This series is a spin off and takes place in the same world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer after Buffy’s time when a new Slayer is chosen as she begins to come into her powers. As a Buffy fan I absolutely loved this book and am excited to read more!

I gave this one a good try, but it ultimately wasn't for me. Foolishly, I'm not hugely familiar with Buffy so I think that fans of the show will enjoy this one a little more than I did!

I just can't get into this. As a long-term Buffy fan, I *hate* the way that all the characters in this book talk about almost all the characters I love - it was a strange decision to try to write something that entices existing fans and then dismisses their fandom constantly. I was excited to see a Watcher's perspective, but it doesn't feel anything like it belongs in the Buffy universe. DNF at 25%.

This was a good addition to the Buffy Universe as it proved another detail for die hard fans of the show to love it and it was open enough so those who are new to the world can also enjoy it. I like Athena and Artemis's' relationship and thought that the roller coaster they go on together was believable and done well. My only real complaint about this book was that every few pages it would be say "oh Buffy ruined it all" or something similar and I hated how they would just shit on the decision that Buffy made. This is kind of remedied at the end but the frequent comments by all the characters was quite grating and it was unnecessary to have the same opinion in every chapter.

3.5 stars

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.

When I heard that this is book was part of the Buffy canon, that was it I needed this book in my hands. I was quite lucky to receive this from NetGalley, but I also ended up buying this in Paperback (the love for Buffy is real).

I really did not know what to expect when I started reading this, and I will admit the start of the book was slow-going, as White is building up the story of what has happened, why magic has disappeared and Nina's back story.

I found Nina at the start of the book to be a bit whiny, all she did was complain about Buffy and blame her for everything ( don't be starting on Buffy or we will have a falling out), but I was glad to see character growth in Nina, as she realised that being a Slayer comes with difficult choices, and it isn't just black and white.

I was very surprised by how much I loved this book and found once all the characters backstories were explained I just breezed through this book. I loved the character growth through this book and found that the book did flow really well everything just fitted together by the end and you weren't left with any unanswered questions.

My favourite part is a section near the end (once you read the book you will know what I am talking about), and it just brought a little tear to my eye.

Overall this was just a fantastic book, and I really can't wait to read the sequel

This book is set not long after the show ends and follows the last slayer, Nina, who comes from a family of Watcher's. It tells of her adventures, through all the ups and downs, of being the Chosen One.

I really liked this book, I totally didn't mind that it wasn't a full Buffy retelling, in fact I think I liked it more for it. Athena's character was great and so was her story. I liked the idea that not everybody loved and worshipped Buffy and that not everything was black and white. Both Artemis and their mother treat Nina like she's useless and the changing power dynamic doesn't really seem to make any difference.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster UK Children's and Kiersten White for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 3.75 stars!
Slayer! Yes! We're finally back in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe, and I for one could not have been more excited. I read this at a time when ive been rewatching the tv series and i loved the little references in the book - it made the experience so much more fun! I enjoyed reading Slayer - especially the second half! I found the first half a little bit slow but the second half had a lot more plot and character development and so many twists! I loved seeing the watcher side of things - something we don't get to see a lot of in the tv show. I could totally be a watcher - but not a snobby awful one haha! I loved the small scene with Faith it was very funny. I cant wait to see what happens next in Chosen!

I love Kiersten White. I love Buffy. If you're like me, then you'll love this book, which delivers on every level.

I didn't like this book as much as I thought i would which makes me sad. The writing was brilliant, I just wasnt taken by the story itself.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for providing me with a copy for review.

This book is set not long after the show ends and follows the last slayer, Nina, who comes from a family of Watcher's. It tells of her adventures, through all the ups and downs, of being the Chosen One.

When I first heard about this book I was really excited to read it because Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a tv show that has a special place in my heart and I was looking forward to revisiting this world. It was great to be taken back into it and to see all the little references to the show.

It is similar to the show in many ways, but it also has a lot of differences that set it apart and give it it's own ground. The new characters are well-written and rounded and I loved learning more about them and following their adventures. It had many of the same vibes, but managed to make them their own and use them to expand the new stories it was creating.

It was a good read that I think many people would enjoy, whether you are a fan of the original story or not.

I *really* wanted to love this, but I just couldn't immerse myself in the story enough. Maybe the expectations were too high for someone who watched Buffy 10+ times? I missed the original characters too much, and the Joss Whedon cutting humour. Still, a great supernatural adventure which might be a great re-introduction to the Buffy universe for anyone who isn't such a purist stuck in the 90s!

Set two years after the end of the TV series, the Watchers' Council has been mostly wiped out. Nina, and her twin sister Artemis, are part of the handful of people who are left. Except Nina has never been allowed to train, just barely being permitted to learn how to deliver first aid, while Artemis has been training in all areas of being a Watcher since she was young. Then they discover that Nina is a Slayer.

Obviously it helps if you've seen at least some of the series, but there's a lot that's explained even if you haven't! I actually haven't seen most of the least two seasons (I've seen their respective finales and know the jist of the plot) and didn't have any problems, and I'm pretty sure that enough is explained that anyone can pick it up if they want to.

I enjoyed reading this! The characters were mostly likeable, the plot was interesting, and there are a few twists near the end that keep you on your toes. One of them didn't surprise me, but one of them definitely did.

There were elements that were frustrating though. It made sense for Nina to think that the Watchers' Council were right about everything and that Buffy and ruined everything, seeing as she's from a family of Watchers, but having watched the show I know full well that this isn't the case. This situation doesn't last, thankfully, but it lasted longer than I was okay with.

I despise the twins' mother. I know what she was trying to achieve, but honestly she picked the worst way to go about it and I'm not forgiving her any time soon, or likely ever.

Another frustrating element was the relationship between Artemis and Honora. Personally, I'd never be able to sustain a crush on or relationship with someone who'd bullied my sibling in any capacity. I certainly wouldn't defend said bully against said sibling, and get angry with said sibling for disliking said bully. And nothing excuses bullying. There can be reasons for it, yes, but that is not an excuse. Artemis meant well, but that girl is wayyyy too gullible and forgiving. Wesley needs to find himself some better relatives.

Speaking of Wesley, the majority of references to him were mean about him, which like I get because these are Watchers, but have they considered the fact that I Love Him??????

There are lots of little easter eggs for things from the show !!! I found it entertaining that the vampire working as an investigator in LA and Buffy's vampire boyfriend were never said to be the same person. Kennedy is mentioned, but only how annoying she is (I never watched much with her so have zero opinion but I'm under the impression that the fandom doesn't like her). There's also references to and brief appearences of some other characters we know and love. But at no point did any of this feel like it was getting in the way of the story, which I appreciated.

If you like Buffy, you'll probably enjoy this. If you haven't seen Buffy, you might still like this if urban fantasy is your thing. If you dislike Buffy, then I'm unsure as to why you're even here?

Unlike some people Buffy the Vampire Slayer was not my entire childhood. I actually didn’t watch it as it aired but later bought the boxset and since have watched all seasons at least twice. So I do have a big love for Buffy and the Scooby gang. So I am sad to say that this book leaves me conflicted. I had hoped for so much more…epicness. And it wasn’t there.

This story starts us about two months after the ending of the series with Nina, one half of a twin who have grown up with the Watchers since age seven or so. Now that most of the watchers have died they are left with a small group in a castle in Sancoom. Nina is a healer and was kept from any fighting or training in all her years there. Yet it turns out she is the slayer. The LAST slayer.

I have some problems with the plot and the pacing. I think in places the pacing was just off. Too much talking and empty air that went nowhere. I mean guess that is who the Watchers are but that doesn’t necessarily make for an interesting read. As for the plot, except for the ending there though I had some feeling, there wasn’t much surprise in here. It was all very typical and couldn’t stand apart in the crowd. However I liked the ending. The choice that Nina makes there as well as Artemis.

As far as characters go I can see why Nina is so appealing to some. She is the typical teenager like Buffy was. I liked the inner fight she had going on with the healer part of her and the slayer part of her. How could she get those to be one? Could that ever happen? However I had a lot of problems with the constant harping on Buffy and Giles. Buffy and Giles already have such a big place in my heart and it was hard to see how she judges them without having been in the situation. I know this changes towards the ending but that didn’t make it any less annoying to read about.

I think I cared more for the side characters than Nina. Rhys is just a sweet cinnamon roll. I really felt for Imogen. And Cillian was just another cute cinnamon roll. Doug amused me a lot. I would have loved to have seen more of them in places, to be deepened out more. But I think that might come in a next installment.

I guess this book just very much feels like a first book. Like a pilot of a new series that needs to set this up and all the epicness is going to come later. I hope it does.

Set in the universe of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Slayer explores the world of the Watchers: those tasked with watching over, guiding and training the current slayer. Nina is the daughter of two watchers, her father having died to save Buffy, yet has continuously been excluded from watcher-life while her twin has been raised to follow in their parent’s footsteps. Instead she trains to be a healer. That is, until one day her world is turned upside down and everything she knows comes under threat.

For those who are fans of the T.V. show but have not read the comic book series, it is initially difficult to pick up the story. With only arbitrary knowledge of the comics, I spent the first 50-odd pages of the book confused as to where the book was picking up from until all that needed to be explained was. That being said, the majority of the book does not require in-depth knowledge of the universe and, once the set-up is complete, does stand on its own.

Much like the T.V. show, the book contains a select group of principle characters, each with their own personalities, skills and flaws. It was difficult to like some of the characters at times, particularly Nina who was occasionally frustrating to read and came across as younger than her years. That being said, Nina’s character development was impressive throughout the book and I really enjoyed her friendships with the other characters.

All in all, this was an easy, fun read. For a Buffy fan, it is an entertaining return home filled with delightful references to well-known characters. It is respectful to the source material, fitting in comfortably without conflicting or fighting with already established rules and stories. The atmosphere, in particular, was quintessentially Buffy. And, after finishing the book, I was very tempted to break out the Buffy boxset or pick up the comic book series.

Confession time, I am the biggest fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I love the original movie, was completely addicted to the show when it was first aired and I don't even want to count how many times I've watched it again since (I very probably know some of the scripts). Needless to say when I heard Kiersten White, author of one of my other fave YA series, was writing a brand new story set in the slayer verse I knew I had to read it. I just couldn't wait to see what she would do with it.

As you can probably imagine when my netgalley request was approved I was literally jumping up and down. This total fangirling pretty much lasted through a substantial chunk of the book before I managed to settle enough to read what was on the page. I can't guarantee that my review will not be coloured by my love of the show or that non fans will feel the same about it but I thought the author did a pretty awesome job.

It's not perfect but White has certainly managed to capture the feel and the humour of the show. The story is a little on the predictable side and it reads on the younger side of YA but the writing is great and once it hits its stride there's plenty of action and twists to keep you hooked.

While it is set in the Buffy universe, there's a whole new cast of characters to follow in this and they're very easy to like. I will admit I was hoping for some of the original cast to play a part but while there's the odd reference to what happened to them (I am not happy with some of that) and maybe a cameo from one or possibly two this is a whole new story and it's a good one.

Magic is broken, the watchers are very nearly extinct, there are some strange goings on (hell hound attacks) and mysterious deaths. Main character Nina has just discovered she's the last slayer, something she and her family are less than pleased about, so it's up to her to learn how to use her new powers to figure out what's going on and protect those she loves.

I will admit I kind of figured things out pretty early on but the story was no less enjoyable for it. Nina is a likeable character and I loved the way she developed over the course of the story. She did drive me a little crazy at times with her swings between not wanting to be the slayer and going on about how much she loved her new powers but given her family history I could understand a bit of internal conflict.

Speaking of her family, I loved that Nina had a twin sister although at times the relationship between them (and also between Nina and her mother) frustrated the hell out of me. Both Artemis and their mother treat Nina like she's useless and the changing power dynamic doesn't really seem to make any difference. I could certainly see why Nina turns more to her friends (and pretty much any random stranger) rather than her family.

There is a little suggestion of a romance in this but unlike some YA books it doesn't take over the story and Nina mostly manages to keep her head when her childhood crush (and source of one of her biggest embarrassments) returns to the watchers institute and I really liked the relationship that developed between them.

Like all good slayer stories however romance needs to wait as there's an apocalypse on the horizon and a big battle that Nina has to fight, and it is suitably epic. It wraps things up for the most part but leaves lots of room for more in the books to follow in this series.

As you would expect from Kiersten White, the writing is pretty good but the one niggle I did have is that there's a lot of back story at the start. The slayer verse is pretty extensive and the author had to do it but I will admit to finding it a bit slow. I'm sure it's useful for those who haven't been watching the show on repeat for years but I mostly wanted to know what had happened to the original cast in the interim and for this new story to get going.

Overall though, this is a great introduction to what could be an exciting new series in the slayer verse and now that a lot of the back story is out of the way I'm hopeful it'll really take off in the next book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has in no way influenced my review

Being chosen is easy.
Making choices is hard...

“I hate Slayers. What they are. What they do.
And I hate none of them as much as I hate Buffy.”

I was excited to read a new novel - the first in a series! - set in the Buffyverse, and Slayer definitely didn’t disappoint.

What’s left of the Watchers’ Council - just a handful of people - occupy a castle in the Irish countryside. The remnants of old families - Zabuto, Post, Wyndam-Pryce and others - and the teenagers and children who will take up the mantle in the future - whatever future that may be.

Protagonist Athena (known as Nina) and her twin sister Artemis are the daughters of the late Merrick Jamison-Smythe (Buffy’s first watcher, before Giles) and his wife Helen, a prominent Council member. Artemis - their mother’s favourite, it seems - is training as a Watcher, but Nina, who nobody ever seems to take very seriously, is repelled by violence and more inclined towards healing than killing - she’s the castle’s medic.

The last thing Nina ever expected was to be called as a Slayer...

The stage is set for a story of danger, death, love, loyalty, a mysterious prophecy and a Coldplay-loving demon named Doug.

I’ve been rewatching Buffy with my daughter recently (we’re up to season 5) and it was hugely enjoyable to read this story in the same world, though much later. While the original characters appear only via dreams there are many references to spot (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is, by the way, considered a disgrace to his heritage).

Excellent read and I can’t wait for the next!

Review cross posted to Goodreads and my blog.

I am so excited to have a new YA series set in the Buffy world! It was so great to be in the world of Slayers and Watchers and demons again, even if there's no magic any more since Buffy broke the world. I loved the new characters. Nina was a great character and I really liked her twin sister, Artemis too, though she was a bit of a bitch in some parts. I liked their relationship and the relationship between Artemis and some of the other Watcher kids.



The book contained all the heart, humour and even some of the characters we know and love from the TV series (Faith wasn't named, though it was obvious that it was her and there was plenty of Buffy despite the book not being about her). It kept the themes that made the show so great really strong too. It had strong themes of family and friendship as well as showing the shades of gray in the demon world, showing that the black and white world that the Watcher's want to believe in is just not the case.



I'm interested to see how this series progresses, with Nina being born a Watcher but also having experience of being a Slayer. It will be really cool to see the path she forges between the two, trusting her instincts more as a Slayer would while still having the background and training of a Watcher.



I can't wait to see what Nina and her friends will face next.

I have never watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I probably need to run and avoid all the stakes being thrown my way) but I'd heard so much about Kiersten White's other books. This lack of prior knowledge meant I certainly missed all the universe nods and the subtleties of the world, but I wanted that. It's so nice to go into a bit with barely a clue of what to expect.

With this book being paranormal and based on an existing fandom, I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. What I was expecting to be a scraping-3-stars book is a solid 4 stars.

It's so accessible, you don't need to have watched every Buffy episode or have the wikia memorised to enter the world. It's clearly laid out, revealed through the actions and conversations. There's no massive exposition dump. The closest is the 'Buffy broke magic' explanation, but it's so in character that it (a) doesn't drag and (b) establishes Nina so well.

I loved Nina, and the conflict between who she wants to be, who she thinks she is and who she actually is. It's the classic identity-crisis but done so well. She loves her sister, looks up to her but also wants to please the adults.

What struck me the most about SLAYER was how the teenagers actually felt like teenagers. A common theme I'm seeing among the YA book twitter community is exasperation that characters in YA don't feel like the teenagers who are purportedly the target audience. If they're not actually older than 18, they often feel like it.

However, all of White's teen characters felt like 16-18 year olds. They fixated on the opinions of others, on romance, made impulsive decisions, didn't have universal knowledge and skill. They had the balance of sincerity and silliness I had a few years ago (and probably still have it now). They weren't jaded, but hopeful and youthful.

In short, they felt like I did two years ago. If I had to fight demons and worry about the world ending. This authenticity allowed me to connect with them a lot more and trust the author.

My biggest criticism was that every character (mainly the adults, but a few teens too) felt under suspicion at one time or another. They all had secrets and their own ploys that might have been evil. It made it a little hard to understand who exactly was the villain. The showdown felt a little rushed once the villain was revealed, purely because I was trying to work out how all the others weren't evil now when all this evidence had pointed their way.

I'm excited to see what comes next in this series.

I am sorry but I did not enjoy this. I was expecting to feel Buffy vibes and nostalgia. But this is not cannon for.