Vampires never die—and neither do stories about vampire slayers. The latest addition to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (pictured above) universe is an upcoming trilogy of YA novels by Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns) that will follow Frankie Rosenberg: Willow’s daughter, budding witch, and slayer.
In Every Generation will be published by Disney Hyperion, and is the imprint’s first crack at playing in the 20th Century Fox sandbox since Disney bought Fox in 2019. But it’s not the first time YA novels have ventured into the Buffyverse; in 2019, Simon Pulse published Kiersten White’s Slayer, the first book in a duology which took place after the “Season 8” run of the comics and involved new characters.
White’s book won’t be quite so far off from the series, though the synopsis is a little perplexing:
Frankie Rosenberg is passionate about the environment, a sophomore at New Sunnydale High School, and the daughter of the most powerful witch in Sunnydale history. Her mom, Willow, is slowly teaching her magic on the condition that she use it to better the world. But Frankie’s happily quiet life is upended when new girl Hailey shows up with news that the annual Slayer convention has been the target of an attack, and all the Slayers—including Buffy, Faith, and Hailey’s older sister Vi—might be dead. That means it’s time for this generation’s Slayer to be born. But being the first ever Slayer-Witch means learning how to wield a stake while trying to control her budding powers. With the help of Hailey, a werewolf named Jake, and a hot but nerdy sage demon, Frankie must become the Slayer, prevent the Hellmouth from opening again, and find out what happened to her Aunt Buffy, before she’s next. Get ready for a whole new story within the world of Buffy!
“It’s time for this generation’s Slayer to be born” sounds a little bit like the series wants to reset what Buffy and Willow did in the finale: unleash the Slayer power from its patriarchally imposed limitations, and let every potential slayer come into her power regardless of generation. Limitless Slayers are a lot to wrangle, but that choice was one of the most powerful things the show ever did. I hope this is just cover copy vagueness, not a reset.
In Every Generation will be on shelves January 4, 2022.
