I received this title as an ARC via NetGalley.

I've been a fan of Jim's work for over a decade. His humor is gentle and sly. His characters are always engaging, and his plots are fun. This novel is no exception.

The tag for this novel is "Buffy meets Golden Girls." For those of you who didn't have the pleasure of seeing TV from the previous century, that means that the main characters in the novel are older--Jenny, a slayer for Artemis, Temple, a wizard, and Annette, a succubus, are all approaching retirement age or well past it. Retired from active heroism, the three of them have been living together and running a bookshop in Salem, MA for decades. And then one of them is attacked, and weird, bad stuff starts happening to their loved ones.

What I loved about this novel is that these characters are wise. They have scars, both physical and emotional. They *think before they act* and they encourage everyone else they are working with to do so as well. They fight smarter, not harder. When they make a sacrifice, it hits harder, because it's intentional, and in the full knowledge that what they're doing matters to their kids, grandkids, and everyone who has come after them, since they won't be here to see it. They know what they are giving up, because they have survived high stakes before, and they are choosing to take that on so their loved ones and community don't have to.

They are choosing hope over cynicism, because they're wise enough to know that cynicism is way less fun to live through.

This is a book that holds both sides of your face gently, looks you squarely in the eye, and says "we will get through this. Together." And it means it.

Now, more than ever, that's what we need.

Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines was everything I needed and more. It was fun, nostalgic and cute. I love the idea of meeting heroes once they have turned old to see what their life is like. (Calm and cosy in a magic house, running a magic bookstore).

Slayers of Old is a flirt with us who grew up with Buffy and other young (female) heroes saving the world again and again. Jenny, Anette and Temple Finn are a lovely elderly bunch and I loved to get to know them. Even if Temple Finn rarely remembers to get dressed in the morning.

But one can only stay out of trouble for a limited amount of time. Of course the adventure turn up in the shop, a young hero and his haunted car have turned up to save the day. Except he got the prophecy mixed up a little. And the adventure can begin, but this time its about protecting their home, and grand children, and everyone they hold dear.

A fun, cozy spin on the monster genre. Lighthearted and fun throughout. Fans of the genre will definitely enjoy this low-stakes but still very entertaining read.

Slayers of Old is a fast-paced, character-driven fantasy that blends classic good-vs-evil tropes with thoughtful explorations of legacy, identity, and the complexities of family. Jim C. Hines delivers a stand-alone novel that’s both fun and emotionally resonant, with just enough world-building to ground the story without overwhelming it.

Told through alternating perspectives—Jenny, a retired hunter of evil with a connection to the goddess Artemis, is a healer with a strict code of ethics related to power and violence; Annette, a half-succubus mother and monster-slayer; and Temple, a 99-year-old magician grappling with love, loss, and transformation—the novel weaves together action, humor, and heart. The pacing is strong, and while some background elements are repeated, they never bog down the story.

One of the standout arcs is Ronnie, a 17-year-old “last of his kind” defender against magical evil. Orphaned young and raised by the ghost of his mother Margaret (who inhabits the family van—yes, like "Christine"), Ronnie finds a new sense of belonging and purpose under the mentorship of Jenny, Annette and Temple. His growth from isolated teen on a mission to valued member of a found family is one of the book’s most rewarding emotional threads.

Margaret’s story also takes a beautiful turn as she connects with Temple, whose own arc culminates in his transition to a ghostly form. Their bond offers a touching “happily ever after-life” that feels both earned and heartwarming.

The intergenerational dynamics shine: Annette’s strained relationship with her son Blake, and his own struggles as a father, add emotional weight. Meanwhile, Blake’s son Morgan is pulled into a high-stakes plot to unleash an eldritch god, raising the tension and testing the family’s strength.

Hines also thoughtfully incorporates themes of consent and mutual responsibility—particularly through Jenny’s magical contracts and Annette’s internal conflict between duty and motherhood. These elements elevate the story beyond a typical monster-hunting romp.

A particularly compelling thread throughout the novel is the presence of legacy organizations dedicated to fighting evil. Whether it’s Jenny’s initiation into the “Hunters of Artemis,” Ronnie and Margaret’s family line of defenders, or the magical and demonic heritage of Annette and Temple’s families, these parallel traditions underscore a central theme: the fight for good is a shared, generational effort. Each group brings its own strengths, histories, and burdens, but together they form a rich tapestry of resistance against darkness.

While I had some initial reservations about a male author writing two of the three main protagonists as women, the portrayals felt respectful and nuanced. The book doesn’t center on sexuality, despite the succubus lineage, which I appreciated. Some of the questions raised for me are related to the burden and evolution of legacy and purpose, as well as the value of collaboration.

Let's not forget the part-shoggoth cat with multiple eyes and tentacles who has decided to remain in that form as a mascot, nor the "Stuart Little" -like mouse community, which add a fun and whimsical touch to the story.

Overall, Slayers of Old is a satisfying, self-contained fantasy adventure with heart, humor, and just enough darkness. Recommended for fans of found family, magical legacies, and stories where the emotional stakes are just as important as the magical ones.

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if the Scooby Gang aged into retirement and opened a quirky bookstore in Salem, Slayers of Old has your answer. Imagine Buffy hung up her stakes, bought some orthopedic inserts, and teamed up with Blanche Devereaux and Gandalf’s crankier cousin to run a shop that accidentally sits on a hellmouth. That’s the vibe here—and it’s absolutely delightful.

Jim C. Hines delivers a charming blend of humor, heart, and eldritch horror, all wrapped up in a cozy cardigan. Jenny, Annette, and Temple aren’t your average monster-slayers anymore—they’re older, wiser, and frankly too tired for this nonsense. But when ancient tentacled nightmares start seeping through the basement and turning teenagers into eyeball piñatas, well, retirement plans get postponed.

The magic system is a little like your grandma’s kitchen—nobody explains how it works, but somehow it always results in something comforting, a little chaotic, and occasionally on fire. Temple’s house (which is arguably the fourth main character) is a creaky, reality-bending wonder that rearranges itself like a toddler hyped on sugar and Minecraft. It even spawns new rooms as needed, which is more than my apartment has ever managed.

Where Slayers of Old really shines is in the character chemistry. The banter between the trio is warm, hilarious, and occasionally veers into “I-need-a-minute-to-recover-from-that-joke” territory. These are characters who’ve seen some stuff, and their friendship reflects that—equal parts shared trauma, deep affection, and knowing exactly when to insult each other’s cooking.

Yes, the stakes are a little softer here. You never truly worry that the world will end (it’s not that kind of book), but there’s comfort in that. It’s the fantasy equivalent of knowing your favorite sitcom will wrap things up in 22 minutes, with just enough peril to keep you invested and just enough magic mice to keep things weird.

And the ending? Satisfying with a twist of “oh wait, that actually worked?” Perfect.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, blood-drenched grimdark epic… keep walking. But if you’re here for found family, second chances, sarcastic wizards, magical real estate, and a haunted van with unresolved maternal issues, Slayers of Old is your next favorite read.

It’s Golden Girls meets Buffy, with more battle scars and better snacks. Highly recommended.

What a different read, irreverent and sassy to the core!

✨ Characters
We've got 3 lovely, older and unique characters - a hunter with a big heart, a succubus with an antisocial streak and a wizard with magical ties to his house (side note: with that amount of books? yeah, I'd want a magical connection to that house too).

They are lifelong friends and live together, but 3 is a crowd and the politics happening between them are so funny! Each character's quirks and how the other two respond to them are the highlight of the book for me!

✨ Plot
Come out of retirement to help save the world? Yes, please! But maybe wait a second till I find my glasses.

A lifetime of experience takes center stage - you can count on it to keep you calm and collected though difficult times (you've been though world ending events more times than you can count, really, it's getting quite repetitive) yet it's frustrating how your body continues to advance in age and can't keep up anymore with things you used to be able to do with ease and expert skill (do I even need pants to save the world today? I *really* don't feel like bending to pick them up with these creaky bones!).

✨ Unique aspects of this book
- irreverent and sassy tone, sooo many lough out loud lines
- interesting magic system
- main characters' powers seem from different stories but somehow it works out perfect because it keeps each character distinct
- the magical version of an e-book reader - or should that be an e-spell reader? :)

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book, I had so much fun!

This was a fun read. Great characters and all the feelings. Refreshing take that the characters are older, not in their teens. I love the cover!

A very entertaining urban fantasy that will have eagle-eyed Buffy fans spotting hundreds of references and jokes - but let me reassure you, they are tied in so smoothly to the world of the book that you're never pulled out of the story by them, only amused if you catch one. A non-Buffy fan could read this cold and be just as entertained and pulled along by the fast pace and the wonderfully well-rounded characters. It's a very cosy book for one that deals with an HP Lovecraft-style apocalypse, and one that was a real pleasure to read.

I first read this book because anything involving Golden Girls is bound to be spectacular.
I was mostly imagining the girls reminiscing about their past with Sophia as like the eldest mentor.

I'm glad my prediction was way off. Each of the main characters were old, retiring, and had their own personality. It wasn't like trying to paint an old person in gold, they each had their own nuances and complaints that made them feel so real and easy to imagine.

How apocalypses and deadly world ending monsters is just a casual tuesday, and who needs deadly magic when you can use it to fix phones and arcade cabinets.

One of the best feel good casual reads so far.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story is fun - and gives space for main characters that are not 18 and super hot and caught in a love triangle as is so typical in the fantasy genre.

If you like found family, Refusal of the Call, heavy Buffy vibes, and a cranky old Merlin character set around a used bookstore this is a great read.

There is some light body horror and eldritch grossness, but nothing extreme.

Thankyou NetGalley for this ARC I’m exchange for an honest review.

WOW this cover art is fantastic and really drew me in!

Slayers of Old by Jim Hines something new - I was attracted to the idea of a trio of over 50 retired “Slayers of Old” living together in Salem and dragged back into their respective careers by the end of the world.

Absolutely loved the character of Temple and his story - could happily have read just from his POV. I loved the concept of his attachment and shared magic with the house and the failings shared by his body and home as the end of his life rapidly approached. Absolutely loved any features of the overly intelligent mice in the attic too - so much fun.

Some really fun concepts and characters here, but overall this one ultimately just didn’t hit the mark for me. I found myself struggling to form attachments to any of the characters and the overarching big bad of the villain was just not there - the climax felt very scattered for me which took away from the intensity needed which was disappointing.

The coziness is there - definitely leaning into the cozy crime genre here but it just felt a little forced and disingenuous at times. Way too many side characters and storyline’s to form true attachment to any of them and it didn’t grip me at any point.

Writing a lot of the time felt very basic and middle of the road - just wanted more from this.

The name and the cover caught my interest from the beginning, and I was so unbelievably happy to find the book itself was so refreshing and fun.
This character driven, aged chosen-one heros concept is something I've never seen before, but amazing in every respect. This is a cozy fantasy with amazing humor and fun fantasy background world. The world building wasn't the most immersive but the story is so character driven so it doesn't matter all that much to me.

Really nice and fun read ! It was my first book by this author, I will check his other works for sure. "Slayers of Old" promises a cosy read, set in our world but with fantasy elements. A cosy urban fantasy of sorts, with older characters, who have saved the worlds quite a few times already and need to get on the job again.

Being very character driven, with elements of family dynamics and past choices helping (or challenging) the plot, "Slayers of Old" is a quick read, as it promised. It makes for a great reading time, with nice ideas and easy plot. Not in a mindless way, but it delivers to readers expectations if you pick the book for it's cover and blurb : humour, cosy, found family and world ending events.

Each characters have their quirks, their flaws and strength, as well as their challenges. We have quite a good grasp on them and their history without it being too heavy. Similarly , we have a few clues about the world and its dynamics, but not much more, the story not being the kind to explain et show a lot of it. It might annoy some readers, if you need to know more about how things are and work, but honestly, this is not this kind of book. It is fun, well written for its purposes, and have a nice depth while still remaining in that "entertaining" area. Yes, some things are predictable, but why would it be problem? It's a good ride!

Urban fantasy is my absolute jam - and when I saw that they sum the vibes up with ‘Buffy meets Golden Girls’??? Sold, say less, I’m in.

Retired Chosen Ones Temple, Jenny and Annette live together in a magical house and bookstore enjoying their quiet stage of life… until a new threat emerges that threatens their home, their family and possibly the entire world. This romp was cozy but also heartwarming and funny. It works as a standalone but I would love for the author to write more books in this universe! I feel like there are more stories to tell in Salem.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the opportunity to read an early copy.

When I saw the description for Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines, I was intrigued. Tagged as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Golden Girls,” it sounded like it was right up my alley. Okay, I wasn’t much of a Buffy fan but I did like The Golden Girls, and the thought of retired people with magical powers called on one more time to save the world had some appeal. As a retiree, I know how easy it is for older people to get written off by society. I also understand the challenges encapsulated by the expression “I’m not as young as I used to be.” Coming to grips with fading powers of any sort is never easy.

Slayers of Old portrays an aging wizard named Temple, a former Hunter of Artemis, Jenny, and a part-demon, Annette, who is trying to improve her relationship with her son Blake and grandchildren Morgan and Ava. Hines varies the viewpoint characters as the chapters progress, which moves the action along and keeps the reader in the know about events as they transpire.

Along the way, there are challenges and threats, a mystery to be solved, and encounters with magical creatures like selkies and animated gargoyles. The overarching story involves a high-stakes battle against an existential threat, but there are also sub-themes about relationships, love, betrayal, guilt, and self-acceptance. The story also explores the importance of doing what we can to make things better, even if the battle seems endless or futile.

There is plenty of humor to go around, and Hines also builds in some interesting notions like a magical house that protects those within it, a ghostly parent sticking around to ensure her son gets on the right path, and magically enhanced mice.

Readers who like stories involving magical characters, mythology, high-stakes plots, and lots of laughs along the way should enjoy Slayers of Old.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Buffy-like with menopause, a demonic GILF, and a really freaking old wizard who likes to bake live together and run a book store. And then the monsters and eldritch abominations keep showing up.

This book is a lot of fun. There are references to past adventures and witty quips, along with the pains of getting older and being part of a large paranormal community. Anyone watched Buffy The Vampire Slayer as a teen/young adult is about the right age to find these characters incredibly relatable.

Does not include nearly enough of the tenta-kitty on the cover.

This was a pretty fun read! A group of retired supernatural saviors are pulled into a possible apocalypse and they have to save the world. The characters were fun and the interactions were hilarious. The plot and acing was a bit all over the place but I did find it enjoyable. It made me interested in looking up Jim Hines’ other books. **3.75 stars**

Thanks to NetGalley & DAW for letting me read and review this book!

This was an entertaining read-the characters were interesting, and the writing was witty-However, the pacing was off and the narrative was a bit overstuffed. For example, when we finally got to the confrontation between the villain and one of the main characters-the showdown-we had another digression into backstory-killed the momentum and the details were not necessary -added nothing to the scene. The ultimate big bad was too abstract for me- I felt nothing.
I think the author has promise and I will look for more by him-but I cannot recommend this one.

If you're a fan of slightly-nutty, comedic, paranormal stories, (a la Christopher Moore, Charlaine Harris, Deanna Raybourn, etc.), you're going to enjoy this book immensely.

The characters are quirky and *mostly* endearing, semi-retired magical folk - a elderly warlock, a half-demon and a hunter of Artemis/magical healer. They're living a mostly quiet life running their bookshop and tearoom our of an old, enchanted house in Salem, Massachusetts, which is essentially ground-zero for creatures and entities both magical, mythical, and sometimes sinister.

Without giving anything more of the plot away, I will just say that this book was a charming, easy read with both heart-warming, funny and tear-jerker events and backstories that made reading this book a pleasure.

Thanks to #NetGalley for gifting me an ARC to review!

If you were ever a fan of Buffy and Angel, this book should be like a slap of nostalgia to the side of the head. This is a loving homage to those monster of the week episodes with a retired Buffy Summers — er, Jenny Winters — living in a magical house with Anette, a Codelia/Anya character who is half succubus and a grandmother of two, and a Temple, 99 year old wizard who is more Giles than Willow. There are demons, werejaguars, and worst of all, teenagers.

The writing is good and the humor is mild enough, with the story taking priority over the sass and quips. Jenny’s bond with Artemis, the goddess who gives her her powers — speed, strength, scent, and so on — is sweet, and Temple’s bond with the house is a nice touch. I especially liked the slowly evolving tribe of mice living in the attic.

There’s a lot of action here, a fair bit of magic, but the focus is more on the bond of love and friendship these three people have shared for years. The adventures they’ve been on, the sufferings they’ve endured as supernatural people in a world of all too human family and friends, and the disillusionment of realizing that just because people have powers and authority doesn’t make them the good guys, and that getting older kind of sucks.

it’s fun, it’s a quick read, well written and with excellent pacing. There are no lulls where the story drags, and no scene lasts too long. There’s enough attention given to each of the three of them to make them feel like real people, not just shadows of a TV show. Honestly, this was a lot of fun and I can see myself coming back for a re-read. (I would also kill for a continuing series set in this world.)

Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!