2 comments about Prey #2 (The Wereling).

1. This is a gothic adventure love story novel about werewolves in modern day society. The Wereling is the second in a trilogy called Prey. Number 1 is Wounded; number 2 Resurrection.
   
   The premise here is that there are two groups of the werewolves, one good and one bad. The good ones try to blend in and adapt to human society and have developed alternatives to suppress their wolf desire. They are trying to develop a cure. The good werewolves have developed techniques and weapons to assist in their active attempt to curb the evil clans and protect humans.
   
   The two main characters are two teens. Tom Anderson is a werewolf who retains his human identity (the wereling). Against his will he was "turned" by a bite from his girlfriend Kate Folan. Kate works against her parents to assist those seeking a cure. If she mates with a werewolf, she too will become a werewolf. If they can find a cure for Tom, they can live as normal humans.
   
   Her parents are the leaders of the evil wolf clans who are trying to defeat the move to change the old ways. A major stream of the story is the travel across the country trying to avoid being caught by Kate's parents, while they seek out a safe haven of good werewolves working on cures that will enable the wolves to become fully human and lose their werewolf characteristics.
   
   The Wereling is the prey as Kate's parents and their cronies trace their trek across the country and an ultimate clash ensues. The story works. You'll like the suspense and the action!
   
   Adventure and intrigue characterize the story, along with the added medical and biochemistry interest in the discussion of the werewolf condition in this updated version of the perennial legend.



2. The Wereling trilogy is by far one of the coolest that I have read, and I couldn't put this book down!! I must've read it in, like, only 3 days worth of free time! I even stayed up well into the night just to find out what would happen next! A definite must-have, and a great piece of an even greater storyline!

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 The Sunnydale High Yearbook Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

1. 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.



2. 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



3. 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!



4. 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. Okay, I'm outing myself right now: I'm a huge fan of Buffy! (Especially the musical episode, which I could happily watch every day for the rest of my life.) But this yearbook just didn't cut it for me.
   
   Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't hate this. The concept was brilliant, the presentation was striking and the pictures were very nice. But the text just didn't thrill me. I thought it would be funnier. But as I waded through all the endless pages of stuff about how the various school sports teams and clubs went during the school year, looking for references to the characters featured in the Buffy series, or at least looking for punchlines, I was sadly disappointed. This book was basically just a set of boring stats and commentary about people I don't know or give a damn about. There were no cool 'in jokes' or anecdotes or anything I didn't already know about the show. This added nothing to my Buffy experience. A few of the comments in the margins of the pages were alright, but not laugh out loud funny. Oz's comments were really the only saving grace, but they were few and far between.
   
   Buffy was a very well written show--hard-hitting and poignant and funny, offering wonderful social commentary. Therefore, I naturally expected any books about the show to be the same. But this just wasn't up to that standard.
   
   Look, if you're a diehard Buffy fan, then you might want to pick this up--if you can still get hold of it, that is--and take a look at it just for curiosity's sake. But if not, don't be too disappointed that it's no longer in print. It's just better that way.

5 comments about Everworld #04: Realm Of The Reaper.

1. Another fairly mediocre book in a fairly mediocre series. This book is okay, but not great.
   
   Story is a bit weaker in this novel than in the others. All the books have an unpleasantly cramped feel, but this one feels more than anything like a minor sidequest, a brief fall into hell(literally, almost) along the way to a greater objective.
   
   The ending was okay, nothing spectacular, nothing special, just "meh." Thankfully, Senna showed up towards the end and adds some much needed complexity by revealing a few of her characteristically intriguing motives and goals. Her personality, sketchier than the other characters' at the start, is coming together like the pieces of a puzzle.
   
   Unfortunately, I can't really say the same for the rest of the cast. I find them to be gradually becoming more and more annoying and less and less sympathetic the further I read into these books. In fact, if every character except Senna died, I probably wouldn't really be very moved. The only marginally okay one was the hopelessly naive and idealistic "hero" David Levin, who seems to be becoming more passive as the books go on. The other four seem to be endlessly taunting and kicking him around(except for Senna, who is opting for turning him into her personal dog instead). He, at least, elicits some sympathy from me. The other three can go die extremely painful deaths and I won't care. Jackasses.
   
   That's not to say they aren't well written. In fact, probably one of the better parts of the series is the unflinching honesty and realism. However, that does little to comfort me when the majority of the main characters have annoyed me to the point where I'm hoping for their deaths.
   
   The Everworld series is not particularly remarkable, which is kind of why it is a mostly obscure series. There's some good characterization and dialog, but all in all there's only one character in the book that makes it anywhere near remarkable, and I think you know who I'm talking about. The biggest plus here is that it introduced me to a very intriguing character. If Senna wasn't in this series, I don't think I'd still be reading it.
   
   Best scene: Senna completely fooling the four and using their own paranoia of Everworld against them when April tries to use her as a guinea pig. Way to turn the tables.



2. This is the fourth part of the Everworld saga. This time Jalil, the smart one of the group, is the narrator of the story. After their battle with Loki, They leave Galahad's land and start moving. They run into this wierd town. Jalil, along with David, the heroic one, Christopher, the comedian of the group, and April, the only girl with them at the moment, are actualy captured by some of the guards from the town. So as they walk in they notice something very odd about the people there. They realize that it is mostly guys. There are barely any women around. Not only are there mostly guys in this place, they are all small in size. But that doesnt mean they are small in strength. They look very tough and could easily take down Jalil and the rest of them. They all wonder why. But later that night they realize why they are tough. Hel, a half-dead, half-living woman, as well as Loki's daughter, takes some of the men and brings them to her lair. And it jsut so happnes she chooses Jalil, Christopher, and David. They try to run away but she has migcal powers and seems irresistable and they can't manage to even leave. So they follow her to her lair. How will they manage to escape this half-dead magical woman. they call Hel. You have to remember that Hel's magic only affects men. Their jsut so happnes to be a woman in Jalil's gang.



3. I would have to say that so far, this is my favorite book out of the Everworld series (I still have 8 more to go). April, Jalil, David and Christopher have escaped Loki only to be in a never ending forest with not much to eat or drink. They finally come to what looks like a town and the smell of baking bread drives them closer to it. They find that it is more a prison than a town. Mostly everyone in town in male and terrified of "she". Who is this she and why is everyone so scared of her?



4. A Review by Jonathan

   The group Jalil, April, David, and Christopher are still searching for the witch Senna. They stumble upon a village of men. The need for food and rest drove them to an inn. They cannot leave this village unless a dredded "She" of which people speak, lets them. They learn of Loki's daughter Hel, and that she plans to torture them for the end of eternity. If they can't escape her clutches, they will certainly die.

   I liked the feel of the environment of this book. It envelopes and immerses the reader. It creates an atmosphere that helps the reader along. It also creates a sense of emotion such as fear. Another point of liking is that it is very easy to get into. The book has a clean, crisp plot that is easily readable, yet enjoyable. One more point of interest is the problems that the characters face. This adds to the intensity of the book. I like the fact that most of their problems are god related. This makes it interesting because they also have to survive. They don't know what will happen to them in the real world if they die in Everworld. Sometimes the concept of their consciousness traveling between universes can be confusing, but I get it. This is a semi- easy book.

   I recommend this book to people that take a liking to thrills and adventure. Also, there is a lot of action in this book. I think this book is excellent, I think the same about the entire series. This is a semi-easy book to read.




5. I loved this book because of its extreme intesity. It made you excited and anxious to see what happens next. It is unpredictable and builds up tension while you read. I would reccomend this book for anyone between the ages of 12-and up.

5 comments about Broken Hearts (Fear Street Super Chillers, No. 4).

1. What a great story. It's creepy, but sad at the same time. Stine really takes you inside each of the characters heads. Josie is a cold-hearted ass. After her twin sister Rachel is in an accident, Josie refuses to help out. But Josie's selfish ways are about to catch up with her. She receives a threatening Valentine, and the events are set in motion. Someone really has a grudge against Josie. But who? Will she really die on Valentines Day, or is it just a fluke? Read the book and find out!



2. Broken Hearts is a dramatic book that will keep you on your toes the hole way. It's about four high school students living in a nightmare! Rachael, Erica, Josie, and Melissa. Rachael and Josie are twins; Erica is there younger sister and Melissa is there chhildhood BFF! Things start to go wrong though after Rachael falls off a horse and gets a trip to the hospital and permanet brain damage. To top it off theres a murder out there.First they kill Josie and stabs Erica. Now Melissa is geting valentine threats a year later just like Josie did during Valentines day. Will melissa die next??? Find out in the exciting book by R.L Stine Broken Hearts Fear Street.



3. Broken Hearts is a dramatic book that will keep you on your toes the hole way. It's about four high school students living in a nightmare! Rachael, Erica, Josie, and Melissa. Rachael and Josie are twins; Erica is there younger sister and Melissa is there chhildhood BFF! Things start to go wrong though after Rachael falls off a horse and gets a trip to the hospital and permanet brain damage. To top it off theres a murder out there.First they kill Josie and stabs Erica. Now Melissa is geting valentine threats a year later just like Josie did during Valentines day. Will melissa die next??? Find out in the exciting book by R.L Stine Broken Hearts Fear Street.



4. Broken Hearts is a tragic and creepy story that will make you wonder until the end of the story. Broken Hearts is one of the juciest books you can get your hands on . It makes you want to read more after reading the first chapter.
   
   Broken Hearts is based on four girls: Racheal, Josie, Erica, and melissa. Racheal and Josie are sisters and the other two are just friends, but are one big happy family because they grewe up together. Racheal, Josie's sister, had got her self into a terrible accident and what she endded up with was a trip to the hopital and brain damage. Josie and her friends couldn't believe what had happened to Racheal in front of their eyes. But Josie wanted jno part of what happened to her sisterk, Racheal. When Joise was suppose to watch Racheal she would always say she's busy or somthing. She didn't care about her sister, but as days go by things are getting worse. Somebody is giving death threats in a poetic form. "Roses and red, violets are blue, on valentines day, you'll be dead too." The more she didn't care about Racheal, the more letters she gets. But who is the killer??
   
   If you have seen movies like this book then you can picture it the story very well, beacuse R.L STINE the author is very descriptive about the charaters in the story.This story is so dramtic that maybe you will want a part two to broken hearts.
   If you decide to read this myserious book i hope you enjoy it from start to finsh.



5. It was an excellent book! There are a lot of twist and turns and also a lot of suspects and I couldn't figure out how it was all going to come together.

5 comments about Everworld #08: Brave The Betrayal.

1. I read this book in one day. Had to get to the main event in book 9 as quickly as possible.
   
   While exciting, the eighth book in the "Everworld" series doesn't do much to improve on what's come so far in the series. It has pretty much the same problems and the same ups as the previous couple of books did. If you've read any of my previous reviews of "Everworld" you'll know what I'm talking about. Too brisk and compacted, not enough focus on the character's personalities, too little character interaction, not enough Senna, general mediocrity, etc.
   
   The storyline of this book is basically the group of main characters, once again including Senna, leaves Olympus and travels to Egypt. Once they reach the Everworld equivalent of Africa, they are faced with a bit of a moral quandary. The African gods are rather fickle, and the best way to avoid their wrath is to sacrifice some manner of animal to them. This was an interesting point, as it got to explode how each of the different characters handled the choice.
   
   April characteristically viewed any sort of deal with the African deities are too far out of her Catholic comfort range. Jalil refused on philosophical grounds, hating the idea of having to allow the African deities to order him to do anything. David refused based on what he saw as a violation of his manly American rights. Senna points out that killing a single goat is hardly a large price to pay to avoid getting on the bad side of the local gods, and sometimes you have to know when to fold to placate a potential enemy and put reason before honor. Christopher refused simply because he felt like being a jackass and stubbornly didn't want to be on the same side of any issue with Senna.
   
   It was a very gray set of options, but I think I agree with Senna's stance the most. While the others' refusal to compromise their integrity in any way was admirable, it seemed to almost border on fanaticism given the situations where they were in and what was being asked of them. Given the rest of what happens in this book, it would probably have been a lot easier on all of them if they had listened to Senna in the first place.
   
   Other notable things happening in the book: The characters visit a mirror world of the African region of Everworld; Senna reveals some new abilities, including the ability to sense magic, and grows significantly more powerful; the African Pantheon is seen briefly; and we again glimpse some characters that haven't been seen since the second book.
   
   "Brave the Betrayal" is poorer than the previous books as far as endings are concerned. The climax was so contrived and abrupt it was almost a deus ex machina. There was barely any falling action to speak of at all. While there was some genuinely good characterization here and there, I'm beginning to have problems telling Jalil, Christopher, and April apart in the narrative; Jalil narrates this book, but most of the time it could just as easily be one of the other two and I wouldn't notice.
   
   "Brave the Betrayal" is mediocre, even for an Everworld book. However, it does serve the important function of laying the groundwork for the next book, which I can hardly wait to read, "Inside the Illusion."



2. Most YA series are for girls. A few are almost gender neutral.
   I recently finished #8 and am pleased the the character development over the arc of the series. We will see if the authors can maintain.
   The aliens are a bit weird. I wonder if they come from a fictional or movie tradition I am not aware of.



3. I was so pleased to return home from work 3 days after ordering and finding the book in my box! The condition was better than expected and I am now almost finished with this volume.



4. I would have to say that so far this was my least favorite book. Don't get me wrong though, I still enjoyed it.
   This books has the group leaving Olympus in order to find Senna's mom in Egypt. They must find Senna's mom so she can send the Coo Hatch back to there own world so they'll agree to quit making weapons for the Hetwan. They make it to Africa where they meet Eshu. He turns out to be a "speaker" for the African gods and claims that they must make a sacrifice to please the gods. The majority of the group is against this and so Eshu sends them through many perils. One of them is sending to a world where everything is upside down. There they meet some of there Viking friends. Can they make it out of this world alive without having to make a sacrifice?



5. I love all of these books but since Jalil is my least favorite character except for Senna. I didn't really like this one as much as the others. It had some pretty interesting twists though. Eshu was a real pain in the butt. I love what they did to Senna. She deserves it. Everone that loves Science Fiction has got to love this series. I can't wait till I can read number 9.

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 Slumber Party (Point Paperback).

1. I read this book when it was new and I was 8 years old. After reading it I continued to read books by Christopher Pike through my teen years. I am now tring to hunt down all those great titles so my daughter will enjoy reading as much as I did/do.



2. This book is really awesome and I would reccomend it to anyone, because it's very exciting and quite creepy. Out of all the books I have read, I will never forget this one. You are constantly trying to figure out what the mystery is to it, therefore you HAVE to keep reading it. I highly suggest that you read it!



3. If you're looking for a good, swift read to take you through a cozy night by the fire, you could do a lot worse than to pick up Slumber Party, which is about a gaggle of high school girls who are snowbound in a luxurious winter resort. And oh, it seems that one of them is a murderess.
   
   Pike does a good job in this one, sticking to his by-the-numbers formula involving attractive teens, plot twists designed to throw suspicion on everyone but the murderer, and a paranoid feeling that the muderer walks among us.
   
   It may not be original, especially when measured against Pike's other books from the same period, but at least he does it well, moving us from point A to point B without a pause to catch our breaths.
   
   Young adults will like the way that this novel has been tailored to suit their culture (pop culture, that is), and while it may not educate anyone about the real world, it's a pleasant diversion. And hey, you're reading, so that's good.



4. In "Slumber Party," 17-year-old Lara Johnson (the protagonist) and her five girl friends (Celeste Winston, Dana Miller, Rachael Grayson, Nell Kutroff, and Mindy Casey) travel to Cedar Stream, California, for a weekend ski trip. Shortly after they arrive, strange and dangerous things start to occur: a snowman mysteriously melts; Dana goes missing, leaving unusual ski tracks in the snow--both events leading Lara to a "supernatural hypothesis"--and then Mindy's arm gets seriously burned in the fireplace. What it all leads back to is a fiery slumber party eight years ago when one of them was disfigured and her sister died. And someone wants to make sure they never forget it.

   "Slumber Party" wasn't quite as engaging as some of Pike's later books (I think this is his first published book under this pseudonym), but it was still a fast-paced mind twister, with a little bit of romance thrown in between Lara and a 22-year-old guy (Percy Chand) she meets at the lodge. It vaguely reminded me of "Weekend" (the book published just after this one), because of its conspiratorial vacation setup; though instead of heading South, this one heads for the slopes. If you've read "Weekend," then you may be able to uncover the mystery in "Slumber Party" a little quicker. This is certainly worth picking up if you're a Pike fan and/or like teen suspense.




5. This was pikes first book. i found it fairly good. the plot was good and (kind of) kept u hooked. it kind of would of been better if it was supernatural like how the characters though. More mystery than horror/thriller. Ive been reding pike since i was 10. He is WAY better then rl stine. stine repeats him self WAY too much.

   Some of my fav pike books r:
   Remember me 1&3
   Final Friends
   Chain Letter 1&2
   and the rest of his books
   Worst bk:
   The Visitor

5 comments about Tales of the Slayer, Volume 3 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. The Third Tales of the Slayer collection is better again. This time there are four longer novellas by Holder, Golden, Odom and Navarro. We have a Chinese slayer in the time of the British hold on China, a Native American slayer, a Louisiana slayer in Hollywood in the 1940s, and finally an slayer than lives on an American military base in Japan, who has to deal with the 47 Ronin.
   
   Tales of the Slayer 3 : 01 Dark of the Moon - Yvonne Navarro
   Tales of the Slayer 3 : 02 Ch'ing Shih - Mel Odom
   Tales of the Slayer 3 : 03 Voodoo Loubge - Christopher Golden
   Tales of the Slayer 3 : 04 The Code of the Samurai - Nancy Holder
   
   
   Native American slayer does her best with little help.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Chinese girl dealing with vamps, crimelords and protecting the people gets Irish help, but has to face vampire lord.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Louisiana girl's Hollywood demon murder debut.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   American girl is welcome relief for the living side of a Japanese family's monster war.
   
   4 out of 5



2. This collection is a must-have for any serious Slayer collector. Why? Because the last story is about India Cohen, Buffy's predecessor. Also, this story is set in Japan, so anyone into manga or anime will find it interesting as I did since it use some words and legends of Japanese culture. That said, let's review the other stories.
   The first story is set in a Native American community, and I have to say I found it rather bland and confusing. I expected more action and most of the time the story is quite predictable.
   The second story takes a lot of time to get to present the Slayer and by the time it does you may have lost interest in the story. It is set in China and the Slayer is not sure if she wants to be a selfish brat or a selfless savior. The watcher is a character used before by the author in another Tales of the Slayer volume.
   The third story is set in 1920's Hollywood and revolves around a series of murders. It is pretty good since you keep guessing who the murderer is and till the last minute the answer is not revealed.
   As I said the fourth one was my favorite as it combines romance, martial arts, a little bit of comedy and slayer action.
   This volume has the talents of Nancy Holder and Christopher Golden, two of the best Buffy novels writers.I hope this review was useful and sorry for any mistake but it is my first review ever. Thanks for reading!



3. The 'Tales of the Slayer' books are a brilliant collection of short stories about the past and present slayers, including stories about Nikki Wood,the first slayer, and even some tales about Buffy herself. You may be a bit disapointed though, because this volume only contains 4 tales unlike the other volumes which contain around 8-10,but, what you will not be disapointed about is the quality of the stories inside.



4. Unlike the first two Tales of the Slayer books which consisted of 8-10 short stories, this one consists of four fairly meaty novellas.

   The first novella was set in a Native American community in 1229. While I didn't enjoy this story immmensely, it was extremely well executed. Its the story of a slayer who was trained without understanding her calling. When she was called she still didn't understand the rules of the game. The story follows her frustration and angst and she realizes that she has failed to fulfill her duty because she doesn't understand her duty.

   The second story is set in China in 1856 and revolves around yet another Slayer who doesn't really understand her calling. She has been trained. But when her Watcher died she ran away from the monastery where he trained her and posed as a man to survive on her on in the city. Her new Watcher finds her and they (reluctantly) set out to destroy an extremely powerful vampire. Another excellently executed story.

   The third novella is set in Hollywood in the 1940s. The then current slayer and her Watcher set out to find a Watcher that has gone AWOL from the council. In the process they encounter a bar full of demons and stars, someone who is killing demons - both dangerous and peaceful - indiscriminately, and vigilante demons who want to find and punish the demon killer. This story is particularly captivating for the amount of gray in it. In this story, the slayer spends a lot of time tredding in the space between black and white, between good and evil.

   The final novella is set in Tokyo in 1993 and involves Buffy's predecessor, India. India is able to move freely around Tokyo with her Watcher because her parents don't have the time to pay much attention to her. She has a bit of a crush on her handsome young watcher, Kit, only adding to the dramatic tension of the story. India and Kit have been called to help a clan destroy their ancestor who was turned into a vampire, along with over 50 of his fellow warriors. Another ancestor vowed that no one in the family would rest until the vampire samauri was destroyed. But, they're running out of descendents and time. So, India is called in as reinforcements.

   As with any short story (or novella) collection, the topics and writing are varied. So, one story may not appeal to you simply because you're not interested in China in the 1800s or in Samauri stories. But all the stories are well written, with the well developed characters allowed by this longer form. If you're interested in exploring the history of the slayers, this collection is for you.




5. I really enjoyed this book. I got it last week and finished it within a couple of days. I had read the reviews that other people had posted and wasn't expecting much, in fact I was expecting it to be horrible. But luckily I'm one of those people who read what people say about things but that like to find out for myself if I actually like it.

   Most of the reviews have had people complaining that the book only had 4 Stories.... For the previous books people complained that some of the Stories didn't go into Detail enough... This book may have only had 4 stories but they went into Detail about their lives, instead of just their deaths or one of the many Big Battles that they Fought... Plus, it may have only had 4 stories but it was longer than the first book and I think the second Book as well (can't find the second one right now though) The first Book was only 276 pages worth of stories, the third was 319 pages worth of stories.

   I have to say, I liked the fact that these stories were more Detailed than the ones in the other Books. You learned more about the Slayer in the stories, who she was, what she was like, what she thought of things, how she reacted to her calling.. Etc. Etc... I really liked that.

   The first story, while I thought it was good it wasn't my favorite... I think that it could have been written better but I still enjoyed it. It took place in 1229 A.D... I liked the Descriptive Detail that was given of things. It was almost like you were there. They described the Smells, the way things looked and how they felt, What life was like back then and the way people lived and their Traditions, what it was like suddenly being the Slayer after waiting for many many years for it to happen... What it was like being the Slayer back then and not knowing much about the Vampires, such as their weaknesses.
   It kinda gave the Impression that she was the First Slayer or at least the first Slayer in a very long time... I don't know what I think about that.

   The Second Story I think was my favorite. I really liked the Story of Ch'ing Shih. Not only did it go into great Detail about the Slayer's Life but it went it detail about how life was for people back then... In particular women... It went into detail about how she reacted to being told that she was the Slayer. About the relationship between her and her Watcher. It also went into some Detail about her past, before being Called.... Which I really liked and enjoyed.... The way that they described the fights that they were involved in was great, I could actually picture the fights in my mind.... Again I REALLY enjoyed this story.

   Really quick though, to the person that said her name meant "Moon Kissed Petals", maybe the reason that you didn't like the story was because you didn't read it thoroughly... That name was a name that was used to refer to another little girl, a thief in the Tavern... Not only that but the girl who used it, made it up, it was fake. I suggest reading it again.

   I liked the third story as well. I think that it probably came into a close second whenever it came to being on of my favorites... Again, I liked the fights.. I liked that the Slayer's Watcher was a woman, a very capable woman who could also hold her own in Battle... I liked the way that the Slayer thought, what she thought of her calling, how she missed certain things back home, and how they mentioned "'Kakistos" in this story (The Vamp that Faith was afraid of whenever she first came to Sunnydale)... I also liked the fact that she was willing to Compromise with Demons, that she knew not all of them were evil and that she wasn't interested in killing the ones who were harmless... She reminded me of Buffy ALOT.

   Now for the last one. I liked this story but I didn't love it. India was never one of my favorite characters, I enjoy her but not as much as I wish that I could. The fact that she was the Slayer before Buffy makes her very appealing to me though..... She doesn't like being the Slayer sometimes but at other times she does, kinda like Buffy... If it wasn't for being the Slayer, she really wouldn't have a purpose, her parents could give a rats ass about her and they're never around, she's lonely.. If it wasn't for Slaying, she wouldn't have "Kit", her Watcher and the man she loves... I think that more than anything she likes being the Slayer.. More than she dislikes it.
   I like that she's an American Slayer stationed in Tokyo and the fact that her parents aren't around much and don't seem to care much for her, which makes her Job.. Her calling.. Easier. She can Travel more with Kit without them noticing than she could with them around.... I like that Kit is not only her Watcher but that he's also talented in the Magics. Which also helps them out.... The story itself was interesting, I liked it. I liked that the Vampires that she and the others Fought had a long history behind them... They had a Purpose.. It made the characters involved more interesting.... And that they threw in some details about the Traditions in Tokyo... Both Past and Present.... India seems like one of those Laid back kinda Girls who happens to be the Slayer. I highly enjoy that.. I also find that in some ways, she's alot like Buffy. Again.

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.