Customer Reviews

Return to Chaos (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This was the second buffy book I read and I bought this one for it's thickness, I got into it for the first couple of chapters, but after a while could not be bothered to read it, and did not go back to it and finish for about a month. The reason for this is I feel they could of made out a better story from bringing in newcomers instead it's just the usual story, and to be honest most btvs are not interested in buffys love unless it's angel, it had to be said, but if you are still a pretty big buffy fan then I would buy this book.

Ordinarily I enjoy what I read by Craig Shaw Gardner, but I think he just missed the mark with this one. The story idea is good, and the idea of Druids in Sunnydale is very interesting. I think, though, that Gardner is not quite as familiar with the show as he should be to write a novel about it. His vampires consistantly exhibit powers that other vamps in the Buffyverse do not have and there is no explanation for this (or none that satisfies). Characters do not speak or act anything like they do in the show.
One other thing that bugged me was the fact that the red herrings were obvious at several feet and there was virtually no suspense. I was quite aware of what was going on through much of the book and was getting frustrated that the characters were taking so long to figure it out.
Also, my usual complaint. Don't tell me, show me!

Basically, I'd love to see more from Mr. Gardner, but I'd recommend that he watch the series a bit more carefully first.

Well, I have to say that I love the show, the characters, and the actors and actresses, but this book really sucked. I mean, it didn't capture the character's personalities as they would be on the show. It focused too much on Cordelia. I'm not saying that I don't like her character, but this is supposed to be a BUFFY book. Get it, Buffy, not Cordelia, Buffy. It was also really dissapointing that the author didn't catch the relationship battles between the character couples, {Willow/Oz, Buffy/Angel, and Xander/Cordelia.} The witiness meter {on a scale of 1 to 10} would be a -1. This book is not funny, and does not catch the wit of the characters. The author tried to use the "cool" lingo he thought was used in the show, but he overused it, making the characters sound so unlike they do on t.v. {Example: Cordelia: Like, pathetic much?} The authors of the other Buffy books are so much better at writing them that ths author. {Nancy Holder, and Christopher Golden are the regular authors.} I'm not saying that the author is a bad writer, it's just that he really sucks at writing Buffy books. Oz sounded the worst in this Buffy novel. His personality was really unlike him onscreen. Cordelia was too valley girl. Buffy used slang too much. Angel was too peppy. Willow wasn't innocent sounding enough. Xander wasn't witty enough. You get the picture. Well, the only reason it even gets one star, is that it was a Buffy book, and the show is really awesome. In my opinion, Child of the Hunt is soooo much better. It has a better plot, and captures the character's personalities well. Read that one, and save your money on Return to Chaos. I'm serious, I really like the book series, but this one was really bad. Final verdict: no way.

Druids in Sunnydale. The idea is not without merit, and definately had possibilities. Unfortunately this author was unable to brings those possibilities into his writing. Familiar characters didn't quite ring true, and new ones were underdeveloped to the point of being almost uninteresting. Eventually the storyline does pick up, but I'll admit I was tempted to just leave the story unfinished.

Possibly worth the read for die hard fans, but this isn't one for your collection, folks. If you absolutely can't live without reading this, use your library card.

When old Druid George and his three nephews Ian, Tom and Dave are in town, they stir up quite a wave. They aroused suspicions and concerns among the normal gang, as well as some hope for Xander and Oz, one hoping to learn some 'skills' to be useful to Buffy, while the other eager for his other half--the wolf side to be cured. Some romance started brewing between Buffy and Ian, but as usual, evil gets into the way. Unknown to them, their uncle George had other plans for them, which could lead them all into the gateway of Hellmouth.......

This book is worth a read, with Buffy in it and all, and rates high in my Buffy-0-meter.

I have read other Buffy books but this one just doesn't compare to them. The characters were written differently than from the show and the plot was very slow-moving and didn't make much sense. There was also a subplot with Cordelia and a vampire that had nothing to do with the main story. I would definitely advise people to skip this book but not all of the Buffy books. I have read some excellent ones such as Halloween Rain.

I hate to add another neg. review but what the hell. This book read like a Hardy Boys book. That is fine if your 9 years old but these are supposed to be suitable for adults, aren't they? However, as others said, my love of the show compels me to read the books. Child of the Hunt was far superior, especially as it was rather ADULT.

This was so boring, i thought that it would get better after a while like most Buffy books, but it was just so repetitive. and the half-hearted attempt at Buffy and Ian's romance? That really got on my nerves. A few simpering glances and a kiss? wow, i'm sure that will get everyone's pulses racing. really don't buy this book.

This was the first Buffy book I read and almost the last. Fortunately, I found Child of the Hunt and the others. This book has no redeeming features. The plot is pointless, the dialogue is awful, the characterizations are barely recognizable, and the style seems like it was written by a backwards 12 year-old. Although the tv show is popular with young people, it is clever and creative enough so that people of all ages can enjoy it. I can't imagine who could enjoy this piece of dreck. I could actually feel myself getting stupider as I was reading, and if I hadn't paid for the book, I would have stopped before the third chapter. What can I say?

I've read fewer than 10 of the original novels so far, but this is the first I didn't thoroughly enjoy. I can force myself to stay awake even when I can barely keep my eyes open just to finish a good book. Not this time. This is also the first Buffy original novel where I didn't think that the author captured the characters correctly. I guess he didn't do his research. Certainly his Buffy seemed a bit of a wimp when compared to the show and other novels. His Willow and Giles were weaker than the norm, too. That said, the book does have its moments. The Evil Plot was reasonably evil. I liked what happened with the cemetary and bathtub. You may go ahead and read the book, just don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.