Tales of the Slayer

by Doranna Durgin

Catch up on Slayers past and present in this action-packed collection of Tales of the Slayer Volumes I and II containing original short stories based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

Into every generation, a Slayer is born…

As long as there have been vampires, there has been a Slayer. One girl instilled with supernatural strength and abilities so that she may protect the world from the forces of darkness.

But the Chosen One leads a brief, violent life. When one Slayer dies another is called, creating an eternal line of powerful female warriors stretching all the way back to the beginning of time. From ancient Greece to present day, Tales of the Slayer chronicles their stories in which each girl has a personal history, a shared moral code, and a commitment to conquer evil, regardless of the cost…

Genres: Fantasy, Vampires, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Short Stories, Supernatural, Young Adult, Horror

288 pages, Paperback

Published December 4, 2018

About the author

Doranna Durgin is an award-winning author (the Compton Crook for Best First SF/F/H novel) whose quirky spirit has led to an extensive and eclectic publishing journey across genres, publishers, and publishing lines. Beyond that, she hangs around outside her Southwest mountain home with horse and highly accomplished competition dogs. She doesn't believe in mastering the beast within, but in channeling its power--for good or bad has yet to be decided! She says, “My books are SF/F, mystery, paranormal romance, & romantic suspense. My world is the Southwest, and my dogs are Beagles!”

Doranna’s most recent releases encompass the three books of the Reckoners trilogy--a powerful ghostbuster raised by a spirit, her brilliantly eccentric backup team, a cat who isn't a cat, and a fiercely driven bounty hunter from a different dimension who brings them together when worlds collide.

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a fun little treat. The short stories format worked really well! Some stories worked better for me than others but overall I had a good time

[Toni's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very nice book. It gave a look into the life of previous slayers before Buffy. I love the different short stories told from how slayers operated during different time periods. However, Sally Jean in the Story "The War Between the States" should have just died. She was obsessive, jealous, and bat crap crazy. Those Vampire should have killed her rightfully. Other than that story the book was very good.

[Jason Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of Slayer stories. If you're a fan of Buffy at all, you'll enjoy these tales. Some of them are quite heartbreaking, but if you're a Buffy fan, I'm sure you can handle a little heartbreak.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed how the tales played on historical tales or people. I especially liked the tale establishing Spring Heeled Jack as a demon. I also enjoyed the one with the bloody countess (Elizabeth Bathory) because it leaves questions unanswered as to whether she was human or something else.

[Brianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I...am disappointed. As a diehard fan, BtVS has had a huge impact and influence on my life since I was 11 years old. Though I know I can be a tough judge and critic when it comes to all matters Buffy, this anthology was just not good and did not uphold the spirit of Buffy at all. Out of the seven short stories told in it, there was only one I enjoyed and that I thought stood up to the standards of the legacy that is BtVS. And it wasn't even the story ABOUT Buffy ("Again" by Jane Espenson)! This is even more distressing given the fact that Espenson was a writer and producer for the show. However, if I didn't already love Buffy from the show, I would've hated her in the story, "Again". Though I think Espenson sought to portray Buffy and her situation as complicated and emotional, exploring the idea that a Slayer is more than just her destiny, Buffy's decisions in the story came across as selfish, childish, and immature. I understand there's also less that can be done in 50 pages of a book than can be in a 60-minute television program but still... it could've been executed better.

The other short stories were similarly... well, awful, quite frankly. And disappointing. While I appreciate the anthology trying to highlight the full spectrum of women and their roles as the Slayer throughout time, none of them could capture the "spirit" that is Buffy. Though I understand women in 17th century Hungary and 19th century Kentucky, USA aren't the "modern" day Buffy Summers, if I'm picking up a book about Slayers, I expect to be told satisfying stories about Slayers. In fact, the synopsis of the anthology states "...each girl has... shared moral code, and a commitment to conquer evil, regardless of the cost". The very "spirit" of a Slayer, right? To say the very least? Nope. You won't find that here in this anthology. Again, while I understand that the book sought to show different Slayers at different stages of their calling with all their different personal histories, the stories were just deeply dissatisfying. Whether they were told from the "wrong" perspective or just focused too heavily on aspects of the Slayers' lives that DIDN'T involve slaying or even just suffered from simple lack of editing (how did "Mornglom Dreaming" get published without someone noticing that the Slayer's name was written as both Molly AND Mollie??), these stories just weren't good...

Credit to the only satisfying short story in the whole book, "A Good Run" by Greg Rucka, for being the one story in the whole lot that actually moved me and made me nostalgic for Buffy. If you're going to read any one story from the anthology, read that one.

[Wolfenstein · Rating 1 out of 5]

For anyone who hasn't finished buffy and plans on watching it or rewatching it (and has forgotten the storylines), the first short story in this volume spoils the show! What's worse is it does so for absolutely nothing because the premise of the tale is something i'd equate to a dream sequence. It gives absolutely no closure or anything. I'll admit the characters were portrayed decently but the whole thing came across as a failed storyboard idea from the writer's room. As for the other tales in the volume, they're really a compilation of fanfiction that takes place in Greece 490 B.C.E., England 1897, France 1320, Hungary 1609, U.S.A. 1886 and 1922. Note: it is not in chronological order in the book and each story has different authors, so different writing styles. It just wasn't my thing.

[Patricia Puckett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, not a bad collection of stories. Oddly, some of the stories were the Slayer dies left me wishing that they had lived to resolve some questions, and the ones where they lived left me wishing that they had died to wrap up their stories. My favorite stories out of this had to be "Again" and "A Good Run." The rest were okay, with the exception of "The War Between the States." I really felt like that one took way too long to get to the damn point. The last in the collection also kind of annoyed me, but I can't pinpoint exactly why. I also think that "Again" should have been placed last in the collection, since it was the story featuring Buffy, just as like a little treat kind of feel.

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed the stories included in this book, but I was more than a little disappointed with some of them. As a HUGE BTVS fan, I was excited to find this book while browsing Book Outlet (a must visit for any book lover as prices are FAR below the list price) and that I could get it for steal (under $3). I was really hoping that the stories in it would somehow connect back to the series, like maybe elaborate on some of the Slayers featured in the different season storylines or include some of the main characters from the series, but no. The first story that featured Buffy and the other Scoobies felt way to short. While there were some other great stories that shed some light on what it was like to be an early Slayer (and Watcher) nothing directly connected back to the series itself. I have picked up the new series, Slayer and Chosen, by Kiersten White, and am hoping that that will make some better connections to the Buffy Verse.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of this was good and some not so much. This collection did great capturing how complex a Slayer’s can be. But, sadly, I couldn’t get fully invested with some of these because they just didn’t capture the voice and feel of their tales. I still enjoyed them. I love BTVS and I’m glad to add this to my collection.

Full Review:
https://thescarletreaderreviews.wordp...

[Shannon Latour · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was O.K. More of a 2.5 star rating...

Some of the short stories definitely captured the "feel" of a Buffy episode. Actually, it was just the first story by Jane Espenson called 'AGAIN'. The other stories take place in different times and different countries and deal with other slayers. It is certainly interesting to read about Slayers that didn't know they were gifted (or cursed?) with these powers. Some simply didn't last long. Dead before they even started...

So not all the stories end well for our protagonist.

I guess that is advertising enough...and will sell books :P

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I am coming down harsh on this book, but the stories are too short to be interesting. I did like Again and Die Blutgrafin. The first having the background of the TV show so could be just like another episode. The latter telling a good dark story with a surprise, which works well as a short story.

[Charlotta Gråberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

After two decades of loving Buffy the Vampire Slayer it felt natural to read about the rest of the slayers. It's an entertaining read but the quality varies a bit too much between the different stories for it to be a 4 star rating.
I really enjoyed "Again" by Jane Espenson (it's like a short Buffy episode), "A Good Run" by Greg Rucka and Mornglom Dreaming by Doranna Durgin.

[Stephanie Gillis · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Rounded up. A big star taken away for the one slayer that referred to herself as a "gypsy". No Romani would do that.
These were fine. I liked the story in Greece the most but they just didn't hold the charm of Buffy that I like and even the story set for the Scoobies was bland and inconsequential.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

ended up DNFing. i liked that the perfect story felt like an episode of buddy (w/ the actual characters) but then once they became just buffyverse stories i found myself enjoying it much less. the stories were interesting and i give props to all of them authors represented here, but i’m just not an anthology girlie.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cool read for fans of the series. The highlight for me being the books only Buffy centered stories that was written by Jane Espensen, one of the lead writers on Buffy. Great to have her writing those characters again!

[Véronique Laplante Grenier]

A good collection of short stories set in The Slayer world. The first one was my best cause its with Buffy, Willow and Xander. Really nice to read stories about other slayers. Recommend for Buffy's fan.

[Rion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book because it was only selected stories from books one & two. For some reason, I read it as being all of books one and two. My mistake, but still an interesting and fun read.

[Tamara Van dishoeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

een collectie met zeven korte verhalen die een ding gemeen hebben en dat is dat het draait om een meisje die de Slayer is. het eerste verhaal is met Buffy en haar vrienden in de hoofdrol. vond niet elk verhaal even leuk maar heb er wel van genoten.

[KayteReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these stories. It was nice to read about some of the other slayers, not only Buffy!

[Kaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Espenson's short story was excellent. I could see it all like a BtVS episode.

[Viktoría Kristinsdóttir · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Ariane H.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Algunas historias guays, pero otras... No sé, supongo que me esperaba más

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories were much better than others. The book as a whole felt incomplete. It could have been formatted better.

[Abigail Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it funny that one of the places in the book is where some of my family is from!

[ElsaMakotoRenge · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this book at Barnes&Noble I knew I had to read it! Since there are multiple short stories here, I will give each an individual rating. My personal favorites were Again and A Good Run.

Again~ I loved this one! We got to revisit Buffy and her friends and their reactions to being sent back in time temporarily, especially Buffy, were very smack in the feels. 5 stars.

The War Between the States ~ It was good but not my favorite, because I did not like Sally Jean. I wanted to see more of Ardita herself. 4 stars.

A Good Run~ As I mentioned this was my other favorite! I really liked Thessily and this one was a bit sad but had a hopeful sort of feel to it. This girl approved:) 5 stars.

House of the Vampire~ An excellent story! Angelique was likable and I felt so bad for her friend Molly even though you know quite well what will happen before it does. It was also really cool to see how another Slayer in the past (1897) deals with Dracula as compared to how Buffy did on the show. 5 stars.

Abomination~ 3.5 stars for this one! Well. This one was pretty disturbing (along with the next story) and probably reading them after midnight wasn’t the best idea.😂 HOWEVER seeing Eliane’s reaction to being a Slayer and how it was so different than the other girls in this book was interesting. Obviously it was since I stayed up so late last night finishing this book. Eliane is not a cruel person-she means well-but she is very very selfish and it costs many other people their lives. No wonder even the vampire Tatoul says “I think you have lost your way, Slayer.” He’s right. However I did like the ending of this story. If disturbing things happen in a story I want there to be a hopeful ending. I do not like disturbing stories that end with no hope...
Which brings us to...

Die Blutgrafin~ Um. I liked Ildikó as a character and the whole creepy Countess Bathory storyline could’ve been deliciously creepy in a good way if the ending had been different. Instead horrible things happened and Ildikó dies wondering if she has accomplished nothing in her short stint as the Slayer. I DID NOT LIKE this story AT ALL and whenever I reread this book I’ll skip over it because I really hated it. Too disturbing and it ends with no hope in sight. 2 stars because it wasn’t badly written, I just didn’t like it one bit.

Mornglom Dreaming~ After how much I didn’t like the previous story I was delighted to finish off this story collection with a funny and much more lighthearted one! Mollie is quite frankly a rather sweet character, Slayer or not, lol, and her new Watcher Ethan is funny. This was a great way to finish off the book! 5 stars.

So averaged out, that’s about 4.2 stars! I’ll round down to 4 like you would in a math problem. If a younger kid wants to read this collection, I wouldn’t let them read Abomination and Die Blutgrafin for obvious reasons. Otherwise I suppose it depends on the child. This book would have scared little me out of my wits, haha. However I’d highly recommend Tales of the Slayer to older girls! These stories are quite good in my opinion and even if you don’t care for one or two there are seven stories here that are all very different, so you’re sure enjoy some of them.:)

[Shahna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again by Jane Espenson - I liked this one best. Probably because it was about Buffy and Willow and Xander. I miss Giles! He's my fav.

The War Between the States by Rebecca Rand Kirshner - I didn't like this one so much because it wasn't from the point of view of the slayer. Some dumb girl told the story.

A Good Run by Greg Rucka - This one was good. Interesting and differnt and it kept my interest. This story makes me want to read more about past slayers.

House of the Vampire by Michael Reaves - I feel like Dracula needs a better death scene.

Abomination by Laura J Burns and Melinda Metz - This one is bad. Elanie is the WORST slayer every. She's useless and stupid and basically just let everyone die cause she didn't feel like doing anything. Gah. Also, why did it take two authors to write this?

Die Blutgrafin by Yvonne Navarro - This one is okay. A little frustrated with the slayer, but overall it's fine.

Mornglom Dreaming by Doranna Durgin - This one is alright. Kind of sad.

[Ren Strange · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much from this book. I assumed it would be geared toward the lower-end of ya, but a quick read with which I could close out the year. But every single one of these story is so well-written. These worlds are vivid, the characters fascinating.

It's also interesting seeing how different women react to being the Slayer, how they interpret their role and destiny.

I really enjoyed this collection and would definitely be up for reading more.

[Toddbraunwart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like if they ever did a movie they should do it like this book. Instead of a movie about Buffy do a bunch of movies about different slayers lives.