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Watchers Unite

A welcomed return to the Buffyverse

By Kurt MasonPublished about a year ago 3 min read
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As an avid fan of all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I am ashamed to think about how long this book has been sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. My Buffy obsession started as I would get up early in the summer to catch the early morning episodes on The WB network or as I would patiently wait to get one DVD at a time when Netflix still came in the mail. After finishing the series for the first time… and the second time.. I was continually disappointed that Buffy would no longer be in my life. I gave a fair attempt to the Buffy video game (yikes), I’ve read some of the comic and graphic novel series, and I have played the Buffy board game, but it was seeing this book on the display rack at the bookstore that reignited that spark of love I will always have for the Buffyverse.

“Slayer” by Kiersten White follows Nina and her twin sisters Artemis as they navigate the supernatural underpinnings of modern-day Ireland. Growing up in the Watcher Academy, and dedicating their lives to assisting the Watcher’s Council, Nina and Artemis are not like other teenagers. With unparalleled knowledge of demons, hellscapes, magic, and all things Slayer related, their world has never been as cut and dry as one might think. Taking place after the events of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series, “Slayer” introduces readers to a world where magic has been cut off. Buffy’s activation of all potential slayers and her epic final stand at the Sunnydale hellmouth resulted in the world being closed off from demonic dimensions, trapping all demons who were present on Earth and cutting off magic.

The Watcher’s Council, a mere shadow of its former glory, has become essentially defunct. After serious losses to their numbers, and a shift in the Slayer-Watcher relationship, the Watchers have become isolated, unsure of their place in a post-magic world. Nina, who has always compared herself to her sister, Artemis, has studied medicine since she was young; destined to fulfill a role as a medic, she has been secluded from the more physical aspects of Watcher training. On the other hand, Artemis, honed like a fine weapon, has spent her life dedicated to the art of becoming a Watcher and getting out in the field. When these two sisters realize that fate and prophecy have different plans for them, their world is turned upside down and they quickly realize that they have a lot to learn about one another.

With unexpected hellhound attacks, an underground demon fight club, a mysterious entity who attacks sleeping victims, and a dripping demon that makes people inexplicably blissful, Nina, Artemis, and the rest of the ragtag group of Watchers-to-be are faced with solving a mystery that has deep roots in their own community.

Right off the bat, it would seem as though this book would be a smash hit, but there was something about it that never seemed to get off the ground. Page after page, it felt like anticipation was building or a new layer to the story was about to unfold, but then it never seemed to match the anticipation. The action never seemed to be as powerful as I wanted it to be, the deductive reasoning was straightforward, the character development seemed to fall flat, and the twists and turns were spotted a mile away.

With all that being said, I am glad that I read this book. This was just the slice of the Buffyverse that I needed to keep me satiated until the next thing arrives. Being able to dive back into the world of Slayers and Watchers was a welcomed reprieve, but I wish that this book had met the high bar that Buffy has set for me. If you are a fan of the Buffyverse, or just looking for an easy-to-read action/adventure story, then I would recommend giving this a read.

3 out of 5 stars

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About the Creator

Kurt Mason

Teacher • Writer • Reader

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