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A review by owlsreads
Big Bad by Lily Anderson
5.0
Big Bad was just so damn fun! I had really such a good time reading this book. I didn't quite know what to expect from Demondale and this canon divergent universe, but I really really loved what Anderson did with the characters and the story!
The writing was very easy to read and I loved the different perspectives from Jonathan and Anya (and Buffy!). The premise of the Slayer being the villain, for once, was so nice and presented a pretty cool conflict throughout since I had empathy for the Demondale peeps and yet still cheered for Buffy.
Also, important to note that Warren was a piece of shit in every universe! Thank you to Anderson for not trying to retcon that lol
All of the legacy characters who showed up were also great! I very much enjoyed Anya being Anya and how she interacted with Jonathan and Andrew. Angelus and Spike and Dru were amazing as always and Willow fit in pretty well with the group. I was a little surprised to see the Ripper, but it was yet another divergence that quite worked for me considering his backstory. There were a few other fantastic cameos as well!
The queer rep was also fantastic with Andrew and Willow and Drusilla! One this this book did was make me consider new ships within fandom and I was very much on board with wlw relationship part of it all. The other one involving Anya didn't quite work for me.
The questions of friendship and what it meant to be Evil were also very well written and addressed. I didn't expect so many heartwarming moments and touching conversations in this book and I really loved what I got from. Oh! And! And! All of the alternate Sunnydales were absolutely wonderful and Smileydale is my one true nightmare :D This was definitely my favorite Buffyverse related novel I've read so far!
The writing was very easy to read and I loved the different perspectives from Jonathan and Anya (and Buffy!). The premise of the Slayer being the villain, for once, was so nice and presented a pretty cool conflict throughout since I had empathy for the Demondale peeps and yet still cheered for Buffy.
Also, important to note that Warren was a piece of shit in every universe! Thank you to Anderson for not trying to retcon that lol
All of the legacy characters who showed up were also great! I very much enjoyed Anya being Anya and how she interacted with Jonathan and Andrew. Angelus and Spike and Dru were amazing as always and Willow fit in pretty well with the group. I was a little surprised to see the Ripper, but it was yet another divergence that quite worked for me considering his backstory. There were a few other fantastic cameos as well!
The queer rep was also fantastic with Andrew and Willow and Drusilla! One this this book did was make me consider new ships within fandom and I was very much on board with wlw relationship part of it all. The other one involving Anya didn't quite work for me.
The questions of friendship and what it meant to be Evil were also very well written and addressed. I didn't expect so many heartwarming moments and touching conversations in this book and I really loved what I got from. Oh! And! And! All of the alternate Sunnydales were absolutely wonderful and Smileydale is my one true nightmare :D This was definitely my favorite Buffyverse related novel I've read so far!