This is such a great book from Spike's point of view. The fact that Disney is bringing the Buffyverse back is amazing and I'm really glad that some of the best characters are forefront in this revival because they deserve the spotlight. Great read for fans and those who want to become fans!

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

All any Buffy fan needs to know about this book is that it's a Spike prequel. The author does a great job capturing the voices of the characters we know (Spike, Dru, and Darla) and the shows unique sense of humor. There were also many easter eggs that fans of the show will pick up on.

For those that are not Buffy fans (but seriously, why aren't you?), this book has vampires, demons, creepy underground dwellings, a heist, and a vampire government that coordinates with the Prime Minister. Would be a perfect spooky season read or an intro into the Buffyverse.

I like this Spike prequel.

I liked the dynamics between Drucilla, Spike and Darla.

Spike was still the cheeky buggar from the Buffy series in this book which I really liked. It gave us comedic moments.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Ritter for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Bloody Fool for Love coming out August 2, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Bloody Fool for Love is a Spike prequel story. It takes place right after the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. Spike is now known as a slayer killer and the news has spread far and wide. Spike, Drusilla and Darla return to London after Angellus has abandoned them.

Spike’s love, Drusilla, seems heartbroken and spends her time moping in their basement home. Wanting to cheer her up, Spike sets out to steal a powerful relic. It’s the perfect plan. However, a monster named Gunnar steals the relic first. A grand heist ensues, led by Spike.

First of all, I was obsessed with Spike growing up! He was always my favorite. I loved him with Buffy, but he was also a lot of fun and dark with Drusilla. This book felt so nostalgic and really made me want to binge all of Buffy again!

The writing is lovely and brilliant. I could definitely feel Ritter got the right tone and wit of Spike and Drusilla. It was fun with the wittiness and the banter. I loved everything about it! I’ve read a couple of the more recent Buffy retellings and I think this one is by far my favorite. I would love another prequel story with Spike.

I would definitely recommend this to fans of Spike!

God this brought me back to a time in High School when Buffy was still on TV. This prequel has what I loved about the TV show and Spike. The characters all felt like they did in the shows and I could see this book as a episode or movie. I had heard of Mr. William Ritter through the Jackaby books and had enjoyed them as well, I could see how well they would fit for a Spike writer. I enjoyed reading this book so much that I finished it as soon as I could.

*****5 Stars!

“Sometimes the world beneath your feet changes so fast, there is no solid ground to stand on.”

First I would like to thank Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. I am honored to have been given the chance to read it and give it an honest review.

A Bloody Fool for Love is a Buffy (or rather Spike) prequel. Spike just wants to enjoy the spoils of his new impressive reputation. He is now a legendary slayer-killer, and he’s returning to London--the greatest city in the world. Unfortunately, his new abode is far from ideal and the rest of his strange little “family” is reeling from the fact that their patriarch, Angel, has abandoned them. Spike’s love, Drusilla, seems especially heartbroken over the loss and spends her time lost in her tarot cards and planning for when they can all be reunited again.

Desperate to break Drusilla out of her melancholy, Spike vows to steal a powerful relic that will help her focus on their dark future together. It’s the perfect plan--that is until a demon named Gunnar, leader of the demon underworld of London, steals the relic first. Forced to form his own ragtag group of mercenaries, Spike plans an epic heist against the ruthless gang of undead criminals. Confronted with paranormal plots, and royal black ops, Spike soon realizes that his homecoming is about to get bloody.

This book was so nostalgic and brought me back to my Buffy obsessed days! Being a long time fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and extremely familiar with all the show's wonderful characters, I can say that this book really did the world of Buffy justice! The author captured the tone of the characters so perfectly, as I read through the book I could hear Spike, Dru and Darla’s voices as I read their dialogue in the book. This was such a fun plot and the entire thing played out like an episode of Buffy in my head, which I really enjoyed! I always enjoyed delving into Spike’s past before Buffy came into his life. I thought this book really captured his personality and his odd relationships with his undead family, and the blow of Angel's disappearance left them. It was very interesting to read from all the characters' perspective, it really gave a good taste of Spike’s intense devotion to Dru.

The lesson behind this little mischievous adventure was a very interesting thing and really brought light onto Spike and Dru’s relationship. It was clear the two always have a very strong bond with each other, but I found it very interesting to see it from this different angle and get a taste of Spike’s loyalty and devotion for his sire. I also very much enjoyed the new side characters that made an appearance in the story, they were all very fun and interesting and brought humor and chaotic antics into the story.

If you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then this is a book I’d highly recommend! The author did such a wonderful job and I look forward to any other books in the Buffy-verse he may write!

This is a great book for anyone who loves Buffy the Vampire Slayer and wishes for more Spike and/or Drusilla content. I loved the London setting. Even for those who aren't mega-fans of the series will find something to enjoy in this fun action-packed mystery.

I think my Buffy novel bar is far too high. However, I am a HUGE Spike fan. Absolutely HUGE FAN. I also loved that this actually stuck to the lore established within the show. I do think though this should have been an adult book, Spike deserves an adult debut!! But overall this was very good.

I was really excited for a story in the Buffy universe but I had to DNF about 20% in. I wasn’t gripped by it and just could not get into the premise of a vampire heist/Spike Ocean’s Eleven-ing in 1901.

There was no reason this had to be Buffy related - it could've been just a random crew of vampires and been the same exact book. I didn't love the writing style, and the plot was chaotic.

This book is a lot of fun! The plot is engaging and the characters feel true to how they're depicted in the show. I really enjoyed reading it.

This was a fun throwback to the Buffy days. But this time, the focus is on Spike, long before Buffy was ever born. It was great to spend some time with Spike, who wants to be the most feared vampire, but is also kind of a good guy....maybe. I'm always down for a good heist story, too!
I enjoyed this read and would recommend to Buffy fans, or anyone else into vampire/monster stories that aren't too gruesome.
Thanks to Netgalley and Disney publishing for an early copy for review.

Well this is just... neat.

A recommended purchase for public YA and HS fiction collections, but the easiest sell is going to be to the fans who grew up with this show. In fact, just pair it with Kendare Blake's In Every Generation and keep copies on the adult shelf too.

This was a fun throwback to one of my favorite tv shows. I like that we got to spend more time with the characters in a previous era. Even though they were trying to be awful they almost come off as the good guys. Though they quickly dismiss that possibility.

Thank you, Disney Publishing Worldwide, for allowing me to read Bloody Fool for Love early!

Okay, I'm a huge Buffy fan and basically a Spike stan, so while honest this review may be a bit biased. So, I loved it and I loved being reunited with Spike and his absurd shenanigans after so many years. I liked the plot, especially the fact that I would have never imagined Spike going on a heist, so the originality of that event particularly intrigued me! Spike was as charming as ever and I would love to read again about him, perhaps about his overpowering of the Slayer Xin Rong!