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briarsreviews's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I've only watched bits and pieces of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I enjoyed every second of it. My partner and his family LOVE Buffy and I had this book sitting on my shelf so I figured I would give it a go and try to read it.
I absolutely LOVED Coyote Moon. It was an easy read with an engaging story that focused on a carnival. I don't know what it is about creepy carnivals but I LOVE them. This story was short but sweet and really focused on the weird were-coyote and circus vibes. I don't know how well it would fit into the Buffy universe, but I loved every second of this book. It was just a fun read that didn't take itself too seriously. Definitely a great read for someone who likes fantasy with a splash of paranormal.
Four out of five stars.
I absolutely LOVED Coyote Moon. It was an easy read with an engaging story that focused on a carnival. I don't know what it is about creepy carnivals but I LOVE them. This story was short but sweet and really focused on the weird were-coyote and circus vibes. I don't know how well it would fit into the Buffy universe, but I loved every second of this book. It was just a fun read that didn't take itself too seriously. Definitely a great read for someone who likes fantasy with a splash of paranormal.
Four out of five stars.
kantosfinest's review
3.0
I fully understand that this book was published after season one, but I just didn't feel like the author grasped who the characters are in this world.
First off, Giles would never worry about getting arrested and he certainly would not be a "frazzled ball of nerves". Season 1 Giles was excited to be a Watcher. He was supportive of Buffy's hunches and certainly would have not let her sit back alone.
Secondly, Willow was depicted extremely wrong. Yes, her love for Xander was highlighted in season one, but Willow is a lot smarter than what this book made her out to be. She would have seen right through Rose's facade. However, I do agree with how Xander was made out to be: a whiny, petty, sexist jerk who can't handle rejection. He's too busy being petty to listen to Buffy's warnings.
The story structure of the book was pretty much textbook. It does a good job at making you want to read the next chapter and it definitely was a quick read. The resolution was kind of whack though. It was built up to have this epic showdown with the big bad cowboy and it doesn't even happen. It was literally one page of fighting, not even.
With that being said, I had to give it a three. I'm hoping the next books in the series get better.
First off, Giles would never worry about getting arrested and he certainly would not be a "frazzled ball of nerves". Season 1 Giles was excited to be a Watcher. He was supportive of Buffy's hunches and certainly would have not let her sit back alone.
Secondly, Willow was depicted extremely wrong. Yes, her love for Xander was highlighted in season one, but Willow is a lot smarter than what this book made her out to be. She would have seen right through Rose's facade. However, I do agree with how Xander was made out to be: a whiny, petty, sexist jerk who can't handle rejection. He's too busy being petty to listen to Buffy's warnings.
The story structure of the book was pretty much textbook. It does a good job at making you want to read the next chapter and it definitely was a quick read. The resolution was kind of whack though. It was built up to have this epic showdown with the big bad cowboy and it doesn't even happen. It was literally one page of fighting, not even.
With that being said, I had to give it a three. I'm hoping the next books in the series get better.
mariepty's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
jaydeqt's review
2.0
This was better than the precedent Halloween Rain, but the ending was abrupt despite chapters of build up. Leaves one unsatisfied.
alexampersand's review
4.0
Of the two Buffy novels thus far in the series, this is probably the better one, feeling slightly better paced than Halloween Rain, as well as avoiding the issue of having way too much cultural references crammed into every single page.
That's not to say this is a perfect addition to the Buffy canon - some of the dialogue feels clunky, and there are once again timeline issues around the fact that it seems to be set post-Season 1, even though we know Buffy was incommunicado in LA for the entire summer pre-Season 2. But giving these issues the benefit of the doubt, the story itself rolled along nicely and was fun to read.
Sure, there were still a couple of bits that didn't fully make sense: Was it ever really explained why the carnie-coyotes needed town folk to come along with them? Either it wasn't explained, or it was so briefly explained that I promptly forgot. Plus, when discussing the desecrated grave, Giles was pretty quick to guess "Maybe they're planning to raise him from the dead", and then they just roll with it and lo and behold that is indeed the plan. Maybe it would have been nice to get some actual deduction work instead of just Giles making an assumption.
So the more I'm writing here the more I'm realising the faults. But hey, it was very readable, and it was nice and quick, so I rolled through it as an average book. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars, but I'll round up to 4 because I'm feeling generous.
That's not to say this is a perfect addition to the Buffy canon - some of the dialogue feels clunky, and there are once again timeline issues around the fact that it seems to be set post-Season 1, even though we know Buffy was incommunicado in LA for the entire summer pre-Season 2. But giving these issues the benefit of the doubt, the story itself rolled along nicely and was fun to read.
Sure, there were still a couple of bits that didn't fully make sense: Was it ever really explained why the carnie-coyotes needed town folk to come along with them? Either it wasn't explained, or it was so briefly explained that I promptly forgot. Plus, when discussing the desecrated grave, Giles was pretty quick to guess "Maybe they're planning to raise him from the dead", and then they just roll with it and lo and behold that is indeed the plan. Maybe it would have been nice to get some actual deduction work instead of just Giles making an assumption.
So the more I'm writing here the more I'm realising the faults. But hey, it was very readable, and it was nice and quick, so I rolled through it as an average book. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars, but I'll round up to 4 because I'm feeling generous.
reannapipes's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It was a great and short read with a very intriguing plot. I liked how it equally focused on Buffy as well as Willow and Xander separately.
I won’t lie, it was fun to gaslight myself into believing the carnies weren’t actually werecoyotes.
alexampersand's review against another edition
3.0
Very, very mediocre. I know they're non-canon, but again I have issues with timelines. It takes place in Summer. So it has to be after Season 1, but Buffy disappears for the entire summer between seasons 1 and 2 (and seasons 2 and 3, for that matter - although it is obviously placed around season 1 anyway)
The story itself isn't anything special. Readable, but not thrilling. I was disappointed with the ending. Mostly the fact that of a 183 page book, the climax literally takes places 6 pages before the end, Buffy shows up 4 pages before the end, there's 3 pages of some Buffy action, and then 1 page epilogue.
The story itself isn't anything special. Readable, but not thrilling. I was disappointed with the ending. Mostly the fact that of a 183 page book, the climax literally takes places 6 pages before the end, Buffy shows up 4 pages before the end, there's 3 pages of some Buffy action, and then 1 page epilogue.
mollyxroses's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
slayermel's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Coyote Moon was a pretty interesting story, but something about it didn't quite grip me like some of the other books in this series did. I just didn't really care about the Carnival people and I found the story way to predictable. Also Xander & Willow kind of irritated me a bit in this book.
Oh well they can't all be gold.
It's definitely worth a read for any Buffy Fan though. :0)
**Edited after second read**
The second time around I feel like It didn't bother me as much. The storyline was interesting in the sense that it was original and not one of the TV episodes. I still feel like the Carnival characters didn't really girp me and Xander did irritate me a little more then usual in this one. However I feel myself not as irritated with Willow this time around. 13 years later and I'm still loving reading anything Buffy related.
Oh well they can't all be gold.
It's definitely worth a read for any Buffy Fan though. :0)
**Edited after second read**
The second time around I feel like It didn't bother me as much. The storyline was interesting in the sense that it was original and not one of the TV episodes. I still feel like the Carnival characters didn't really girp me and Xander did irritate me a little more then usual in this one. However I feel myself not as irritated with Willow this time around. 13 years later and I'm still loving reading anything Buffy related.
ladymoonlight's review against another edition
3.0
"Der Hexer von Sunnydale" ist der dritte Band der "Buffy, im Bann der Dämonen" Reihe. Ich kann dieses Buch leider wirklich nur echten Hardcore Buffy Fans empfehlen.
Die Geschichte ist ganz okay, sie hat mir durchaus gefallen. Das der "Höllenschlund" im Buch "Höllenmund" heißt, schmälert das Lesevergnügen jedoch erheblich. Da hätte man bei der Übersetzung etwas besser aufpassen müssen. Im Original steht vermutlich "Hellmouth", das sollte man allerdings nicht eins zu eins mit "Mund" übersetzen. ...
Außerdem hat die Ausdrucksweise mancher Protagonisten meiner Meinung nach so gar nicht zu den einzelnen Charakteren gepasst.
Fazit: Leider nur für echte Hardcore Buffy Fans zu empfehlen! Knappe 3 Sterne gibt es von mir.
Die Geschichte ist ganz okay, sie hat mir durchaus gefallen. Das der "Höllenschlund" im Buch "Höllenmund" heißt, schmälert das Lesevergnügen jedoch erheblich. Da hätte man bei der Übersetzung etwas besser aufpassen müssen. Im Original steht vermutlich "Hellmouth", das sollte man allerdings nicht eins zu eins mit "Mund" übersetzen. ...
Außerdem hat die Ausdrucksweise mancher Protagonisten meiner Meinung nach so gar nicht zu den einzelnen Charakteren gepasst.
Fazit: Leider nur für echte Hardcore Buffy Fans zu empfehlen! Knappe 3 Sterne gibt es von mir.