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Buffyverse Novels #33
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Resurrecting Ravana
RAISING THE DEAD
With midterms looming, the students at Sunnydale High are predictably stressed-out. Even super-student Willow is feeling the pressure to succeed. And when her usual study buddies -- Buffy, Xander, and Oz -- decide they don't need her tutorial sessions, Willow wonders if "she's" really what they don't need. But her hurt feelings don't explain her sudden antagonism toward Buffy -- or the strange dreams they've both been having.
As tensions in the school escalate into brutal acts of violence -- and the perpetrators turn up horribly mutilated -- Buffy and the gang search for a supernatural source. The evidence indicates that someone is attempting to resurrect a powerful Hindu demon. Willow's new con?dante, guidance counselor Promila Daruwalla, becomes the prime suspect...until Giles runs into an old "friend" who is always causing trouble. It will take all of the Slayer's resources...and the help of "all" her friends...to find the culprit and destroy the key to the demon's resurrection.
This novel is non-canon.
305 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 11, 1999
5 people are currently reading
749 people want to read
About the author
Ray Garton
180 books563 followersRay Garton is the author of several books, including horror novels such as LIVE GIRLS (which has a movie in the works), CRUCIFAX, E4 AUTUMN, and THE FOLKS; thrillers like TRADE SECRETS and SHACKLED; and numerous short stories and novellas. He's also written a number of movie and television tie-ins for young readers. He lives with his wife, Dawn, in California.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 1, 2023
Resurrecting Ravana is a tie-in novel set in the mid-to-late third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It has some nice moments in the Willow-Buffy friendship dynamic, but overall lacks the crisp dialog and witty banter we came to expect between all of the characters. It draws on Hindu mythology, which was quite interesting, but Ethan Rayne as the big bad was a little tiresome and predictable. It's not particularly memorable in the grand scheme of Slayerdom, but an enjoyable outing for the Gang. Grrr...arghh...
February 10, 2019
It was as enjoyable as any of the the lovable antics of Buffy and her White Hats.
February 15, 2014
8/2 - While reading this I'm coming to think that the reason I didn't particularly enjoy the previous Buffy book I read was because I felt like the show was in its heyday during Season 1-3 - after they left Sunnydale High the show lost something that couldn't be recreated at university or at work, nothing was ever quite the same again. If the show was at its best during the first three seasons, then it follows logically that, for me, the best books would be the ones set during the same time frame. The previous book, Mortal Fear, was set sometime after Buffy started working at the new Sunnydale High as the guidance counsellor and after Xander and Anya's breakup - a storyline I didn't like at all in the show because I really wanted Xander to end up happy, and without Anya I didn't think he was.
The 'bad guy' of Resurrecting Ravana is an interesting idea. The Rakshasa, who are shapeshifters and can change to look like anyone but often choose children as they tend to be universally protected, create discord between best friends, which ends in one friend killing the other and then finding a hidden place where they lie down and are very speedily devoured by the Rakshasa, leaving only a perfectly cleaned set of bones. There's a bit of unnamed racial profiling, Willow actually says that it's mean and not fair, when it's determined that the Rakshasa are Hindu Gods and of course that means that the new Indian guidance counsellor is suspect number one. To be continued...
13/2 - This is getting better as I get towards the end. All the favourites are here, in their best incarnations (except for Spike) - Willow and Oz, Xander and Cordelia, Giles, Joyce, and Angel (just not with Buffy, which is a little sad to think about every time he pops in to save Buffy from the sudden glut of vampires). The bad guy is a Hindu god/demon and Ethan Rayne, one of my all time favourite baddies (after Spike), is involved. I have over the last 50 pages or so I've become quite annoyed with everyone's (especially Giles') obtuseness when it comes to Phyllis and the identity of her mystery man. I mean it's so OBVIOUS and really bugging me that no one else has a clue. 'Lloyd' is desperate to get his hands on the Ravana statuette and is wooing the only woman who can get him access to it; Ethan is in town, he's always looking for more power (well that's what he wants every time he pops up), and he specifically told Giles that he's 'in love' (I don't quite understand Ethan's decision to tell Giles that, unless it was a pointed clue from the author to who 'Lloyd' really is). Anyone else see the coincidences that really aren't? The idea that Phyllis' 100+ year old grandfather is still alive is quite interesting and something that should have been more fully investigated. Considering his interest in the occult, especially the dark side, I imagine it's not machines that are keeping him alive (as Willow supposes), but potions, a demon, or spell. To be continued...
14/2 - Happy Valentine's everyone (not that this book has more than a few lines that could be considered romantic)!! I KNEW Phyllis' love interest would be Ethan! Why didn't that occur to any of the characters? I don't think that really made sense. This got three stars, but it's really three and a half (as shown on BL) because I thought the familiar Buffy characters were there, sounding like themselves.
The 'bad guy' of Resurrecting Ravana is an interesting idea. The Rakshasa, who are shapeshifters and can change to look like anyone but often choose children as they tend to be universally protected, create discord between best friends, which ends in one friend killing the other and then finding a hidden place where they lie down and are very speedily devoured by the Rakshasa, leaving only a perfectly cleaned set of bones. There's a bit of unnamed racial profiling, Willow actually says that it's mean and not fair, when it's determined that the Rakshasa are Hindu Gods and of course that means that the new Indian guidance counsellor is suspect number one. To be continued...
13/2 - This is getting better as I get towards the end. All the favourites are here, in their best incarnations (except for Spike) - Willow and Oz, Xander and Cordelia, Giles, Joyce, and Angel (just not with Buffy, which is a little sad to think about every time he pops in to save Buffy from the sudden glut of vampires). The bad guy is a Hindu god/demon and Ethan Rayne, one of my all time favourite baddies (after Spike), is involved. I have over the last 50 pages or so I've become quite annoyed with everyone's (especially Giles') obtuseness when it comes to Phyllis and the identity of her mystery man. I mean it's so OBVIOUS and really bugging me that no one else has a clue. 'Lloyd' is desperate to get his hands on the Ravana statuette and is wooing the only woman who can get him access to it; Ethan is in town, he's always looking for more power (well that's what he wants every time he pops up), and he specifically told Giles that he's 'in love' (I don't quite understand Ethan's decision to tell Giles that, unless it was a pointed clue from the author to who 'Lloyd' really is). Anyone else see the coincidences that really aren't? The idea that Phyllis' 100+ year old grandfather is still alive is quite interesting and something that should have been more fully investigated. Considering his interest in the occult, especially the dark side, I imagine it's not machines that are keeping him alive (as Willow supposes), but potions, a demon, or spell. To be continued...
14/2 - Happy Valentine's everyone (not that this book has more than a few lines that could be considered romantic)!! I KNEW Phyllis' love interest would be Ethan! Why didn't that occur to any of the characters? I don't think that really made sense. This got three stars, but it's really three and a half (as shown on BL) because I thought the familiar Buffy characters were there, sounding like themselves.
December 22, 2013
I usually enjoy reading media tie-in books but sadly I did not enjoy this one. When a book is set in a universe, one hopes the author would get his facts straight. I noticed several mistakes in this book. Also, the portrayal of the characters were off in my eyes and I did not enjoy the dialogue for them as it was missing the witty banter that is a trademark of the show. The story itself was interesting but did not work in the Buffyverse. If you are looking for a Buffy book, I would suggest trying something else.
August 6, 2020
Buffy is one of relatively few TV series that I'd bother watching in the first place, and one of perhaps only a handful that I'd watch more than once. It features a nearly perfect blend of horror, drama, comedy, and action that seems both reminiscent of its time (the late '90s and early 2000s) and yet somehow timeless in its ability to entertain an audience. It's refreshing, therefore, to return to Sunnydale and the world of Buffy with this novel (yes, it was published while the show was still on, but it's a return for me in the sense that I've only just read it).
Set sometime in the middle of the show's third season (not that it really matters, as neither the novel nor the show will spoil very much of each other), the book features the usual cast of characters. One of the things that always makes me nervous about tie-in novels is that they often don't seem to get the characters quite right, but the characters here actually sound like their on-screen selves, so the reader feels very much like they've stepped back into familiar territory.
The plot is at once original and appropriate to the franchise, featuring a Big Bad that's big enough and bad enough to justify a full-length novel without overshadowing the show's own villains. And though most of the characters are high school students, it reads very much like a grown-up novel, including more than a few little in-jokes and nods to people who've been fans of the horror genre for decades. Indeed, as much as it feels very much like a Buffy episode, it definitely feels a bit more like one of the more horror-heavy ones. While there are undoubtedly some funny moments, this book emphasizes and highlights the darker side of the franchise, which makes perfect sense given the author is master horror writer Ray Garton.
Yeah, one could criticize the book for being a bit too predictable in a couple of its twists and turns, but that never seems to detract from the reading experience. Despite the fact that I saw much of the ending coming well ahead of time, I still found it to be a page-turner that kept me thoroughly entertained from the first page to the last. This was the first of the Buffy tie-in novels I've read, but if it's any indication of the overall quality of the series, it certainly won't be the last.
Set sometime in the middle of the show's third season (not that it really matters, as neither the novel nor the show will spoil very much of each other), the book features the usual cast of characters. One of the things that always makes me nervous about tie-in novels is that they often don't seem to get the characters quite right, but the characters here actually sound like their on-screen selves, so the reader feels very much like they've stepped back into familiar territory.
The plot is at once original and appropriate to the franchise, featuring a Big Bad that's big enough and bad enough to justify a full-length novel without overshadowing the show's own villains. And though most of the characters are high school students, it reads very much like a grown-up novel, including more than a few little in-jokes and nods to people who've been fans of the horror genre for decades. Indeed, as much as it feels very much like a Buffy episode, it definitely feels a bit more like one of the more horror-heavy ones. While there are undoubtedly some funny moments, this book emphasizes and highlights the darker side of the franchise, which makes perfect sense given the author is master horror writer Ray Garton.
Yeah, one could criticize the book for being a bit too predictable in a couple of its twists and turns, but that never seems to detract from the reading experience. Despite the fact that I saw much of the ending coming well ahead of time, I still found it to be a page-turner that kept me thoroughly entertained from the first page to the last. This was the first of the Buffy tie-in novels I've read, but if it's any indication of the overall quality of the series, it certainly won't be the last.
July 30, 2023
A pretty solid book, although by the last quarter I was starting to lose interest.
So many of the novelisations seem to be written by someone who has a very specific interest, so a lot of the book seems to be full of educating the reader (and the Scooby Gang) about a certain area of knowledge - in this case, Hindu gods. Which is interesting, but also makes it kind of jarring against the standard Buffy fare.
I will also say that this one seemed a lot darker than most of the other novelisations (and the show) - there was a pretty graphic description of a human skeleton having had all the flesh eaten off of it... Also Buffy says 'shit' which was unexpected.
So many of the novelisations seem to be written by someone who has a very specific interest, so a lot of the book seems to be full of educating the reader (and the Scooby Gang) about a certain area of knowledge - in this case, Hindu gods. Which is interesting, but also makes it kind of jarring against the standard Buffy fare.
I will also say that this one seemed a lot darker than most of the other novelisations (and the show) - there was a pretty graphic description of a human skeleton having had all the flesh eaten off of it... Also Buffy says 'shit' which was unexpected.
March 9, 2025
I wasn't really sure what to expect with this novel based on the TV show. I'm a huge Buffy fan, but I've never read one of these books. It didn't disappoint.
The characters shine through with the same personalities they have in the show, and the story was very good that would have fitted right in as well. There were even some descriptions of gnarly deaths and gore that I didn't expect.
There are some great moments between Buffy and Willow in this book, and I liked the way that the opening of the book sets the scene and gives a bit of context in case you're not familiar with the Buffyverse.
A very enjoyable book.
The characters shine through with the same personalities they have in the show, and the story was very good that would have fitted right in as well. There were even some descriptions of gnarly deaths and gore that I didn't expect.
There are some great moments between Buffy and Willow in this book, and I liked the way that the opening of the book sets the scene and gives a bit of context in case you're not familiar with the Buffyverse.
A very enjoyable book.
February 16, 2017
This is an excellent entry in the series of books that are centered on the Buffy the Vampire universe. It is well written, exciting, and has enough twists to keep the reader engaged until the last page. As the title will tell you, this story uses a Hindu demon and his followers to challenge Buffy, Giles, and the gang. If you miss Buffy, this is an excellent book to help fill the void!
March 30, 2019
Witty true to the characters easy read action packed
October 5, 2020
Really enjoyed this. I'm loving diving into the Buffy books!! Bring on the next one.
April 23, 2022
Would have been a great episode.
October 12, 2023
Finished on beach. Needed more Angel involvement. Scoobies we’re fun though as always.
May 7, 2024
It’s giving Gremlins.
Good book though, well thought out. Enjoyed it.
Good book though, well thought out. Enjoyed it.
December 2, 2024
Clairement je ne me lasse pas des aventures de ma tueuse préférée ! Histoire vraiment prenante.
August 1, 2016
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
June 24, 2011
This one was really interesting, I loved the Hindu mythology, and some parts were actually scary, and I usually don't get creeped out by books. Creepy, fun, and exciting aspects of the story made this a really awesome Buffy novel!
August 9, 2009
Beach book, fluffy.
May 9, 2017
a better buffy read. Its very heavy on the hindu religion, so if you're not really into it i'd pass
May 18, 2012
This is one of the best Buffy books out there! If you love the Slayer, you gotta read this one!
February 25, 2019
Solid Buffy story
April 6, 2017
Reasonably entertaining but the writing is not exactly stunning.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews