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Buffyverse Novels #41
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Deep Water
Shape Shifters
Willow's soft spot for critters finds her spending a cold winter morning along the coast as part of a volunteer rescue team, cleaning up an oil spill that has damaged the marine habitat. While climbing over some rocks, she discovers another unexpected victim of the spillage -- a selkie, a shape-shifting seal girl who won't be able to return to the sea until the oil is removed from her coat.
Willow takes the creature back to the library so that Giles and the Slayerettes can help her to restore her magickal coat. However, though "Ariel," as the posse dubs her, is endearing in her innocence, Buffy can't quite shake her innate suspicions of the creature whose nature, like the ocean, is ever changing.
Unfortunately, the spill has forced more than a selkie from the cold water. Merrows look very much like traditional mermaids -- with one important and fatal difference. As if things weren't complicated enough...
This novel is non-canon.
178 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
6 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
About the author
Laura Anne Gilman
122 books824 followersLaura Anne Gilman’s work has been hailed as “a true American myth” by NPR, and praised for her “deft plotting and first-class characters” by Publishers Weekly. She has won the Endeavor Award for THE COLD EYE, and been shortlisted for a Nebula, (another) Endeavor, and a Washington State Book Award. Her work includes the Devil’s West trilogy, the Cosa Nostradamus urban fantasy series, the Vineart trilogy, and the story collection WEST WINDS’ FOOL. Her upcoming move, UNCANNY TIMES, will be out from Saga Books in 2022.
She lives in Seattle with a cat, a dog, and many deadlines.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 20, 2023
This is one of the earlier Buffy original novels that's directed to younger readers, set somewhere in the third season of the show. It's a Willow-centric story, though Cordelia and Oz both have memorable bits. Props for the shout-out to marine conservation, and if you find a mermaid, you might as well call her Ariel. It's a well-done quick read, fun for all with a nice message, grr arrgh....
August 18, 2018
Read for Book Roast's Magical Readathon: NEWTs Exams. Subject: Herbology, O Level. (Light/Air/Sun/Water in the Title)
[Oz's] hair was blond this morning. Buffy frowned. Hadn't it been a sort of orange-y yesterday? He saw her looking and shrugged. "One of the spells kinda misfired."
"You mean that's your natural hair color?"
Oz looked puzzled for a moment. "Y'know, I don't really remember."
Okay, not gonna lie, I didn't have high expectations going into this. I collect these Buffy novelizations, and I think I've read maybe two of them? In the 20 years of being in love with this show? I mean, why would I read these, that's what fanfiction was always for.
But oh my god, this is kind of awesome! I am so thoroughly impressed with these authors. This storyline would easily fit into the show, and it feels very real that this could've been something that happened in between episodes.
This takes place in Season 3, post Lover's Walk. And everyone's dialogue feels realistic, there is no eye rolling required, nothing forced. And the idea of the gang banding together to save a selkie who got caught in an oil spill, hell, that's still pretty relevant 18 years after this book was published.
Speaking of 18 years, let's have a giggle.
One of these days, Buffy thought, we're all going to have to get beepers. Or walkie-talkies. Or something. Because leaving a message, "Yes, Mrs. Rosenberg, we've got dead bodies, and I need Willow to help save the world again," is so not possible.
If you don't read that and go 'awww' with nostalgia.
Seriously, this was the cutest. And I'm also more inclined to be a little excited for the other Buffy books on my shelves.
Not that I'll get to them any time soon.
[Oz's] hair was blond this morning. Buffy frowned. Hadn't it been a sort of orange-y yesterday? He saw her looking and shrugged. "One of the spells kinda misfired."
"You mean that's your natural hair color?"
Oz looked puzzled for a moment. "Y'know, I don't really remember."
Okay, not gonna lie, I didn't have high expectations going into this. I collect these Buffy novelizations, and I think I've read maybe two of them? In the 20 years of being in love with this show? I mean, why would I read these, that's what fanfiction was always for.
But oh my god, this is kind of awesome! I am so thoroughly impressed with these authors. This storyline would easily fit into the show, and it feels very real that this could've been something that happened in between episodes.
This takes place in Season 3, post Lover's Walk. And everyone's dialogue feels realistic, there is no eye rolling required, nothing forced. And the idea of the gang banding together to save a selkie who got caught in an oil spill, hell, that's still pretty relevant 18 years after this book was published.
Speaking of 18 years, let's have a giggle.
One of these days, Buffy thought, we're all going to have to get beepers. Or walkie-talkies. Or something. Because leaving a message, "Yes, Mrs. Rosenberg, we've got dead bodies, and I need Willow to help save the world again," is so not possible.
If you don't read that and go 'awww' with nostalgia.
Seriously, this was the cutest. And I'm also more inclined to be a little excited for the other Buffy books on my shelves.
Not that I'll get to them any time soon.
July 5, 2015
Normally I really enjoy the Buffy the Vampire Slayer side novels, I think they can give insight on the characters that we have all grown to love and admire. The stories can be a little more extreme and even sometimes better than the side episodes we would get in the actual television show. However, this is not the case with this side novel. Focusing on the ocean and having the creatures be from the ocean reminded me to much of an actually episode in Buffy called 'Go Fish.' I was not even interested in the side story of the scooby gang finding a Selkie. Overall the only thing that kept me going throughout this whole side story novel was that I promised myself I would always read them at least once when I got one to collect. Overall, not the best side story but it did have a heartfelt message showing us once again that Buffy and her friends always get the bad guy, get things done, save the day, and help each other through the evil.
October 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this one.
Willow is part of a environmental group that's cleaning up the beach when she finds a "child" that's a bit off and she brings it to the library and Giles. It turns out it is a "selkie" - a creature that can shift between being a seal and having a human form - and the gang have to figure out how to clean its seal skin and help it return to its seal shape and the sea. Meanwhile "merrows", mean mere-people, decide to hunt on the ground and it becomes something of a war between mere-people and vampires.
Also there is a professor who thinks selkies are evil and the gang must navigate his intentions and keep him away from their "Ariel", as they call her. Lots of Giles and Willow caring for this child, quite funnily, she can't speak English but only Gaelic so Giles has to struggle through with that.
Surprisingly about this book is that the real MVP of the story (though some reviews credit it as a "Willow book") is Cordelia. She is actually a compelling character here, even though they at times push it (the idea that she would be at school at like 5 am or so seems very OOC), generally she is accidentally the most helpful and clever of them here. So yeah, wow, one of these books made me think Cordelia was an OK character for once, that's really something.
Willow is part of a environmental group that's cleaning up the beach when she finds a "child" that's a bit off and she brings it to the library and Giles. It turns out it is a "selkie" - a creature that can shift between being a seal and having a human form - and the gang have to figure out how to clean its seal skin and help it return to its seal shape and the sea. Meanwhile "merrows", mean mere-people, decide to hunt on the ground and it becomes something of a war between mere-people and vampires.
Also there is a professor who thinks selkies are evil and the gang must navigate his intentions and keep him away from their "Ariel", as they call her. Lots of Giles and Willow caring for this child, quite funnily, she can't speak English but only Gaelic so Giles has to struggle through with that.
Surprisingly about this book is that the real MVP of the story (though some reviews credit it as a "Willow book") is Cordelia. She is actually a compelling character here, even though they at times push it (the idea that she would be at school at like 5 am or so seems very OOC), generally she is accidentally the most helpful and clever of them here. So yeah, wow, one of these books made me think Cordelia was an OK character for once, that's really something.
November 23, 2018
A slightly different type of monster for Buffy and the Scooby gang to fight off - and one that makes even the vamps of Sunnydale a little nervous. A good adventure, but not the best Buffy novel I have ever read. It seemed to take them a long time to click that maybe Angel could talk to Ariel in Irish ... and then it doesn't actually happen. I think that would have added some much needed interest into Ariel's background and what had happened to her. As it is, its left to the gang to work out and guess, but you never really find out a lot about the Selkies.
Still a good read and I always love a revisit to Sunnydale.
Still a good read and I always love a revisit to Sunnydale.
December 26, 2017
To be fair, I was looking for a simple read to catch up to my goal. However, the ending of the book was a let down. The main characters had nothing to do with the conclusion of the story, rather the mystical creature just decided to leave on its own and the story ended. It was an easy read but it did not seem to achieve anything. I give it 4 stars as it was an easy read and flowed well and given it is a youth book it may be better appreciated by it's target audience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2024
standard Buffy book - gives me a lot of joy just because it's the same characters but realistically is not that good. but easy and short read, which helps with enjoying it a bit more with how flimsy it can be.
plot was interesting, although feel like they couldve done something a bit more interesting with the selkie, she seemed to have such an important role in the book, but she really didnt add much, only being present to show shes a kid and scared and not adding much to the story.
plot was interesting, although feel like they couldve done something a bit more interesting with the selkie, she seemed to have such an important role in the book, but she really didnt add much, only being present to show shes a kid and scared and not adding much to the story.
February 21, 2025
Surprised that I actually liked this quite a bit. Definitely a mess (there's so many different plotlines happening in this very short book), but captures the tone of the show quite well, while managing to give each of its characters a decent focus, even neatly outlining exactly where it falls in within the third season. Definitely no work of art, but a fun, quick read.
May 17, 2017
Don't judge me! I loved the Buffy series and also like the side books. These are quick reads with the same characters but stories that didn't make the screen. Deep Water has the Scoobies trying to help a young selkie get back home after an oil spill. Oh yeah, and they also save the world again!
August 21, 2023
I just really struggled to get into this book. The storyline felt a bit flat, and like it wasn't really going anywhere, but simultaneously there were a few too many elements for such a short book that just weren't developed enough to make it interesting.
February 15, 2018
Slower going read. I didn't enjoy it as much compared to the others I have read - felt a little drawn out.
December 27, 2019
Epic show down of Merrows vs. Vaampires vs. Scooby gang. Like the uniques use of driftwood as a stake.
July 13, 2020
I couldn't connect with this one. The characters just didn't capture the essence they have in the show. As a Buffy fan I say pass on this one.
October 23, 2021
Found in a charity shop! It was great to read Buffy again after so long. Cool story too.
May 18, 2023
“And it’s another victory for the fashion police!” So dorky but still makes me laugh!
May 14, 2024
Willow finds a Selkie and the Scooby gang try to help her. Interesting story but not the best one. A little gory, a little frustrating. But good.
June 29, 2014
With pitch-perfect dialogue and believable action, Buffy and friends are once more subjected to the weirdness that is Sunnydale. True to the series, reliance isn’t always made on Angel to bail them out of trouble; instead we have Buffy’s team working more or less as a coherent unit. But this reader had to wonder why it was that someone smart (i.e., Willow) didn’t figure out sooner that a vampire formerly from Ireland would be the best person to communicate with a selkie that spoke an old form of Gaelic.
Cordelia Chase shows the most character growth, this story taking place after her breakup with Xander Harris. As usual, she engages in her own willful blindness, claiming that she dumped Buffy and her team because she considered them losers instead of admitting that she broke up because she caught Xander cheating.
There are lessons to be learned here, not always pleasant truths to be confronted and, as always, supernatural butt to kick. Welcome to life on the Hellmouth.
Cordelia Chase shows the most character growth, this story taking place after her breakup with Xander Harris. As usual, she engages in her own willful blindness, claiming that she dumped Buffy and her team because she considered them losers instead of admitting that she broke up because she caught Xander cheating.
There are lessons to be learned here, not always pleasant truths to be confronted and, as always, supernatural butt to kick. Welcome to life on the Hellmouth.
May 9, 2020
A terrific read that captures all of the characters' voices and quirks perfectly!
Willow is helping clean the beach of an oil spill and comes across an odd little girl covered in goo. She's a selkie and she can't change back into her seal form. Naturally she takes the kiddo back to the library where the Scoobies try to figure out how to help her. Preceding this event, Buffy has nightmares about drowning, so she's not cool with the water creature. Not helping is that another race of water creatures are tired of the humans polluting their environment and decide to take it out on the air breathers. Before you can say it, there's a gang war between vampires and the sea creatures.
Oz, Angel, and Cordelia are in the mix and they are great, with Cordy being wonderfully written--she steals every scene she's in.
My only knock is that this book is so short, but that shouldn't deter you if you're a fan of Sunnydale thrills.
Willow is helping clean the beach of an oil spill and comes across an odd little girl covered in goo. She's a selkie and she can't change back into her seal form. Naturally she takes the kiddo back to the library where the Scoobies try to figure out how to help her. Preceding this event, Buffy has nightmares about drowning, so she's not cool with the water creature. Not helping is that another race of water creatures are tired of the humans polluting their environment and decide to take it out on the air breathers. Before you can say it, there's a gang war between vampires and the sea creatures.
Oz, Angel, and Cordelia are in the mix and they are great, with Cordy being wonderfully written--she steals every scene she's in.
My only knock is that this book is so short, but that shouldn't deter you if you're a fan of Sunnydale thrills.
October 14, 2013
This was a great book. Once again the writer has produced a book that is full of dialogue that we have come to know and love from our beloved Scooby Gang. This book had a very fishy element to it and I particularly like the way in which the Vampires were intimidated by the Merrows. I would have liked to have seen more of a resolve with Ariel but all in all a great little book for the die hard Buffy fan. My favourite moment was a small piece of dialogue that takes place between Cordelia and Giles towards the end, very sweet.
If you're a Buffy fan, want something good to read and in doing so bump up your book/page count then give this a whirl, you won't be disappointed!
If you're a Buffy fan, want something good to read and in doing so bump up your book/page count then give this a whirl, you won't be disappointed!
December 5, 2012
This book would be like a filler episode in the series. Willow comes across a new friend on the beach that needs to be protected until her and her friends can figure out how to get her back home. While she seems innocent, what she brings with her causes trouble for the town. This book is a fun read for fans of the show.
February 25, 2019
It is what it is
October 22, 2012
A book set in the Buffyverse. Nothing spectacular to write about. It was an o.k read. It only took a day to read so if you have a day to kill, this will do.
December 21, 2019
Short. Sweet. Very Buffy. Recommended.
December 4, 2013
I always have time for a Star Trek, Aliens/Predator, or Buffy The Vampire Slayer book.This time Buffy and the gang are dealing with cretures from the ocean deep! It's a fun read.
January 31, 2015
A good read and the authors got the voices of the characters right.
August 10, 2018
good BtVS story, not the best one
June 21, 2015
This book was very boring to me I had a hard time getting through it
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews