Serwa has been training her whole life to become a vampire slayer, just like her parents but when a witch attacks, they send her to an aunt and cousin to keep her safe. Serwa is not happy with this plan, but at 12, doesn't have a lot of choices. Serwa is further surprised that she is expected to go to school with everyone else (she's been homeschooled before) and once she gets there, she suspects there is magical mischief afoot. Serwa's parents cut off communication with her after an accidental food fight that sends her to detention. Serwa is left to recruit others to help her fight the growing evil. This is a very fun and fast paced story that kids are going to love. Serwa is an interesting character with a clear voice that demands to be listened to. I liked this one a lot.

The first in a new series based on Ghanian folklore. Serwa is part of a family of vampire slayers, created to protect the world from adze (or vampires). Life for Serwa is mostly traveling with her parents, practicing for when she will pass her slayer test. One day though, things fall apart when their house, that should be protected, is attacked by a group of adzes. Even though they survive, Serwa's parents decide to leave her in Maryland with extended family while they go to find the culprit. Serwa is suddenly thrown into something new - middle school. Soon though, she realizes there is an adze somewhere in the school. She must enlist the help of some classmates and train them to be slayers as well so that she can keep her new home safe.

I liked this book sooo much except for the ending, and that is mostly because it was a tragic cliffhanger!!! The ending wasn't bad at all - just devastating after reading this story where I got so invested in the characters. I loved the Ghanian folklore, something I knew nothing about before. I cannot wait to read the next installment of this series! This is a great read for not just middle grades but also for adults! So enjoyable.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book. 12 yr old Serwa and her friends make characters you can’t help but root for and the adventure and conflict never stop. I would recommend this book to any middle grade kid that loves mythology and fantasy.

I really enjoyed this book and a lot of young readers will as well. I will definitely be buying a physical copy when the book releases. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Fantastic start to a new series in the Rick Riordan imprint. I loved the world building and the main character is definitely engaging for MG readers. Despite being on the longer side, the story moves quickly and young readers with stamina will certainly enjoy it. I can’t wait for the next book.

Seriously, these new Rick Riordan presents books just get better every time! I love that they aren’t geared for the upper elementary so much as they are geared for the middle school age range! My students love this line of books and they get so into the different mythologies involved. I love getting to read a bit about the different cultures, too!

A very fun new book under the umbrella of Rick Riordan Presents. Fast paced, good hearted, and not overly scary (something I was a bit worried about). I appreciated the introduction to a new lore tradition and the masterful weaving of race and racism on both a contemporary and historical level. I cannot wait for volume two to come out!

Thanks to NetGalley & Disney Publishing Worldwide for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A highly trained vampire hunter is stuck in an ordinary, boring school, while her parents are off having cool vampire adventures. Until she runs into a vampire in hiding at the boring school and she can't contact her parents for help--she has to take on the vampire by herself. Or does she have to?

What a fantastic addition to the Rick Riordan Presents series! Well written, incredibly fleshed-out characters, great background plot, etc, I literally have no complaints about this book. Serwa is a great protagonist full of personality and her "side-kicks" are strong enough on their own. I can't wait to read more from this series!

I liked how this book turns upside down the trope of children going to a special school to learn magic. Instead, Serwa, who knows how to use magic well, suddenly finds herself having to survive a non-magical middle school (although magic does follow her to school!) Well-written and exciting, I can't wait to read the next in the series. At the same time, I have some minor reservations: Matteo struggles with the Ghanaian gods and how they relate to what he's learned at Sunday School. Serwa's explanation suggests that all religions are actually one, a universalism that I (and many of my friends from different faiths) can't accept. The cliff-hanger ending also leaves me worried about the outcome of Serwa's internal battles as well as how the battle between good and evil will be resolved. So, I reserve my final opinion until the series is finished. Concerns aside, I did love Serwa and friends and couldn't put the book down. This will definitely appeal to Aru Shah and Percy Jackson fans.

Another entry in a series I would gladly share with readers. This one would pair well with Tristan Strong. Love the humor and adventure!

Finally vampire book for middle grade and Ya in which vampire's don't sparkle and the heroine doesn't fall for one of them.

Thank you, Disney Publishing Worldwide, for allowing me to read Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting early!

Rick Riordan is an author everyone should look up to, not like another children's author who shall not be named because she is awful and doesn't deserve anything good in this life or the next (if you believe in the afterlife). His imprint is giving chances to so many Black, Asian, Indigenous and queer authors to explore their culture's mythologies from their perspective and not through a white lens. Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting is Roseanne A. Brown's middle grade debut about a young Black vampire hunter mixed with a heavy dose of Ghanaian folklore. I loved this book and found it as fascinating and alluring as I did for all previous works published from the imprint.