Hello Readers,
Despite being in set in the Buffy-verse Slayer doesn’t
focus on Buffy but instead looks at the descendants of Merrick. Merrick was Buffy’s first
watcher (before Giles) and how they are handling things after Buffy saves the
world which caused all the magic in the world to disappear. Buffy’s actions
also mean that no Slayers will rise again and the Watchers have
frayed to breaking point This wonderful book is filled with some familiar faces
and many new ones and I can't wait to see what comes next.
When I was growing up, I was huge Buffy fan but I did
jump straight over to Angel (I know I’m a traitor but David Boreanaz sorry not
sorry). There are spoilers in this review.
Nina and her twin sister, Artemis, are far from normal. They
grew up at the Watcher’s Academy where teens are trained as guides for Slayers.
Unlike her sister Nina has never embraced the violent Watcher lifestyle instead
she follows her instincts to heal, carving out a place for herself as the
school medic. Nina has always been considered the “less important” of the
twins as Artemis has always been favoured. However, Artemis has always been there protecting
her sister and the remaining Watchers. Spoilers are coming!
In the beginning, our main character Nina talks about her
hate for Buffy but as the story progresses you understand why. Nina hates the
Slayers and thinks all Slayers are violent, irresponsible, impulsive creatures.
Well surprise sweet you are one!! I loved watching her journey as a Slayer after
years of hating everything they are. Nina is a healer, not a fighter she
doesn’t want to hurt people and doesn’t really want to hurt demons, she wants
to help them. This internal conflict is
at the centre of Nina’s story, and it’s what makes her such a dynamic
character. Nina is one of those characters that you immediately get attached to
which makes her a brilliant main character and has a lot of believable
development throughout the book, more than you would expect from a single
novel.
As with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the characters are
fantastic and really rounded out this coming-of-age story. Slayer like Buffy sets up numerous side
characters who not only move Nina’s story forward but are independent well-developed characters. This book contains a lot of family tensions while emphasising
the bond of sisterhood between Nina and Artemis.
Slayer was everything I hoped it would be, and so much
more. Kiersten has done a wonderful job balancing this new series with the feel of the Buffy-verse while inserting new characters while continuing to develop and evolve the story. It honestly had that Buffy feel to it,
including the humour we all love. The book had a little of everything I
remember from the original series, and then took it to another level including vampires,
demons, slayers, and Watchers. I loved that the story focused more on the
characters than the big bad. (Shout out to my Boo Angel) Slayer like The Angel
series identifies that not all demons are evil.
I loved that Kiersten made it easy to enjoy for those who
have never been introduced to the world of slayers before. There was just
enough explanation of the world to allow new readers to be comfortable with the
new characters and their story. Kiersten hid some wonderful Easter eggs and
references for those who fell in love with the world, and characters, years
ago. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Buffy or anyone who wants a kick ass female lead who starts of like most of us "normal" people.
Lx
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