What do you think?
Rate this book
Supernatural #10
Rite of Passage
Thirty years ago, Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother to a demonic supernatural force. Following the tragedy, their father taught the boys everything about the paranormal evil that lives in the dark corners of America... and how to kill it.
Laurel Hill, New Jersey is beginning to look like one of the unluckiest places on Earth when a series of mishaps hit the town. But Sam and Dean suspect it’s more than just bad luck. Along with Bobby Singer, the brothers soon realize that a powerful Japanese demon is encouraging the chaos. But the demon has bigger plans and they are going to need to make their own luck to stop it.
A Supernatural novel that reveals a previously unseen adventure for the Winchester brothers, from the hit TV series!
Laurel Hill, New Jersey is beginning to look like one of the unluckiest places on Earth when a series of mishaps hit the town. But Sam and Dean suspect it’s more than just bad luck. Along with Bobby Singer, the brothers soon realize that a powerful Japanese demon is encouraging the chaos. But the demon has bigger plans and they are going to need to make their own luck to stop it.
A Supernatural novel that reveals a previously unseen adventure for the Winchester brothers, from the hit TV series!
392 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
74 people are currently reading
5326 people want to read
About the author
John Passarella
37 books164 followersBram Stoker Award-Winning co-author of Wither (which has been moved to the J. G. Passarella profile. Also, I'm the author of Wither's Rain, Wither's Legacy, Kindred Spirit, Shimmer, Exit Strategy & Others (fiction collection), and the media tie-in novels: Supernatural: COLD FIRE (MAR 2016), Night Terror & Rite of Passage, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Ghoul Trouble, Angel: Avatar & Monolith. Look for Grimm: The Chopping Block. My author website is Passarella.com
but I am also owner & web designer at AuthorPromo.com
but I am also owner & web designer at AuthorPromo.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
May 4, 2024
this 👏🏻 was 👏🏻 so 👏🏻 much 👏🏻 fun 👏🏻
July 13, 2019
This book is based on the television series and takes place during the seventh season. In this one, there is a creature that can manipulate his surroundings into events that will lead to mayhem and death. This creature seems invincible and the Winchesters and Bobby are hard pressed into finding a way to stop him.
This was an enjoyable offering from this universe. My best way of describing this story would be the movie Final Destination dropped into the Supernatural universe. The author does a terrific job with the scenes as the amount of destruction is massive in this book. I did think it did get a little too high because with all the events that were happening, one would think the government would intercede. I was very interested in the story but I think it would have been better served not taking place in this universe. The author seemed to devote more time to the new characters than the established characters. The story read as if the author had this idea for this story and then decided after it was completed to drop it in this universe.
I liked the story and for the most part I liked the execution of the story. The problem was that this did not feel exactly like a Supernatural story. Yes, the lore and the monsters are exciting on that show but the real selling point is the main characters and this book needed more of them.
This was an enjoyable offering from this universe. My best way of describing this story would be the movie Final Destination dropped into the Supernatural universe. The author does a terrific job with the scenes as the amount of destruction is massive in this book. I did think it did get a little too high because with all the events that were happening, one would think the government would intercede. I was very interested in the story but I think it would have been better served not taking place in this universe. The author seemed to devote more time to the new characters than the established characters. The story read as if the author had this idea for this story and then decided after it was completed to drop it in this universe.
I liked the story and for the most part I liked the execution of the story. The problem was that this did not feel exactly like a Supernatural story. Yes, the lore and the monsters are exciting on that show but the real selling point is the main characters and this book needed more of them.
June 8, 2015
Good book. Didn't like the oni though. Glad Bobby, Dean, and Sam were able to stop them. RIP Ryan and the people the oni killed.
April 5, 2013
Read my full review at wadingthroughbooks.wordpress.com!
This book is set during season 7 of the television show Supernatural. I usually like media tie-in novels–it’s a good way to tell stories about the characters or in the universe that can’t be done on the show, either because it would be too expensive to film or it isn’t suited to a television medium or just to expand the universe and find out what the characters do in between episodes. And I love Supernatural– the brothers’ relationship, the snark, the simultaneous wallowing in horror clichés while being completely aware that they are wallowing in clichés, the witty banter that makes me long for the days Joss Whedon had television shows on the air, the wonderful supporting characters (I still miss you Bobby!), and of course the glorious and unbridled snark…I love snark, ok? It’s a thing, I’m not working on it.
The novels are particularly apt for this show since season 4 introduced the Carver Edlund Supernatural books, featuring the brothers Sam and Dean who travel around the country killing monsters. While the books in the show were novelizations of the first few seasons and have never actually been published, actual Supernatural novels do add to the meta-awareness of the show, in the same way that the Richard Castle novels do for Castle.
Rite of Passage itself is a solid adventure, well-written and solidly in character with the show, and it contains the excellent research on monsters that Supernatural prides itself on. Why make up monsters for a tv show when there are hundreds throughout history and from different cultures?
This book is set during season 7 of the television show Supernatural. I usually like media tie-in novels–it’s a good way to tell stories about the characters or in the universe that can’t be done on the show, either because it would be too expensive to film or it isn’t suited to a television medium or just to expand the universe and find out what the characters do in between episodes. And I love Supernatural– the brothers’ relationship, the snark, the simultaneous wallowing in horror clichés while being completely aware that they are wallowing in clichés, the witty banter that makes me long for the days Joss Whedon had television shows on the air, the wonderful supporting characters (I still miss you Bobby!), and of course the glorious and unbridled snark…I love snark, ok? It’s a thing, I’m not working on it.
The novels are particularly apt for this show since season 4 introduced the Carver Edlund Supernatural books, featuring the brothers Sam and Dean who travel around the country killing monsters. While the books in the show were novelizations of the first few seasons and have never actually been published, actual Supernatural novels do add to the meta-awareness of the show, in the same way that the Richard Castle novels do for Castle.
Rite of Passage itself is a solid adventure, well-written and solidly in character with the show, and it contains the excellent research on monsters that Supernatural prides itself on. Why make up monsters for a tv show when there are hundreds throughout history and from different cultures?
December 5, 2023
Good "case ep" with a really interesting MOTW and a lot of excitement going on. Holy crap, a lot of people died in this one though. Oh, and you're allowed to take more than two pages to wrap up the story, John.
June 8, 2017
this was a good book...if u like supernatural u will like this......its a seperate story from the show but it is also in between episodes.....sam and dean are up to their old tricks again along with bobby......i highly recommend this book.
April 23, 2022
Good story, high on the Bobby content, which I love, but a bit low on the brotherly banter which I missed in this one.
August 4, 2025
I loved this just as much as the last one, and I liked it more than the other ones I have read. There is a lot going on in this book, but it all came together in the end.
October 11, 2021
Fairly solid, at least for the first half. It dragged on a little long by the end and, like others have said, there were way too many original characters. I do appreciate the idea that the author tried to break the mold. These tie-ins can get a bit cookie-cutter at times.
Merged review:
Fairly solid, at least for the first half. It dragged on a little long by the end and, like others have said, there were way too many original characters. I do appreciate the idea that the author tried to break the mold. These tie-ins can get a bit cookie-cutter at times.
Merged review:
Fairly solid, at least for the first half. It dragged on a little long by the end and, like others have said, there were way too many original characters. I do appreciate the idea that the author tried to break the mold. These tie-ins can get a bit cookie-cutter at times.
May 31, 2016
Rite of Passage was a lot bloodier and far more grisly than the other Supernatural tie-ins. The scale of destruction in this book was considerably heightened, albeit to an unrealistic level by mid-book. Seriously, I struggled to believe that the oni would have anyone in the town left to kill by the book's halfway points. The death count of hundreds stands in stark contrast to the lower body count Supernatural normally boasts, however I am mindful that the books are meant to depict off screen adventures.
I enjoyed the introduction of a new monster, one who was incredibly powerful and really threw the boys and Bobby (who I loved to see included!) for a loss. It was refreshing for the boys came up against something that they knew nothing about, meaning they had to go beyond their own knowledge and John's journal to the network of other hunters in order to crack the mystery. I really enjoyed Roy's character! Attitude wise, he reminded me nostalgically of Rufus.
Too much time was spent on the secondary characters of the story, though I understand the relevance of watching the teenagers spiral into destruction. Perhaps because the story switched so frequently between the characters, I found none got the attention they needed for the reader to emotionally invest in their motivation. Some characters, namely Jesse and Dalton, seemed interchangeable as a result and, at best, a little too over the top drama wise. The focus on the secondary characters detracted from the storyline of Sam, Dean, and Bobby, who the author actually captured brilliantly for the most part. I enjoyed the dynamics between the trio, and found the author's inclusion of Sam's "Lucifer vision" to be well written and in line with season 7 events.
Overall, a good storyline and in tune with true bloody fashion of the Supernatural universe. More focus on the main characters (or deeper, focused insight into the secondaries) would have made the plot feel less disjointed, but a fan of the show would still enjoy this novel.
I enjoyed the introduction of a new monster, one who was incredibly powerful and really threw the boys and Bobby (who I loved to see included!) for a loss. It was refreshing for the boys came up against something that they knew nothing about, meaning they had to go beyond their own knowledge and John's journal to the network of other hunters in order to crack the mystery. I really enjoyed Roy's character! Attitude wise, he reminded me nostalgically of Rufus.
Too much time was spent on the secondary characters of the story, though I understand the relevance of watching the teenagers spiral into destruction. Perhaps because the story switched so frequently between the characters, I found none got the attention they needed for the reader to emotionally invest in their motivation. Some characters, namely Jesse and Dalton, seemed interchangeable as a result and, at best, a little too over the top drama wise. The focus on the secondary characters detracted from the storyline of Sam, Dean, and Bobby, who the author actually captured brilliantly for the most part. I enjoyed the dynamics between the trio, and found the author's inclusion of Sam's "Lucifer vision" to be well written and in line with season 7 events.
Overall, a good storyline and in tune with true bloody fashion of the Supernatural universe. More focus on the main characters (or deeper, focused insight into the secondaries) would have made the plot feel less disjointed, but a fan of the show would still enjoy this novel.
June 15, 2020
Rite of Passage is actually book number ten – released before Fresh Meat, but chronologically takes place later – in the series of TV Tie-in novels from the CW show Supernatural, and is the second to be written by John Passarella. It takes place during season seven between episodes 8 (Season Seven, Time for a Wedding!) and 9 (How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters).
In New Jersey a mysterious figure wielding a bowler hat and cane appears to be at the centre of a series of strange accidents, can Sam, Dean and Bobby figure out what’s happening to the residents of Laurel Hill and put a stop to it?
One of the downsides to Rite of Passage is the missing Metallicar, the controversial third main character of the show, which is unfortunately excluded from this novel. The black ’69 Chevy Impala that Dean loves to drive, has been in hiding ever since the brothers had their run-in with law enforcement, a few episodes earlier in season seven. As a result the boys are driving around in old beat-up cars that they switch out on a regular basis.
Another issue I have is the vast number of characters, most of whom only appear for fleeting moments. This makes it difficult to engage with the story, causing confusion, and distracting me from the main characters. I didn’t find the premise of this book all that interesting, and struggled to remain focused long enough to read at a pace anything more than a few chapters at a time. By the time I made it to the end I really didn’t care how the story concluded, I just felt relieved that I could finally move on to reading something more entertaining.
At just 1 out of 5 stars, I don’t recommend Rite of Passage unless you’re a die-hard fan who insists on reading every Tie-in novel produced. Others may find it fits their taste, but it just wasn’t for me.
In New Jersey a mysterious figure wielding a bowler hat and cane appears to be at the centre of a series of strange accidents, can Sam, Dean and Bobby figure out what’s happening to the residents of Laurel Hill and put a stop to it?
One of the downsides to Rite of Passage is the missing Metallicar, the controversial third main character of the show, which is unfortunately excluded from this novel. The black ’69 Chevy Impala that Dean loves to drive, has been in hiding ever since the brothers had their run-in with law enforcement, a few episodes earlier in season seven. As a result the boys are driving around in old beat-up cars that they switch out on a regular basis.
Another issue I have is the vast number of characters, most of whom only appear for fleeting moments. This makes it difficult to engage with the story, causing confusion, and distracting me from the main characters. I didn’t find the premise of this book all that interesting, and struggled to remain focused long enough to read at a pace anything more than a few chapters at a time. By the time I made it to the end I really didn’t care how the story concluded, I just felt relieved that I could finally move on to reading something more entertaining.
At just 1 out of 5 stars, I don’t recommend Rite of Passage unless you’re a die-hard fan who insists on reading every Tie-in novel produced. Others may find it fits their taste, but it just wasn’t for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2019
This book is readable and the prose wasn't bad. I read the whole book in one setting so it was definitely engaging, the problem with it (as several reviews have already pointed out) is that it just doesn't have enough Sam and Dean. They're barely in it, they barely defeat the monster, and the author spends way too much time with characters that I just don't care about.
The characters were written fine and I even enjoyed them every once in a while, but one does not pick up a Supernatural book because they want to read about your OCs. Sam and Dean's plot was basically, "Show up, research, run around like good samaritans, kill the monster at the end." There was no connection to the characters we actually cared about, and they were barely involved with the actual plot of the novel. Passarella tries to throw in some character development for Dean, "Oh hey! He's gonna keep up the good fight!" but it's extremely unearned as we've had no emotional growth from Dean throughout the novel, just "Dean is struggling because of the grind." to "Never mind, he's fine." But with absolutely nothing inbetween. Sam doesn't have an arc at all, and doesn't even get the opportunity to kill any of the monsters (c'mon, there were 4 of them and Dean killed 2 and Sam doesn't get to kill 1?)
This book definitely felt like the author had a cool idea and wanted to write it, and figured why not make an extra buck by putting it in the Supernatural universe. It's not a good supernatural book.
The characters were written fine and I even enjoyed them every once in a while, but one does not pick up a Supernatural book because they want to read about your OCs. Sam and Dean's plot was basically, "Show up, research, run around like good samaritans, kill the monster at the end." There was no connection to the characters we actually cared about, and they were barely involved with the actual plot of the novel. Passarella tries to throw in some character development for Dean, "Oh hey! He's gonna keep up the good fight!" but it's extremely unearned as we've had no emotional growth from Dean throughout the novel, just "Dean is struggling because of the grind." to "Never mind, he's fine." But with absolutely nothing inbetween. Sam doesn't have an arc at all, and doesn't even get the opportunity to kill any of the monsters (c'mon, there were 4 of them and Dean killed 2 and Sam doesn't get to kill 1?)
This book definitely felt like the author had a cool idea and wanted to write it, and figured why not make an extra buck by putting it in the Supernatural universe. It's not a good supernatural book.
January 22, 2021
Season7 Episode 8 "Time for a Wedding!"と Episode 9 "How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters"の間の物語。
サムの頭の中の壁が壊され、ルシファーの幻覚に悩まされている頃の話だ。
最初に言っておこう。
これを書いたJohn Passarella氏のスパナチュ小説と私はすこぶる相性が悪い。この人の作家としてのスキルにはもう不審感しかないので、読んでいてイライラしてしまう。
悲しいことにこの人の作品がスパナチュ小説シリーズを占める割合が結構高い。この人さえいなければスパナチュ愛パワーでどれだけ楽しく攻略できたことだろうかと思うのだが、まぁしょうがない。この先、この人の物語スキルが向上してくれることをひたすら祈るしかない。
ある平穏な街に不幸な事故が連鎖反応的に起こる。そういったことがなんども起こる。 これはおかしいということで、ディートとサムとボビーは調査にでかける。 その街にはボビーと昔なじみのハンターで今は引退しているロイがいて、ハンティングには一切巻き込まないという約束で家に泊まらせてもらうことになる。
今回の敵は日本の"鬼”。 杖の形した鉄の棒”金棒”を持っていて、ほとんど不死身。 それに対抗するには”豆まき”しかないぞ！
まぁ豆まきはディーンが拒んだので他の方法を調べましたが、決定打となったのは”おばけ”っていうね。
この作家さんの特徴でディーンやサムがほっとんどでてこなくて、やたらめったらオリジナルキャラのどうでもいい事情が懇切丁寧に描写されては惨殺されるっていうその繰り返し。
このキャラやエピソードはディーンやサムのこういう心情を描きたいからだろうかとか思うだけ無駄というか....。
前回の作品で存分に学習したのでそのあたりは黙々と読んだというか英文を追ったけどだからといって腹が立たないわけでもない。
こんな話に392ページも英語でつきあった自分を褒めてあげたい....。
サムの頭の中の壁が壊され、ルシファーの幻覚に悩まされている頃の話だ。
最初に言っておこう。
これを書いたJohn Passarella氏のスパナチュ小説と私はすこぶる相性が悪い。この人の作家としてのスキルにはもう不審感しかないので、読んでいてイライラしてしまう。
悲しいことにこの人の作品がスパナチュ小説シリーズを占める割合が結構高い。この人さえいなければスパナチュ愛パワーでどれだけ楽しく攻略できたことだろうかと思うのだが、まぁしょうがない。この先、この人の物語スキルが向上してくれることをひたすら祈るしかない。
ある平穏な街に不幸な事故が連鎖反応的に起こる。そういったことがなんども起こる。 これはおかしいということで、ディートとサムとボビーは調査にでかける。 その街にはボビーと昔なじみのハンターで今は引退しているロイがいて、ハンティングには一切巻き込まないという約束で家に泊まらせてもらうことになる。
今回の敵は日本の"鬼”。 杖の形した鉄の棒”金棒”を持っていて、ほとんど不死身。 それに対抗するには”豆まき”しかないぞ！
まぁ豆まきはディーンが拒んだので他の方法を調べましたが、決定打となったのは”おばけ”っていうね。
この作家さんの特徴でディーンやサムがほっとんどでてこなくて、やたらめったらオリジナルキャラのどうでもいい事情が懇切丁寧に描写されては惨殺されるっていうその繰り返し。
このキャラやエピソードはディーンやサムのこういう心情を描きたいからだろうかとか思うだけ無駄というか....。
前回の作品で存分に学習したのでそのあたりは黙々と読んだというか英文を追ったけどだからといって腹が立たないわけでもない。
こんな話に392ページも英語でつきあった自分を褒めてあげたい....。
July 15, 2013
I give up at 210 pages. This book is so boring.
Until now most of the time is spent in the POV of either the monster or the three boys. The most we read about Sam, Dean and Bobby was during their previous hunt. While I don't mind to read the POV of the monster or their victims - here it's too much in my opinion. Also, the POV of the three boys is more teenager drama with girlfriend/parent/school problems than supernatural problems. If I buy a movie/TV-Show tie-in I want to read mostly about the characters of said movie/TV-Show and not about the monster they hunt.
So, this book was not for me.
Until now most of the time is spent in the POV of either the monster or the three boys. The most we read about Sam, Dean and Bobby was during their previous hunt. While I don't mind to read the POV of the monster or their victims - here it's too much in my opinion. Also, the POV of the three boys is more teenager drama with girlfriend/parent/school problems than supernatural problems. If I buy a movie/TV-Show tie-in I want to read mostly about the characters of said movie/TV-Show and not about the monster they hunt.
So, this book was not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2020
I'm DNF'ing this book at page 116. I wasn't a fan of the earlier book in the series written by John Passarella, because I found the deaths in the book too gory and unnecessarily detailed.
But this book is even worse! So far several people have died horribly. It has been described in way too explicitly gory details and according to the reviews here, I understand that that goes on in the rest of the book too. The demon's pov with all the killing also takes up way too much of the book where I would much rather have heard more about Sam and Dean.
- So I won't wasting any more time reading this book and will be moving on to the next in the series
But this book is even worse! So far several people have died horribly. It has been described in way too explicitly gory details and according to the reviews here, I understand that that goes on in the rest of the book too. The demon's pov with all the killing also takes up way too much of the book where I would much rather have heard more about Sam and Dean.
- So I won't wasting any more time reading this book and will be moving on to the next in the series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2012
Given to me to read by Mom L. There was a lot I had no clue about, because it was a book about a tv series. It talked about the characters like you lived with them every week for the last 7 years, and I got the feeling you needed to in order to understand what they were talking about. Not that it was thought-provoking material. It was just way out there and you probably needed to have 22 minute bursts of ridiculousness fed to you once a week instead of trying to force-feed it in one big gulp.
July 1, 2025
I continue my journey through the Supernatural tie-in novels with the 10th book, Rite of Passage.
This is the first book I picked up after a multi-month long reading slump, and I was hopeful that its simple and easily digestible "one and done" nature, when mixed with my larger overall love for the source material, might make it the perfect cure to what ailed me, and I'm very happy to say that, it definitely worked!
This was easily one of the better tie-in books so far, and while I don't think I'd consider it the best (so far, Coyote's Kiss still gets that honor), it's a very close contender for a variety of reasons.
Let's start with a big one, for me anyhow, and that's character portrayal. When you have a cast of characters as well established and beloved as Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester and Bobby Singer, it's absolutely vital that the author of the book know and understand them in detail so their characters would read organically and feel in line with their pre-existing personalities from the show, and John Passarella nailed that PERFECTLY. Not only were Sam and Dean's actions and dialogue with each other spot on when compared to the television series, but Bobby also fit right in, feeling very much like the more experienced mentor and father figure that he's always been to the boys.
Another big point for me, is how original and interesting is the "Monster of the Week" when compared to the expansive bestiary of creatures, celestials and infernals from the show? Well yet again, Mr. Passarella absolutely nailed it, not just once, but twice! The book opens in the first couple chapters with the boys and Bobby hunting a trio of Harpies, and while their presence in the novel was short lived, it was still fun and engaging to read about monsters who's physical description would have been to expensive for the show to portray with any justice, which is a big advantage the novels have. But the main baddie of the book? Damn was it interesting. Throughout the first 2/3rds of the book, I had NO idea what the boys were hunting, despite my expansive knowledge of not just the show, but mythology as a whole, and when it was eventually revealed, I was so hooked and enthralled with its carnage and goals that I struggled to put the book down, only doing so when it was time for bed.
The only criticisms I can really lay against the book are minor, and that's honestly just that sometimes the novel seemed to revel in its gory violence a bit too much, coming off as a sort of "torture fantasy" if you catch my drift. While I could power through this, I know many people will be turned off by it, so I wanted to mention it.
All in all, I loved this one and would STRONGLY recommend it to any die-hard fan of the TV show. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars, pick it up!
Wanna check out my other Supernatural book reviews? Check em out below!
Nevermore: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Witch's Canyon: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Bone Key: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heart of the Dragon: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Unholy Cause: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
War of the Sons: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One Year Gone: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Coyote's Kiss: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Night Terror: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Men of Letters Bestiary: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is the first book I picked up after a multi-month long reading slump, and I was hopeful that its simple and easily digestible "one and done" nature, when mixed with my larger overall love for the source material, might make it the perfect cure to what ailed me, and I'm very happy to say that, it definitely worked!
This was easily one of the better tie-in books so far, and while I don't think I'd consider it the best (so far, Coyote's Kiss still gets that honor), it's a very close contender for a variety of reasons.
Let's start with a big one, for me anyhow, and that's character portrayal. When you have a cast of characters as well established and beloved as Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester and Bobby Singer, it's absolutely vital that the author of the book know and understand them in detail so their characters would read organically and feel in line with their pre-existing personalities from the show, and John Passarella nailed that PERFECTLY. Not only were Sam and Dean's actions and dialogue with each other spot on when compared to the television series, but Bobby also fit right in, feeling very much like the more experienced mentor and father figure that he's always been to the boys.
Another big point for me, is how original and interesting is the "Monster of the Week" when compared to the expansive bestiary of creatures, celestials and infernals from the show? Well yet again, Mr. Passarella absolutely nailed it, not just once, but twice! The book opens in the first couple chapters with the boys and Bobby hunting a trio of Harpies, and while their presence in the novel was short lived, it was still fun and engaging to read about monsters who's physical description would have been to expensive for the show to portray with any justice, which is a big advantage the novels have. But the main baddie of the book? Damn was it interesting. Throughout the first 2/3rds of the book, I had NO idea what the boys were hunting, despite my expansive knowledge of not just the show, but mythology as a whole, and when it was eventually revealed, I was so hooked and enthralled with its carnage and goals that I struggled to put the book down, only doing so when it was time for bed.
The only criticisms I can really lay against the book are minor, and that's honestly just that sometimes the novel seemed to revel in its gory violence a bit too much, coming off as a sort of "torture fantasy" if you catch my drift. While I could power through this, I know many people will be turned off by it, so I wanted to mention it.
All in all, I loved this one and would STRONGLY recommend it to any die-hard fan of the TV show. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars, pick it up!
Wanna check out my other Supernatural book reviews? Check em out below!
Nevermore: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Witch's Canyon: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Bone Key: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heart of the Dragon: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Unholy Cause: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
War of the Sons: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One Year Gone: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Coyote's Kiss: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Night Terror: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Men of Letters Bestiary: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 26, 2016
I love these books because they're like more in depth filler episodes (they're just fun). The only downside is they can be hit or miss with each one being written by a different author. This particular author, in my opinion, spent more time on his own characters than the ones I was looking for: Sam, Dean, Bobby, the monster. I found it difficult to get through. Just didn't read like a Supernatural story.
August 20, 2012
i don't know what it is about this series but the ones with "ghosts" as the hunted are by far the best. the thing being hunted in this particular book was a japanese monster that made lethal accidents happen... Zzzzz. and it didn't feel like Sam and Dean to me. I stopped reading it... it just wasn't enjoyable to be personally.
December 5, 2013
This was a difficult story to get through. The first 2/3 of the book dragged on and on with death and destruction. Granted, they were trying to establish what exactly the oni was and what a terrible creature Tora turned out to be. I just couldn't get into to it as a Supernatural story line. It felt forced and Dean and Sam felt like an after thought......
November 23, 2017
The beginning was super just gory and upsetting and I really hated the enemy guy but then as it got further into the story (like the very ending) I started to actually care about the plot line I guess. would not read agin
took 13 days to read (which is a VERY long time)
onto the next supernatural book (ebook-i lowkey hate ebooks)
took 13 days to read (which is a VERY long time)
onto the next supernatural book (ebook-i lowkey hate ebooks)
December 22, 2023
(takes place in Season 7 between "Season 7, Time for a Wedding" and "How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters")
"When it works you hold onto it, because you never know when the ride'll be over."
I don't know what I'm SUPPOSED to be picturing when I hear the word "oni" but I'm definitely picturing something from Inuyasha, so.... yeah....
"When it works you hold onto it, because you never know when the ride'll be over."
I don't know what I'm SUPPOSED to be picturing when I hear the word "oni" but I'm definitely picturing something from Inuyasha, so.... yeah....
May 11, 2015
This is actually the first Supernatural book that I did not like.
August 13, 2016
Meh. Not very good. Sam and Dean take a back seat to random characters.
June 7, 2017
None of the SPN novels are great but this is definitely the worst one I've read.
September 6, 2021
Definitely worst of them all.
June 18, 2021
Sam and Dean hardly in this. Just didn't enjoy this.
October 28, 2019
I am very much late to the party when it comes to Supernatural. As someone who's lurked in fandom spaces most of her life, I've known about this show for years, but only picked it up recently. And, if I'm watching the show, why not read the books while I'm at it?
As someone who also reads a lot of fanfiction, it's always an interesting turn to see how sanctioned spinoff novels differ from it. One thing to note about this one is its notable lack of focus on the main characters. They can't exactly develop Sam and Dean, of course, because it's not their right; it's the show's. But the book tries to make up for it by hyperfocusing on the side characters and villain(s).
Overall, it had an interesting plot, very SPN-like. The various accidents were gruesome and compelling to try to stop. But the villain itself seemed split - the first half has its focus on his ability to take small possibilities for disaster and push them to fruition, but rather than follow that to its natural conclusion, the book throws in that this demon wants a family, and is coming back to collect its sons/new wife to take back to its world.
Which isn't to say the plot couldn't juggle both, but - we spend a considerable amount of time with these three boys who've grown up the past eighteen years come into their power, only for them to not use the trademark bad-luck power that drew Sam and Dean to the location in the first place. It might've been poetic way to end their stories; that they've had bad luck all their lives and now have the power to give that bad luck to others, but no. It's just a mind-control bloodbath at the end, which seemed like a shame. On top of that, I didn't feel much sympathy for most of the characters, an the one I did, the one we were supposed to root for, was killed in a rather anticlimactic fashion.
The parts that did revolve around the supernatural accidents and the boys + Bobby investigating, however, were delightful. Sam struggles with keeping his head on his shoulders, Dean gets low key attached to a black cat that becomes useful at the end of the book, and Bobby's crotchety competence is always appreciated, no matter if it's on paper or on screen.
Overall, I enjoyed reading it. I wasn't aware the SPN books had so many installments, but I'll probably be picking up another again in the future.
As someone who also reads a lot of fanfiction, it's always an interesting turn to see how sanctioned spinoff novels differ from it. One thing to note about this one is its notable lack of focus on the main characters. They can't exactly develop Sam and Dean, of course, because it's not their right; it's the show's. But the book tries to make up for it by hyperfocusing on the side characters and villain(s).
Overall, it had an interesting plot, very SPN-like. The various accidents were gruesome and compelling to try to stop. But the villain itself seemed split - the first half has its focus on his ability to take small possibilities for disaster and push them to fruition, but rather than follow that to its natural conclusion, the book throws in that this demon wants a family, and is coming back to collect its sons/new wife to take back to its world.
Which isn't to say the plot couldn't juggle both, but - we spend a considerable amount of time with these three boys who've grown up the past eighteen years come into their power, only for them to not use the trademark bad-luck power that drew Sam and Dean to the location in the first place. It might've been poetic way to end their stories; that they've had bad luck all their lives and now have the power to give that bad luck to others, but no. It's just a mind-control bloodbath at the end, which seemed like a shame. On top of that, I didn't feel much sympathy for most of the characters, an the one I did, the one we were supposed to root for, was killed in a rather anticlimactic fashion.
The parts that did revolve around the supernatural accidents and the boys + Bobby investigating, however, were delightful. Sam struggles with keeping his head on his shoulders, Dean gets low key attached to a black cat that becomes useful at the end of the book, and Bobby's crotchety competence is always appreciated, no matter if it's on paper or on screen.
Overall, I enjoyed reading it. I wasn't aware the SPN books had so many installments, but I'll probably be picking up another again in the future.
April 3, 2019
I think John Passarella should just write all of the Supernatural novels. This is the second book of his I have read and it is by far one of the best in the series. While I thought the ending felt a bit rushed and kind of petered out in the wrap up, overall, I thought it was exciting, gruesome, and it felt like if a Supernatural episode was allowed to go with a hard R-rating. This might be the first Supernatural book or episode with a massive body count. I can't believe how many people Passarella kills, and none of is a nice little death. Bodies are crushed, decapitated, pulverized, you name it, it happens.
The story involves a supernatural being who is able to cause accidents that play out in an almost Rube Goldberg manner. At the same time, three young men are dealing with troubling home lives. I won't say what the connection is, but it adds something to the book getting chapters into their lives. Trust me, Dean, Sam, and Bobby aren't sidelined at all. They are racing to figure out what is happening in the town and how to stop it, but the three young men are given fully fleshed out lives and don't feel like random background characters. In fact, you actually root for one of the boys and his outcome is kind of heartbreaking.
While this is one of my favorite Supernatural books, I can't give it 5 stars because their are typos. Not many, but they are there. I was hoping this series was getting away from the incredibly poor editing that has plagued all of the earlier books. They aren't distracting or take anything away from the entire story, but I just wish the editor had really gone over the book with a fine tooth comb and the printers had gone over the prints at least 30 times.
I actually am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
The story involves a supernatural being who is able to cause accidents that play out in an almost Rube Goldberg manner. At the same time, three young men are dealing with troubling home lives. I won't say what the connection is, but it adds something to the book getting chapters into their lives. Trust me, Dean, Sam, and Bobby aren't sidelined at all. They are racing to figure out what is happening in the town and how to stop it, but the three young men are given fully fleshed out lives and don't feel like random background characters. In fact, you actually root for one of the boys and his outcome is kind of heartbreaking.
While this is one of my favorite Supernatural books, I can't give it 5 stars because their are typos. Not many, but they are there. I was hoping this series was getting away from the incredibly poor editing that has plagued all of the earlier books. They aren't distracting or take anything away from the entire story, but I just wish the editor had really gone over the book with a fine tooth comb and the printers had gone over the prints at least 30 times.
I actually am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
September 21, 2021
This book needs two different ratings. As a supernatural book 2.5 stars, as it's own book 4 stars.
I'll start with my first rating 2.5 stars - From a Supernatural stand point this book had little to do with the Winchesters with only a few chapters including the brothers along with Bobby trying to figure out what is happening with the town and stopping it. I was very disappointed with the lack of story line pertaining to Sam and Dean. Although I did like the author sticking to Sam's visions of Lucifer that happened within season 7 in which this book is set.
Onto my second rating 4 stars - The storyline of this book is really good and interesting. It mainly centers around the monster which is called an oni and these three different teenage boys that grew up in the town of Laurel Hill. Each of the boys had different upbringings with their families and were treated differently leading them into destructive paths, not really feeling as though they belonged. Each boy as the plot progresses and the main monster becoming stronger with each accident and mass murder and panic it creates, the boys start to get more violent thoughts and even lash out violently in their every day lives. As simialrities between the boys and the monster become more clear it isn't hard to figure out the boys are the offspring of the oni and he wants to make the boys full oni oppose to the half breeds they were born as.
This book in particular to the supernatural series really didn't need to be a supernatural book as like I stated above Sam and Dean even Bobby are barley in it, it would have done better as it's own stand alone book.
I'll start with my first rating 2.5 stars - From a Supernatural stand point this book had little to do with the Winchesters with only a few chapters including the brothers along with Bobby trying to figure out what is happening with the town and stopping it. I was very disappointed with the lack of story line pertaining to Sam and Dean. Although I did like the author sticking to Sam's visions of Lucifer that happened within season 7 in which this book is set.
Onto my second rating 4 stars - The storyline of this book is really good and interesting. It mainly centers around the monster which is called an oni and these three different teenage boys that grew up in the town of Laurel Hill. Each of the boys had different upbringings with their families and were treated differently leading them into destructive paths, not really feeling as though they belonged. Each boy as the plot progresses and the main monster becoming stronger with each accident and mass murder and panic it creates, the boys start to get more violent thoughts and even lash out violently in their every day lives. As simialrities between the boys and the monster become more clear it isn't hard to figure out the boys are the offspring of the oni and he wants to make the boys full oni oppose to the half breeds they were born as.
This book in particular to the supernatural series really didn't need to be a supernatural book as like I stated above Sam and Dean even Bobby are barley in it, it would have done better as it's own stand alone book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews