This was such a fun book to read. The author has beautifully woven reality and fantasy to create a perfectly blended world in which a woman is a van while a kid just wants ice cream. There is plenty of excitement, action and an epic battle but there is also a touching core message around chosen families and the ties that bind people who love one another.

Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines is everything I love about fantasy wrapped into one page-turning, action-packed story. If you’re a fan of clever world-building, snappy dialogue, and heroes who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, this book is an absolute treat.

The plot is full of twists and turns, but it’s the characters that really drive the story. Hines excels at making even the most battle-hardened slayers feel real, flawed, and relatable. Each character is dealing with their own baggage, their own challenges, and watching them navigate these obstacles—both external and internal—was what kept me hooked. The dynamics between the group of slayers is so well done, full of banter, loyalty, and a surprising amount of heart.

What really stands out to me in Slayers of Old is how Hines subverts typical fantasy tropes. The slayers, while skilled and tough, aren’t invincible or all-knowing. They make mistakes. They second-guess themselves. And that makes the stakes feel even higher, especially as they’re up against dangerous, mysterious enemies from a time long past.

The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming. Hines drops just enough detail to make you feel like you’re truly stepping into this universe, but never bogs you down in too much lore. There’s a balance between action, character development, and world-building that kept me engaged from start to finish.

By the end, I was both satisfied with the resolution and hungry for more. Slayers of Old has the perfect mix of humor, heart, and epic adventure. If you love fantasy that’s both fun and meaningful, I highly recommend this one—it’s a wild ride from beginning to end.

A fantastic read! I greatly enjoyed Slayers of Old, and it was exactly as advertised: a cross of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Golden Girls. I enjoyed every little nod to Buffy I spotted, and the whole book felt like an episode of Buffy. I highly recommend this book for all BTVS fans. It was fun, exciting, nostalgic, and just a little tragic. I truly hope to someday see Slayers of Old in theatre.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jim C Hines and DAW for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an extremely charming cosy-ish fantasy book about a group of retired magical beings who are forced to come out of retirement to save the world.

The characters were the strongest element of this story, I felt very attached to all of the main and side characters (even the house). I would read a whole series of books following various adventures if Hines were to write more!

I’d recommend this to fans of less intense fantasy such as ‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’ or ‘Rivers of London’.