One of my all-time
favorite TV series has to be Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. I loved it when it came
out, I loved it during reruns, I’ve got all of the DVDs, and I’ve watched them
all several times. So, when I saw that a new novel was out set in the Buffyverse,
I knew I had to read it.
The Watchers
have been training and guiding slayers since time immemorial. There are
definite rules and expectations set for slayers by the Watcher Council, and
Buffy violated every one of them. When she divorced herself from the Council,
Buffy weakened it. Then, two years ago, she broke the magic that called young
women to be slayers, unleashing a thousand new slayers on the world, decimating
the Watcher Council and throwing the few remaining Watchers into complete
disarray. And just two months ago, she destroyed the source of magic itself,
shutting off Earth from the demon dimensions, and trapping all that remained.
Needless to
say, as the daughter of Watchers, Athena (better known as Nina) is far from
pleased with Buffy’s actions. She lives in the tiny enclave of remaining
Watchers with her twin sister, Artemis, but knows that she will never be a
Watcher herself. She has always been the weaker twin, the less aggressive, and
has resigned herself to a life as a medic in the service of the Watchers.
But something
happened to Nina when Buffy destroyed Seed of Wonder, infusing her with
something she doesn’t understand. Fearing it might be a demonic force, Nina
never shared what she felt with anyone, not even her twin. When a hellhound suddenly
appears and Nina is forced to kill it with her bare hands, the truth is
revealed: not only is Nina now a Slayer, but with no more magic in the world,
she is the very last of the Slayer line.
White has
done a remarkable job of creating a new story and new beginning within the
existing world of Buffy. The feel of Slayer is a bit darker than the first few seasons
of the TV series, but it matches well with the later seasons and with the comic
book series that followed. At the same time, White weaves in the same style of
wry humor that Buffy fans expect. Despite a relatively low number of fight
scenes, the book maintains a rapid pace, building a taunt and gripping story
that goes beyond violent action; again, just what Buffy fans expect.
But even if
you’re completely unfamiliar with everything that has come before, you won’t be
lost. Slayer stands alone on its own merit, and makes an excellent read for any
fan of urban fantasy.
C. Wombat
