Loved Loved Loved!!! This was a great book and I couldn't get enough of it! One of my top reads of 2023

What a formidable story! Boog,Jules and Cedrick are best friends and neighbours, but more like family as they have all lived in the same cul de sac since birth and their parents are all best friends.

They spend a lot of time together and love fiercely. Their parents are over-protective but with good reason. Up until about 20 years years ago the world was terrified of vampires and it took a dedicated team of Vanquishers to ensure the safety of all. Today most people remember the Vanquishers but the cul-de-sac families still have all the necessary tools to banish vampires- silver, garlic, stakes and consecrated ground.

While the Squad (Boog, Jules and Ced) get teased for these protective measures, it appears it was all for good reason, especially with the disappearance of new friend Aaron. The families are taking extra measures and the Squad are house bound for much of their free time.

What I loved about this story, aside from the nail-biting action was the friendships, the families and the complete dedication to each other. There is a big mystery to be solved and clues along the way- though prepare yourself as not all is revealed. There are more books to come and that is another reason to love this book!

I kept in mind that this is a book directed at children, and with that in mind I feel it should have been more fast paced to keep the reader’s attention.
It took me way to long to read this and I feel it is just due to the fact that not much was happening.
I thoroughly enjoyed the last few chapters as they were filled with action.
I do feel this is a setting the scene kind of book with more books to follow with the action and adventure.

Cinderella Is Dead is one of my favourite YA reads and Kalynn Baron's middle-grade debut is Waterstones Book of the Month for October. I can see why! This is a vampire series for younger readers, offering all the spookiness, adrenaline and tension that you'd expect but with friendship and family at its heart...

Malika - or Boog as she is known - and her friends, Jules and Cedrick, live in a close community in San Antonio, Texas where their parents and elders are struggling to shake the fear of a past where vampires existed. But everyone knows that every vampire was wiped out by the Vanquishers during The Reaping so Boog can't understand why they are still acting so strangely.

But when their new friend Aaron goes missing, it triggers an unsettling chain of events. Could it be that history is about to begin all over again..?

This story has a fairly gentle start, building to a gripping, cliffhanger ending. It hooks readers in by inviting them into the lives of a tight circle of friends who don't quite fit in and who are dealing with all the usual, everyday things most pre-teens are. But the ordinary is about to become extraordinary as we begin to learn about the community's past and the rules around how vampires existed. Kalynn Baron builds the tension slowly but brilliantly - drip-feeding information and making the readers piece the clues together for themselves. I definitely had goosebumps before the action even began!

This is definitely the beginning of an epic series. Ultimately, the characters are really likeable and I was fully invested in them by the end of the novel. I loved how there were references to well-known, much-loved vampire stories but that Baron has twisted the established vampire rules into new ones, whilst keeping all the things we love/fear about them. I also loved the exploration of the unbreakable bond of true friendship.

Vampires have become extinct, the vanquishers destroyed them all. However Cedrick, Boog and Jules’ parents are still acting as though vampires may come back.

The gang make a new friend Aaron but he goes missing and the adventure begins. The friendship between the gang is really lovely to see, they never give up on Aaron . They are really relatable and have a tight bond with each other.

The book does start off slightly slowly, but don’t let this deter you from carrying on, it is well worth a read! It becomes fully action packed after the first few chapters!

Here is a new generation of vampire hunters! The book pays homage to the classic vampire genre with a new and fresh twist.

Looking forward to reading the next book!

Middle grade vampire book? I'm in!

Honestly the highlight for me in this book are the twilight references that has me chuckling but aside from that this was a super fun story with just the right amount of tension and creepiness.

The characters were believable and fun and I would absolutely pick up the next book in the series if it appears...

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book

This went down very well in our household. The children in the story were a delight, the friendship close ,accepting and warm. Our children found the story interesting and exciting . They enjoyed the vampire information. The only complaint from them was that the review date should have been after Hallowe'en as it would have made a great story for then. We will just have to read it again.

Really enjoyed this. Lots of fun and there’s a whole load of characters who just filled me with joy. Kids are going to love this book!

this was so fun! i am a huge bayron fan and i was so excited to try something new by her. this felt so different (obviously) but i had so much fun reading it. gonna be recommending this one to everyone!!

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury Children’s Books and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Vampires are extinct, the vanquishers raided and destroyed them all. Yet Boog, Jules and Cedrick’s parents still act like vampires are coming back. Then they meet a new friend Aaron and invite him into their group but suddenly he goes missing and the squad learn so much whilst trying to find him.

I really enjoyed the friendship in this story, the children were all so tight and close, they welcomed Aaron into their group instantly as though he’d always been a member. I really enjoyed how close they were, and when Aaron disappeared they never gave up on him, they never let anything happen to him and they protected him. Which I really enjoyed that they were like that. They were funny and had their own way of talking with each other and you could feel how natural these kids friendship was. I must also say I enjoyed the diversity and inclusivity in the story, always great to find a story that includes everyone so naturally.

The story was interesting and I liked the vampire lore, it was detailed and looked into it in a different way to usual which was great, I loved learning this style of vampire history, about the vanquishers and what they did, how people had different opinions on them, it was really fascinating. I also loved the pop cult references of former vampires worlds. I also liked the unlocking of information and how it was just as the children were learning everything as it went along it was really great. None of the lore was spilled out quickly so it was fun seeing it unlock as the children learnt about it.

The mystery itself was predictable and nothing within it surprised me at all, I found the pacing way too slow through the whole book and only in the last couple chapters did it actually pick up and start to get me more intrigued at the next chapter in these kids story. I really wanted my answers as to who it was as I’d had my guesses from the very start of reading and so I was disappointed to not find out. This leads me to what I really didn’t like which was the abrupt and weird ending of the story it ends without telling you anything, it was an odd place to stop and I didn’t enjoy it. Basically it’s left so you are forced to read the second book in the series to receive your answers. I’m personally not a fan of this style ending at all, I’m all for multiple books in a series, but the way this one ended was weird and I didn’t personally enjoy it at all.

For me I liked the story but didn’t love it, however I can already see it being a big popular book with younger readers. They wouldn’t predict everything that’s coming, they wouldn’t know that much about vampires so would be hooked into learning more, they would be so invested into the mystery, they would really engage and connect with the characters and their lovely but over protective parents. I’m almost certain that the ending I didn’t enjoy that they would love it and be excited for the second book. So though it wasn’t my favourite book I still suggest others read it, I’m certain it will be a hit and so will the second book in the series.

In the world of the Vanquishers, vampires were history . . . until now.


I was so unsure about reading this book due to the fact I generally don’t enjoy vampire stories but I’m so glad I gave it a chance as I throughly enjoyed reading this.
This is about a group of young children malika aka boog, cedrick, & jules who are next door neighbours all their lives one day a new boy,Aaron comes along and they are fast to invite them to the squad it isn’t long until Aaron goes missing, and it’s up to the 3 musketeers to find out where or what really happened to Aaron.

8/10 really enjoyed this can’t wait for the next book

Vampires don’t exist anymore… right? For Malika, navigating her early teenage years is hard enough: over-protective parents, that one teacher at school that seems to have it out for her, the bully and navigating life after the eradication of the last vampires… that is, until something happens that makes it all too clear that vampires might not actually be part of the past! Will anyone believe her? Does she believe it herself?

Admittedly, this book was a little slow to start but it really picks up the pace in chapter 7, and as you read further through the book, you can appreciate the first six chapters more as they really set the scene for the story and give you all of the information that you need to keep up with the developments that occur in pretty rapid succession, making it action-packed! I honestly am glad that I kept reading! The characters are well written, diverse and relatable, and there is so much in here to appeal to teenage readers, representing the many facets of life today as we know it, in an effortless, natural way. The close-knit bond that the characters have, the way that they can face anything knowing that their friends have their back, as well as the gentle teasing of each other, means that readers are instantly drawn into the group and feel a part of it themselves.

I eagerly anticipate the sequel to this story, as I am invested with the characters and desperately want to know what happens with Aaron! The story keeps going even on the final page and I did not want it to end!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kalyan Bayron and Bloomsbury for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fellow vampire enthusiasts, gather 'round because "The Vanquishers" here keep you hooked from start to finish. Well Chapter 7 to finish!

Yes, the beginning was a bit slow, but there are plenty relatable moments to tide you over. Trust me, hang in there, 😅 once it takes off, you'll be on a thrilling ride that'll leave you begging for the next installment.
Coming October 2023 by the way.

Now, let's talk about the next-gen Scooby squad! Oh, how I love that the young ones get to take the lead in this vampire tale! 🧛‍♀️ Growing up with the likes of Buffy, Twilight, and Cirque du Freak, it's fantastic to see a new generation of vampire hunters stepping up to the plate.

But here's the real kicker - I'm officially old because I can totally relate to the parents in the story! 😂 Gone are the days of garlic wreaths and early curfews, but Boog's parents still believe in the old ways, which makes for some hilarious and nostalgic moments.

Now, once we get to the heart of the story: a friend goes missing, and things take a sharp turn from ordinary to extraordinary. Suspicion points to the school counselor, Mr. Rupert, who seems to have some secrets hidden in his shadowy demeanor - if you ask me Mrs Lambert is sus.

With a mix of bite, heart, and humor, "The Vanquishers" delivers an adventure that will capture your heart in an instant. Malika "Boog" Wilson and her friends are a force to be reckoned with, and their journey into the world of vampire hunting will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this book is your ultimate go-to. It's a fresh and exciting take on the vampire genre, paying homage to the classics while carving its own unique path.

So, if you're ready to dust off those stakes and dive into a world of undead mysteries and thrilling action, don't miss out on "The Vanquishers." It's a recommended read that'll leave you thirsting for more (pun intended). Happy hunting, fellow vamp slayers! 🗡️🩸

I loved this!! And I hate to be THAT person, since this one isn’t even out yet for another month, but do we have a date for a sequel yet?!

I really enjoy Kalynn Bayron’s work, and how she mixes it up with genre. From fairytales and fantasy, to Greek Mythology, to thriller and horror…and now to this! It was really interesting to see Bayron take a step back from a YA audience and write for a middle grade one.

I found The Vanquishers to be incredibly engaging and riveting. I enjoyed the Vampire Lore and how Bayron explored the different histories (I appreciated the nods to Twilight) while adding her own spin. This was reminiscent to what Bayron did with the This Poison Heart duology. She has a talent for adaptation and retellings.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters! I thought Boog was a wonderful protagonist to follow, and I loved her friends Jules and Cedrick. The mystery of what happened to Aaron kept me guessing — I was so nervous to see if what I thought had happened actually happened!

I thought the parents were great characters too, and I loved to see how they communicated with the kids. I think there’s a nice moment at the end between all the characters where they’re able to reflect how maybe they went about somethings wrong, but it was all out of love. I thought that was really special and loving.

But back to this sequel!!!! When is it coming?! This book left me with a lot of questions that I need answered ASAP. I have my theories!! I got to the last page and things were ramping up and getting extra exciting and then it ended and I was like NOOO. But this just means the sequel is going to be GREAT!!

There are three kinds of people in San Antonio, people who buy their vampire repellent from the store, people who only make their own, and people who don’t use any at all because they’re confident the Vanquishers wiped out the last hive of the undead twenty years ago.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for providing an arc in exchange for a review!

I love to see representation in middle-grade book! Not only is there a diverse cast of characters, there’s also gender diversity through Jules who goes by they! And there’s two dads! And it was so effortlessly included. No huzzah, no unnecessary attention, bullying, highlighting. I think this may be the best way forward to incorporate such natural inclusion, especially in children’s books.

There’s supportive parents! There’s communication! There’s love and teasing and healthy relationships! No unfortunate orphans, nor hated step-parents! Yes it’s possible!

“I don’t know how much I believe in grown folks’ business anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that if it’s something that affects you, maybe it’s not just grown folks’ business.”

Yes, the twists were predictable and the story simple, but this is a middle-grade book. Although I wouldn’t recommend it to my usual audience as I would other middle-grade books, I would recommend this to younger audiences who want diversity, humour, modern references, and a fun premise with strong friendships and bravery!

”Do they sparkle, like that man in that movie—what’s it called—Midnight?”
“Starlight,” Jules corrects.
“Twilight,” I say.