Spike & Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row

FROM THE ARCHIVES (Buffy book review)

SPIKE & DRU: PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW

Christopher Golden (2001)

RATING: 5/5 Stakes

SETTING: Pre-First Season (circa 1940)

CAST APPEARANCES: Spike, Drusilla, Kakistos

MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Sophie Cartensen (Slayer); Yanna (Watcher); Skrymir (frost demon); Marie Christine-Fontaine, Harold Travers, John Travers, Mrs. Giles (Watcher’s Council); Eleanor, Ariana de la Croix (Potentials)

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY “It’s 1940, and Europe is ravaged by World War II—an ideal environment for demon paramours Spike and Drusilla. The anniversary of Dru’s resurrection as a vamp impends, and Spike wants to celebrate. What better gift than Freya’s Strand—a powerful necklace rumored to allow its wearer to shape-shift at will? Spike learns of a demon named Skrymir, who claims to possess the bauble and is willing to trade. Spike’s task is to infiltrate the Watcher’s Council headquarters and get his hands on the list of young women in training to take over as Slayer should they be called. In exchange for Freya’s Strand, Spike must kill the reigning Slayer, a brazen young woman named Sophie, as well as the Slayers-in-Waiting. And if he succeeds, it could mean the end of the Chosen One—all of the Chosen Ones—forever . . .”

REVIEW

By far the best Buffy book I’ve read yet, Spike & Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row focuses on the exploits of the pair during the early days of World War II as they try to exterminate the line of Potentials at the behest of a frost demon named Skrymir. The period’s Slayer, Sophie Cartensen, stands in their way.

What makes this novel so good? First, Golden obviously researched the time period he was writing in—the detail and history are correct, and set up the right atmosphere for the book. Second, Christopher Golden gives this sword-wielding Danish Slayer great characterization, and the reader can really visualize her personality and fighting style. Her final showdown with Spike & Dru is tragic yet amazingly well-written. Third, he does a great job capturing Spike & Dru’s twisted but loving relationship. The book is explicit, both in terms of sex and violence, but it works beautifully because Spike & Dru don’t draw much of a distinction between the two. Most importantly, the book makes you care about the characters involved (Sophie, her watcher, and Spike & Dru) and unlike most Buffy novels, the combat scenes are really pulse-pounding, page-turning affairs. One scene in particular, where Spike & Dru attack Sophie and her watcher on board a train hurtling through the dark of night is wonderfully written and well-paced, and more exciting than many of the television show’s fight scenes. Other interesting parts of the book are an early look at Kakistos (the vampire responsible for killing Faith’s first Watcher) and more insight into how the Watcher’s Council functions.

Obviously, the reader’s enjoyment of this book turns upon how much interest they have in Spike & Dru. Readers interested only in Buffy and her sidekicks may not get much out of it, but both as a Buffy novel and a plain adventure/horror novel, this one is definitely worth reading.