halcyon_rising's review
4.0
*posts 15-year-old review - yikes*
This is not the kind of book you buy so you have something fun to read, since it deals with the less 'pretty' side of the Slayerhood, the part that every Watcher has a hard time answering when his Slayer ask about it: "How did the other Slayers die?"
In some cases, it's best not to know. But thanks to these books, we now have the 'chance' to see in a how futile way some of the Slayers perished.
In this book is featured:
1. A Good Run, by Greg Rucka (Greece, 490 B.C.E.)
Slayer: Thessily Thessilonikki - This story already immediately emphasis that usually a Slayer lives in solitude and poverty, with her Watcher as her only companion, who sends her on missions she might not return from. Thessily is sent out to secretly accompany a man named Phidippides, a herald (professional messenger), who must seek help in an upcoming war with a third party. The Slayer does go down, as she's been poisoned days before, but not without a very nice victory along the way. She was 29.
2. The White Doe, by Christie Golden (London, 1586)
Slayer: Virginia "White Doe" Dare - Born in the New World, she was very much located in a different setting from the other Slayers from the book. Her grandfather was her Watcher, but because of some 'New World' circumstances, they never met, and she was raised by a tribe of Indians whom were told about her legend. When growing older and prettier, she attracted the unwanted attention on one of the older tribe members whom she had no interest in, as she liked a younger boy, and because of his jealousy, he turned her into a real White Doe, after her nickname. Guess whom accidentally kills her? So pointless.
3. Die Blutgrafin, by Yvonne Navarro (Hungary, 1609)
Slayer: Ildikó Gellért - She went to investigate on the "Blutgrafin" in her castle, because it was rumoured she, for some reason, was behind the disappearance of a lot of young women. Thinking that, because of her special powers, she'd be able to take on the Blutgrafin, whom she suspects is a vampire, she infiltrates the castle with a few local girls. She was unfortunately noticed because of her strength, and taken to the Grafin's 'toy/torture' room... There her life ended at the hand of a toy named "The Iron Maiden," which basically was a device she was trapped between, with spikes in it, so her blood would run out of her. She never found out if the Grafin was an actual vampire, some of her guards were, but it was said that the woman was trying to remain young forever. The Slayer died for naught.
4. Unholy Madness, by Nancy Holder (France, 1789)
Slayer: Marie-Christine Du Lac - Taken away from the streets at a young age, she was working for the royalty of France, sent on missions to get rid of some nastier things, or to threaten people for the rich ones. There's a very popular vampire in town, who started the whole French Revolution. Because the people are living in poverty, and he is the only one who gives those people anything, they are loyal to him. Even after his death they continue. Her Watcher, Edmund, dies on the guillotine, together with the Royalty, while saying how bad a Slayer she's been, by having been preoccupied by trying to find a little poor girl, instead of helping out the French King and Queen by killing revolutionaries. Her death is never shown.
5. Mornglom Dreaming, by Doranna Durgin (Kentucky, 1886)
Slayer: Mollie Prater - She was preparing to get married to her love when her powers were exposed to about the whole town because of a demon that came to kill people in public places, like marriage gatherings, for example. She slayed the beast on her own wedding day, and then it turned out the demon was possessed by the spirit of a man who sought to steal everybody's happiness. After the townspeople helped to get rid of the ghost, she accepted her new Slayer duties, and went to train, instead of getting married.
6. Silent Screams, by Mel Odom (Germany, 1923)
Slayer: Britta Kessler - She had a Watcher who played her private tutor, and was properly trained before her Calling. On the day she found out she was the new Slayer, she and her Watcher went into town and heard about this picture named "Silent Scream," a Nosferatu like production, being made that same day. Friedrich Lichtermann accompanied his red headed and angel faced Slayer there, but when the movie started, it turned out to be a horror movie filled with blood sucking vampires, very disturbing. The even worse part was that the ending of the film was yet to be shot, right there. They realized what they'd gotten themselves into, and Britta reminded her Watcher of a promise he made earlier that day; whatever happened, she wouldn't die alone. A couple of minutes later, when he found a way to guide the people out of the theatre, he himself choked, saw his Slayer surrounded by half a dozen vampires, heard her yell about the promise, and ran while his day old Slayer was screaming towards her death. Turned out they turned her, and she was back with a vengeance. They locked him up in her grave tomb, and he was going to try to take her out, but knew he'd probably be dead anyway. The cameras rolled again.
7. And White Splits The Night, by Yvonne Navarro (Florida, 1956)
Slayer: Asha Sayre - 17 year old black girl. Her father was killed when she was very young, by vampires who pretended to be KKK. This story is very much alike the previous one, but there's not a movie playing in the theatre, but a church gathering instead. The Slayer and her Watcher Laurent, a middle-aged Cajun woman, are trapped inside with the vampires at the end, and go out with a bang because the vampires tended to blow up the bodies of the dead so it could be blamed on something else.
Spoiler
The "Tales of the Slayer" books in general are about the lives, or maybe it's better if I say deaths, of some of the Slayers from before Buffy's time.This is not the kind of book you buy so you have something fun to read, since it deals with the less 'pretty' side of the Slayerhood, the part that every Watcher has a hard time answering when his Slayer ask about it: "How did the other Slayers die?"
In some cases, it's best not to know. But thanks to these books, we now have the 'chance' to see in a how futile way some of the Slayers perished.
In this book is featured:
1. A Good Run, by Greg Rucka (Greece, 490 B.C.E.)
Slayer: Thessily Thessilonikki - This story already immediately emphasis that usually a Slayer lives in solitude and poverty, with her Watcher as her only companion, who sends her on missions she might not return from. Thessily is sent out to secretly accompany a man named Phidippides, a herald (professional messenger), who must seek help in an upcoming war with a third party. The Slayer does go down, as she's been poisoned days before, but not without a very nice victory along the way. She was 29.
2. The White Doe, by Christie Golden (London, 1586)
Slayer: Virginia "White Doe" Dare - Born in the New World, she was very much located in a different setting from the other Slayers from the book. Her grandfather was her Watcher, but because of some 'New World' circumstances, they never met, and she was raised by a tribe of Indians whom were told about her legend. When growing older and prettier, she attracted the unwanted attention on one of the older tribe members whom she had no interest in, as she liked a younger boy, and because of his jealousy, he turned her into a real White Doe, after her nickname. Guess whom accidentally kills her? So pointless.
3. Die Blutgrafin, by Yvonne Navarro (Hungary, 1609)
Slayer: Ildikó Gellért - She went to investigate on the "Blutgrafin" in her castle, because it was rumoured she, for some reason, was behind the disappearance of a lot of young women. Thinking that, because of her special powers, she'd be able to take on the Blutgrafin, whom she suspects is a vampire, she infiltrates the castle with a few local girls. She was unfortunately noticed because of her strength, and taken to the Grafin's 'toy/torture' room... There her life ended at the hand of a toy named "The Iron Maiden," which basically was a device she was trapped between, with spikes in it, so her blood would run out of her. She never found out if the Grafin was an actual vampire, some of her guards were, but it was said that the woman was trying to remain young forever. The Slayer died for naught.
4. Unholy Madness, by Nancy Holder (France, 1789)
Slayer: Marie-Christine Du Lac - Taken away from the streets at a young age, she was working for the royalty of France, sent on missions to get rid of some nastier things, or to threaten people for the rich ones. There's a very popular vampire in town, who started the whole French Revolution. Because the people are living in poverty, and he is the only one who gives those people anything, they are loyal to him. Even after his death they continue. Her Watcher, Edmund, dies on the guillotine, together with the Royalty, while saying how bad a Slayer she's been, by having been preoccupied by trying to find a little poor girl, instead of helping out the French King and Queen by killing revolutionaries. Her death is never shown.
5. Mornglom Dreaming, by Doranna Durgin (Kentucky, 1886)
Slayer: Mollie Prater - She was preparing to get married to her love when her powers were exposed to about the whole town because of a demon that came to kill people in public places, like marriage gatherings, for example. She slayed the beast on her own wedding day, and then it turned out the demon was possessed by the spirit of a man who sought to steal everybody's happiness. After the townspeople helped to get rid of the ghost, she accepted her new Slayer duties, and went to train, instead of getting married.
6. Silent Screams, by Mel Odom (Germany, 1923)
Slayer: Britta Kessler - She had a Watcher who played her private tutor, and was properly trained before her Calling. On the day she found out she was the new Slayer, she and her Watcher went into town and heard about this picture named "Silent Scream," a Nosferatu like production, being made that same day. Friedrich Lichtermann accompanied his red headed and angel faced Slayer there, but when the movie started, it turned out to be a horror movie filled with blood sucking vampires, very disturbing. The even worse part was that the ending of the film was yet to be shot, right there. They realized what they'd gotten themselves into, and Britta reminded her Watcher of a promise he made earlier that day; whatever happened, she wouldn't die alone. A couple of minutes later, when he found a way to guide the people out of the theatre, he himself choked, saw his Slayer surrounded by half a dozen vampires, heard her yell about the promise, and ran while his day old Slayer was screaming towards her death. Turned out they turned her, and she was back with a vengeance. They locked him up in her grave tomb, and he was going to try to take her out, but knew he'd probably be dead anyway. The cameras rolled again.
7. And White Splits The Night, by Yvonne Navarro (Florida, 1956)
Slayer: Asha Sayre - 17 year old black girl. Her father was killed when she was very young, by vampires who pretended to be KKK. This story is very much alike the previous one, but there's not a movie playing in the theatre, but a church gathering instead. The Slayer and her Watcher Laurent, a middle-aged Cajun woman, are trapped inside with the vampires at the end, and go out with a bang because the vampires tended to blow up the bodies of the dead so it could be blamed on something else.
merlin_reads's review
3.0
As a huge fan of Buffy this book definitely called out to me when I saw it at a used book sale. A group of short stories that focused on a different slayer in a different time period. It was interesting to see how authors interpreted what it means to be a slayer and how much it was affected by their eras. I saw in a lot of reviews people mentioning that a lot of the stories ended in death and honestly, I expected them all too. A slayers life is not a long one. It's right there in the lore how when one dies another is called so I expected heartbreak at the end. Overall, this was a nice group of stories and I wouldn't be against reading the others in the series.
wyemu's review
2.0
Ever since Kendra appeared in the TV series, quickly followed by Faith, fans have been fascinated by the slayers who came before. Clues and hints are given occasionally and through the series we learn about the two slayers Spike kills and the first slayer but there are so many more out there. This mini-series of books tells short stories of slayers past. For some it's how they became the slayer, for other's the story of their death. Each is written by those familiar familiar with the Buffyverse, some of them are writers for the TV episodes, so they are good are writing convincing story lines that fit with the 'rules' already laid out by Whedon. Even though these are short stories I found myself getting attached to the slayers in each, wanting to know more of their time as the chosen one and not wanting to read of their death, as some of the stories chronicles. It is a testament to the writing that they illicited this response from me.
pkldpklz's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
As a fan of BTVS since I was 12, I’ve looked into fan fiction and other written works regarding the continuation of the buffyverse. This collection of stories did that but at the cost of character developement. I wish more time was spent with the slayers, just as I was beginning to understand the characters the stories were ending
sharondblk's review
3.0
I'm generally not the biggest fan of short stories. I find them...short. This anthology jumps from slayer to slayer, and moves through two centuries. Some of the stories are brilliant, some are OK. While it was nice to meet other slayers, none of these stories significantly increased my understanding of the slayers, or the watchers. It was entertaining, but a bit shallow.
lberestecki's review
4.0
I liked all of the short stories in this collection, although some of the characters were difficult to like. I thought it was interesting that a lot of the stories centered around big historical events and reinterpreted them to fit the Slayer mythology. I would definitely recommend this collection to fans of the show, and I know I'll end up reading the other volumes in the series.
innae's review
3.0
I didn't say much when I read this, but I remember it being tale after tale of a slayer's death. Not exactly uplifting. I remember the stories being good, but most of them were downers.
awkwardlittleginger's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
theappalachianbookworm's review
3.0
The Appalachian Bookworm
As a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I have always been fascinated by the aspect of untold stories of past slayers. In fact, the concept of multiple authors lending their voices to the history of the Chosen One was what made me so intrigued by Tales of the Slayer when I first learned of it’s existence. The book contains short stories from seven different historic periods including Roanoke, women who are absolute badasses (part of what I loved so much from the show), and vampires being staked to dust. So of course, the moment the book was in my possession I started reading it.
Although I enjoyed each story overall, I found some characters difficult to relate to. One example is Marie-Christine Du Lac, a slayer and main character from Unholy Madness by Nancy Holder. Du Lac grew up in the home of Marie Antoinette, a servant to those who deem themselves more important than the peasants. Despite this, she is treated to a much more desirable life. Marie-Christine often came off as rude or hateful, especially in regards to the lower class. In one instance, she even says that the children of the lower classes appear to be barely human. To be honest, I didn’t even like her watcher - which is what the person who prepares the Slayer for her battle against demonic forces is called. Edmund was just as rude and hateful as his ward. Not that every character needs to be likable for a story to be interesting, but it certainly makes it hard to empathize as you follow along.
Of the seven stories, my two favourites were Mornglom Dreaming by Doranna Durgin and And White Splits the Night by Yvonne Navarro. In Mornglom Dreaming, we are introduced to a Kentuckian named Mollie Prater who knows absolutely nothing of vampires, let alone demons and slayers. However, just days before her wedding in 1886, Mollie begins to feel different - faster, and stronger. This change coincides with reports of a beast that has been attacking the people who share the hollow Mollie resides in. On the day of her wedding, the demon and her watcher reveal themselves. Despite saving all but one person from death, both her and her future husband’s families no longer recognize her as the person they once knew. At this point, Mollie realizes her life will never be the same.
“Everything I ever wanted. Everything I planned for. My life… It’s all changed. It won’t never be the same.”
In Yvonne Navarro’s short story And White Splits the Night, rampant racism in Florida during 1956 makes it difficult for seventeen-year-old Asha Sayre to be the slayer, especially as she travels into town to investigate bodies that continue to make their way into the nearby swamp where she lives. The bodies remind her of twelve years prior, when she found her father hanging from a tree in the very same swamp after having been dragged through the trees by Klu Klux Klan members. And White Splits the Night was most definitely my favourite story from this volume. I loved Asha and her relationship with Laurent - she respected her watcher and listened to her instructions. She was young but strong and brave, even in the face of death.
“If nothing else, Asha knew she had done a measure of good in her small world, and she had been loved by someone besides.”
Despite their different writing styles, the authors all do a fantastic job of incorporating vampires and the supernatural into well-known historical events and figures. Overall, I had a pleasant experience reading Tales of the Slayer and would definitely suggest it for fans of the world created by Joss Whedon - especially if you’re interested in learning about slayers before Buffy - as well as to readers who are interested in both history and vampires.
As a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I have always been fascinated by the aspect of untold stories of past slayers. In fact, the concept of multiple authors lending their voices to the history of the Chosen One was what made me so intrigued by Tales of the Slayer when I first learned of it’s existence. The book contains short stories from seven different historic periods including Roanoke, women who are absolute badasses (part of what I loved so much from the show), and vampires being staked to dust. So of course, the moment the book was in my possession I started reading it.
Although I enjoyed each story overall, I found some characters difficult to relate to. One example is Marie-Christine Du Lac, a slayer and main character from Unholy Madness by Nancy Holder. Du Lac grew up in the home of Marie Antoinette, a servant to those who deem themselves more important than the peasants. Despite this, she is treated to a much more desirable life. Marie-Christine often came off as rude or hateful, especially in regards to the lower class. In one instance, she even says that the children of the lower classes appear to be barely human. To be honest, I didn’t even like her watcher - which is what the person who prepares the Slayer for her battle against demonic forces is called. Edmund was just as rude and hateful as his ward. Not that every character needs to be likable for a story to be interesting, but it certainly makes it hard to empathize as you follow along.
Of the seven stories, my two favourites were Mornglom Dreaming by Doranna Durgin and And White Splits the Night by Yvonne Navarro. In Mornglom Dreaming, we are introduced to a Kentuckian named Mollie Prater who knows absolutely nothing of vampires, let alone demons and slayers. However, just days before her wedding in 1886, Mollie begins to feel different - faster, and stronger. This change coincides with reports of a beast that has been attacking the people who share the hollow Mollie resides in. On the day of her wedding, the demon and her watcher reveal themselves. Despite saving all but one person from death, both her and her future husband’s families no longer recognize her as the person they once knew. At this point, Mollie realizes her life will never be the same.
“Everything I ever wanted. Everything I planned for. My life… It’s all changed. It won’t never be the same.”
In Yvonne Navarro’s short story And White Splits the Night, rampant racism in Florida during 1956 makes it difficult for seventeen-year-old Asha Sayre to be the slayer, especially as she travels into town to investigate bodies that continue to make their way into the nearby swamp where she lives. The bodies remind her of twelve years prior, when she found her father hanging from a tree in the very same swamp after having been dragged through the trees by Klu Klux Klan members. And White Splits the Night was most definitely my favourite story from this volume. I loved Asha and her relationship with Laurent - she respected her watcher and listened to her instructions. She was young but strong and brave, even in the face of death.
“If nothing else, Asha knew she had done a measure of good in her small world, and she had been loved by someone besides.”
Despite their different writing styles, the authors all do a fantastic job of incorporating vampires and the supernatural into well-known historical events and figures. Overall, I had a pleasant experience reading Tales of the Slayer and would definitely suggest it for fans of the world created by Joss Whedon - especially if you’re interested in learning about slayers before Buffy - as well as to readers who are interested in both history and vampires.
k_wazlib's review
4.0
I am a huge fan of Buffy and nearly everything that springs from its creative and addicting nucleus.
Therefore speaking, I completely adored this book. While it's not about Buffy per say, it's more about slayers of the past and how they met their untimely ends. Comprising of several short stories Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 1 brings a lot of historics and badass slayers to the table. What happened at Roanoke? Vampires. Was Elizabeth Bathory a vampire? Who knows? This novel sheds an interesting light on some big times in history.
While there are plenty of different authors and writing styles in this book, I didn't feel myself put off at all by it, as I've seen mentioned in other reviews. Sure, I found some parts of certain stories to be a bit daunting (hence the four star rating) but, I still couldn't put the book down.
My favorite story of the lot would probably have to be The White Doe, which dealt with Roanoke. I've always been curious about the place and this story certainly fuels my historical imagination. Not to mention how legend-like it felt to me. I feel that it could certainly take its place among other legends (albeit one with vampires) because it just sounded that darn good.
I could only imagine how much more I'd have paid attention in History class if we heard stories like these about Slayers during those important eras of time.
☆☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you like Buffy, absolutely.
If you like reading about vampires getting dusted, possitively.
Or, if you're just up for some seriously cool supernatural historical fiction short stories, gogogo.
Therefore speaking, I completely adored this book. While it's not about Buffy per say, it's more about slayers of the past and how they met their untimely ends. Comprising of several short stories Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 1 brings a lot of historics and badass slayers to the table. What happened at Roanoke? Vampires. Was Elizabeth Bathory a vampire? Who knows? This novel sheds an interesting light on some big times in history.
While there are plenty of different authors and writing styles in this book, I didn't feel myself put off at all by it, as I've seen mentioned in other reviews. Sure, I found some parts of certain stories to be a bit daunting (hence the four star rating) but, I still couldn't put the book down.
My favorite story of the lot would probably have to be The White Doe, which dealt with Roanoke. I've always been curious about the place and this story certainly fuels my historical imagination. Not to mention how legend-like it felt to me. I feel that it could certainly take its place among other legends (albeit one with vampires) because it just sounded that darn good.
I could only imagine how much more I'd have paid attention in History class if we heard stories like these about Slayers during those important eras of time.
☆☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you like Buffy, absolutely.
If you like reading about vampires getting dusted, possitively.
Or, if you're just up for some seriously cool supernatural historical fiction short stories, gogogo.