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Buffyverse Novels #65
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tempted Champions
Buffy confronts a new dangerous new obstacle, Celina, the new girl in town and a vampire who had once been a Slayer, who has plans to challenge both Buffy and Angel and whose very existence causes Buffy to confront serious questions about her own dark side. Original. (A UPN television series, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar) (Horror)
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 26, 2001
3 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Yvonne Navarro
126 books173 followersYvonne Navarro is the author of Concrete Savior, Highborn, AfterAge, deadrush, Final Impact, Mirror Me and a bunch of other books, plus Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels and tie-in novels for Hellboy, Elektra, and others."
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 17, 2017
Parts of this novel I loved and parts of it I hated. I loved the idea of a slayer who had turned into a vampire instead of just plain old dying. I liked the story between her and Buffy. I liked the fact that the author chose to have Angel be in the book because.. duh Angel! I wasn't a fan of the Anya story line for a couple of reasons one of them being that it is sort of a story line that is actually used on the television series itself. It was a quick and easy read and I really did enjoy it minus the few issues I had with it.
Longer review coming soon!
Longer review coming soon!
June 14, 2020
So, if a Slayer were turned into a vampire...?
And if Anya had the chance to regain her immortality and vengeance status...? (You've got to regard the second question in an alternate-Buffyverse context because the TV series went there after this entertaining Navarro novel was written.)
These questions and more are examined and answered in this nice original novel set early in the time of the fifth season. (You know, shortly after Dawn.) The voices of the characters are convincingly captured, and the plot is well paced. This was one of the best Buffy books.
And if Anya had the chance to regain her immortality and vengeance status...? (You've got to regard the second question in an alternate-Buffyverse context because the TV series went there after this entertaining Navarro novel was written.)
These questions and more are examined and answered in this nice original novel set early in the time of the fifth season. (You know, shortly after Dawn.) The voices of the characters are convincingly captured, and the plot is well paced. This was one of the best Buffy books.
August 25, 2021
Tempted Champion takes place in season 5 of Buffy. Not the first time I'm reading this one, one of my fave Buffy's book. Buffy as a new ennemy. A vampire is in town and here to challenge her. A long time ago, Angel have face her twice, and barely escape both time.
Celina not a typical vampire. When she was human, centuries ago, she also was a slayer. Buffy have delt with her own darkness a lot. And she will be tempted. Could she be with Angel? Either if Willow restore her soul or if even Angel lost his. Could they be together?
Celina not a typical vampire. When she was human, centuries ago, she also was a slayer. Buffy have delt with her own darkness a lot. And she will be tempted. Could she be with Angel? Either if Willow restore her soul or if even Angel lost his. Could they be together?
August 6, 2023
3.5
I didn’t care much for the Anya parts of this, first it was fun to get her perspective, then tiresome as she is faced with a choice, but the reader already knows her choice at this point.
That said, l’ve always wanted the show to explore the idea of a Slayer turned vampire. I would have loved for Sunday in s4 to have been that and for the series to have explored the concept more. Though this s5 setting is more fitting, as it is the season where Buffy is exploring slayerhood in general… so I would have loved seeing this on the show and to have Cassia/Catia/Celina further expanded on, both there and in this book.
This book was a fun, but brief, toying with the idea. I love Angel so I’m beyond thrilled that he is in the book.
I know Buffy tells him here not to let her come back as a vampire, should that happen, but having her say ”don’t let me come back” in relation to death at all, and knowing s6, made the line hit harder.
All in all, another one of the better Buffy books. But also, WHO didn’t Angel and Spike meet in their past. They’ve lived for a long time, you meet a lot of people, I get it, but still…
I didn’t care much for the Anya parts of this, first it was fun to get her perspective, then tiresome as she is faced with a choice, but the reader already knows her choice at this point.
That said, l’ve always wanted the show to explore the idea of a Slayer turned vampire. I would have loved for Sunday in s4 to have been that and for the series to have explored the concept more. Though this s5 setting is more fitting, as it is the season where Buffy is exploring slayerhood in general… so I would have loved seeing this on the show and to have Cassia/Catia/Celina further expanded on, both there and in this book.
This book was a fun, but brief, toying with the idea. I love Angel so I’m beyond thrilled that he is in the book.
I know Buffy tells him here not to let her come back as a vampire, should that happen, but having her say ”don’t let me come back” in relation to death at all, and knowing s6, made the line hit harder.
All in all, another one of the better Buffy books. But also, WHO didn’t Angel and Spike meet in their past. They’ve lived for a long time, you meet a lot of people, I get it, but still…
December 14, 2017
That was fun. Yvonne Navarro has written quite a few Buffy/Angel novels and it shows. This was highly enjoyable. The characters were done really well and spot on to the TV show. I enjoyed the story on this book of the possibility of what happens if rather than just being killed, if a slayer is actually turned and becomes a vampire herself. It made her a formidable opponent and was really well done. Highly recommended and very enjoyable. 5 stars.
October 8, 2021
This was an interesting book based on the Buffy series. Both Anya and Buffy had a bit of a dilemma that they overcame. In Anya’s regard she was approached by D’hoffryn in order to become a vengeance demon for scorned women again. And Buffy was approached by a Vampire Slayer Vampire by the name of Celina, a Greek vampire slayer from the 15th century that was turned into a Vampire. All in all it was pretty good.
November 10, 2015
It was okay. Not earthshattering. But fun to read once. Why doesn't goodreads have half points?
February 3, 2025
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tempted Champions by Yvonne Navarro presents an intriguing premise, exploring the concept of a Slayer turned vampire—something that had only been hinted at before in the series. The idea of Celina, a vampire who was once a Slayer, as a formidable adversary, offers a fresh take on Buffy's internal battle with her own darker tendencies. Celina’s challenge to Buffy forces her to confront not only her enemies but her own potential for darkness, which makes for a compelling dynamic.
Navarro does an excellent job capturing the essence of the characters, especially Buffy and Angel, and weaving them into an engaging plot that feels in line with the show’s tone. The pacing is well done, and the relationships between the characters, including the emotional weight of Buffy’s struggles, are effectively portrayed. It's clear that Navarro has a good grasp of the Buffyverse, and the interactions among the core group—Buffy, Angel, Willow, Xander, and even Spike—add to the depth of the story.
While the main storyline with Celina is strong and interesting, the subplot involving Anya's decision about regaining her vengeance demon status felt less compelling. It's a topic that’s been explored more thoroughly in the show itself, which detracts a bit from the uniqueness of this novel. Additionally, some may find that the pacing drags in certain areas, particularly when the focus shifts to Anya's storyline.
Despite these minor drawbacks, Tempted Champions is an enjoyable read for any Buffy fan. The core premise is strong, the characters are true to form, and the addition of Celina as a vampire Slayer offers a fresh twist. It’s a solid addition to the Buffy book series, though not quite as gripping as some of the best entries. Still, for fans of the show and the broader Buffyverse, it’s definitely worth a read.
Navarro does an excellent job capturing the essence of the characters, especially Buffy and Angel, and weaving them into an engaging plot that feels in line with the show’s tone. The pacing is well done, and the relationships between the characters, including the emotional weight of Buffy’s struggles, are effectively portrayed. It's clear that Navarro has a good grasp of the Buffyverse, and the interactions among the core group—Buffy, Angel, Willow, Xander, and even Spike—add to the depth of the story.
While the main storyline with Celina is strong and interesting, the subplot involving Anya's decision about regaining her vengeance demon status felt less compelling. It's a topic that’s been explored more thoroughly in the show itself, which detracts a bit from the uniqueness of this novel. Additionally, some may find that the pacing drags in certain areas, particularly when the focus shifts to Anya's storyline.
Despite these minor drawbacks, Tempted Champions is an enjoyable read for any Buffy fan. The core premise is strong, the characters are true to form, and the addition of Celina as a vampire Slayer offers a fresh twist. It’s a solid addition to the Buffy book series, though not quite as gripping as some of the best entries. Still, for fans of the show and the broader Buffyverse, it’s definitely worth a read.
October 3, 2025
(3.5 stars rounded down)
Felt like the author had a good idea for this book (the idea of the characters being tempted by other lives) - but that one-sentence idea didn't quite translate well into the full scope of a novel. There were sort of two disparate threads of this idea - one being Anya (which was quite neatly tied up quite early on in the book) and the other being Buffy. And for Buffy, this idea came quite late in the book, and was sort of thrown in at the eleventh hour as a vague notion... might have been nice to see it fuly developed as a real 'temptation' instead of just a passing thought.
But aside from that, it was quite a fun read. There were a TON of typos though which was actually quite distracting!
Felt like the author had a good idea for this book (the idea of the characters being tempted by other lives) - but that one-sentence idea didn't quite translate well into the full scope of a novel. There were sort of two disparate threads of this idea - one being Anya (which was quite neatly tied up quite early on in the book) and the other being Buffy. And for Buffy, this idea came quite late in the book, and was sort of thrown in at the eleventh hour as a vague notion... might have been nice to see it fuly developed as a real 'temptation' instead of just a passing thought.
But aside from that, it was quite a fun read. There were a TON of typos though which was actually quite distracting!
July 20, 2025
xander can I be your gf next
February 13, 2026
Really enjoyed this one, especially with a focus on Anya. Buffy is amazing....it took me years to get to her, but I am so glad to be in the fandom!
January 27, 2023
Ik heb het hier al meermaals verkondigt, maar ik ben een grote fan van Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Het blijft voor mij één van de beste (misschien zelfs wel de beste) serie aller tijden en ik blijf het leuk vinden dat er nog altijd uitbreidingen op dat universum verschijnen. De comics worden nog altijd uitgebracht en gaan verder waar de serie ophield terwijl er een hoop boeken zijn uitgebracht die zich ergens tijdens de serie afspelen. Tempted Champions is er eentje van de laatste categorie.
Gesitueerd in seizoen 5 vertelt deze het verhaal van een voormalige Slayer die een vampier is geworden. Cool concept, maar de uitwerking is wat lauw te noemen. Ik had dan eerlijk gezegd ook verwacht dat dit veel meer een aspect ging zijn in het verhaal. De focus is echter voor een groot gedeelte op Anya komen te liggen. Die krijgt een aanbod van D'Hoffryn om haar menselijkheid opnieuw op te geven en je leest hoe ze de voor- en nadelen tegen elkaar afweegt. Niet echt het meest interessante uitgangspunt en bovendien ééntje dat ook in de serie (in Hell's Bells, de 16e aflevering uit seizoen 6 om specifiek te zijn) compleet werd teniet gedaan. Nu zijn de Buffy boeken sowieso niet altijd het toonbeeld van continuïteit maar de episode is in maart 2002 uitgekomen en het boek ook. Dan kun je toch net wel iets beter op elkaar afstemmen lijkt me. Verder is ook Yvonne Navarro niet mijn favoriete schrijfster in het Buffyverse, er iets aan haar stijl dat me niet altijd weet te boeien, maar weet ze over het algemeen wel de typische stijl van de serie te benaderen. Verder gelukkig de aanwezigheid van de volledige groep hoofdpersonen met onder andere Giles, Xander, Willow, Dawn, Spike en zelfs Angel die allemaal een groot aandeel in het plot hebben.
Cool uitgangspunt, de uitwerking zelf is wat minder. Ik lees deze boeken juist om het gevoel te hebben om een nieuwe episode te zien in plaats van degene die ik ondertussen al wel vanbuiten ken. In dat opzicht is het jammer dat het verhaal een deel van de serie recupereert (of toch dezelfde plotlijn gebruikt aangezien het een kwestie van dagen is dat dit van elkaar is uitgekomen) en bovendien is het een verhaallijn die in de serie beter tot zijn recht kwam.
Gesitueerd in seizoen 5 vertelt deze het verhaal van een voormalige Slayer die een vampier is geworden. Cool concept, maar de uitwerking is wat lauw te noemen. Ik had dan eerlijk gezegd ook verwacht dat dit veel meer een aspect ging zijn in het verhaal. De focus is echter voor een groot gedeelte op Anya komen te liggen. Die krijgt een aanbod van D'Hoffryn om haar menselijkheid opnieuw op te geven en je leest hoe ze de voor- en nadelen tegen elkaar afweegt. Niet echt het meest interessante uitgangspunt en bovendien ééntje dat ook in de serie (in Hell's Bells, de 16e aflevering uit seizoen 6 om specifiek te zijn) compleet werd teniet gedaan. Nu zijn de Buffy boeken sowieso niet altijd het toonbeeld van continuïteit maar de episode is in maart 2002 uitgekomen en het boek ook. Dan kun je toch net wel iets beter op elkaar afstemmen lijkt me. Verder is ook Yvonne Navarro niet mijn favoriete schrijfster in het Buffyverse, er iets aan haar stijl dat me niet altijd weet te boeien, maar weet ze over het algemeen wel de typische stijl van de serie te benaderen. Verder gelukkig de aanwezigheid van de volledige groep hoofdpersonen met onder andere Giles, Xander, Willow, Dawn, Spike en zelfs Angel die allemaal een groot aandeel in het plot hebben.
Cool uitgangspunt, de uitwerking zelf is wat minder. Ik lees deze boeken juist om het gevoel te hebben om een nieuwe episode te zien in plaats van degene die ik ondertussen al wel vanbuiten ken. In dat opzicht is het jammer dat het verhaal een deel van de serie recupereert (of toch dezelfde plotlijn gebruikt aangezien het een kwestie van dagen is dat dit van elkaar is uitgekomen) en bovendien is het een verhaallijn die in de serie beter tot zijn recht kwam.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2015
A novel based on the television series. In this book, a vampire has come to Sunnydale and she is one of the toughest opponents that Buffy has yet faced.
This was an decent read that takes place in the universe. The author portrays all of the characters correctly and I had no problem with any of the portrayals. There are two different plots in this book. The main plot was mentioned during the television run but was never explored. This plot is what would happen if a vampire slayer was turned. I enjoyed this aspect of the novel. The second plot was that Anya has a chance to become a vengeance demon again. Unfortunately, this plot was eventually explored during the show's run. I believe this was just plain bad luck as this was probably penned before the show went down this avenue. The problem was while reading this arc I felt like I already did this.
I always enjoy visiting old friends and this novel allowed me to do this. It is a quick read and can be enjoyed by fans of the show and by people who never watched it.
This was an decent read that takes place in the universe. The author portrays all of the characters correctly and I had no problem with any of the portrayals. There are two different plots in this book. The main plot was mentioned during the television run but was never explored. This plot is what would happen if a vampire slayer was turned. I enjoyed this aspect of the novel. The second plot was that Anya has a chance to become a vengeance demon again. Unfortunately, this plot was eventually explored during the show's run. I believe this was just plain bad luck as this was probably penned before the show went down this avenue. The problem was while reading this arc I felt like I already did this.
I always enjoy visiting old friends and this novel allowed me to do this. It is a quick read and can be enjoyed by fans of the show and by people who never watched it.
December 11, 2014
I love the idea behind this novel and I wish there was a Buffy episode based on the concept. I guess it's kind of how Faith made the wrong decisions and became a rogue slayer. The idea of a slayer (they totally think the vamps suck!) willingly choosing to become a member of the undead is mind boggling. I did feel kinda sorry for her but then again she chose the dark path all on her own. Very entertaining read and one of the memorable Buffy fanfics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2011
Absolutely LOVED this!
I finished it a very long time ago, way before I even knew about Goodreads.
The thought of a Vampire Slayer who got turned into a Vampire (Vampire Slayer Vampire lol) herself was a very interesting thought, which is why I really wanted to get this book.
Another great Buffy The Vampire Slayer book!
I finished it a very long time ago, way before I even knew about Goodreads.
The thought of a Vampire Slayer who got turned into a Vampire (Vampire Slayer Vampire lol) herself was a very interesting thought, which is why I really wanted to get this book.
Another great Buffy The Vampire Slayer book!
August 14, 2014
I always have time for a Star Trek book or a Buffy book. This particular novel is right in the middle of the Buffy pack, not the most memorable, but certainly an enjoyable read.A good chunk of the story I remember as a plot of one of the Buffy episodes; Anya is given a chance to be a demon again. If you miss the show, read the books.
August 10, 2015
Tempted Champions is a novel based on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It is based in season five of the series. It was written by Yvonne Navarro, who has written other material based on the series, such as The Wicked Willow Trilogy.
February 25, 2019
Cool idea
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