One Girl in All the World (Jan. 31, 2023) by
Kendare Blake.
*This is the middle novel
in a trilogy.*
New Sunnydale, the demon capital of the world, has been
dormant since the Big Bad called the Countess. An unnamed Slayer has placed a
“demon beacon” in the Hellmouth, meaning New Sunnydale’s going to again become
a place of demons, dead people and darkness. Is the Darkness the next Big
Bad? Soon enough, Frankie Rosenberg, the world’s first slayer-witch, the new
Scoobies (werewolf Jake Osbourne, Sage demon Sigmund DeWitt,
human/sister-of-a-Slayer Hailey Larsson) and the adults (werewolf Oz,
vampire/Frankie’s Watcher Spike, witch/Frankie’s mom Willow), sometimes
with Sarafina DeWitt the Great (Sigmund’s Sage demon mom) and
Grimloch (the Hunter of Thrace or the “Hunter of Hotpants” per Spike), are
inundated with demon battles. The demon beacon is calling to all demons,
especially those familiar to that particular Hellmouth, including demons
thought to be vanquished like the Turoc-Han. But who placed the beacon
and why? Hailey’s sister, Vi, makes a reappearance, but she’s tight-lipped
about her reasons for being there. Vi survived the explosion at the big slayer
retreat. What does she know? The infamous Scythe returns; Frankie hasn’t seen
it before and may have the urge to “run away with it into the mountains, where
I would name it Scythey McScytheface and we would live together forever.” Not
that she’d act upon that urge, but what might others do if they had possession
of the Scythe?
While I
continue to have zero plans to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I have
been thoroughly enjoying Blake’s Buffy: The Next Generation Series. The
middle installment is a middle book, not because its writing is suffering, but
due to further plot development versus plot resolution and character growth.
It’s a propulsive story that contains gruesome action well-balanced with snark
and humor, the highs and lows of romantic relationships and a whodunit? vibe.
The story includes racial diversity and queerness. This center story in a trilogy
expects readers to have knowledge of the previous one, but extensive
knowledge of the Buffyverse is not required (which is good, because I doubt I
know 1% of what there is to know about that world). The story is entertaining
and the sort of teen dramatic that I would expect from a YA novel. Now, go off
and train, Potentials. And if anyone notices the smell of herbs, ozone and
scorched sugar in the air, know that you’ve encountered a distinctly magical
smell. Also, beware of “stupid hot demons.” Happy slaying and keep your slaydar
sharp.
Two of
many lines that made me laugh: “Whatever it is,” he growled, “I will kill it
quickly. And I will kill it extra, for the interruption!” --Grimloch to Frankie
re: a demon (p. 282)
Book One:
In Every Generation
No comments:
Post a Comment
You have a book or post-related comment on your mind? Wonderful! Your comments are welcome, but whether you are a regular or guest Rutabaga, I expect you to keep your comments clean and respectable. :-)