Going into this, I was really excited for the premise! Retired heroes coming out of retirement to protect their magic, sentient home! Add some (a lot) of sarcastic humor in there and you've got a really enjoyable story! While overall I did enjoy this book, at times I felt like there was a lot going on that wasn't completely tied together well. There were also A LOT of characters, and it was hard to keep up with at times! I feel like this would make a fantastic TV show, but as a book it was a little much.

This book immediately drew me in with a Buffy the vampire slayer meets golden girls lol. Chosen ones who have already saved the world and done their time coming out of retirement. I’m here for it!! I need more tentacle kitty lmao. Not to mention they own a bookstore together in Salem MA. Such a cute read. From the golden girls style banter, action scenes, and magic. This is one of my favorite of all time. A must read.

As someone who grew up watching reruns of Golden Girls between seasons of Buffy, this one felt made for my generation.

There is banter, there are quips, there are tales of funny past missions. And also some not so fun missions. There is even a snarky god with good music taste.

In a way this book feels like a whatif about Buffy if after the Graduation at the High School the Scooby Gang broke up. Some went the way of normalcy, some did not.

It was fun to spot some of the little nods to each one, crazy wacky adventures for Buffy, wonderful deserts for Golden Girls.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the eARC. I will definitely be recommending this one to my fellow 90s kids.

This book could start as a joke: a retired slayer, an old wizard, and a grandma succubus wake up one morning... It's been a fun read. I never read any book by this author, and that was a great disovery. The characters were fun. This is a urban fantasy read, with a lot of different supernaturals.

Pick it up if you like:
- Urban Fantasy / Supernatural characters
- Characters older than 40 y/o
- Magic
- Some thoughts around family and friendship
- World saving with humour

It's said to be a Buffy X Golden Girls. And I agree on the Buffy part. It has a vibe. Magic problems, old books, and retired slayers forced to slay again. I really liked the character of Jenny (my fav) and Ronnie. The mice are also fun (I will leave to you next reader to decide for yourself).

Slayers of Old is a fun ride. I absolutely enjoyed all the characters and the take on being a Hunter or Slayer. With something that has been done and done again it’s refreshing to have a witty take on it. Retired Hunters will always be amazing. The formatting on the ebook was done well.

I love this author and was so excited to see a new book!

This is fun! A semi-retired chosen one heavily based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer is in on the action one more time. She lives with a part-demon and an ancient wizard in a semi-sentient house. The trio gets involved in averting the end of the world when a young hero with prophetic visions shows up with the wrong idea.

I'm not sure if the most blatant Buffy nods are intended, less than conscious, or lifted with the assumption most readers won't be familiar with the original inspiration. A small-statured heroine was selected as a young teen (by Artemis, so the structure of the organization is different) and becomes a Hunter. Her family name is Winter and her mom's name is Joy. She is paired with a single trainer who isn't himself a Hunter, and with whom she develops a difficult relationship. She recruits her high school friend group to help her Hunting efforts, and the crew is traumatized and damaged. The training organization relies on Hunters' naivete, and she eventually leaves the organization after realizing how poorly she has been used and how much harm the group, and she (though unintentionally), have caused. A younger Hunter is called before her retirement, another teen girl ~coincidentally~ named after a virtue (Hope, instead of Faith), with whom she's forced into an adversarial relationship. None of these are problems per se, but if we're all supposed to be in on the joke, I missed the laugh cue. The book has sections that are definitely heavy and while there is some humor, maybe the balance wasn't quite right for me. I needed a heavier hand with the *wink*wink*, if that was the intention.

Recommend to readers of The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher, for older chosen ones, or Hemlock & Silver, for a magical non-traditional heroine.

eARC from NetGalley.

What a lovely gem this book was! If Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Golden Girls were to have a mashup, it would be this book. A "Hunter of Artemis" (slayer), a witch and a succubus are all retired from their former lives and run a cozy bookshop together in Salem, Massachusetts,. When magical creatures start getting attacked it looks like someone is out to get them and for one of our trio this is deeply personal.
I loved the found family aspect of the story and the magical, sentient house. I loved the friendship and the love the three friends shared. This could easily be a series and I would love backstory books on all the characters, but it works as a stand alone just as well.

Jenny Winter: Former Hunter of Artemis. Nurse to all kinds of magical creatures. Co-owner of bookstore and gift shop.

Temple Finn: 99-year-old sorcerer. Magically bound to his house. Lactose is now his enemy.

Annette Thorne: Half-succubus. PI Detective. Grandma.

All of them have saved the world on multiple occasions. Can they do it one more time?

#ThxNetGalley #JimC.Hines #SlayersofOld

"All this because you'd rather bring a world-devouring forgotten god to out doorstep than go to therapy."

Ex Hunter of Artemis, half Succubus retired private investigator and a sorcerer own a book and trinkets shop, sound like a start of a joke huh? But it's actually start of a great book with unique, greatly fleshed out characters. The humor was top notch, the three main characters were such a delight to follow and their friendship and squabbles made me laugh so many times I lost track, all of them witty and intelligent. The three seniors were such a breath of fresh air, even though they are quite far along in their lives, they still have the youthful spirit that can not be squelched by arthritis or hot flashes.

There were so many crazy good things in this book, such as Cthulhu-like kitty, possessed van, goddess who loves getting tributes in form of pop song and a sentient house!

I loved how the house is ingrained in their lives and helps them with everyday mundane stuff such as providing bigger closets, additional rooms for quests, opening and closing doors when one needs it, but also offering protection from those who want to harm them.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review, I absolutely loved it!

Slayers of Old is a delightful and refreshing take on the fantasy genre, blending humor, heart, and a touch of the supernatural. The story follows a group of retired magical beings who are reluctantly pulled back into action to save the world once more. The premise is both charming and engaging, offering a unique perspective on the "chosen one" trope by centering on seasoned heroes rather than young adventurers.

Hines' writing is witty and accessible, with a narrative that balances lighthearted moments with genuine emotional depth. The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own quirks and complexities to the story. Their interactions are filled with camaraderie and banter, creating a sense of warmth and familiarity that enhances the reading experience.

The world-building is imaginative, drawing on familiar fantasy elements while adding unique twists that keep the story feeling fresh. The pacing is steady, with the plot unfolding at a comfortable rhythm that allows for character development and world exploration without feeling rushed.

While the novel is primarily lighthearted, it doesn't shy away from addressing deeper themes, such as the challenges of aging, the value of experience, and the importance of community. These elements add layers of depth to the story, making it more than just a simple adventure.

Overall, Slayers of Old is a fun and heartfelt read that offers a new perspective on familiar fantasy tropes. It's a perfect choice for readers looking for a story that combines humor, adventure, and a touch of magic.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a great read! Slayers of Old is full of self-aware nods to the genre while replacing the plucky, headstrong young protagonist with far more relatable mid-sixties (and up) main characters you can’t help but root for, flaws and all. Packed full of found family and featuring a cosy bookshop, a haunted van, an eldritch ex-cat named Squidward, and a sentient house that loves its people.

I like the idea of aging heroes forced to save the world one more time. They’ve already done their time in the spotlight, but the world clearly refuses to stay saved for good. Slayers of Old offers a fun take on this trope; it’s cozy, character-driven, and reads well.

Jenny (a hunter once devoted to Artemis), Annette (a half-succubus grandma with sass and scars), and Temple Finn (a nearly century-old wizard bound to his half-sentient ancestral home) have settled into their golden years trying to run a bookstore in Salem. They want peace and to enjoy Temple’s excellent meals. Alas, eldritch horrors don’t have a shred of decency - they don’t care that the former Chosen Ones have arthritis and can barely remember to get dressed.

The house they live in is far more than a backdrop. Thanks to its magical bond with Temple, it creaks and groans with his aches, but it also bends reality. It rearranges its rooms on a whim, creates new ones when needed (say, for unexpected guests), and generally ignores the laws of physics. Between that and the sentient mice who assault neighborhood cats, the setting feels alive in the best way.

The magic here isn’t overly explained, which, honestly, I appreciated. It seeps and lingers and remains unpredictable. The banter between the trio is warm, well-timed, and believable. Their friendship comes from decades of shared pain, triumph, and breakfast routines. They’ve all made their mistakes, and lived long enough to understand what matters now.

That said, the coziness comes at a small cost. You know going in that this isn’t the kind of story where the world will end in darkness. There’s comfort in that, sure, but it also meant the stakes never quite reached the heights I like. Evil won’t win, not really. The tone reassures you of that from the start.

And that’s okay. Sometimes I prefer the assurance that the found family will win, that the bookstore won’t burn, and that a haunted van with a ghost mom can be part of the solution. Slayers of Old delivers exactly what it sets out to: heart, humor, action, and magical mischief. Also, the ending isn’t exactly what some may expect, and it’s better for it.

I’d give it 4 stars. Cozy horror(ish) fantasy done right.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

If you’re a Buffy fan and want to know what she got up to in her retirement years, this book is for you.

Jenny, the retired Hunter of Artemis, is the Buffy proxy, complete with burning down a high school. I really enjoyed her character!

Annette was also interesting and the addition of her family to the story really worked.

Really the “weak” spot for me was the last member of their trio, Temple. I just didn’t really connect with him as a character. I get why he was included and his importance but I just felt myself skimming a bit through his POV’s.

Overall a fun read and it’s nice to read something that’s not the first book in a five book series.

This was such a fun and cozy read! It took me back to my childhood of watching Buffy. I 1000% enjoyed every single word of this book and it's definitely on my favorites list for 2025.

This reads like a delightful "a few decades later" fanfic epilogue to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with a sprinkle of meddling kids from Scooby Doo and the most apocalyptic cozy mystery stakes possible. Hines nails every aspect of this monster-of-the-week style urban fantasy, condensed into one standalone novel that somehow still teems with seasons of backstory and callbacks and nods to all the trope staples.

One thing to appreciate here is the how Hines slightly spins all the familiar story beats to make this story breathe. Our semi-retired protagonists don't quite read as Golden Girls to me like the blurb, but they have already experienced the change of heart and deprogramming from their youthful slaying days, and the maturity that only comes with age and experience is crucial to making this story stand out. It's still a classic "heroes/heroines save the day with the power of friendship" story, but the execution of all these subtle tweaks makes it feel fresh and endearing.

Just a great time reading this all around.

this was such so cozy and well written, entertaining from start to finish. buffy the vampire slayer is one of my favorite shows, so i couldn’t help but imagine the characters from it as i read this but you know older. this book has such a unique concept and is utterly entertaining from beginning to end. i loved seeing older protagonists in the spotlight, it’s so refreshing and something i’ve never read before.

the multiple POVs added so much depth to the story, giving each character their own arc and emotional weight making them really well developed. the found family element will always be a win for me. i’ll definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC — opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really liked this book. It checks the boxes for a cozy read but there is a lot more action and danger than would be expected, and the stakes were literally the fate of the world. That’s a lot to ask of two middle-aged retired monster hunters and a ninety-nine year old wizard with a sentient house. Jenny was a Hunter of Artemis ridding the world of monsters until she had an epiphany about the ethics of turning a thirteen year old girl into a weapon. It’s been twenty years and she and her friend Annette, a half demon P.I. who chased down the supernatural but now wants to reconnect with her family live with the wizard Temple selling books and gifts in Salem. Unfortunately someone from the past has some unresolved issues and is trying to open a way for an Elder God. There is a lot of action and danger, a very few swear words; but there is child endangerment, if that triggers you. It is a cozy, though, so it ends well. The characters are likable and understandable, the story moves along at a brisk pace and the ending is satisfying while leaving room for further adventures. Thanks go to NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Slayers of Old is clearly, obviously Buffy the Vampire Slayer fanfic, with Jennifer Winter, a Hunter of Artemis, standing in for Buffy Summers; a demon whose name begins with An-; a teenage group of monster-killers--here the Slay Team replaces the Scoobies--a Watcher (oops, Guardian) from a Council of old white men who get teen girls to fight evil for them, and who has a relationship with the Slayer's--I mean Hunter's--mom, a Bad Xander whose name is, in fact, Alex, a Faith stand-in (Hope), and so much more. That said, part of the fun of reading it was finding the references and Easter eggs and being happy about the changes introduced--the more diverse Slay Team beats the mostly-white Scoobies for representation by a long shot. And it's a fun read! Jennifer, Annette (a succubus), and their magician friend Temple share a magic house/bookshop in Salem, where they have a mostly quiet life among the other supernatural folks of the area, until they're suddenly attacked and have to fight for their families, friends, and home. I loved the Artemis of this book, who likes Beyonce and Taylor Swift, and the characters are nicely developed and individual. There's banter and quips and good fighting scenes, and teamwork and community coming together in the best ways possible. I'm delighted to recommend it to my readers!

Have you ever wondered what life would be like for Buffy and her friends 30 years in the future?

Slayers of Old follows the aging trio of Jenny, Annette and Temple as they come face to face with an apocalyptic supernatural threat that forces them out of retirement. I found the book to be decently well paced with a fairly interesting concept, but the true standout were the characters. They were funny, caring, and fleshed out enough that I was able to get a feel for who they are and what they’ve gone through - even though we’re picking up years after they’ve stepped away from their heroic pasts.

I would give Slayers of Old a solid 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed my time with it, and I think Jim Hines did a good job at following through with a premise that could have potentially not landed as well in someone else’s hands.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Fans of Jig the Dragonslayer will be a bit disappointed, I think. The prose is middle-of-the-road, the characters are formulaic, the plot fairly pedestrian, and overall it reads like a YA urban fantasy.
There is very little depth to the concept of older slayers (the gradual decomposition of the aging human body isn't quite the issue if you have magical healing spells etc on hand), and the constant snacking on sugar-rich foods seemed, again, more aimed at a teen market. Only occasionally does the humour and wit present in the Jig Chronicles surface, and - ironically - there is far more social commentary in those 100% fantasy books, than in this half-set-in-the-real world story.
I only finished this out of loyalty to Jig, and wouldn't be rushing to read a sequel.
My thanks to Netgalley for the DRC.