11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book and holds true to the show., April 23, 2004
This review is from: Apocalypse Memories (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) (Mass Market Paperback)
It was a entertaining book that brought up alot of interesting questions that the show never did. I liked the interaction between the Scoobies, but the Buffy and Spike interaction was by far the best of the book. This was the first time they actually had Buffy and the gang actually question the nature of good and evil. I think this is also a very good book for Spike fans even though he is not on the cover.
This book also stayed true to the characters, which was a hard thing to do considering the characterization in season 7 for everyone was all over the place. One second Buffy was really caring for Spike and telling him he could be a good man, then next she was telling him she didn't want the man she wanted the monster that tried to kill her when they first met. I felt this book did a good job dealing with the character issues of early season 7, and I am very happy that the author of this book decided not to have insane Spike in this novel.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sheep Bitten, July 4, 2004
This review is from: Apocalypse Memories (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) (Mass Market Paperback)
Willow is back from England, fully recovered from her magical flameout and ready to start fresh with her friend. Well, almost ready. After nearly succumbing to the lure of black magic, Willow is terrified of her own powers, fearful that, if she casts a spell it might go terribly awry. Or worse, she might lose herself again. Zander comes to the rescue by conceiving of a magic desensitization program that has Willow trying to levitate pencils - one tiny step at a time.
In the meantime, Buffy has her regular chores and patrols to make, Dawn continues to be everyone's favorite headache, and Anya is determined to make everyone just as grumpy as she is. Things would be almost normal except for the sudden, inexplicable appearance of a hunky angel, who cheerfully sets about ending the world. No doubt you are thinking 'yet another apocalypse for Buffy to avert,' but this time it's not a bad apocalypse, it's the real one. The powers of good have seen a sign, and this time it is for keeps.
While Giles tries to decide whether resistance is appropriate, Buffy decides that she isn't ready to throw in the towel. Unfortunately, Michael (our angel), is not only invincible but an all around nice guy as well. Buffy would really like him if he didn't keep apologizing as he unleashes on disaster after another. Willow tries to gather the courage to cast a spell that might stop the apocalypse, which might just undo the world in the process. On a lighter note, Spike and Anya develop really bad cases of acne.
The premise of the book gives each of the characters a moment to consider what is truly meaningful to them. What matters when faced with with what seems to be the real end of it all. Spike's plight, that he is still numbered among the damned despite having regained his soul touches Buffy deeply, as she realizes that all of her friends are dear to her, even the irritating ones.
The flaw of the book is that Burns and Metz have taken an interesting idea and made it into a lightweight confection. For all that they focus on characters rather than plot details, the story never really brings the horror of the situation home to the reader. Instead you get an hour or two of light reading where Spike, Anya, and Zander get all the good lines (Michael has a few as well). The book is an entertaining change of pace with a novel plot, but never quite reaches it's full potential.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best Buffy novels, February 20, 2005
This review is from: Apocalypse Memories (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) (Mass Market Paperback)
This was the first Buffy novel I have read, after being a big fan of the TV show. I must say, it has pleasantly surprised me (as have other BtVS novels I read after) by being very well written, with a very novel and surprising storyline.
All the characters were written extremly well and are "in character" for the season the book is set in. Spike is written just a bit too wimpy (I do love him just a bit more wicked), but overall the novel captured Buffy and her scoobies very well.
The story itself has very novel and entertaining elements: An angel, an apocalypse (THE literal apocalypse), a wolf in sheep's clothing and much more.
A very worthwhile read!
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