Revenant (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

I think Revenant is a top rate Buffy book. the mixture of Gang warfare and chinese magic clash spectacularly. But, what with me being a big Angel fan and all, I mostly like the way Angel gets to come out of Buffy's shadow in this "Buffy" season 3 based novel, & gets to shine on his own, with detailed accounts of his own encounters & search for clues.Also, Xander's obssession with the mysterious swordswoman adds for light entertainment, just as Willow's encounters with Lok Rong at the Rong residence are frightening. Even Buffy's Mum gets in on the act, Planning the interception of a dragon statue.With its Graphic action sequences & killer climax, no regular 'Buffy' reader should bypass this novel, no matter how big or small fan you are of the series.

The most action-oriented of all the Buffy books, though the fights are excellently written. The book is more slam-and-tussle than plot - the reviewer who equated it to anime was dead on the money - but, hey, nothing wrong with that. As with several of the Buffy books, this one has too many irons in the fire to satisfactorily resolve them all, but overall it is quite satisfying.In a plot almost ripped out of the day's suppressed headlines, a Chinese power broker is shipping heavy arms to California street gangs. The ensuing chaos provides excellent cover for occult behind-the-scenes activities, keeping Buffy and Company distracted. Several out-of-town players get involved in the act, including a likeable Chinese warrior-woman who nearly fills the void in poor luckless-in-love Xander's sex-life.Welcome additions in this entry are Mayor Wilkins and his faithful hench-vamp, Mr. Trick, but they are relegated to incidental roles when they should have been much bigger players in this plot. And where is Faith, for God's sake? One of the worst failings in the entire book series is the all but complete negation of one of Sunnydale's most notorious personages, Faith the Fallen.A strong entry in the series, well-written. Most recommended for lovers of action and anime.

this book is definitely one of the buffy books. it starts out with the various members of the scooby gang in diffrent parts of sunnydale doing ordinary stuff when they are all attacked by a new chineese gang. before the night is over they have left destruction and mayhem all over sunnydale. while on the road to discovering what this gang wants and how to stop it, they find all types of chineese folklore, demons, ghosts, and a beautiful woman who comes to xander's rescue whom he immediately falls head over heels with.(when will his love life get better)? this book is beautifully written and definitely worth the price. this is one that they should consider making a movie or something.

An excellent addition to the Buffy series, Revenant holds the reader's interest from cover to cover. The mythology and culture are presented with respect. The characters are well defined. It is enjoyable to see Xander in a major role and in love. Set in the third season Buffy and Angel are together again. More violent than many of the other books, the author writes action with amazing detail. The reader can easily visualize every kick, every punch. The racial tension adds a layer of realism. All in all well worth adding to your library.

REVENANT starts out in a popular "Buffy" location: a cemetary. Buffy, Willow, and Angel are there because of Willow's friend, Jia Li Rong, who, with her family, has emigrated from China to America. [Yes, this story takes place before high school graduation.] In the first chapter Mr.Odom manages to give us some background on Chinese beliefs, including that of the Hungry Ghost; a funny look at male-female communication differences, and sets us up for the fight in chapter two. The book gets even better from there. I have no idea if the author is describing the fighting moves accurately, but he writes the battles in such detail that I could easily picture them in my mind. This adventure's well-meaning [sort of] character meddling with forces he doesn't fully comprehend is Jia Li's older brother, Lok. The further you read, the more you'll learn about why Lok is the way he is, but you'll still have to wonder if he'll survive to be sadder but wiser in the end. Speaking of sadder but not-necessarily-wiser, Xander falls for a beautiful Asian superwoman who rescues him from one of the many nasty situations that fill this story. You know it's not going to work out. It's only a matter of learning how it won't. There's a gang of mixed humans and demons causing death and destruction and a mysterious Chinese businessman named Zhiyong. Supposedly, he's here to create lots of new jobs in Sunnydale, but we don't believe that, do we? Of course not. Did I mention the danger-packed fight scenes? There are probably chapters without one, but it won't seem that way. Everyone gets to use his/her talents to save the world from the evil magic-infested threat. Even Cordelia and Mrs. Summers get a chance to help. Mr. Odem is one of the Buffy novelists who manages to write the characters accurately, including their funny side. REVENANT is really worth adding to your collection...