Sanctuary

Party night at Caritas. The team is celebrating their successful return from Pylea, the reconstruction of Lorne's bar, Fred's rescue, and the good life in general when an explosion outside the club interrupts the fun. A fire blazes across the street, then a half-hearted drive by shooting. When the smoke clears, Angel counts heads, and Fred is missing - kidnapped on her first timid foray into Los Angeles.We quickly find out that, like humans, the demon patrons of Caritas are spotty witnesses. Of course, the fact that everyone was face down on the concrete doesn't help one bit. As a result, the team splits up - doing research, questioning witnesses, and scouring the city. Squeezing every microscopic clue for some element of the truth.As the story switches from character to character it becomes clear that Fred's kidnappings is more than a 'grab the girl - get the money' action. The story turns into a classic race against sunrise, with much more than Fred's life at stake. But there are additional levels of complexity, as we meet the habitués of Caritas and delve in the demon life style as only Los Angeles could know it.Jeff Mariotte is an old hand at creating popular fiction out of the world of Buffy, Angel, Charmed, Startrek and others too many to name. His writing style is consistently solid, and he makes an effort to understand and deepen his characters within the context of their shows. His books are often interesting as well as entertaining, and he avoids the temptation to simply go from one fight scene to another. Classic Angel for the vampire addict.

When Fred is kidnapped, the LA crew are is panic to find her before sunrise or else Angel will burn in exchange for Fred's life. So what follows is a hilarious chase of wacky demons, gang wars, dead leads and cinnamon smells. This Angel is book is refreshingly new and has great characterisation of the newer characters, Fred and Lorne. The highlight is how Lorne is written. It is a basic who-dun-it book with lots of twist and turns that will keep you in suspense because everyone is a suspect. Demonologists will be pleased with the great characterisation and imagination of the demons. Its fast paced and the passages of Lorne questioning each eye witness demon is a definite highlight. Passages with Fred may be a bit slow for some readers though. Overall, this is a great book and will not disappoint anyone. There's suspense, mystery, thrills, comedy and drama!

Angel and Co. once again comes through in the end. Loved reading this novel that featured Fred, who's one of my favorite characters on the TV show. Such a good story, but trying to imagine what the various demons looked like was truly a challenge. Nonetheless, a good story. Recommend to all fans of the show and the novels.

Sanctuary is just wonderful. Here is a preview: The Fang gang is just chilling in the Host club, when an exploshion happens that draws everyone outside. Next a car comes by and starts shooting, but no one is killed or hurt. When everyone gets inside they discover Fred is nowhere to found. The Fang Gang go into detactive mode, but can't find any leads. Lorne talks to all the demons in the club, but each tells a different story of what they saw. Who took Fred and what do they want with her? Will Angel find her before it's too late? Will Lorne figuer out which denons our liying and which our telling the truth? to find out read the book. Mariotte capture's Fred perfectly on the page. Best I've seen to date in the novels. Sanctuary reminded me of the BTVS Eposide 'Choices' in season 3, and the moive Ransome with Mel Gibson. So if like that moive or that Buffy ep you will love Sanctuary. Can't wait for Mariotte's new Angel novel Solitary man, this winter.