Monster Island
Buffy & Angel
By Christopher Golden & Thomas E Sniegoski 

     A crossover novel is a rare treat for all fans of these two series, and here is a nice hardcover one. Somebody is killing demon-human half-breeds in both Sunnydale and Los Angeles, and simultaneously Angel Investigations and The Scoobies are determined to do something about it. When it is discovered that Doyle's Brachen demon father Axtius is organizing an army of "purebloods" in Nazi fashion to wipe the Earth clean of all half-breeds, the two teams unite (not very harmoniously as can be imagined) and their mission leads them to the invisible island of Questral, where many types of demons live in harmony, and where the army is heading to upset matters. As usual, the gang has to make sure that the right side triumphs.

     Here is a novel with a simple linear plot, but in the hands of two such practiced writers this is not a problem. The book has a set-piece battle, which lasts for many pages and shows that these two can certainly write action scenes, but to offset the gorefest there, this is also a book with a more contemplative side on the theme of families and their harmony--or lack of it. Hardly any of the characters have had happy home lives, and in rare odd moments when not battling the dark side they are able to ponder this. I can imagine a lot of teenagers (and others) will enjoy a book where the characters have not all had good starts in their lives, but have still managed to make good. It sounds dull and worthy, but I can assure you that it is anything but. Be prepared to dig in and enjoy this one--a book with more than one level to it, but which is a whole lot of fun.