Shakedown

Doyle has a premonition about a seismic shift, and when everyone becomes nervous, Angel decides to further investigate this vision. He is led into contact with the Serpentene community, demons who look like humans but who have taken over the bodies of snakes, shedding their skin over time. They live very affluently in their own community and are very fashionable and financially secure as telemarketers. Appearing very gentle and harmless, Angel agrees to protect them from a group of Quake demons, who are out to destroy them. Cordelia is excited that Angel has taken the case, but Doyle is not too sure. He sets out to find out everything he can about the Serpentenes before they lure Cordelia into their appealing and luxurious lifestyle. Angel is beginning to get a little suspicious as well, and he doesn't understand why this "innocent" group is under attack by the Quake demons. After some further investigation, Angel learns a little bit more about what is going on between the Serpentenes and the Quake demons. Are the Serpentenes as harmless and gentle as they appear? Does Cordelia end up drawn into the Serpentene community? Don't miss this chilling episode of ANGEL that will be sure to keep you reading at the edge of your seat! --- Reviewed by Kelly Gagliardi

I have yet to be disappointed by any of the Angel novels I've read so far. Very entertaining indeed. The story was awesome.

This is just the cure for this season's Angel/Buffy blues. If you need relief for Angel's perpetual anguish over the reborn Darla and Drusilla you will enjoy this book immensely.Angel is hired to help solve the problems of a group of snake demons and finds himself embroiled in a complex plot involving earthquakes, sacrifices, as well as our favorite bad guys, Wolfram & Hart. This is pure first season Angel.Told with a wry sense of humor the story moves along quickly. Doyle and Cordelia are totally in character - not too bright, or too civilised. Which, of course, is what makes them perfect companions for Angel. While there is nothing deep or meaningful here to give the book any redeeming value, it is pure entertainment, and, as such, is worth reading. Especially if you can settle down in a comfy chair with a large store of popcorn (lot's of butter, please).

I have read all 5 of the Angel series, and I have to say that this is my favorite (but don't get me wrong, I love the others too). The new characters are well thought out and the established charaters are, for the most part, true to their show personalities. I did find that Angel's personality was a bit "off" in some of the things that he said, but this in no way detracted from his character. Angelus was, let me tell you, SCARY... as he should be. His actions, recalled in flashback, are enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Once I picked it up, I didn't want to put it down. :)

The Serpentene are a wealthy group of demons who live their lives disguised as humans, making the majority of their money through telemarketing. When Angel receives a job guarding the Serpentene community against a group of Quake demons, Cordelia is thrilled - the wealthy Serpentene plan to pay well. Angel is suspicious, though - he doesn't understand why the Quake demons would be after the Serpentene. True, the Quake demons are attempting to kidnap four people, each connected to one of the elements - earth, air, fire, and water - for a ritual, but the Serpentene just don't seem to figure in there. Angel does find a connection between the four potential victims and the evil law agency Wolfram and Hart, however. Now he must stop the ritual - for as a vision of Doyle's reveals, there may be more at stake then just four lives. The entire city of Los Angeles may be at risk. This wasn't the best book in the Angel series, but I thoroughly enjoyed this new Angel novel and it brought back memories of the days when Doyle was on the show.