Prophecies: The Lost Slayer Part One

Rating:
Summary: Buffy learns she is destined to be "The Lost Slayer"
Review: "Prophecies," the first book in Christopher Golden's four-part "The Lost Slayer" serial novel, takes us back to the early days of season four, when Buffy the Vampire Slayer was trying to enjoy being a freshman at UC-Sunnydale and Willow was still dating Oz. Unlike the recently completed "Unseen" trilogy, this serial novel focuses primarily on the character of Buffy and avoids being caught in the limbo of writing about relationships that no longer exist on the television series. This is Buffy after Angel and before Riley, a young woman desperate to be more than just the Slayer and to carve out some semblance of a 'normal life. This is a Buffy who is on edge, accidentally backhanding Willow, repeatedly snapping at Giles, and finding freedom not in the classroom as she desires but only in letting lose the full violence of the Slayer in combat.

But then two troubling things happen to up the ante. First, the shade of the deceased Slayer Lucy Hanover (first introduced in "The Gatekeeper" trilogy) appears in a dream and warns Buffy of a prophecy of impending danger that will somehow be caused by Buffy herself. Second, a new pack of vampires, with bats tattooed on their face and glowing orange eyes, and showing up in increasing numbers in Sunnydale. Of course, these two developments are related in the worst way possible. For most of the novel it seems pretty clear the title refers to Buffy as a Slayer who has lost sense of her true self. But then we come to the final chapter and a dramatic development that gives "The Lost Slayer" an entirely new and unforgetable meaning. This first book gets five stars because it achieves its highest goal, which is to make the reader desperate to read the next installment. Fortunately, I already have the next one at hand and I am going to start reading it as soon as I finish off this review.

However, I do have one caveat: I do not think Camazotz would have two people occupying one cell, especially if the mirror was removed on day one. Then again, I certainly recognize how Golden did not want anything to get in the way of the gripping cliffhanger that ends Part One in this serial. Also, a minor complaint, which is not limited to Golden's novel alone, namely that Anya's constant talk about her sex life with Xander is becomingly really old, really fast.

Rating:
Summary: The begining of a great chronical
Review: I have been really into the show Buffy the Vampire ever since the show came out and the books are just as good! Christopher Golden is a wonderful writer with a plethra of ideas and twists! This book finds Buffy in turmoil with her college experience (being a Freshman and all). She doesn't seem to think she needs much help facing the evil that has come to town. This time the evil is some type of super vampire clan. For some reason they have never heard of the slayer! *shock*. Buffy gets an appearence from no other than Lucy Hanover. ( she was also once a slayer). Lucy tells her that there is impending danger, which she (Buffy) has caused. Buffy's bad judgment sends her into the future. She is then imprisioned in her future self's body. This book brings some questions and keeps you wondering!

Rating:
Summary: The begining of a great chronical
Review: I have been really into the show Buffy the Vampire ever since the show came out and the books are just as good! Christopher Golden is a wonderful writer with a plethra of ideas and twists! This book finds Buffy in turmoil with her college experience (being a Freshman and all). She doesn't seem to think she needs much help facing the evil that has come to town. This time the evil is some type of super vampire clan. For some reason they have never heard of the slayer! *shock*. Buffy gets an appearence from no other than Lucy Hanover. ( she was also once a slayer). Lucy tells her that there is impending danger, which she (Buffy) has caused. Buffy's bad judgment sends her into the future. She is then imprisioned in her future self's body. This book brings some questions and keeps you wondering!