Rating: 
Summary: Great Read!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: This is a great book for all Spike and Buffy lovers alike. I only give it 4 starz though, because a book really cannot satisfy the craving for the real show. But since it is set before Buffy's time, and there is no show on it it is really cool. I reccomend it to any Buffy/Spike fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Continuity? What Continuity?
Review: Christopher Golden has succeeded in penning a reasonably entertaining novel with Spike and Dru. The story takes place in the 1940s as World War II breaks out into full swing. Spike is in search for a mystical artifact to present to his sire/lover Drusilla for her eightieth anniversary as a vampire. To do this he must kill the potential slayers and ultimately the current slayer of the time, wiping out the Slayer line. This sounds cool even if it does seem directly lifted out of Season Seven's big story arc. This time, however, Spike is on the side of evil.
The writing in this book moves along nicely with great action sequences and some interesting character development in regards to Drusilla. She's more fully fleshed out and her relationship with Spike can be seen during its height, at a time where Angelus is no more and forty-three years before Buffy is even born. Finally Spike and Dru can be seen at their destructive best though the narrative shifts between the titular characters, the Slayer of the time and a few other story tangents. Spike and Dru seem to be included solely for the sake of selling the book to Buffy fans only interested in the stories of recognizable characters. Here's where I have some issues.
The largest gap in continuity stems from the fact that the television series holds to the fact that Spike had only fought and killed two slayers. Well, in this novel, he not only battles a third (guess how that turns out) but also manages to kill a half-dozen potential slayers. None of this is mentioned in the show and though I risk sounding like a continuity nazi, I find these lapses on the author's part to be extraordinarily distracting. I'm assuming that this novel had been written either after Buffy was over or near its untimely demise so Golden has no excuses to screw with established continuity. What this does is take me out of the story when I have to try to reconcile this novel with the show, something that should be unnecessary. He puts in some nifty sensical references like a guest spot by Kakistos and Giles' Grandmother so its obvious he knows the show pretty well (that and the fact that he's co-authored the Watcher's Guides).
Despite this gaping wound of an issue, I did find the novel to be an entertaining read. For those of you who could give a darn about continuity, give this book another star.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Book About The Big Bad
Review: Few writers can take characters from a popular TV series and give them a 100 percent transition into books, as well as expand on the overall mythology. Christopher Golden is one such writer.In "Spike and Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row," a noirish tale of Spike and Drusilla, the Sid and Nancy of vampires, Golden fills in their long history together. The book has the feel of an Elmore Leonard novel, where the main characters are bad guys. In the Buffy-verse, you can't get any badder than the Big Bad himself, Spike! This is the Spike many know and miss before he received the behavior-modifying chip on the TV series. The tale unfolds in World War II where in exchange for Freyja's Strand--a magical necklace allowing its wearer to shape-change--Spike and Dru most not only kill the WWII generation's Slayer, Sophie Cartensen, but all the other Slayers-in-Waiting, girls who have not yet been Chosen. Needless to say, they go on a killing spree, leaving a bloody trail of death in their wake. Golden's characterization of Spike and Dru is spot on. You can hear James Marsters and Juliet Landau's--the actors who play the undead couple--voices in your heard when you read their dialogue. Golden also journeys into territory the show hasn't touched, giving you an inside look at the Council of Watchers and explaining, to some degree, how a Slayer is Chosen. It's too bad Golden hasn't written for the TV series. There are also cameos and brief mentions of popular Buffy-verse characters. Golden throws in a few references to Angel and the Master. Kakistos, the vampire who debuted--and died--in "Faith, Hope, and Trick," the same episode Faith the evil Slayer made her first appearance, cuts a deal with Spike. And while Giles doesn't appear, an ancestor--also a Watcher--does. Buffy does NOT appear at all throughout the course of this novel, nor is she mentioned. This book is for die-hard fans only. Contrary to how Amazon.com categorized this book, this is NOT for children! This story contains graphic violence and sex. Also, this novel raises a contradiction in Buffy-verse continuity. It's been established Spike killed two Slayers, the first in the Boxer Rebellion. The second... well, the show says Spike killed a Pam Grier-esque Slayer in New York City in 1977, whereas this novel says otherwise. DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU! "Pretty Maids" is very well-written. I'm sure Golden, a gifted storyteller, can devise a way to fix this glitch without compromising his work and the episode detailing Spike's origin.
Rating: 
Summary: Not enough Spike & Dru!
Review: Golden has done it again! This book was amazing- the author stuck true to the characters and made believable new ones. The plot was brillant and original. The TV series even seemed to borrow the idea of the potientals being killed off for season 7. Kudos to Chris. My Opinion: Buy as soon as possible, disconnect the phone and lock the doors. You won't want to be bothered while reading this Buffy-world masterpeice.
Rating: 
Summary: Truly exceptional...
Review: I admit, when I started this book, I expected to be disappointed. I'm a big fan of Spike and Dru (they're hilarious!), but I didn't expect Christopher Golden to be able to capture them in all their sinisterly charming glory on paper as well as Joss Whedon does on the screen. Happily, I was proved wrong. This book combines all the wit, violence and sexy-ness of our favorite big bads with a killer (literally!) storyline, beautifully clean writing style, and a motely crew of wonderfully interesting supporting characters, including the Slayer, Sophie. While this may look like a book for die-hard fans only, anyone who wants a good dirty romp in the world of demons should read it! Admittedly, it lacks Buffy, Xander, Willow and all those other endearing characters that the show encompasses, but the quality of the plotline and characters more than make up for it. And as it turns out, Spike and Dru are just as funny in a book as they are in a show- I laughed quite hard and cheered them on all the way through. I could almost hear James Marsters and Juliet Landau delivering their lines with perfect eloquence as I read. Overall, an astonishingly good novel! Please note, contrary to Amazon.com's opinion, this is not a kid's book. Slightly detailed (nothing *really* dirty) sex and extremely graphic violence abound. But hey, it's worth it!
Rating:
Summary: my favorite vampires, together again
Review: I didn't use to think much of the Buffy series, but I have grown to love it! I love the way this story unfolds. It is WWII, and the war is in the full in Europe. Drusilla is having her 80th year anniversary as a vampire, and asks for a special gift of Spike, her lover, and partner in crime. They go to the Demon Skrymir to ask for it. But he tells them, to get it they must kill all the slayers-in-waiting, as well as the Slayer herself, Sophie Carstensen. Her watcher Yanna, has been having visions. About Spike. She knows Sophie's end is coming. Meanwhile, Spike and Dru go on a killing spree. No to-be-slayers are safe. I loved the book, even if it didn't have anything about Buffy in it. I read the back before I bought it, and I knew who it was about. When I picked it up, I got home, and I couldn't put it down!! Anyone who likes the show, and all the characters on it, Will go for this book. It shows things I never entirely got from the show. Christopher Golden is an amazing author, and this book shows it!
Rating:
Summary: Good big bad!!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I was sceptical at first about the book I dont like books that wedge themselfs into the TV story and just dont fit, but this definetly fit. It was before "Buffy" time so it doesnt mess with the shows story lines, (well one little thing but Im sure it can be explained, but it just adds to the excitement of not knowing how things will unfold). All in all The extra slayer story lines could have been avoided (or maybe writen a continuation book to finish some story lines left open), and you just love to root for the big bad. After reading this book I just wanted more. It was so good I couldnt put it down. If you love Spike or Dru you will love this book. I just wish there were more books after this to continue the storys.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful, Gruesome Tale
Review: I won't go into great detail about what the book is about, I think the editorial review and the book description cover that nicely. I will, however, give my personal thoughts on the book. First of all, this book is very gruesome. Many of the scenes are quite gory, and everything is told in perfect detail. I'm not saying this is a bad thing by any means, it is, after all, a horror book. I'm just warning those who don't really care for such things. Also, this is NOT a book for children. There are various adult themes throughout the book. The story is very in-depth and full of detail, and moves along at a swift pace. Scenes are introduced as sort of a diary. Diary is not the right word I'm looking for, but there are headings with the place and date, sort of like a log. It's greatly entertaining, I found myself not being able to put it down. I highly recommend this book for any Buffy fan, or horror fans. Spike and Dru's characters are perfectly captured by Golden. I know this is said many times, but you can actually picture them saying these things, it's like watching a television episode. Spike is as arrogant as ever. He could be faced with the biggest bad of all, and still not be intimidated, and would always manage to crack a few insults. This book will make you HATE Spike for the things that he's done. I've always thought it a shame the direction he's taken in the later seasons of Buffy, he's truly a great villain. I suppose I should mention the fact that there are inconsistencies in the continuity of this book and the show. I'm quite sure that when Spike was first introudced on the show, had the contents of this book taken place, Giles would have known who he is. Instead, he says there's no real record of him and he has to search for him. Also, Spike is said to have killed 2 slayers, and in Season 5 of Buffy we get flashbacks. The story in the episode and in this book do not mesh. However, this book is so good you won't care about the problems. For the most part, this book is spot on. A great book, I urge you to pick it up soon.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: If you are a fan of Spike and Dru or just one of them you will love this book! Drusilla fans will be happy to know that Golden captures her insane personaility really well, making her very believable. Josh would be proud. Spike fans will get to see his more violent side aswell as his romantic side as he once again proves how he will go to the end of the world and back for his beloved Dru. This book is not for children however, because there are some graphical violence and torture. Some other review mentioned sexual content and I have to agree but if you are just buying the book for that, then stick to fanfic instead because it's not a main part of the story at all.
Over all, this is one of the best Buffy books I ever read, close second to the GateKeeper triliogy. Buy it today! You won't regret it!
Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining
Review: Nice book - for those who like the "lovely" couple Spike (evil to the core) and Drusilla. I, for one, like them together just in small doses, mainly because of Dru's annoying insanity as well as her obsession for bloodshed and torture - which the novel graphically gives us a lot. Putting aside my personal tastes, however (and something that contradicts what we learned in the episode "Fool For Love"), I can say that "Pretty Maids All in a Row" has a very compelling plot (set during World War II, 1940), and presents interesting new characters - the Slayers in Waiting, the Slayer Sophie, her Watcher Yanna, the Watchers at the Council (one of them was Rupert Giles' grandmother), and, above all, the Big, Big Bad Skrymir and its minions. I loved the construction of Skrymir, this demon is something I would have liked to see on the show. A book worth reading, for sure.
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