Kiersten White? Writing in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe? Sign me up. OBVIOUSLY.


Into every generation a Slayer is born…

Nina and her twin sister, Artemis, are far from normal. It’s hard to be when you grow up at the Watcher’s Academy, which is a bit different from your average boarding school. Here teens are trained as guides for Slayers—girls gifted with supernatural strength to fight the forces of darkness. But while Nina’s mother is a prominent member of the Watcher’s Council, Nina has never embraced the violent Watcher lifestyle. Instead she follows her instincts to heal, carving out a place for herself as the school medic.

Until the day Nina’s life changes forever.

Thanks to Buffy, the famous (and infamous) Slayer that Nina’s father died protecting, Nina is not only the newest Chosen One—she’s the last Slayer, ever. Period.

As Nina hones her skills with her Watcher-in-training, Leo, there’s plenty to keep her occupied: a monster fighting ring, a demon who eats happiness, a shadowy figure that keeps popping up in Nina’s dreams…

But it’s not until bodies start turning up that Nina’s new powers will truly be tested—because someone she loves might be next.

One thing is clear: Being Chosen is easy. Making choices is hard.

 


HOO, BOY. I did not expect to love this like I did. Actually, that's a bold lie: I adore Kiersten White and basically worship the very ground she walks on. Not to mention the fact that I adore Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So, this is kind of hitting all the right spots for me and makes me both nostalgic and excited for the future of this Slayer series. There was something so highly entertaining about this book and boy did it hook me from the start.

This book DOES NOT ruin the original series legacy. It only ruins memories if you let it. That being said, Slayer is tied into the series while maintaining that line of who's who and what story belongs where. This is related to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and pays homage to it, but it doesn't inherently try to be it--which makes it work all the more.

Kiersten White's signature tone is present throughout the course of this first installment and when combined with the dry wit of the television series, it's a hit. She breathes life's complexities into her characters as per usual and creates intriguing dynamics throughout Slayer, while gracefully balancing other plotlines and tropes. The characters, and a group dynamic, take up the spotlight of Slayer and readers will easily slip into these scenes.

While there is a little romance sprinkled throughout the novel, it never takes on the overwhelming tone that many of its counterparts do. It is there. You see it. It never keeps you in a choke-hold and I love that. It never feels forced and that is essential to keeping a specific balance to novels; I expect nothing less of White (as she always manages to outdo herself and maintain that balance) and Slayer benefits from this.

If you are not familiar with Buffy the Vampire Slayer there are some things that may confuse you--but only slightly. Fear not! You can always binge watch the original series to prepare yourself for Slayer (which I OBVIOUSLY recommend) or merely look these things up online as you reach them.

Overall, I adored Slayer and thought that White honored the original series beautifully. The novel itself is gripping, energetic and fun. I feel a little nostalgic after having read it and definitely feel like a Buffy rewatch is in order IMMEDIATELY.