Customer Reviews

The Faith Trials, Vol. 1 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, No. 21)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before I go on, I want to say that I'm don't watch Buffy often. I've seen a few episodes but I'm not much of an avid fan. So what I say, I hope, is unbiased. I'm a person from the outside rather than inside.

The Buffy Trials book is volume one of the the novelization of the teleplays about the beautiful but wild slayer named Faith. These four tells chronicle the life of Faith from the first time she entered Sunnydale to her deal with the Mayor.

In "Faith, Trick, & Hope" we see Faith entering into the world of Sunnydale. This story is an establishment of her as a character. She's the "new slayer in town" as Oz puts it. In "Revelations" Faith gets a new Watcher and that turns out diastrous. In "Bad Girls" we see Faith influencing Buffy with her "bad" ways. But Faith's wild attitude causes somebody to die. The last story, "Consequences", Faith turns to the evil side runned by the Mayor.

From a person that doesn't watch the Buffy show (out of the four, I've only seen one), I found the whole book an enjoyable read. You don't need to watch the episodes because the author has everything you need to know in the stories. In some ways, the novelizations has the upperhand. You get actual thought perceptions of characters.

It doesn't matter if you watch Buffy or not, this book is a fun and fascinating read into the world of Faith the Slayer.

I must say that I loved this book. It was great to have an entire book dedicated to the wild slayer named Faith. Even though the cover says "Faith, Hope, and Trick," "Bad Girls," "Enemies," and "Consequences," it has "Revelations" instead of "Enemies." Either way, the book still would have been a great read. In "Faith, Hope, and Trick," Faith, the new slayer is introduced and Buffy becomes a little jealous. In "Revelations," Faith gets a new watcher who seems much like a watcher, only to find she has a secret plan of her own. "Bad Girls" is where Faith starts closely moving to the dark side by accidentally mistaking a human for a vampire and killin him, only to have no remorse. "Consequences" is about both Faith and Buffy dealing with the death of the Deputy Mayor...even though they each have a different way of going about it. Overall, it is a great book and a must-have for any Buffy fan.

This little volume collects novelizations of four episodes regarding Faith the Vampire Slayer from the third season of Buffy. "Faith, Hope & Trick" introduces Faith to Sunnydale, "Revelations" brings the evil Watcher Gwendolyn Post into the picture, while "Enemies" and "Consequences" has Faith killing a human and joining forces with the Mayor. Obivously there are more episodes focusing on Faith to deal with in future volumes of "The Faith Trials." I especailly hope they do the ones that cross over to "Angel" as well. Let's just keep our fingers crossed.

This book collects four of the best Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes that feature Faith, the rogue vampire slayer. The character is introduced in Faith, Hope and Trick. She is a sexy, sassy slayer on the run. She is a person who has always lived on the edge. She loves slaying and the power that comes with the slayer strength. In Bad Girls Faith introduces Buffy to the "See, Want, Take" principle. Their reckless behavior results in the death of a human. Faith's solution is to blame Buffy in Consequences. When the plan backfires the council steps in and drives Faith to the dark side. Faith, working for the mayor, tries to steal Angel's soul by giving him that one moment of happiness in Enemies.

James Laurence weaves a nice back-story to tie the four episodes together. I enjoyed reading the book even though I have seen the episodes. Also I think that readers who have not seen the TV series would enjoy these four tales of power and corruption.

If you are a Faith fan, buy this. It explains how she feels troughout the book, covering her first 4 episodes. The only tiny critisism is that I wished it showed more of Faith's point of view.
In the middle of the book are glossy pictures. A great buy.

These novelizations of three of the television episodes from the third Buffy season featuring Faith are solid; we get a little more of Faith's perspective and experience, how these stories and events had an impact on her on a personal level. It's a good read, not a necessity, but enjoyable nonetheless.

I read The Faith Trials, Vol. 1 (is there going to be a volume 2?) from the library, and it's an awesome book! James Laurence really knows how to make you think of the episodes he's writing about, and I think that's great, seeing as Buffy is now over. There's something about the character that is so likable---I think it's the way she's so reckless and such a change from Buffy. Laurence really well portrays her character. I agree with what someone said about how I wish they actually showed Faith's thoughts. But still, it was a really great read.

Another reason why I liked this book is Laurence's language. I already said it and I'm going to say it again. He really does give life to the episodes he's talking about. Quotes are almost as enjoyable in the book as they are in the episodes on the screen themselves. (e.g. "So what, you just fell, and tripped on his lips?"---Xander.

THE FAITH TRIALS, VOL. 1

By James Laurence (2001), based on teleplays "Faith, Hope & Trick" by David Greenwalt, "Bad Girls" and "Revelations" by Douglas Petrie, and "Consequences" by Marti Noxon

RATING: 3/5 Stakes

SETTING: Season Three

CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Faith, Xander, Willow, Oz, Giles, Angel, Cordelia, Joyce, Principal Snyder, Wesley, Kakistos, Gwendolyn Post, Scott Hope, Mr. Trick, Lagos, The Mayor, Deputy Mayor Allan Finch, Balthazar, Detective Stein

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Sometimes, it's gotta be a drag to be the Chosen One. Occasionally a girl would rather be at the mall, talking on the phone, or even doing homework than saving the world from unstoppable evil. Fortunately, Buffy Summers has always had a support system of friends and family to help her cope. But what if she hadn't? She might have been just like Faith. Faith, the `shadow-shelf' Slayer, is strong, sexy, and willful. When she first arrives in Sunnydale, Watcher-less and fancy-free, Buffy has doubts about the tag-team approach to patrol. As times goes on, though, she learns to find the fun in synchronized slayage, and appreciates Faith's zest for life. . . . Until Faith's impulsive attitude toward her calling takes her one step too far, and her inability to cope with consequences eventually pushes her over the edge. . . ."

REVIEW

The first (and so far only) Buffy novelization centered on Faith, Volume One of the Faith Trials focuses on the rogue Slayer's adventures in Season Three. James Laurence, a newcomer to Buffy-authordom, provides a solid and straightforward adaptation of four episodes: "Faith, Hope & Trick", "Revelations", "Bad Girls", and "Consequences" (contrary to the book's cover, "Enemies" is not included, with "Revelations" as the surprise substitute).

"Faith, Hope & Trick", as the title indicates, is the first appearance of Faith, Scott Hope, and Mr. Trick, and involves Faith's confrontation with Kakistos, the vampire who slew her former Watcher. A solid story, the best part of both the episode and the novelization is seeing Buffy's jealously over how quickly Faith moves in on Buffy's mom, friends, and even would-be boyfriend. A short prequel is added to the novelization, detailing Faith's arrival in Sunnydale, but it's not of any particular interest.

After a similarly so-so original intermission, the book moves on to adapt "Revelations," which tells of evil Watcher Gwendolyn Post's pursuit of the Glove of Myhnegon. Laurence does a skillful adaptation of an episode that has plenty of humor, plenty of romance, and an important betrayal, as Faith loses (what else?) faith in someone she had trusted--this episode starts Faith on the downward spiral that makes a strong story arc for Season Three.

"Bad Girls" features a rather silly major villain--an overweight, immobile bather named Balthazar. However, the episode is redeemed by great scenes with the Mayor and Laurence does a good job in the adaptation of making us feel the rush that Buffy and Faith get during slaying. For die-hard fans of the "rogue demon hunter," Bad Girls is also Wesley's first appearance.

The final episode adapted, "Consequences", tells how Faith tried to set Buffy up for the accidental killing of the very-human Deputy Mayor in "Bad Girls". Giles and the other Scoobies see right through Faith's plan, but they're unable to redeem her and she decides to go seriously evil by allying herself with the Mayor. The episode is far more interesting than my description makes it sound.

All in all, Volume One of the Faith Trials contains four solid stories, with smooth, straightforward adaptations by Laurence. Although the book doesn't contain very interesting original material, hardcore Faith fans shouldn't hesitate to pick it up.

(c)(...)

This is almost the only place to find even a mention of Faith in the book series, let alone to experience her as a character. Which is a great pity, because there's a lot there to explore.

This book is merely a novelization of Faith's first episodes on the series, and as such will be nothing new to the fans. The stories end at the point where Faith falls from grace, which hardly makes for a complete novel from her entry as a co-Slayer, but is at least a solid introduction to the confused psychological mess that is Faith for book series newcomers.

As a novelization, it isn't bad. Laurence is able to give inner voice to the tormented Slayer, which is something the T.V. series of course could rarely do.

Who's it for? Buffy and (especially) Faith fans, of course. Not a book for newbies to start out on, but one well worth getting for those who are behind on their Slayer watching, or to get to later for other readers.

may i say im a huge buffy fan and a huge faith fan and i love the character so when i heard this book was out i rushed out and bought it.i read it the day i got it and i loved it!Good episodes,even tho it says enemies and u get revelaitions instead,for this is not a bad thing.But a v.enjoyable read and i recommend this to any buffy fan and non-buffy fan

i give this 5 stars