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esters's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lisaluvsliterature's review against another edition
5.0
I was so excited for this one that I kept reaching out on Twitter to try to get an ARC until the author saw my posts and sent me one! And this book took me back to the fun that was Spike on one of my all time favorite tv shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
We got to visit a time that we didn’t really have much info about from the show or other books. This began right after Spike killed his first slayer in the Chinese Boxer Rebellion. Angelus has recently left the group so that now it’s just Darla, Drusilla, and Spike. They’ve gone back to England where it seems a demon has kind of taken over and they are having to deal with him. Darla is thinking of leaving Spike and Dru to go back to the Master. But she doesn’t want to just leave them. Obviously Dru has her own issues, and while Spike may be able to take care of her, Darla wants to make sure the rest of London’s vampires will not be a problem for them.
Spike is feeling jealousy over Drusilla’s constant looking or or talking about Angel. So he decides he must come up with a way to get her to only think and rely on him. I loved spending time with this strange couple. Even if I am a Spuffy fan, it was Spike’s dedication to his true love that definitely made him what he became.
We had a lot of fun characters, some that we might see in the tv show or other books, as well as some that we won’t see again because they don’t make it past the end of the book. We even get an insight into Drusilla’s doll Ms. Edith. I loved that little tidbit! This look into years of Spike’s life that were kind of blurry was such a fun romp that I can only hope we maybe get more and can see how he spent those years before he ended up in my favorite little town above a Hellmouth.
We got to visit a time that we didn’t really have much info about from the show or other books. This began right after Spike killed his first slayer in the Chinese Boxer Rebellion. Angelus has recently left the group so that now it’s just Darla, Drusilla, and Spike. They’ve gone back to England where it seems a demon has kind of taken over and they are having to deal with him. Darla is thinking of leaving Spike and Dru to go back to the Master. But she doesn’t want to just leave them. Obviously Dru has her own issues, and while Spike may be able to take care of her, Darla wants to make sure the rest of London’s vampires will not be a problem for them.
Spike is feeling jealousy over Drusilla’s constant looking or or talking about Angel. So he decides he must come up with a way to get her to only think and rely on him. I loved spending time with this strange couple. Even if I am a Spuffy fan, it was Spike’s dedication to his true love that definitely made him what he became.
We had a lot of fun characters, some that we might see in the tv show or other books, as well as some that we won’t see again because they don’t make it past the end of the book. We even get an insight into Drusilla’s doll Ms. Edith. I loved that little tidbit! This look into years of Spike’s life that were kind of blurry was such a fun romp that I can only hope we maybe get more and can see how he spent those years before he ended up in my favorite little town above a Hellmouth.
undertowsoul's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
belpapepper's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
spike you will always be loved by me
cat_rector's review against another edition
5.0
This was pure fun for me and I loved every second of it. I'm hoping for a sequel somehow but not holding my breath. This review will not be helpful to anyone, because I have no critical insight to give and will not be attempting to. It made me feel like a teenager again, pining for a man who loves foolishly and fully. It was nice to fangirl over something again, and to remember what I loved most about Spike.
This... might end up being a comfort listen for me.
This... might end up being a comfort listen for me.
Spoiler
Also can we just acknowledge how clever the author was in making this a YA-appropriate book instead of a murderfest with those London Rules LOL. If you didn't like that, go back and read the novel Spike and Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row by Christopher Golden, that book was not YA in the LEAST.bluwuberry's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
kathleenpurple's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
raypuffle's review against another edition
4.0
This book really grew on me. Spike is my favourite character and I was really excited about the prospect of reading a prequel from his perspective. I think the author did a really great job encapsulating Spike's voice. The fact that his entire motivation in this story was to make Drusilla happy is very on brand, a fool for love indeed. I was on the fence about Drusilla's voice at first. It's very hard to get her distinct moony madness just right. It wasn't quite perfect but her actions were still true to her character. I also enjoyed Darla's side story. It was fun getting to see a different side of Darla. I could probably read a whole book about badass spy Darla.
I especially loved all the little Easter eggs from the original series. I loved getting to see a Chaos demon in action and hey if his slime smells like intoxicating coconut who can really blame Drusilla for straying. I loved, loved getting to see the origin of Ms Edith, that may actually be my favourite part from this book. I loved the literary references to both Dracula and Mary Shelley. I loved getting to hear Darla's feminist critique of Dracula and I hardcore relate to the young author Spike meets feeling of complete inadequacy comparing herself to Mary Shelley. I love Mary Shelley. I am here for the Mary Shelley references.
My main critique of the novel comes down to the YA tone. I know it's a YA novel but the violence and mayhem you would expect from William the Bloody is really lacking in this book. I've read YA books that have been able to lean into the horror without going to far on the adult side but this book is not one them. Early on we have Spike acting melancholy because he can't afford to buy Drusilla a present. The Spike I know would not be concerned with money. The spike I know would be stealing and murdering anyone who got in their way. Speaking of murdering the lack of vampire violence in the first half of the book is mind boggling. We have the convenient plot device of this vampire council forbidding killing people, really? They are vampires this is what they do. Also you cannot convincingly tell me that Spike, a relatively new vampire coming off just killing a vampire slayer, someone with very poor impulse control would adhere to not killing anyone because a council told him not to. This is not probable.
Lack of violence aside in the first half the second half really made up for the first. I love the actual heist and the kooky hijinks that ensue during the heist. It all felt very Scooby-Doo and very Buffy. The action in the second half was great. I really enjoyed the fight scene with the werewolf and I especially enjoyed seeing Drusilla in all her mad psychic glory. The action really ended with a bang and was completely satisfying. The quirky little reveals of people popping out of the rubble was also very Buffylike in tone.
Overall I enjoyed the story. I did have my issues but in the end the positives outweighed the negatives for me. I'm not sure how much a non-Buffy fan would enjoy reading this as my love and nostalgia for Spike and Dru is what really sold the book for me.
Rounding up from like a 3.5 because how much I enjoyed the end.
I especially loved all the little Easter eggs from the original series. I loved getting to see a Chaos demon in action and hey if his slime smells like intoxicating coconut who can really blame Drusilla for straying. I loved, loved getting to see the origin of Ms Edith, that may actually be my favourite part from this book. I loved the literary references to both Dracula and Mary Shelley. I loved getting to hear Darla's feminist critique of Dracula and I hardcore relate to the young author Spike meets feeling of complete inadequacy comparing herself to Mary Shelley. I love Mary Shelley. I am here for the Mary Shelley references.
My main critique of the novel comes down to the YA tone. I know it's a YA novel but the violence and mayhem you would expect from William the Bloody is really lacking in this book. I've read YA books that have been able to lean into the horror without going to far on the adult side but this book is not one them. Early on we have Spike acting melancholy because he can't afford to buy Drusilla a present. The Spike I know would not be concerned with money. The spike I know would be stealing and murdering anyone who got in their way. Speaking of murdering the lack of vampire violence in the first half of the book is mind boggling. We have the convenient plot device of this vampire council forbidding killing people, really? They are vampires this is what they do. Also you cannot convincingly tell me that Spike, a relatively new vampire coming off just killing a vampire slayer, someone with very poor impulse control would adhere to not killing anyone because a council told him not to. This is not probable.
Lack of violence aside in the first half the second half really made up for the first. I love the actual heist and the kooky hijinks that ensue during the heist. It all felt very Scooby-Doo and very Buffy. The action in the second half was great. I really enjoyed the fight scene with the werewolf and I especially enjoyed seeing Drusilla in all her mad psychic glory. The action really ended with a bang and was completely satisfying. The quirky little reveals of people popping out of the rubble was also very Buffylike in tone.
Overall I enjoyed the story. I did have my issues but in the end the positives outweighed the negatives for me. I'm not sure how much a non-Buffy fan would enjoy reading this as my love and nostalgia for Spike and Dru is what really sold the book for me.
Rounding up from like a 3.5 because how much I enjoyed the end.
endlesstbr's review against another edition
3.0
This just didn't hit the mark for me. I was really excited for a Spike story, but I didn't feel like we were watching Spike but another vampire who had also happened to kill a Slayer during a stint in China. Drusilla was just about perfect, so kudos on that.
I received a copy of this book as an early review copy from Netgalley and Disney Audiobooks. All opinions are my own.
I received a copy of this book as an early review copy from Netgalley and Disney Audiobooks. All opinions are my own.
paperbackd's review against another edition
1.0
I adore Spike, Darla and Dru... but I just couldn't get into this.