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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Demons of the Hellmouth: A Guide for Slayers
Demons of the Hellmouth is a fully licensed guide to the vampires and other demons that flocked to the Sunnydale Hellmouth in Joss Whedon’s cult TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This in-universe illustrated guide is written by Rupert Giles, and also contains handwritten notes from Buffy and Willow. This unique book promises a diabolical romp through the highlights of the beloved show.
152 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
About the author
Nancy Holder
355 books2,407 followersNancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling author of the WICKED Series, has just published CRUSADE - the first book in a new vampire series cowritten with Debbie Viguie. The last book her her Possession series is set to release in March 2011.
Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family traveled throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.
Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.
Nancy’s work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, amazon.com, LOCUS, and other bestseller lists. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, she has also received accolades from the American Library Association, the American Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and Romantic Times.
She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.
She has sold approximately two hundred short stories and essays on writing and popular culture. Her anthology, Outsiders, co-edited with Nancy Kilpatrick, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in 2005.
She teaches in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine. She has previously taught at UCSD and has served on the Clarion Board of Directors.
She lives in San Diego, California, with her daughter Belle, their two Corgis, Panda and Tater; and their cats, David and Kittnen Snow. She and Belle are active in Girl Scouts and dog obedience training.
Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family traveled throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.
Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.
Nancy’s work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, amazon.com, LOCUS, and other bestseller lists. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, she has also received accolades from the American Library Association, the American Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and Romantic Times.
She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.
She has sold approximately two hundred short stories and essays on writing and popular culture. Her anthology, Outsiders, co-edited with Nancy Kilpatrick, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in 2005.
She teaches in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine. She has previously taught at UCSD and has served on the Clarion Board of Directors.
She lives in San Diego, California, with her daughter Belle, their two Corgis, Panda and Tater; and their cats, David and Kittnen Snow. She and Belle are active in Girl Scouts and dog obedience training.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 26, 2017
I love this book. I've been taking it to conventions and have many cast autographs on their pages (Giles on the foreword page, Andrew, Warren, Xander, Jenny Calendar as Eyghon, Glory, Clem, and more) and I adore it. I'll be adding more autographs soon. It's the perfect book for it.
June 12, 2022
What can I say, I just loved this book. As an avid Buffy fan, I didn't learn anything major from this book that I didn't already know. But seeing it all written down in the style of Giles with Buffy, Willow, Xander and Faith annotating, it was great fun! Highly recommended for a buffy fan!
January 3, 2018
Nostalgic, but nothing new.
March 7, 2020
A nice nostalgic trip to the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you loved the show, it’s a great book to have in your collection.
October 5, 2015
As a Buffy fan, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to review this book. In the format of a guide for Slayers, this book takes you on a trip down memory lane (well - if you’re a seasoned fan whose seen the series multiple times, then maybe not, but it’s still a lot of fun), exploring all the vampires, demons and other forces of evil that Buffy and the Scooby Gang encountered in the TV series.
The book started with a foreword by Anthony Stewart Head (who played Giles), which I really enjoyed reading. It’s clear from the things he wrote that he and the other actors in the show must have really loved Buffy, and still look back on it with fondness. I actually rewatched the whole series (on Netflix) maybe a year and a half ago but reading through this book was really nostalgic and made me remember all the reasons why I love Buffy so much. It was great for reminding me of some of the weird characters I had forgotten too, and I think it’s just a great book to have on your bookshelf, whether for reference, nostalgia, or simply because it looks really cool (it does, I love the layout).
I really liked the format of the book, and the detailed info on each character. I loved reexperiencing some of the crazy vampire/demons the Scoobies came across, as well as refreshing my memory on the backstories of some of my favourites. It was quite funny too - Giles’s dry humour came across fairly well (though not exactly the same as Giles from the show, but maybe I’m being a perfectionist) and Buffy, Willow, Xander and Faith all had little scribblings in the margins which were also fun to read (though, again, were not entirely accurate portrayals of the characters - I know it would be difficult to get their personalities to really shine through in just a few words per page, but still. I can’t help but compare). The way they interacted with each other through the scribbles made me miss the show and all the relationships between the characters so much! Ahh. Maybe it’ll be time for another rewatch soon.
I loved all the photos/illustrations too, which really added to the nostalgia, and also made it seem like a more realistic guide. The advice to the Slayers coupled with the hints as to what they would be facing in the future were great too and I’ll always live in hope that one day there will be a Buffy reunion (it’s unlikely, but I won’t give up!).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and if you’re a Buffy fan of any kind, even if you already know every detail of the show (and the comics and everything else), you’ll probably enjoy this too. There’s no real new information, but it’s a nice consolidation of everything and something cool to display on your shelf.
The book started with a foreword by Anthony Stewart Head (who played Giles), which I really enjoyed reading. It’s clear from the things he wrote that he and the other actors in the show must have really loved Buffy, and still look back on it with fondness. I actually rewatched the whole series (on Netflix) maybe a year and a half ago but reading through this book was really nostalgic and made me remember all the reasons why I love Buffy so much. It was great for reminding me of some of the weird characters I had forgotten too, and I think it’s just a great book to have on your bookshelf, whether for reference, nostalgia, or simply because it looks really cool (it does, I love the layout).
I really liked the format of the book, and the detailed info on each character. I loved reexperiencing some of the crazy vampire/demons the Scoobies came across, as well as refreshing my memory on the backstories of some of my favourites. It was quite funny too - Giles’s dry humour came across fairly well (though not exactly the same as Giles from the show, but maybe I’m being a perfectionist) and Buffy, Willow, Xander and Faith all had little scribblings in the margins which were also fun to read (though, again, were not entirely accurate portrayals of the characters - I know it would be difficult to get their personalities to really shine through in just a few words per page, but still. I can’t help but compare). The way they interacted with each other through the scribbles made me miss the show and all the relationships between the characters so much! Ahh. Maybe it’ll be time for another rewatch soon.
I loved all the photos/illustrations too, which really added to the nostalgia, and also made it seem like a more realistic guide. The advice to the Slayers coupled with the hints as to what they would be facing in the future were great too and I’ll always live in hope that one day there will be a Buffy reunion (it’s unlikely, but I won’t give up!).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and if you’re a Buffy fan of any kind, even if you already know every detail of the show (and the comics and everything else), you’ll probably enjoy this too. There’s no real new information, but it’s a nice consolidation of everything and something cool to display on your shelf.
August 17, 2015
Originally published at http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot....
With a foreward by Anthony Stewart Head and annotations by Giles, Buffy, Willow and Xander, this felt like a really nostalgic dip back into a familiar world.
All of the annotations felt authentic and genuinely like the characters and the comments referenced events in episodes and seasons. The whole thing is an encyclopaedia of vampires, demons and other icky creatures that featured in the series, in either one episode appearances or part of a whole arc. I have to admit that I haven’t actually seen all of Buffy yet so I did actually get spoiled on a death which was upsetting, so I’d say be careful if you’re one of the few strange ones like me that hasn’t finished Buffy yet!
This is a perfect, nostalgia-fuelled fest for Buffy fans.
With a foreward by Anthony Stewart Head and annotations by Giles, Buffy, Willow and Xander, this felt like a really nostalgic dip back into a familiar world.
All of the annotations felt authentic and genuinely like the characters and the comments referenced events in episodes and seasons. The whole thing is an encyclopaedia of vampires, demons and other icky creatures that featured in the series, in either one episode appearances or part of a whole arc. I have to admit that I haven’t actually seen all of Buffy yet so I did actually get spoiled on a death which was upsetting, so I’d say be careful if you’re one of the few strange ones like me that hasn’t finished Buffy yet!
This is a perfect, nostalgia-fuelled fest for Buffy fans.
September 26, 2015
I really loved this book as a quick trip back to Sunnydale. I loved reading it from Giles' perspective and it was just great to meet the characters again. The edition is gorgeous and I really did enjoy it. The only downside is that nothing new was added about anything, but that wasn't really what I got it for.
August 4, 2024
This book is beautiful. It is a lovingly crafted guide to the villains of the show and is arranged to look like a journal composed by Giles. There are lots of behind the scenes photos and tons of info about the various monsters. This is an easy read and a fun book to flip through. I highly recommend this to fans of BTVS. It's a great one to add to your collection.
August 17, 2015
It is a beautiful edition and a nice reminder of the show. However the notes supposedly written by buffy and the gang didn't feel like them at all which spoiled it. Also if you are an avid fan of the show there isn't anything new of different offered that you wouldn't already know.
October 9, 2015
I absolutely loved this book.
Even though I knew every fact in it, I still loved it!
Even though I knew every fact in it, I still loved it!
December 30, 2021
Demons of the Hellmouth: A Guide for Slayers is Rupert Giles'—with help from Nancy Holder—guide to all the worst demons and vampires of the former Hellmouth that was Sunnydale. It’s a guide meant to educate potential or future Slayers in their mission to find evil.
This book is exactly what I had hoped for in another read this week, in this book you get details and historical notes on all the vampires, demons, and other creatures Buffy encountered during her time in Sunnydale.
I actually really enjoyed this! If you’ve watched the series you pretty much know everything already but this was a nice compilation of all the baddies from seasons 1-7! We get the details on who and what these creatures were and how—if applicable—they were defeated.
It was kind of a nice series recap too, if put on fast forward. While it contains details and information through the series finale, events that carried over to Angel’s final season are not included. So the information feels a little incomplete. Mostly in reference to Angel, Darla, and Spike, and even Cordelia—as she gets mentioned in the comments of the others.
What made this extra fun is that book is written as if Giles was really writing it. There is also commentary in the margins from Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Faith. I actually loved these little comments too. It basically highlights some line of text and one of the quartet makes a comment that is totally fitting for the character!
That the book ends with a nice commentary to the future Slayers made me smile. It’s like the series will continue to live on even though it’s over. This is definitely a read for all the Buffy fans out there! It’s a pure delight and it has me needing to re-watch the series again!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
This book is exactly what I had hoped for in another read this week, in this book you get details and historical notes on all the vampires, demons, and other creatures Buffy encountered during her time in Sunnydale.
I actually really enjoyed this! If you’ve watched the series you pretty much know everything already but this was a nice compilation of all the baddies from seasons 1-7! We get the details on who and what these creatures were and how—if applicable—they were defeated.
It was kind of a nice series recap too, if put on fast forward. While it contains details and information through the series finale, events that carried over to Angel’s final season are not included. So the information feels a little incomplete. Mostly in reference to Angel, Darla, and Spike, and even Cordelia—as she gets mentioned in the comments of the others.
What made this extra fun is that book is written as if Giles was really writing it. There is also commentary in the margins from Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Faith. I actually loved these little comments too. It basically highlights some line of text and one of the quartet makes a comment that is totally fitting for the character!
That the book ends with a nice commentary to the future Slayers made me smile. It’s like the series will continue to live on even though it’s over. This is definitely a read for all the Buffy fans out there! It’s a pure delight and it has me needing to re-watch the series again!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
July 27, 2017
Nancy Holder captures the essence of the Buffyverse with this definitive guide for the discerning Slayer. Written as entries from Rupert Giles, the book is broken into sections featuring the various threats encountered by the Scooby Gang during the seven-year run of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The one or two page vignettes begin with the various vampires seen in Sunnydale, followed by the destructive demons, and concluding with the terrifying threats that fall into their own categories. Each entry often features footnotes from Buffy, Willow, Xander, Faith, and even Giles himself, alluding to the television events, episodes, and quotes that made the show so popular. Nancy Holder maintains an effortless grasp on the speech patterns of the fictional Rupert Giles, and creates a fun look back at the series' antagonists. She also includes hints at the official Season 8, which Joss Whedon himself approved for Dark Horse comics. A fun forward from Anthony Stewart Head is included, along with set photos and sketches used for various creatures. Buffy: Demons of the Hellmouth should be handed down to every potential Slayer and her allies, keeping the tradition and folklore alive.
January 30, 2020
I'm such a big Buffy fan, I would normally be hard pressed to give anything Buffy-related less than 5 stars. This book seemed like someone just wanted to make money by putting the Buffy name on a low quality product. There were several factual errors for those familiar with the show. And the annotations from the other characters were either just quotes from the show, apropos of nothing, and/or in the teeny bopper voice of the characters from early seasons, when it's supposed to be post season 7. It was also poorly edited- some of the underlined text corresponded to the annotations and some did not.
August 16, 2017
This was a quick read. Basically a summary of the vampires, demons and other monsters encountered on the TV show written in a journal form from Giles with added comments from Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Faith. I don't know that any of this is new or surprising information for anyone familiar with the series, but it was fun to read and remember the various episodes they came from.
August 26, 2017
This book was a fun read. Its a step by step guide over the various bad guys Buffy and pals have slain over the year. It made me chuckle. Written from Giles POV, with footnotes from Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Faith. Takes place shortly after season 7. A fun reference guide for any fan. Nancy Holder is a true contributor to the Slayer World. Another great Buffy book by her.
July 27, 2017
This is a training manual for Slayers in the form of a bestiary, written bynGiles after the end of season 7. There are margin notes from Giles, Willow, Xander, Buffy, and Faith. A great fic resource, super entertaining, and a gorgeous book!
August 28, 2018
This is a wonderful book to read. It is written in Giles POV with comments from Buffy, Faith, Willow, and Xander. It details all the many baddies that Buffy dueled with over the 7 seasons of the show. Filled with great color pictures it is a definite must have for any Buffy fan.
September 15, 2020
I'd only recommend this to die-hard fans that want to own every Buffy-related book produced. There's nothing new here and the annotations definitely felt a little off. It was a nice look back through the main demons but I would have liked some never-before-seen information or insights.
February 13, 2024
A very cute read! I loved all of the pictures, the layout and the different characters writing notes in the margins. Reading this was a fun way to revisit my favorite show. My only issue was this was supposed to be written by Giles and the voice just didn’t ring true to Giles for me.
December 16, 2018
Loved this compagnon book. A nice book to have for Buffy’s fans.
January 28, 2019
Loved this. Beautifully put together and a blast to read, it's a must for Buffy fans. Even if you know everything already, it looks great on the shelf!!
April 3, 2020
Just watch the show
February 4, 2021
Me ha enamorado. Es un libro puramente de coleccionismo que no cuenta nada nuevo pero que te hace sonreír de nostalgia al recordar el viaje que supone ser fan de Buffy y su universo.
March 13, 2022
A fun read while rewatching the tv show for like a billion times 😉
July 4, 2023
It's a fun who's who of Buffy baddies though the author doesn't really capture the right style for Giles.
October 1, 2023
I should watch the show maybe
July 2, 2025
Great for fans of Buffy!
Goes through every villain or monster and give a little profile on them. Written from Giles’ perspective with little notes from Buffy, Xander, Willow and Faith too.
Goes through every villain or monster and give a little profile on them. Written from Giles’ perspective with little notes from Buffy, Xander, Willow and Faith too.
November 23, 2024
As a collectible, the book is pretty. But as a read, it's nothing new. The side notes feel nothing like the characters.
If you're thinking about buying this, better go with Willow's Grimoire.
If you're thinking about buying this, better go with Willow's Grimoire.
March 14, 2017
*Sigh* I really miss this show. There's nothing new, but it's a nice walk down memory lane. I didn't mind the comments in the margins from Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Faith. It made sense to me to include Faith, seeing as how she is a good guy now. A must for the diehard Buffy fans.
March 3, 2025
The book is nice as a way to reminisce about all the episodes and respective creatures (I really forgot some and I just finished the series), and it has a super nice part on Spike (you can see the author digs him, too :)) but the several logical and factual errors made me rate it lower.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews