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Buffyverse Novels #50
Angel: Shakedown
Even if it takes an eternity, he will make amends.... Angel has long since learned that earthquakes are usually not benign incidents, so when Doyle has a vision involving a seismic shift, everyone's guard goes up. Further investigation leads Angel to a group of Serpentene demons living locally as an affluent private community. These nouveau "monsters" are not evil in any way (other than the fact that they make their living as telemarketers) and have no discernible enemies -- so why, then, have they become the target of a clan of underground quake demons -- demons who have the ability to reduce living creatures to a pulverized mass in an instant? Cordelia and Doyle are not sure the clients -- demon, albeit high-paying, that they are?can truly be trusted. But Angel finds that he has much in common with this particular brand of outsiders. After all, as he knows, there are degrees of evil and of innocence alike....
303 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2000
3 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Don DeBrandt
11 books17 followersPseudonyms: Donn Cortez, DD Barant, Don H. Debrandt & Dixie Lyle
Don DeBrandt is a Canadian author who also writes under the pen-names Donn Cortez and DD Barant. Born in Saskatchewan, he currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to North America, his books have been published in Germany, France, Italy, and Russia.
His influences include Spider Robinson and John D. MacDonald, among others.
As DeBrandt, he has written numerous essays, short stories, plays and comics. His first novel, the cyberpunk The Quicksilver Screen was part of Del Rey Books' 'Discovery' line, and featured a cover by classic Science-Fiction painter Vincent Di Fate. This was followed by work for Marvel Comics and a novel in the series of book tie-ins for the Angel TV series.
Don DeBrandt is a Canadian author who also writes under the pen-names Donn Cortez and DD Barant. Born in Saskatchewan, he currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to North America, his books have been published in Germany, France, Italy, and Russia.
His influences include Spider Robinson and John D. MacDonald, among others.
As DeBrandt, he has written numerous essays, short stories, plays and comics. His first novel, the cyberpunk The Quicksilver Screen was part of Del Rey Books' 'Discovery' line, and featured a cover by classic Science-Fiction painter Vincent Di Fate. This was followed by work for Marvel Comics and a novel in the series of book tie-ins for the Angel TV series.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 7, 2025
This is a book based on the television show. It takes place early during the first season. In this one Doyle gets a vision that an earthquake is about to hit Los Angeles. This means it is caused by supernatural ways and it is up to Angel to put a stop to them.
When I read a media tie in book my main concern is does it stay true to the established characters. For the most part I thought the author did. The main character was off slightly but not enough to detract from the story. I thought his associates were terrific and their banter did remind of the show. While I enjoyed this book I got a sense that the author understood what this show was about but never truly captured the essence of the show. He incorporated so many aspects of the show and some of them went nowhere. It was like he was trying a little too hard to say we are in this universe. If it was a little simpler I believe this would have been a better book.
I liked this book and I am happy I had one more adventure with the early crew of this show. There were issues but I was not expecting it to change my life. lol. If you take it for what it is it is definitely worth a read especially for fans of the show.
When I read a media tie in book my main concern is does it stay true to the established characters. For the most part I thought the author did. The main character was off slightly but not enough to detract from the story. I thought his associates were terrific and their banter did remind of the show. While I enjoyed this book I got a sense that the author understood what this show was about but never truly captured the essence of the show. He incorporated so many aspects of the show and some of them went nowhere. It was like he was trying a little too hard to say we are in this universe. If it was a little simpler I believe this would have been a better book.
I liked this book and I am happy I had one more adventure with the early crew of this show. There were issues but I was not expecting it to change my life. lol. If you take it for what it is it is definitely worth a read especially for fans of the show.
September 4, 2023
Shakedown was the fourth original novel in Pocket's long-running series of tie-ins of Angel, the television show spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was a first-season story, with the original trio of Angel, Cordelia, and Doyle. (Kate's in this story, too.) It has a somewhat different feel from the evil vampire vs. soul-man vampire stories that had predominated, as Angel investigates for a group of Serpentine demons who are being troubled by a band of quake demons. Angel's character didn't ring quite true to me, but it wasn't a bad story. Note: I still believe telemarketing to be inherently evil.
October 7, 2023
Not terrible not great
April 28, 2013
A really good story - I loved the idea of the Tremblor demons and the Serpentine being the snakes banished from Ireland. The episode of Maria in the church was horrific, but just what we've come to expect from our favourite vampire. Thanks for releasing it, it was excellent.
September 10, 2013
some of Angel's diolog didn't jive with how his character was portrade on tv...
March 28, 2016
nice to hear Doyle's voice again, plot was okay, an easy read
September 30, 2023
This book made me feel like it was written not having watched an episode. For example, on page 15 the underground people say it makes sense that Angel doesn’t know who they are because they are an underground species. The next page literally says Angel spends a lot of time underground. One page apart. Honestly.
Also, a date with KATE (?!?!) seems more unnatural than the underground cave people. And in that chapter they kept repeating “the question is… “.
LMAOO @ Kate, asking Angel what FLAVOUR music he listens to 🤣
And another thing! By this time (Angel season one) Cordy has known Angel for several years. And now suddenly she’s under that delusion that he/vampires can fly?!? She’s from the Hellmouth buddy this isn’t her first experience with a vampire! C’Mon!
“It wasn’t like anything Feldspaar had experienced. He wished he could just lay down for a few years.”
- page 169. Same, Feldspaar. Same.
Honourable mention shopping at “Angelus Fashions”. The brutal way he left Maria in that cave, ouch. Some of Angelus’ most gruesome work to date!
Also, a date with KATE (?!?!) seems more unnatural than the underground cave people. And in that chapter they kept repeating “the question is… “.
LMAOO @ Kate, asking Angel what FLAVOUR music he listens to 🤣
And another thing! By this time (Angel season one) Cordy has known Angel for several years. And now suddenly she’s under that delusion that he/vampires can fly?!? She’s from the Hellmouth buddy this isn’t her first experience with a vampire! C’Mon!
“It wasn’t like anything Feldspaar had experienced. He wished he could just lay down for a few years.”
- page 169. Same, Feldspaar. Same.
Honourable mention shopping at “Angelus Fashions”. The brutal way he left Maria in that cave, ouch. Some of Angelus’ most gruesome work to date!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2023
A book that cruelly dangled a Kate/Angel date in front of me, then made it really awkward… sigh.
The best parts of this was the Angelus flashbacks which felt genuinely menacing, sometimes it feels like they chicken out of describing his evil deeds, but this was unsettling and well written.
I didn’t care much for the main mystery and the short intercut scenes between the demons and Angel inc. It was too choppy.
And although I guess it makes sense, and I’ve seen it before, I don’t like it when the good guy faces off with someone who was less reputable than he thought and kind of goes ”get out of my town. I won’t stop you doing shady dealings elsewhere, just don’t do it here”… meh.
All in all, the character work in this book is excellent, but the main plot is so so. Basically, this is for the fans who really care about these characters, not for the casual reader.
The best parts of this was the Angelus flashbacks which felt genuinely menacing, sometimes it feels like they chicken out of describing his evil deeds, but this was unsettling and well written.
I didn’t care much for the main mystery and the short intercut scenes between the demons and Angel inc. It was too choppy.
And although I guess it makes sense, and I’ve seen it before, I don’t like it when the good guy faces off with someone who was less reputable than he thought and kind of goes ”get out of my town. I won’t stop you doing shady dealings elsewhere, just don’t do it here”… meh.
All in all, the character work in this book is excellent, but the main plot is so so. Basically, this is for the fans who really care about these characters, not for the casual reader.
November 26, 2016
If you miss the TV series, then you should be reading the Angel novels. This particulr novel features Angel, Cordelia, and Doyle. It is one of the more original and imaginative stories written about Angel (and Buffy,too). Angel and the gang find themselves facing two new types of demons, Tremblors and Serpentene. He find himself also dealing with an older enemy (sorry, no clues). If Angel, Cordy and Doyle can't figure out what is going on, the world as we know it will be forever changed. This has one of the strangest plots ever for an Angel story!
November 1, 2021
This is a quick read, and I think fans of the OG Angel trio will enjoy this story. I think there are some elements of the plot that are tacked on (especially at the end), but it's a good story with some Angelus flashbacks and good Doyle moments. It introduces some new demons and has quite a few action sequences.
September 5, 2024
The plot started off pretty strong but seemed to meander and get a little convoluted towards the end (as these Buffy/Angel novels that clock over 200 pages tend to do...) but I actually quite enjoyed the tying up of various strands at the end.
The characterisation aso felt very odd; Angel making too many jokes, Cordelia being a little too flippant and quippy.
The characterisation aso felt very odd; Angel making too many jokes, Cordelia being a little too flippant and quippy.
July 25, 2018
Not bad, but you need to be a follower.
April 8, 2024
This book grabs you and shakes you. Great story telling by the author. I wish he had written a few more of these Angel books. This was an exciting read.
August 15, 2010
Angel is a vampire, cursed by gypsies decades ago to walk the earth with a soul, doomed to relive his days as the tortuous and malevolent Angelus. Determined to redeem himself he teams up with Doyle a half demon with visions and Cordelia, a previously conceited and rich princess who ruled her high school and is now set on redeeming her own ways. Doyle has a vision involving a seismic shift, and further investigation leads Angel to a group of Serpentine demons living locally in a prosperous private community. These demons are not evil, having seemingly no apparent enemies, but they have nonetheless become the target of a clan of underground quake demons. Doyle and Cordelia and are not convinced that the clients (high paying demons aside) can be trusted. But Angel finds that he has more in common with these clients, and tries his best to uncover the reason behind this sudden animosity.
I read this book during my High School Angel obsessed days. I needed to get my hands on everything Angel, and miraculously found this book for $2 at a sale. I liked this book because it expanded on Angel’s perspective and you got an inside view about how he went about investigating and how he saw himself and his commitment to his “mission”. This book wasn’t based on an episode which I also liked because often it’s tedious reading about what you have already seen. Overall, a great book to add to the previous hype surrounding the show of Angel.
I read this book during my High School Angel obsessed days. I needed to get my hands on everything Angel, and miraculously found this book for $2 at a sale. I liked this book because it expanded on Angel’s perspective and you got an inside view about how he went about investigating and how he saw himself and his commitment to his “mission”. This book wasn’t based on an episode which I also liked because often it’s tedious reading about what you have already seen. Overall, a great book to add to the previous hype surrounding the show of Angel.
January 22, 2012
'Shakedown' was an interesting novel in the Angel series so far. I loved it, but it didn't really seem like an Angel book. It was a very quick read, and it did leave me wanting more after the novel itself was finished, but I honestly thought it was off.
Angel and the gang end up protecting a bunch of snake like demons called 'Serpentine', who live under a apartment establishment, and are being terrorized by giants rock monsters called 'Quake Demons', who do just as they are named, they make earth quakes.
Angel, Cordelia, and Doyle must race against the clock to find out what these Quake Demons want, and why does Wolfram & Hart seem to be so interested in the Serpentine, and the Quake Demons.
Like I said, these books do tend to get better with each novel, and even though I loved this one, I feel like maybe it should have been a little longer.
Angel and the gang end up protecting a bunch of snake like demons called 'Serpentine', who live under a apartment establishment, and are being terrorized by giants rock monsters called 'Quake Demons', who do just as they are named, they make earth quakes.
Angel, Cordelia, and Doyle must race against the clock to find out what these Quake Demons want, and why does Wolfram & Hart seem to be so interested in the Serpentine, and the Quake Demons.
Like I said, these books do tend to get better with each novel, and even though I loved this one, I feel like maybe it should have been a little longer.
January 16, 2012
I was quite enjoying this book, up until the last 20 pages. The plot seemed to unravel, some plot points were discarded and unexplained, and some odd choices added in, and the way of defeating the bad guys just didn't make sense, it seemed like the author couldn't think of anything and just plonked a random idea in there.
Despite the plot, the author writes well, and clearly has an understanding of the characters from the TV show. He has a really good handle of Doyle's speech pattern and goes deeper into his psyche than the show ever had a chance to. He also delves into Angel's mind and his past well, although he seems a lot more confident and pun-y, less brooding, than the character is usually portrayed.
Despite the plot, the author writes well, and clearly has an understanding of the characters from the TV show. He has a really good handle of Doyle's speech pattern and goes deeper into his psyche than the show ever had a chance to. He also delves into Angel's mind and his past well, although he seems a lot more confident and pun-y, less brooding, than the character is usually portrayed.
November 20, 2007
Angel has been hired by a group of sanke demons to find out why quake demons are attacking them. At the same time a firefighter has gone missing. Could these situations be linked.
Want to read
December 9, 2015written by the same person who wrote
Want to read
December 5, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14829898
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14829898
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews