Supernatural: Nevermore (Supernatural Series)

Started getting back into reading in general and tv novels like this were what I could keep my attention on (I'm not good at imagining my own characters, I need references). I read things in a span of 5 days or so and it was good, I'm not a good reviewer of books, yet, so all I can say is that it's good. Characters feel at times out of character though. Maybe it's my first time reading the supernatural novels or something, but I feel things are a tad bit out there with the characters.

I honestly cannot recommend this book to anyone, unless you're a reader who's happy with anything that involves the characters Sam and Dean Winchester.

While I did think the Winchesters were well drawn and in character (for the most part), the other characters came across to me as remarkably two-dimensional and in some cases one-dimensional. Space that could have been used to flesh out the characters and make them richer and more human was wasted. (See below for more on that point.) The two major original characters (Manfred and Det. McBain), who are apparently supposed to be amusingly quirky, I found to be cliche'd and annoying - and McBain appears out of nowhere to take a major role in the second half of the book. The villain of the piece is described so poorly that he's neither "terrifying" nor "chilling" (adjectives taken from the blurb on the back of the book). In fact, the book isn't scary at all; very little attention is paid to pacing or description that would amp up the chills.

The author sets up two cases for the Winchesters to investigate and solve, and then for the most part ignores both until the last few chapters. He spends far too much time discussing things that aren't important to the storyline: Dean's passion for their host's music collection, his rabid dislike of the host's band's music, the host's unusual collection of coffee mugs and the quality of his coffee, Dean's attempts to pick up an attractive bartender and the attempts of a younger woman to pick up Dean. A short book like this needs to zero in on plot and *stay* zeroed in on it; there's just no room for wandering off the path.

Worse than that, the Winchesters don't actually SOLVE either of the cases. As a reader, both situations came across to me as the author shoving things into place rather than the Winchesters being the driving force. Sam and Dean are simply *there* when the solution happens.

No, this story isn't an angst-fest like a lot of the fanfiction that's out there - it's the other side of the coin. It takes place shortly after "Crossroad Blues," a heartbreaking series of events for the Winchesters that the author casually dismisses with the line, "Dean and Manfred were standing by the record player discussing the relative merits of Robert Johnson's recordings (leading Sam to wonder if Dean intended to mention that he'd recently met the very demon to whom Johnson had sold his soul)..." Ouch.

Again, if you're happy with anything bearing the name "Supernatural," you'll probably feel that your money was well spent. But whether it's a TV tie-in novel or something completely mainstream, I look for good, solid storytelling with rich, interesting, compelling characters, and this book fails to hit that mark.

I've never read fan fiction before ~ always kinda wary of it ~ but I'm completely obsessed with the show, Supernatural, and upon discovering that there were and endless choice of books (and I DO love to read), I decided to finally give it a shot.

Verdict: It wasn't horrible but it wasn't fantastic, either.

I loved all the Edgar Allan Poe parallels, but the rock band drama? I didn't see where it fit. The Poe murders, imitating scenes in good ole Edgar's gruesome stories and poems, were pretty insane, but I felt like it didn't get the attention it deserved what with all the cheesy "rock" concerts that Dean and Sam felt they needed to attend to gather info on a crazy woman haunting their friend's friend. Honestly, it didn't sound like the boys at all ~ stopping people from dying would be first priority. It felt like the author had too much going on at once and couldn't focus on one situation, half-assing them both.

The writing wasn't bad, but the descriptions were a little over the top. "Dean turned left on [insert street], then made a right up [insert another street I don't know], then took the one-way up [okay, now I'm completely lost]." I'm all for creating a realistic scene, but it was a little much. And the endless lists of bands and songs that Dean was obsessed with filled quite a few long paragraphs. Descriptions are awesome ~ they build the world we are drawn into and allow us to know our characters ~ but I felt, in this case, they began to take attention away from the story.

As for Dean and Sam, there were some moments that I knew who they were and others where I couldn't recognize them. These guys are supposed to be overflowing with suppressed feelings and hidden angst ~ emotions that seep out throughout their story ~ but I didn't feel as if they were experiencing anything other than slight annoyance on Dean's part because an amateur rock band was slaughtering one of his favorite songs. BUT they did sound like themselves for the most part, digging into each other with sarcastic remarks and making you grin at the ridiculousness that can sometimes be brotherly love.

It sounds like I was really disappointed, but really it wasn't THAT bad. I think being a fan of the show increases the value of this book in my point of view. Will I read more fan fiction? Probably, depending on reviews, but only because I'm a huge fan of the show.

Happy Reading Everyone :)

~ Keely ~

Supernatural: Nevermore is my first foray into the world of the Supernatural tie-in novels. I have to say, I'm mighty pleased with the book. In my opinion, the author really nailed the voices and characterizations of Sam and Dean. Throughout the book, the dialogue and rapport between the two were so vivid, I could actually visualize Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki acting the scenes out. And while the storyline wasn't as action-packed as one of the t.v. episodes, it had enough to keep the pace going. For the most part, as I read the book, it played in my mind as though it were a lost episode of the show...maybe not one of the better episodes, but I could still see it. The nice addition was that we were able to see the action from the perspective of the other characters, including a ghost, something which the time constraints of a television show doesn't allow. The other nice touch was when the author gave a tip of his hat to Jim Butcher's Dresden Files with his mention of a female cop named Murphy, in Chicago, who happens to be part of the inner circle in on the secret world of the paranormal. And I loved the little dig about CSI and how there were better things to watch on Thursday nights. Not that I don't like CSI, but it still made me chuckle.

The biggest downfall on the author's part is his tendency to over-describe. For example, (and I quote) 'Dean pulled the gearshift down to R and said, "Let's move out." He backed out of the parking spot, then brought it down to D and sent them out onto the open road.' Wow. Do I really need to have the procedure for pulling out of a motel parking lot described in such detail? No. All he needed to do was write, '"Let's move out," Dean said, as he maneuvered the car out of the parking lot and sent them out onto the open road.' From 33 words down to 23. I'm sorry, but unless the detail so lovingly overemphasized has a bearing on the upcoming scene/action or drives the story along, which in 99.99% of this book it doesn't, then it's totally unnecessary. Detail isn't action, action is action.

However, when all is said and done, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more.

I read this novel after reading two other SPN tie-in novels. I do not read the books with any preconceived notion that the authors would be a die-hard Supernatural fan. Whether the author has watched the show or contributed to the TV series in any fashion was not a consideration. I feel the show is bolstered by the support we show in purchasing the books. I do agree with some reviews about Dean giving up the keys to the Impala as he did - it would only happen like this under demonic possession! Nothing in life is perfect. Read the book as though you are doing just that - reading a book of fiction! You may be surprised. There are some inconsistencies with the characters we have grown to love, however, they do as in the show - back each other up always. Dean's love of rock music is a staple of the series (at least until Season 5). I definitely could see Dean getting lost listening to a Led Zep album! And, sometimes, Sam can get on his high horse, he does have a superiority complex at times. There were many Winchesterisms by "The Boys" we know and love in there - enough to keep me going. Having grown up in the Bronx, I did relate to many areas. Guess that may mean nothing to some. If it had details of LA or Chicago, I might not be that interested in location details, as out-of-towners reading this book have stated they are not interested. Again, small potatoes! This is the entertainment of reading - escaping! Reading books based on our opinions, critics opinions - Nevermore! Support the show. Buy the book. You have likely spent this kind of money or more on something less meaningful in your life. Again, support "The Boys" and show the CW we are serious about keeping the show on the air. They need our support, since this season (7) has me feeling as though they are recycling some older storylines. Mr. DeCandido rock on. Bone Key was excellent!

I don't think Keith DeCandido did as much research on the show as he claims he did in his author's notes in the back of the book. He shows a decided lack of insight into the personalities of both Sam and Dean, in particular, Dean. He couldn't even get their physical descriptions right! All we get are vague descriptions that could be anybody. Or maybe he just assumed we would know who he was talking about from a few brief lines of text?

The inconsistencies abound in this book. For starters, Dean rarely surrenders the keys to the Impala to anyone, even Sam. And Dean get lost? Yeah, right. Also, while Sam can be a major pain, the Sam in this book doesn't compute with the Sam we know from the series. Both characters lack a personality, which as followers of the series know, both boys have in spades.

Too many pages are wasted on descriptions of the Bronx and its environs, pages that could have been used for character development instead. The supporting players in this novel are weak at best and definitely poorly developed. I have to agree with one the store reviewer who stated that if John Winchester had really known the Poe expert Pym, he'd have shot the guy just because he's so annoying! And the female cop, McBain? Nobody gets away with talking to Dean the way she does in this crappy book. Even Hendrickson got over that pretty quick once he realized the way things really are in the season 3 episode, "Jus in Bello".

Don't get me started on the two "cases" presented in this book. For one thing, Sam and Dean don't even fully resolve the case of Manfred's haunting by a former girlfriend of one of his fellow bandmembers. Stupid, for one thing, and NOT something that Sam and Dean would do, for another. These two don't believe in leaving loose ends. They always resolve the cases they take on, one way or another.

The whole Edgar Allan Poe case was just silly. It was obvious who the "villain" was, so there was no suspense and no real payoff in the end. It also bugged me that for someone supposedly intelligent, the villainous professor was a total idiot. Someone who is an academic would have done more research on the so-called resurrection ritual and quickly realized that it was something that a charlatan pulled out of thin air.

Unfortunately, it seems that those who write fan fiction based on Supernatural have a better grasp of the characters, their personalities and the mythology of the show than Mr. DeCandido does. I sincerely hope that Mr. DeCandido did a lot more research on the series before writing Bone Key, his second Supernatural tie-in novel.

"Nevermore" obviously isn't meant to be a great novel. It's a tie-in book to the amazing, creative, and engaging show "Supernatural". This series is something that I like the idea of, being a Supernatural fan and an avid reader. Offer me more Sam and Dean anytime and I will take it with pleasure. But this book capitalizes on people like me and wasn't created out of some great creative spark of a passionate author, like many of the best books. It was sparked by corporations wanting to make another buck off a rare TV show that is actually doing well and has a loyal fanbase. That is something I unfortunately couldn't forget as I read "Nevermore". Now for the details: The plot regarding Edgar Allen Poe was pretty good. The solutions came far too easily for them and the scene where the brothers put the plot together seemed far too easy. I think the E.A. Poe storyline, however, would have been a fun as an episode. (kind of like the one about the serial killer H.H. Holmes). The author seemed to have the characters down pretty well. When Sam or Dean spoke (or smirked) I could see them doing that in my head. Only one part really didn't ring true and that was when Dean thought about how when he was a kid, he would throw rocks through locked car windows. Even with the explanation of why, I can't see Dean doing this. The dreams and the worries of the boys were infused with things from the episodes so that made a believable continuity between the book and the show. I was disappointed in the explanation and the resolution to the Poe storyline. It was too simple and far too un-supernatural. I thought the second story about the banshee haunting the band was far better. All in all the book was just ok. With the platform of a novel, there was tons of room to expand the story and really do it justice and instead it felt less put together than a one hour episode of the show. I'm not sorry I read the book, but I wouldn't have missed much if I hadn't.

If you are a fan of Supernatural, perhaps you will like Nevermore for what it is: a tie-book to your favorite TV show. However, if you are a fan of good writing, then Nevermore will more than likely not be your cup of tea. Besides what other reviews have stated about the author's lack of knowledge of Supernatural canon, Sam and Dean's physical characteristics, this book just did not flow for me. And if the author talked about New York one more time in such loving, glowing, sickening detail...I was going to burst. Plus as a Poe fan, the sub-plot with his history in it seemed trite and unoriginal. Yawn.

In this novel, the author had a great chance to explore the extended dimensions of the Sam-Dean relationship and he failed. I'd expect more mature dialog and actions from some of my high school students than what I got from Sam and Dean in Nevermore.

So, in the end, give this book a pass if you are buying it new. Instead, spend your money on the better book in the Supernatural tie-in series, Supernatural: Witch's Canyon by Jeff Mariotte. Now Mr. Mariotte knows how to develop his characters and even gets Sam and Dean's eye colors right.

Mr. DeCandido KNOWS Dean and Sam, mostly! Their voices are spot-on and their actions can easily be imagined on screen. His descriptions, however, are slightly off the mark...Dean's eyes are green, not blue and Sam's are hazel, not brown. But that's the only goof I found.

The references to Poe are fantastic and Dean's reactions to the records is PRICELESS.

My only complaint is that the author's music playlist is at the END of the book. I totally would have been listening to it while reading the book to set the mood...so look for that first.

MA

I felt like salting and burning "Nevermore" after I read it. I can think of several fanfic writers (SciFiNutTx, ThruTerrysEyes, mbayre and Big Pink, to name a few) who would have done a much better job than Keith DiCandido. It's all right, Keith, I understand. You just couldn't be bothered.

Lest anyone think I am merely using this review to flame DiCandido, let me present Exhibit A: On the show Dean Winchester is an accomplished con man and smart ass. He has green eyes and takes no crap from anyone except his Dad, the late great John Winchester. In DiCandido's world Dean has blue eyes, is flustered easily, and can't talk his way out of a paper bag. At the beginning of the story Dean leaves a salt canister in the motel room, and when he goes back to retrieve it he tells the clerk he needs it because he has "lactose intolerance" or some other lame excuse. Maybe the author thought that would be cute, but Winchester just comes off as unbelievably stupid. Here's Dumb Dean, folks. Makes me wonder how he was able to survive hunts, especially when he hunted by himself. Later on Dean's credit card is maxed out when it's time to pay for the motel room, and he's so tongue-tied Sam has to cover for him and save the day.

I don't know who that dude is, but he's NOT Dean Winchester.

Exhibit B: On the show Sam is the emo one, our resident Dr. Phil. He's a deadly hunter in his own right, but Sam yearns for a normal life. The death of his girfriend at Stanford forced him to return to the family business. DiCandido's Sam is cocky and a real smooth talker, so much so that one wonders exactly why he would saddle himself with his inept older brother in the first place. In "Nevermore" Sam even tells Dean after he covers for him yet again: "What do I need you for?" Mind you, on the show Sam complains about some of the things that Dean does and says, but it's also clear that he loves his brother. I didn't get that feeling of brotherly love while reading "Nevermore." As a matter of fact, I got the feeling that DiCandido read the Cliff's Notes for the show and banged "Nevermore" out in a week.

If you like travelogues of New York, this is definitely the book for you. The author definitely has a love affair with the Big Apple, and he makes sure you know this because Dean constantly gets lost in New York City, which means you have to suffer through pages and pages of useless information about the city.

Can you say filler? I KNEW you could!

Where was the book editor during all this? Asleep at the switch, I guess.

I admit I read the book all the way to the end because I couldn't believe how bad it was, and that this man was actually paid to write it. "Nevermore" only proves what I've been saying all along, that a so-called professional writer can get away with things that a fanfiction writer would be crucified for.

Sometimes the personalities of the brothers felt a little off, I'll admit, but this story was definitely written by someone who knew the show. I loved the way both mysteries were solved. Recommended to fans!

Let me start off by saying I adore Supernatural. It's the best show on TV (seriously) and I would definitely call myself a 'True Fan'.

But I'm kind of shocked by the cries of outrage over this book. I feel like I was reading a different book altogether from some of the other reviewers.

Firstly, like with most book adaptations, you can't expect the world. I did not go into this expecting an episode of Supernatural. It was not written by any of the writers of the show nor was it combed for errors by Eric Kripke. I did not expect to get intense character investigation, revelations or anything like that because I wouldn't WANT it unless it was done right. With the writers of the show.

A lot of what was said in the reviews was correct. A few continuity errors, personality misses, etc. But it wasn't anything I couldn't live with.

You have to go into the book knowing it's a fluff piece. It's supposed to be a little dalliance from the show. It's not perfect, far from it. But there were some very fun aspects that I loved and some laugh out loud moments.

One thing I enjoyed was the author's clear enjoyment of the music of Supernatural. (a huge part of the show) Dean geeking out over one of the character's record collections was fantastic. The author even included a playlist of sorts in the back of the book which was awesome. Also, he dropped a Murphy name cameo in there from Jim Butcher's Dresden series (READ THEM), naming her as the 'cop in chicago' who knows about the supernatural. I confess, I a fangirly moment there. It's clear the writer had fun in the world and with the characters and I had a good time reading it.

Was it perfect? Nope. Was it an episode in a book? Again, no, but it was entertaining.

I can't dictate what people should and shouldn't like, some people need that perfection and truth to enjoy these spin off books but I'm just not one of them. If you are a stickler for things like that (and no harm if you are) then PLEASE avoid this book because you will be disappointed. But if you just want to kick back and read something silly and fun and with Sam and Dean it's worth a try...and worth supporting the show for sure. ;)

Sidenote: I have read fanfiction for this show that blows my mind. (and trumps what is in Nevermore by a longshot, sorry Mr.DeCandido!) It would be an incredible thing for publishers to put together a book of fan stories blessed by the show writers.

Like the title says forget the knockers this book is a good read - I'm a big Supernatural fan and this the 3rd book in the series the others are Witches Canyon and Bone Key.

I cannot understand why some people have placed negative reviews the book is easy to read, describes the scene so a reader can easily picture what is happening, Sam is still the thoughtful thinker while Dean is still the cocky hardass dropping funny and smartass comments.

This is supposed to be the first in the series(yes I know i said its the 3rd book I'm reading) the brothers head to New York City to help a family friend out with a ghost problem but on their arrival a number of bizarre murders attract their attention.

I love the supernatural tv series, though at times it can be a bit dark with the violence scenes. This is the second book from the supernatural book series, and surprisingly it's even worst than the first one. At least in Witch Canyon the author didn't start making rather wild assumptions about the characters. I think anybody who watched the tv show knows Sam's too much of a trauma character to start saying good things about their father unless it's to make Dean feel better. The main female oc added in this book was too mary sue. The main guy oc Pym annoyed me especially. If you like the show do yourself a favor, don't read any of the books. I also really hated the Roxy case and Manferd. Also the author used outside information involved in the tvshow that the characters themselves don't know about. The author has Dean talk or think about the Reaper from when he was in the hospital, but after Dean wakes up he doesn't remember anything from when he was sleeping. The author should have watched the tv show.

Sometimes the personalities of the brothers felt a little off, I'll admit, but this story was definitely written by someone who knew the show. I loved the way both mysteries were solved. Recommended to fans!

Let me start off by saying I adore Supernatural. It's the best show on TV (seriously) and I would definitely call myself a 'True Fan'.

But I'm kind of shocked by the cries of outrage over this book. I feel like I was reading a different book altogether from some of the other reviewers.

Firstly, like with most book adaptations, you can't expect the world. I did not go into this expecting an episode of Supernatural. It was not written by any of the writers of the show nor was it combed for errors by Eric Kripke. I did not expect to get intense character investigation, revelations or anything like that because I wouldn't WANT it unless it was done right. With the writers of the show.

A lot of what was said in the reviews was correct. A few continuity errors, personality misses, etc. But it wasn't anything I couldn't live with.

You have to go into the book knowing it's a fluff piece. It's supposed to be a little dalliance from the show. It's not perfect, far from it. But there were some very fun aspects that I loved and some laugh out loud moments.

One thing I enjoyed was the author's clear enjoyment of the music of Supernatural. (a huge part of the show) Dean geeking out over one of the character's record collections was fantastic. The author even included a playlist of sorts in the back of the book which was awesome. Also, he dropped a Murphy name cameo in there from Jim Butcher's Dresden series (READ THEM), naming her as the 'cop in chicago' who knows about the supernatural. I confess, I a fangirly moment there. It's clear the writer had fun in the world and with the characters and I had a good time reading it.

Was it perfect? Nope. Was it an episode in a book? Again, no, but it was entertaining.

I can't dictate what people should and shouldn't like, some people need that perfection and truth to enjoy these spin off books but I'm just not one of them. If you are a stickler for things like that (and no harm if you are) then PLEASE avoid this book because you will be disappointed. But if you just want to kick back and read something silly and fun and with Sam and Dean it's worth a try...and worth supporting the show for sure. ;)

Sidenote: I have read fanfiction for this show that blows my mind. (and trumps what is in Nevermore by a longshot, sorry Mr.DeCandido!) It would be an incredible thing for publishers to put together a book of fan stories blessed by the show writers.

Like the title says forget the knockers this book is a good read - I'm a big Supernatural fan and this the 3rd book in the series the others are Witches Canyon and Bone Key.

I cannot understand why some people have placed negative reviews the book is easy to read, describes the scene so a reader can easily picture what is happening, Sam is still the thoughtful thinker while Dean is still the cocky hardass dropping funny and smartass comments.

This is supposed to be the first in the series(yes I know i said its the 3rd book I'm reading) the brothers head to New York City to help a family friend out with a ghost problem but on their arrival a number of bizarre murders attract their attention.

I love the supernatural tv series, though at times it can be a bit dark with the violence scenes. This is the second book from the supernatural book series, and surprisingly it's even worst than the first one. At least in Witch Canyon the author didn't start making rather wild assumptions about the characters. I think anybody who watched the tv show knows Sam's too much of a trauma character to start saying good things about their father unless it's to make Dean feel better. The main female oc added in this book was too mary sue. The main guy oc Pym annoyed me especially. If you like the show do yourself a favor, don't read any of the books. I also really hated the Roxy case and Manferd. Also the author used outside information involved in the tvshow that the characters themselves don't know about. The author has Dean talk or think about the Reaper from when he was in the hospital, but after Dean wakes up he doesn't remember anything from when he was sleeping. The author should have watched the tv show.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

If you're familiar with the hit CW series, Supernatural, this book is definitely for you. Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother 22 years ago to a demonic force. Since then, their father, John, has been hunting demons and training his boys to do the same. Now Sam and Dean are on their own seeking out the things that go bump in the night.

This book takes place right about in the middle of the second season and is a direct tie in to the television series. Ash, the mullet sporting computer genius needs the Winchester's help for a friend. The boys travel to New York City to learn just why Manfred's house is being haunted by a screaming blond in a Queensryche t-shirt. At the same time, some grisly murders have caught their attention. Someone seems to be using Edgar Allan Poe's famous literature as inspiration for murder and the Winchester boys came along just in time to investigate!

DeCandido did a very good job of capturing Sam and Dean. Their dialog was so typical of their characters and made them very vivid in my mind. One of the most important things for a book based on a television show has to be doing justice to the characters we enjoy so much and that was accomplished.

I did find the plot to be fairly thin and whodunit was barely ever a question in my mind. Disappointing for someone who tries hard not to know the culprit until the end! However, all can be forgiven because the author captures the characters and the feel of the show so well. As a fan, it was definitely well worth the time.

I appreciated the interesting details about Poe's life and literature that were sprinkled throughout. The title doesn't disappoint.

The music references were fantastic and well thought out, bringing more authentic detail to Manfred and his aspect of the story, not to mention Dean's obsession with classic rock.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more Supernatural fiction.

I'm late to the Supernatural game, still catching up on Netflix. I was thrilled to discover there were tie-in media novels, too, and quickly devoured this first book. In many ways, I was not disappointed.

It's great being able to slip into Sam and Dean's minds, to hear their thoughts and feelings in ways that aren't possible on the show. DeCandido does a great job with his characterizations of the brothers, and references the events of past episodes skillfully. I loved being able to spend time with the Winchesters during the more mundane moments of their travels: checking out of motels, waking up in the morning, driving the Impala to/from a case. To some, those moments may seem boring, but to me they make Sam and Dean more real, more relatable.

The plot itself is a mixed bag. If I had to give a complaint, I'll say I was disappointed with the timing. With the longform that a novel possesses, I was looking forward to a longer, more involved adventure with the Winchesters. Instead, the novel unfolds in roughly the same timespan as a typical episode, albeit with much more description and inner monologue than the television format allows. There are two separate cases being investigated, both taking place in the Bronx. The Edgar Allan Poe case is the more compelling of the two, but the conclusions to both cases are a bit contrived and unsatisfactory. I loved that the ending immediately set up the next book, though (which I am reading now).

To summarize: DeCandido is one of the best tie-in media authors out there and, while not perfect, this is a great addition to the Supernatural pantheon.

I was so excited to read 'Nevermore' when I first heard about it, but within the first 2 chapters the excitement vanished faster than a spirit pumped full of rock salt.

Not only is this book NOT scary, but the TWO hunts the boys are involved in are both so full of plot holes it made me want to check the Impala for bumper damage. The 2 main supporting characters are annoying and rude (I'm sorry, but cop or not, NO ONE talks to Dean that way) and both happen to claim that they knew John Winchester, which was incredibly unbeleivable. (If John ever met Pym for real, he'd have put a bullet right between his eyes just to shut him up) There is no danger to the boys whatsoever in the book, no one gets hurt except a few people at the start, and the boys don't even finish one of the cases! I'm sorry, but that is just not the Dean and Sam that I know.

But the biggest disappointment was the lack of "Sam and Dean" involved with Sam and Dean. There were a few good brotherly banter jokes, but overall Dean just sat around listening to music and spent the whole book REFUSING TO DRIVE THE IMPALA ( ... umm..what!?) Oh, and apparently he also has blue eyes in case no one knew that. (small details people, come ON)It's like the author never even saw the show. He set the book in between 'Crossroad Blues' and 'Croatoan', and for maybe 1 paragraph he mentions Dean having just met the demon that revealed that his dad died for him, but it was like 'So what? no big deal - this Manny dude has coffee!' The one time they come close to having a real conversation, the author ruins it by having Dean call it 'his daily dose of emo-angst'

I'm sorry, but the online fanfic writers tend to have much better stories. For one, they are SCARY. They are well-thought out plots, not just odes to Brooklyn, and the fans KNOW OUR BOYS.

Supernatural needs all the support it can get, and if you have to buy this book, go ahead, but don't expect to see Sam and Dean in it.

I only gave this rating a star because the selection field requires it, otherwise I'd give it no stars at all. This book is disjointed, with the author going out of his way to describe the setting, which happens to be his own city. The characters are also thrown out of proportion, with Dean's idiot moments played up to ridiculous extent, and Sam's research paying off way too soon in the book so there's no real mystery build up. Supposedly the story takes place between Crossroad Blues and Croatoan, during one of the most angsty periods for the Winchester brothers after Dean found out for sure that his father had gone to hell for him. Yet, the author treats Dean as a jovial idiot unable to handle working in a huge city, while Sam is treated with such obvious favoritism which I also found distracting as well. I wouldn't have minded that the author is obviously in love with Sam had he at least treated the characterization for Dean more fairly. I had hoped to find a book that would help fill the winter hiatus and period for the WGA strike, but this pulp? Just another example of glorified fan fic.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a well written easy read, and the author kept the boys mostly in character. He also did a very good job of being descriptive enough to be able to see the scenes while you're reading, and I loved the shout out to Edgar Allen Poe :-) This was my first one, and I hope the others are just as much fun!

After reading some of the negative reviews of this book, I was steeling myself for a poorly written story, but to my surprise I actually enjoyed it. The author managed to transfer Sammy and Dean's personalities perfectly from the small screen to this first book. The storyline was great: who wouldn't love a plot featuring a villain who is bringing to life some of Poe's greatest works? The secondary storyline was a little distracting, (Dean and Sammy are also doing Ash a favor by investigating a haunting at a friend's house). I also didn't care for the way that story was ended. I mean really, would the Dean and Sammy we all know and love leave it to chance that a ghost was completely dispatched without finding, salting and burning the body? I think not. Still, I liked everything else about this book and I think most Supernatural fans should give it a try.

This is the Supernatural novel tie-in that made me give up on all other tie-ins for 4.5 years. It felt like the author had never seen the show but merely was given a one page character description. His portrayal of Dean Winchester was particularly bad. In fact, he has Dean making Sam drive the Impala because he can't handle driving in the big bad city. The whole novel reeked of bad characterization and quite frankly was a waste of my time and money. People have been telling me this is the worst of the Supernatural tie-ins so I will try one more, but I will never read anything by this author again.

This is definitely my favorite out of the four SPN books I've read so far. The author does a fantastic job of getting inside Sam and Dean's heads, and staying true to characters and lore of the show. I especially loved the little nod to one of Jim Butcher's characters from The Dresden Files series. :)

The book was quite disappointing. Although the author got some of the personality of Dean and Sam down pat, the plot was slow to get started. DeCandido's style of writing gets quite irritating at times with the over description of things. He seems to be more interested in what Dean is listening to and his song choices than moving the plot along. Hopefully the second book fares better as it is by a different author.

When watching a TV series fans can interpret what they want to see regardless of whether or not that is what the writers are aiming for. When reading a book about a TV series fans usually have their own pre-conceived ideas of how the storyline, character interactions, settings and dialogue should proceed and if the author of said book has a different interpretation, some fans are bound to be disappointed. The extra I paid for overseas postage plus the currency conversion is not begrudged because I really enjoyed this book.

I read for the same reason I watch TV - for relaxation, entertainment and escapism. Nevermore gave me many laugh out loud moments and I have already started re-reading this book, which is always a clear sign of how enjoyable I found this book. Do all books get a second read in my house? Well no, some have not even managed a complete first read if there is nothing to keep me entertained.

Nevermore connected for me and I am more than happy with my purchase. I am very glad I was not swayed by the more negative reviews because after all for me, my opinion is the one that counts the most. For those willing to pay for the purchase, judge for yourselves because relying on someone else to decide for you may prevent you from ever discovering the incredible worth of your own opinions.

Supposedly a "Supernatural" tie in novel, "Nevermore" reads instead like Mr. DeCandido saw a chance to write a paean the Bronx and package it as a tie in novel. Sam and Dean were incidentals as he sang the praises of his native city and inserted his own original characters--who, although more well-drawn in the book than the supposed stars of the show, were still lackluster and stereotypical. As for the plot, I didn't understand why Sam and Dean were necessary at all; they seemed to be peripheral to the story at almost all points. Through them we learned how wonderful their host's house, his coffee, and rock album collection were; we learned how difficult it is to park a large car such as the Impala in Brooklyn, and oh, yeah, Poe's house is there. About all the boys proved useful for was a Seance at the end of the book, which any decent medium could have pulled off--and spared us, the show's fans, this endless psalm of the glories of the Bronx masquerading as a novel about the show we enjoy.

The plot itself, rather than the spine-tingling and chilling story the cover of the book promised, was rather lackluster and boring. The Edgar Allen Poe references seemed more there to as an educational device regarding the glories of the locale. (Again, how cool is the Bronx, that Mr. Poe died there!) For the A plot, not only was the "bad guy" obvious from the moment he was introduced to the plot, he was so poorly drawn it seemed as if the author realized we had reached chapter 15 and, "Oh, yes, I need a bad guy." Superficially, he made sense, just like most of the rest of the book. Looks good perhaps on the surface, but with nothing there supporting the character's motivations or purpose. Same with the B plot; the twist that came with the reveal made no sense at all. And if Sam and Dean were this useless and clueless in their investigations during the show, we wouldn't have a show to begin with.

When it came to Sam and Dean themselves, I found the infamous eye-color debacle to be representative of the way their characters were portrayed in general. Mr. DeCandido said he "quickly" checked an online picture and came away with the conclusion that Jensen Ackles (aka Dean) had blue eyes. Maybe he looked at a black and white picture? Or a picture so small Mr. Ackles' eyes weren't even visible? However, once I read through the book, I understood. For all his claims of working with three or four rabid fans of the show and the ease with which he "got into [their] heads," Mr. DeCandido displayed an incredibly superficial knowledge of what are arguably two of the most complex and well-drawn characters I've ever seen on television. Even that superficial knowledge was flawed, giving us Dean as a drunken idiot (why would anyone work with him?) and Sam as a major prig (I wanted to slap him several times throughout the book.) Not to mention a major misstep in the characterization of the Winchester patriarch, John. I am not a fan of horror in any genre, yet I come back to Supernatural the show again and again because of these characters. As they are portrayed in this book, both characters are unappealing, if not repellent. Neither reaction leaves me thinking they're worthy of more investments from me in either time or money.

If the show's owners and producers were counting on luring more people in to the show through the tie-in novels, and "Nevermore" is typical of what they are satisfied with offering, they are going to be sorely disappointed with their results. I bought the book to support the show, but if the level of storytelling and characterization does not improve vastly in their future offerings, I won't waste any more of my money. I can find much better for free online.

I bought this because I wanted to show my support for the show and I was hoping the novel would be as good as the show is. I felt that the writer did not do justice to Dean or Sam in this novel but especially Dean. He had Dean being dumb as a post. He might not know all the things that Sam knows but Dean is not dumb. There are writers of fanfiction that do a better job writing about Sam and Dean than this writer did. I just hope that the next book is better than this one.

This is the first book in a series for Supernatural that is aired on CW. I really enjoyed this book. It has great historical facts mixed in with the story to give it more of a feel of being non-fiction. I loved this book and have read and re-read it. Sam and Dean come across as they do on the show or at least that was my opinion of it.

Supernatural: Neveragain.
Main story line...driving in the Bronx. Piece of cake. Try icy mountain roads in Colorado or dodging octogenarians in Tucson. The other two plot lines didn't work for me either. Dialog, especially between Dean and Sam, was pretty lame. Gave it one star for the cover photo. If you're a Supernatural fan save your money for the DVD's. I wish I had.

The book followed the series fairly well. I enjoyed the character interaction and the plot was all right. I did feel that the story dragged toward the end, but not enough to put the book down. There were several in jokes that were amusing. I would recommend this book if you are a fan of the series. Look forward to seeing some more from this author.

I don't understand the bad reviews for this book. I don't know if it's because it's the first book in the series and everyone expects it to be The Best Thing Ever and break all this new ground on the show or what. It's not going to be anything like that because none of these books will ever be like that. The show is the show and the books are their own little thing. I actually liked this book better than Witch's Canon. Witch's Canon started to drag in the middle. This book is fast-paced and doesn't stop. The plotline is engaging and the way that Sam and Dean are written are just like they are on the show. I've read a lot of Mr. DeCandido's other books, mostly his Star Trek books, but I've never been disappointed by a single one and this book is no exception. You won't be disappointed either!

NOTHING like Witch's Canyon. Took me almost 2 months to choke it down. Dry, not much Supernatural "realism" in it. Read Witch's Canyon instead- you'll have A LOT more fun!! And probably finish it the same day you start it!

NOTHING like Witch's Canyon. Took me almost 2 months to choke it down. Dry, not much Supernatural "realism" in it. Read Witch's Canyon instead- you'll have A LOT more fun!! And probably finish it the same day you start it!