THE BABYSITTERS COVEN

A fashion-minded babysitter in small-town Kansas discovers her magical powers and the responsibility that comes with them.

Seventeen-year-old Esme Pearl can’t explain the strange things happening to her until the new girl, Cassandra Heaven, reveals to Esme that they both have powers. The girls bumble their way through beginning spellcasting until Brian, the school football coach, explains that they are Sitters: girls (typically babysitters) predestined to protect humanity from interdimensional monsters. Brian is their mentor, or Counsel. The characters themselves draw the obvious comparison to Buffy the Vampire Slayer (“So basically, we’re like Slayers, and you’re our Watcher”), but despite basic worldbuilding parallels, the novel misses the mark if it’s attempting to fill the cult classic’s large shoes. The tongue-in-cheek humor never manages to find a balance with the purportedly high-stakes plot. To debut novelist Williams’ credit, much of the humor lands; her unusual descriptions delight (Esme’s hands shake “like cold Chihuahuas,” while “nice” is “the chicken Caesar wrap of compliments”), as do Esme’s and her best friend Janis’ daily wardrobe inspirations. However, the explanation behind Esme’s powers comes late, and even as the conflict heightens, readers will struggle to buy in. Many secondary characters feel hollow, including Esme’s crush (Cassandra’s brother, Dion). Esme is presumably white, Cassandra identifies as Mexican, and Janis and Brian are black.

Esme may be witty, but when it comes to fulfilling her destiny, Buffy she is not.