Rating: 
Summary: Jhaeman's Reviews
Review: HALLOWEEN RAIN
Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder (1997)RATING: 3/5 Stakes SETTING: First Season CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Giles, Xander, Willow, Cordelia, Joyce, Aphrodesia MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Samhain (Pumpkin King); Glenn O'Leary (town nutcase); Claire Bellamy (Bronze manager); Nick Daniels (Bronze assistant manager) BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY "Around Sunnydale, they say a scarecrow saturated with Halloween rain will come alive and slaughter anyone in sight. (Lovely place, Sunnydale.) Buffy's best friends, Xander and Willow, used to think the tale was nonsense-but after a few adventures with Buffy, they're not so sure. Even without a maniacal scarecrow, a Sunnydale Halloween is a truly horrific happening. There are enough zombies and vampires about, ready to party hearty and eat some brains, to keep the Slayer and her friends up all night. And then the rain starts to fall . . ." REVIEW The first original Buffy novel sticks closely to the style of early first season episodes. All the basic elements are here: a fight against vampires near the Bronze; Giles in full research mode at the library; patrols and battles at a cemetery, etc. The main plot of Halloween Rain is the emergence of Samhain, the Pumpkin King, a powerful demon that inhabits the body of a scarecrow on Halloween. After disrupting a vampire attack in the basement of the Bronze, Buffy learns of Samhain's existence from Sunnydale's resident madman, Glenn O'Leary. She ends up near a cemetery when legions of zombies attack, and manages to escape them only by running into a cornfield-and there, of course, Samhain makes his move. The novel is clearly written with a young adult audience in mind, as it's slim and straightforward. Most of the characters are written well, but without the witty dialogue of the television show. Some good moments include a Halloween party with Xander as Indiana Jones, Willow as the X-Files' Scully, and Buffy as a pirate; Giles telling of the 17th Century Irish Slayer Erin Randall; and a scene where Samhain manages to scare Buffy almost to death. Overall, Halloween Rain is a simple but solid Buffy novel, more of interest now for its nostalgia appeal than for anything else, though it would serve as a good introduction for adolescents unfamiliar with the Buffyverse
Rating: 
Summary: I am a huge Buffy fan, and this book was incredible!!
Review: I am a huge fan of Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and I have to tell you that the novelization of the episodes from the show are awesome. I never actually saw the first episodes until after I read the books and all of them are great. I recommend it for anyone, it is a fun book you will not be able to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: Completely New Story
Review: I enjoyed this book more because it's a completely new story. It takes place where the first season Halloween episode would have been if one had been made. It's interesting to see what the authors do to play within the limitations of first season while making sure to not spoil the character's lack of knowledge about other aspects of Halloween that become important plot points for the season 2 episode.
Rating:
Summary: Ahh, the good old days...
Review: I first read this book years ago and it's just of the quality that you can't bear to ever part with. I wish the recent Buffy books were more like this one. With accurate characters, humorous dialogue, intersting and original plots, and fight scenes that have your eyes riveted to the page and completely lost in the Buffyverse. Buffy's final battle against Samhain was incredible in my mind and I loved how the author chose to include descriptions of her fear and weakness when faced against such a seemingly indestructable (also, who the heck hasn't had a nightmare about jack-o-lanterns once in their life?) foe. If I were ever to write a Buffy book, I would hope that it would measure up to 'Halloween Rain.'
Rating:
Summary: hmmmm...
Review: I found this book very creepy. I mean a giant pumpkin guy? I liked it all round but felt it could do with a good dose of... Angel. For those of you who have never seen the show, turn on the T.V now!
Rating:
Summary: So far, the best yet!
Review: I had a hard time finding a copy of "Halloween Rain" at local bookstores, and as a result I read the other three first. While "The Harvest" was, naturally, great fun, I found myself sadly disappointed with the other two - there was something definitely lacking. But "Halloween Rain" was like stepping right into an episode of "Buffy". The dialogue - probably the most integral part of any "Buffy" book - was fantastic, definitely a highlight. The creepy plot didn't disappoint either. While this isn't a "wow wow WOW!" book, it *is* very true to the series and a highly enjoyable read. And it would make a great episode of "Buffy" :>
Rating:
Summary: A fun Halloween Story
Review: I have to admit to being a bit embarassed at being in my 30's and reading what is advertised as a "young adult" novel. Still, I'm a big fan of the show so I thought I'd try one of the books. It is written a bit for a younger crowd which I think is unfortunate since the TV show is, I think, very clever. Still, the authors do a good job at capturing the feel of the show. The dialog and characters are right on the money. Chronologically, it takes place early in the first season of the TV show, soon after Buffy arrives in Sunnydale. The story concerns a Sunnydale legend of a scarecrow that comes to life when it rains on halloween. The entire story takes place within a single Halloween night as the gang start out battlinig vampires at the Bronze, then have to fight legions of zombies and then the final showdown with the Pumpkin King. A very fun, and at 160 pages, a quick read.
Rating:
Summary: A fun Halloween Story
Review: I have to admit to being a bit embarassed at being in my 30's and reading what is advertised as a "young adult" novel. Still, I'm a big fan of the show so I thought I'd try one of the books. It is written a bit for a younger crowd which I think is unfortunate since the TV show is, I think, very clever. Still, the authors do a good job at capturing the feel of the show. The dialog and characters are right on the money. Chronologically, it takes place early in the first season of the TV show, soon after Buffy arrives in Sunnydale. The story concerns a Sunnydale legend of a scarecrow that comes to life when it rains on halloween. The entire story takes place within a single Halloween night as the gang start out battlinig vampires at the Bronze, then have to fight legions of zombies and then the final showdown with the Pumpkin King. A very fun, and at 160 pages, a quick read.
Rating:
Summary: Buffy Books are GreatT
Review: I LOVE ALL THE BUFFY BOOKS. I STARTED READING THEM A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED WATCHING THE SHOW ON [local channel]. IF YOU LIKE ADVENTURE AND COMEDY AND SEEING PEOPLE GET THEIR [rear] KICKED BY OTHER PEOPLE YOU WILL LOVE THE BOOKS AND THE TV SHOWS. I REALLY THINK THIS BOOK IS A GREAT BOOK. I WILL READ IT OVER AND OVER.
Rating:
Summary: This book was awesome !
Review: I loved this book ! It was about Samhuinn , or the spirit of Halloween . Some of the parts in it were scary because you thought for sure that Buffy was dead . There was a lot of edge-of-your seat suspense . But , along with the scariness , it also had some very funny parts in it . This book includes the whole cast from Buffy the Vampire Slayer ( the Show ) execpt for Angel and Cordelia. Even for a book that was thought of off BtVS , it was great . Even my literature teacher read it and said that she loved it . Her only complaint was that Angel wasn't in it ( she likes the Buffy-Angel relationship ) . For all those people who watch the show , this is just like it .
| 
