Title: Slayer (Slayer #1)
Author: Kiersten White
Rating: ★★★★

ARC provided by the publisher.

Firstly, I would like to give a shout out to the lovely ladies at the Riveted booth at YALLfest for letting me play the lollipop game nine times until I finally won a book – it was totally worth the eight times of disappointment to get this! 

Slayer was an absolute blast to read. And if you’re unsure about whether this book is for you because of all the Buffy references let me ease your mind: I’ve only ever seen season one of Buffy, and I not only tremendously enjoyed this book, but could also easily follow along with the plot and world. 

Kiersten White did an amazing job crafting this book and maintaining the same vibe and humor as the show. Slayer was so fun and entertaining! I loved the protagonist, Nina. She’s not the typical “strong” heroine we meet in a lot of YA fantasy/paranormal books: she’s reluctant to step into her newly appointed role as Slayer, and would rather spend her time at home reading (same) or as a medic healing others (also same). She struggles between her need to kill and her desire to fix. 

“How can I reconcile my natural instincts to take care of things, to heal things, with what my calling actually is?”

I had no problem getting through this, even when the beginning was a bit slower. I really enjoyed following Nina’s progress and growth as a character, as well as her relationships with her sister and friends. There were a few twists at the very end that have me very excited for the next book! Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Buffy, have a passing admiration for the show, or just enjoy fun demon-slaying books, Slayer will not disappoint!