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Buffyverse Novels #9
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Coyote Moon
The seedy carnival looks like just the thing to give Buffy and her best buds, Xander and Willow, a break from staking bloodsuckers. Some greasy food, a few cheap thrills - what more could a Slayer ask for?
But then Buffy senses something evil behind this carnival. Xander and Willow aren't so sure. They don't buy Buffy's notion that the carneys are somehow connected to the corpses turning up around Sunnydale. It doesn't help that her two best friends are each interested in someone at the carnival. Which puts the burden of proof on Buffy.
Can she find out what's going on in time to save her friends?
Or has the Slayer become the prey?
But then Buffy senses something evil behind this carnival. Xander and Willow aren't so sure. They don't buy Buffy's notion that the carneys are somehow connected to the corpses turning up around Sunnydale. It doesn't help that her two best friends are each interested in someone at the carnival. Which puts the burden of proof on Buffy.
Can she find out what's going on in time to save her friends?
Or has the Slayer become the prey?
164 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
May 3, 2018
“Do you know what it’s like to live a hundred years in a seedy road show?” — Hopscotch
“No. Unless high school counts.” — Buffy
This early Buffy novelization takes place between seasons one and two, during summer vacation for the Scooby gang, as they became affectionately known. It deviates from the Buffy series canon in that Buffy remains in Sunnydale. Coyote Moon appears to be sort of a mash-up homage by author John Vornholt (a name familiar to Star Trek book fans) to the Hollywood werewolf legend and the movie western. It also mixes in Native American mysticism to replace the lycanthropy explanation for shape-shifting, leading to the proclivity of the carnival gang to become coyotes, and in one case, a bear. It’s kinda fun, kinda pulpy, and I enjoyed it overall. However…
All of the genres to which the author appears to be paying homage are more familiar to adults, and older teenagers. While that shouldn’t be an issue, at times the author seems to be a tad uncertain what age group would be reading this. There are so many exclamation points even Robert Ludlum would roll his eyes, and on occasion it makes it seem as though he’s trying to straddle the younger Goosebump reader with the Christopher Pike fan. Once you accept the pulpy nature of the story, it’s easy to enjoy, but the exclamation points, when added, occasionally make Xander and Willow — and even Buffy — sound a bit off in characterization. Eventually, I found myself ignoring the exclamation points, and it returned the characters to their own voices.
Set between the first and second season, you can feel high school in this one, and the Willow/Xander/Buffy triangle is in full bloom. The carnival is in town, and soon Xander hooks up with sexy carnival cutie Rose, and Willow ends up with hunky Lonnie. But there has been some strange coyote activity since the carnival arrived, and Buffy is getting a weird vibe about it. Xander’s not listening, and Willow at first thinks Buffy is being too cautious. They’re all just trying to have one last blast before summer ends, after all, and the carnival being in town offers the perfect way to do that.
With Giles’ help, Buffy finally figures it all out, and it has to do with an old cowboy who was one of the founding fathers of — you guessed it — Sunnydale. That was a very long time ago, but may explain why the coyotes, who may be shape-shifters from way back, have come to the place Spurs Hardaway (think Wild Bill Hickok) is buried — for now. Giles helps Buffy quite a bit in the latter part of the story, and it gets pretty fun, with Xander and Willow double dating at the cemetery, where they’re about to discover Buffy was right all along.
It feels pulpy at times, and very early in the series. If you can deal with that it’s a pretty fun read, but if not, this is probably one to pick up only if you’re a hardcore Buffy fan, and run across it at an inexpensive price. Don’t get me wrong, it is fun and I enjoyed it, but not everyone will be able to get past the exclamation points, or the pulpy feel to the narrative, thus the same three stars I gave to Halloween Rain. I did like it, and it was a nice way to unwind.
“No. Unless high school counts.” — Buffy
This early Buffy novelization takes place between seasons one and two, during summer vacation for the Scooby gang, as they became affectionately known. It deviates from the Buffy series canon in that Buffy remains in Sunnydale. Coyote Moon appears to be sort of a mash-up homage by author John Vornholt (a name familiar to Star Trek book fans) to the Hollywood werewolf legend and the movie western. It also mixes in Native American mysticism to replace the lycanthropy explanation for shape-shifting, leading to the proclivity of the carnival gang to become coyotes, and in one case, a bear. It’s kinda fun, kinda pulpy, and I enjoyed it overall. However…
All of the genres to which the author appears to be paying homage are more familiar to adults, and older teenagers. While that shouldn’t be an issue, at times the author seems to be a tad uncertain what age group would be reading this. There are so many exclamation points even Robert Ludlum would roll his eyes, and on occasion it makes it seem as though he’s trying to straddle the younger Goosebump reader with the Christopher Pike fan. Once you accept the pulpy nature of the story, it’s easy to enjoy, but the exclamation points, when added, occasionally make Xander and Willow — and even Buffy — sound a bit off in characterization. Eventually, I found myself ignoring the exclamation points, and it returned the characters to their own voices.
Set between the first and second season, you can feel high school in this one, and the Willow/Xander/Buffy triangle is in full bloom. The carnival is in town, and soon Xander hooks up with sexy carnival cutie Rose, and Willow ends up with hunky Lonnie. But there has been some strange coyote activity since the carnival arrived, and Buffy is getting a weird vibe about it. Xander’s not listening, and Willow at first thinks Buffy is being too cautious. They’re all just trying to have one last blast before summer ends, after all, and the carnival being in town offers the perfect way to do that.
With Giles’ help, Buffy finally figures it all out, and it has to do with an old cowboy who was one of the founding fathers of — you guessed it — Sunnydale. That was a very long time ago, but may explain why the coyotes, who may be shape-shifters from way back, have come to the place Spurs Hardaway (think Wild Bill Hickok) is buried — for now. Giles helps Buffy quite a bit in the latter part of the story, and it gets pretty fun, with Xander and Willow double dating at the cemetery, where they’re about to discover Buffy was right all along.
It feels pulpy at times, and very early in the series. If you can deal with that it’s a pretty fun read, but if not, this is probably one to pick up only if you’re a hardcore Buffy fan, and run across it at an inexpensive price. Don’t get me wrong, it is fun and I enjoyed it, but not everyone will be able to get past the exclamation points, or the pulpy feel to the narrative, thus the same three stars I gave to Halloween Rain. I did like it, and it was a nice way to unwind.
April 6, 2023
review coming
June 17, 2022
This is an original Buffy novel set sometime between the first and second seasons of the television show. In the story, a carnival has come to Sunnydale, where unexplained killings have been occurring. (Must be Tuesday...) Willow and Xander become attracted to some of the carnival people, but something doesn't feel right to Buffy. It's not vampires, but shapeshifters... The book is intended for younger readers but seems to waffle back and forth between maturity levels.... and there are too many exclamation points (Yes! There are! Really!!!) But a carnival lark is always a good time, it's a quick read, it all turns out all right in the end, and a fine time is had by all. Note: no actual coyotes were harmed in the preparation of these comments.
June 19, 2023
"Der Hexer von Sunnydale" ist der dritte Band der "Buffy, im Bann der Dämonen" Reihe. Ich kann dieses Buch leider wirklich nur echten Hardcore Buffy Fans empfehlen.
Die Geschichte ist ganz okay, sie hat mir durchaus gefallen. Dass der "Höllenschlund" im Buch "Höllenmund" heißt, schmälert das Lesevergnügen jedoch erheblich. Da hätte man bei der Übersetzung etwas besser aufpassen müssen. Im Original steht vermutlich "Hellmouth", das sollte man allerdings nicht eins zu eins mit "Mund" übersetzen. ...
Außerdem hat die Ausdrucksweise mancher Protagonisten meiner Meinung nach so gar nicht zu den einzelnen Charakteren gepasst.
Fazit: Leider nur für echte Hardcore Buffy Fans zu empfehlen! Knappe 3 Sterne gibt es von mir.
Die Geschichte ist ganz okay, sie hat mir durchaus gefallen. Dass der "Höllenschlund" im Buch "Höllenmund" heißt, schmälert das Lesevergnügen jedoch erheblich. Da hätte man bei der Übersetzung etwas besser aufpassen müssen. Im Original steht vermutlich "Hellmouth", das sollte man allerdings nicht eins zu eins mit "Mund" übersetzen. ...
Außerdem hat die Ausdrucksweise mancher Protagonisten meiner Meinung nach so gar nicht zu den einzelnen Charakteren gepasst.
Fazit: Leider nur für echte Hardcore Buffy Fans zu empfehlen! Knappe 3 Sterne gibt es von mir.
May 27, 2012
Menstrual cramps are the worst! Wait, I'm not properly dressed for this. I need to wear beige slacks and some kind of appropriately colored sweater (maybe off-white?) to discuss the finer points of PMS. So if my cramps were any good at all they would be good for telling me that when not your usual coyotes are prowling around Sunnydale, California. (What kind of stupid shit is this when Xander and Willow feel the need to fill Buffy in on coyotes? It was told in a for-the-reader's-benefit exposition style like when the Harry Potter screenwriters had muggle born Hermione know everything about the wizarding world that she couldn't have possibly have known about just to tell Harry about it instead of giving that unfortunate ginger actor Rupert Grint the chance to warble out some more lines. It should have been Ron! Actually, that's not really the same thing. It's just a writer assuming that the reader is really dumb enough to have never heard of coyotes. "We had coyotes in L.A." Snap, Buffy!)
But first a personal story! Wait, I'm not dressed for this. Off the sweater goes for some hard won intimacy. A coyote may or may not have killed my cat a couple of years ago. The neighborhood watch posted signs around that it was an owl and then later they changed their minds and cried coyotes. I may or may not bear a grudge against coyotes. I wasn't really close to that cat, or anything, but it's the principle of the thing.
Personal story number two! I read Coyote Moon some time in high school when it was marginally less embarrassing that I would read a shitty Buffy the Vampire Slayer novelization (same as now I also read uni brow stuff that didn't count because I didn't have the wits to truly appreciate them). I didn't like it then and I have no idea why I decided it would be a good idea to reread it now. I do stupid things when I am PMSing.
Coyote Moon is a shitty fanfic about circus folk that turn into coyotes. If I were the author of this book (and no less than FOUR researchers. I guess they watched episodes of Buffy? Why can't I have that job?) I would probably be bitter that Cassandra Clare turned her Buffy plagiarizing Harry Potter fanfic into a best selling series and made more money than she really needs (she can hire five times as many researchers). I'm depressed now.
So Willow falls for the transparently evil circus guy named L--- Shit, I've already forgotten. I cheated and looked. It's Lonnie. Lonnie wanted Buffy first and she turns him down. "Let's hook up on my break." "Give me a break!" That's not the whole exchange but this is my fanfic of that exchange. Turned down flatter than an Acme victim he goes for Willow. You know, because Buffy is so hot and no guy will ever look at cute Willow (please! Hannigan is even way cuter than Gellar these days). Xander falls for some transparently slutty carnie (this book loves to say "carnie" like I like to say "like"). It's like a horrible pot with some of Teacher's Pet thrown in, a little bit of I Robot You, Jane, The Pack, some terrible banter like when people I hate actually try to flirt (ugh)... Anyway, it's pretty bad. Why couldn't I have had some kind of sweet nostalgic laugh over something that's bad but I secretly really love? Is it because this just sucks and even I'm not that big of a fool? The worst Buffy episodes (the season one of the demon who is stuck in the body of a dummy doll comes to mind) are still better than this.
I have learned a valuable lesson here. It is better to watch television.
Oh yeah, the cramps thing. That was some Buffy the Vampire Slayer the movie shit there. Kristy Swanson's Buffy has cramps to let her know when a vampire is around. I can't say I was sorry that the show didn't appropriate this (I don't know if it was in the original screenplay or not. The movie and the screenplay are not the same entity, I've heard. The movie is at least that awful sweet nostalgic watch, though. Kid me saw it multiple times in the dollar theatre. Does anyone else miss dollar theatres?). PMS is bad enough without the added paranoia of monsters lurking around. It's not a gift. It's not good for anything.
Would it have been too hard to be good? I'm not asking for the (coyote) moon here. I'm asking for a long lost great Buffy episode in novel form. For one thing, it is set between seasons one and two. Buffy went to L.A. and "went bad" (as in a b-i-t-c-h) after she killed the Master! She didn't hang out with Xander and Willow in Sunnydale. She couldn't even send a post card! That was because she DIDN'T wish they were there. (When she was bad is one of my all-time favorite episodes if anyone is keeping track.) What were those four researchers doing?
I've never ever written a fanfic in my life. Confession time (sweater back on): Okay, there was that ONE John Malkovich fanfic when I was a teenager (coughs twenty). He was kidnapped by outer space (of course) giant lizards and forced to be their king (remember those great reviews of mine with the John Malkovich as king lists?). It was pretty decent. It wasn't that bad. Okay, it was awful.
P.s. I loved that the chapter cliffhangers ended with exclamation marks.
There was none. In every direction, all she saw were wild-eyed, snarling coyotes charging toward her!
Yeah!
There are more of these Buffy books in a local bookshop for dirt(y) cheap! I might sink low enough to get them! Just see if I don't!
But first a personal story! Wait, I'm not dressed for this. Off the sweater goes for some hard won intimacy. A coyote may or may not have killed my cat a couple of years ago. The neighborhood watch posted signs around that it was an owl and then later they changed their minds and cried coyotes. I may or may not bear a grudge against coyotes. I wasn't really close to that cat, or anything, but it's the principle of the thing.
Personal story number two! I read Coyote Moon some time in high school when it was marginally less embarrassing that I would read a shitty Buffy the Vampire Slayer novelization (same as now I also read uni brow stuff that didn't count because I didn't have the wits to truly appreciate them). I didn't like it then and I have no idea why I decided it would be a good idea to reread it now. I do stupid things when I am PMSing.
Coyote Moon is a shitty fanfic about circus folk that turn into coyotes. If I were the author of this book (and no less than FOUR researchers. I guess they watched episodes of Buffy? Why can't I have that job?) I would probably be bitter that Cassandra Clare turned her Buffy plagiarizing Harry Potter fanfic into a best selling series and made more money than she really needs (she can hire five times as many researchers). I'm depressed now.
So Willow falls for the transparently evil circus guy named L--- Shit, I've already forgotten. I cheated and looked. It's Lonnie. Lonnie wanted Buffy first and she turns him down. "Let's hook up on my break." "Give me a break!" That's not the whole exchange but this is my fanfic of that exchange. Turned down flatter than an Acme victim he goes for Willow. You know, because Buffy is so hot and no guy will ever look at cute Willow (please! Hannigan is even way cuter than Gellar these days). Xander falls for some transparently slutty carnie (this book loves to say "carnie" like I like to say "like"). It's like a horrible pot with some of Teacher's Pet thrown in, a little bit of I Robot You, Jane, The Pack, some terrible banter like when people I hate actually try to flirt (ugh)... Anyway, it's pretty bad. Why couldn't I have had some kind of sweet nostalgic laugh over something that's bad but I secretly really love? Is it because this just sucks and even I'm not that big of a fool? The worst Buffy episodes (the season one of the demon who is stuck in the body of a dummy doll comes to mind) are still better than this.
I have learned a valuable lesson here. It is better to watch television.
Oh yeah, the cramps thing. That was some Buffy the Vampire Slayer the movie shit there. Kristy Swanson's Buffy has cramps to let her know when a vampire is around. I can't say I was sorry that the show didn't appropriate this (I don't know if it was in the original screenplay or not. The movie and the screenplay are not the same entity, I've heard. The movie is at least that awful sweet nostalgic watch, though. Kid me saw it multiple times in the dollar theatre. Does anyone else miss dollar theatres?). PMS is bad enough without the added paranoia of monsters lurking around. It's not a gift. It's not good for anything.
Would it have been too hard to be good? I'm not asking for the (coyote) moon here. I'm asking for a long lost great Buffy episode in novel form. For one thing, it is set between seasons one and two. Buffy went to L.A. and "went bad" (as in a b-i-t-c-h) after she killed the Master! She didn't hang out with Xander and Willow in Sunnydale. She couldn't even send a post card! That was because she DIDN'T wish they were there. (When she was bad is one of my all-time favorite episodes if anyone is keeping track.) What were those four researchers doing?
I've never ever written a fanfic in my life. Confession time (sweater back on): Okay, there was that ONE John Malkovich fanfic when I was a teenager (coughs twenty). He was kidnapped by outer space (of course) giant lizards and forced to be their king (remember those great reviews of mine with the John Malkovich as king lists?). It was pretty decent. It wasn't that bad. Okay, it was awful.
P.s. I loved that the chapter cliffhangers ended with exclamation marks.
There was none. In every direction, all she saw were wild-eyed, snarling coyotes charging toward her!
Yeah!
There are more of these Buffy books in a local bookshop for dirt(y) cheap! I might sink low enough to get them! Just see if I don't!
September 3, 2023
I've only watched bits and pieces of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I enjoyed every second of it. My partner and his family LOVE Buffy and I had this book sitting on my shelf so I figured I would give it a go and try to read it.
I absolutely LOVED Coyote Moon. It was an easy read with an engaging story that focused on a carnival. I don't know what it is about creepy carnivals but I LOVE them. This story was short but sweet and really focused on the weird were-coyote and circus vibes. I don't know how well it would fit into the Buffy universe, but I loved every second of this book. It was just a fun read that didn't take itself too seriously. Definitely a great read for someone who likes fantasy with a splash of paranormal.
Four out of five stars.
I absolutely LOVED Coyote Moon. It was an easy read with an engaging story that focused on a carnival. I don't know what it is about creepy carnivals but I LOVE them. This story was short but sweet and really focused on the weird were-coyote and circus vibes. I don't know how well it would fit into the Buffy universe, but I loved every second of this book. It was just a fun read that didn't take itself too seriously. Definitely a great read for someone who likes fantasy with a splash of paranormal.
Four out of five stars.
September 3, 2022
Coyote Moon was a pretty interesting story, but something about it didn't quite grip me like some of the other books in this series did. I just didn't really care about the Carnival people and I found the story way to predictable. Also Xander & Willow kind of irritated me a bit in this book.
Oh well they can't all be gold.
It's definitely worth a read for any Buffy Fan though. :0)
**Edited after second read**
The second time around I feel like It didn't bother me as much. The storyline was interesting in the sense that it was original and not one of the TV episodes. I still feel like the Carnival characters didn't really girp me and Xander did irritate me a little more then usual in this one. However I feel myself not as irritated with Willow this time around. 13 years later and I'm still loving reading anything Buffy related.
Oh well they can't all be gold.
It's definitely worth a read for any Buffy Fan though. :0)
**Edited after second read**
The second time around I feel like It didn't bother me as much. The storyline was interesting in the sense that it was original and not one of the TV episodes. I still feel like the Carnival characters didn't really girp me and Xander did irritate me a little more then usual in this one. However I feel myself not as irritated with Willow this time around. 13 years later and I'm still loving reading anything Buffy related.
November 23, 2015
This Buffy book I loved!! Such a good side story! The author did a fantastic job at taking this wonderful world Joss Whedon has created and adding an addition to it. I loved the concept of the carnival arriving in Sunnydale and having the carnies be mysterious causing Buffy to question if they're human or not. You have to read it to find out the answer to that :p Overall, it was a amazing addition to the Buffyverse and a nice, quick, easy read :)
September 25, 2014
I think maybe I'd expected too much from this book
I never watched the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So I'd hoped this book would bridge that for me - give me some history and some drive or want to watch the series. Instead, this book started out with no history and no information. With just a "The Slayer" kind of flourish, it jumps into a mystery and a very uninteresting story. It feels really obvious what's going on and so it just drags for another 100 pages.
Plus, Buffy...kind of sucked. She was self-center and very self-important. She was pretty sure she was the best thing in he world and seemed to need her friends and even strangers to acknowledge how great she was.
This definitely did not drive me to want to see the show or read more books.
I never watched the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So I'd hoped this book would bridge that for me - give me some history and some drive or want to watch the series. Instead, this book started out with no history and no information. With just a "The Slayer" kind of flourish, it jumps into a mystery and a very uninteresting story. It feels really obvious what's going on and so it just drags for another 100 pages.
Plus, Buffy...kind of sucked. She was self-center and very self-important. She was pretty sure she was the best thing in he world and seemed to need her friends and even strangers to acknowledge how great she was.
This definitely did not drive me to want to see the show or read more books.
September 29, 2015
Can't remember much about it. It was about Skinwalkers or wherewolves or whatever they're called in here. I read this in school and I enjoyed it.
June 19, 2023
Fun, fast, and loyal to the show. Media tie-in novels often live and die based on how well they capture character voices and dynamics, and I found a lot of the dialogue here as funny as an episode of the show, particularly Buffy's lines.
The coyote shifters were cool, the carnival is always a nice setting, and the Buffy/Giles team-up is always fun.
The writing style is pretty smooth and simple, too.
November 8, 2023
I realize I had already read this back in 2021:Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 1
So here's my review of this book: Coyote Moon by John Vornholt.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4198808174
Definitely recommend!! WARNING! There will be spoilers for Night of the Living Rerun and Portal Through Time in the review above!!
So here's my review of this book: Coyote Moon by John Vornholt.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4198808174
Definitely recommend!! WARNING! There will be spoilers for Night of the Living Rerun and Portal Through Time in the review above!!
June 18, 2020
It is very refreshing to read Buffy themed novel after so many years. Since this one fits somewhere into season 1. it was extra interesting. I had some issues with imagining some of the characters acting like they do in this story.
May 3, 2023
A short book featuring only Buffy, Willow, Xander and Giles dealing with a pack of were-coyotes.
November 2, 2020
Rating: 5 Stars!! (Wish i could rate it 10 Stars!!)
Review: This was my first time reading this book in the Buffy Book Series and i love it just as much as i did the tv show in the 90s!!
The suspense, drama and fantasy part of the storyline drew me in instantly!! Can't wait to read the next 6 books in this series!!
Review: This was my first time reading this book in the Buffy Book Series and i love it just as much as i did the tv show in the 90s!!
The suspense, drama and fantasy part of the storyline drew me in instantly!! Can't wait to read the next 6 books in this series!!
April 10, 2019
The carnival is in town and Buffy and the gang are excited to go. But after a series of strange happenings involving Coyotes, Buffy fears that both the Carnival and Coyotes are connected. Another enjoyable read. This one felt more like the gang and it felt like I was watching an episode of the series rather than reading a book.
May 10, 2011
3.5 stars
A carnival full of odd workers comes to Sunnydale, Buffy's friends are preoccupied dating a couple of these workers, and a pack of strange coyotes are running amok in the streets. Buffy suspects all of these events are related but has no proof. What's a slayer to do?
Set in the summer between the first and second seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Coyote Moon is a short and concise story that conveys the spirit of the show without too many noticeable inaccuracies. The major anachronism was Buffy staying in Sunnydale for the summer, which didn't happen during this time. Since this was written before any of the major angst occurred in the series, this has a lighter feel that carries through to the end. The author manages to get the characters and dialogue right via few lines and passages. The only misstep I caught was Giles' wrong definition of a blue moon -- I don't believe that's something he wouldn't have known. Otherwise everyone (Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles) rings true to their early incarnations, though more as a basic outline of their characters than anything too substantial. At first the plot reminded me slightly of the episode "The Pack," though this had to do with coyotes instead of hyenas, but once I got into it the story was completely different. The pace was brisk, and though the Big Bad's defeat was over in the blink of an eye, it was a solid read. I can easily see this fitting right in on screen and it's a good companion piece to read in between re-watching episodes.
A carnival full of odd workers comes to Sunnydale, Buffy's friends are preoccupied dating a couple of these workers, and a pack of strange coyotes are running amok in the streets. Buffy suspects all of these events are related but has no proof. What's a slayer to do?
Set in the summer between the first and second seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Coyote Moon is a short and concise story that conveys the spirit of the show without too many noticeable inaccuracies. The major anachronism was Buffy staying in Sunnydale for the summer, which didn't happen during this time. Since this was written before any of the major angst occurred in the series, this has a lighter feel that carries through to the end. The author manages to get the characters and dialogue right via few lines and passages. The only misstep I caught was Giles' wrong definition of a blue moon -- I don't believe that's something he wouldn't have known. Otherwise everyone (Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles) rings true to their early incarnations, though more as a basic outline of their characters than anything too substantial. At first the plot reminded me slightly of the episode "The Pack," though this had to do with coyotes instead of hyenas, but once I got into it the story was completely different. The pace was brisk, and though the Big Bad's defeat was over in the blink of an eye, it was a solid read. I can easily see this fitting right in on screen and it's a good companion piece to read in between re-watching episodes.
June 30, 2017
I love Buffy, so when I saw a pile of all the old original novels for sale for a few bucks I immediately picked them up. I figured they would be a quick read with little investment. Coyote Moon feels like a failed idea for an episode. It fits in well with what Buffy was going for in season 1 but maybe it would have been too complicated to make. The writing though feels cheap and simple. And yes I understand these books were written quickly with a young adult reader in mind, but it often reads like poor fan fiction than professional writing. I will give props to occasional conversations where the witty dialogue of the show was definitely there. I could tell the writer liked the characters he was writing about. But maybe his writing chops weren't too up to snuff yet. And while the plot clips along at a quick pace, not diving any deeper than a typical one off 44 minute episode would, in a novel form this can often seem empty. Though done well can feel pulpy and streamlined. My biggest pet peeve would be the central plot, something I knew I would have an issue with going in. The use of skin walkers, a deep seated Native tradition, is used with reckless appropriation and absolutely no attempt at Native representation at all. This could have easily been remedied and probably brought greater depth to the story. And if done well enough, still kept the book under the 200 page count. I didn't loathe it, but I am certainly hoping they get better. The comics sure did, so I have high hopes.
June 6, 2019
I wasn’t that much into this book as some of the other Buffy books I have read. I know what the problem was too, Xander and Willow. The way they acted in this book I did not care for it.
A carnival has come to town along with some coyotes. Buffy thinks that the Coyotes seem strange the first time they meet when Xander, Willow and her are on their way back from the Bronze on night during summer vacation.
When the carnival opens Buffy recognizes something in one of the men that she saw in the Coyote the week before. Xander and Willow think she is crazy, but to me those two are acting weird and out of character. I had first thought that they were under some kind of spell from the people.
With Xander and Willow obsessed with two of the Carnies (the carnival people), Buffy is left with only Giles to help her and one lone man/Coyote that thinks she’s a witch to stop the meanest skin walker (Coyote) from coming back on the night of the coyote moon.
Buffy succeeds as usual, but what put me off were Willow and Xander’s actions throughout the book. I know that Willow liked Xander and all, but the way the author had it written it was just too much. I just also didn’t like how at the end they just fell back to the usual way they are like nothing happened. They should have believed their friend, or given her the benefit of the doubt like Giles did at first before there was proof.
A carnival has come to town along with some coyotes. Buffy thinks that the Coyotes seem strange the first time they meet when Xander, Willow and her are on their way back from the Bronze on night during summer vacation.
When the carnival opens Buffy recognizes something in one of the men that she saw in the Coyote the week before. Xander and Willow think she is crazy, but to me those two are acting weird and out of character. I had first thought that they were under some kind of spell from the people.
With Xander and Willow obsessed with two of the Carnies (the carnival people), Buffy is left with only Giles to help her and one lone man/Coyote that thinks she’s a witch to stop the meanest skin walker (Coyote) from coming back on the night of the coyote moon.
Buffy succeeds as usual, but what put me off were Willow and Xander’s actions throughout the book. I know that Willow liked Xander and all, but the way the author had it written it was just too much. I just also didn’t like how at the end they just fell back to the usual way they are like nothing happened. They should have believed their friend, or given her the benefit of the doubt like Giles did at first before there was proof.
November 1, 2016
I haven't read one of these books in ages, but I was obsessed with them when I was a kid, because I was obsessed with the show (because I was obsessed with the movie...because...ok this list has to end somewhere). I found some of them a few years ago super cheap, like $1-3 each, and I bought a bunch but only read a couple.
This one wasn't as good as I remember some of the others being. I mean, none of them have been totally amazing, but they were quick, fun reads. I'm not sure what it was about this one, but I just wasn't crazy about it. I think the characters acted, well, out of character, and the dialogue wasn't very believable. It was just ok, I guess, but I'll probably never re-read it.
This one wasn't as good as I remember some of the others being. I mean, none of them have been totally amazing, but they were quick, fun reads. I'm not sure what it was about this one, but I just wasn't crazy about it. I think the characters acted, well, out of character, and the dialogue wasn't very believable. It was just ok, I guess, but I'll probably never re-read it.
January 8, 2015
I read all of the books from this series when I was younger, or whatever I could get my hands on. I remember this book the most. I don't know if I'd give it a 5 star now, but when I was younger I would have. So, I'm 5 starring it based on my younger self's obsession with this series :) Also, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my all time favourite TV show, Sons of Anarchy coming in at a second. (The ending for Buffy: perfect. The ending for Sons of Anarchy: frustrating.)
did-not-finish
July 17, 2014I didn't finish this book; i didn't really like the writing style and i felt like i was just reading a Buffy fanfiction.
June 21, 2016
I watched the tv show and I didn't feel like reading the book but here is a review on partially the tv series
April 18, 2020
I usually don't find stories about weres very interesting cos they're kind of a one trick pony, but it was fun revisiting this story again. (Even if I did have to hold my copy of the book carefully cos the binding is coming apart and pages are falling out.)
The timing on this story is a bit weird. It falls after Prophecy Girl (takes place the summer before season 2), but no reference is made to the Master plot line and the dark angst we know Buffy struggled with all summer thanks to the episode When She Was Bad is absent in this story. In fact, based on how people behave, it seems like most of season 1 didn't happen. Reference is made to Angel being a vampire and that Buffy likes him, but all of the character beats that should be there for a story post- Prophecy Girl are missing. Xander and Willow ignore Buffy when she tells them something feels off about the carnival workers, which doesn't make sense with Teacher's Pet and I Robot, You Jane having occurred already. And with the events of The Pack being so recent, you would think Xander of all people would listen.
The dialogue, however, was on point. And I like the mythology behind skinwalkers and what was going on with the werecoyotes. In fact, apart from a strange dismissal of characterization, the only flaw with the book is the rushed final battle (it takes 2 paragraphs.) But the show sometimes had quick final battles in s01 as well, so that's not without precedent.
The timing on this story is a bit weird. It falls after Prophecy Girl (takes place the summer before season 2), but no reference is made to the Master plot line and the dark angst we know Buffy struggled with all summer thanks to the episode When She Was Bad is absent in this story. In fact, based on how people behave, it seems like most of season 1 didn't happen. Reference is made to Angel being a vampire and that Buffy likes him, but all of the character beats that should be there for a story post- Prophecy Girl are missing. Xander and Willow ignore Buffy when she tells them something feels off about the carnival workers, which doesn't make sense with Teacher's Pet and I Robot, You Jane having occurred already. And with the events of The Pack being so recent, you would think Xander of all people would listen.
The dialogue, however, was on point. And I like the mythology behind skinwalkers and what was going on with the werecoyotes. In fact, apart from a strange dismissal of characterization, the only flaw with the book is the rushed final battle (it takes 2 paragraphs.) But the show sometimes had quick final battles in s01 as well, so that's not without precedent.
June 10, 2021
Of the two Buffy novels thus far in the series, this is probably the better one, feeling slightly better paced than Halloween Rain, as well as avoiding the issue of having way too much cultural references crammed into every single page.
That's not to say this is a perfect addition to the Buffy canon - some of the dialogue feels clunky, and there are once again timeline issues around the fact that it seems to be set post-Season 1, even though we know Buffy was incommunicado in LA for the entire summer pre-Season 2. But giving these issues the benefit of the doubt, the story itself rolled along nicely and was fun to read.
Sure, there were still a couple of bits that didn't fully make sense: Was it ever really explained why the carnie-coyotes needed town folk to come along with them? Either it wasn't explained, or it was so briefly explained that I promptly forgot. Plus, when discussing the desecrated grave, Giles was pretty quick to guess "Maybe they're planning to raise him from the dead", and then they just roll with it and lo and behold that is indeed the plan. Maybe it would have been nice to get some actual deduction work instead of just Giles making an assumption.
So the more I'm writing here the more I'm realising the faults. But hey, it was very readable, and it was nice and quick, so I rolled through it as an average book. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars, but I'll round up to 4 because I'm feeling generous.
That's not to say this is a perfect addition to the Buffy canon - some of the dialogue feels clunky, and there are once again timeline issues around the fact that it seems to be set post-Season 1, even though we know Buffy was incommunicado in LA for the entire summer pre-Season 2. But giving these issues the benefit of the doubt, the story itself rolled along nicely and was fun to read.
Sure, there were still a couple of bits that didn't fully make sense: Was it ever really explained why the carnie-coyotes needed town folk to come along with them? Either it wasn't explained, or it was so briefly explained that I promptly forgot. Plus, when discussing the desecrated grave, Giles was pretty quick to guess "Maybe they're planning to raise him from the dead", and then they just roll with it and lo and behold that is indeed the plan. Maybe it would have been nice to get some actual deduction work instead of just Giles making an assumption.
So the more I'm writing here the more I'm realising the faults. But hey, it was very readable, and it was nice and quick, so I rolled through it as an average book. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars, but I'll round up to 4 because I'm feeling generous.
July 25, 2025
It’s been around 20 years since I’ve last read this book. As a young teen, I loved this book. It was one of my favorite Buffy novels growing up. Even then, I didn’t like that it was set during the summer, knowing it contradicts the series’ timeline. But the storyline about skinwalkers was unique, and added Native American folklore to a series that didn’t normally explore this type of mythology, despite being set in Southern California.
However, upon rereading the novel as an adult, I didn’t like the characterizations of the core four. Willow and Xander, in particular, are way off from the versions of their television counterparts. The only thing that somewhat saves this characterization is that the carnies that are interested in them and cause the mischaracterization are practicing skinwalkers, so even when the characters actively go against their senses, the mysticism helps explain these plot choices.
This was also only the second original Buffy novel produced, released early into the series’ original airing, so I give some allowances for mischaracterization, as they may not have been fully fleshed out as characters when the novel was written.
Due to the nostalgia factor, I give it 3 stars, as it fits well as a potential first season story, and is certainly not the worst Buffy novel.
However, upon rereading the novel as an adult, I didn’t like the characterizations of the core four. Willow and Xander, in particular, are way off from the versions of their television counterparts. The only thing that somewhat saves this characterization is that the carnies that are interested in them and cause the mischaracterization are practicing skinwalkers, so even when the characters actively go against their senses, the mysticism helps explain these plot choices.
This was also only the second original Buffy novel produced, released early into the series’ original airing, so I give some allowances for mischaracterization, as they may not have been fully fleshed out as characters when the novel was written.
Due to the nostalgia factor, I give it 3 stars, as it fits well as a potential first season story, and is certainly not the worst Buffy novel.
June 28, 2023
I fully understand that this book was published after season one, but I just didn't feel like the author grasped who the characters are in this world.
First off, Giles would never worry about getting arrested and he certainly would not be a "frazzled ball of nerves". Season 1 Giles was excited to be a Watcher. He was supportive of Buffy's hunches and certainly would have not let her sit back alone.
Secondly, Willow was depicted extremely wrong. Yes, her love for Xander was highlighted in season one, but Willow is a lot smarter than what this book made her out to be. She would have seen right through Rose's facade. However, I do agree with how Xander was made out to be: a whiny, petty, sexist jerk who can't handle rejection. He's too busy being petty to listen to Buffy's warnings.
The story structure of the book was pretty much textbook. It does a good job at making you want to read the next chapter and it definitely was a quick read. The resolution was kind of whack though. It was built up to have this epic showdown with the big bad cowboy and it doesn't even happen. It was literally one page of fighting, not even.
With that being said, I had to give it a three. I'm hoping the next books in the series get better.
First off, Giles would never worry about getting arrested and he certainly would not be a "frazzled ball of nerves". Season 1 Giles was excited to be a Watcher. He was supportive of Buffy's hunches and certainly would have not let her sit back alone.
Secondly, Willow was depicted extremely wrong. Yes, her love for Xander was highlighted in season one, but Willow is a lot smarter than what this book made her out to be. She would have seen right through Rose's facade. However, I do agree with how Xander was made out to be: a whiny, petty, sexist jerk who can't handle rejection. He's too busy being petty to listen to Buffy's warnings.
The story structure of the book was pretty much textbook. It does a good job at making you want to read the next chapter and it definitely was a quick read. The resolution was kind of whack though. It was built up to have this epic showdown with the big bad cowboy and it doesn't even happen. It was literally one page of fighting, not even.
With that being said, I had to give it a three. I'm hoping the next books in the series get better.
July 27, 2018
I am slowly (very slowly) making my way through these books (a very lovely friend gave me about 100 of them!).
I absolutely adore everything Joss Whedon and Buffy is one of my all time favourite tv shows. I guess I thought by reading these books, it would take me back 20 years in time and recapture that interest. Unfortunately, I just struggle with getting engaged in these books and without being too harsh - they read like fanfic but with 2D characters and dialogue that just feels wrong when I hear it in my head. I guess they just lack the magic that is Josh Whedon and his team of amazing writers.
This book was about werecoyotes masquerading as Carnies and wanting to dig up/resurrect(?) some wild west show guy. At only 170+ pages this should have been a quick read, but I really had to force myself to finish it.
This one was set mid-S1 (after the eating of Principal Flutie, but before the Master rises), so I am hoping that when I get to books connected to later seasons the plot may actually evolve and there may be more focus on character development. Fingers crossed for better Buffy-esque dialogue too :-).
I absolutely adore everything Joss Whedon and Buffy is one of my all time favourite tv shows. I guess I thought by reading these books, it would take me back 20 years in time and recapture that interest. Unfortunately, I just struggle with getting engaged in these books and without being too harsh - they read like fanfic but with 2D characters and dialogue that just feels wrong when I hear it in my head. I guess they just lack the magic that is Josh Whedon and his team of amazing writers.
This book was about werecoyotes masquerading as Carnies and wanting to dig up/resurrect(?) some wild west show guy. At only 170+ pages this should have been a quick read, but I really had to force myself to finish it.
This one was set mid-S1 (after the eating of Principal Flutie, but before the Master rises), so I am hoping that when I get to books connected to later seasons the plot may actually evolve and there may be more focus on character development. Fingers crossed for better Buffy-esque dialogue too :-).
June 13, 2021
Uurrgh. Disappointing. The traveling carnival as subject matter is in itself not very interesting (to me), but I was willing to give it a try for the sake of some Sunnydale escapism. However, really wish author John Vornholt had stayed with the absolute basics: the school, slaying, the Bronze, hanging with the Scoobies. Instead, we're stuck with a weird, illogical plot revolving around coyotes and carnies.
Buffy is treated poorly by the author and basically gets shoved around and humiliated and never truly gets to kick any butt. Even at the end. I get the idea Vornholt didn't care for Buffy as a character, so definitely not the right person to spearhead this novel. Xander is portrayed in the story as a selfish jerk and even calls Buffy names behind her back - not cool. Willow acts very weak and impressionable and gets talked into doing things that seem very out of character.
Low point: Buffy gets knocked unconscious from a blow to the head from a man wielding a wrench. He then locks her in a large toolbox. Inside, she can barely breathe. It was like something out of a Saw movie. I was very uncomfortable with it and it just reeked of misogyny. This is not a fun story at all.
Buffy is treated poorly by the author and basically gets shoved around and humiliated and never truly gets to kick any butt. Even at the end. I get the idea Vornholt didn't care for Buffy as a character, so definitely not the right person to spearhead this novel. Xander is portrayed in the story as a selfish jerk and even calls Buffy names behind her back - not cool. Willow acts very weak and impressionable and gets talked into doing things that seem very out of character.
Low point: Buffy gets knocked unconscious from a blow to the head from a man wielding a wrench. He then locks her in a large toolbox. Inside, she can barely breathe. It was like something out of a Saw movie. I was very uncomfortable with it and it just reeked of misogyny. This is not a fun story at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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