ORBzine - 2002.04 Book Reviews: "Spike & Dru: Pretty Maids All In A Row"

ORBzine - Book Reviews April 2002

Spike & Dru: Pretty Maids All In A Row

Yes, it had to happen sooner or later. With dozens of franchise-fiction Buffy novels being churned out, someone decided to base one on a couple of the most popular characters. And since they are both villainous vampires, we get to see things from a different perspective for once.
It is World War Two, and while the Mortals' civilisation is torn asunder our anti-hero Spike wants to get Dru a gift - a magic amulet. The only problem is, he and Dru are in New York and the amulet is in Scandinavia.
As a Buffy novel this may be rather good, but as a historical novel it is somewhat lacking. Spike and Dru are as they appear in the TV show, but the supporting characters are wardboard thin. The Germans are either plot devices or cliched ultra-Nazis.
The Slayer in this book is a blonde sixteen-year-old who goes through vamps like a dose of salts. Sound familiar? Of course, you may think that this is what a Slayer is meant to be like. But look at the TV show. Kendra, Faith, and even the two Slayers killed by Spike - all of them are completely different from Buffy. The 1940s Slayer, in comparison, is a clone of teenage Buffy.

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