Horror Books

I'm kind of disappointed--the comic version was hard to follow and it seemed like much more of an emphasis was placed on 'ooh, how much skin can we show' than how much character development & plot we can have. There's no development, the plot is very fuzzy and short, and we're just given more questions and no answers. I want to know what happened to Willow and Dawn and Xander and what the gang's been up to, instead of more bloody battles and what the heck, FAIRIES? I mean...there's demons and that kind of supernatural, but I really really didn't see fairies coming into this thing. Still, I have to say it's awesome, cause it's BUFFY, of course, and Joss is an incredibly sweet writer to actually want to continue the series, I just wish it was still televised or at least a movie, not a comic book, regular book would be great, too! Comic book is just too many pictures, not enough plot for me, but I'll still be following, of course, and I'm off to order Volume 2, now.

Being a buffy and angel fan, I was hestitant to actually start reading these. I read the other reviews, and noticed that the comics were written by the man himself. I also read the astonishing X-Men, written by Whedon, and knew he had a voice for comics. The only problem with this is it's too short. I was hoping for both volumes 1 & 2, to be combined into one for this. The stories are good and the quick quips that Whedon is known for continue. The line about Sergant Fury just made me put the book down and laugh. It's those little moments that make his work good.

While this wasn't what I wanted to see for a next season type of thing, it's still Joss Whedon and his vision how he would have like to continue it, with no budget to worry about.

There are ups and downs in the storytelling, as there were when the TV series began, but just like that series, one is rewarded for their patience.

The art is more realistic than I had expected, but still stylish as all get out. The writing is very good as one would think, and the appearance of one of the Slayer's oldest enemies is cool, and I was left wanting more, and I was glad!

This book is written/produced by Joss Whedon and like everything Joss touches some people will think it is wonderful, however, I can't find much good to say about this graphic novel.

Joss's work in comics has been very varaible. At points, he hits on the stellar characterization and emotional warmth that has drawn many to his tv works, however, at other times the work is pretty much drivel and poor pulp fan fare. His best works to date in comics IMHO are probably the first 12 issues of Amazing X-men and the Giant Size finale of his Amazing X-men run (all the rest of the comics in this series fail to fit well in the universe or produce truly enjoyable stories). Many people have blamed the lack of quality on Joss being over-worked.

Buffy Season 8 starts out as a very weak poorly characterized pulp fan service comic with little or no redeeming value. It does get better and the comics further into the series are decent and somewhat above average in writing and it is continually improving. However, the series is still far from the best thing out there.

Take this piece as an weak introductory piece to a better series and ask yourself how much you like Buffy and the tv show. If you really liked the show, you probably should by this book, however, do not expect to get the quality you have grown to expect until you get further into the series.

Joss's other current productions most notably Angel: After the Fall are a little more solid (which starts out weak.. again). His work at Marvel started out good but ended on a lower note than this series acheives. Serenity: Better Days is so far ok but not great.

Buffy the movie was clever and fun. The seven TV seasons were some of the best entertainment ever, IMO. I have Fray and Tales of the Slayers comics and they're ok. Season 8 Vol 1 is ok as well, I guess. Calling this season 8 implies it's going to be TV-quality Buffy, but in a different medium. I don't see why that's not possible and, especially after reading other reviews, I actually believed it. But S8V1 is very low quality and I'd go as far as to say it is not entertaining, certainly not considering its pedigree. Good acting, storytelling and emotions can certainly be conveyed through the medium of comics but this isn't it.

Maybe you're happy to spend $15 to make up your own mind (I was). I really wanted to believe the good reviews, but please note that not all the reviews here are positive.

Whedon has done some great stuff because he's his own person and a risk-taker. This feels less like a risk that failed and more like just a pot-boiler. Maybe he's just run out of things to say in this genre. Whedon can certainly write music+lyrics: how about a rock opera next?

This book focused on one plot line, rather than the usual 3. I had to practically skip the whole first disk of the book. It was more like the fairy series in that regard. I am not a romance novel person. I like the plot to move and lots of character development. I felt like she was thinking about something else when she wrote this, but had a deadline to meet. Not up to the usual par for Anita, still entertaining.

Basic plot is that Anita goes with Jason to meet his family because his father is dying of cancer. She is playing his girlfriend because one of her boyfriends talked her into it. OK, well that really isn't the plot, the real plot is her just having sex with Jason and whoever else pops in - and annoying everyone she comes into contact with.

I have to say this was a step (albeit a baby step) closer to what the series used to be. Most of the time you watch characters grow in a series, however in this one they all seem to be regressing to high school... or at least high school in some twisted porn. Anyway, on the off chance that the series ever does rebound, there is some info you may want. However, I would by no means recommend buying. You are by far better off if you just check it out from the library.

I can't believe there's an audience out there that reads this stuff. Poorly written. I MEAN VERY, VERY, POORLY WRITTEN. The publishing house for this book must not go for quality work. If this author can get published, anyone can.

One of the worst books that I have read in a long time. I was a big fan of her early books and gave up on the series a few books ago. Lacking anything better to read I picked this one up and found it to be the worst one yet. Marmee wasn't scary because all she did was give Anita an excuse to screw more men and the other bad guys didn't enter the story until nearly the end. In other words very little action.

I have never read this series for the sex, I enjoyed the action. It was nice to see a strong female character. Anita is no longer strong, just sex starved.

I'm surprised that I am giving this book 3 stars because there are so many 1 starred reviews. But there are parts of this book that I enjoyed.

I think the most enjoyable part for me was the fact that one of my favorite and one of the earlier characters of the series, Jason was present throughout the book. I for one have gotten tired of all the new men. I can't even remember their species or their names anymore. I thought the chapters with Richard were pretty good. I am not a fan who is pro Richard or pro Jean Claude. I like them both and I like Micah too. I really enjoy the interaction between Anita and Richard in this book. Also a quip Richard made,(bottom of page 239) was for me very funny.

What didn't I like about the book? At the beginning of the book Jason was a little too cry babyish and that they jumped right into a sex scene that I thought a little raunchy. I was uncomfortable with what happened during Anita's 2 day blackout. Also I do not like all the affects to Anita and friends from Belle Mort and now Marmee Noir that have been happening in the books since Narcissus. With the ARDEUR there is no reason for the author not to try any erotic idea that she finds in her "adult closet".

As has become my habit since I.D. I borrowed this book and will continue to do so. Why keep reading them? Because I do love and wish to keep up with the characters from books 1 - 10. And I'm hoping that LKH will stop writing erotica. One can always hope!

Mary Shelly says it like no one else. I thought Tolstoy had the most profound writing talent before reading this book.

Usually I read to kill time but this book had me make the time. In my 52 years, this has been the book that I couldn't wait to get back to. I'm deeply impressed and so happy that I chose this timeless classic.

I first read Frankenstein my freshman year of high school. When asked about it, long after I stopped carrying about the novel with too many complexities for even a bright 14 year old to understand, I would simply say "I know that Mary Shelley is [radical feminist] Mary Wollstonecraft's daughter, but you would never know it from Frankenstein."
I reread the novel for my Goth Lit class freshman year of college when I was better able to understand the intricacies of the text. For the first time, I did see saw Mary Wollstonecraft's daughter. Numerous reviewers before me have expounded upon the "Man trying to usurp God with Reckless Science" themes of the novel, concentrating on the Reckless Science (so like what we see paralleled today) while ignoring the phallo-centric characteristics of the science that Victor Frankenstein practices.
The man's science relentlessly pursues and forcibly unveils a decidedly feminine and reluctant Nature, and manages to bypass the feminine entirely with the creation of monster that came simply from the work of a man. Frankenstein houses a genuine fear of female sexuality (just looks at the dream he has following his monster's creation, in which his beloved, while in his embrace, becomes the corpse of his dead mother).
I know my argument might seem shoddy here, but Hindle (the editor) puts together a wonderful introduction that, among other things, connects Frankenstein's science to his maleness.
The are many editions of Frankenstein. I feel that this one stands out because of its fine scholarship.

As far as I have gotten in the book it is a good piece of Literature. I am reading it for a Literature Course in School.

An incredible book that I only wish I had read earlier in my life. Once I started the book I had difficulty putting it back down except to do the things that I was obliged to do. I loved the book completely, but I am still after finishing it unsure what my thoughts and feelings are towards Victor Frakenstein or his monster. I want to feel compassion for the monster in his only desire for love and to not be alone but at the same time I fear that if I had met him in the city that I would scream in fear and desire to kill him myself. As far as Victor, he is someone who at times I felt sorry for and other times I wanted to hate him more so than the monster for his crazy ambitions to do such a thing and then to abhor and desire the death of his creation. A great book that I would recommend to anyone.

Did the people who made the Frankenstein movie even read this book? All of the things that I associated with Frankenstein are creations of the movie alone. No Igor, no lightning striking the body, no grave-robbing (not directly referred to anyway), no mountain laboratory, no villagers attacking the castle to burn it to the ground. Just a young college student seized with a fever to see what he is capable of creating. What he creates is a monster so terrible to look upon, that he is disgusted and horrified and flees from it. The creature is not yet a monster and only wants to be loved and cared for by its creator. But as it is attacked and maligned purely on the basis of its horrific appearance, it becomes a monster and strikes out to destroy everything its creator loves. It's a real tragedy told almost entirely as a narrative without action. It was a tough read in spots, but well worth it. I'm a big classic horror movie fan, but after reading this and Dracula, I'm a bit appalled at how far they strayed from the original.

It is a classic and, therefore, deserves a close reading. Norton editions are great. The text size is good, the print tends to be first-rate, and the critical essays usually include classic essays and major critics. This doesn't strike me as being worthy of the "A" list of literature, but that is a prejudice. I can't really accept any genre lit on the list, including detective, gothic, or science fiction. It is an interesting sample of this period, but I didn't get a lot out the the book itself. For one thing, the atmosphere of doom and gloom doesn't work for me. Everyone is sick and morbidly depressed and sad. This is not explained and I don't think one can easily guess. The writing works, sure, but I don't find the prose style uplifting or thrilling, as writing. The story is very familiar. As a child of the 60s, I remember well watching reruns of the classic film on TV. It is hard to divorce the brilliant film from the wordy novel. The film has some brilliant set-pieces. The novel has a lot in it and it certainly can and should be read at multiple levels, but in the end it is Victorian intellectual thought of the low order. There are other, better thinkers and novelists of far greater talent.

This is a classic and that is the reason that I read it. I liked the movie but the book is a whole other experience. I liked the format; I like the style; I liked the prose; I liked the intellectuality. I really didn't analyze it. I just read it for the fun of it. It was good. It was fun.

The chronological table in the back of the book helped me situate Mary Shelley within the time of the writing of Frankenstein. Percy B. Shelley's critique of the book, published after he died, was interesting. I liked the Criticisms in the back of the book. Most of all, I loved the Being Frankenstein created. This is the saddest, most thought provoking, book I've read in recent times (even though it's old).

Mary Shelley was the daughter of the famous feminist and author, Mary Wollstonecraft, who is best known for her work The Vindication of the Rights of Women. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a young university student, Victor Frankenstein, obsesses with wanting to know the secret to life. He studies chemistry and natural philosophy with the goal of being able to create a human out of spare body parts. After months of constant work in his laboratory, Frankenstein attains his goal and brings his creation to life. Frankenstein is immediately overwrought by fear and remorse at the sight of his creation, a "monster." The next morning, he decides to destroy his creation but finds that the monster has escaped. The monster, unlike other humans, has no social preparation or education; thus, it is unequipped to take care of itself either physically or emotionally. The monster lives in the forest like an animal without knowledge of "self" or understanding of its surroundings. The monster happens upon a hut inhabited by a poor family and is able to find shelter in a shed adjacent to the hut. For several months, the monster starts to gain knowledge of human life by observing the daily life of the hut's inhabitants through a crack in the wall. The monster's education of language and letters begins when he listens to one of them learning the French language. During this period, the monster also learns of human society and comes to the realization that he is grotesque and alone in the world. Armed with his newfound ability to read, he reads three books that he found in a leather satchel in the woods. Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther, Milton's Paradise Lost, and a volume of Plutarch's Lives. The monster, not knowing any better, read these books thinking them to be facts about human history. From Plutarch's works, he learns of humankind's virtues. However, it is Paradise Lost that has a most interesting effect on the monster's understanding of self. The monster at first identifies with Adam, "I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence." The monster, armed only with his limited education, thought that he would introduce himself to the cottagers and depend on their virtue and benevolence; traits he believed from his readings that all humans possessed. However, soon after his first encounter with the cottagers, he is beaten and chased off because his ugliness frightens people. The monster is overwrought by a feeling of perplexity by this reaction, since he thought he would gain their trust and love, which he observed them generously give to each other on so many occasions. He receives further confirmation of how his ugliness repels people when, sometime later, he saves a young girl from drowning and the girl's father shoots at him because he is frightful to look at. The monster quickly realizes that the books really lied to him. He found no benevolence or virtue among humans, even from his creator. At every turn in his life, humans are judging him solely based on his looks. The monster soon realizes that it is not Adam, the perfect being enjoying the world, which he is most alike. Instead, he comes to realize that he most represents Satan. The monster is jealous of the happiness he sees humans enjoy that he has never attained for himself. The monster tells Frankenstein that he found his lab journal in his coat pocket and read it with increasing hate and despair as he came to understand what Frankenstein's intent was in creating him. The monster curses Frankenstein for making a creature so hideous that even his creator turned from him in disgust.

Shelley's intent here is plain to see. "The fate of the monster suggests that proficiency in `the art of language' as he calls it, may not ensure one's position as a member of the `human kingdom." In a sense, she is showing that both her parents were mistaken when they advocated greater education reform for people. They thought education would make people better, which in turn would improve society for all. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein contradicts this belief.

Starting with the full title of Mary Shelley's book, Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus one can instantly see that mythology was integral to her book. Lord Byron, poet and friend of the Shelley's was writing a poem entitled Prometheus, and Mary was reading the Prometheus legend in Aeschylus' works when she had a dream, which was the impetus for her book. The Greek god Prometheus, is known for two important tasks that he performed, he created man from clay, and he stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. The stealing of fire really angered Zeus because the giving of fire began an era of enlightenment for humankind. Zeus punished Prometheus by having him carried to a mountain, where an eagle would pick at his liver; it would grow back each day and the eagle would eat it again.

The presence of fire and light in this gothic story helps to point to the similarities to Prometheus and Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, in Shelley's book. The book uses light as a symbol of discovery, knowledge, and enlightenment. The natural world is full of hidden passages, and dark unknown scientific secrets; Victor's goal as a scientist is to grasp towards the light. Light is a by-product of fire that the monster learned quickly when he is living on his own. The monster experienced fires' duality when he first encountered it in an unattended fire in the woods. He is mesmerized by the fact that fire produces light in the darkness in the woods, but is shocked at the sensation of pain it gives him when he touches it. Victor is defiant of god in the same way that Prometheus was defiant of Zeus. Victor steals the secret of life from god and creates a human out of spare body parts. He does this out of an altruistic wish to spare humankind from the pain and suffering of death. Thus, Victor Frankenstein embodies both aspects of the Promethean myth creation and fire. Victor in a sense has the same experience with the fire of enlightenment similar to his monster; he is "burned" by the fire of enlightenment. Victor also suffers from the classic Greek tragic condition of hubris for his transgression against god and nature.

The book also adopts two other great mythic legends. One is Adam from the Bible. Victor Frankenstein bears striking resemblance to Adam and his fall from grace for eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. The other is Satan, a mythic figure that Shelley admired from her readings in Milton's book Paradise Lost. In an interesting juxtaposition of booth myths, she expands on the motif of the fall from grace in her book when she portrays the monster comparing himself to Adam; after he read, Milton's book Paradise Lost. The monster tells Victor, that he at first identifies with Adam God's first creation. "I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence." However, after several incidents of mistreatment that he suffered from the humans he encountered in his travels; the monster soon realized that it is not Adam, the perfect being enjoying the world, which he was most alike. Instead, he came to realize that he most represented Satan. The monster's feelings of hatred and despair stem from the fact that humans found him grotesque to look at and would not accept him as a member of human society. The monster cursed Victor for making a creature so hideous that even his creator turned from him in disgust. Thus, it is obvious for all to see that Shelley's Frankenstein is replete with mythological references and they are central to the plot.

This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, philosophy, and literature.

Frankenstein is a great work, though one that has consistently been underrated
and misrepresented. Frankenstein is, in the words of Donald H. Reiman, "the
most seminal literary work of the Romantic period". It is a work of profound
and radical ideas, written in poetically powerful prose. Frankenstein is not
really a gothic novel, although its author sometimes employs gothic
conventions and language, and even spoofs them. Rather, Frankenstein is an
enduring myth, a novel of ideas, and above all, a moral allegory about the
evil effects of intolerance and prejudice, ostracism and alienation, both to
the victims of intolerance and to society at large.
Since there are some good reviews here, I'll concentrate on this
particular edition -- the Norton Critical Edition, edited by J. Paul Hunter.
This is one of the two best editions of Frankenstein available (the other
being the Chicago edition edited by James Rieger). Most importantly, this is
the original 1818 edition, rather than the inferior, bowdlerized 1831
edition -- which is the most common, and the only one that was available for
well over a century. Hunter's introduction is not bad. Some of the reviews
and essays in the back are good, and some are not, but this is par for the
course. The main text is intelligently annotated.
Please check out my own book, The Man Who Wrote Frankenstein, which
makes the case that Frankenstein was really written by Percy Bysshe Shelley,
one of the greatest poets in the English language. I also argue that male
love, both idealized and demonized, is a central theme of Frankenstein.

I really enjoyed this book much more than the first book in the series. It starts off with Rose explaining very briefly what happened in book 1 but then jumps right in where the story left off. There is more romance in this book, intrigue, mystery and I started to like Rose a lot better than in the first one because she is less "hostile" at times and seems to be coming into her own person. I can't wait for the third installment of this series!! I recommend for anyone who likes vampire novels or any type of "supernatural" stories. This is a different take on vampires than what we're used to but it becomes believable as the story unfolds. I found myself rooting for Rose and Dimitri and found their chemistry off the charts, which I loved. Can't wait for book 3!!

I thought this was a great follow up book and can't wait to read the next one.

It's the holiday season at St. Vladimir's Academy, an elite school for Moroi and Dhampir. But for Dhampir Rose Hathaway, the approach of Christmas hasn't been very restful. Her mentor and secret crush Dimitri has been preparing her for a test with another widely respected guardian. But instead of meeting him, they stumble across the aftermath of a brutal Strigoi attack. The attack strikes fear in the Moroi community, and instead of splitting up for the holidays, all Moroi arrange to meet at secluded and high class ski resort--including Rose's formidable and detached mother. Sparks will fly as the two clash, and tension mounts as the threat of the Strigoi creeps closer and closer.

Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series takes a darker turn in Frostbite as Rose matures and is exposed to more and more danger, and finds herself taking higher risks. Though there is less interaction between Rose and Lissa, it's believable as Lissa is preoccupied with a new boyfriend, Christian. Readers learn more about the Moroi and their magic in Frostbite as Christian begins campaigning for lessons in self defense by using his magic, adding the twist of political tensions between the Moroi.

The addition of a lecherous and preying older Moroi and a beautiful and scarred Moroi woman that gives Rose some competition for Dimitri's heart add a nice balance to the novel, and enable Rose to cause more chaos. But the ultimate ordeal at the end of the book will test Rose to her limits and give her a dose the responsibilities that will be required of her once she graduates...can she prove herself worthy to become her best friend's guardian?

From the first page of Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) I was hooked. By inventing a fresh, original take on vampires with a believable biology and a detailed world layout explained by more than simply "magic" I saw the start of a great series. By weaving in the beginnings of a forbidden romance and a intensely interesting conflict I knew that I'd devour the book within a day. And I did. I ordered Frostbite from three different places right away: Borders, amazon and the library. Then I paced around for a week and jumped whenever the phone rang. When I wealked to the end of the driveway and found it sitting innocently in the mailbox I ripped it open right there - talk about papercuts...and I must have had an adrenaline rush because that paper was thick - I actually sat down right on the lawn and read. Mmmm. Richelle can do a sequel! Quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read. And I've reread it many times. This book will not dissapoint. Read it. Devour it. Love it.

This book is the sequel to Vampire Academy, and it's defenitly not just for YA! I enjoyed the first book, but I LOVE this one. There's nothing like a good twist, something that despite your best efforts, you just couldn't see it coming. Well, you get that here and then some! Richelle Mead has a way of sweeping you off her feet with her writing and she didn't hold back on us here. I am eagerly awaiting the third book!

My husband and I are big zombie-philes and we both loved this book. It ranks up there with World War Z and the Monster Island/Nation/Planet trilogy. Just be forewarned that the book abruptly ends because Bourne is not quite done writing it. We can't wait for the next installment to come out!

This has to be the best Zombie book I've come across! I read it while on vacation and I found myself actually slowing down my reading to make it last. I read World War Z last year and that was my fav until now. Yes, this journal style book is not as long or in depth as WWZ...but it is the different "flavor" that is so dead on(pun quite intended!). The perspective is great-love the main character...Great military details (I know the author is in the military)..

I have to say this-it is refreshing to not read a zombie book and have the military or government look like buffoons. The author does not make it seem like the military or Gov't are beyond perfect or anything. It is just related as real-life situations that the character comes across and you think "wow, I could really see that happening this way".

Only one drawback...I want to read the next damn book now!!!!

Zombies are always fun to read about and this book does not disappoint.

I think it bordered a bit on the "over-prepared" main character though which did take away from my enjoyment a bit. While the character will have combat skills by virtue of his background, this man seemed methodical and forward thinking to the point of annoyance in several places. It is not that the skills or actions performed by this character were unrealistic, just that such a proficient and able person doesn't make for the most interesting story.

Part of what makes zombie fiction fun is the "everyman" aspect of people from various walks of life thrown into such a tangle. As a group their skills are decent but the story comes from trying to get that group to act in unison under significant stress. In this book the main character has, for the most part, all the skills he needs himself and so the instances where he is saved by a companion when nearly taken by surprise are anti-climactic.

That being said the except from the follow-up title at the end of the book has some good looking hooks. I'll be picking it up.

Overall the book was fun, worth the price of admission but left me feeling that the story could have had better tension with a less capable protagonist.

Day By Day Armageddon was on my birthday list this year, solely based on Amazon's description. I didn't even read the user reviews because, after all, opinions on books (especially zombie books) are subjective. After trudging through (because thats what you will do with this book) I was sadly disappointed.
The spelling and grammatical errors are tough to get over, even in a book written in journal-style formatting. The journal-style doesn't even work in this book. You have pages with fake smudges, and pictures, and random drawings and typed pages, but then all of our main character's thoughts are typed out nice and neat.
The inconsistency is a minor flaw compared to the story that shambles not unlike a real zombie would. It's very slow to unfold, all of the characters are two-dimensional at best, and I was really hoping that one of them would get bitten just to add some excitement to the story.
Overall, this was poorly written and dull. I definitely would not recommend wasting your money or time.

I picked this one up after reading some decent feedback here. The book was formatted in an interesting way told as a journal written by a naval officer who attempts to survive a zombie outbreak. This in and of itself lends the book an interesting perspective of being inside a soldier's mind, seeing the world through his disciplined, methodical eyes. Maybe this was the problem.

Have you ever watched a movie and yelled at the screen because the character's were doing something so blatantly stupid that you were glad they were going to buy it? Yeah me too. Here in lies the problem I had with this book. The main character was so smart, prepared and disciplined for what was to come that there really was never any tension created. He knew how to fight, supply, fly a plane and so on. So there was never really any danger for me. His supporting cast was never in any real danger at any point either. It kind of made me appreciate bad B-movies for what they were again.

That said, the book was enjoyable in terms of watching the two main characters try to keep there sanity as they faced a new, bleak reality. I read through the book in two sittings so it wasn't terrible, just lacking somehow.

I read Oceans of Fire first and fell in love with book and the Drake family. So I had to catch up on the rest of the sisters so I began the series with book No. 1. Magic in the Wind was a very short read and left me a little disappointed because it wasn't as in depth as the first book that I had read. Twilight Before Christmas is book No. 2 in the Drake Sisters saga. It was definitly more satisfying than the first book and I loved Kate and Matt. I really enjoyed how Feehan spreads the stories out so that each sister gets her own story. When I first read Oceans of Fire (Book 3) I was disappointed that the other sisters were not elaborated on and that their love stories didn't get incorporated into the storyline. However, now that I understand Feehan's writing style I see how each sister gets her moment in the spotlight. I did see little bits and pieces of the sisters that would hint at what would come. Hannah and Jonas still seem to be my favorite couple and I cannot wait to read Joley and Elle's story. It wasn't until this book that I actually could see a little glimmer of hope between Elle and Jackson which made me very excited. To put it simply...Love it.

I love the drake series. This one is very good one. Couldn't let go

This book is a great addition to the drake sisters series and is an awesome example of what christine feehan can accomplish.

Kate is more than I thought she would be. Aunt Carol is a love! You find yourself rooting for the underdog and hoping it all works out for love in the end.

I thought this book was stupid, to put it bluntly. The mist that takes material form so that it can throw things because it hates Christmas? The relationship between Matt and Kate? Two people who have lived years apart on different continents and did not even attend school together? They were never friends that I could detect from the storyline. Yet, each KNEW the other was the only one for them. What utter tripe. Maybe the man in the mist is more believable than the love story, now that I consider it farther. A stinker of a book.

For the record, I read and enjoyed the Hannah story! That made this all the more disappointing to me.

This is a grabbing spooky story. This book is well writing,captivating, will keep you on your toes, and looking over your shoulder all night long. I look forward to finding out what will happen with Alice and what kind of power young Tom has. I have been intrigued by the authors unique writing and creative ideas when it comes to magic and his fantasy world. I highly recommend this book to young and older adults.

On another note, I really believe that the Amazon Vine(tm) Program people who rated this book a 2-3 star book would have a different opinion if they had read the entire series first. I have enjoyed the entire series and definitely recommend to start reading the series from the beginning and not with this one.

This was another good book in the series, though it felt considerably shorter than the previous installment.

I was so glad that things with Alice and Tom were finally elaborated, but completely frustrated with the Spook.

He refuses to believe that Grimalkin or Alice can be anything but evil because they are witches despite the fact that they've both risked their lives for Tom. I'm not sure why the Spook is so adamant about this, and perhaps the fact that Tom can see the good that comes from their help is what is going to make him a better Spook that Old Gregory.

I hate, hate, hate that Alice had to leave, and I pray that she doesn't end up going to the darkness, or that she's the girl in the prophet from Tibbs in The Attack of the Fiend (although, regrettably, she probably is D: )

I'm eager for the next book, regardless of my dissatisfaction with those events.

This was my first foray into the apprentice series but it won't be my last. Throughout the book, but especially in the beginning, the author acquaints the reader with the earlier works in the series. I did not feel handicapped by being a first-timer.

As for the story, it was scary with plenty of buildup to crucial moments. Delaney knows how to write. There is no dumbing down here. It is as if he sat down to write a book and it happened to be well suited for kids.

Delaney seems to put a positive spin on some facets of Christianity but not organized religion. However, if you are offended by witches and spells and magic, obviously this book is not for you. On the other hand, if you simply like a good read that will get your heart pounding, the apprentice may be just for you.

My daughter and I both enjoy this series. This book just arrived and we were not disappointed. Some of the less than outstanding reviews from the "Amazon Vine Program" mention that this book seems targeted towards younger readers or that they were unfamiliar with the series. Well, yes. This is book five in a series that is spooky, but still appropriate for younger readers. Having read every book so far, I am familiar with the story and characters. I found this book to be a delightful read and cannot wait for the next book to be published!

Taking up immediately after the ending of book four, book five in the Last Apprentice series still delivers the goods. Not a stand alone story, one must have at least read book four, if not all the others, in order to understand what happens in this book and which characters are on which side of the battling forces of good and evil.

This series has not petered out, the action, the frightening events and scenes, the ongoing developments of Tom's apprentice training, and additional insight into the main characters, remains steady and intriguing. I did not feel AS frightened in this book as in the others, but the reader will not be disappointed. The fear and chills are still there to keep the eerie intensity and high suspense alive. There are a good deal of high action scenes to keep you riveted to the book and to keep the pages turning. I found the author put in a lot more character development to the key players, showing us that all of us have darkness as well as light within us. As Tom learns this more in this book it helps him grow and aids him in his ongoing training as he inches toward his eventual graduation to an official Spook himself some day. I also felt that this book had more of an intricate plot that leads the reader down many paths and shows us many twists and turns that are unexpected and surprising. As Tom grows, his experience broadens and the story backs this up with more of a challenging read than the earlier, simpler installments. I enjoyed this book as much as the others, I found no disappointing aspects and in fact, I thought the wonderful surprise elements at the end were quite brilliant and teasing which will have us all eagerly awaiting the next book. It appears that the author is showing us his increasing talent, as well as our young hero's. Delaney has created a fabulous horror series for young adults that just does not stop delivering terrific reads.

One other thing I feel I must add and praise; the illustrations. I truly feel that these marvelous black and white illustrations and almost holographic cover designs add even more appeal to the success of these books. Each illustration evokes such a frightening feeling that the reader just cant help but feel scared to death. The art work here is truly talented and wonderful to behold. How can you not have a winning series with sensational illustrations to accompany very talented and creative stories? Bravo to both the author and the artist!

When This arrived in the mail i picked it up and started to read. Now after just finishing it ill say this.

WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING OUT!!!!!!!!!???????

I would give this a ten if i could but alas a 5 will have to do.

I mean it, this book literately made me shout at it as I was reading it. So much has happened in this one volume. I wont say anything cause I hate when spoilers are left in reviews.

But in this book actually has me scratching my head cause im just trying to figure out what Kirkman is going to do with the next one.

If your debating about picking this volume up let me help you with your decision. CLICK THE BUY BUTTON!!!!! YOU WONT REGRET IT!!!!!!

This trade paperback is just great. It's paced very well and the big shockers of the book are only revealed when you turn the page which makes the impact that much better.

I'd recommend reading the previous volumes first but this book is a must read for zombie fans.

Kirkman manages to push it just a little further in this set. The victims becoming more numerous by the page. The Calm Before was aptly named as this book is a storm of devastating proportions. But, reading it, I feel that Kirkman is winding the series down or maybe trying to pass the story along to not be as 'Rick-centric'.

I cannot wait for volume 9 to see where the new developments take us.

Another 5 star effort from Kirkman, Adlard, & Rathburn. This series continues to entertain and shock. Just when you think the surprises are done another awaits a page later. It's hard to write comments about this series without venturing into spoilers (I won't) so suffice to say this is hands down the best comic series in a looooong time and is a must read for any fan of character driven stories, especially if you like them splattered with a healthy dose of horror.

I've been reading Walking Dead for some time now; it introduced me to Kirkman's work with Invincible and a friend of mine loaned me Marvel Zombies and the Ash crossover which were both entertaining.

However, this book ended my interest in the series. I will not read another Walking Dead comic or pick up another trade. I simply don't care anymore.

Many reviews mention that prominent characters die, that bad guys come back, etc.

The work is gory (it's a zombie comic, I wasn't expecting Little Lulu) and says a lot about humanity (as much as I'd love to think that EVERY human would band together in a situation like this, I doubt that will happen because some people ALWAYS want power).

However, The Walking Dead had settled in somewhat as a comic about how life can continue when everything falls apart - while there's no reason to think that life wouldn't be filled with conflict, struggle and drama, ESPECIALLY in that world, we had grown to know these characters, care about them, etc. They had found some semblance of safety.

And Kirkman blew it all up. While not doing anything would have basically turned the comic into a serial / soap opera about who was sleepig with who and who ate more than their share of tomatoes, Kirkman destroyed their sanctuary, killed off roughly half the characters and turned the rest loose into the wilderness.

All of which is fine and dandy, but killing off characters that I had come to care about in the context of the comic turning the rest loose doesn't mean I have to follow. While almost all of the reviews of this book on Amazon are glowing, I don't know anyone who was reading Walking Dead who kept reading it after this volume came out, and I also know people who were reading who - after being warned - stopped before this volume. The standard warning given out at the local comic shop lets people know that it's a bloody, savage, unpleasant end for most of the people and that new mothers ESPECIALLY might want to avoid it.

Honestly, I wish I was one of the people who had avoided it, but I picked it up about two days after it was released and that warning wasn't being given out then.

I'm not arguing that this collection is not worth reading because of gore or morals or anything of the sort - I'm simply saying that if you enjoyed this series, if you enjoyed the characters, that many of them die in brutal, horrifying ways and your reason for reading this series will be significantly reduced, if not eliminated. Take that for what it's worth.