Because of that, there isn't a whole lot of character development for the brothers, it's mostly just them and Bobby going through the motions of trying to figure out what the monster is and how to kill it. Indeed, while there are stakes and danger for these kids, Sam and Dean are kind of relegated to side players.Īnd that's often the rub with these tie-in books, I imagine, since the authors are forced to get Sam and Dean back to their status quo by the end of the story. While that may be a giant red flag for many who love Supernatural because of Sam and Dean, I have to say that much of the story of the high schoolers was pretty absorbing. Instead, much of the story is focused on the point of view of the villain and the high school kids that become a part of the whole thing. I would wager they are actually in probably 60% of the book on the whole, though obviously I can't be precisely accurate about that without nitpicking, but you get the idea. Here's the interesting thing, though: story-wise, Sam and Dean really aren't the main characters of this book. Of the beginning is focused on the monster and his wrecking havoc, which

Though, probably about 100 pages or so before I was truly into it. That being said, the writing is much better than some other 'regular' books I've read recently.

Let's be honest, we're not expecting Pulitzer Prize-winning prose in these sorts of novels. I was actually pretty impressed with the writing, as my expectations weren't exactly super high. Stakes ratcheted, descriptions were strong, and there was no lack of violence for those who love that, though the ending seemed to all happen a little bit too quickly for me. Overall, this novel was a fast read that became more engrossing as it went on. Set during season 7 in between the episodes 'Season 7, Time for a Wedding!' and 'How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters.' When they uncover a connection between the stranger and three teenage boys at the local high school who are experiencing some unusual growing pains, they know they will need far more than good luck to prevent an all-out disaster. Along with Bobby Singer, the brothers soon realize that a mysterious figure is at the center of the chaos. But Sam and Dean suspect it's more than just bad luck. Laurel Hill, New Jersey, is beginning to look like one of the unluckiest places on Earth when an escalating series of accidents and outbreaks hit the town.

What's this? A book review? Why yes! I was recently asked if I would like to review one of the upcoming Supernatural companion novels before it comes out, and I figured why not! I think I need to write a disclaimer before I actually review the book, though, and that is this: I've never read any of these companion novels before, so I will not be able to compare this new one to past ones.

Rite of Passage by John Passarella