There's this fanfic called 'Giles' Lost Love'. It tells a heart - wrenching story about a love from Giles' past that resurfaces. It adds a whole new layer to his character. 'The Mentor Giles' is a fanfic that emphasizes his role as Buffy's mentor, showing his wisdom and guidance in different situations. And 'Giles' Secret Mission' is full of action and mystery, where Giles embarks on a mission that no one else in the Scooby Gang knows about.
Well, I really liked 'Giles: The Early Years'. It gives a great backstory to Giles, showing how he got involved with the Council and his first encounters with the supernatural. 'A Day in the Life of Giles' is a charming short fanfic that just follows Giles through an ordinary day in Sunnydale, but with his unique perspective as a Watcher. There's also 'Giles and the Ancient Artifact' which has an exciting plot involving Giles and a mysterious magical item.
Giles is interesting in fanfiction because of his complex backstory. He has this whole life as a Watcher before coming to Sunnydale. His knowledge of the occult and magic makes him a key figure in any story. He can be the source of information, like in 'The Library of Giles' where he uses his extensive book knowledge to solve a mystery.
One great fanfic is 'Willow's Ascent'. It delves deep into Willow's journey of self - discovery and her growth as a powerful witch. The story is well - written, with vivid descriptions of her struggles and how she overcomes them. It also has some really interesting interactions with other characters from the Buffyverse.
One great Buffy fanfiction is 'The Initiative Redux'. It takes the concept of the Initiative from the show and expands on it in a really interesting way. It delves deeper into the experiments and the characters involved in that aspect of the Buffyverse. Another one could be 'Slayer's Bond' which focuses on the relationships between the slayers and how they support each other beyond just fighting vampires and demons. And 'A Different Sunnydale' which reimagines the town and the events in a unique and engaging way.
A must - read vampire Buffy fanfiction is 'Shadows of the Night'. This one shows Buffy dealing with a new breed of vampires that are much more cunning and powerful. The author does an excellent job of building the tension throughout the story.
Well, 'The Watcher's Guide' is often considered one of the best. It delves deep into the Buffyverse, providing detailed information about the characters, the mythology, and the overall world. It's like a comprehensive encyclopedia for fans.
A really good starting point could be 'Once More, with Feeling' by various authors. This fanfic collection is inspired by the musical episode of the show. It has a lot of creativity in terms of how the characters are developed further in the musical - themed stories. There are different takes on the relationships and the overall Buffy - verse, which makes it an interesting read.
There's an author named Catherine White. Her fanfictions about Spike are known for their beautiful prose and in - depth character analysis. One of her works, 'Spike's True Self', really peels back the layers of Spike's character. Another great author is Paul Harris. He has a knack for writing Spike in different time periods and situations, like in his 'Spike Through the Ages' series. And don't forget about Anne Miller, who creates some really heart - warming and sometimes heart - breaking stories about Spike.
Then there's 'FanficWizardX'. This author likes to put Xander in unique situations. For instance, they might send him to an alternate dimension where he has to fight different versions of vampires and demons. Their creativity in plot - making makes their Xander fanfictions stand out.
The plot is crucial. It should be full of action and mystery. A good Buffy novel will have her facing new and dangerous foes. Maybe it's a new type of vampire or a powerful demon that she has to figure out how to defeat. Also, the pacing should be good, not too slow or too rushed.
I'm not sure about the absolute best, but some popular ones might be those who have a deep understanding of the Buffy universe. They know all the characters well, especially Dawn, and can write her in - character. For example, an author who has been following the show since it started and has a passion for Dawn's character arc.