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The Gatekeeper Trilogy #3
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sons of Entropy
When the Sons of Entropy assault the mansion that protects Earth from the realm of monsters and steal the life force of the besieged Gatekeeper, Buffy must protect the Gatekeeper's young heir, the only one who can stop the destruction of all humankind
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
10 people are currently reading
790 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Golden
798 books2,967 followersCHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of such novels as Road of Bones, Ararat, Snowblind, Of Saints and Shadows, and Red Hands. With Mike Mignola, he is the co-creator of the Outerverse comic book universe, including such series as Baltimore, Joe Golem: Occult Detective, and Lady Baltimore. As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies Seize the Night, Dark Cities, and The New Dead, among others, and he has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, and a network television pilot. Golden co-hosts the podcast Defenders Dialogue with horror author Brian Keene. In 2015 he founded the popular Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival. He was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His work has been nominated for the British Fantasy Award, the Eisner Award, and multiple Shirley Jackson Awards. For the Bram Stoker Awards, Golden has been nominated ten times in eight different categories. His original novels have been published in more than fifteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 26, 2016
08/05/09 - I give this book 3.5 stars. I don't think I need to write a full review for this book, my feelings are pretty much the same as for the previous two books in the series (see my review for Out of the Madhouse and Ghost Roads). I really enjoyed them in my mid to late teens, but the writing is no longer quite good enough for my tastes.
December 7, 2023
Disappointed with the final installment.
I reckon if it were only two books instead of three, as it all felt too drawn out and dragged in places that didn't need to be and the ending was lackluster despite all the build up towards it, such a let down :(
I reckon if it were only two books instead of three, as it all felt too drawn out and dragged in places that didn't need to be and the ending was lackluster despite all the build up towards it, such a let down :(
June 13, 2017
5 stars
Yay!!!! Glad they defeated Il Maestro. Hope the new Gatekeeper will be good. RIP last Gatekeeper.
Can't wait to read more Buffyverse novels!!!!!
Yay!!!! Glad they defeated Il Maestro. Hope the new Gatekeeper will be good. RIP last Gatekeeper.
Can't wait to read more Buffyverse novels!!!!!
July 11, 2024
Dear lord…
July 11, 2024
No book featuring the Loch Ness Monster should be this tedious.
October 16, 2009
Good for what they were for: beach reading.
January 9, 2016
The writing wasn't really up to scratch and ultimately I found the ending something of a disappointment.
January 4, 2026
This was a satisfying conclusion to the Gatekeeper Trilogy and, for me, a generous 4 stars. I’ve probably given books of similar quality a 3 before, but this one scratched a very specific itch: an extra dose of classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Taken as a whole, the trilogy feels like a feature-length episode of the TV show rather than a standalone novel trilogy. (Not the cheesy ’90s movie, this is more like a big-budget Buffy episode the series could never have afforded.) The scale is global, the cast travels far beyond Sunnydale, and the threat feels genuinely apocalyptic in a way the show rarely had time or money to explore.
The stakes here are the highest they’ve been across all three books, and nearly every character gets their moment to shine. Oz in particular benefits from the expanded format; he’s often sidelined in the show due to time constraints, but here he’s given room to be capable, useful, and memorable.
I wasn’t especially taken with the original characters introduced in the trilogy. Not because they’re poorly written (they’re not) but because the existing cast is so firmly established that the newcomers inevitably feel overshadowed. When you have Buffy and the Scoobies in full swing, it’s hard for new faces to compete for attention.
Buffy taking on a literal Lord of Hell is pretty epic, though the climax itself is good rather than great. I was a bit frustrated by the trite clues to the big bad’s weakness. It was a series of flowery prose that had little to no meaning that doesn’t really resolve itself into the solution they come to in the end. It feels like that kind of information that could have been communicated far more clearly without undermining the drama. I get that it’s a trope of the era but… ugh.
The trilogy is guilty of padding. This story could comfortably have been told in two books rather than three. That said, it’s still a fun ride. The characters are well written, the humour lands more often than not, and the nostalgia hits in the right places. Familiar characters are placed into new settings in a way that feels both fresh and faithful.
The cameos are a mixed bag. Some characters pop up only briefly and don’t get enough “screen time” to do anything meaningful, but it’s still nice to see them appear, even if their presence is ultimately inconsequential.
The ending works. It’s solid, earned, and emotionally satisfying. That said, some of the feats the cast pull off here verge on the fan-fiction-ey — mainly because you’d expect events of this scale to be referenced later in the TV series if this were truly canon.
It’s not perfect. Far from it. But it’s ambitious, entertaining, and clearly written with affection for the source material. A flawed but enjoyable finale that left me glad I’d taken the ride.
Taken as a whole, the trilogy feels like a feature-length episode of the TV show rather than a standalone novel trilogy. (Not the cheesy ’90s movie, this is more like a big-budget Buffy episode the series could never have afforded.) The scale is global, the cast travels far beyond Sunnydale, and the threat feels genuinely apocalyptic in a way the show rarely had time or money to explore.
The stakes here are the highest they’ve been across all three books, and nearly every character gets their moment to shine. Oz in particular benefits from the expanded format; he’s often sidelined in the show due to time constraints, but here he’s given room to be capable, useful, and memorable.
I wasn’t especially taken with the original characters introduced in the trilogy. Not because they’re poorly written (they’re not) but because the existing cast is so firmly established that the newcomers inevitably feel overshadowed. When you have Buffy and the Scoobies in full swing, it’s hard for new faces to compete for attention.
Buffy taking on a literal Lord of Hell is pretty epic, though the climax itself is good rather than great. I was a bit frustrated by the trite clues to the big bad’s weakness. It was a series of flowery prose that had little to no meaning that doesn’t really resolve itself into the solution they come to in the end. It feels like that kind of information that could have been communicated far more clearly without undermining the drama. I get that it’s a trope of the era but… ugh.
The trilogy is guilty of padding. This story could comfortably have been told in two books rather than three. That said, it’s still a fun ride. The characters are well written, the humour lands more often than not, and the nostalgia hits in the right places. Familiar characters are placed into new settings in a way that feels both fresh and faithful.
The cameos are a mixed bag. Some characters pop up only briefly and don’t get enough “screen time” to do anything meaningful, but it’s still nice to see them appear, even if their presence is ultimately inconsequential.
The ending works. It’s solid, earned, and emotionally satisfying. That said, some of the feats the cast pull off here verge on the fan-fiction-ey — mainly because you’d expect events of this scale to be referenced later in the TV series if this were truly canon.
It’s not perfect. Far from it. But it’s ambitious, entertaining, and clearly written with affection for the source material. A flawed but enjoyable finale that left me glad I’d taken the ride.
August 18, 2022
This was a nice enough conclusion to the trilogy, but I do feel like it maybe didn't need to be a trilogy. This book was already about 50 pages shorter than the previous two, and even so it felt like it was spinning its wheels a little in the final climax. It felt a little weird to separate Buffy from the rest of the gang and essentially be facing two villains, and what felt like the more 'showstopper' fight was the one that Buffy wasn't involved in at all. And Buffy's fight seemed to end pretty... abruptly considering (I guess?) it was supposed to be the true villain behind the entire plot.
Saying that - it was a nice, quick read, and it felt like for the most part the characters were true to the characters we know and love, so I will give it bonus points for that!
Saying that - it was a nice, quick read, and it felt like for the most part the characters were true to the characters we know and love, so I will give it bonus points for that!
February 20, 2018
wow Christopher golden you are a great writer thank you for taking the time to write this book no spoilers. just walk down memory lane and remember when buffy was great
May 1, 2019
This my favourite series of Buffy novels and anyone that enjoys the show would probably enjoy this book
June 29, 2019
Interesting ending to the end of the trilogy and kept me on my toes till the end with plots twists galore!
October 31, 2021
The final book of the Gatekeeper Trilogy. A new Gatekeeper is found and the portals to Hell are closed….again, with the help of Buffy, Angel and all the Scoobies.
March 13, 2022
Non-stop action, great Buffy charm, satisfying end to the trilogy.
June 16, 2024
Brilliant. My favourite books so far.
December 30, 2009
How I Came To Read These Books: being a Buffy fan, it was only natural I turned to read some of the books. I think I also read one that was based on the series’ premiere, but I preferred the original stories. Call it published fan fic.
The Plot: I can’t separate these three books particularly well this late in the game, so let’s summarize. There’s a whole lot of wacky going on in Sunnydale, more than usual. Rather than one big bad, it seems a rain (of toads, quite literally) of chaos is coming down in Sunnydale, and Buffy is having a tough time handling it, especially with her watcher hospitalized abroad. The gang goes on a road trip (!) much like any Babysitters Club novel, and ends up in Boston where a ‘gatekeeper’ is watching over a psychedelic mansion with doors leading to endless rooms of ‘ghost roads’ that house things not meant for our world. Unfortunately said gatekeeper is ailing, and they need to track down his heir to take over the family business. This leads to a further trip for Buffy, Angel, and Oz to travel the ghost roads and find Jacques – all the while being thwarted by the Sons of Entropy who are hell bent on causing mass chaos. Clearly the breakdown of the mansion would satisfy this need. Back in Sunnydale apparently there are some pirates looking to recruit people to their dead or alive crew (very Pirates o the Caribbean). The final book of the trilogy is essentially the big final battle and everything that leads up to it.
The Good & The Bad: Call me uncouth, but I enjoyed this series when I read it back in the day. It took my favourite familiar characters and thrust them into a world beyond Sunnydale, something the show never accomplished. Although no one seems in quite as much mortal peril as you would hope, these books were major page turners. Really though, it’s mostly fun to see the characters out of their element (Sunnydale) and taking on the worldwide spread of evil. It was just on such a larger scale than anything the show ever did really, other than maybe Glory. The writing might not be amazing (I recall them stealing phrases from the show and using the terms “a beat” as in “waited a beat” way too many times) and the characters are flat because you’re expected to have a fan’s wealth of knowledge, plus the story is a little far-fetched and sweeping, even for a fantasy Buffy novel, but it’s still fun for fans!
The Bottom Line: Like I said…it’s like published fan fic.
Anything Memorable?: Not really
50-Book Challenge?: Nope
The Plot: I can’t separate these three books particularly well this late in the game, so let’s summarize. There’s a whole lot of wacky going on in Sunnydale, more than usual. Rather than one big bad, it seems a rain (of toads, quite literally) of chaos is coming down in Sunnydale, and Buffy is having a tough time handling it, especially with her watcher hospitalized abroad. The gang goes on a road trip (!) much like any Babysitters Club novel, and ends up in Boston where a ‘gatekeeper’ is watching over a psychedelic mansion with doors leading to endless rooms of ‘ghost roads’ that house things not meant for our world. Unfortunately said gatekeeper is ailing, and they need to track down his heir to take over the family business. This leads to a further trip for Buffy, Angel, and Oz to travel the ghost roads and find Jacques – all the while being thwarted by the Sons of Entropy who are hell bent on causing mass chaos. Clearly the breakdown of the mansion would satisfy this need. Back in Sunnydale apparently there are some pirates looking to recruit people to their dead or alive crew (very Pirates o the Caribbean). The final book of the trilogy is essentially the big final battle and everything that leads up to it.
The Good & The Bad: Call me uncouth, but I enjoyed this series when I read it back in the day. It took my favourite familiar characters and thrust them into a world beyond Sunnydale, something the show never accomplished. Although no one seems in quite as much mortal peril as you would hope, these books were major page turners. Really though, it’s mostly fun to see the characters out of their element (Sunnydale) and taking on the worldwide spread of evil. It was just on such a larger scale than anything the show ever did really, other than maybe Glory. The writing might not be amazing (I recall them stealing phrases from the show and using the terms “a beat” as in “waited a beat” way too many times) and the characters are flat because you’re expected to have a fan’s wealth of knowledge, plus the story is a little far-fetched and sweeping, even for a fantasy Buffy novel, but it’s still fun for fans!
The Bottom Line: Like I said…it’s like published fan fic.
Anything Memorable?: Not really
50-Book Challenge?: Nope
December 10, 2013
The third book in a trilogy that takes place in the Buffyverse. The other two must be read to understand what is going on. I believe the authors did a good job with the characters and I enjoyed that they included a character from the show that was used a handful of times. The problem with this novel is that there was too much action. Sometimes, less is more and I felt like there were scenes that did not contribute to the arc of the story. If this story was condensed into two books instead of a trilogy, it would have been a great read. That being said, if you are looking to revisit tv characters, this is one of the better books to do so.
March 14, 2012
I read this book and the two others in the trilogy when I was watching Buffy for the first time in middle school. Truthfully, I don't remember a whole lot about the plot or writing, but I do know they kept me engaged enough to read the other two books.
Since I remember enjoying them as a kid, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and a 3/5.
Since I remember enjoying them as a kid, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and a 3/5.
April 17, 2020
This trilogy suffers from too much backstory about the new characters and it failed to make me have any feelings for those characters.
Aside from that it was a decent read once. I've read it twice. The first time I skipped the backstory.
Skipping the backstory you miss nothing and it improves the series.
Aside from that it was a decent read once. I've read it twice. The first time I skipped the backstory.
Skipping the backstory you miss nothing and it improves the series.
November 26, 2015
Believe I read the whole Gatekeeper trilogy during the latter part of 2002, as it was then that I bought them as a boxed set.
Although I remember little about the storyline 13 years on, I do recall that the author did a good job in bringing the TV characters to life on page. I admired his original plot ideas, yet I was engaged by the story, rather than enthralled.
Although I remember little about the storyline 13 years on, I do recall that the author did a good job in bringing the TV characters to life on page. I admired his original plot ideas, yet I was engaged by the story, rather than enthralled.
November 29, 2015
Considering it was the last of the trilogy it wasn't as good as expected. It felt like the story went on and on, when it didn't need to. It seemed like they added a lot more in just to make a few extra pages in the end. It also just seemed absolutely silly that Buffy was scared of the demon, couldn't fight it ect, only to punch it in the eye for it to die! I just felt like none of it made sense.
December 11, 2010
Action packed plot certainly keeps you gripped.
March 18, 2012
I read this so long ago I can't do a true review but I do remember enjoying it.
February 25, 2019
Good ending, one of the highlights of the Buffy books so far
February 2, 2013
I read absolutely everything & anything buffy, and this trilogy was the best of the lot. Would of loved to see this televised.
Read
May 24, 2013awesome!!!
April 15, 2017
The Gatekeeper Trilogy is my favorite of all of the Buffy/Angel prose stories. All of the characters from the show are used to good effect, new conventions are introduced and blended well, and the whole thing progresses to a very satisfying conclusion.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews