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Supernatural #16
Joyride
A brand new Supernatural novel inspired by the record-breaking show starring Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles.
Sam and Dean Winchester have spent their lives on the road, battling every kind of supernatural threat. Over the years, after dozens of bloody adventures, they have faced everything from the yellow-eyed demon that killed their mother to vampires, ghosts, shapeshifters, angels and fallen gods. With the help of allies--both human and supernatural--they've discovered that every threat they vanquish opens a new door for evil to enter in.
At the stroke of midnight, everyone awake in a small Missouri town suddenly falls unconscious in the middle of whatever they were doing. When Sam and Dean investigate, the town seems peaceful. But they soon uncover a wave of strange behavior - streaking, petty vandalism and random violence - and nobody can remember why they did it. With reports of strange shadows
and horrible murders, the Winchesters dig deep into the town's secrets and uncover a tragedy fifty years in the making....
A brand-new Supernatural novel, set during season 12, that reveals a previously unseen adventure for the Winchester brothers, from the hit TV series!
Sam and Dean Winchester have spent their lives on the road, battling every kind of supernatural threat. Over the years, after dozens of bloody adventures, they have faced everything from the yellow-eyed demon that killed their mother to vampires, ghosts, shapeshifters, angels and fallen gods. With the help of allies--both human and supernatural--they've discovered that every threat they vanquish opens a new door for evil to enter in.
At the stroke of midnight, everyone awake in a small Missouri town suddenly falls unconscious in the middle of whatever they were doing. When Sam and Dean investigate, the town seems peaceful. But they soon uncover a wave of strange behavior - streaking, petty vandalism and random violence - and nobody can remember why they did it. With reports of strange shadows
and horrible murders, the Winchesters dig deep into the town's secrets and uncover a tragedy fifty years in the making....
A brand-new Supernatural novel, set during season 12, that reveals a previously unseen adventure for the Winchester brothers, from the hit TV series!
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 30, 2018
53 people are currently reading
2315 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 29, 2018
He was not afraid of the dark; he was afraid of what everwhelmed the dark.
I have read every SPN novel I know of, always waiting for a new release. Enjoyed them all more or less. This one was an average read, though. Good story although the ending felt really rushed and left me with a couple questions (maybe my tired self just didn't grasp what the author wanted to say...), good writing although sometimes I was missing the SPN feeling and I found myself thinking: That doesn't sound like Dean or Sam... I still liked it but I'm sadly not thrilled.
August 25, 2025
In comparison to my last supernatural paperback experience (which was hot garbage with a dash of trash juice) this was well done. However the Winchesters were the focus for 35% of the book. I think the book gave the author the opportunity to show more backstory of the other characters while the TV primary follows the brothers around and the audience only knows as much as they do. It took a bit longer than I would have liked for them to reveal what they were actually fighting. And even then it wasn't really a very distinct entity. Overall it wasn't my fav in this paperback series, but I still enjoyed it 3.7 rounded up.
October 31, 2018
Supernatural joyride
Loved every moment reading another adventure of my boys. Just like watching another episode. Captured the characters well and the story was fast paced.
Loved every moment reading another adventure of my boys. Just like watching another episode. Captured the characters well and the story was fast paced.
February 10, 2024
What a pleasant surprise! Instead of the nauseating body horror I'd come to expect from John Passarella, this was a well thought-out joyride of a monster hunt! The MOTW ended up being among the most intriguing and creative ones of the book series, the back story to those creatures was well crafted, and the action scenes were fast-paced and contained in-character Winchester BAMFiness. And even the OCs were interesting enough for me to read their chapters with full attention instead of just skipping through them.
Once again, little depth, but Passarella wove the creepy aspects of possession into the storyline with more than just the usual shoulder shrug.
This one is set in season 12, and I was really glad that both Mary Winchester and especially the British Men of Letters remained just a side note and had nothing to do with this case. For once, an omission that I whole-heartedly support.
With one more book to read left in the series, "Joyride" is certain to end up among my top three.
Once again, little depth, but Passarella wove the creepy aspects of possession into the storyline with more than just the usual shoulder shrug.
This one is set in season 12, and I was really glad that both Mary Winchester and especially the British Men of Letters remained just a side note and had nothing to do with this case. For once, an omission that I whole-heartedly support.
With one more book to read left in the series, "Joyride" is certain to end up among my top three.
February 2, 2019
I'm giving this four stars because the monster in this one was suitably different from anything in the television series, and reasonably fleshed out. However, those extended passages from random characters' perspectives? I got so annoyed with those sections because not only did they do nothing to develop the plot or, beyond the first one or two, even add flavor to the story; but this was my same damn complaint with Passarella's first Supernatural novel, _Night Terror_. It's really hard to turn so many disconnected narratives into one coherent story. This... just felt like lazy page-filler. I could not wait to get through those sections - the rest of the novel was seriously one of the best in this series!
February 12, 2019
I have to say I liked this book just a bit better than I liked the last SPN book I read. It just had a more interesting plot that drove me in quicker and I think it helped that this one didn't give too much time to secondary characters until right up at the end.
I think one con is there was no Cas in this book but not enough to take away a star from the rating from me.
I think one con is there was no Cas in this book but not enough to take away a star from the rating from me.
August 19, 2020
If you like the TV series Supernatural, you'll probably like the books too (all original stories). This one sees Dean and Sam in a small town where the shadows have come alive, and they are deadly... Good fun for a lazy afternoon, this one!
December 20, 2018
The shadow people were a cool deviation from the standard monsters the Winchesters face. I liked the whole mystery behind it, working along the brothers trying to figure out which of the many monsters we've faced over the years it would be like.
I also enjoyed the method in which they got rid of them. It made it particularly noticeable to get the right environment in order to gank them. I wish they could've expanded on that towards the end, though. It felt a little rushed.
I also enjoyed the method in which they got rid of them. It made it particularly noticeable to get the right environment in order to gank them. I wish they could've expanded on that towards the end, though. It felt a little rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2023
(takes place between Season 12 episodes "The Future" and "Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes")
"Every day is a battle. Sometimes a series of battles. You face them head on. They knock you down, you get back up. You lose one, you damn well better win the next. You take the wins. Because tomorrow is a crapshoot."
With a title like Joyride I was expecting something like that season 1 (?) episode with the possessed truck, but instead we start off more like that TV show Flashforward where everyone blacks out at the same time.
"Every day is a battle. Sometimes a series of battles. You face them head on. They knock you down, you get back up. You lose one, you damn well better win the next. You take the wins. Because tomorrow is a crapshoot."
With a title like Joyride I was expecting something like that season 1 (?) episode with the possessed truck, but instead we start off more like that TV show Flashforward where everyone blacks out at the same time.
December 1, 2021
Joyride is book sixteen in the series of TV Tie-in novels from the CW show Supernatural, and is the fourth to have been written by John Passarella. It takes place during season twelve between episodes 19 (The Future) and 20 (Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes).
Book sixteen has the Winchesters take a much-needed break from their work with their stuffy sidekicks, the British Men of Letters, to go off on their own case to Moyer, Missouri. One night, at midnight, everyone in town abruptly loses consciousness, all at the same moment. Shortly afterwards the town goes nuts, with people finding themselves behaving oddly, only to have no memory of the incident once it passes.
The book remains true to the characteristics of Sam and Dean Winchester, from Dean’s love of burgers and pie, to his obsession with his car etc. So you actually feel like this is a genuine story that could be shown as an episode on TV. Although there is a minor inconsistency when it comes to the British Men of Letters. Sam and Dean discuss their dealings with Mick, as if he’s still their regular contact with the agency, which at this point in the series isn’t entirely correct.
The plot itself constantly jumps from one minor character to another, as they find themselves in ridiculous circumstances. We’re introduced to hundreds of characters, only to have them die shortly afterwards, or to never be discussed again. This is a regular issue with tie-in books such as this, and I’ve come to realise that to a certain extent it’s inevitable. We need a myriad of characters in order to understand the seriousness of the story, or provide a trail for the Winchesters to follow in their investigation. However, there’s a fine line between giving Sam and Dean enough screen time, and having it feel like they’re just making cameo appearances among the supporting cast, without doing much to progress the story or solve the mystery. Thankfully, Joyride manages to keep enough of Sam and Dean’s investigative elements intact, to provide some respite from the constant surge of crazy characters to keep the narrative moving forward.
I was a bit hesitant at first but quite enjoyed this monster-of-week story, it was a nice mix of creepy but odd, with plenty of base elements familiar to fans. So I’d rate Joyride at 4 out of 5 stars. John Passarella seems to be a strong writer within the Supernatural fandom, with some fun ideas.
Book sixteen has the Winchesters take a much-needed break from their work with their stuffy sidekicks, the British Men of Letters, to go off on their own case to Moyer, Missouri. One night, at midnight, everyone in town abruptly loses consciousness, all at the same moment. Shortly afterwards the town goes nuts, with people finding themselves behaving oddly, only to have no memory of the incident once it passes.
The book remains true to the characteristics of Sam and Dean Winchester, from Dean’s love of burgers and pie, to his obsession with his car etc. So you actually feel like this is a genuine story that could be shown as an episode on TV. Although there is a minor inconsistency when it comes to the British Men of Letters. Sam and Dean discuss their dealings with Mick, as if he’s still their regular contact with the agency, which at this point in the series isn’t entirely correct.
The plot itself constantly jumps from one minor character to another, as they find themselves in ridiculous circumstances. We’re introduced to hundreds of characters, only to have them die shortly afterwards, or to never be discussed again. This is a regular issue with tie-in books such as this, and I’ve come to realise that to a certain extent it’s inevitable. We need a myriad of characters in order to understand the seriousness of the story, or provide a trail for the Winchesters to follow in their investigation. However, there’s a fine line between giving Sam and Dean enough screen time, and having it feel like they’re just making cameo appearances among the supporting cast, without doing much to progress the story or solve the mystery. Thankfully, Joyride manages to keep enough of Sam and Dean’s investigative elements intact, to provide some respite from the constant surge of crazy characters to keep the narrative moving forward.
I was a bit hesitant at first but quite enjoyed this monster-of-week story, it was a nice mix of creepy but odd, with plenty of base elements familiar to fans. So I’d rate Joyride at 4 out of 5 stars. John Passarella seems to be a strong writer within the Supernatural fandom, with some fun ideas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2023
Sam and Dean travel to a small Missouri town where anyone still awake at the stroke of midnight instantly passes out, some of them coming to and acting out in strange and violent manners, but with no memory of what happened afterwards. When the Winchesters investigate they discover strange shadows around before the violence ensues and find they're up against nothing like they've faced before.
Overall it was a solid, entertaining story with plenty of action and surprising twists and turns. That being said, I did have some issues with the book. For one thing, it felt a lot more like an X-Files episode than a Supernatural one for at least the first half of the story. And it didn't feel enough like an actual episode of the show, but more of fan fiction starring the Winchesters. There were waaaaay too many scenes of the shenanigans the possessed towns people went through, most of which never came close to Sam and Dean, which only prolonged the story rather than enhance it. And the finale was pretty cheesy and saccharine. Decent writing and characterization of the brothers is what shined more so than
Overall it was a solid, entertaining story with plenty of action and surprising twists and turns. That being said, I did have some issues with the book. For one thing, it felt a lot more like an X-Files episode than a Supernatural one for at least the first half of the story. And it didn't feel enough like an actual episode of the show, but more of fan fiction starring the Winchesters. There were waaaaay too many scenes of the shenanigans the possessed towns people went through, most of which never came close to Sam and Dean, which only prolonged the story rather than enhance it. And the finale was pretty cheesy and saccharine. Decent writing and characterization of the brothers is what shined more so than
November 29, 2021
I loved every part of this story. One of my favourite Supernatural book series books. Great story plot and stuck true to the boys t.v characters. I could actually watch this story unfold like a supernatural episode in my head.
This book takes place in season 12 of the show, Dean not trusting the British Men of Letters, Sam finds them a case in Moyer Missouri, no Men of Letters just the brothers. At midnight everyone awake in the town suddenly falls unconscious, then strange behavior such as streaking, petty theft and vandalism, random violence start to pop up and no one can remember why did what they did. Sam and Dean work alongside a baffled senior patrol officer Gruber to figure out and stop the strange behavior plaguing the town of Moyer.
Overall very well written book, storyline easy to fallow and like I said above stayed very close and true to Sam and Dean's personality traits that Jared and Jensen formed for their characters in the show making it believable that Joyride could actually be part of the Supernatural universe.
This book takes place in season 12 of the show, Dean not trusting the British Men of Letters, Sam finds them a case in Moyer Missouri, no Men of Letters just the brothers. At midnight everyone awake in the town suddenly falls unconscious, then strange behavior such as streaking, petty theft and vandalism, random violence start to pop up and no one can remember why did what they did. Sam and Dean work alongside a baffled senior patrol officer Gruber to figure out and stop the strange behavior plaguing the town of Moyer.
Overall very well written book, storyline easy to fallow and like I said above stayed very close and true to Sam and Dean's personality traits that Jared and Jensen formed for their characters in the show making it believable that Joyride could actually be part of the Supernatural universe.
March 17, 2021
Ortalarına gelene kadar üç yıldız vermeyi düşünmüştüm. Girişi muhteşem olsa da, kullandığı betimlemeler ve yansıttığı karakterler çok “doğru” ve “gerçekçi” gelse de gereksiz yere mevzuyu uzatırcasına (ya da “bakın, ben neler yapabiliyorum!” dercesine) arka arkaya sıraladığı, ana hikayeye pek de bir şey katmayan kısa anlatılar yüzünden “güzel ama yeterli değil” demiştim. Ama sonlara doğru gelirken kaptırıp gittim. Gerçekten de harikulade bir “dava” ve çözüm olmuş. Karakterlerin diziye uygunluklarını da, mevzunun gerçekçiliğinin diziden bir adım öteye taşması ve ölmesi gerekeni öldürmesi gibi şeyleri de takdir ettim.
Hikayede eksik bulduğum yegane şey tüm bu mevzuların başlangıcının yeterince sağın temellendirilememiş oluşuydu. Eh, o kadar da olsun.
Sadece Supernatural fanatiklerine değil, Supernatural’ın ne olduğunu az çok bilen hemen hemen herkese öneririm. İlk sezondan birkaç bölüm izleseniz bile (ve kitaptaki spoilerleri görmezden gelirseniz) pekala keyif alabilirsiniz.
Hikayede eksik bulduğum yegane şey tüm bu mevzuların başlangıcının yeterince sağın temellendirilememiş oluşuydu. Eh, o kadar da olsun.
Sadece Supernatural fanatiklerine değil, Supernatural’ın ne olduğunu az çok bilen hemen hemen herkese öneririm. İlk sezondan birkaç bölüm izleseniz bile (ve kitaptaki spoilerleri görmezden gelirseniz) pekala keyif alabilirsiniz.
January 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — It was good!
I really liked how this one was set in the midst of the British Men of Letters arc, but it was about the boys wanting to get back to their roots and do the hunting themselves. I feel like this author does a good job of portraying the characters true to their nature from the show.
Even if the monsters they fight are a stretch for even the Supernatural universe, I’m sad that this series is almost at an end. I could read a dozen more books that are set in between the show’s episodes. I would also read a series that follows other hunters.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced, dark, mysterious, and adventurous read!
Trigger warnings include death and violence.
I really liked how this one was set in the midst of the British Men of Letters arc, but it was about the boys wanting to get back to their roots and do the hunting themselves. I feel like this author does a good job of portraying the characters true to their nature from the show.
Even if the monsters they fight are a stretch for even the Supernatural universe, I’m sad that this series is almost at an end. I could read a dozen more books that are set in between the show’s episodes. I would also read a series that follows other hunters.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced, dark, mysterious, and adventurous read!
Trigger warnings include death and violence.
January 6, 2019
Passarella gets 3 stars just for understanding the characters of Sam and Dean before he starts writing. I bump it up to four stars because the storyline of the hunt is interesting. The story gets slightly bogged down with details and for a moment I thought the “monster of the week” was a repeat from an episode from season 8 (but this turned out to be different). The story picks back up after the little lag and becomes more complex (in a good way) and action packed. The descriptions really let you see our beloved Winchesters doing what they do best. Definitely recommended for all Supernatural fans.
April 24, 2019
This was definitely one of the best Supernatural tie-ins that I've read. I think Fresh Meat may be a bit better, but I mean Bobby was in that one, so... The story was super fun, and the characterizations of the boys was spot on. It would have made a fantastic episode. I can't wait for the next in the series!
September 14, 2019
I expected this to be like any other TV to book adaptation-- and I would hate it. I cannot deny that part of the love of this story, is watching Jensen and Jared portray the characters. However, I was capable of enjoying the story without their guidance. I will likely read another of these books; that's another reason I enjoyed it, it was a "stand alone" book, so I didn't have to watch the episode before this book to bring myself into correct context.
November 15, 2023
I love these books because they’re extensions of the show which of course, is a favorite. Some are more disgusting than others, but this one treaded the line of psychologically disturbing more than disgusting. Creepy shadow people? Check. Mysterious blackouts that take out an entire town? Check. Possession, and by extension, acts of violence and other that weren’t the person’s fault? Check. It was good, but definitely not one of my favorites. Moving on!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2019
I just noticed this is number 16 in the series but OMG I LOVED READING IT! I am a huge Supernatural fan and as soon as I saw the book I HAD to read it. I loved reading about not only Sam and Dean's POV but also of the other people involved. It was just beautifuly written and the similarities to the show was just amazing.
March 22, 2021
I’ve really enjoyed this book series and all of the Winchester brothers side hunts. This book was no exception. I was racking my brain trying to figure out what exactly they were fighting in this book and it kept me intrigued from chapter to chapter. I also enjoyed how they concluded the story by wrapping up all the loose ends.
January 16, 2022
One of the better SPN tie in books. Centering around a whole town who is facing strange black outs and possessions that do not seem to be of demonic origins. Not an original hook- but it does end up being an original reason. Dean and Sam true to character except when Dean calls Sam “bro” - he would never…
July 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this story, it was very unique. I liked the links back to the cult and how the big bad was a shadow entity of said cult. I thought it was really sweet that not all of the shadows were evil and tried to help stop the leader. It was especially sweet that Barry tried to protect the children. The scenes with the kids were especially well-written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2024
I have so much to say about this book. I’ve never read a tie-in book before and I was expecting a lot more out of it. Supernatural is one of my favorite tv shows yet this book should be ashamed to even call itself a tie-in book. Not everything about it was bad, it had some redeeming qualities but overall, 1 star.
October 21, 2019
This book is just not doing it for me.
I hate to,but had to DNF or I’d get a reading slump.
I do not want a reading slump.
Though I have to admit that the other Supernatural book called Cold Fire by the same author was amazing and I loved it so much but this one was just so meh.
I hate to,but had to DNF or I’d get a reading slump.
I do not want a reading slump.
Though I have to admit that the other Supernatural book called Cold Fire by the same author was amazing and I loved it so much but this one was just so meh.
June 22, 2020
I love the way these books just make you feel like your reading an episode. Still including and relating to bits from the series but giving the boys another story to have just makes me wanna see it turned into an episode. Love them.
July 8, 2020
A solid adventure for the Brothers Winchester. There is a point about 2/3 of the way in where the plot starts to resolve, as expected, but it depends on a rather clunky twist that feels like it comes out of left field because there is little to no setup.
May 8, 2022
Okay, this book was actually amazing despite the fact that it took me two months to finish it. (I love the series, the only problem was that I got stuck having to deal with school reading so it's really annoying) This was an intense book especially toward the end. I highly recommend it!
February 17, 2023
I quite enjoyed this penultimate book in the series. Sam and Dean, the shadow people, and how it all connected was well written and kept me engaged. The only negative is that the conclusion felt long and it could have been about 30 pages shorter IMO.
June 18, 2019
This was a very well written and interesting novel. I loved the take on 'shadow people' and how things eventually ended. I will probably read this book again.
July 24, 2019
TV tie in book
A very enjoyable addition to the series of books. The author really captured the characters and it would have made an excellent episode.
A very enjoyable addition to the series of books. The author really captured the characters and it would have made an excellent episode.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews