The best books for Buffy lovers

Bryony Pearce Author Of Raising Hell
By Bryony Pearce

Who am I?

Growing up in the nineties I was a Buffy fan, although that is probably understating things. I have all the Buffy novels, which I read over when waiting for the next series to come out (this was in the days before Netflix!). For me, Buffy had the exact right mix of humour, horror, and deeper complexity, dealing with issues that really impacted me, but in a way that made them accessible. I loved the characters, I loved Buffy herself, I loved her strength and humanity. When I decided to write Raising Hell, I was influenced by Buffy, but there are differences – Ivy is no chosen one, she chose herself.

I wrote...

Raising Hell

By Bryony Pearce,

Book cover of Raising Hell

What is my book about?

Meet Ivy Elisabeth Mann. Once upon a time Ivy and her friends did a very stupid thing and now there’s a rift letting dark matter into the world. Dark matter that manifests as magic that actually works. Now every teenager with access to the Internet is raising hell. Literally. 

Ivy is doing her best to stem the tide, but there’s only so much one girl with a machete, a job working school security and a cat possessed by the soul of her own grandmother can do against the forces of evil...isn’t there?

The books I picked & why

Shepherd is reader supported. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through links on our website. This is how we fund this project for readers and authors (learn more).

Mina and the Undead

By Amy McCaw,

Book cover of Mina and the Undead

Why this book?

With an awesome nineties vibe that took me right back to my own teen years, Mina and the Undead is about a British teen girl battling vampires (obviously) in New Orleans. A great Gothic horror written by a fantastic new British writer, filled with gore and references to 90’s pop culture. A ton of fun!

Mina and the Undead

By Amy McCaw,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Mina and the Undead as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'A dark and thrilling tale of the paranormal. With haunted houses, family secrets and murder galore, this delicious and gruesome tale of the macabre will ignite a whole new generation of vampire fans.' Lauren James

'Brimful of nostalgia and cinematic atmosphere. A thrilling read and a clever new twist on the vampire stories you love.' Laura Wood

New Orleans Fang Fest, 1995. Mina's having a summer to die for.

17-year-old Mina, from England, arrives in New Orleans to visit her estranged sister, Libby. After growing up in the town that inspired Dracula, Mina loves nothing more than a creepy horror…

Explore
Topics
Genres

Slayer, 1

By Kiersten White,

Book cover of Slayer, 1

Why this book?

This is literally a Buffyverse novel, set after the events of the last series, when Willow has cast her spell to make Potentials into Slayers. The main character is Nina, a British daughter of a watcher, who has some hard choices to make. I have enjoyed Kiersten White’s work since I read Paranormalcy many years ago. She has a great sense of humour and writes characters who feel very real and will stay with you for a long time.  

Slayer, 1

By Kiersten White,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Slayer, 1 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“Will get Buffy fans up in their feels.” —Entertainment Weekly

A New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller

From bestselling author Kiersten White comes the first novel in a series set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that introduces a new Slayer as she grapples with the responsibility of managing her incredible powers that she’s just beginning to understand.

Into every generation a Slayer is born…

Nina and her twin sister, Artemis, are far from normal. It’s hard to be when you grow up at the Watcher’s Academy, which is a bit different from your average boarding school.…

Explore
Topics
Genres

The Call

By Peadar Ó Guilín,

Book cover of The Call

Why this book?

The Call picks up on the horror element I loved in Buffy. In this alternative world, the Irish have banished the Sidhe, but as revenge, the Sidhe call Irish teens to their land, where they are hunted for 24 hours. You don’t know who will be called, or when, but eventually, it will be your turn. School is all about helping teens learn to survive when they are taken. Three minutes pass in our world before you are returned. But in what state? I loved the concept of this novel, and the main character will hit you in all the feels!

The Call

By Peadar Ó Guilín,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Call as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

Explore
Topics
Genres

Slay Book 1

By Kim Curran,

Book cover of Slay Book 1

Why this book?

Kim Curran is another writer that I have enjoyed for years since I read her debut Control. She writes with great immediacy and her characters are brilliant. Slay is about the hottest boy band on the planet. But they aren’t just a boy band, in fact, this is a cover for their real gig – slaying monsters. 

Slay Book 1

By Kim Curran,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Slay Book 1 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Every fangirl's daydream is about to become Milly's nightmare.

When Milly arrives home to discover that her mum has been taken over by something very evil, she finds herself in mortal danger. But the last people she expects to rescue her are the boys in the hottest band on the planet!

Enter SLAY - playing killer gigs, and slaying killer demons. Suddenly Milly's on the road with JD, Tom, Niv, Zek and Connor, helping save the world, one gig at a time...

Explore
Topics
Genres

Devil's Kiss

By Sarwat Chadda,

Book cover of Devil's Kiss

Why this book?

Sarwat is another brilliant British writer, whose debut novel Devil’s Kiss remains my favourite of his. Its teen heroine, Billi Sangreal is the last of the knight’s templar and lives her life kicking ass and killing monsters, Buffy style. There is a great level of complexity in this novel, with a bad guy that has really remained with me over the years. 

Devil's Kiss

By Sarwat Chadda,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Devil's Kiss as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Grade Level: 7-9 Age Level: 12-14 Listening Level: Grades 7-9 As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilqis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn’t normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a warrior in her order’s ancient battle against the Unholy. Billi’s cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He’s ready to slide back into Billi’s life, but she’s met someone new: amber-eyed Mike, who seems to understand her like…

Explore
Topics
Genres

5 book lists we think you will like!

The best YA books about non-sparkly vampires
The best books to help you appreciate the impact and value of myths and stories
The best books about the end of the world and being the last person on earth
The best fantasy books that are the most uplifting
The best hard-to-categorize novels

Interested in good and evil, Irish mythology, and New Orleans?

7,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about good and evil, Irish mythology, and New Orleans.

Good And Evil Explore 90 books about good and evil
Irish Mythology Explore 9 books about Irish mythology
New Orleans Explore 83 books about New Orleans

And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

We think you will like The Beautiful, The Casquette Girls, and The Coldest Touch if you like this list.

Book cover of The Beautiful Book cover of The Casquette Girls Book cover of The Coldest Touch