Chosen

November 1, 2019
Are we in the post-spoiler era? Buffy the Vampire Slayer was known for its shocking plot twists, and it led to a whole generation of TV shows filled with constant surprises. So fans of the series will be on alert when they read this companion novel. Spoiler warning: In the previous book (Slayer, 2019), a character named Leo died. The main character in this entry, a Slayer called Nina, is always bringing up his name. After the 10th time, readers may actually be disappointed if Leo doesn't come back from the dead. White (The Guinevere Deception, 2019, etc.) is smart enough to comment, right in the text, on readers' expectations. Fortunately, the story isn't centered around its plot twists; the focus is always on the characters. Nina is both a slayer and a trained doctor, and, touchingly, she keeps struggling over whether to kill her enemies or save them. The best jokes also emerge from the characterizations. One character is--sweetly and hilariously--distraught when he doesn't get to name a kitten. The author rarely describes the characters' races, but most of the central figures are white. There are two same-sex couples. Too many of the plot twists are predictable, but for this generation of fans, predicting them will be part of the fun. Another solid entry for Buffy fans. (Paranormal adventure. 14-adult)

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December 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 Everything changed for Nina when she found out she was a Slayer. She's transformed the Watcher's castle from a hub for demon fighters and researchers into a haven for injured demons, but things in her brave new world are fraught. Leo, the boy-slash-demon she maybe-loved, is still dead, having saved Nina and her powers from his evil succubus mother. Artemis, Nina's twin, is still absent, forging her own path. Magic is gone but there are plenty of nefarious forces?an old enemy with black market ties is kidnapping demons, and a strange, familiar symbol is appearing everywhere Nina goes. More disturbingly, Nina feels increasingly pulled toward violence, and she's not sure if it's her Slayer instincts or something darker. In this follow-up to Slayer (2019), White delves deeper into the Buffyverse, pulling in excitingly familiar faces while making Nina's corner of the world even more her own. The final showdown has finale potential, but there are plenty of open doors should White decide to return for more?and if she does, readers will happily come with.HIGH-DEMAND STORY: Fans of White and of Buffy ate up Slayer, which hit the NYT best-seller list. And rumor has it there's a Buffy the Vampire reboot in the works, so this story still has teeth.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)