5 comments about Tales of the Slayer, Volume 2 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. An improvement on the last book, this set of stories is bookended by two Buffy tales. Here we have a pirate slayer, a samurai slayer, a slayer that encounters both Springheeled Jack and Dracula, and works with a group of friends.
   
   A little bit more of the fun here, as some of the slayers are more successful, especially one that is a union soldier with the support of a general and his armaments.
   
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 01 All That You Do Comes Back Unto Thee Sunnydale California 2000 - Todd A. McIntosh
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 02 Lady Shobu Sagami Province Japan 980 - Kara Dalkey
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 03 Abomination Beauport Brittany France 1320 - Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 04 Blood and Brine The Caribbean 1661 - Greg Cox
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 05 The Ghosts of Slayers Past London England 1843 - Scott Allie
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 06 The New Watcher Atlanta Georgia 1864 - Kristine Kathryn Rusch
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 07 House of the Vampire London England 1897 - Michael Reaves
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 08 The War Between the States New York Ciry New York 1922 - Rebecca Rand Kirshner
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 09 Stakeout on Rush Street Chicago Illinois 1943 - Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 10 Again Sunnydale California 1999 - Jane Esperson
   
   
   Magic boy's mummy mistake.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Bored Japanodemonslayer.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Domestic decision dooms slayer.
   
   3 out of 5
   
   
   Pirate captain slayer crossdresses, lacks parrot, then hand. Captain Krakenhook?
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Snob Watcher.
   
   2.5 out of 5
   
   
   Union general supports his non-regular soldier.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Dracula and Van Helsing leads to Scooby gang shutdown, Springheeled Jack still on the loose.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Sally seeks showbusiness, finds Slayer instead.
   
   3 out of 5
   
   
   Slayer spells it out for Nitti.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Scooby gang retro.
   
   2.5 out of 5



2. This is the type of book I get a little sad when I get near the end. Must read!



3. This is 1 of my favorite books ever, 1 f my favorite story lines was Blood and Brine I loved the pirate slayer. My favorite story in this book was the last 1 where Buffy, Willow, and Xander go back in time I loved the fact that Buffy got to see her mom again and that she wasn't stuck with Dawn for once. I think that when the show brought Dawn on the show and killed Buffy's mom is when they ruint Buffy, from the 5th season on the show slowly went downhill. I HIGHLY recommend this book it is definitely the best Buffy book in the series.



4. I've always love BTVS because of the Mythology of the Slayer line and how she's Chosen and all of that, I also love the characters and how they're written so well.....But i've often wondered about Past Slayers, what they were like, and what their life was like because as we've always known, Buffy is just one of many Slayers throughout the Years. I loved this Book and how it told about Different Slayers from Different Era's and how that particular Era effected their Duty as the Slayer.
   I've seen other Reviews where people ask what good a 'Pirate' Slayer would be and if you really think about it, all of the Vampires that Migrate from country too country more than likely use Ships too Travel in because of the Dark Rooms beneath the Surface, she could stop that from happening.
   My Favorite story in this book was probably "Stake out on Rush Street", among a few other's....I also liked the one about the Civil War Slayer and the one about the Slayer who fought Dracula........
   I thought it was a very good book and I recommend it to other fans of Buffy and especially Fans of the Buffy Books.



5. It felt like it took me forever to finish this book. The stories were not as well written as the first book and it wasn't as interesting. The only highslight stories were Again written by Jane Espenson and Abonmination by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Mertz.

5 comments about Secret Admirer (Fear Street, No. 36).

1. peaople who say this is 4 kids under 12 or whatever your wrong its just cause you dont understand it this book was amazing i loved it i couldnt put it down it took me 40 or 50 min. 2 read it



2. Selena has landed the lead in the school play and her popularity is sky high. Then she receives a present with a trhreatening content, and accidents start happening on the set. Some one doesn't like Selena very much.
   
   I didn't like this one very much.
   The protagonist is so conceited and doesn't see how she treats her friends. I simply couldn't root for this character.
   As I finished the book, I almost felt ready to cheer for the purpetrator!
   
   The plot is fairly good, though by no means among the best Fear Street books.



3. This is one of the best Fear Street books I have read. The main story is Selene Goodrich becoming popular at Shadyside High because of her acting career. Everyone adores her, everyone supports her. Then Selena starts getting mysterious notes from "The Sun" who claims to be her secret admirer. Selena takes all this as joke but then, bad things start to happen. Alison, Selena's understudy is injured after a cabinet is thrown on her. Selena also gets a dead mouse in front of her house with another note from The Sun, a speeding car nearly kills her. Then, someone else is murdered. Selena knows the Sun is responsible but who is the Sun? Could it be Danny Morris, that guy who Selena just broke up with or could it be Eddy, the new guy in town? Or is it someone else?
   
   This book was a pageturner. In two hours, I was finished with this book. I was really surprised when Selena found out who the killer was. The book provided a good murder scene and the killer was also smart.



4. This was a great book. Yet... some stuff I expected [i knew who it was all along] that just may be because i'v read sooo many of his books. I highly recomened his seres 'The babysitter' one of his best.Hit and Run



5. The "Secret Admirer" has got to be one of the spine-chilling horror I have ever read. The story goes on when Selena is receiving presents from a stalker who is obessed with her. In the end she found out is the stalker and she never thought it was someone close to her.

5 comments about Gateway to the Gods (Everworld #7).

1. I am an Everworld druggy, suffering from a dangerous addiction.
   
   This series is like some kind of twisted literature drug. It's so horrible, so mediocre, and so inspiring, all at the same time. I have to read on, I want to read on, I have to find out what happens, but I don't want to at the same time, and I can't stop. It's like being hugged by Hel; pain, pleasure, disgust, horror, enlightenment, dread, depression, and addiction all at once, and I can't pull away.
   
   I love and hate these books. There are traces of how good Everworld could have been, and those bits are truly inspiring. However, I keep finding myself imagining just that, what Everworld could have been in the hands of a better author, and then this seems like poorly written fanfiction that disappoints completely.
   
   I resolved, after finishing the last book, that I would lock these away and deprive myself of Everworld for awhile. Then I got the next three books. I took one glance inside the cover of "Inside the Illusion" and my mind was instantly changed mid awesome-overload. I am now powering through "Brave the Betrayal" as fast as possible to get to book nine.
   
   As I predicted, April narrates this book, though she doesn't put much into it. There were moments when the narration could have been coming from Christopher, or David, or Jalil, and I wouldn't have known the difference. Character development has been declining since "Discover the Destroyer" and in "Gateway to the Gods" all the characters seem to be becoming almost robotic. There are still some interesting interactions, but only some. The characters are acting like puppets, concentrating only on doing their role in the plot and rarely, if ever, actually interacting with others and thinking like human beings.
   
   A good example is about halfway through the book when Senna suddenly shows up once more and again demonstrates her characteristic scheming brilliance and ambition. The other characters, despite all that's happened, simply grumble and make sure its known that they don't trust her, then accept her help. You'd think they'd all have strong things to say to her, lots of questions and conflicted feelings, but they don't. April again takes the liberty of reminding us the readers how much she hates her half-sister, no reasons given. I'm really beginning to wonder where this came from, but it seems to exist just because it does. A deeper explanation of where the animosity between these two characters springs from would have been interesting, but we don't get any of that.
   
   This book takes place in Olympus, and the storyline, while it could have been interesting if expanded, is so brief and compact that it's no wonder that this book is so tiny. We get the barest glimpse of the Greek Pantheon, who are shown in a rather fittingly pathetic and humorous light. At the very least, KA Applegate did the necessary research on classical mythology.
   
   We get a mediocre climax that was entirely predictable and not much in the way of an ending, which itself sparsely detailed and cut off abruptly. The characters behave rather strangely during this time, with little explanation.
   
   This book is mediocre. Average for an Everworld book, a bit better than "Fear the Fantastic" but not as good as "Enter the Enchanted" or "Discover the Destroyer." The storyline, and especially the character of Senna, are so thoroughly wasted that it is almost enough to send a person into depression. I'm going to finish this miserable wreck to get the full impression of the story and of Senna's character, but only for the sake of the first impressions of Everworld I had, the excellent story that this could have been.



2. This books finds the four making it out of Hetwan country and getting to Olympus. There they are pampered with wonderfully soft beds, all the food they can eat and being waited on hand and foot. What more could they possibly want?!? Deep down they know they need to still stop Ka Anor or there will be no more Olympus. But when they meet these gods and find out how arrogant and self-centered they are, it turns out to be harder to get there help than they thought. Then on top of that, they find out that the Coo Hatch are making weapons with there special metal for the Hetwan's. How will they be able to overcome these obsticles? Read to find out!



3. Parents should be aware of the suggestive comments in chapter one and the crude comments in the last chapter before buying this book for their kids. It is disapointing that the author had to rely on this stuff instead of being really creative. It's going into the trash at our house.



4. Everyone says that I shouldn't read Ever World because I am 10. But I love Ever world and if you read this book you'll feel like your there whith them !



5. Can you imagine a beautiful land where magic rules with nymphs, fairies, and leprechauns? Looks can be deceiving. This wonderful place is ruled by evil gods, ugly Cyclops, death, and destruction. This destruction may become worse or it may cease when seven kids from New York appear there. The name of the novel as you probably already know is Gateway to the Gods which is part of a series called Everworld written by K.A. Applegate. This particular story takes place in the Greek part of Everworld, where it's always temperate, always light, and always summer. It takes place in 2000 but the technology dates way back to the 1800's. There's no need for technology when there's magic. The protagonist is Christopher Hitchcock, he's funny at the wrong times but brave and outgoing at the right times. He's about seventeen, it doesn't say in the book but he can drive, and also goes to high school. The main conflict for Chris was to hold off enemy troops at Mt. Olympus which becomes impossible.
   

   I think all together it's a great series and although this book was not the best book in the series it wasn't bad either. Applegate twists history and fantasy into a great book for readers from ages 13 to 21. There is some vulgar language but is still a great book. There is lots of action and a main character dies I'll let you guess who that is. I like how Applegate portrayed the gods; it fits them and history even though it is kind of funny. One minute it's a nice controlled dinner party on Mt. Olympus the next it's a rolling thunderstorm literally, with yelling, drinking and more yelling. Without knowing it they kill every mortal servant in the room and kick out one of their primary war leaders. One of the things I didn't like about this title is that it starts with one conflict then doesn't finish that conflict and ends with another. If you read it I hope you enjoy it.

5 comments about The Wrong Number (Fear Street, No. 5).

1. Best friends Deena and Jade are having fun making prank calls. Deena's half-brother joins them and starts making threatening calls. The joke is over when murder is on the line. Now they are the ones targeted for he knows who they are.
   
   Another great novel by Stine.



2. Deena has a new phone so she and her best friend use the phone to make prank phone calls. But Chuck finds out that Deena and Jade are making phone calls. He insists that they let him join or else he'll tell. So Deena and Jade let him join. Then Chuck calls a house on Fear Street and interrupts a murder. Deena, Jade and Chuck go to the address to help the woman screaming. But it's too late because the woman is already is dead. A masked man chases the three warning them to mind their own business. One day after, the police drag Chuck to jail, now that everyone at Shadyside knows that Deena, Jade and Chuck are the ones behind the prank phone calls. The police say that someone saw Deena, Jade and Chuck that night. It was Mr. Farberson. Deena and Jade know that Farberson is wrong so they decide to find out more about him. If you want to find out more, read this book.



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, best friends Jade and Deena and Deena's half brother Chuck get into ddep trouble making crank calls. The girls got caught by Chuck teasing boys at school, and he calls a random number on Fear Street and gets begged for help by a woman about to be murdered. The characters and plot are better than the average Stine book, and this book has a decent sequal. 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. I liked this book a lot because it made me want to keep on reading to find what happened next.
   The book was about three teenagers who were having fun with prank phone calls. Then Chuck called a number on Fear Street and they got involved with a murder. When the three teenagers Jade, Deena,and Chuck go over to Fear Street, they go to house number 884. They went to the back door and it looked like someone had trashed the place. When all three of them were inside, they saw a dead body on the floor. They also saw a man in a mask. When Jade, Deena, and Chuck talked to the police, they did not believe a single word that they said. The police think that Chuck is the killer because his finger prints were the only prints in the house and he has been in trouble with the police before.
   I would recommend this book to someone who likes to read mystery and horror books. I would recommend this book to someone who likes mystery books because you never know what is going to happen next and you are trying to find out who the killer is. I would also recommend this book to someone who likes to read horror books because someone dies.



5. The most important thing I remembered about this book "The Wrong Number," was that it was super interesting and intense! Someone else would definitely want to read this book because it stays very good throughout the whole story. It really keeps you interested and wanting to read more. Any one who is any age can relate to this book. Since, it is about two teenage girls, a boy might want to read the back of the book first.
   
   My favorite section of this book is when the two girls obviously make the wrong call. They have caller i.d., and then they track down the person that made the call. After that, the girls go down the Fear Street rode and hear screams coming from the caller's house. The two girls fear for their lives as they try to catch the murderer in action. I recommend this book immensely.

5 comments about Flora Segunda: Being the Magickal Mishaps of a Girl of Spirit, Her Glass-Gazing Sidekick, Two Ominous Butlers (One Blue), a House with Eleven Thousand Rooms, and a Red Dog (Magic Carpet Books).

1. Flora Segunda is a hilarious, moving, whimsical, refreshing, and original young adult fantasy novel set in an alternate reality version of California, a country called Califa. Flora is so-named because the first Flora, her oldest sister, died well before she was born. Flora Segunda grows up with a sense of inferiority toward the original, golden-haired Flora. At the age of fourteen, Flora does all the domestic chores in her dysfunctional family because her father is a reclusive alcoholic and her mother is a workaholic who rarely comes home and who has banished the butler, a supernatural being meant to keep the huge mansion, Crackpot Hall, in order. Flora accidently ends up in a strange part of the house... and finally meets the butler, whom she tries to save so she doesn't have to keep doing all the housework.
   
   Can Flora find courage and be herself at last, or will her practice of self-negation literally lead to her end?



2. Fantastic! I can't remember ever reading such a wholly unique and imaginative book. Ysabeau S. Wilce created a stunning and vast world that you can't help but get lost in. I loved everything from the fun way the characters spoke to the magical world they lived in.
   
   There were times though when things got confusing and it made me wish that there was some kind of guide book that explained everything in detail, but either way it was an excellent read.
   
   If you're looking to read a book of pure fantasy, set in a alternate world that is nothing like our own, then I highly recommend picking this up. The characters have depth, the story is fantastic and you learn something new and different on every page - just what everyone wants in a story.



3. I never review books on Amazon, but I have much, much love for Ysabeau Wilce's FLORA SEGUNDA books. The story is charming if not epic, but the characters and the world that inhabit the novels are an absolute delight. Flora is wonderful: wry, sharp-tongued, cranky, and utterly lovable. I haven't been able to get behind a redheaded heroine since ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. The worldbuilding of Wilce's novel is also a joy; she crafts an alternate history of California complete with pirates, magicians, and a fascinating military culture, all written in a amusingly whimsical voice.
   
   Absolutely recommended!



4. I had the impression that this book was about discovering lost areas in a big house. The story fit the mold for about 20 or 30 pages, but it lost focus after that. We are thrown details about the military, a prisoner, soul stealing, and other houses. I was interested in the childish butler and Flora exploring, but I was less intrigued by the rescue attempt and the long solutions to restoring Flora's diminished soul. I wanted to the like book and I did finish it, but I skipped large sections where nothing was happening. None of the characters are particularly interesting, and in the end I really didn't care what happened to any of them. Mixed with my pet peeve of the story being told from a typical 14 year old's perspective, yet having words like pernicious, fastidious, and cajoling, the novel just fell flat. It was less enjoyable and fun than the title would have you believe, and I was not at all impressed.



5. This book is, by far, very good. I don't read a lot of books that catch my attention this well. The character are well written and believable, even if you step back and realize, you really don't know that much about their background. The world itself is very different with a mix of magic, real life, and soldiers. If anyone likes very creative, different, and interesting story, they should give this book a try. I was happy to the end, and it's hard to find a book with a great ending!
   
   However, the story is not for people who want a highly detailed world, like Harry Potter. You do not find out how magic and other "magical" things work nor the system of the government/army/school. Flora can cast spells, but you don't know how it all works. Most of the time, you get a feeling of how things work, a glimpse. Same thing goes for some of the characters. If you are someone who can't take things without an explanation, then this probably isn't for you. It relays on a creative imagination and a suspension of belief.

5 comments about The Sunnydale High Yearbook Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

1. This is one of my favorite Amazon purchases to date! This yearbook is complete with classmate signings and photos throughout the year. If you are a big fan of the Buffy TV series this is a must have!



2. SUNNYDALE HIGH YEARBOOK
   Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder (1999)
   
   RATING: 5/5 Stakes
   
   BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "It's senior year for Buffy Summers and her friends. And that means homecoming, senior prom, finals, graduation--all the usual evil doings guaranteed to make the Chosen One long for recess. Slayer duties caused Buffy to miss picking up her yearbook, so Willow took it for her and elisted the help of Xander, Oz, Cordelia, Giles, and Angel to make it truly special. Filled with personal notes, candid photos and in-jokes about Slayerfest, Halloween, substitute teachers, the principal who was eaten, Ascenscion, etc. Buffy's Yearbook is part school publication, part memory book."
   
   REVIEW
   
   An oversized hardcover like the Sunnydale High Yearbook isn't something you're likely to find in a used bookstore, but it really is worth seeking out as it makes for a great "keepsake" of the first three seasons of Buffy. It really has all the characteristics of a high school yearbook: signatures and goodbyes both profound and vapid, a "congratulatory" message from the principal, special sections on sports and student clubs, student photos (including all those one-episode day players), ads from local businesses, and even an "In Memoriam" section (something especially necessary in Sunnydale!). Flipping through it is a really fun way to remember those early episodes and it lends a nice air of authenticity to a setting that was usually just a backdrop for Buffy's adventures. It's only about 90 pages long and is a quick read, but I found it more enjoyable than most Buffy novels out there.



3. This is one of my favorite pieces of Buffy memorabilia. It is a cute Yearbook that has many inside jokes from the first 3 seasons of Buffy. It is not an episode guide. I love the passages and the signatures that the cast leaves for Buffy. I actually store this with all my high school yearbooks - It's part of my life now! I highly recommend this for the Buffy fan that simply can't deal with the fact that it is no longer on the air. It has funny inside jokes, cute pictures that were taken at prom and other events, as well as references to all the characters.
   
   Enjoy xoxo



4. This is a must have for the true slayer fans. There are several groups pictures of the gang, including Angel, Cordelia & Giles. There are even "autographs" by some of the quirky regulars such as Jonathan, Larry etc., which I thought was really cool. There are even several color photos & many fun facts. A very nice edition to any Buffy collection! Eat Stake!



5. I was thrilled to find this at a thrift shop for 75 cents. For that price, I'm completely satisfied, of course! It's well-produced, has some funny text (Cordelia's poem is great), and is an amusing coffee-table item. However, I was disappointed with the number of pages that were obviously there just to fulfill the "typical yearbook" role (sports teams, clubs, etc.) that had nothing to do with any of the central characters of the series, and weren't even funny. Those wastes of pages could have been filled with just about anything related to the show and I'd have been happy. The senior "quotes" were pretty worthless... what a wasted opportunity for some hilarity! But the signatures from the characters, Buffy's mom's note on behalf of MOO, etc. are certainly in the spirit of the show and will amuse fans. In short, I wouldn't pay full price for this, but I'm still glad I read it.

5 comments about The Stepsister (Fear Street, No. 9).

1. RL Stine is a great writer and I have many of his books. This was great. I also have S. Sister two.



2. Synopsis: Emily Casey is really anxious to having her new stepsister Jessie and her new stepbrother Rich live with her. Emily and her sister Nancy miss their father who passed away, and are disappointed in having Hugh Wallner has their new father, because he is nothing like their real dad. Emily met Jessie a few times before, and thinks it would be fun to share a room with her new stepsister.
   
   However, things start going wrong from Day 1, when Jessie enters the house. Jessie acts very friendly and polite when their parents are watching them, but when she is alone in the room with Emily, she tears Emily's childhood teddy bear, erases her 12 page school report on Chile that Emily spent days working on, kicks Emily's dog Tiger because she hates dogs, talks with someone on the phone late at night, saying "I could kill her", and things just go worse from there. Emily cannot bond with Rich either because he always keeps to himself, doesn't talk much, and always has his head in a Stephen King novel.
   
   One day, when Jessie is not in her room, Emily reads her diary and is shocked to find out something horrible that Jessie did before she came here, and that she is really dangerous. Emily realizes that Jessie would do anything to take over Emily's boyfriend, family and her life in general, including harm her. Can Emily expose Jessie for her lies and stop her new stepsister from ruining her life?
   
   Review: I thought this was a well written R. L. Stine book. It had a well written plot, suspenseful characters, and some really creepy moments. The main reason I liked this book was because it was fast paced. In almost every chapter, something horrible would happen to Emily, and it just made me hooked to the story. Some parts were really creepy, such as when Emily finds peroxide put in her shampoo, making her hair disastrous, or when Jessie draws a bath for her, and Emily is scared to step into the water. The climax was thrilling to read as well, when the whole family go on the camping trip.
   
   The only reason I gave this book a four star rating was because there were some parts that just didn't make any sense, even though an explanation was given to them. For example, when Emily finds Rich in her room, lying on her bed, he gives her a reason as to why he was there, but it just seems like he had another motive, though this is not explained. Another example is when Jessie first moves into the house, and Emily hears her saying "I could really kill her" on the phone, why does she say that? Another reason why I was a little disappointed with this book, and this is just a personal reason, is because having read more than 20+ Fear Street books, I somewhat predicted who the reason person was who hated Emily, but I must admit, there were some parts which made me doubt my judgment.
   
   Overall, "The Stepsister" is one of the better books in the "Fear Street" series, and I am glad Stine made a sequel to the book.



3. Emily finds her new stepsister Jessie very annoying. She takes her clothes and lies, and then her dog is stabbed. Emily is certain that her stepsister is mental, but no one believes her.
   
   It wasn't such a bad book and I kind of liked it but I had some issues with it. The ending has kind of been done before in "Blind date" and "The new girl". And more inportant: The way the mother in the family reacted when the dog was killed! She told Emily to relax, like it was just a piece of ruined cloth or something, not a living animal! That was too much for my taste.



4. Emily and her sister Nancy live with their mother. Their dad had died, so their mom's new husband and son and daughter move in. After they move in, horrible things are happening to Emily. It seems as if someone is trying to get her. Are these tricks or honest accidents? Will Emily ever find out who is doing these things to her? Will her perpetrator be put to justice?
   
   This book is really good. R.L. Stine is an awesome author. R.L. Stine captures the youth and freezes it. I love the teen relationships and the teen fun times and just the teens' innocence that are in Fear Street books. Even though I couldn't stay a teen forever, I enjoy reading these teen books. Part of me is a kid inside that will never grow up.
   
   Even though I only gave this book 4 stars, that is the exception, not the rule. I usually give R.L. Stine books 5 stars. This book was good, just not excellent. (I give good books 4 stars; I give excellent books 5 stars.) This book is worth reading, so don't be put off by it just because I only gave it 4 stars. R.L. Stine does have better books, such as "The Babysitter" (I - IV), "Hit and Run", "The Rich Girl", "Cat", "Halloween Party". But again, this book is good. I just didn't quite feel the coziness and warmth in this one that I normally feel in a Fear Street book.
   
   Recommended.



5. R.L Stine has written one his best ever novels with terror filled pages ride of The Stepsister. Stine brings up many would be suspects for the crimes in this Fear St household and the reader will even wonder at times if being the victim is all in Emily (the main character)'s head. You will no doubt work out what is going on before it is revealed in the final pages but the fun is the thrill ride of an adventure in getting there. There's also a sequel The Stepsister 2 (Fear Street, No. 33).
   
   Emily is ecstatic when she learns she is going to have a new sister. After the recent death of her father her mother has decided to shack up with her new boyfriend who Brady Bunch style is bringing along two kids of his own to join Emily and her sister Nancy. Not much room in this household though, so Emily will be sharing a room with her new stepsister Jessie. Jessie immediately starts to become bossy and insists on taking Emily's bed for herself. Emily is to cowardly to speak up for herself and thinks she'll make the most of the situation and just live with it until Jessie rips the head off her teddybear and yells at her dog. Emily wants to believe the decapitation was an accident and get along with Jessie but it is not long before it becomes obvious someone is trying to harm her. A shower accident, her dog is dead this is just beginning of Emily's terror. She thinks Jessie wants harm her. Does she? There's also the self centered abusive to his son Rich, step father. Rich himself seems to be a bit of weirdo, spending his days reading Stephen King and nights being brought home by the police. Emily also is dating her sister's exboyfriend so maybe she holds a grudge. All fingers in Emily's mind however point to Jessie when she reads her diary and learns that her old schoolmates suspect Jessie of murdering a classmate. Will she be Jessie's next victim or be able to convince her mum and stepfather that Jessie needs to be committed?

5 comments about Demon in My View (Den of Shadows).

1. Demon in my View is the perfect taste of vampire, romance, darkness, and gothic. I've read many many many vampire novels in my time, and most of them seem the same. But, I do come across a few every now and then that strike me as odd, or different. This is one of those kinds of stories. It has vivid descriptions of the people and places to where you could possibly imagine that you've been there, or maybe even met one of the characters. The story line is out of this world with different rules and structures to an unknown society. The main character is buried in a mystery that, for the life of me, I would have never seen coming. I suggest this book to anyone, young and old. It's worth your time AND you won't regret it.



2. Demon in my view is an amazing book in my opinion! If you have read the first book In the forest of the night then you will understand the characters a little better..trust me i read shattered mirror and back tracked lol by the time i got to the first book i was like "OOOO i get it now"! but this book is still good i would recomend it to some people but its better for a early teen than an adult to read..still a short read but i enjoyed it!



3. "Demon in My View" is the second book by one of my favorite authors, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Although I am arguably too old for teen books, I re-read this one recently and still found it enjoyable.
   
   The story follows Jessica, a writer of vampire novels. What she doesn't realize is that her stories are true, and they may get her into big trouble with the denizens of the night. Despite the fact that Jessica is clearly based on the author herself, I still found the story to be interesting and not to "Mary-Sue-ish". I know alot of other reviewers have complained about this problem, but it really doesn't bother me. I know it isn't realistic for characters to all be beautiful and perfect, but sometimes it's fun to read a story with dark, sexy, cool characters. It's just a bit of self-indulgent fun sometimes. Anyway, despite the fact that the last time I read this book was in Middle School (many many years ago), I still found the story to be entertaining. The dark atmosphere of Amelia's books really draws you in and keeps you glued to the pages.
   
   Another thing I'd like to mention is the references to the previous book, "In the Forests of the Night". I really enjoyed the connection to the previous story, because it helps you feel that the stories are all intertwined within the same world. There's even a short reference to Jessica in "In the Forests of the Night", which is a nice "easter egg"-type surprise for those who have read the book either before or after reading "Demon in My View".
   
   "Demon in My View" is perhaps my favorite of Amelia's books. So, I'd definitely recommend this book to teens and even adults who are fans of vampire novels.



4. I recently read this book and its predecessor "In the forests of the Night" and I absolutely loved them. "Demon in my View" was a fast paced thrilling narrative about a girl,Jessica, who is shunned by her peers due to her dark attitude and dress. Along come two new students. One, Caryn, who's annoying and bubbly who Jessica absolutely loathes and Alex, a dashing, just as dark and brooding guy. Jessica is a talented writer and has published a book Tiger, Tiger under a pen name to avoid the unnecessary attention. What she realizes though with these new students is that know more about her than any other person really. She starts to realize that the characters in her book are strikingly similar to her new real life friends and acquaintances.
   
   The whole book is a non stop race to get to the truth. For a small short book the story evolves well. Atwater-Rhodes finds such creative ways to advance her story and they sure throw you a curve ball once in a while. The characters are vivid and intriguing with a touch of passion and romance. I especially loved Jessica. Her character is so strong and passionate and it sends a great message to little girls who read these stories.



5. The concept in this book was interesting. I need to go back and read In The Forests of the Night as I think Jessica makes her initial cameo in that book and I hope you learn more about Aubrey. The story kept me going right to the end but everything seems to happen so abruptly. In the space of 176 pages you meet Jessica, learn she dreams are reality of the vampire community, meets Aubrey, falls in love and then chooses to become a vampire. The book really glosses over her reasons for being so eager to become a vampire that it is a little shocking. Considering the author wrote this at such a young age though it was a good book to read if you enjoyed The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

5 comments about Rats.

1. Ugh, I read this book about 8 years ago and I look for it everywhere and haven't been able to find it til now. It was so gross but I still remember how intrigued I was when I was reading it. I read it in one sitting and its what really got me interested in reading. Kept me up for days... Love it!!



2. I purchased this book for my 11 year old son who does not like to read. He couldn't believe I bought this book for him. He says it is so disgustingly interesting. He told me to give it five stars.



3. Just finished reading this book after picking it up at my local library. I've been a big fan of Zindel's books after reading Raptor, Reef of Death, etc. This was definitely an entertaining tale of smart, mutant rats that break free and try to take over NYC. If you are looking for a relatively fast read with a fast-paced plot, this book is for you. However, I think Zindel's other books were a bit better; the ending seemed a little too...simple...but still a great read.



4. Everything was fine in Staten Island. Leroy Sabiesiak was doing the usual drugging, and shooting the rats. One day he takes it too far when he drugs the mother rat and shoots her, and then he shoots the entire nest of baby rats. Then the rats get angry and start eating him alive. Sarah, Michael, and Surfer the Rat need to find a way to demolish the rats. Rats are coming out of drains from pools, toilets, and hot tubs, and appearing in people's cars. They have problems with the neighbors who cannot speak much English, and an infant who is still in a crib. How will they get rid of them.
   Rats is a gory, skin crawling book, once I read the first paragraph I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to any young adult that likes to read gory books. I think that Rats is a well planned out book, and there is a cliffhanger at the end of any chapter. When I read this book, I feel like I am sitting there helplessly watching people be devoured by the rats.



5. The city of New York is closing its biggest dump. The people who run the dump, including the father of fifteen-year-old Sarah and ten-year-old Michael, are paving over the entire dump. They will be making that spot into a city park, and the dumping of garbage there will stop. Sarah is worried when they start paving the dump, which is right next to her home. There are dangerous gasses given off by rotting garbage that could cause explosions or something just as deadly. Her father, though, reassures her that everything will be fine.
   
   The dump is almost paved over when the rats start to appear. They are crawling out of toilets in Sarah's neighborhood. They swim by the dozens up through pool filter systems and crawl into cracks in houses. These rats are vicious, too, tearing apart the people who try to stop or to kill them. Sarah and Michael seem to have been spared because they have a pet rat, Surfer, who makes high-pitched chattering noises whenever the dump rats come near them.
   
   Soon the rats are out of control. There seem to be millions of them, and they are smart. They are ambushing those who try to stop them. They have a plan and they have the power of communication. Sarah has done a great deal of research on rats because of her attachment to Surfer, and she thinks she might be able to help the people who are trying to get rid of the rats.
   
   This book was fast-paced and exciting. I liked that Sarah was a strong character who was able to help herself and the entire city. I never felt like I got to know the characters very well, though. Most of them were only briefly in the story and then gone. The story was overly gruesome, too, with rats eating people alive. A final problem I had with the book was that the end seemed a little too simple. Everything was better all of a sudden, but it didn't seem like enough had changed to make it so.

5 comments about Cursed (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel).

1. I did not like this book. At all.
   
   Lyanka and Gitana were both disgustingly perfect. Beautiful, talented, fantastic fighters . . . Mary Sues. Both of them. Ick.
   
   The story was interesting, but I found that I just could not get into the book. The writing style seemed amateurish. It was a slog. I was on vacation, and I had nothing to do but relax and read. This is the sort of situation in which I go through a day. This one was so boring that I read it between other, much better books. I finished it mostly because it was a birthday present.
   
   The only good thing about this book is the fact that there are many, many lines about Angel shoving Spike up against walls, which makes us slashers happy.
   
   I've read better fanfiction. Don't waste your money.



2. Cursed, according to the inside flap, takes place in an alternate-continuity between Buffy's fifth, and Angel's third seasons. Yet, in spite of that message, I found while reading the book that the timing felt off -- way off. Like maybe this should have happened after Buffy's sixth season, because of the relationship development between her and Spike or at least during, because Connor's infancy also plays a role in the story. Nonetheless, the story tells the tale of a gypsy artifact, a woman who played a role in both Angelus and Spike's history, and a desire to keep the artifacts out of the hands of the bad guys. With Angel on a mission from Giles, and Spike trying to get some money to pay off a loan shark, both of our vamps are in L.A. trying not to let their past destroy their future. Of course, Buffy, at least in Spike's mind, hangs in the background over both of her lovers.
   
   While I found Cursed to be a fun romp, I had trouble with the fact that while we had the stories of both Spike and Angel, they didn't actually come together until the final chapters. I also thought the gypsy past felt a bit contrived, especially since these gypsies aren't really gypsies and had no part of Angel's curse. A few choice phrases placed the timing off on the book, and while I enjoyed it, I can't say that I particularly loved this book. It was fun, but didn't feel canon, nor did it feel like a lasting part of the series.
   
   I thought the voices and the characterization well done, though the end felt a bit too wrapped up for me. It was okay, but not a keeper.



3. This was a novel I wasn't sure I would like, since I am not a big Angel fan (neither the character nor the series), but I was pleasantly surprised. Mel Odom has written a complex, captivating story. All the players are wonderfully kept in character, with no continuity problems or slip-ups, as has happened with other writers.
   It was very nice to find out more about Angel and Spike's past and the romantic side of Spike is very nicely written, without losing the somewhat wicked and selfish side of him.
   All in all a very worthwhile read!



4. This book is the best Buffy/Angel cross-over that I've read so far ! Buffy plays no active roll, but in Spikes' mind and memories she plays an important roll in the book.
   
   After Buffy's rejection when she discovers he bought those demon-eggs in season 5 and discovering that there's a price on his head, Spike joins 3 demons for a well-paid burglary in L.A. ($ 50.000, enough to pay off his debts and give some to Buffy for her debts).
   
   Meanwhile in L.A., Angel is hunting down a mystical object (Giles asked him to) and having some trouble finding and getting it: turnes out a lot of people are looking for these objects (there are 7 of them), including 2 different groups of Gypsies - and we all know how well Angel gets along with Gypsies !!!
   
   The book is set in an alternate storyline: Buffy season 5 and Angel season 3. Which is technically impossible, but Mel Odom tells you in the beginning and I guess it's the writers' privilege to change these things.
   
   Although Angel plays a big part of the story, most of the new thing I learned were about Spike. We learn how he fell in love (really bad) with a Gypsy woman at the end of the 19th century and learn a lot more about his romantic side -- because beneath all that though-guy exterior, Spike is a hard-core romantic deep down in his cold, unbeating heart.
   
   The book is really good, especially if you want to learn more about Spike and what makes him (and more specifically his heart) tick !



5. Cursed is the best book based on the two television shows to date. Odom has a great handle on all the characters, especially Spike who is the hardest to get right.

   I highly recommend this book.