Review - Slayer (Slayer, #1) by Kiersten White

Title: Slayer (Slayer, #1)

Author: Kiersten White

Pages: 416

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK

Release Date: 21st February 2019

Blurb from Goodreads:

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. Here teens are trained as guides for Slayers—girls gifted with supernatural strength to fight the forces of darkness. But while Nina’s mother is a prominent member of the Watcher’s Council, 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.

Until the day Nina’s life changes forever.

Thanks to Buffy, the famous (and infamous) Slayer that Nina’s father died protecting, Nina is not only the newest Chosen One—she’s the last Slayer, ever. Period.

As Nina hones her skills with her Watcher-in-training, Leo, there’s plenty to keep her occupied: a monster fighting ring, a demon who eats happiness, a shadowy figure that keeps popping up in Nina’s dreams…

But it’s not until bodies start turning up that Nina’s new powers will truly be tested—because someone she loves might be next.

One thing is clear: Being Chosen is easy. Making choices is hard.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's UK and NetGalley*

 

Nina and her twin sister Artemis have grown up in the midst of Watchers - guides for the supernaturally strong young women known as Slayers who use their powers to defeat evil.

Nina has always been more inclined to healing and caring for people rather than violence, but thanks to Buffy, the best-known Slayer, Nina is now a Slayer herself. The last Slayer ever.

Nina gets her own Watcher and finds plenty of supernatural beings to keep her busy as she tries to train and get used to her new abilities.

What is the shadowy creature that Nina keeps seeing in her dreams? Where and when will it strike next? Can Nina stop it from hurting anyone else?

I'm a big Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, so I was excited to read a YA novel set in the same universe.

Kiersten White's books have been a bit hit or miss for me in the past, but I thought I would give Slayer a go and I'm glad I did.

Nina was a good protagonist. I thought she was likeable and relatable. She hadn't had an easy time of things and then her life was flipped upside down when she became a Slayer.

I liked most of the characters, but I think one of my favourites was Doug.

The plot was good overall, and while I did guess some of the plot twists, there were still a few twists that surprised me.

It was interesting finding out more about the Watchers, but, as a Buffy fan, I didn't like it when they bad-mouthed her. I mean, she'd been through a hell of a lot. Give her a break, guys!

The writing style was good, but there were one of two occasions when I seemed to miss the characters moving from one place to another.

I would definitely recommend this to Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans.

Overall this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.