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Tales of the Slayer #4
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 4
A collection of original short stories based on the hit TV series created by Joss Whedon
"I can't be...just a person,
I can't be helpless like that...."
--Buffy, "Helpless"
At eighteen, each Slayer must face a terrifying trial: the Tento di Cruciamentum. This time-honored, albeit cruel, rite of passage forces each Watcher to drain the Slayer of all her physical powers and then send her to vanquish a powerful vampire using only her wits. When Buffy Summers underwent her Cruciamentum, she managed to defeat Kralik, a vampire who had been committed to a sanitarium as a human for torturing and murdering more than a dozen young women before he was turned. However, not all Slayers have been so cunning.
Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 4 chronicles the Cruciamentum of eight earlier Slayers. From Prohibition Chicago to beatnik New York City, from the sideshows of a traveling carnival to a small Irish farm, from the fifteenth century to the twentieth, the Cruciamentum has tested the prowess of Slayers throughout history. Each of them has had to fight: for her job, for the lives of those she loved, and for her own existence....
Contents:
It's All About the Mission, Harlem, New York, 1973 / Nancy Holder
Undeadsville, New York, 1952 / Michael Reaves
Alone, 1876, Ireland / Scott Allie
Sideshow Slayer, Duluth, Minnesota, 1911 / Greg Cox
Survivors, Chicago, 1919 / Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Back to the Garden, 1969 / Robert Joseph Levy
The Rule of Silence, Seville, Spain, 1481 / Kara Dalkey
Two Teenage Girls at the Mall, Keller, Nebraska, 1981 / Jane Espenson
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
805 people want to read
About the author
Michael Reaves
130 books212 followersMichael Reaves is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and screenwriter whose many credits include Star Trek: The Next Generation, Twilight Zone, Batman: The Animated Series, and Gargoyles. His novels include the New York Times bestseller STAR WARS: Darth Maul- Shadowhunter and STAR WARS: Death Star. He and Neil Gaiman cowrote Interworld. Reaves has also written short fiction, comic books, and background dialogue for a Megadeth video. He lives in California.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 10, 2022
This was the final anthology of original short stories set within the infrastructure of the Buffy universe in which different authors looked at previous slayers from different historical eras. There was no editor listed on any of the books. In this one, eight different writers told the story a slayer's Cruciamentum, a ritual ceremony in which the hero is drained of her powers and then sent to face a powerful vampire. It's kind of a silly concept when you think about it, but the varied results in this book to the limiting concept are interesting, but with uneven results. We visit New York City in 1973 and again in 1952, Ulster in 1876, Pennsylvania in 1911, Chicago in 1919, Nova Scotia in 1969, Seville in 1481, and Nebraska in 1983. I most enjoyed Kara Dalkey's Inquisition story, and Jane Espenson's trip to the mall.
November 10, 2021
I really enjoyed this collection as it focused on the Cruciamentum in several different time periods without all of the death and sadness of the previous collections. The last story was also unique as it was from the vampire’s perspective instead of the slayer’s.
January 23, 2020
One of the most painful episodes for me in the entirety of the Buffy series is the season 3 episode "Helpless." The relationship between Buffy and Giles has been and will always be my favorite, and (to me at least) is the cornerstone of the entire show. So, when I opened up the fourth and final volume of short stories that makes up Tales of the Slayer and saw they all revolved around the rite of passage called the Tento di Cruciamentum, I was both intrigued and skeptical. Honestly, I didn't see how they could possibly think up enough variations for eight different stories. I thought the only real potential plot lines were: Slayer lives or dies, Slayer is angry at her Watcher or not, Slayer has many years of slaying under her belt and the trial comes easy or she's more green and it's difficult. I am happy to announce that I was wrong. All of these stories were endlessly fascinating, and yes, sometimes the relationship between the Slayer and her Watcher was affected, but most of the time that was not the focal point of the story.
It's All About the Mission by Nancy Holder: To start the collection, we begin the story with a Slayer familiar to anyone who has seen the show -- Nikki Wood, a Slayer we know is eventually killed by Spike and who is the mother of rogue vampire hunter Principal Wood in season 7. That means that we know going into the story that she will survive her Cruciamentum, but her Watcher (whose head we are in) does not. We also are introduced to a younger Quentin Travers, and yes, he always was something of a jerk.
Undeadsville by Michael Reaves: A darker tale than the previous story even while set in the same major city (though nearly 20 years earlier than the preceding.) This story utilizes all three forms of pov, and while it can be distracting in certain places, it works overall. The only thing I did not much care for was the way Reaves insisted on writing the story in early 50s colloquialisms. Not only that but beat poetry style, which I have always found tiresome to slog through. I feel awful the Slayer in this one though and she deserved so much better.
Alone by Scott Allie: This one was decent, but possibly the most forgettable of all the tales in this volume. And that makes me sad because I was really excited to read this one when I read that it took place in Ulster. However, everything about the Slayer in this one was stereotypically Irish and she is portrayed as somewhat weak, even without her powers having been suppressed by her Watcher. I commend her for the lengths she had to go through as a Potential and later as a Slayer to establish a rapport with her Watcher in a time when she would have to marry a man to be as constantly in his company. However, in this story she is sexually abused by her father, still has to beat up vampires without her powers, and her Watcher just kind of leaves the story about five pages before the end and that's where the story ends. I understand open endings for stories usually, but this one left me kind of lost as to how I was supposed to feel at the end.
Sideshow Slayer by Greg Cox: I was predisposed to love this story for two reasons. 1) It's written by Greg Cox and he's one of my faves. 2) It has to do with the old traveling shows, which kind of died out with the popularity of cinemas in the late 1920s. It's an era of the history of entertainment that has always fascinated me, and having the Slayer have to fight a vampire in an old school funhouse was both thrilling and fun. A simple premise, but executed very well.
Survivors by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Dot is one of my new heroes, in terms of Slayers that aren't Buffy. The story seems rather cut and dry to begin with, and I had some thoughts about the twist early on, but I still found the story intriguing. Dot was no-nonsense and devoted to her Watcher, and that is something I can appreciate. Also, all the talk about the coming prohibition was a fun touch to the narrative.
Back to the Garden by Robert Joseph Levy: I did not care much for the Slayer in this particular story, even though I definitely understand where she's coming from emotionally. As a pacifist, I would be most upset to discover that my destiny in life was to kill a bunch of beings. However, her naivete was annoying; if you refuse the powers of the Slayer and there is no one to check on the rising forces of darkness, do you really think those forces are never going to cross your path? I also don't understand how a specific character died. Beryl got to the site first and yet the person was dead further inside the cave? Either the writer forgot a key detail somewhere or it got lost in translation.
The Rule of Silence by Kara Dalkey: I think this may be my favorite story in this collection (beating out even Jane Espenson's contribution.) A Slayer in Seville, Spain during the height of the Spanish Inquisition. Giving the setting, you can guess from the off some of the difficulties the Council has planned for her during her Cruciamentum. The rite of passage for this Slayer seems almost *beyond* what should be expected of anyone, even a girl with supernatural abilities. I think even Buffy would have possibly died on this one, so Esperanza is another new character hero for me. By the end of the story, I was hoping that if she managed to survive that she just murdered the entirety of the Watcher's Council because while the Cruciamentum is beyond inhumane, what they forced Esperanza to live through was absolute hell on Earth. Yeah...this one was DARK.
Two Teenage Girls at the Mall by Jane Espenson: This one read almost like a dark comedy. It was just as brutal as the others, but the pov was hilarious and somehow heartbreaking simultaneously. Of course, given that it took place in 1983 and the Slayer's name was Peri, I kept picturing Nicola Bryant as the Slayer which was AMAZING. And given that Espenson is a Whovian, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that it's who she pictured, too.
All of these stories focus at least a bit on the relationship between Slayers and Watchers, with variations on the strength and devotion of those relationships. I would recommend reading it for the reason alone, but also because these are some of the best stories in all 4 collections. A nice strong end to multiple volumes of anthologies about Buffy's predecessors.
It's All About the Mission by Nancy Holder: To start the collection, we begin the story with a Slayer familiar to anyone who has seen the show -- Nikki Wood, a Slayer we know is eventually killed by Spike and who is the mother of rogue vampire hunter Principal Wood in season 7. That means that we know going into the story that she will survive her Cruciamentum, but her Watcher (whose head we are in) does not. We also are introduced to a younger Quentin Travers, and yes, he always was something of a jerk.
Undeadsville by Michael Reaves: A darker tale than the previous story even while set in the same major city (though nearly 20 years earlier than the preceding.) This story utilizes all three forms of pov, and while it can be distracting in certain places, it works overall. The only thing I did not much care for was the way Reaves insisted on writing the story in early 50s colloquialisms. Not only that but beat poetry style, which I have always found tiresome to slog through. I feel awful the Slayer in this one though and she deserved so much better.
Alone by Scott Allie: This one was decent, but possibly the most forgettable of all the tales in this volume. And that makes me sad because I was really excited to read this one when I read that it took place in Ulster. However, everything about the Slayer in this one was stereotypically Irish and she is portrayed as somewhat weak, even without her powers having been suppressed by her Watcher. I commend her for the lengths she had to go through as a Potential and later as a Slayer to establish a rapport with her Watcher in a time when she would have to marry a man to be as constantly in his company. However, in this story she is sexually abused by her father, still has to beat up vampires without her powers, and her Watcher just kind of leaves the story about five pages before the end and that's where the story ends. I understand open endings for stories usually, but this one left me kind of lost as to how I was supposed to feel at the end.
Sideshow Slayer by Greg Cox: I was predisposed to love this story for two reasons. 1) It's written by Greg Cox and he's one of my faves. 2) It has to do with the old traveling shows, which kind of died out with the popularity of cinemas in the late 1920s. It's an era of the history of entertainment that has always fascinated me, and having the Slayer have to fight a vampire in an old school funhouse was both thrilling and fun. A simple premise, but executed very well.
Survivors by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Dot is one of my new heroes, in terms of Slayers that aren't Buffy. The story seems rather cut and dry to begin with, and I had some thoughts about the twist early on, but I still found the story intriguing. Dot was no-nonsense and devoted to her Watcher, and that is something I can appreciate. Also, all the talk about the coming prohibition was a fun touch to the narrative.
Back to the Garden by Robert Joseph Levy: I did not care much for the Slayer in this particular story, even though I definitely understand where she's coming from emotionally. As a pacifist, I would be most upset to discover that my destiny in life was to kill a bunch of beings. However, her naivete was annoying; if you refuse the powers of the Slayer and there is no one to check on the rising forces of darkness, do you really think those forces are never going to cross your path? I also don't understand how a specific character died. Beryl got to the site first and yet the person was dead further inside the cave? Either the writer forgot a key detail somewhere or it got lost in translation.
The Rule of Silence by Kara Dalkey: I think this may be my favorite story in this collection (beating out even Jane Espenson's contribution.) A Slayer in Seville, Spain during the height of the Spanish Inquisition. Giving the setting, you can guess from the off some of the difficulties the Council has planned for her during her Cruciamentum. The rite of passage for this Slayer seems almost *beyond* what should be expected of anyone, even a girl with supernatural abilities. I think even Buffy would have possibly died on this one, so Esperanza is another new character hero for me. By the end of the story, I was hoping that if she managed to survive that she just murdered the entirety of the Watcher's Council because while the Cruciamentum is beyond inhumane, what they forced Esperanza to live through was absolute hell on Earth. Yeah...this one was DARK.
Two Teenage Girls at the Mall by Jane Espenson: This one read almost like a dark comedy. It was just as brutal as the others, but the pov was hilarious and somehow heartbreaking simultaneously. Of course, given that it took place in 1983 and the Slayer's name was Peri, I kept picturing Nicola Bryant as the Slayer which was AMAZING. And given that Espenson is a Whovian, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that it's who she pictured, too.
All of these stories focus at least a bit on the relationship between Slayers and Watchers, with variations on the strength and devotion of those relationships. I would recommend reading it for the reason alone, but also because these are some of the best stories in all 4 collections. A nice strong end to multiple volumes of anthologies about Buffy's predecessors.
August 27, 2022
Buffy is my favorite tv show ever. As you can see, I have quite the collection, and this is just half of it. I’ve had this book for years, and I’m so glad I finally managed to get to it! I really enjoyed these short stories. Some of them actually tied into characters in the show, briefly mentioning Darla, Nikki Wood, and several members of the Watcher’s Council. The only downside was that each slayer’s test seemed far too easy. Buffy’s test was insane and difficult. And a long battle. That episode was one of the most heartbreaking to watch. These slayers all seemed to miraculously defeat their opponent in minutes. I just didn’t see their struggle. It felt downplayed. Maybe it’s because they were short stories, I don’t know. But I wanted more of a fight, more oomph. Overall, this book is excellent for Buffy fans and I think you should pick it up if you love the show! I miss having new episodes of Buffy, so I’ll take it where I can get it.
January 29, 2024
Absolutely loved this one. Favourite of the four.
The best stories in my opinion were ‘It’s All About the Mission’ by Nancy Holder. ‘Undeadsville’ by Michael Reeves and ‘Two Teenage Girls at the Mall’ by Jane Espenson
The best stories in my opinion were ‘It’s All About the Mission’ by Nancy Holder. ‘Undeadsville’ by Michael Reeves and ‘Two Teenage Girls at the Mall’ by Jane Espenson
August 26, 2024
And the final one bites the dust
April 11, 2016
This volume contains 8 "shorts" about previous slayers. I have never read any of the other volumes but I figured that wouldn't have much impact on my understanding of the story since I figured out that each volume has different stories, each penned by a different writer. Not like it is a linear tale of each slayer that came before Buffy in chronological order.
"It's All About The Mission" by Nancy Holder.
I like Holder's writing and since she has written so many Buffy/Angel tales, I trusted this story to be worth my time. I was surprised to see the story was about Nikki Wood, but it was nice to see a familiar name to ease into some non-Buffy stories. Fans of the show know how she meets her end but it was kinda cool to to get know a little more about her and to see her watcher.
"Undeadsville" by Michael Reaves
This short started off slow for me but I liked how the Watcher/Slayer relationship didn't exactly mirror that of Giles and Buffy. Plus, it was refreshing how the story played out as it was the only story in the book that changed direction and ended on a different note than all of the others.
"Alone" by Scott Allie
This contribution to the volume bored me. I liked the idea behind it all but it wasn't handled very well in my opinion. Granted, the dynamic between the Slayer and her Watcher was quite different in this entry but overall, the story lacked something that grabbed my attention. The ending was rather abrupt to me.
"Sideshow Slayer" by Greg Cox.
The setting of this story was interesting to me. The Slayer calls a carnival home and the cat and mouse game of the Cruciamentum takes place in a fun house. Definitely a different set up, which was nice.
"Survivors" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
This story was not a bad one but it wasn't great either. An unstable Watcher was a nice touch but overall the story wasn't as good as it could have been.
"Back to the Garden" by Robert Joseph Levy
Finally, a female Watcher to shake things up a bit. Granted, I was slow to warm up to this entry but after realizing that Beryl wasn't even an actual Slayer in the start, just a potential was a nice twist on a plot point that was growing old at this point in the book. For the most part, I liked this story and the different plotting that Levy brought to the book. Another abrupt ending but I understand that eqah story has to end at some point.
"The Rule of Silence" by Kara Dalkey
This tale really shook things up. A completely different country and time period made for a interesting shake-up. I liked how her Cruciamentum was set up differently than previous ones, more intense with more than just one angry vamp to defeat. It started to run a little long for me, but I enjoyed it for the most part.
"Two Teenage Girls at the Mall" by Jane Espenson
I saw Espenson's name and figured that this would be one of the better chapters but I was wrong. This had to be the weakest of all. It wasn't just the viewpoint of the vampire but the repeating that Espenson used in her writing as well as the ever present and annoying "blanking" that the vamp said. Once was enough, the rest just took me out of the story. Plus, the layout of the story left this reader with more questions than answers by the time it was all said and done. A vamp sired a vamp just for the Cruciamentum? The vampires are working with the Watcher's Council? I don't understand the point of Gregor and why he throws his newbie to the Slayer. I don't have to like every Slayer but this story made her seem like a pre-Sunnydale Buffy that was an idiot bitch. Perhaps this was done so that you were basically rooting for Julie to win? I don't know but it wasn't well thought out or written. A bad note to end the book on, for sure.
"It's All About The Mission" by Nancy Holder.
I like Holder's writing and since she has written so many Buffy/Angel tales, I trusted this story to be worth my time. I was surprised to see the story was about Nikki Wood, but it was nice to see a familiar name to ease into some non-Buffy stories. Fans of the show know how she meets her end but it was kinda cool to to get know a little more about her and to see her watcher.
"Undeadsville" by Michael Reaves
This short started off slow for me but I liked how the Watcher/Slayer relationship didn't exactly mirror that of Giles and Buffy. Plus, it was refreshing how the story played out as it was the only story in the book that changed direction and ended on a different note than all of the others.
"Alone" by Scott Allie
This contribution to the volume bored me. I liked the idea behind it all but it wasn't handled very well in my opinion. Granted, the dynamic between the Slayer and her Watcher was quite different in this entry but overall, the story lacked something that grabbed my attention. The ending was rather abrupt to me.
"Sideshow Slayer" by Greg Cox.
The setting of this story was interesting to me. The Slayer calls a carnival home and the cat and mouse game of the Cruciamentum takes place in a fun house. Definitely a different set up, which was nice.
"Survivors" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
This story was not a bad one but it wasn't great either. An unstable Watcher was a nice touch but overall the story wasn't as good as it could have been.
"Back to the Garden" by Robert Joseph Levy
Finally, a female Watcher to shake things up a bit. Granted, I was slow to warm up to this entry but after realizing that Beryl wasn't even an actual Slayer in the start, just a potential was a nice twist on a plot point that was growing old at this point in the book. For the most part, I liked this story and the different plotting that Levy brought to the book. Another abrupt ending but I understand that eqah story has to end at some point.
"The Rule of Silence" by Kara Dalkey
This tale really shook things up. A completely different country and time period made for a interesting shake-up. I liked how her Cruciamentum was set up differently than previous ones, more intense with more than just one angry vamp to defeat. It started to run a little long for me, but I enjoyed it for the most part.
"Two Teenage Girls at the Mall" by Jane Espenson
I saw Espenson's name and figured that this would be one of the better chapters but I was wrong. This had to be the weakest of all. It wasn't just the viewpoint of the vampire but the repeating that Espenson used in her writing as well as the ever present and annoying "blanking" that the vamp said. Once was enough, the rest just took me out of the story. Plus, the layout of the story left this reader with more questions than answers by the time it was all said and done. A vamp sired a vamp just for the Cruciamentum? The vampires are working with the Watcher's Council? I don't understand the point of Gregor and why he throws his newbie to the Slayer. I don't have to like every Slayer but this story made her seem like a pre-Sunnydale Buffy that was an idiot bitch. Perhaps this was done so that you were basically rooting for Julie to win? I don't know but it wasn't well thought out or written. A bad note to end the book on, for sure.
November 6, 2015
The last collection of short stories was surprisingly the best overall by quite a bit. Although all of the stories shared a similar event (the Cruciamentum, the test a slayer takes at 18 when they are lacking their tricked by their watcher and lacking all powers), the more common thread was stronger characterization and more interesting plots. Here's how I'd rank them from worst to best.
Sideshow Slayer - A fun story set in a traveling carnival where demons and the supernatural fit in. A few shockingly violent moments also made it memorable.
Alone - This 1800's story about a slayer returning home took a shocking turn into an abusive parent story that I did not see coming.
Two teenage girls at the mall - A somewhat predictable twist where the story is written from the vampire's perspective; the conversation between the two parties at the end reinforces why Jane Espensen is the best writer I've seen in these books so far.
Undeadsville - I always wondered why they didn't do a storyline on the tv show about a slayer that was turned into a vampire. This story gets extra points for that reason, and also some nice use of multiple viewpoints.
It's All about The Mission - one of the more straightforward stories in the set, this one is great for fans of the show by capitalizing on the Principal Wood storyline from the last seasons.
Back to the Garden - A great story set in the 1960's about a pacifist slayer and the commune as a sanctuary for the supernatural.
Survivors - The watcher in this story (as a traumatized WW1 survivor) and his slayer (as a girl covering the duties of both people) were two of the most compelling characters in any short story so far.
The rule of silence - My favorite non-Buffy story so far, taking place in the Spanish Inquisition a young Jewish girl has to overcome not only the religious zealots of the day but also a Cruciamentum that puts all the others in this book to shame.
Sideshow Slayer - A fun story set in a traveling carnival where demons and the supernatural fit in. A few shockingly violent moments also made it memorable.
Alone - This 1800's story about a slayer returning home took a shocking turn into an abusive parent story that I did not see coming.
Two teenage girls at the mall - A somewhat predictable twist where the story is written from the vampire's perspective; the conversation between the two parties at the end reinforces why Jane Espensen is the best writer I've seen in these books so far.
Undeadsville - I always wondered why they didn't do a storyline on the tv show about a slayer that was turned into a vampire. This story gets extra points for that reason, and also some nice use of multiple viewpoints.
It's All about The Mission - one of the more straightforward stories in the set, this one is great for fans of the show by capitalizing on the Principal Wood storyline from the last seasons.
Back to the Garden - A great story set in the 1960's about a pacifist slayer and the commune as a sanctuary for the supernatural.
Survivors - The watcher in this story (as a traumatized WW1 survivor) and his slayer (as a girl covering the duties of both people) were two of the most compelling characters in any short story so far.
The rule of silence - My favorite non-Buffy story so far, taking place in the Spanish Inquisition a young Jewish girl has to overcome not only the religious zealots of the day but also a Cruciamentum that puts all the others in this book to shame.
October 11, 2014
This is a collection of short stories that tell about different slayers and their partaking of the Cruciamentum. This is a test for slayers who are deprived of their strength and they must face a monster. They must survive on their wits. These stories have different time eras and each story has their own slayer. There is no Buffy story and the only slayer from the show that has a story is Nikki Wood. The time eras range from the Spanish Inquisition to the 1980's.
I believe that when reading an anthology that readers will enjoy some stories and dislike others. That was the case here. All of the authors had an interesting take on one singular event that happens in vampire slayer's life but in the overall arc is small in nature. There were a couple of times that the stories hinted at the television show and I appreciated that. The one thing I did take from reading this collection is I view Buffy's Cruciamentum differently. I did not like Giles' contribution to this stupid tradition but after reading this I don't regard him with as much disdain as I once did when dealing with this event.
There is nothing truly memorable here but I think fans of the show will like this book.
I believe that when reading an anthology that readers will enjoy some stories and dislike others. That was the case here. All of the authors had an interesting take on one singular event that happens in vampire slayer's life but in the overall arc is small in nature. There were a couple of times that the stories hinted at the television show and I appreciated that. The one thing I did take from reading this collection is I view Buffy's Cruciamentum differently. I did not like Giles' contribution to this stupid tradition but after reading this I don't regard him with as much disdain as I once did when dealing with this event.
There is nothing truly memorable here but I think fans of the show will like this book.
June 29, 2016
This exciting volume about the fictional Slayers deals with the most harrowing test they can face—the Cruciamentum. This grueling test is meant to weaken the Slayer and pit her against a formidable enemy. Whether this seems cruel and inhumane or simply necessary is meant for the reader to judge as we see both Slayers and their Watchers put through the wringers.
The stories are riveting, briskly paced and action packed, just what you would expect from tales about girls fighting the forces of darkness. The world isn’t so neatly outlined in black and white here, where demons can prove friends and humans can be enemies. The Slayers are as varied as their battles, the Watchers sometimes ruthless generals and sometimes worried parental figures. It’s a thrilling addition to the series and one that stamps the slaying world with humane and inhumane figures.
The tales also shift us back and forth throughout history, shedding light on the various forces that mold the Slayer into the warrior she will become. For those who were adherents of the series or are newly come to its fandom, “Tales of the Slayers” volume 4 is a thrilling, nail-biting plunge into the heart of darkness.
The stories are riveting, briskly paced and action packed, just what you would expect from tales about girls fighting the forces of darkness. The world isn’t so neatly outlined in black and white here, where demons can prove friends and humans can be enemies. The Slayers are as varied as their battles, the Watchers sometimes ruthless generals and sometimes worried parental figures. It’s a thrilling addition to the series and one that stamps the slaying world with humane and inhumane figures.
The tales also shift us back and forth throughout history, shedding light on the various forces that mold the Slayer into the warrior she will become. For those who were adherents of the series or are newly come to its fandom, “Tales of the Slayers” volume 4 is a thrilling, nail-biting plunge into the heart of darkness.
November 2, 2015
This collection of stories about past Slayers centers around the Cruciamentum, the test that weakens at Slayer on her 18th birthday to see if she can survive without her strength, just relying on her wits (such as in Buffy season 3 episode, Helpless). The stories were kind of up and down. A couple of the slayers, the first two stories especially, reminded me too much of Buffy, and I'm not a huge fan of Nikki Wood. My favourites were The Rule of Silence, about a Slayer during the Spanish Inquisition, and Two Teenage Girls at the Mall, told from the vampire's perspective who is meant to fight the Slayer during the Cruciamentum.
started-finish-later
November 27, 2010The first story is about Nikki Wood, 1970s-era, Cleopatra Jones-style Slayer. Maybe you remember her from a very intense subway sequence...?
I love these books. The stories are like candy; not very heavy or intellectually-nutritional, but so delicious and fun.
I love these books. The stories are like candy; not very heavy or intellectually-nutritional, but so delicious and fun.
Read
July 28, 2011I like this Tales collection better then the the third volume because the presence of a unifying theme makes the stories sharper and a bit more focused. I found all the stories enjoyable, and the one by Scott Allie was my favorite.
November 21, 2016
Some good stories in this. I liked that every story revolved around a particular ritual that was the focus of just one episode of the Television show. Some of the stories were well written. It was a fun, quick read.
April 3, 2009
The short stories are all of the girls turning 18 and having their power taken away so they're all helpless and have to defeat some big bad vamp. So fun to read!
January 3, 2011
loved all of these short stories
June 4, 2015
the Nikki Wood story didn't work like the history I know, in this book, she was 18 when she got pregnant but she already had her son before she was called as a slayer.
February 25, 2019
Sorry to see this series of diversions end
to-read-owned
June 5, 2014There's something about finding a fandom book at a used book store that makes me happier than buying a brand new highly anticipated book.
Read
July 2, 2016Nagu jutukogudega ikka, mõned on paremad lood, mõned mitte. Mulle meeldisid kõige rohkem biitnik-slayer ja lugu Dotist ja Reginaldist.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews