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Average Customer Rating: 
Revenant (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) >
Customer Review #1:
 The Buffy Palooza!
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 Buffys shadow in this "Buffy" season 3 based novel, and gets to shine on his own, with detailed accounts of his own encounters and search for clues.lt;pgt;Also, Xanders obssession with the mysterious swordswoman adds for light entertainment, just as Willows encounters with Lok Rong at the Rong residence are frightening. Even Buffys Mum gets in on the act, Planning the interception of a dragon statue.lt;pgt;With its Graphic action sequences and killer climax, no regular Buffy reader should bypass this novel, no matter how big or small fan you are of the series.
Revenant (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) >
Customer Review #2:
 Slam-Bang Buffy
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.lt;pgt;In a plot almost ripped out of the days 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 Xanders sex-life.lt;pgt;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 Gods sake? One of the worst failings in the entire book series is the all but complete negation of one of Sunnydales most notorious personages, Faith the Fallen.lt;pgt;A strong entry in the series, well-written. Most recommended for lovers of action and anime.
Revenant (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) >
Customer Review #3:
A Chinese/Demon gang tries to take over Sunnydale
At first in "Revenant," it seems that the real world is suddenly intruding into the quiet little town of Sunnydale. As if being on the Hellmouth was not fun enough, a Chinese gang has hit town and is clearly trying to take over. But this is a Chinese gang that employs not only automatic weapons but also demons and a bit of good old fashioned Chinese magic. Mel Odom does a nice job of incorporating some elements of Chinese mysticism into the Buffy mythos and his characterization of the Slayer and her cohorts is certainly above average. The most interesting sub-plot involves the arrival of a beautiful martial-arts warrior, with whom Xander becomes hopelessly smitten. This is carried off well until the very end of the novel, at which point, following a hysterical exchange of apologies between Buffy and Xander, we suddenly jump ahead to the post mortem and are denied the actual farewell between the couple we have been rooting on throughout the story. lt;pgt;By the time I finished reading this Buffy the Vampire Slayer novel I kept thinking there was too much of one thing and not nearly enough of another. With all the weaponry the Chinese gang brings to town, you would have to think that somebody else besides Angel was going to be hit by all those hail of bullets (nice touch by Odom having Angels face get messed up for a while in the story). Guns are a touchy item in the Buffy universe, where only the occasional vampire (Darla in "Angel" comes to mind) bothers to try and shoot it out with the Slayer. This is because it is awfully hard to get close enough to kick somebody in the chest when they are shooting an Uzi at you. That being said, I have to admit I was surprised that Mayor Wilkins was not more of a presence in the story. After all, Sunnydale is his town and has been for well over a century. Consequently, it very hard to believe he and the Dark Forces he serves would not do something about these invaders. Of course, this would open up the opportunity for some sort of temporary alliance, but at the very least the Mayor should be doing a lot more to defend his turf. Despite these caveats, "Revenant" is an above average Buffy novel and I will be interested to see what Odom comes up with the next time around.
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