Against the Darkness

Buffy: The Next Generation

By: Kendare Blake

Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

This epic finale to the Buffy: The Next Generation trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns) features the next generation of Scoobies and Slayers who must defeat a powerful new evil.

For generations, the Slayer was supposed to be the chosen, the one girl in all the world with the power to stand against the vampires, demons, and forces of darkness. When Willow used the scythe to call up all the potential slayers at once, it changed everything. For years, the slayers have been working and fighting together as a team.

Then the Darkness came, killing many slayers and trapping the rest in an alternate dimension. And Frankie Rosenberg, the world’s first Slayer-Witch, found herself fighting evil alone. Sort of.

After their latest confrontation with the Darkness, the Scooby gang is more fragmented than ever. Jake is having a werewolf identity crisis, and the return of his troublemaker brother Jordy is only making things worse. Hailey is off pretending to be one of the rogue slayers. Sigmund is burying his broken heart in books. And Frankie's mom, Willow, and Watcher, Spike, only seem to care about bringing Buffy back.

Now, Frankie must forge her own path, save the slayers, reunite her friends, and lead the charge to defeat the Darkness once and for all.

©2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. (P)2024 Disney Hyperion

This Series Completely Recaptures that Old Magic

Wow! What a Trilogy! Kendare Blake didn't just understand the assignment; she's teaching the class! If taken as a whole, this is better than, "Slayers," in my opinion (though that was pretty good, too). Which... is interesting, because, Slayers was written by Christopher Golden (veteran Buffy author) and Amber Benson (Tara on the TV show and a fine author/narrator in her own right), and this series reminds me very strongly of Golden's Comic Book novels from the 90's (Also available on audible and certainly worth a look). They are (like Golden's books) wonderfully written, researched, plotted, and faithful to the original material while going in new and interesting directions. Also, Kendare Blake is, quite obviously, a Buffy fan (takes one to know one). The references alone prove that. To me, this is better than any reunion could ever be (even if you brought back the whole cast). With new characters alongside old, this furthers the original material while paying homage to what's come before. The Next Generation is a very fitting title for this Trilogy (and that's coming from someone who enjoys Star Trek, as well). Frankie and the New Scoobies are the best thing to happen to Buffy the Vampire Slayer since Spike in season 2.
Speaking of Spike, let me talk about the narration of Sarah Mollo-Christensen for a minute. She's perfect! Her Spike voice is amazing. Like, bang on! All the returning characters sound like their old selves, but appropriately aged up for the material. I'm floored! Every character's voice is distinct, clear, and interesting. Both author and narrator absolutely nail that quippy, "Well, that just happened," style that Buffy (arguably) began. A couple jokes and turns of phrase made me laugh out loud!
This is a great end to the Trilogy. It has a fantastic villain (or Big Bad, if you prefer). It manages several character arcs and concludes them all in a very satisfying way. All while leaving the door open for more. Jordy the werewolf wasn't as involved as I initially thought he would be. He never actually shows up in Sunnydale. It's his influence that's the problem. But I didn't get this book for his inclusion. Nice to see the return of several Buffy alums we haven't encountered in this series so far, too. This is on point from word one. Also, I continue to love, "Watcher Spike." That's genius.
I love reading things that prove, "Suggested reading age," is simply that: A suggestion. My only real complaint is that this could be the end. It shouldn't be. The last in a trilogy? Fine. Sure. But if Thomas Covenant (insufferable as he is) can get more than one Trilogy; this should run 'til... 'round about the end of time. So, if you're a Buffy fan... Try these, they really scratch that old itch!
Finally, let me just say that (again, like with Christopher Golden) I'm going to have to start exploring Kendare Blake's other titles. And as long as we're having fun with nostalgia and genre here, allow me to end by quoting Raphael from the 1990 "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," Movie: "Gosh... I do hope there's more of them!"