Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well! Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I am reviewing Alice Henderson’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Portal Through Time.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Portal Through Time was published in October 2006 by Pocket Books and is 352 pages long.
The Plot
Buffy and the gang must follow a couple of vampires across time as they attempt to thwart their plan to disrupt the Slayer line and prevent Buffy from being activated, allowing the Master to rise.
Characters
Buffy Summers/The Vampire Slayer/The Chosen One
As the chosen one, Buffy is tasked with fighting evil forces and protecting the world from vampires, demons, and other supernatural threats. In Portal Through Time, we see Buffy facing new challenges as she navigates through different time periods, attempting to stop a vampire from preventing her from being activated as the Slayer, thus altering her destiny, along with the entirety of Sunnydale.
Rupert Giles
Rupert Giles is Buffy’s trusted Watcher and mentor. He provides invaluable guidance and knowledge to help Buffy navigate her duties as a Slayer. In Portal Through Time, we see him using his expertise in history and languages to help Buffy navigate her way through the different time periods.
Willow Rosenberg
Willow is the brains behind the Scooby Gang. Her loyalty and unwavering support to her friends show her to be an integral part of the team, and here we see an early Willow show her braver side when she takes on an ancient god.
Xander Harris
Xander is a lovable goofball with a heart of gold. He is frequently the source of comic relief, and that’s certainly true in this story. Though he may not have supernatural abilities like the Slayer, he is definitely a much-needed ally in helping to preserve the Slayer line.
Angel
Angel is a vampire with a conscience, having been cursed with the return of his soul when, in revenge for killing a young girl, her people take action. He now spends his time helping Buffy fight back the dark forces threatening to open the Hellmouth beneath Sunnydale.
Lucien
Lucien is a vampire bent on disrupting the Slayer line so that Buffy (a distinctly strong Slayer) is never called as the chosen one and that a Slayer of lesser ability may be activated, allowing the Master to rise.
Victor
Victor is Lucien’s main flunky and joins Lucien in his initial attempts to kill Buffy before she is activated. However, when Lucien is indisposed, he carries on without him, recruiting a few lackeys to help him during his travels through time.
Writing Style
Henderson’s writing style has an easy, sharp and descriptive flow, bringing each scene to life and allowing readers to visualise every punch, kick, and stake through each vampire’s heart.
The novel’s primary strength is its ability to capture the essence of the original TV series while introducing some new and intriguing characters to keep readers engaged. And while we’re talking of characters, it should be noted that Henderson does an excellent job of staying true to the characters’ TV counterparts while also bringing fresh perspectives and challenges for them to deal with.
Many fans of Buffy will no doubt appreciate reading about their favourite Slayer interacting with previous Slayers and learning how they each managed to live in their respective times whilst battling the forces of evil. I thought it was great for Buffy to be allowed to see how, although she’s different from all those who came before her, she also has much in common with them.
The action sequences in the book are also of particular note; they are fast-paced and intense, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you follow Buffy and the Scoobie gang’s adventures through the story’s different time periods.
From epic battle scenes involving Romans and Druids to the American Civil War and even a short battle with a BTVS favourite in revolutionary France, this book delivers plenty of excitement for fans craving more slaying action.
I’d also like to make a particular mention of the world-building in Portal Through Time. Henderson’s attention to detail is top-notch as she expertly weaves elements of magic, mythology, and history to create a rich and immersive setting for the characters to explore.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Portal Through Time is a must-read for any fan of the TV series. With its intriguing storyline, wonderfully historical world-building, and unexpected twists, this novel offers an exciting glimpse into a chapter in the lives of our favourite Scoobies. So grab your stake and prepare to be transported across time with Buffy as she faces one of her toughest challenges yet!
I’m giving this one a 7/10.
Are you a BTVS fan? Have you read Portal Through Time? What did you think of it?
As ever, thank you for stopping by to read my review!
Until next time,
George
© 2024 GLT
Categories: Book Reviews, Reading
GEORGE L THOMAS 
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