Halloween Rain (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Like The Harvest, this was a good book and made me love all of the characters just as much. It was fun going on an adventure with my favorite characters again.

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.

The legend is that when it rains on Hallowe'en a scarecrow will come alive and slaughter anyone in sight. Of course Buffy doesn't believe it, but this is Sunnydale and legends have a nasty habit of coming true. Soon Giles uncovers the story of a past slayer who encountered the demon Samhain and lost. Now Buffy must face the Lord of Samhuinn and destroy his spirit forever...This was one of the scariest Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels I have read so far. The characterisation was very good and the plot was suspenseful and absorbing, although it did take a while to get going. The darkness and the rain creates a creepy, tense atmosphere that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. The second half of the book is far superior to the first and the battle between Buffy and Samhain provides a worthwhile climax. Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder have produced what are arguably some of the best Buffy books, and their other works include the Gatekeeper Trilogy, Immortal and Child of the Hunt. I recommend "Halloween Rain" to all fans of the series. ~Jenna~

While we have all expected Buffy the Vampire Slayer to trot out a special Halloween episode each season like Roseanne used to do, it has been pretty much an every other year proposition ("Halloween" from Season 2 and "Fear Itself" from Season 4). Fortunately, to help fill in the gap we have Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder's first Buffy novel, "Halloween Rain." By now this pair has clearly established themselves as far and away the best writers working on the Buffy novels, with The Gatekeeper Trilogy being their masterpiece (to date). Their respect for and understanding of the Buffy mythos is second to none. After all, they were the two main compilers of "The Watcher's Guide" and its follow-up works. So, what we have here is a well-written Buffy novel that will suffice as the Halloween episode from the first season. Anyhow, it seems that there is a legend in Sunnydale about a scarecrow that comes alive when saturated with Halloween rain and slaughters everyone in sight. Of course Giles uncovers the logical explanation for such things. This is really the demon Samhain (Remember the name from the movie "Halloween"? We are talking classic homage here boys and girls), and just to make things even more fun the demon has dealt with a Slayer in the past. Add to this the fact that it is Halloween and it is Sunnydale, which means mondo party time for all the vampires and zombies this side of the Hellmouth. Golden and Holder have Buffy speak down solid, but the key to the novel is coming up with a fairly sophisticated villain for the Slayer to take down. Make it easy on yourself and just read every Buffy book this pair writes. Oh, and enjoy All Hallow Even in your own little town.

You will never look at a pumpkin the same way again after reading this excellent novel by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder. This story of the Pumpkin King is very dark and frightening. It gave me chills. The falling rain, the cold and damp steal away hope and confidence. It's Buffy fighting against an old evil,an evil who has won before. Labeled young adult fiction I found it gripping and well written. I recommend it to both Buffy fans and readers who enjoy general horror.

This book is awesome! It's the first Buffy book by the legendary duo Golden & Holder and it's more thrilling than the TV-serie. The story is all based on halloween and on Samhain, the lord of Samhuinn (now called Halloween). There are also interesting parts about a former Slayer: Erin Randall, who was killed by Samhain in the 17th century and her Watcher: Timothy Cassidy. I got totally absorbed by this book. It has great writing, superb characterization and an excellent plot. Giving it 5 stars, no less !