"Supernatural: Rite of Passage" by John Passarella - Based on the Hit Television Series

The latest adventure featuring demon hunters Sam and Dean Winchester is chronicled in the recently released book Supernatural: Rite of Passage (Titan Books), by John Passarella. Based on The CW hit series, Supernatural: Rite of Passage is the latest in an ongoing series of books to feature the Winchester brothers, along with their friend Bobby, as they face demons and other malevolent beings. In "Rite of Passage," the brothers find themselves battling an oni, a being who wields immense power and appears to be unstoppable. The novel is set during the seventh season of the series, before Bobby "dies," and incorporates plot lines from the show, including Sam's ongoing hallucinations (or are they?) of Lucifer.

In Laurel Hill, New Jersey, a series of strange deaths and unexplained disasters batter the small town, after the arrival of a being known as an oni, who displays a commanding, if odd, physical presence. Sporting a bowler hat and cane, the oni uses its third eye and powers of concentration to wreck havoc on innocent citizens. While much of the carnage is just for his own amusement, the oni has a goal in mind that he has waited almost two decades to bring to fruition. Indeed, this is not the first time that the being has been in Laurel Hill and his past deeds have produced three potential allies, who he hopes to utilize to complete a ritual that also requires a female host and will give them all incredible power.

After dealing with a group of Harpies, Sam, Dean and Bobby are made aware of the events occurring in New Jersey and decide to make the journey without any hesitation. Before they leave, Bobby contacts a former hunter, Roy, who lives in the area, to ask about setting up a base of operations. Roy reluctantly agrees to put the trio up, but does not want anything to do with their mission, having already lost a great deal during his days battling demons. Despite Bobby's knowledge and Sam's investigative skills, the trio do not seem to know how to defeat the oni, so they find themselves having to improvise, but also receive help from an unexpected source.

Fans of the Supernatural television series will likely enjoy Rite of Passage, which not only features the beloved characters, but also perfectly captures the mood of the series. In addition, Dean, Sam and Bobby are written in a way that is consistent with their characters, including their way of speaking and use of humor. That consistency is one of the reasons why the book is so enjoyable to read. The nearly 400 pages allow for the development of a large number of characters, including the three young men who are called upon by the oni to help in his mission. While there is never any doubt about the general outcome of the story, John Passarella has crafted an interesting, intelligent and often exciting effort that also utilizes the dark humor that is a trademark of the long running series. Scary good.