"THE SLAYER CHRONICLES: First Kill," by Heather Brewer, Dial Books, $17.99, 320 pages (f)
At the outset, Heather Brewer's “The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill” seems like just a way to make more money off of the popular Vladimir Tod teenage vampire series, but proves itself a well-thought-out young adult book in its own right.
Joss, typical emo teenage protagonist, doesn’t enjoy his vampire-slayer powers of superior strength, but must hide them to avoid being bullied. He endures brutal Slayer training over the summer while learning more about the Slayer Society.
The clear, unsubtle prose makes the series particularly suited to the reluctant reader niche. Joss’ transformation from invisible outcast to valued member of a group is satisfying and may give similarly outcast teens hope that their lives will get better too.
Despite the simple language and action galore, the novel manages to end on two satisfying twists, proving that it is a well-thought-out companion to the Vladimir Tod series and not a mere retelling. Indeed, “The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill” reads like the “Ender’s Shadow” of the Vladimir Tod series.
While the satisfying plot twists are to be commended, the amount of emotional and physical abuse Joss must endure at the hands of his uncle is disturbing. It turns out there are reasons for his uncle’s abuse, but the way Joss deals with his uncle is to silently suffer, not to run away or confront him. Brewer prides herself on speaking out against bullying, but this novel did not provide a good model for teens who may deal with abuse in their own lives.
The novel’s language is easy enough for elementary-aged readers to understand, but the detailed descriptions of vampire-killings (including one child) are too scary for young readers. However, the violence is not terribly graphic, giving short, vivid images rather than extended gorefests. There are acts of violence perpetrated by our protagonist, but they are suitably removed from reality in order to deter mimicry.
It's a quick read for adults who like supernatural fiction, and a nice escapist read for teens, especially those on the fringe of social circles.
IF YOU GO ...
What: Heather Brewer book signing
When: Monday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m.
Where: The King's English, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City
Web: kingsenglish.com
Rachel Helps is an eternal English master's student with a passion for old books and video gaming and a bachelor's in psychology. Find her on Goodreads and see thepretentiousgamer.blogspot.com for her gaming articles.