Now, if you’re at all like me, then you already know that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the greatest series to ever grace modern television. This layered, genre-bending series about a cheerleader-turned-heroine helped pave the way for a generation of girls who believed that they, themselves, could fight the monsters under the bed; a generation of girls who knew exactly how powerful they were.
***Buffy Spoilers***
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Even without the very clear feminist foundation, Buffy had such intense, powerful messages hidden beneath the plot lines of monsters, demons, and vampires. Almost everything was a metaphor for something far more profound. Like when Buffy awakes the morning after finally sleeping with her first love only to discover that he’s not the same kind, loving, soulful person he was just hours before (of course, this has more to do with an ancient gypsy curse than anything else). Then there’s the way Buffy’s own mother kicks her out of the house after she “comes out” as a slayer and her mother fails to understand that it’s just the way she was born and isn’t something she can control. This is the clear sexuality and teenage rebellion embodied within each of the sadistic, wild vampires (like Spike and Drusilla).
Even the different ways mourning is expressed through each character as they cope with the heartbreaking (and ultimately shocking) deaths that occur throughout the series shows something so vulnerable and human. One would say it feels as though you’re mourning alongside them. Buffy was also progressively ahead of it’s time for how openly and realistically it portrayed the lesbian relationship between Buffy’s best friend and sidekick, Willow Rosenberg, and her girlfriend (and fellow Wiccan) Tara Maclay.
Buffy was a show that felt like a part of you. The characters were each so flawed, lovable, and developed. They matured in such a concrete, authentic way it felt like you knew them as more than just fictional characters on some television series; the heart of this show felt real. It was a seven season show that was nearly impossible to say goodbye to. This is true even though saying hello to the incredibly dark and insanely well done spinoff series Angel definitely helped to ease some of that pain.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a series that helped me grow; it influenced teenage me in more ways than I’m sure I even realize. It still continues to be something I turn to when life feels too intense and I need a quick escape route. And now, thanks to bestselling author Kiersten White (Paranormalcy), the world of Buffy has been raised from the dead with Slayer; a new young adult novel taking place within the Buffy universe.
Image Via Entertainment Weekly
When Buffy began, as stated in the famed opening theme, there was only ever one slayer existing at a time:
In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer.
Then, once the slayer inevitably passed away, another slayer would come into her powers and meet her “watcher”. They would be a mentor/teacher meant to help her understand her new place in this world and help her to hone in on all of her newfound skills and then begin training. But, during the finale, a spell was cast allowing every would-be slayer to come into her powers at once; the world was suddenly filled with young, powerful girls who had the agility and strength needed to keep the monsters at bay.
And now, it appears that Slayer is taking place where that world left off:
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.
Did you get goosebumps? I got goosebumps. This sounds so perfectly Buffy-esque, I can’t wait to see where Nina’s journey as a slayer takes her!
Slayer is set to release January 8, 2019. You can read an exclusive excerpt from it here on EW.
Image Via GIPHY
Featured Image via Screen Rant
Synopsis Via Amazon
