July 30, 2007
Dark Mirror by Craig Shaw Gardner, 3
Book description: In his two-plus centuries on Earth, Angel's seen his share of imitators: kindly, misguided people intrigued by the exotic business of being a P.I.; not-so-kindly misguided people drawn to the lure of the undead unlife. But so far he's not encountered a clone -- a true double.
Enter Angel, the Second. And Fred 2.0. And Wesley Redux....A steady parade of perfect doubles arrives at Angel Investigations, but they're not looking for help. They want the original humans (and vampire) dead. And if Angel, Lorne, and their friends can't band together to figure out where the clones are coming from, a murder spree that starts in their lobby might spread to the entire city. But how do you defeat someone who knows your every thought, your every battle plan, your darkest fear? How can Angel defeat himself?
Review: Dark Mirror is set early in Angel’s fourth season. The plot is decent and everyone appears to be in character. However, the book never focuses enough on the characters to become interesting. It’s not the worst TV series based book I’ve read but the writing is never more than adequate.
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April 27, 2006
Gravitation: The Novel by Maki Murakami and Jun Lennon, 3
Book description: Energetic teenager Shuichi Shindo is the lead singer and songwriter for the smash-hit pop band, Bad Luck. He's recently moved in with his older boyfriend, Eiri Yuki, the handsome, sophisticated, and uber-famous romance novelist. Nothing goes smoothly for Shuichi, however. Yuki is inexplicably cold and cruel toward him, more so than usual; due to a rash of publicity appearances on comedy sketch shows, he can't get anyone to take his band seriously; and he's suddenly entered, totally unprepared, into a nationally televised concert with Bad Luck's rival band, Ask.
Review: This novel is based on the manga series Gravitation. It doesn’t stand too well on its own but could be read after the first few volumes of the manga. Gravitation, much like Fushigi Yugi, is something I loved as a teenager but would hate if reading for the first time now. Mostly because the main character is a grown man who acts like a young girl. However, I still enjoy it in small doses because of nostalgia. This isn’t the most exciting novel ever. Not a lot happens plot wise. Fortunately, the writer gets the characters right and most of them are given a moment to shine in this book. I was sure this book was going to be a disaster but I’m pleasantly surprised that it was a fun read.
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November 18, 2005
Forever Knight: A Stirring of Dust by Susan Sizemore, 
Book description: He has walked the night beat for centuries. He is one of the finest homicide detectives in Toronto. But Nick Knight wishes he could shed the curse of his true calling. The burn of the thirst. The thrill of the kill. The endless nights longing to be human...and not a vampire.
The murder victims were found decapitated. At first Nick suspected a man newly released from prison who had killed his wife the same way. Bun now he must consider another, more horrifying possibility-that one of his own kind is responsible for such grisly handiwork. An inhuman monster with a centuries-old score to settle with Nick Knight...
Review: A Stirring of Dust reads like a better than average episode of Forever Knight. It takes place during season three and all of the third season's characters are present. What makes this book enjoyable is the author's deep understanding of all the characters. And each character is given their own moment and sub-plot. The ancient vampire committing murders plot has been done to death but there were enough twists with this one to keep it interesting. This book is well worth tracking down for Forever Knight fans.
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August 11, 2005
Spark and Burn by Diana G. Gallagher, 
Book Description: In the nineteenth century a boy named William was born. A sweet, gentle boy -- no one could have guessed the suffering he'd cause, the pain he'd inflict. When, as a young man, he meets a woman called Drusilla -- a strange woman, a woman unlike anyone William has ever known -- he is fundamentally changed. She has turned him. There will be no more William. He is Spike now.
As Spike, he travels Europe with a band of vagabond vampires. Dru, Darla, and Angelus instruct him on his new nature, and from them he learns about that greatest of vampiric enemies, the girl who is chosen to stand up against them, trained to kill them, endowed with the strength it takes to defeat them: the Slayer. Then and there, Spike decides he'll hunt down those slayers. He'll see how many he can find.
Who would have thought then that he'd fight on the Slayer's side? Who would have guessed that Spike, once William, would go out and seek his soul for a slayer? Who would have dared dream he'd fall in love with one?
Review: Spark and Burn offers Spike’s view on many events featured on the show. The book covers the flashbacks to his past with Dru, Darla, and Angelus, his early days in Sunnydale, and the time when he was insane in the school’s basement in Buffy season seven. Not a lot of new ground is covered in this book but it does what it set out to do well. The writer is obviously fond of Spike and Buffys’ relationship and it was nice to read Spike’s thoughts on his early Sunnydale days from this point of view. If you are a Spike fan you’ll probably enjoy this book.
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November 27, 2004
Five Seasons of Angel edited by Glenn Yeffeth, 7 1/2
Book Description: Did the gypsies curse the wrong guy? How did Wesley go from prissy Watcher-boy to modern-day Loki? What does Jasmine have in common with street evangelists? Exactly what did the writers think they were doing with Cordy? And what is Wolfram & Heart’s policy on interoffice dating?
These questions, and many more, are answered by a crack team of science fiction writers, vampire experts, romance writers, sexologists and crew. Five Seasons of Angel is a collection of fun, irreverent and surprising essays on everybody’s favorite vampire.
Review: A collection of essays on a variety of topics about the Angel TV series. Angel is my all time favorite TV show so there was no way I wasn’t going to read this book. There’s something in almost every one of these essays that Angel fans will enjoy. Some essays are funny, some are analytical of characters or certain aspects of the show, and there’s even an essay full of fun facts from a crew member. Almost every contract character gets an essay. Characters most noticeably absent were Fred and Gunn. I really wish they had gotten their own essays. I also felt a few of the essays were overly and needlessly critical of the show but that could just be because I love the show so much. One of my favorites was The Path of Wesley Wyndam-Price by Amy Berner. It was well done and Wesley is such an interesting character I could easily read a whole book of essays about him. I enjoyed It’s Not Easy Being Green and Nonjudgmental by Abbie Bernstein because the writer’s genuine affection for the character of Lorne came through in her writing. Welcome to Wolfram & Heart: The Semi-Complete Guide to Evil by Roxanne Longstreet Conrad is a W&H employee orientation manual which is highly amusing by being completely serious. The only essay I didn’t enjoy was Angel: An Identity Crisis by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro which compares classic vampire mythology (which she knows a lot about) to the world of Angel (which she doesn’t). Anyway, a must have for diehard Angel fans.
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November 21, 2004
Beauty and the Beast: Song of Orpheus by Barbara Hambly, 9
Book Description: A terrible plague of avarice, a life-threatening disaster, and the shocking secrets of Father’s past cast dangerous shadows underground... and even Above — where the mysterious Vincent and the beautiful Catherine confront the perils that will test the limits of their bold and remarkable love.
Review: Third and last in the series of novelizations based on the Beauty and the Beast TV series. This book is also based on three episodes from the show. The first is “Fever”in which conflict and greed contaminate the tunnels when treasure is found. Next, Father’s past is reveled in “Song of Orpheus” when he goes above and is accused of murder. The last is “Shades of Gray” where Catherine asks for the help of an old boyfriend, Elliot Burch, to save Vincent and Father who are trapped in a cave in. Another wonderful installment even if “Fever” was a bit dull. All of these adaptions were well done and it’s a shame there were only three books. Once again, if you love the story of Beauty and the Beast you will enjoy these books regardless of whether you’ve seen the show.
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November 20, 2004
Beauty and the Beast: Masques by Ru Emerson, 9 1/2
Book Description: A haunted ballerina escaping underground after years spent Above — A courageous peace activist doomed on the one night when beasts roam free — A madman: jealous, obsessed...and deadly. All bring danger into the secret world of Vincent and Catherine...and threaten to destroy the most remarkable love that could ever be.
Review: Second in the series of novelizations based on the Beauty and the Beast TV series. The book is comprised of stories based on three episodes. “Arabesque” is the story of an old crush of Vincent’s who hides in the tunnels from her criminal husband. “Masques” takes place on Halloween night when Vincent and Catherine attend a costume party and meet one of their favorite writers. Finally, in “The Watcher,” Catherine is stalked by a man who’s seen Vincent. This was every bit as enjoyable as the first book.
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November 11, 2004
Beauty and the Beast by Barbara Hambly, 9 1/2
Book Description: Kidnaped and injured, a young woman awakens in a hidden world. Catherine meets Vincent and her life is changed forever.
Review: Novelization of the first episode of the Beauty and the Beast TV series. The writer does an wonderful job of fleshing out the episode. I’ve always loved the idea behind this modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast and this book is one of the better retellings of that story that I’ve read. Even people who’ve never seen the show will have no trouble following the book. I recommend it for anyone who loves Beauty and the Beast stories.
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November 03, 2004
Resident Evil: Zero Hour by S. D. Perry, 6 1/2
Book Description: Sent to investigate a series of grisly murders in Raccoon City, S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team scrambles into action. On the way to the scene, Bravo's helicopter crashes. Although everyone survives, what they discover next is gruesome: an overturned military transport truck riddled with corpses -- and that's only the beginning of their nightmare. Bravo Team is about to discover the evil that is growing all around them, and rookie member Rebecca Chambers is beginning to wonder what she's gotten herself into.
Review: A novelization of the video game Resident Evil Zero, which takes place before the first game. I’ve enjoyed every book in this series with the exception of the two that weren’t novelizations of a game. S.D. Perry does a wonderful job of translating the hours of tedious puzzle solving and zombie shooting into exciting novels. That being said, I didn’t like this one quite as much as the others. The formula of dim-witted zombies, freaky scientists, and wacky monsters has gotten a bit stale. Then again, it’s gotten stale in the games as well. Anyway, if you are a fan of the series this book is worth a read but if you are new to the series, start with book 1. I hope S. D. Perry writes a novelization of Resident Evil 4. That game is suppose to breath new life into the games and I’m sure it’ll do the same for the books.
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September 12, 2004
Tales of the Slayer, vol. 2 by Various, 7
Book Description: Buffy the Vampire Slayer has always held an irreverent attitude toward her calling, but ultimately she understands the ramifications of her destiny and is prepared to die to protect the world from Evil. In fact, she has died. Twice.
It's an ancient tradition, steeped in lore, mythology, and fateful prophecies. Slayerdom consists of a Council of Watchers, a continuum of slayers, an archive of journals, and even a handbook.
But first and foremost, it begins with a girl. One girl in all the world. A Chosen One. Now, catch up on other Slayers past and present, in the second short-story collection, Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 2!
Review: I didn’t like the second volume quite as much as the first. Some of the stories were mediocre and some were downright boring. There were a few stand outs though.
Blood and Brine by Greg Cox was about a pirate slayer who comes across a ship with only one survivor. I enjoyed this because it was just a really great action/adventure story.
The Ghosts of Slayers Past by Scott Allie is an A Christmas Carol inspired story about a watcher who needs an attitude adjustment. I liked this because the concept was amusing and it’s the only comedy in the collection.
The New Watcher by Kristine Kathryn Rusch is the story of a civil war soldier slayer who loses her watcher but finds a new one in an unexpected place. This one was so interesting I wish it were a full length novel.
Again by Jane Espenson is a story about present day Sunnydale in which sixth season Buffy, Willow, and Xander are transported into their third season lives. Buffy is reluctant to leave a reality where he mother is still alive. I’m not really sure stories about Buffy belong in these collections but this one was really believable as a Buffy episode. Probably because it was written by Buffy writer Jane Espenson.
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September 06, 2004
Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 1 by Various, 7 1/2
Book Description: Into every generation, a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, to find the vampires where they gather, and to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. In our time, that girl is Buffy Summers. But Buffy is merely one Slayer in an eternal continuum of warriors for the Powers That Be.
We've known of others: The Primal Slayer, who stalked the earth and the forces of darkness in fierce solitude...Nikki, the funky hipster whose demise at Spike's hands lent an urban edge to his wardrobe and a bigger bounce to his swagger. Slayers by nature have a limited life expectancy; for each one who falls, another rises to take her place.
Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 1, chronicles Slayers past who have influenced -- and are influenced by -- the traditions and mythologies of yore. From ancient Greece, to aristocratic Slayers holding court in revolution-era France, to the legend of the Bloody Countess Elizabeth Bathory, to 1920's Munich, each girl has a personal history, a shared moral code, and a commitment to conquer evil, regardless of the cost....
Review: I enjoyed all of the stories in this collection except one. Most of the stories were about the calling of a slayer or her death, but the stories themselves were different enough that this didn’t become tedious. Most Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans will find something to like here.
The book opens with A Good Runby Greg Ruca, a story about the final mission of one of the longest surviving slayers in history. I really liked this story but it could have been fleshed out a bit more.
Another stand out contribution was Unholy Madness by Nancy Holder. It was about a slayer who works for the french monarchy who realizes that the rich aren’t the only ones who deserve her protection. Normally I dislike Nancy Holder’s writing but this had enough twists to keep me interested. I also enjoyed the look at the political history of the Watcher’s Council.
One of my favorites was Silent Screams by Mel Odom. The story featured the calling of a slayer from a different perspective, her watcher’s. The writing had a lot of atmosphere and the story had a lot of interesting twists.
The only story I didn’t like was The White Doe by Christie Golden. It was about an English slayer raised by Indians. The idea behind the plot was interesting enough but the slayer was so insipid I didn’t care if she lived or died.
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Book of the Dead by Ashley McConnell, 8 1/2
Book Description: Wes has been a compulsive reader since childhood. It's an addiction like any other -- he craves books, loves them, can't live without them. So when his former colleague Adrian O'Flaherty comes to town and invites Wes along to a highly secret auction of rare occult books, Wes can't say no.
What Wes doesn't know is that Adrian is looking for more than dusty old tomes at the auction. He's out for revenge. Before the Watchers Council was destroyed, a man named Rutherford Circe stole a number of rare books from the council's libraries -- and killed the librarian, Adrian's father, in the process.
At the auction, Wes buys a box of old books that holds one of the most famous books of magick ever collected. The Red Compendium is known for totally absorbing it readers -- and Wes, always a sucker for compelling literature, couldn't put its down if he wanted to.
Review: Finally a book about my favorite Buffy-verse character, Wesley Wyndam Pryce. If this book had been terrible I’d have been upset but it was quite good. The characterization was accurate but perhaps not as deep as I would have liked. The plot had some nice original elements but never got too far removed from the show. I particularly liked Wesley’s watcher academy flashbacks. There were some time line oddities but the book was good enough that they didn’t become grating. This book is really a must own for any Wesley fan.
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July 29, 2004
Queer as Folk: Every Nine Seconds by Joseph Brockton, 8
Book Description: On the eve of Brian Kinney's eighteenth birthday, he and his best friend, Michael Novotny, celebrate a bond that could link them forever if their future paths don't separate them for good. In a few short weeks Brian, the seductive soccer star, will leave for college, where he'll be free to explore the adult pursuits in which he's only dabbled in high school. Michael is destined for a more sedate life in community college while living at home with his eccentric mom. But before their lives diverge, a hot new club will open, they'll go to the prom "stag" together, and family strife will turn their world upside down. Brian and Michael still have some unforgettable times to share before graduation ushers in the next stages of their lives.
Review: What we all want, but rarely get, when buying a book based on a tv show, is a book that perfectly captures the show. This book comes very close to accomplishing this. The characterizations, especially those of Brian, Michael, and Deb, are spot on. The dialogue is believable. The plot is paced well and doesn’t deviate too much from what you would see on the show. What holds this book back is the numerous plot discrepancies. The factual errors didn’t bother me too much because the overall feel of the book still stayed true to the show. The only scene that wasn’t believable for me was Justin’s small cameo. It just seem forced. As if the author only put it in there because he was afraid the Brian/Justin fans would revolt. If you are a Queer as Folk fan you should seriously consider giving this book a try. I know I’ll be reading more of the series.
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June 11, 2004
Buffy/Angel: Monster Island by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski, 6
Book Description: Since he arrived in Los Angeles, Angel's mission has been to help the helpless. He has saved countless innocents in his city. However, one escaped his grasp: Doyle, the half-demon who came to Angel on a vision quest. Doyle sacrificed himself and in turn reconciled his internal conflict toward his own demonic heritage, leaving Angel and Cordelia to carry on with the good fight. And fight they do.
But as the group squares off against evil in the City of Angels, little do they know that back in Sunnydale, trouble is brewing. A shakedown of snitches yields info: Someone other than Buffy has been slaying -- and whoever it is, he or she is strictly after half-breeds, going so far as to lie in wait to attack. It doesn't add up, and the Scoobies are stumped.
But back in L.A. the picture becomes clearer when Angel Investigations is visited by an unexpected guest....
Review: I really enjoyed the first half of this book. There were a lot of great character moments and it was interesting to see characters who weren't usually together interact. Buffy and Gunn's pissing contest was especially amusing. I also loved all the shout outs to Doyle. However, the second half of the book gets bogged down in the plot and it drags a lot. There were also a few major printing mistakes. One page is omitted entirely and another is printed twice. Still, the book does bring nearly the entire casts of Buffy and Angel together in a coherent and believable manner which isn't an easy feat. If you are looking for a good crossover book then you may want to give this one a try.
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May 15, 2004
Wicked Willow I: The Darkening by Yvonne Navarro, 8
Book Description: In the woods outside Sunnydale, Willow Rosenberg has exacted a terrible revenge for the murder of her lover Tara Maclay: She has captured Warren, the murderous leader of the Trio, and flayed him alive. Her best friends, Buffy Summers and Xander Harris, arrived too late to stop her. But the death of Warren isn't enough for Willow. Now her friends can only watch as the juiced-up witch sets off on a trail of vengeance and magick-gathering to prepare the spell that will bring Tara back to life. And whoever gets in Willow's way is going to regret it...including one Slayer who is still hoping to save her best friend.
Review: Finally! A Buffy book that doesn't suck! I was beginning to doubt that such a thing existed. All of the characters were well written and I didn't even have to roll my eyes once while reading it. The premise was also interesting and well executed. I'd recommend this book to all Buffy fans, even the ones who have given up hope on the books.
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February 09, 2004
Alias: A Secret Life by Laura Peyton Roberts, 6
Book Description: It’s Sydney Bristow’s first mission–in Paris.
Her first alias.
Her first real enemy.
Her first real crush.
And her first big mistake.
There are a lot of firsts for Sydney.
But no second chances.
Review: I didn't really like this one too much. It was even more juvenile than the first one because most of it was about Sydney and Noah's budding romance. I was just completely uninterested in that. I also really missed the other characters. I did like the short phone call between Sydney and Jack but it wasn't really enough to save the book. I only recommend this to people who are die hard fans of the show or are completest. (like me)
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Alias: Recruited by Lynn Mason, 7
Book Description: Terror-filled eyes. Lungs choked with water. A pounding heartbeat. For Sydney Bristow, it’s a typical day in her not-so-typical after-school job–she’s an agent for SD-6, a top-secret division of the CIA. Or so she thinks. This prequel is the first in a new series based on the smash ABC show Alias–it’s Sydney’s life before she discovers she’s working for the bad guys, juxtaposing normal college life against her fabulous exploits as a working spy.
Review: This is the first book in the Alias prequel series. The book covers 19 year old college student Sydney Bristow's recruitment into the to secret agency know as SD-6. I really enjoyed reading about the circumstances which lead Sydney to become a spy. I felt the book did a good job with her character even though it was a bit juvenile for my tastes. My favorite thing about the book is that we got to learn a lot more about Francie; a character which didn't really get a lot of screen time on the show. The book isn't really action packed but if you are interested in the characters, it's worth a look.
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December 16, 2003
Solitary Man by Jeff Mariotte, 7 1/2
Book Description: Widow Mildred Finster is a life-long fan of "cozy" mystery novels. She decides at the tender age of seventy-one that she'd like to become a real private detective. She finds a card for Angel Investigations and thinks the name sounds very sweet. After all, she loves angels. What could be more perfect? Angel and the gang are hip-deep in their own personal problems, so when Mildred offers her services, they don't have much time for her. And when a truckload of antiquities from a local mission is stolen, they don't get too worked up over what they think is a simple theft. But the arrival of some ruthless killers from overseas finally gets the gang's attention. Now they are being followed at every turn by a well-meaning old lady, fighting off attacks from poltergeists, and trying to set their personal differences aside to defeat a supernatural foe before a centuries-old mystery reaches its final chapter.
Review: Decent Angel novelization. Jeff Mariotte writes the Angel cast brilliantly. Wesley was especially well written here. However there were too many original characters and sub plots to fit well in a book this short. It's still one of the better Angel novels I've read so if you are a hard core fan of that show you should consider reading it.
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October 27, 2003
Angel: Haunted by Jeff Mariotte, 7
Cordelia thinks she has found the key to her inevitable stardom when she's cast in a reality TV show. Unfortunately, the hook of the show is that she, and the other constants, must survive five days in a haunted house. Cordy figures this will be an easy win because this is hardly the first time she's had to sleep in a haunted house. However, the first night in the house Cordy has a vision of a girl in trouble, but with few ways to get information to Angel and the others the girl's chances don't look good.
I know this book sounds like it's Cordy-centric but in fact equal time is given to all the main characters. This is good in some ways and bad in others. Gunn's storyline does have some interesting moments and Wesley's was pretty funny at times but other than that the rest of the boys' attempts to solve the mystery are pretty dull. Cordy's storyline was by far the most interesting but it's not really given enough time to be as good as it could have been. Also, many of the original characters weren't really necessary and made the novel feel even more disjointed. Overall this is a fairly decent Angel novel but I've read better by this author.
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October 07, 2003
Angel: Sanctuary by Jeff Mariotte, 7 1/2
Team Angel were enjoying a relaxing night off at Caritas when an explosion is heard outside. When the dust settles, Fred is gone. So Angel Investigations starts.. well.. investigating. They begin by questioning the various demon witnesses all of whom have, of course, different stories to tell. As the night goes on Angel begins to realize that the only way to save Fred may be to sacrifice himself.
This book has pretty much your basic ‘Fred's been kidnaped, must find Fred' storyline but what makes this book enjoyable is the firm handle the author has on the Angel universe. The characters are all perfectly in character. The dialogue was great. The author even brings up a few pieces of Angel trivia that only fanatical Angel fans will remember easily. Also, since the book takes place in early season three, it was nice to see the characters just joke around together like friends. You know, like they did before the all fell in love with each other. Jeff Mariotte's extensive knowledge of everything Angel made what could have been a very boring book into an enjoyable addition to the Angel universe. I'm sure I'll be reading more Angel books by him in the future.
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August 31, 2003
The Mystery of Collinwood by Marilyn Ross, ****
Someone or something is out to kill Victoria Winters. A mysterious figure that appears to be the legendary ghost, the Phantom Mariner, has Vicky frightened for her life. But Victoria isn't quite ready to believe a ghost is out to kill her since a mysterious stranger has come to Collinwood. The stranger has strong ties with the Collins family and may have more than one reason to want Vicky dead.
This is the fourth in the very out of print Dark Shadows series but it's the first one I've read. Judging from this book, the novels take place in an alternate universe from the TV series. However most of the characters' relationships and personalities were kept. I was a bit disappointed that the Burke/Vicky romance was thrown out and Vicky was given an original character as a love interest. I should also note that, even though Barnabas in on the cover, this book takes place before he showed up. The writing was decent though and Dark Shadows fans will probably enjoy this book.
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August 10, 2003
The Journals of Rupert Giles, Vol. 1 by Nancy Holder, ***
Sort of Giles centered novel that contains novelizations of the Buffy episodes "Helpless," "A New Man," and "Blood Ties." All of these episodes took place on Buffy's birthday. In "Helpless" Buffy is given a test by the watches' council that takes away her slayer strength and forces Giles to betray her. "A New Man" features the return of Ethan Rayne who turns Giles into a demon. "Blood Ties" takes place during the fifth season when Dawn finds out she's the key.
I was pretty disappointed by this book. Giles is such an interesting character and the best they could come up with was not much more than a script book that is only kind of Giles centered. The first part, "Helpless," wasn't even all that well written. The author managed to make the character's thoughts so shallow and inane that I felt the need to bang my head against the wall repeatedly. "A New Man" was the only truly Giles centered part of the book. The novelization of this episode is the only reason Giles fans should read this book. "Blood Ties" was just kind of there. The concept of this book wouldn't have been so bad if these episodes had been told only from Giles' perspective. That would have supported the plot better since Giles is suppose to be reading these stories from his journal. As it is, this book is basically just a script book with a little bit of the characters' thoughts filled in.
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August 03, 2003
To Dream in the City of Sorrows by Kathryn M. Drennan, *****
This book is based on the television series Babylon 5 and it focuses on what happened to Commander Sinclair after he was relocated to Minbar.It also covers what became of his fiance, Catherine Sakai and how Marcus Cole joined the rangers.
This book should be required reading for every Babylon 5 fan. It answers a lot of questions fans may have about Sinclair but it's also really well written. You can tell the author did her homework. Sinclair is completely in character and the nuances of Minbari society are explained even better than on the show. Marcus fans may be a bit disappointed since the bulk of the book focuses on Sinclair but I'm sure they'll find something to like. If this book is any indication of the quality of the other Babylon 5 books then I hope they come back into print quickly.
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August 01, 2003
Buffy/Angel: Seven Crows by John Vornholt, ***
Riley Finn and his wife, Sam, have been called in by the government to investigate some killings along the Mexican border. Shortly after their investigation begins, they are kicked off the case and told it is closed. This doesn't sit well with the Finns so they decide to call Buffy and Angel for backup. Now the foursome have to fight off vampires, shape shifters, pushy strippers, and the west Nile virus!
The basic idea of this book had me excited because I'm one of the few people on the planet that actually like Riley. The plot was an ok idea too but the problem was that the book was pretty boring. There just wasn't enough character interaction. As a matter of fact, Buffy and Riley are hardly in it. Buffy mostly just drives the van as Riley babbles on about crows. Sam and Angel do most of the work. I hated Sam on the show but she was ok in this book although her flirtation with Angel was just gross. This isn't really a bad book but it's just too boring for me to entirely recommend.
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July 30, 2003
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds by James A. Moore, **
After investigating the source of a severe vampire attack at the magic box, Buffy discovers some very strange occurrences. Such as Sid the dummy and Kakistos, the ancient vampire that killed Faith's first watcher, mysteriously coming back to life. Things get even worse when Ethan Rayne shows up. He's apparently run afoul of the First and has named Buffy, Faith, Spike, Willow, and Xander his protectors.
I usually don't read Buffy fiction but I couldn't pass this one up because I'm a huge Ethan Rayne fan. Alas, this book was disappointing to say the least. The bulk of the book is made up of very boring fight scenes that go on for far too long. What little plot the book contains is completely ridiculous and would severely mess with the continuity of season seven. The Ethan parts were pretty dissatisfying as well, especially since there was no Ethan/Giles interaction. A little humor would have gone a long way towards making this book tolerable but most of the jokes were just not funny. The only good thing I can say about this book is that everyone seemed to be in character to a certain degree. Still, avoid this one at all costs!
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July 29, 2003
Resident Evil: Nemesis by S. D. Perry, ****
Jill Valentine is once again trapped in a zombie filled nightmare in this, the novelization of the third Resident Evil video game. Raccoon City has been completely lost to the T-Virus and Jill realizes all she can do is try to escape the city. However, this won't be an easy task. She must battle zombies, mutants, and a new tyrant that has been programed to kill Jill and her fellow S.T.A.R.S. teammates. Fortunately Jill is not alone, hapless Umbrella mercenary, Carlos, proves to be a useful ally.
I love the Resident Evil video game series but I go into hysterics whenever I play them so I read the novels instead. These books could easily be boring and tedious but they are actually quite good. The author focuses on characterization instead of attempting to capture every puzzle and battle. However, the books still manage to be suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is my favorite in the series because Jill and Carlos are the most interesting characters in the Resident Evil universe. All of the novelizations of the games are good though and you don't even need to be familiar with the games to enjoy them.
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May 31, 2003
Highlander: The Captive Soul by Josepha Sherman, ****
A random trip to a museum leads Methos down memory lane to a time in ancient Egypt. In 1500's B.C. Methos travels to Egypt only to discover it is being occupied by a brutal race known as the Hyksos. Methos decides to get the hell out of dodge but he's unwittingly drawn into the fight to rid Egypt of Hyksos rule. His task becomes even more perilous because a Hyksos prince turns out to be an immortal, and a completely insane one at that. Meanwhile, back in present day New York, Methos and Duncan suspect that a killing spree is tied to Methos' past.
This really is a three star book but since I adore Methos it gets four. The plot isn't really anything special but is interesting enough to keep you reading, even though it's pretty predictable. Methos and Duncan were well written and in character but many of the secondary characters were one dimensional. The writing overall is adequate but the author's tendency to repeat herself and state the obvious got on my nerves after a while. Methos fans will enjoy this book but if you aren't that interested in him skip it.
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March 28, 2003
Down With Love by Barbara Novak, ****
Barbara Novak, is a new author in New York City and at first her book isn't taken very seriously by the men in her publishing company. Her book sales soon soar after some cleaver marketing and women every where are taking her book career instead of love message to heart. Barbara's success is a thorn in the side to hot-shot, ladies' man reporter Catcher Block. Catcher soon cooks up a scheme to discredit Barbara as a feminist icon, by making her fall in love.
Down With Love is just your basic romantic comedy, you'll have fun reading it but won't really think about it too much afterwards. The plot was fun and full of interesting characters, witty dialogue, and lots of mistaken identities. The characters were especially interesting because I wasn't sure till the end weather I liked or hated them. Down With Love is worth a read if you are a fan of romantic comedies.
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March 27, 2003
The Passing of the Techno-Mages Book III: Invoking Darkness by Jeanne Cavelos, *****
Well there's not much I can say about this book that I haven't said about the first two. I love this series, I love this book, and I love Galen. That pretty much sums it up. Because of these books I'll never be able to watch Crusade or Babylon 5 in quite the same way. Man I wish there was more of this series.
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March 26, 2003
The Passing of the Techno-Mages Book II: Summoning Light by Jeanne Cavelos, *****
The Techno-Mages have elected to go into hiding to avoid the shadow war. To throw the shadows off their trail Elric and a few others are sent to Babylon 5. A large portion of this book covers the events that occurred in Babylon 5 episode 203 The Geometry of Shadows. When I first saw that episode I thought it was pretty dull and that the techno-mages were kind of lame but the other day I found myself yelling at my brother for saying pretty much the same thing I just did. This book certainly add new depths to that episode although, hard core Londo fans might want to avoid it. It really doesn't paint a pretty picture of him.
Meanwhile, Galen and Blaylock head off to a shadow base to gather information but Galen is also after revenge. Galen has really changed since the first book. He's pretty pissed and he's not dealing with it very well. This is the Galen we saw in the Crusade episode The Path of Sorrows. This series just keeps getting better and better. I can't wait to see what happens in the final book in the trillogy.
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March 25, 2003
The Passing of the Techno-Mages Book I: Casting Shadows by Jeanne Cavelos, *****
Usually when I read television based books they come off as poorly characterized fanfiction but the opposite is true of this book. Galen's character was so on that I felt as if I was watching an episode of Crusade. Galen isn't the only character you'll find from the Babylon 5/Crusade universe; Morden, Kosh, Anna Sheridan, Isabelle, Elric, and Alwyn also appear. You don't have to be familiar with the B5/Crusade universe to enjoy this book though. This is one of the best science-fiction pieces I've ever read. It was especially interesting to learn about the order of the techno-mages and to see the start of the Shadow war from their perspective. The best part of this book though was Galen........ok I'm awfully biased because he was my favorite Crusade character.
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March 13, 2003
Sabrina by Deborah Chiel, *****
Based on the Harrison Ford/Julia Ormond move of the same name, Sabrina is the story of a girl who is in love with the rich, handsome, and seemingly unobtainable David Larrabee. Sabrina and David grew up together but he's barley aware that she exists because she doesn't compare to the beautiful and chic women David is use to. However, after a year in Paris, Sabrina comes home quite changed and David quickly becomes enamored with her. David soon forgets his new fiancé, Elizabeth, but his older brother Linus isn't so quick to forget, especially since Linus has business plans with Elizabeth's father. Linus cooks up a scheme to tear David and Sabrina apart that will leave no one's feeling unscathed, even his own.
Sabrina is one of my favorite movies and the book captures the movie well. Sabrina's characterization is done well but the author didn't totally capture the sophistication of Julia Ormond's performance. On the other hand, her description of Linus was dead on. It's always interesting to see a movie you've watched many times from the eye of an author. Reading about thoughts and details that the movie didn't include were fun as well. Sabrina stands on it's own as a book and even people who haven't seen the movie should be able to enjoy it.
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The Crow: The Lazarus Heart Poppy Z. Brite, ***
I'm not too familiar with The Crow. I had seen the first movie a few years back but I didn't really remember much about it other than thinking that it was ok. Being the huge Poppy Z. Brite fan that I am I, of course, had to read this book. I was a bit disappointed by it though. Poppy's writing style is as wonderfully descriptive as ever but the plot was very inconsistent.
I felt that the main character, Jared, wasn't given nearly enough character development needed to make me care about him. I would have loved to hear more about his past with the twins. Another character, Frank, had great character development but he barely figured into the rest of the book. The killer could have used more character development as well. If we had learned more about what drives him, like with Jay and Andrew in Poppy's previous novel Exquisite Corpse, it would have made the main plot a lot more interesting.
All in all, I found the main plot of the book to be pretty dull but a few of the back stories made this book wort reading. My favorite part was the chapter when we were introduced to Frank. I found the events that happened with him and his ex partner to be particularly memorable. I was really disappointed that he wasn't in the book more. I also enjoyed the back story of the twins. That would have made a terrific short story.
I'd recommend this book to hardcore fans of Poppy and/or The Crow but if you are looking to get into Poppy's writing, I suggest you start with Lost Souls, Drawing Blood, or one of her short story collections.
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