Title: Against the Darkness
Series: In Every Generation, #3
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication date: April 9, 2024
Length: 384 pages
Genre: Young adult fiction
Source: Purchased
Rating:
This epic finale to the The Next Generation trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake ( Three Dark Crowns ) features the next generation of Scoobies and Slayers who must defeat a powerful new evil.
For generations, the Slayer was supposed to be the chosen, the one girl in all the world with the power to stand against the vampires, demons, and forces of darkness. When Willow used the scythe to call up all the potential slayers at once, it changed everything. For years, the slayers have been working and fighting together as a team.
Then the Darkness came, killing many slayers and trapping the rest in an alternate dimension. And Frankie Rosenberg, the world’s first Slayer-Witch, found herself fighting evil alone. Sort of.
Sure, she has her new Scooby Gang, plus the help of her mom, Willow; Watcher, Spike; and even the brooding-but-hot Hunter of Thrace. But even though they have a master plan (obviously), the gang is more fragmented than ever.
So maybe it really is up to Frankie—and Frankie alone—to stand against the darkness. With Jake’s wild werewolf brother back in town, Dark Willow threatening to return, and the Darkness preparing for the final stage of their attack, now is not a great time to wallow in teen angst. After all, she’s the Slayer. It’s time to slay.
The In Every Generation trilogy feels like a gift for Buffy fans… and it’s been one that I’ve been very happy to unwrap. But now we reach the end: Book #3, Against the Darkness, wraps up the escalating danger with an action-packed finale, while keeping the spotlight shining on the new and old Buffyverse characters (and all their quippiness).
Frankie pointed through the windshield to the park below as Sam ran past the base of the green, sloping hill, screaming as he was tailed by three vampires. Jake wasn’t far behind, and as he passed, he turned to the car and shouted.
“Frankie! Get your slayer butt down here!”
“Well.” Frankie opened her door. “I guess that’s the signal.”
“It was so subtle; are you sure?” Sigmund asked, deadpan.
Over the course of the trilogy, Frankie Rosenberg has been developing her slayer powers. The world’s first slayer-witch, Frankie is a second generation Scoobie, just trying to get through high school, hang out with her mom Willow, keep an eye on best friend/werewolf Jake, and (oh yeah) try not to get killed by the Big Bad of the month.
With Spike as her Watcher, Willow and Oz as the wise elders, and a new batch of Scoobies to train and patrol with, Frankie slowly starts building her confidence, even while desperately missing her aunt Buffy, who is currently trapped in a prison dimension along with rest of the slayers. Well, except for those slayers who’ve joined the Darkness, whose purpose is not obvious to the good guys until it’s almost too late.
This trilogy is oodles of fun. Yes, the focus is on the newer generation, but Willow, Oz, and Spike get plenty of time to shine too, and there are other visits from old favorites that are a delight. (There’s even a shout-out to Miss Kitty Fantastico, which is just… awesome.) Meanwhile, author Kendare Blake wholeheartedly embraces the vibe, capturing both nostalgic references and the overall Buffy way of speaking in a way that’s pure joy to read.
Lots of fun details and craziness ensues. Gotta love the lacrosse werewolves! (It’s a thing — read the book to find out more.)
“Are you all right, Frankie?”
“Sure, why? Did I stop smiling? I didn’t think I stopped smiling.” She tried to smile again, but it wouldn’t stick.
Willow peered around the gymnasium. “Seems like a shame to destroy another high school,” she said to Oz. “This one is so nice.”
“Buffy, look out!” Willow pointed as a bat-winged demon swooped overhead. Buffy and Frankie ducked, and Willow used her magic to zap it out of the sky.
“Thanks, Will.” Buffy looked at her. “Home for not even two seconds, and already it’s work, work, work.”
If you’re a Buffy fan, please do yourself a favor and read this adorable trilogy. It’s such a treat to be back in the world of slayers, demons, witches, and hellmouths. I didn’t expect to love the new characters as much as I did, but Frankie is amazing, and so is the rest of her crew… and needless to say, spending time with the original gang is a total blast.
I’m sad to see the trilogy come to an end, but I’ve enjoyed every moment with these books. I think I hear a Buffy rewatch calling my name…
Bookshelf Fantasies 
I thought they were a lot of fun, but the last one wasn’t as good as the first two.
I think as a whole, it’s a really fun series — and really made me feel like I was back with the characters I love, which is quite an achievement!
I agree completely. I was sorry the series ended. Would have liked Buffy to be in the next one.
I never got around to requesting this, so I haven’t read it yet, but it has been such a fun series! I’m glad it wrapped up so well😁
I got this one when it came out, and then didn’t find the time to read it until now — so I had to do a bit of skimming through the previous book to figure out where we’d left off. It was such a good conclusion! I hope you get to it at some point 🙂