Book review
Written by Keith RA DeCandido
Simon Spotlight Entertainment paperback
Release date Out now

A battle that began in ancient Russia reaches its conclusion in Sunnydale…

Set during Buffy’s turbulent third season, The Deathless is similar in style to one of the old Doctor Who Missing Adventures. It very clearly evokes the specific period in which it’s set, while dropping a few hints about the future of the characters which can only be done with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight.

This is a mixed blessing: we know that Willow will eventually be seduced to the Dark Side, so it’s interesting to see her very negative reaction to another practitioner of those arts, but sometimes the foreshadowing can be a little heavy handed. Oz’s comments about The Lord of the Rings not being well-known by mainstream Americans particularly grate.

The book maintains a fast pace and the characterisation of the regulars is handled well, with Buffy, Faith and Giles coming over particularly strongly. We’re never allowed to forget that this is part of an ongoing story, but there’s also an interesting digression back to the time of myth and legend. It would be intriguing to see DeCandido tackle a book retelling these stories. Paul Simpson

VERDICT: 7/10

A fun straightforward romp which would have made a good episode.