Fear Street Sagas. It takes place during the war, and the main character is Savannah Gentry (not Madison, like it says on the back of the book for some reason) who falls in love with Tyler Fier. Her parents are dead and her brother is killed in the war, so she and her sister Victoria go live with Tyler, despite Victoria's insistence that his home is evil, yadda yadda yadda. As soon as they move in the deaths begin (including the token face smashed-in death with bubbling brains) and as usual, not everyone is what they seem.



3. this book is absolutely wonderful and emotionally well described. the story is set in the olden times and revolves around two sisters, savannah and victoria.savannah is described as beautiful and sweet and victoria is the intense and sharp minded one who plactices dark arts. it is not all that hard to guess who the narrator of the story is. the ending is however quite sad and i could not stop thinking about it for quite some time. but i guess that is how r.l.stine wanted it to be. try it . it is worth reading .



4. It was very good- quite unpredictable I think. Tyler Fier seems to be a very handsome & charming guy- and very evil. Savannah is very sweet and trusting- and her sister Victoria is kind of freaky- she practices black magic- but then so did Tyler. I recommend you read it. It's suspenseful and R.L. Stine did a fantastic job of setting the scene and mood.



5. This is a fabulous story about life in the past with a Fier. It is a thrilling taleIt is a thrilling tale about a curse that lives in the liveof someone involved in the horror of the curse.

5 comments about Cold in Summer.

1. Tracy Barrett's Cold in Summer follows the story of Ariadne as she and her family move from Florida to Tennessee, uprooting all Ariadne has known and thrusting her into an unfamiliar, country environment. Expecting to hate it in Tennessee, Ariadne is intrigued when she meets a strange girl named May who seems to slip in and out of her life with ease and is never seen by anyone else. Or is she? Just who is this May, and why do people clam up whenever Ariadne asks about her?
   
   Barrett's story is well done, with just the right touches of creepiness and mystery to keep the pages turning. Ariadne is a typical pre-teen looking to fit in, and her interest in both May and the area builds as the story progresses. Barrett does a good job of pulling the reader in and keeping you intrigued as she carefully reveals May's tragic tale; only at times did I feel some of the scenes inserted seemed unnecessary in advancing the storyline. Being from Tennessee, I was pleased to see Barrett's enclosure of local tales as well as a few myth-busting insertions. This book is fun and just right for pre-teens looking for creepiness that is not overwhelming.



2. Tracy Barrett has created a wonderful, enthralling read for young adults and adults! I always try to pre-read fiction before giving it to my daughter, and found this book incredibly intriguing. Once I started it, I couldn't stop! I read into the night, woke early to read before breakfast, had it in the car in case I got stuck in traffic, and hid it on my desk under my work to finish it. Truly a "can't put it down" book.
   
   The story is realistic and set in modern times, but highlights the deductive reasoning of an intelligent 12 year old girl to solve a mystery over 100 years old. There's no witchcraft or wizardry necessary - just a wonderfully written, imaginative story that draws you in and won't let go until you've finished the book.
   
   I would highly recommend this book to anyone.



3. In this book Tracy Barret has excellent writing that took me into a whole other world where I could see the characters and feel the surroundings. I deffinetly would recommend this book. At first one would think "Oh I already know this. Why read the rest?" I promise it gets good. It tells you May is a ghost but the suspense is thrilling and really rewarding at the end.
   * . * . *
   Ariadne just moved from Florida into a small rural town in Tennessee where everybody knows everybody. Ariadne misses what she calls "home". May who has lived there all her life is "lost" and counts on Ariadne to get her "home". Many people have tried to help her but can Ariadne be the one to do it? I promise you will understand EVERYTHING once you read the book!



4. The book Cold in Summer is about a girl named Ariadne. She moves from Florida,the best place on earth,to Tennesse. The town is so rural and everybody knows everyone. One day when Ariadne feels sad a strange dull-looking girl named May Butler comes to her! May tries to help her,Ariadne wonders if she's the only one that see's her! A few people have but it was nearly 100 of years ago. Ariadne's social studies project helps her find the truth about her strange and mysterious friend. She wil do anything to find out the truth,even a life and death situation/conflict!



5. 
   "Cold in Summer" is a short and fast-moving fiction book set in the small and rural town of Dobbin, Tennessee. It is told from the point-of-view of twelve-year-old Ariadne has just moved with her family from her childhood home in Florida. She's missing where she grew up, her best friend Sara, and the familiarity of her old home.
   One day after swimming in the lake Ariadne encounters an odd, quiet girl who dresses in old-fashioned clothing called May Butler. There is something extraordinary about May, she seems to appear when Ariadne is lonesome and then swiftly disappear. Ariadne feels a more of a connection with May than any of the other girls she has met in Dobbin. Ariadne is curious about this out of the ordinary girl and soon finds out that May is trapped, in a place where it is "cold in summer and warm in winter", and is not able to get home. Ariadne can relate to this emotion of being stuck somewhere you don't desire to be and knows that she has to help May. While doing research for a school assignment, and with some assistance from other's stories, she begins to uncover the truth behind an unsolved mystery of the past.
   The book was cleverly written because it combines the stresses and problems of moving to somewhere new and trying to fit in and also has a dark mystery involving the past. The story was unconvincing in parts because Ariadne was slow to understand things and you know what is to come early in the story. A lot of the character's and details were described in little detail and it was difficult to imagine the story really happening. However, I liked this book because a lot of people, including me, can relate to the way Ariadne feels when her family suddenly decides to move.
   I chose this book to read for my assignment in L.A. mostly because the front cover stood out, there is a girl who is partly transparent looking out from behind the trees, and I wondered who it was and what the title meant, so I checked it out.
   This would be an enjoyable book for someone who likes ghost and mystery stories and wants an easy read.