Okay, when you think about it, this is an odd Buffy book. The main reason I suppose is the total absence of Buffy from the story. Apart from a short appearance in the opening chapter in 2002 Sunnydale prior to the actions rewinding 25 years and heading across to the other side of America for the action to take place in New York, we do not see the titular Slayer.

But that's not to say we do not see a Slayer. In this book that title belongs to Nikki Wood, the mother of Robin Wood, the principal of the new Sunnydale High in season seven of the TV series. The common thread between the Buffy series we know and this book though is Spike, Nikki Wood being the second Slayer that Spike killed during his bad years.

This story was told briefly in the TV series, but in this book we get the background. We meet Nikki Wood and her watcher, we see her struggling against a gang of Vampires who run a number of the criminal activities in town, and we see her at home with her young son.

And in the middle of this comes Spike. His reasons for being in New York initially have little to do with the Slayer. Spike is punk fan, and he is in New York to see The Ramones at the (in)famous CBGB's club. But when he comes up against a Slayer Spike is intent on increasing his Slayer kill count to two.

Once again I find myself reading a prequel novel. It's funny how these things tend to arrive together on my reading pile. And for the second time I find myself enjoying a prequel. Okay, maybe I don't set the bar as high with a Buffy book as I did with the Dune book, but the author still had to deliver, and he did.

This is bad boy Spike, but despite that you still find yourself somewhat on his side in the book despite his evil nature. But that's not to say you do not feel for Nikki Wood as the sassy New York Slayer with the cool long black coat. She is a great character and her demise, although inevitable, is handled sensitively and with dignity.

Synopsis
New York City 1977 is a great time to be a vampire. Serial killer Son of Sam is on the loose and is dominating the newspaper headlines, drawing attention away from any less conspicuous killings. At the same time a blackout gives them free rein on the city streets, allowing them to get away with murder. Vampire Slayer Nikki Wood, struggling to bring up her son Robin in comparative safety, already has her work cut out keeping them both alive. Things get rapidly worse for Nikki when Spike and Drusilla hit town, since Spike is determined to bag himself a Slayer. Before he can move in for the kill, however, the local vampire community catches wind of his presence - and when they start messing with him, things get bloody interesting...