I was given this eARC for an honest review.

I had to DNF this.

This felt like a very Buffy the Vampire Slayer style centric story (nothing wrong with that), but it was just too campy for me. There were moments, for example, the bus attack and it's subsequent outcome that left me confused. I felt like the author wasn't very attached to the idea of her own main characters emotions in times like that and just simply moved on, with little to no regard on how it might have actually played out.

The "insta-love" that I could tell was brewing was something that I usually take in stride, but I just couldn't. I felt this was the straw that broke the camels back. No fault of the author's as I had just read a book with it in it before I started this one.

Aside from the insta-love, it was the "campiness" that I just couldn't do. I found myself rolling my eyes...a lot.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this arc.

4.5 stars / 5 stars

Things I loved:
Was hooked from the beginning
Basically like a flash back of watching buffy the vampire slayer
Writing was amazing
Loved the multiple pov
Things I didn’t love:
Wished the relationship of khamari and raven progressed a bit more.

The chatty, relatable writing style is a nice change of pace, but feels a little inexperienced at times. There is definitely some plot convenience happening to pull the vampire story into the intro plot, but maybe some conceit is always necessary in a supernatural-meets-real-world plot line.

The Chosen One and Philosopher's Stone call-outs feel like weird Potter references, but I enjoyed the way the slayers' powers were introduced and how they varied from one slayer to the next. The story develops really well and the vampire mythology, while nothing groundbreaking, is well though out and feels like a fresh retelling of familiar stories.

As the story gets more complex, it looses the sense of predictability and becomes a really good read. Overall, I thought the characters were well developed and the story took some pleasantly unexpected twists. There were a few predictable elements to the story, but nothing that made it a bad read.

There were some elements brought in near the final fight that felt religiously inspired and out of place, and a definite plot conceit with an out-of-body scene where the main character gets all the answers at once. Those details could have been better woven into earlier parts of the story instead of the big reveal trope. The ending was very abrupt and unresolved.

I'm a sucker for most vampire fiction, so still glad I got the chance to read this one.

On p. 289 it says "stand on the shoulders Amun-Ra" and should instead say "stand on the shoulders of Amun-Ra".

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Black vampires are always going to do it for me. We really need more representation like this when it comes to folklore and myths. A very enjoyable read.

This book was an absolute ride for me. The first couple of chapters pulled me in quickly, and I got comfortable until the very end. I know the premise is around Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but this definitely also gives Shadowhunters vibes, too, and I mean that in a good way. I highly recommend it to readers who need a Black vampire slayer not named Blade in their lives.

This was a roller-coaster from start to finish. The author writes action well and that is something that is quite difficult to do. I was engaged throughout even though I’m not that into love stories. Happy I read this, a nice little summer read.

I received this eARC in return for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The premise of this book is amazing: hunters, supernatural beings, a bit of magic, and a lot of science. All the organizations and societies, the systems, the academia feel, the way there’s plenty of ties to past historical figures, involving different cultures and legends; all of these have incredible potential. As a history and fiction fan, I liked the author’s new ideas on how a supernatural/hunter society would be like, it was the reason I requested this advance copy!


*Spoiler Alert*

However, for a fantasy book, I kept waiting for the world-building— it felt as if I was jumping in-between scenes with no cohesive storyline. There were moments when I couldn’t even try to picture the settings the characters were in. The plot definitely has a lot of holes to go over (i.e.: what exactly are slayers?), it was hard to get immersed or even truly involved with the characters that lacked a lot of depth and constantly contradicted themselves, even a paragraph later. The dialogue mostly had one tone: extremely casual and blunt, it was hard to add any nuance.

Overall, it felt rushed and a bit over the top. A lot of redundancies and time jumps. I would’ve enjoyed it more if I’d had more insight into the characters’ thoughts and feelings, I kept waiting for a bit more growth, not just a back-and-forth and whiplash— the romantic storyline took me almost by complete surprise. I felt like there were so many contradicting feelings all the time, but almost no actual exploration or just breathing time with any of the MCs. Also, it may have been easier to read if the characters’ accents weren’t made so present all the time, as well as the slang. It was fun at times, but it always takes the fun out of picturing the character if you don’t have that accent.

I give this book a 2/5🌟 rating. I went into it with very high hopes, but it was really hard to get through. If it becomes a series, I hope the next one expands a lot more on all these points!

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Teen and the author for granting me an advance eBook in return for my honest opinions.

Magic, Vampires, vampire slayers, and forbidden romance! This book has it all!

Loved this book from start to finish. Read it in one sitting! Could not put it down! It is a must read!!

Loved the characters Raven and Khamari. Loved the magic, loved the world, loved the plot, especially loved the Vampires and forbidden romance!

Just loved absolutely everything about this book!!

This book had such an interesting premise, but lost me with the dialogue. I loved the academic vibes but the over explanation of everything at times just felt like an info dump. Love the slayer/vampire Romance idea, simply needs executed differently. This very much gave shadowhunters vibes in a good way and he way the characters are named felt like Zombieland (Dakota, Texas, place names, etc.).

This book is just wow, if you're on team Vampire, team Slayer, or even a team shifter you need to read this book.

Not only is it an instant flashback to the feelings of watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer we have a world full of amazing characters you either love, hate, or love to hate, sometimes all three at once.

I will say that there's a tiny bit of a lull right after the first big scene but it's just giving you time to catch your breath before the world goes crazy. At one point or another, everyone is something other than what they seem and I loved it.

The only negative I have is the code names, I understand the need for them, but cities and states? Maybe it will make more sense in the next book... I'm assuming there will be a next book because this is fantastic.

Speaking of fantastic, the writing in this is just phenomenal, every character has such a distinct voice and motivation for what they're doing and why, it all just seemed effortless while shocking me at every single turn.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for providing an advance copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

As an avid Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, I was thrilled to find a story featuring a black vampire slayer. From the very beginning, I was captivated by Raven's character. Her southern charm, simmering rage, and snarky personality made her instantly likable. Additionally, Khamari's role as a sympathetic figure and his unwavering dedication to saving his brother Kraven added depth to the story. While I had some qualms about certain aspects of the lore, such as historical events being tied to vampires and slayers, the overall magic system and portrayal of vampires were highly intriguing. Furthermore, the book's villains were compelling, showcasing shades of grey rather than a simple dichotomy of good versus evil."

Unfortunately, the world-building in the book felt somewhat campy, especially with the excessive linking of vampires and slayers to historical events. The inclusion of Alexander the Great being alive during the civil war and impregnating someone, as well as Joan of Arc's involvement, came across as absurd. Another aspect that left me wanting was the development of the relationship between Raven and Khamari. While I don't mind Insta-love if it is handled well, their connection mainly seemed driven by lust. Even halfway through the book, their intense yearning for each other felt unjustified, and I struggled to understand why they were so infatuated with one another."

Considering the intriguing plot elements, I would give this book a 3/5🌟 rating. However, the weight of the romance aspect did detract from my overall enjoyment."

I have never devoured a book so fast! I was so excited for this book! When I got the e-arc I screamed. This book is the reason I havent slept in 3 days. I HAD to finish it, nothing else mattered. If you're a fan of Buffy or First kill, you're going to want to buy this immediately. I can't wait for this book to be out in the world!

Absolutely obsessed with this book. It's not my usual reading genre but I was intrigued so decided to read it. So glad I did! Great characters, a bit of humour and a brilliant storyline. I need more!

THIS BOOK! I just finished reading Sign of the Slayer and it absolutely blew me away. I thought I was done reading vampire novels years ago but this sucked (no pun intended) me right back in. I loved Raven. She's so loyal to her friends and family and brave. Khamari was a really neat character, too. Although I did prefer Raven's POV. The side characters (and some of their origins!) were awesome and I enjoyed reading about all of them. My favourite aspect of this book was the use of alchemy. It was such a clever magic system and I really liked how the slayers used alchemy to battle against vampires. The intrigue of the different clans and their plans was fascinating and I tore through this book, I was so hyped to find out what happens. Raven's abilities are so wild and the imagery was fantastic! Highly recommend this book.

when i tell you i read this book in 4 hours i mean it. i was hooked from the beginning and cannot wait to read the next book. i loved the tension and banter between khamari and raven. i wish their relationship progressed more. it felt very back and forth which became frustrating. i also have to add that i hope alexander and the little witch will burn in hell.

i will definitely be purchasing the hard copy of this! thank you for the arc!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When they say Full Metal Alchemist meets The Vampire Diaries, they’re not kidding. Throw in some Buffy and you have quite the vampire story. I was hooked from the first chapter and I could not put this book down. The plot twists and forbidden romances and betrayal kept me on the edge of my seat. The author keeps surprising you all the way up till the very last chapter. For those looking or a little spice, you will not be disappointed. This will definitely be a series that I will want to continue and I can’t wait till this book is permanently on my shelf.

Raven's world is turned upside down when vampires enter her life, and she discovers she's a slayer. I liked the concept, but struggled to stay engaged until about 55% in. I needed more Raven and Khamari time. Some real twists near the end!

Posted review to goodreads on 6/22

I enjoyed this book. There were twists and turns right until the end. The world of vampires and slayers is complex and I can tell this will be a series you can’t put down. Raven’s life changes in the blink of an eye but she rolls with it and it is great to see her character development. Can’t wait for the next book to continue this adventure.