Sign of the Slayer by Sharina Harris was so much more than I originally anticipated.
This new fun and exciting dark academia series is going to be an amazing adventure.
Harris has created some intriguing characters.
The world-building is phenomenal.
The author's vivid descriptions transport readers into this world of vampire slayers, magic and romance.
And the story is captivating, fun and really exciting.
This is a promising start to a thrilling series that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of YA fantasy. This book was exciting, with great characters, fantastic world-building, and just enough romance to keep things interesting. I am very eager to get my hands on the next book to see what happens next!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Entangled Teen for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I received an advanced copy of this book, but my thoughts shared below are entirely my own.

This was a book I didn't know I needed and at times the main character seemed a lot like myself! Black saxophone playing marching band girl from the south, check check check. However, I have never seen or slayed a vampire, but after this book I would definitely sign up to join the Society!

The plot was action packed and the writing and language had me cracking up with laughter. I also appreciated the nods to Southern and Black culture and the historic elements woven throughout.

There was also a bit of romance, which I loved, but I truly loved the growth we saw in the main character. Raven goes from this unsure marching band girl to a strong and determined slayer and the transformation is something that any reader can embody and learn from.

I'm not usually a YA lover, but this action packed paranormal vampire romance was a great read! I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

I used to adore Buffy when I was growing up (still do, putting on re-runs of the show), so this book was a great vampire slayer depiction.

I loved the pop culture references, the forbidden romance (always a sucker for forbidden romances), the characters and the plot.

I'm not always a fan of insta-love, however I was drawn in with Raven and Khamari's relationship, but do wish we had more time with them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for this copy. This review is voluntary.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the arc.

As someone who has watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer over twenty times, I really wanted to love this book. The idea for this book is amazing: slayers, supernatural beings, magic, and pop culture references. We really needed better world building for all of this to work together. It felt like reading fragmented ideas that never got fully fleshed out.

And with all the organizations and societies, I really wanted more of the academia. It felt like we spent one chapter in the school and moved on to the real world with no real effort from the heroine. If we followed Raven (Texas), learning how to use her powers and this new world she was forced upon, the world building would have came naturally. Instead, Raven is a prodigy that already knows everything and we are playing catch up.

The romantic plotline took me out of the story every time Khamari and Raven were together. This was intsa-love at it's finest with no real substance.

I give this book a 2/5🌟 rating. Maybe I set my hopes to high, but it was really hard to get through. Usually, I burn through a book this size in 4-5 hours and this took me almost a week to get through. I had to force my self to get through a chapter.

So I was so excited to read this book/ arc. I could not put it down, it’s one of those types of books that sucks you in.
I love the idea and concept of a band geek! I’m a band geek. I got so excited of this main girl being a section leader and she’s in marching band. Also becomes a kickass girl and a fighter. She’s a bit annoying but all teenage girls are. She has an attitude, her mouth keeps getting her in trouble, and does not know how to keep her face and mouth in check.
Towards the end, like the last 100 pages I started to get annoyed, because this whole book is the main focus is the philosopher stone. Then not only that Alexander the Great put his soul in his half breeds.
Don’t get me wrong, but this concept I felt was stolen from jk Rowling Harry Potter. I just felt that the author could have been more original with the story than make a modern time Harry Potter/Texas Alexander the Great/ Voldemort.
It’s basically Buffy the vampire slayer/Harry Potter combined
I feel like the whole book is good. It dragged a little. It did feel like it was like Harry/Voldemort in the end.
It does leave in a cliffhanger.
I would read the second one.
This book is not horrible, I loved the writing. It’s very captivating. But I’m hoping in the second book, it doesn’t feel more like Voldemort plot.

This was… weird

The premise sounded amazing but I was confused for a majority of this book. I feel like the author probably just had all of the details of the workings of the vampire world and slayers in their head, and just forgot to actually include it in the book. There were so many plot holes.
I think the writing didn’t really go with the plot either. It felt too blunt and matter of fact to get any good dialogue or weave in any complex emotions. It just kind of… moved on.

Also I never really got too interested in the book. One where I just wanted to finish it and move on. At the beginning I really didn’t care. It didn’t hook me. I didn’t care that she was in marching band or black or kids were not performing right. It just seemed like a weak place to start her book when the premise is about vampires. I know that’s the exposition, but it felt weird.

Such a refreshing new vampire book! I’m a huge Buffy fan so I had high hopes going into this, and it did NOT disappoint! Normally I don’t appreciate the enemies to potential lovers trope but this was very well written! Can’t wait to see what’s next!

An excerpt of chapter 1 was included at the end of Cherish by Tracy Wolff and I was IMMEDIATELY hooked and BEGGED the author for an arc which she had mercy on me and gifted one to me (I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I got Legendborn and Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes from this book and I mean that as the highest form of compliment. There were many points of reading this book where I was devastated that I didn't have other people to discuss this book with yet (and I'm already recruiting my book friends to read it in August so that I can geek out with them when they hit those points). I laughed, I swooned, I cried, I said, "I KNEW IT" and also "WHAT?!?! NO WAY!" Many of my questions were answered and I'm so excited to have even more questions answered as this series continues! I will absolutely keep reading this series and be bullying.... I mean encouraging.... my book friends to read it also.

Oh, my goodness! I don't usually like to read about high school settings because, well, it just feels odd to me being an adult, but we don't stay here for long thankfully. Our female mc is a freaking bad-ass, and boy is her backstory twisty! There's heartbreak, confusion, loss, and lots of change. The plot line is interesting and not something I have read before, which I love, and the love story, ahh short lived. Went from enemies, to somewhat lovers, then back to enemies... ugh. I have really high hopes for the next in the series because dang!! The ending! Please tell me the next is already in the works haha, I need to know what happens next!

Thank you Entangled Insiders & NetGalley for the ARC!

Growing up in the 90’s, Buffy was one of the first vampire movies I watched, then falling in love with the TV series when I got older! This book took me back and gave me all those feels!
This book is Buffy meets TVD, meets academia stories and you have this book!
For the most part the book is fast paced, easy to read and get caught up in!
The throwback references with a current day twist are great!
This would make the perfect read for a teenage girl looking to get swept up in her vampire fantasy era!
Thank you Entangled Teen for the Advanced Reader Copy! I greatly enjoyed it!

I loved this book! The storyline was pretty great, nice development. I wish we could see more of their relationship! I love Khamari that ending was incredible I cannot wait to read what comes next!

"Full Metal Alchemist meets Vampire Diaries in this fun and clever dark academia series...

High school is supposed to be about studying, socializing, and marching-band practice. Not fighting vampires. Then one night flipped my world inside out - now, my life sucks. But it isn't all bad. I'm at a slayer academy, learning things like the real origin of vamps and how to make serious weapons out of thin air.

Every last one of them will pay for what they did. I'm doing great.

Until I come face-to-face with the actual vampire prince...and I'm not sure of anything anymore. Vampires are supposed to be soul-sucking demons. But Khamari is…something else. He's intelligent and reasonable - and he seems to know things about me that could change everything.

He's also hiding something big, even from his own kind. And when a threat from an ancient evil is so extreme that a vampire will team up with a slayer to take it down, it isn’t just my need for revenge that's at stake anymore.

It's the whole damn world."

Yeah, it's not Buffy, do I care, no. Yeah slayers and dark academia!

I enjoyed all the pop culture references. As well as the code names. I was laughing out loud constantly throughout the book. The action and fighting kept me on the edge of my seat.

Raven was wonderful lead. She had so much wit about her. As well as questioned everything (as she should in her situation). You could feel her pain and anger as she was experiencing the loss and betrayals.

Khamari's abilities were so much fun. Loved the dreamwalking. I loved getting more history and more details of Khamari's past. I was shocked and surprised. And so sad about the ending. Enjoyed getting his POV. So many secrets and he cares so much about his brother and Raven.

I'm excited to see what happens next!

Wow! I did not want to put this book down. It reminded me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Shadow Hunters and Vampire Diaries. A teenage girl has her life turned upside down. She's thrown into an unknown world and tries to figure out how she fits in. Enter handsome, mysterious, brooding man. Now you've got a story! This book had me feeling all the emotions. I was laughing, crying, cheering, shocked, heartbroken and angered. An action packed rollercoaster ride. I would definitely recommend to friends. I can't wait for the next book, sign me up!

Thank you EntangledTeen for my complimentary arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well that was a wild ride for sure.
Rounding up to 4 stars. The beginning and ending of the book was a bit much (for me personally)
I enjoyed the middle the most.

I liked all the pop culture references, but since I have not watched Buffy, I am sure a lot went over my head.

Great story and action, a bit of mystery and a lot of information to process. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book, because that ending!!

I cannot stand the two main characters. Some people might like their personalities and banter, but both came off as try-hard tropes, and too much insta-love romance, with insta-hate of vampires on Ravens side so there’s “tension” at the beginning. The fact he hides he’s a vampire for a quarter of the story just feels contrived.

And that’s most of the story for me. It feels forced and clunky and like it’s trying to get at my emotions but it utterly fails.

I could see this as a fun read, especially for vampire lovers and teenagers.

I was instantly drawn to the awesome cover and Buffy vibes this books gives off.

I read it in one sitting! I just couldn't put it down, it's so good!

The alchemy was very cool! I found the use of magic very intriguing. And the way the Vampires were intertwined with real world history was so clever!

I loved all the banter and tension build up. The romance was a fun bonus to all the action. I really liked Raven and Khamari's connection.

If you're a fan of Buffy or The Vampire Diaries this book is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled for allowing me to read an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book, the storyline was very interesting and the action scenes were very well done. I felt myself not wanting to put it down a lot while reading. There was a point where it slowed down alot in the middle and then all of a sudden everything happens in the last quarter of the book but there wasn't any point where it got boring or was too much. I think fans of shadowhunters and vampire diaries will enjoy this alot and I can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the series.

Sign of the Slayer would be a good choice for young adults (ages 14+). It feels like it was written for fans of popular vampire series. If you love Buffy, True Blood, and Interview with a Vampire; then you will enjoy this. There were time the story felt a bit too slow, but you wont think so if you enjoy reading about vampire slayer school training.

Sign of the Slayer is an adventure from beginning to end. I loved the premise and the storyline. The characters are really good and easily connected with them. The chapters are short with super catchy titles that make you want to keep reading. The back and forth with Khamari and Raven is glorious and even with the secondary characters as well. She’s funny as hell.

The downside was trying to connect the story during the middle part of the book. Sometimes the story jumped or we moved scenes or locations and it was hard to follow or picture where we were or even who was talking (even though the chapters tell you). I was able to catch on but it took me a bit. Overall it was an easy read and I cannot wait to read more about the slayer society.