Community Reviews
How to make me not like a Buffy book? Well this one kind of did that. While I enjoyed the dialogue and agree this is a fun book, there's just a bit I couldn't get on board with. Honestly, it could be because this whole book was annoying.
Cordelia being absolutely targeted nearly every chance this book got was irritating to say the least. Not even the show went after Cordelia as much. It also made no sense since Aphrodesia was the high school popular mean girl focus in the opening and not Cordy.
The timeline and continuity: I know the show isn't the best at it with itself, but I'd have hopes that the books would at least attempt with the show they are based on. Boy was I wrong. To understand let me lay out the scene for you via the canon source material. [I know it's petty for a non-canonical book but let me be irritated].
Buffy was born in 19 January 1981. In the first episode of season 1 {the season this story takes place in} Buffy is noted as being 16. This means it would have to take place after January 19th 1997. Meaning, Halloween would not have been possible. The other indication to this is that in Season 2, episode 6: Halloween we learn that this is the first Halloween the gang has spent together. Now I know what you are going to say, but this book was published in November of 1997. The Halloween episode of Buffy was aired on October 27, 1997. However, it was finalized on 12 September 1997. I would assume authority figures that have worked on canon material in the Buffyverse such as Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder would have had more insight on these small details. But maybe I'm just expecting too much.
Moving on we are noted in the initial Halloween episode that Halloween is and always has been a slow time. Buffy states,
There is another one off line from Xander that makes no sense. Sunnydale is a small town in Southern California. However, it does have some charming aspects about it. The Spanish-Style Sunnydale High School, it's buzzing nightclub The Bronze. There are many places to explore in the little town of Sunnydale. I could take all day to list them out and then try to figure out how to post the town map here, but my point is The Mall. By the time this book came out we knew Sunnydale had a mall, a museum, a zoo. So much more than just The Bronze. Yet Xander, good ole Xander Harris, opts have this line in the book.
Then comes Mr. Flutie. I love a good ol' hat tip or recognition towards another character in the series. Mr. Flutie, if you recall, is the principal in Season 1 that ended up getting eaten alive by the teenagers possessed by Hyena's in episode 6 titled "The Pack". Mr. Flutie was eaten. You could assume that they might have recognized his zombie in this story, but honestly after what those teens could do? I doubt it.
I think I'm going to end my rant there for now. I want to keep going, it is fun, but those small things start to add up. I probably would have left a higher review, but the non-stop Cordelia remarks were entirely unnecessary from everyone.
Cordelia being absolutely targeted nearly every chance this book got was irritating to say the least. Not even the show went after Cordelia as much. It also made no sense since Aphrodesia was the high school popular mean girl focus in the opening and not Cordy.
The timeline and continuity: I know the show isn't the best at it with itself, but I'd have hopes that the books would at least attempt with the show they are based on. Boy was I wrong. To understand let me lay out the scene for you via the canon source material. [I know it's petty for a non-canonical book but let me be irritated].
Buffy was born in 19 January 1981. In the first episode of season 1 {the season this story takes place in} Buffy is noted as being 16. This means it would have to take place after January 19th 1997. Meaning, Halloween would not have been possible. The other indication to this is that in Season 2, episode 6: Halloween we learn that this is the first Halloween the gang has spent together. Now I know what you are going to say, but this book was published in November of 1997. The Halloween episode of Buffy was aired on October 27, 1997. However, it was finalized on 12 September 1997. I would assume authority figures that have worked on canon material in the Buffyverse such as Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder would have had more insight on these small details. But maybe I'm just expecting too much.
Moving on we are noted in the initial Halloween episode that Halloween is and always has been a slow time. Buffy states,
[b:Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Script Book, Season Two, Volume 1|293560|Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Script Book, Season Two, Volume 1|Gertrude Pocket|https:i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387742477l/293560._SX50_.jpg|284848]"It's the one night a year that things are supposed to be quiet for me." // "Not according to Giles. He swears that tomorrow night is, like, dead for the un-dead. They stay in."Yet, in this book we see this weird interaction between Buffy and Xander where Buffy says,
[b:Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Halloween Rain|293476|Buffy the Vampire Slayer Halloween Rain|Christopher Golden|https:i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388964809l/293476._SY75_.jpg|683324]"Xander, isn't Halloween, like prom night for ghouls?"(pg 8) // "for me I'm an extreme no-show tonight," Buffy protested, "it's the Slayer Superbowl." (pg 13)This changed happened to simply make a story, but it felt so unnecessary and honestly, quite lazy. I did like the introduction to a 17th Century Slayer named Erin Randall and her Watcher Timothy Cassidy. Of course, like all Slayers her story is not one that ends well. It's actually even more sad when you take into account what Spike says about Slayers in Season 5 Episode 7: Fool for Love
"The only thing about the dance is, you never get to stop. Everyday you wake up, it's the same bloody question that haunts you. Is today the day I die...? Death is on your heels, baby, and sooner or later, it's gonna catch you... And part of you wants it... not only to stop the fear and uncertainty, but because you're just a little bit in love with it... Death is your art. You make it with your hands day after day, that final gasp, that look of peace. A part of you is desperate to know... What's it like? Where does it lead you? And now, you see, that's the secret. Not the punch you didn't throw or the kicks you didn't land. She merely wanted it. Every Slayer... has a death wish... "
There is another one off line from Xander that makes no sense. Sunnydale is a small town in Southern California. However, it does have some charming aspects about it. The Spanish-Style Sunnydale High School, it's buzzing nightclub The Bronze. There are many places to explore in the little town of Sunnydale. I could take all day to list them out and then try to figure out how to post the town map here, but my point is The Mall. By the time this book came out we knew Sunnydale had a mall, a museum, a zoo. So much more than just The Bronze. Yet Xander, good ole Xander Harris, opts have this line in the book.
[b:Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Halloween Rain|293476|Buffy the Vampire Slayer Halloween Rain|Christopher Golden|https:i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388964809l/293476._SY75_.jpg|683324]"I know compared to L.A. raves, a masquerade is tiny potatoes. But trust us, it's the most fun you can have in this agonizingly mall-less town." (pg 14)Now, we all know this is factually wrong. It just irritated me honestly.
Then comes Mr. Flutie. I love a good ol' hat tip or recognition towards another character in the series. Mr. Flutie, if you recall, is the principal in Season 1 that ended up getting eaten alive by the teenagers possessed by Hyena's in episode 6 titled "The Pack". Mr. Flutie was eaten. You could assume that they might have recognized his zombie in this story, but honestly after what those teens could do? I doubt it.
I think I'm going to end my rant there for now. I want to keep going, it is fun, but those small things start to add up. I probably would have left a higher review, but the non-stop Cordelia remarks were entirely unnecessary from everyone.
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