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’.

Hines latest is delightful, focusing on an older cast of heroes than usual. The shifting viewpoints worked really well to tell the story, and helped get me attached to all the characters quickly.

This one is a lot of fun and has an urban fantasy feel. There are a *lot* of lightly changed (but in a creative way) things that we've seen before so you get a familiar comfort (e.g. one of the characters is quite similar to a Slayer from Buffy, but there's a divine twist to it and a different backstory, one of the characters is a wizard (but gets most of his power from his house)), but there's also the twist that the protagonists are older and allegedly 'retired'. The personalities are all well drawn, all 3 main characters get viewpoint chapters with their different voices, and there are various plotlines that tie more or less to one of the characters and then bring in the others. I would love to see this as a series but it also works on its own.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

I saw retirement age ex-chosen ones with an Eldritch-cat on the cover and I knew I had to read this book.

This book was so unexpectedly funny. I obviously expected it to have humour based on the premise, but didn't expect it to be this good. And wile this was a funny book, it also delivered on the emotional scenes very well and those things are very hard to do at the same time. Funny quips can easily undercut emotional moments, but this book let those moments breathe.

The found family trope and how it was interwoven with the sentient house trope worked great and were very touching. All of the characters were so loveable.

I also really appreciated some of the themes the book explored that wouldn't have been possible (or believe) with a younger cast of characters.

I loved all the cats in the book, especially Squidward and Chunk.

Definitely one of the weirder lover stories I've read. Especially a certain dream sequence.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes A Man Called Ove. It provides the same great balance of funny and emotional writing.

Great comical fantasy novel with lots of magic and things that go bump in the night. Loved the strong female leads and focus on sixty something year old characters. Thank you to the author, enjoyed this a lot. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I adored this cozy mystery, featuring three retired former “slayers” of evil. It’s told in the perspective of the three main characters. I thought the characters were fantastic and the story was great. I had a hard time putting this one down and I had a hard time saying goodbye to it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This will be out in October! Make sure to add it to your calendar.

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!

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!

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.

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.

I can definitely recommend Slayers of Old to anyone who wants something different—a story with older and retired heroes, family/found family. The story is told through different POVs, so it never gets old.

thank you to DAW books and netgalley for the arc! worth noting i was initially denied this request..never give up on your dreams, kids! DAW came through in the end and ensured i got to read it. my intuition was screaming five stars from the start, and it was absolutely right.

obsessed with how jim c hines looked at the golden girls and said “what if they could also banish a hellbeast with a salt circle and some passive aggressive banter”

slayers of old is a cozy contemporary fantasy full of monsters, magic, and mature women who are not here for your nonsense unless your nonsense includes ancient curses, sentient houses, or enchanted knitting needles. it’s giving chosen ones but make it postmenopausal. our heroines are long retired from saving the world and now run a bookstore in salem, massachusetts. peaceful right? wrong. their basement may or may not be a doorway to the underworld. there’s a tentacle kitten. and someone keeps summoning things that should absolutely not be summoned without at least a group chat and a backup plan.

it’s heartfelt. it’s hilarious. it’s quietly radical. jim c hines gives us older protagonists with actual depth and doesn’t reduce them to quirky side characters or grandma tropes. they are powerful, petty, compassionate, and tired in the most relatable ways. like temple says, “for everything there is a season. i’m deep into winter, and it’s getting colder.”

jenny is an absolute icon. she’s giving chaotic good with a side of emotional depth and honestly? i’d follow her into any portal, cursed basement, or senior discount lunch special.

quote that lives rent free in my head:
“all this because you’d rather bring a world-devouring forgotten god to our doorstep than go to therapy.”

please give me more stories where heroes can have gray hair, a bad knee, and still take down a demon before noon.

this is a book i will 100% read again. i’ve already preordered my copy and can’t wait for the audiobook!

It’s been a few years since I’ve read a book by this author, so I was happy to see a book I’d love to read by him. This latest is a standalone (tragedy, really), and it stars three “older” people who were Chosen Ones who retired for one reason or another. I just loved all three of them; they had such distinct personalities and went about life in different but still similar ways. When a new threat is brought to their attention, they all have to come out of retirement and go to battle with some new friends. I really wish this wouldn’t be a standalone, but I understand the author’s the one who makes that decision. There’s just so much potential. Anyway, this is a fun, well-written, captivating novel that in turns makes you laugh, get a little squeamish, and tear up a little. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

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.

I have read a number of Jim C. Hines' novels and he never fails to bring the story to life. I admit the ending had me sniffling a little. No spoilers though. I appreciated the way Hines balanced the story and the character's relationships. Both the positive and negative relationships. I have a feeling that these will be vital in future books. I look forward to reading more installments of this world.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars, no notes!

Slayers of old is absolutely delightful and one of my favourite things I’ve read this year.

It is rare to find such a genuinely different, funny and quirky fantasy and I loved every minute. A stone cat called chunk, a van possessed by the spirit of an overprotective mother, Lego portal spells and a gang of teen demon hunters with holy water in squirt guns are just some of the shenanigans you can expect from this one.

Jenny winter is obviously based on Buffy Summers right down to having a gang of friends in high school that she trained to kill monsters. It always comes across as a love letter to the Slayer though rather than a parody and I liked looking out for little references to the show.

This book is the one I’m going to buy as a Christmas present for the people that I’m not 100% sure what they like, it has a lot of humour, fantasy, mystery, plot twists and just a dash of nostalgia, I can’t imagine who wouldn’t love it.

Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I'm so glad I stuck with this one! I'll admit, the beginning was a little hit-or-miss for me, but the reviews were all raves so I stuck with it and I'm so glad I did because I loved it in the end, and am really hoping he'll decide to turn it into his next series!

This one was a riff on so many fun things - Buffy and wizards and demons of old - but the way the characters were presented is what really sold me. I loved the relationships and struggles that felt all-too-human, even when the individuals involved were not. Once I fell into the world Hines created, I was hooked. The pacing and plot kept my attention and were very entertaining, but it was the personalities that really drove this one for me. The writing is a delicious blend of snarky and dark and mysterious - and I sincerely hope to see more of it!

This was incredible, and so much fun!

Slayers of Old is a tale of three retired champions who must dust off their arsenals to face evil one last time, and it’s easily one of the best books I’ve read in years. The heart, the humor, the danger, it all makes for a heady, joyful experience that put me in my feels. If you enjoy books about found family, this one’s for you.

The 3 main characters won me over immediately. Jenny, a retired Hunter of Artemis, is caring, thoughtful, and impressively badass. Temple, a fading wizard, is as crotchety as he is sentimental. And Annette, a retired PI who’s half-Succubus, is a sassy, flirty thunderstorm. I loved all three characters, but Annette Thorn was my favorite by far. Something about her reminded me (loosely) of Patsy Stone from AbFab in the very best way.

The prose was tight and effective, the plot was twisty and fun, and the dialogue was delightful. The world-building was ridiculous, and I loved every minute of it. And did I mention the humor? I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of Jim C. Hines before. This is a new fave read for me, and I can’t wait to check out his previous works!

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!