2: chapter 7-12 (pages 96-184)

[Taake]

2: chapter 7-12 (pages 96-184)

• What do you think of the story?
• Does the author capture the characters?
• What are your feelings on series Riley and book Riley? Do you prefer one and why?

 

[NotASlayer]

I haven't finished this section yet, but I'm up to page 150. Sam... seems to becoming a Ms Fanservice (a skimpy bikini? Really? Is that what she would be wearing on a mission?) and I think the author might have a thing for the actress. I hope what seems to be a budding love... quadrangle? doesn't manifest.

 

[NotASlayer]

Okay, finished this section.

Riley... seems closer to S4 Riley before he was sacrificed on the bloodthirsty altar of Spuffy. In general, though, I am not certain about the character portrayals. Buffy seems to be a bit of a placeholder for much of the time; a lot of the focus is on Angel and Sam. And I am not really sure what the author is doing with Sam.

The story does seem to be a combination of monster fighting and investigation. I guess that does follow with it being a crossover between Angel (paranormal PI in the earlier seasons) and Buffy (monster hunting).

The reveal that the sheriff is a skinwalker was expected. Those are really popular in fiction set in that part of the US.

 

[Taake]

I haven't finished this section yet, but I'm up to page 150. Sam... seems to becoming a Ms Fanservice (a skimpy bikini? Really? Is that what she would be wearing on a mission?) and I think the author might have a thing for the actress. I hope what seems to be a budding love... quadrangle? doesn't manifest.

What’s weirder is that he describes her as curvy at first, but later in this part he describes her as a ”body builder” (140) which seems contradictory to me. Curvy suggests soft and voluptuous, body builder suggests muscly and firm

I just finished this section so, those that haven’t avert thine eyes!

I really liked this part, it felt like we got some decent action and plot moving along well. Buffy doesn’t have a lot to do, but the author does acknowledge this. I was also thrown off by her being the driver a couple of times and was pleased when he had Angel reflect that Buffy’s driving scared him more than anything that evening, which is good since the character is an established bad driver.

As for the quadrangle… I’ll just say, no I don’t like that Sam technically cheats on her husband (they are undercover but still…)

That said… Angel and Sam… I like it. I’d ship it. I like their team up. I get a Darla and Angelus (but good) vibe off them. They’re fun together. Sorry not sorry 😁 I’m here for it.

However, kissing vampires gives you a hangover?! Sam even calls it a hangover. That seemed weird to me.

Adding to the list of ”things no one would ever say” :
• I’m fine with you being here (pt1)
• Thanks for sharing your two old loves with me (Sam to Buffy, pt2)

Who would say that? Even if Sam isn’t jealous of Buffy about Riley, the above makes it sound like he is still Buffy’s or something. And while the Bangel in me does love that Buffy goes ”I’m not sharing Angel with you” (in her head), I for one could have lived without Sam saying that. It is just a weird thing to say.

 

[NotASlayer]

However, kissing vampires gives you a hangover?! Sam even calls it a hangover. That seemed weird to me.

I think that is a hint of something else. I am into the next section now, and something new has cropped up. I did think it was something else prior to that, though.

• Thanks for sharing your two old loves with me (Sam to Buffy, pt2)

Yes, that stood out as being really odd.

EDIT: I think I would add a third different description of Sam, in which she seems to be slender. In other words, I think she has been described as Nikita, Cara Dune and Joan Holloway.

 

[Taake]

Okay, finished this section.

Riley... seems closer to S4 Riley before he was sacrificed on the bloodthirsty altar of Spuffy. In general, though, I am not certain about the character portrayals. Buffy seems to be a bit of a placeholder for much of the time; a lot of the focus is on Angel and Sam. And I am not really sure what the author is doing with Sam.

The story does seem to be a combination of monster fighting and investigation. I guess that does follow with it being a crossover between Angel (paranormal PI in the earlier seasons) and Buffy (monster hunting).

The reveal that the sheriff is a skinwalker was expected. Those are really popular in fiction set in that part of the US.

Yeah, the sheriff part was predictable

Sam was probably more fun to write since so little is know of her

Riley does seem like s4 Riley. Very gadget man. I’m hoping the crows get more play soon

Kind of annoyed about Buffy grumbling about wanting a normal life, very s4 Buffy I’d say.

Also, yikes Buffy. Riley says something that Sam is one in a million, and Buffy is like ”well, we better hope she doesn’t die soon” or something like that. She’s Cordelia-esque in her bluntness

I think that is a hint of something else. I am into the next section now, and something new has cropped up. I did think it was something else prior to that, though.



Yes, that stood out as being really odd.

Yeah I did think she might have been drugged or something, but Buffy didnt contradict her. But will be interesting to see what it is

 

[Taake]

Also, is ”wetbacks” something people call immigrants, and why? He had people use it several times, and it was the bad people

 

[NotASlayer]

Also, is ”wetbacks” something people call immigrants, and why? He had people use it several times, and it was the bad people

I have come across the term before and my understanding is that it is a racist insult used in parts of the southern US to describe people of Latin descent. It is in reference, I believe, to some having swum across the Rio Grande to enter the US - wet back - and is not just used about immigrants, legal or not, but for anyone of such descent, ignoring the fact that there are many people who have lived in that region longer than the US itself has existed, let alone the people using the insult.

 

[Taake]

I have come across the term before and my understanding is that it is a racist insult used in parts of the southern US to describe people of Latin descent. It is in reference, I believe, to some having swum across the Rio Grande to enter the US - wet back - and is not just used about immigrants, legal or not, but for anyone of such descent, ignoring the fact that there are many people who have lived in that region longer than the US itself has existed, let alone the people using the insult.

Aah, ok. I’ve never seen that word before and it made no sense (as they’re in the desert), but it seemed like a slur, and it makes sense now with the above.

 

[Cohen]

The story does seem to be a combination of monster fighting and investigation. I guess that does follow with it being a crossover between Angel (paranormal PI in the earlier seasons) and Buffy (monster hunting).

As for the quadrangle… I’ll just say, no I don’t like that Sam technically cheats on her husband (they are undercover but still…)

That said… Angel and Sam… I like it. I’d ship it. I like their team up. I get a Darla and Angelus (but good) vibe off them. They’re fun together. Sorry not sorry 😁 I’m here for it.

I liked the investigation between Angel and Sam in the seedy bar. But I too thought it was odd that Sam was kissing everybody in this section. And vampires, at that. She could have done the bug drop without kissing the vamps. But I did like the Sangel dynamic. They work well together as characters.

I do wish that Buffy and Riley had something to do minus sitting in the van. It just seemed pointless.

I really liked this part, it felt like we got some decent action and plot moving along well. Buffy doesn’t have a lot to do, but the author does acknowledge this. I was also thrown off by her being the driver a couple of times and was pleased when he had Angel reflect that Buffy’s driving scared him more than anything that evening, which is good since the character is an established bad driver.

Yeah Buffy mentioning she had an SUV.. I was like… 🤨
No way Xander or Willow allow her in the drivers seat. But okay author…

However, kissing vampires gives you a hangover?! Sam even calls it a hangover. That seemed weird to me.

I think she was drugged. She mentioned at one point that her drink was stronger than Angel’s. I don’t think that was by accident. I’m sure it will come to something in the final part.

Adding to the list of ”things no one would ever say” :
• I’m fine with you being here (pt1)
• Thanks for sharing your two old loves with me (Sam to Buffy, pt2)

Who would say that? Even if Sam isn’t jealous of Buffy about Riley, the above makes it sound like he is still Buffy’s or something. And while the Bangel in me does love that Buffy goes ”I’m not sharing Angel with you” (in her head), I for one could have lived without Sam saying that. It is just a weird thing to say.

I could see Sam saying this though. She was very blunt with Buffy in the episode she was in. Not intimidated at all.

The reveal that the sheriff is a skinwalker was expected. Those are really popular in fiction set in that part of the US.

I knew the sheriff was involved in the monstrous portion of the story. It also makes since he is the monster given his characterization in the first part of the book.

Post automatically merged: Mar 4, 2025

Also, is ”wetbacks” something people call immigrants, and why? He had people use it several times, and it was the bad people

It’s a derogatory term for Mexicans in the United States. I think it has two meanings, the river crossing, as stated previously. But also because they’re usually migrant workers who primary work in fields and as workers of land owners (ie white Americans). So they are seen as less than. And it’s still used today by racists.. especially to speak about undocumented immigrants.

 

[NotASlayer]

I liked the investigation between Angel and Sam in the seedy bar. But I too thought it was odd that Sam was kissing everybody in this section. And vampires, at that. She could have done the bug drop without kissing the vamps.

I think she was drugged. She mentioned at one point that her drink was stronger than Angel’s. I don’t think that was by accident. I’m sure it will come to something in the final part.

It is explained why she does it in the final part. Honestly, the explanation is weird.

I do wish that Buffy and Riley had something to do minus sitting in the van. It just seemed pointless.

In the final part, when people get separated and it's not all four of them together, everyone ends up with something to do. It is most noticeable with Buffy, given that she has spent a large portion of the book literally sitting on the sidelines, but she doesn't play the largest role.