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The Slayer Chronicles #1
First Kill
The first book in the fantastic new series from the creator of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod--now in paperback!
Over a million readers have heard Vlad Tod's story; now it's time to hear Joss's. When Joss McMillan witnesses his sister's murder--at the hands of a vampire--his whole life changes. He learns that not only is his family part of the Slayer Society, a group whose mission is to rid the world of vampires, but he is their new recruit. As Joss trains he discovers powers that could make him the youngest, strongest Slayer in history. But there is a traitor in the Society, one whose identity would shake Joss to the core . . . if the traitor doesn't kill him first.
Written from the perspective of Vlad's former friend turned mortal enemy--vampire slayer Joss McMillan--this is the first in a series of five books that can be read alongside Vlad Tod or entirely on their own.
Over a million readers have heard Vlad Tod's story; now it's time to hear Joss's. When Joss McMillan witnesses his sister's murder--at the hands of a vampire--his whole life changes. He learns that not only is his family part of the Slayer Society, a group whose mission is to rid the world of vampires, but he is their new recruit. As Joss trains he discovers powers that could make him the youngest, strongest Slayer in history. But there is a traitor in the Society, one whose identity would shake Joss to the core . . . if the traitor doesn't kill him first.
Written from the perspective of Vlad's former friend turned mortal enemy--vampire slayer Joss McMillan--this is the first in a series of five books that can be read alongside Vlad Tod or entirely on their own.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2011
181 people are currently reading
6814 people want to read
About the author
Heather Brewer
25 books2,856 followersHeather Brewer is the pseudonym of Zac Brewer…but you can call him Z.
Zac is the NYT bestselling author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, as well as The Slayer Chronicles series, Soulbound, The Cemetery Boys, The Blood Between Us, and more short stories than he can recall.
He grew up on a diet of Twilight Zone and books by Stephen King. He chased them down with every drop of horror he could find—in books, movie theaters, on television. The most delicious parts of his banquet, however, he found lurking in the shadowed corners of his dark imagination. When he’s not writing books, he’s skittering down your wall and lurking underneath your bed. Zac doesn’t believe in happy endings…unless they involve blood.
He lives in Missouri with his husband, two children, and four furry overlords that some people refer to as “cats”.
Zac is the NYT bestselling author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, as well as The Slayer Chronicles series, Soulbound, The Cemetery Boys, The Blood Between Us, and more short stories than he can recall.
He grew up on a diet of Twilight Zone and books by Stephen King. He chased them down with every drop of horror he could find—in books, movie theaters, on television. The most delicious parts of his banquet, however, he found lurking in the shadowed corners of his dark imagination. When he’s not writing books, he’s skittering down your wall and lurking underneath your bed. Zac doesn’t believe in happy endings…unless they involve blood.
He lives in Missouri with his husband, two children, and four furry overlords that some people refer to as “cats”.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews
May 4, 2024
Oh, how I miss Z Brewer. I loved the Vladimir Todd Chronicles when I was in high school.
I found this one in my stash while I was moving so I picked it up.
I would have loved it more in high school, but it was still a romp. I liked having a no fuss read where I could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
Seeing Joss' story start was interesting and helped me understand his character more. It also is more of a younger YA/middle grade book in writing but has some dark murder content. So, reader beware?
Overeall, liked this book. I miss Z.
Three out of five stars.
I found this one in my stash while I was moving so I picked it up.
I would have loved it more in high school, but it was still a romp. I liked having a no fuss read where I could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
Seeing Joss' story start was interesting and helped me understand his character more. It also is more of a younger YA/middle grade book in writing but has some dark murder content. So, reader beware?
Overeall, liked this book. I miss Z.
Three out of five stars.
October 25, 2011
OMG AHHHHHH! I JUST FINISHED READING TWELFTH GRADE KILLS YESTERDAY!!!!! THIS IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE JOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG THE VAMPIRE SMILEY FACE IS BACK ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAHHHH!!!!!!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!! *GOING SERIOUSLY CRAZY!!*
edit on Oct 17, 2011
"You've heard Vlad's side of the story . . . now, it’s Joss’s turn."
^WHAT an attention grabber; I'm filled with excitment already.
edit on Oct 25, 2011
So I reeeeeally wanted to give this book 5 stars, I really did...but couldn't because it FRUSTRATED ME A WHOLE LOT.
If Joss was pissed at his Uncle Abraham for being so hard on him, I was even more pissed. Hello, Abraham?? You're practically killing the guy here! Cut him some slack! And even though the reason you did all those things to him was because you wanted him to go home and be safe, ya could've just TOLD him!!
Sheesh.
And I think Brewer was emphasizing the "Cecile-vengeance" bits too much. Like, every other sentence would be about Joss torturing himself with a memory of Cecile and how her death was all his fault. Give yourself a break, would ya Joss? I don't wanna have to sit here and mourn her in every chapter with ya.
I really think Brewer was trying a tad bit too hard on telling us Joss's side of the story. (Thank heavens it was just a tad.)
This book wasn't at all what I had expected, but it was still good.
Ooooo, I can't wait for the next one cuz Vlady is gonna be in it. :D
edit on Oct 17, 2011
"You've heard Vlad's side of the story . . . now, it’s Joss’s turn."
^WHAT an attention grabber; I'm filled with excitment already.
edit on Oct 25, 2011
So I reeeeeally wanted to give this book 5 stars, I really did...but couldn't because it FRUSTRATED ME A WHOLE LOT.
If Joss was pissed at his Uncle Abraham for being so hard on him, I was even more pissed. Hello, Abraham?? You're practically killing the guy here! Cut him some slack! And even though the reason you did all those things to him was because you wanted him to go home and be safe, ya could've just TOLD him!!
Sheesh.
And I think Brewer was emphasizing the "Cecile-vengeance" bits too much. Like, every other sentence would be about Joss torturing himself with a memory of Cecile and how her death was all his fault. Give yourself a break, would ya Joss? I don't wanna have to sit here and mourn her in every chapter with ya.
I really think Brewer was trying a tad bit too hard on telling us Joss's side of the story. (Thank heavens it was just a tad.)
This book wasn't at all what I had expected, but it was still good.
Ooooo, I can't wait for the next one cuz Vlady is gonna be in it. :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2014
I don’t usually read young-adult novels. Not that I have anything against them… I suppose I’m not usually drawn to them I guess. From Heather Brewer; New York Times best-selling author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod comes The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill. This book made me open my wallet at the bookstore and purchase it is because it’s about vampire hunters…and those are my favorite kind of vampire stories.
A vampire kills Joss McMillan’s six-year-old sister. At the funeral, his uncle, Abraham, tells him about a secret society of vampire slayers from which he is descended from, and Joss swears to avenge his sister’s death. His uncle also tells him that he belongs to a bloodline who possess special skills, strength and agility that allow them to take down the undead. It’s basically the male equivalent of Buffy.
A few years pass, and he’s old enough to begin his training for the Slayer Society. Throughout the book he has to go through various tests and trails, etc. What I didn’t like about the book was that it seemed to drag…. the plot focused to much on his training and other meaningless info, and not enough on killing vampires. Joss doesn’t get to kill any vamps until towards the end of the book. Oh yeah, it also ends with a stupid twist.
Like I said…it drags on and on. Was it any good? Well I gave it two stars… so it was alright I guess. Will I be reading the rest of the books? I don’t know…maybe.
A vampire kills Joss McMillan’s six-year-old sister. At the funeral, his uncle, Abraham, tells him about a secret society of vampire slayers from which he is descended from, and Joss swears to avenge his sister’s death. His uncle also tells him that he belongs to a bloodline who possess special skills, strength and agility that allow them to take down the undead. It’s basically the male equivalent of Buffy.
A few years pass, and he’s old enough to begin his training for the Slayer Society. Throughout the book he has to go through various tests and trails, etc. What I didn’t like about the book was that it seemed to drag…. the plot focused to much on his training and other meaningless info, and not enough on killing vampires. Joss doesn’t get to kill any vamps until towards the end of the book. Oh yeah, it also ends with a stupid twist.
Like I said…it drags on and on. Was it any good? Well I gave it two stars… so it was alright I guess. Will I be reading the rest of the books? I don’t know…maybe.
November 7, 2014
....this book is very young, and sadly very (in my opinion of course) very poorly written.
Now, I know that's a subjective statement and I'm sure many will like this book. It's all a matter of taste but I was really....REALLY glad to put it aside.
First the dialogue. I write and one of the things I'm never satisfied with in my own manuscripts is the dialogue. Here the conversations always (for me of course) came across as stilted and stiff.
Aside from that there is very little plot at all other than, "I've got it rough, nobody likes me everybody hates me, think I'll go eat worms".
We do finally get a "sort of plot" but all the book really does is lead us through our protagonist's angsty, "yucky" life and set up the next book.
Aside from lack of plot then there are the characters. From Joss to his mean, nasty, awful..."yucky" uncle they are a bit flat and you've probably met them all. They may have come from "Characters are Us" for all I know.
I'm sorry I really don't care for this book. If you do I'm very happy for you please, enjoy. As for me...don't think I'll follow this YA series.
Just me of course.
Now, I know that's a subjective statement and I'm sure many will like this book. It's all a matter of taste but I was really....REALLY glad to put it aside.
First the dialogue. I write and one of the things I'm never satisfied with in my own manuscripts is the dialogue. Here the conversations always (for me of course) came across as stilted and stiff.
Aside from that there is very little plot at all other than, "I've got it rough, nobody likes me everybody hates me, think I'll go eat worms".
We do finally get a "sort of plot" but all the book really does is lead us through our protagonist's angsty, "yucky" life and set up the next book.
Aside from lack of plot then there are the characters. From Joss to his mean, nasty, awful..."yucky" uncle they are a bit flat and you've probably met them all. They may have come from "Characters are Us" for all I know.
I'm sorry I really don't care for this book. If you do I'm very happy for you please, enjoy. As for me...don't think I'll follow this YA series.
Just me of course.
January 7, 2012
Wow. I have to say that I loved the Vladimir Tod series by Heather Brewerand really enjoyed it! Loved the vampire theme from a different point of view. Loved this world that she created. So I entered into the Slayer Chronicles not quite sure how I'd like it, because I kind of liked the vampires better this time, unlike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where you do root mostly for the slayer. And, I didn't really like Joss that much, which this book was about, because of how he tried to slay Vlad in the other series. But, let me say, this book totally blew my preconceived thoughts on this. You knew from the original series that Joss had become a slayer because of his younger sister Cecile getting killed by a vampire. We learn in this book that Joss's uncle Abraham actually didn't want him to be the one in the family to carry on the slayer tradition, he actually thought Henry, Vlad's best friend/drudge, or Henry's older brother would be better. I guess that is funny to me because I know how they actually are with Vlad. But after reading about Joss's life, I did get to feel that I liked him. And learning that kids were mean to him because he had this almost magical strength and endurance. Then his parents almost treating him invisible after his sister died, you can see why he became the boy we know in the Vlad Tod series. And you really get on his side when you learn about how his uncle treats him when he goes to begin his slayer training, and what that training entails. Wow, although I don't agree with some of the things Joss does with the slayers and his uncle, I can see why he is that way, and the story is so good. You know there is possible a "mole" in the group of slayers, and while you want to suspect Uncle Abraham because of what a jerk he is, there are other possibilities, and each are given in a way that makes you think, and wonder. The twist at the end, I thought was sad, and was another way that I was disappointed in how Joss reacted to his situation. But, as I said, it leads right on to where the story is going to go. Such a great story. Heather Brewer is such a great author, I can't wait to read the next in the Slayer Chronicles.
May 19, 2016
First read rating: 4 stars
Original review, 10/6/11:
I liked this. Joss wasn't my favorite from the Vlad books, but I liked him well enough to enjoy this. Although his personality seems slightly different than in the Vlad books, and sometimes it seems like the author's forcing him into this Slayer loyalty that it doesn't really seem like he feels. This book really sets up the Slayer Society as something with supposedly good intentions, but a pretty ruthless group in their own right, and I can really see why Joss would leave them later on. I saw somewhere that the author says this book is darker than any of the others, and it certainly is bloodier than the Vlad books, somewhat ironically.
I really enjoyed the reveal about Sirus at the end, and I very much hope that he's not really dead, as the story really leads us to like him. Given the off-screen death and lack of a body, though, I suspect Sirus will show up again. I look forward to seeing what happens with that, and also how Kat will figure into the story from here on.
I feel like this story doesn't quite fit perfectly with the Vlad books. In the Vlad books, the first time we find out what Joss is, he seems like a very confident, experienced Slayer, like he's been doing it for years. But according to this, he'd only have just gone through basic training for a couple months the summer before, and probably hadn't killed any vampires since then. And even during training, he'd never taken a vampire in a solo fight (except for that last right before the explosion, but I don't even know if that should really count). Also, he tells Vlad, "I'm a Slayer. I think I'd know a vampire if I saw one" (or something like that), which doesn't make much sense if, as we see in this book, he'd already been duped so thoroughly before. That would have left an impression on him, so even disregarding the untruth of the statement, he wouldn't have said it with such a seemingly cavalier attitude. Also, in this book, we never see him getting any training on how to identify a vampire (or, really, how to fight one and how that's different from fighting a human), which seems weird since this book is all about him training to be a Slayer.
*Update: 2/27/14 I tried re-reading this book, and I really liked it a lot less. Actually, I got less than 70 pages in before I gave up and skimmed the rest. I realized that the only character I even like very much is Sirus, and I don't like how he's treated in the story. There's a lot of actions that people take that don't make any sense and seem to be there only to purposelessly make Joss's life harder (even Joss's own actions sometimes). And it should be tighter and shorter than it is.
Second read rating: 1 star DNF
Original review, 10/6/11:
I liked this. Joss wasn't my favorite from the Vlad books, but I liked him well enough to enjoy this. Although his personality seems slightly different than in the Vlad books, and sometimes it seems like the author's forcing him into this Slayer loyalty that it doesn't really seem like he feels. This book really sets up the Slayer Society as something with supposedly good intentions, but a pretty ruthless group in their own right, and I can really see why Joss would leave them later on. I saw somewhere that the author says this book is darker than any of the others, and it certainly is bloodier than the Vlad books, somewhat ironically.
I really enjoyed the reveal about Sirus at the end, and I very much hope that he's not really dead, as the story really leads us to like him. Given the off-screen death and lack of a body, though, I suspect Sirus will show up again. I look forward to seeing what happens with that, and also how Kat will figure into the story from here on.
I feel like this story doesn't quite fit perfectly with the Vlad books. In the Vlad books, the first time we find out what Joss is, he seems like a very confident, experienced Slayer, like he's been doing it for years. But according to this, he'd only have just gone through basic training for a couple months the summer before, and probably hadn't killed any vampires since then. And even during training, he'd never taken a vampire in a solo fight (except for that last right before the explosion, but I don't even know if that should really count). Also, he tells Vlad, "I'm a Slayer. I think I'd know a vampire if I saw one" (or something like that), which doesn't make much sense if, as we see in this book, he'd already been duped so thoroughly before. That would have left an impression on him, so even disregarding the untruth of the statement, he wouldn't have said it with such a seemingly cavalier attitude. Also, in this book, we never see him getting any training on how to identify a vampire (or, really, how to fight one and how that's different from fighting a human), which seems weird since this book is all about him training to be a Slayer.
*Update: 2/27/14 I tried re-reading this book, and I really liked it a lot less. Actually, I got less than 70 pages in before I gave up and skimmed the rest. I realized that the only character I even like very much is Sirus, and I don't like how he's treated in the story. There's a lot of actions that people take that don't make any sense and seem to be there only to purposelessly make Joss's life harder (even Joss's own actions sometimes). And it should be tighter and shorter than it is.
Second read rating: 1 star DNF
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2014
Interesting idea of a novel, but with many ups and downs, for me at least. Joss I did love in the first half and a few of the Slayers but it started grating on me a bit around halfway through (though not enough to DNF it).
I get that Joss wants to avenger his sister's death (Little Cecile warmed my heart, even though we don't get much time with her) but his constant 'devotion' to this society got on my nerves and I wanted to shake him a couple times.
This 'Society' as a whole didn't seem worthy of Joss' loyalty to me, I got the feeling that some fishy things were going on (Maybe this is explained in the first series with Vlad but I haven't read that yet, got first book ordered though). Plus,their solution for potential 'Slayers' seemed a bit 'WTF!' to me, why not just find a way to wipe their memories?
Abraham, I just wanted to smack him most of the time... he was a complete ass to Joss the whole time. Even after learning his motives for the way he did Joss' training I still had no sympathy for him at all, maybe he gets better in later books? *shrugs* I took mental steps away from him when he was 'congratulating' Joss at his induction.
The revelation about Sirus and Kat was a surprise, though it made sense thinking back on it. I had wondered... I don't blame Kat for being angry really, Joss didn't have a full grasp of the situation as a whole I think. *Curious as to what Zy meant and what Sirus and his friends were doing exactly*
This 'Dorian' fellow at the end is curious, something 'off' about him... whether its good or bad, guess I'll find out :).
I am curious enough to continue with this author's work, I just hope Joss matures in his thinking in the next books (or maybe I'm just biased, being a Vampire girl haha)
All in All, an enjoyable read with some flaws but I would still recommend if your looking for a quick read :).
I get that Joss wants to avenger his sister's death (Little Cecile warmed my heart, even though we don't get much time with her) but his constant 'devotion' to this society got on my nerves and I wanted to shake him a couple times.
This 'Society' as a whole didn't seem worthy of Joss' loyalty to me, I got the feeling that some fishy things were going on (Maybe this is explained in the first series with Vlad but I haven't read that yet, got first book ordered though). Plus,their solution for potential 'Slayers' seemed a bit 'WTF!' to me, why not just find a way to wipe their memories?
Abraham, I just wanted to smack him most of the time... he was a complete ass to Joss the whole time. Even after learning his motives for the way he did Joss' training I still had no sympathy for him at all, maybe he gets better in later books? *shrugs* I took mental steps away from him when he was 'congratulating' Joss at his induction.
The revelation about Sirus and Kat was a surprise, though it made sense thinking back on it. I had wondered... I don't blame Kat for being angry really, Joss didn't have a full grasp of the situation as a whole I think. *Curious as to what Zy meant and what Sirus and his friends were doing exactly*
This 'Dorian' fellow at the end is curious, something 'off' about him... whether its good or bad, guess I'll find out :).
I am curious enough to continue with this author's work, I just hope Joss matures in his thinking in the next books (or maybe I'm just biased, being a Vampire girl haha)
All in All, an enjoyable read with some flaws but I would still recommend if your looking for a quick read :).
October 29, 2014
First kill by Heather Brewer is the gruesome story of a young boy, Joss McMillan, who is pushed into a new reality when he witnesses his baby sister’s cruel death at the hands of a bloody vampire. I know what you’re thinking, oh god not another Twilight knock off, well stop right there! This book is actually from the contrasting perspective of a vampire slayer. Bewer switches things up by enlightening us readers to a slayer’s world of vivid violence-- I personally loved this alternative take. This goes without saying, First Kill is stocked with unsettlingly gory details about murder, suffering, and obscene nightmares. One can almost smell the warm blood emanating off of the pages themselves.
I would say this book is aimed toward anyone in their teens and above. I would recommend this book to someone who likes dark books and doesn’t mind a little blood. I personally really enjoyed this book, evidently, I will continue on to the next book in the Slayer Chronicles. Please note however that it would be helpful to first read The Chronicles Of Vladimir Tod, as it is a spin off of that series. All in all the book was great and I hope you give it a chance someday.
I would say this book is aimed toward anyone in their teens and above. I would recommend this book to someone who likes dark books and doesn’t mind a little blood. I personally really enjoyed this book, evidently, I will continue on to the next book in the Slayer Chronicles. Please note however that it would be helpful to first read The Chronicles Of Vladimir Tod, as it is a spin off of that series. All in all the book was great and I hope you give it a chance someday.
December 11, 2014
....this book is very young, and sadly very (in my opinion of course) very poorly written.
Now, I know that's a subjective statement and I'm sure many will like this book. It's all a matter of taste but I was really....REALLY glad to put it aside.
First the dialogue. I write and one of the things I'm never satisfied with in my own manuscripts is the dialogue. Here the conversations always (for me of course) came across as stilted and stiff.
Aside from that there is very little plot at all other than, "I've got it rough, nobody likes me everybody hates me, think I'll go eat worms".
We do finally get a "sort of plot" but all the book really does is lead us through our protagonist's angsty, "yucky" life and set up the next book.
Aside from lack of plot then there are the characters. From Joss to his mean, nasty, awful..."yucky" uncle they are a bit flat and you've probably met them all. They may have come from "Characters are Us" for all I know.
I'm sorry I really don't care for this book. If you do I'm very happy for you please, enjoy. As for me...don't think I'll follow this YA series.
Just me of course.
Now, I know that's a subjective statement and I'm sure many will like this book. It's all a matter of taste but I was really....REALLY glad to put it aside.
First the dialogue. I write and one of the things I'm never satisfied with in my own manuscripts is the dialogue. Here the conversations always (for me of course) came across as stilted and stiff.
Aside from that there is very little plot at all other than, "I've got it rough, nobody likes me everybody hates me, think I'll go eat worms".
We do finally get a "sort of plot" but all the book really does is lead us through our protagonist's angsty, "yucky" life and set up the next book.
Aside from lack of plot then there are the characters. From Joss to his mean, nasty, awful..."yucky" uncle they are a bit flat and you've probably met them all. They may have come from "Characters are Us" for all I know.
I'm sorry I really don't care for this book. If you do I'm very happy for you please, enjoy. As for me...don't think I'll follow this YA series.
Just me of course.
September 12, 2011
I reviewed this book about a reluctant teenage vampire for Deseret Connect, and I think that a certain audience will really, really love it (teenagers and certain YA vampire enthusiasts). For me, I am happy that I liked it--it ended on two satisfying twists. Prose was pretty boring, honestly, and Joss's thoughts are full of cliches like "he would never know how much I needed mentoring" (not an actual quote). I'll link my full review later. Some things I wanted to mention but were to persnickety for the news:
-weird preoccupation with food. Every single eating sensation described in full detail. Maybe carried over from the vampire books, where hiding blood in regular food was interesting? If you're going to make a big deal out of eating, might as well include excretion, right? Sadly, there were no peeing scenes.
-Inaccurate survival information. Seriously, even a running stream is not safe to drink from.
-Martial arts training that would be ineffective in real life. The sink-or-swim method is completely unnecessary. Brewer has a good knack for pacing and plot structure, so I wish she would do a little more research for the things in her novel that mimic our world.
-weird preoccupation with food. Every single eating sensation described in full detail. Maybe carried over from the vampire books, where hiding blood in regular food was interesting? If you're going to make a big deal out of eating, might as well include excretion, right? Sadly, there were no peeing scenes.
-Inaccurate survival information. Seriously, even a running stream is not safe to drink from.
-Martial arts training that would be ineffective in real life. The sink-or-swim method is completely unnecessary. Brewer has a good knack for pacing and plot structure, so I wish she would do a little more research for the things in her novel that mimic our world.
December 20, 2018
Great male reader for the audiobook. I have the second one on CD too, which should meet my expectations, if this Audio is any indication. As a fan of the original Vladimir Tod series, I am really hoping for a crossover! Great way to spend my driving time :)
March 29, 2025
It was good and I enjoyed it. It is not a higher rating because there was so much emphasis on getting revenge on the vampires. After, one killed his sister Cecile when he was younger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2014
A story of 13yo Joss who is destined to be a vampire slayer. The book centres around his training.
In reality the book spends an inordinate amount of time with the protagonist being physically abused by everyone. The rest of the time is him being upset about his sister being killed by a vampire.
In all honesty, it came across to me as a story about a boy being indoctrinated into a cult. At the start he at least questions their motives and aims but by the end he seems willing to believe anything he is told (and by anyone as long as they claim they are a vampire slayer too).
The characters are fairly two dimensional and I was never invested in their well being at all, even to the point of being apathetic at any of their deaths. The author litters "teasers" all throughout which are blatantly obvious attempts to make the reader wonder about the motives of various characters, but I didn't enjoy this novel enough to invest that level of interest.
This would be of interest to lovers of vampire fiction, but even then it's a stretch. At least there was no love triangle.
In reality the book spends an inordinate amount of time with the protagonist being physically abused by everyone. The rest of the time is him being upset about his sister being killed by a vampire.
In all honesty, it came across to me as a story about a boy being indoctrinated into a cult. At the start he at least questions their motives and aims but by the end he seems willing to believe anything he is told (and by anyone as long as they claim they are a vampire slayer too).
The characters are fairly two dimensional and I was never invested in their well being at all, even to the point of being apathetic at any of their deaths. The author litters "teasers" all throughout which are blatantly obvious attempts to make the reader wonder about the motives of various characters, but I didn't enjoy this novel enough to invest that level of interest.
This would be of interest to lovers of vampire fiction, but even then it's a stretch. At least there was no love triangle.
February 20, 2019
It had a very interesting plot, but it took a while to get going. The book wasn’t very well written and there wasn’t very good descriptive language when describing the characters and at times they felt very flat. It felt very corny and almost a joke and I didn’t enjoy it. The book was more of a hate read.
July 19, 2020
I read Heather Brewer's other series growing up and loved it, now as an adult training to be a teacher I've finally started her other major series. Honestly, both series are on equal footing with each other, both have intriguing protagonists who are a part of interesting societies and story lines. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
June 22, 2013
Original Review posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
Note: Formatting has been lost due to copy and paste.
Joss has always had this perfect life – good parents, a super close cousin that can pass as a best friend, and an ever so adorable little sister – until she was murdered. Then his life goes downhill from there and he discovers a group of vampire slayers that some of his family members are a part of for generations that can help avenge his sister's death.
I thought The Slayer Chronicles would be a spin-off from The Chroniclesof Vladimir Tod (you know... after that kind of cliff-hanger in Twelfth Grade Bites.) But it's not and now that I think about it... Captain Obvious pretty much slaps me in the face. Of course it wouldn't be a spin-off. Go figure. But I probably already embarrassed myself saying that in my review for Twelfth Grade Bites from earlier this year (oopsies). And even if it's not... at least we get to hear the other side of the story and how Joss – friend, enemy, frenemy? - became a Slayer and crossed paths with our best vampire friend from Bathory, Vladimir Tod. ^_^
Joss's sister is absolutely adorable (then again, aren't all little kids are? Even if most hate me for no particular reason... O_o) so it was really depressing that she was murdered – by a vampire. (Thank gods it's not Vlad!) In front of Joss. It's a lot for a 10 year old to handle – a loved one getting murdered by a creature of the night that is usually find in fairy tales or books. Abraham hasn't changed that much from Vlad's side – still strict and harsh, and definitely not getting any nicer. Maybe a little, but in the broad side, not really. But it's hard to imagine Abraham being creamed and practically screaming "bloody vampire" and it somehow gets worse than that.
I would never have expected who the traitor would actually be. For some reason, I thought it would be anyone but him (his name is anonymous in this review, by the way. ;)). He was like an alternative father that Joss didn't seem to have after his sister's death who was sympathetic/empathetic, kind, caring – pretty much everything that you can imagine from a perfect father (or maybe Father of the Year) – and just seemed too nice to be backstabbing his fellow Slayers in the end.
It's also really surprising, however, to find Joss making promises but later breaks them after he meets Vlad (I probably would've done the same if I were Joss...). But of all places, what in the world is someone else* doing interacting with Joss? (Curiosity hasn't killed the cat has it?) And -! Consider that break off as probably saying too much if I say it. Wayyy too much. O_o
*Words have been changed to avoid possible spoilers. You're welcome. :)
Note: Formatting has been lost due to copy and paste.
Joss has always had this perfect life – good parents, a super close cousin that can pass as a best friend, and an ever so adorable little sister – until she was murdered. Then his life goes downhill from there and he discovers a group of vampire slayers that some of his family members are a part of for generations that can help avenge his sister's death.
I thought The Slayer Chronicles would be a spin-off from The Chroniclesof Vladimir Tod (you know... after that kind of cliff-hanger in Twelfth Grade Bites.) But it's not and now that I think about it... Captain Obvious pretty much slaps me in the face. Of course it wouldn't be a spin-off. Go figure. But I probably already embarrassed myself saying that in my review for Twelfth Grade Bites from earlier this year (oopsies). And even if it's not... at least we get to hear the other side of the story and how Joss – friend, enemy, frenemy? - became a Slayer and crossed paths with our best vampire friend from Bathory, Vladimir Tod. ^_^
Joss's sister is absolutely adorable (then again, aren't all little kids are? Even if most hate me for no particular reason... O_o) so it was really depressing that she was murdered – by a vampire. (Thank gods it's not Vlad!) In front of Joss. It's a lot for a 10 year old to handle – a loved one getting murdered by a creature of the night that is usually find in fairy tales or books. Abraham hasn't changed that much from Vlad's side – still strict and harsh, and definitely not getting any nicer. Maybe a little, but in the broad side, not really. But it's hard to imagine Abraham being creamed and practically screaming "bloody vampire" and it somehow gets worse than that.
I would never have expected who the traitor would actually be. For some reason, I thought it would be anyone but him (his name is anonymous in this review, by the way. ;)). He was like an alternative father that Joss didn't seem to have after his sister's death who was sympathetic/empathetic, kind, caring – pretty much everything that you can imagine from a perfect father (or maybe Father of the Year) – and just seemed too nice to be backstabbing his fellow Slayers in the end.
It's also really surprising, however, to find Joss making promises but later breaks them after he meets Vlad (I probably would've done the same if I were Joss...). But of all places, what in the world is someone else* doing interacting with Joss? (Curiosity hasn't killed the cat has it?) And -! Consider that break off as probably saying too much if I say it. Wayyy too much. O_o
*Words have been changed to avoid possible spoilers. You're welcome. :)
April 10, 2012
Joss Mcmillan becomes a slayer. A slayer of bloodthirsty vampires. He does this to set his little sister’s soul to rest. When Joss was ten years old he witnessed his six-year-old sister’s death. He saw the streak of dark blood flow from her little neck; he saw the red lipped monster standing over the lifeless girl. He froze with fear, he feels he to blame for his sister’s untimely death. His sister- Cecile haunted his dreams. She taunted him in the nightmares blaming him for her death. Joss dreamt he was in a field of flowers with his sister and she said she was picking flowers because there aren’t any in hell. Joss argued that she wasn’t in hell but she said she was and it was his fault, he put her there. To become a slayer Joss had to go through training. His uncle was hard on him because he secretly wanted Joss to fail. Not for pain but to save him from the horrible life of being a slayer. With every task his uncle Abraham gave him he passed even when his uncle set him up to fail. Joss wouldn’t give up; he was doing all this to save his sister’s soul. He adored Cecile; he loved her more than anything so he would never give up on himself or on Cecile. He completes his training and is officially a Slayer. Joss returns to his mom and dad but to them he’s the invisible boy ever since Cecile died. Joss later takes a job with this man named D’Ablo to rid a small town called Bathory of Pravus, a legendary vampire that wants to take over the town. Joss also has family there, his favorite cousin Henry, so he is pleased to take the job and the twenty thousand dollars didn’t hurt. Before he leaves his mother and father again he gets a gift from the Slayer Society, his first stake. That once belonged to his great-great-great grandfather. Joss is actually happy with his new life. The life of killing every vampire he could find without mercy, all for the safety of mankind.
August 15, 2011
Joss Macmillan (yes, THAT Joss Macmillan) has a tragic past. He once had a little sister, Cecile, who was his reason for living, his only friend. When Joss was ten, Cecile died at the hands of a vampire. Distraught and seeking revenge, Joss began training as a vampire slayer. Now, three years later, Joss prepares to put his skills into action.
If you like action, you will go wild for Joss’ vampire slayer training. There are rituals, explosives, hand-to-hand combat, and agonizing fight scenes. Since vampires are known for not backing down, the training has to be very intense. A pivotal character in Joss’s training is his Uncle Abraham, who pushes him so far I was sure he’d break physically and emotionally. I hung onto every word in the scenes with Joss and Abraham.
The plot takes a turn when suspicions arise as to a possible traitor among the slayers in training. Finger pointing ensues as the slayers become suspicious of each other. Oh, I could just feel the uneasiness.
Not only does Joss learn to be cautious with his trust, he also learns that strength is as important on the inside as on the outside. I think these ideals will shape him as the series goes on and transform him into an epic slayer. I am looking forward to that evolution.
BOOK TRAILER
RATING
5 Loved
COVER COMMENTS
Don’t you just love how the cover goes perfectly with the Vladimir Tod series? There’s that classic vampire smiley face. I love the white background with Joss all done up in his typical boy outfit. Nice!
If you like action, you will go wild for Joss’ vampire slayer training. There are rituals, explosives, hand-to-hand combat, and agonizing fight scenes. Since vampires are known for not backing down, the training has to be very intense. A pivotal character in Joss’s training is his Uncle Abraham, who pushes him so far I was sure he’d break physically and emotionally. I hung onto every word in the scenes with Joss and Abraham.
The plot takes a turn when suspicions arise as to a possible traitor among the slayers in training. Finger pointing ensues as the slayers become suspicious of each other. Oh, I could just feel the uneasiness.
Not only does Joss learn to be cautious with his trust, he also learns that strength is as important on the inside as on the outside. I think these ideals will shape him as the series goes on and transform him into an epic slayer. I am looking forward to that evolution.
BOOK TRAILER
RATING
5 Loved
COVER COMMENTS
Don’t you just love how the cover goes perfectly with the Vladimir Tod series? There’s that classic vampire smiley face. I love the white background with Joss all done up in his typical boy outfit. Nice!
December 29, 2011
Heather Brewer successful series of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod was awesome. Now with her new book series The Slayer Chronicles it starts with the character from Vladimir Tod, Joss. This is about how Joss joined the slayer society and how his sister died. Challenges of life can be painful. It worths having challenges because it teaches you life lessons and confidence in yourself. After his sister was killed by a vampire, he trains to be a slayer. He is under training under his uncle, Abraham and several other slayers but Abraham doesn't think Joss is cut out for the job. He must prove that he can do what they expect them to do, but does he truly belong? Will he ever avenge Cecile and his slayer mentor, Malek deaths?
Abraham McMillan is the strongest of his generation, and now he has to train his nephew, Joss to carry on the expectations of his bloodline, despite his strong doubts in him. He must harshly test Joss to prepare him for the trails of vampire slayer, but this also turns out to be a test for himself.
This book is surely going to be a thriller for people who are fans of vampires and Heather Brewer.
Abraham McMillan is the strongest of his generation, and now he has to train his nephew, Joss to carry on the expectations of his bloodline, despite his strong doubts in him. He must harshly test Joss to prepare him for the trails of vampire slayer, but this also turns out to be a test for himself.
This book is surely going to be a thriller for people who are fans of vampires and Heather Brewer.
March 23, 2012
1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
2) Genre: Young Adult / Paranormal
3) Synopsis: Joss Macmillan experiences something horrible and with that his life changes. With that change he gets on the path to become a Slayer. The only question is if he has the stuff to become a Slayer.
4) Feelings: This is a partner book to the Vladimir Tod series. I really liked the Vladimir Tod series but was never the biggest fan of Joss Macmillan. So I fought picking this book up for a while. I am glad I did. I liked this book and if I had read it along side of the Vladamir Tod ones I might have liked Joss much better. Or at least understood him.
5) Final recommendation: If you like the Vladamir Tod series i would certainly read this book. If you have never read the Vladamir Tod series you could still read this book and enjoy it. A good read with some interesting plot points to resolve in the future. I will certainly read the next book in this series.
Ryan James Burt
Husband, Father, and Writer
http://ryanjamesburt.wordpress.com/
2) Genre: Young Adult / Paranormal
3) Synopsis: Joss Macmillan experiences something horrible and with that his life changes. With that change he gets on the path to become a Slayer. The only question is if he has the stuff to become a Slayer.
4) Feelings: This is a partner book to the Vladimir Tod series. I really liked the Vladimir Tod series but was never the biggest fan of Joss Macmillan. So I fought picking this book up for a while. I am glad I did. I liked this book and if I had read it along side of the Vladamir Tod ones I might have liked Joss much better. Or at least understood him.
5) Final recommendation: If you like the Vladamir Tod series i would certainly read this book. If you have never read the Vladamir Tod series you could still read this book and enjoy it. A good read with some interesting plot points to resolve in the future. I will certainly read the next book in this series.
Ryan James Burt
Husband, Father, and Writer
http://ryanjamesburt.wordpress.com/
May 7, 2015
Content warnings: Abuse, manipulation, death, violence, fanaticism
UGH. I CAN'T PROPERLY EXPRESS MY CONTEMPT FOR MOST OF THIS BOOK.
I now know WHY I don't care much for Joss (besides the bits we see of him in the chronicles of vladmir tod) and why I particularly DON'T like his uncle.
Seriously, setting your nephew up for failure. Assuming that he's the traitor because deaths just happened to be near him. Beating him near to death with your friends as a "trial". Making him a fanatic to the point that he stops eating, drinking, and sleeping. Whipping him because he couldn't manage 3 days with no food or sleep. Never mind the fact that he's 13 fucking years old.
I just. I can't with this book. I'm angry about it and not thinking very coherently but that's probably the most coherent I'll be able to do period. I'm going to TRY to read the other two books in this trilogy but I don't know that it'll go over well.
UGH. I CAN'T PROPERLY EXPRESS MY CONTEMPT FOR MOST OF THIS BOOK.
I now know WHY I don't care much for Joss (besides the bits we see of him in the chronicles of vladmir tod) and why I particularly DON'T like his uncle.
Seriously, setting your nephew up for failure. Assuming that he's the traitor because deaths just happened to be near him. Beating him near to death with your friends as a "trial". Making him a fanatic to the point that he stops eating, drinking, and sleeping. Whipping him because he couldn't manage 3 days with no food or sleep. Never mind the fact that he's 13 fucking years old.
I just. I can't with this book. I'm angry about it and not thinking very coherently but that's probably the most coherent I'll be able to do period. I'm going to TRY to read the other two books in this trilogy but I don't know that it'll go over well.
October 31, 2012
A story of a vampire slayer named Joss would be told in this book series. As for those who read The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Joss happened to be Vladimir's friend, and this book shows the background and the view of a slayer.
In this book, Joss swore to become a great slayer after the horrible incident that flipped his world. He will be facing physical and spiritual challenges including proving himself to his uncle and become a great slayer.
The perfect American family description at the beginning of the book made me feel bored and disgusted at some point, but the huge shift in Joss's life proved the book's greatness after the death of his baby sister, Cecile.
In this book, Joss swore to become a great slayer after the horrible incident that flipped his world. He will be facing physical and spiritual challenges including proving himself to his uncle and become a great slayer.
The perfect American family description at the beginning of the book made me feel bored and disgusted at some point, but the huge shift in Joss's life proved the book's greatness after the death of his baby sister, Cecile.
September 30, 2012
This book completely pummeled the idea of sparkly vampires. ‘First Kill’ was written for real vampire fans, and those who are not vampires fans as well.
Heather Brewer put her audience into the world of a young boy who despises blood suckers. After he is told of his family’s secret heritage of the Slayer Society, he begins his vampire slayer training as their new recruit. Throughout his brutal education of being a slayer, we learn his reasoning for his fuel.
‘First Kill’ is full of surprises, suspense, and, good ‘ol teen angst. Whether you’re pro ‘Twilight’, or, all for Van Helsing, you’ll believe me when I say this book is great. It’s definitely something to sink your teeth into.
Heather Brewer put her audience into the world of a young boy who despises blood suckers. After he is told of his family’s secret heritage of the Slayer Society, he begins his vampire slayer training as their new recruit. Throughout his brutal education of being a slayer, we learn his reasoning for his fuel.
‘First Kill’ is full of surprises, suspense, and, good ‘ol teen angst. Whether you’re pro ‘Twilight’, or, all for Van Helsing, you’ll believe me when I say this book is great. It’s definitely something to sink your teeth into.
December 5, 2013
This book is really good! This is a series but you have to read The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod first for it to make any sense. This is about Joss McMillan who's sister was murdered by a vampire. Then, Joss learns he is vampire slayer. He goes to a cabin in the woods with his uncle Abraham to be trained. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes fiction, adventure, and action books. Also, a little mystery plays into it. I really like this book and you should read it too!
July 23, 2013
I had very high expectations considering how much I loved Vladimir Tod and they were...semi-fulfilled.
Not much happens in the book outside of Joss's training to become a Slayer, but it was all very interesting. I think it leaves you with the impression that Abraham and the Society in general, despite their cruel methods, have good intentions. I can't see eye to eye with Joss on anything though.
Not much happens in the book outside of Joss's training to become a Slayer, but it was all very interesting. I think it leaves you with the impression that Abraham and the Society in general, despite their cruel methods, have good intentions. I can't see eye to eye with Joss on anything though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2011
I enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read the next one. it took me longer to read b/c i'm bias b/c i love the chronicles of vladmir tod onwe b/c i love vlad plain and simple and i sympathized with the vampire more than the slayer. what can i say i'm a vampire chick
August 28, 2019
What I expected: vampires are monsters
What I got (not complaining): humans are just as capable of being monsters themselves
(Do I really NEED spoiler alerts here? The book isn't particularly old, but I feel like at this point, everyone who would have read the book should have read it by now, and I'm just ridiculously late to the party.)
3.5/5
I appreciate the themes that this book deals with, but I just couldn't get over the disturbing conditions of Joss's training among other concerns like the Slayers'/Abraham's mentality on masculinity. The poor boy is being abused, but I guess we can ease up on that since he's apparently born with Slayer traits and should therefore be able to handle such suffering?? Okay then, I guess.
While I remain interested enough to continue the series, but I'm in no rush to do so.
--
Also, since Joss is emphasized to be an "emotional" character, I feel like this story would have been told better with a first-person narrator.
What I got (not complaining): humans are just as capable of being monsters themselves
(Do I really NEED spoiler alerts here? The book isn't particularly old, but I feel like at this point, everyone who would have read the book should have read it by now, and I'm just ridiculously late to the party.)
3.5/5
I appreciate the themes that this book deals with, but I just couldn't get over the disturbing conditions of Joss's training among other concerns like the Slayers'/Abraham's mentality on masculinity. The poor boy is being abused, but I guess we can ease up on that since he's apparently born with Slayer traits and should therefore be able to handle such suffering?? Okay then, I guess.
While I remain interested enough to continue the series, but I'm in no rush to do so.
--
Also, since Joss is emphasized to be an "emotional" character, I feel like this story would have been told better with a first-person narrator.
December 9, 2019
The book The Slayer Chronicles First Kill is a story about Joss McMillan who has to grow up in a world filled with vampires. The story begins with Joss having a normal life. He has a happy family; his mother and father and his younger sister Cecile. Then one day Joss hears crying coming from Cecile’s room when he comes to investigate it he sees that a vampire has killed her from sucking her blood away.at the funeral for Cecile he talks with his Uncle, Abraham, and tells him the true story about everything. Abraham then reveals that everything is true about vampires and also he is part of a slayer society that kill vampires. He then proceeds to ask Joss if he has any interest in this and if he will join. Joss thinks about Cecile and says he will do it. This leads me to the quote which is said throughout the book many times which is “For Cecile.” This all strives on Joss’s need for vengeance on Cecile’s killer and avenge Cecile. This is how he completes any of his task. In one part Joss has to take 10 licks from a whip and he gets over ituy just thinking this is for Cecile her body will be at rest. In another he takes his first life, a vampire's life, he feels broken after it but he keeps going for Cecile. There were many other moments like that throughout the book were Joss does thing close to impossible for him but he finishes for her. Joss loves Cecile and he will do anything for her. He wouldn’t have made it past his first obstacle if he didn’t love Cecile as much. He wouldn’t avenge her. I now understand where all of Joss's power comes from. It all comes from his love for Cecile
February 11, 2018
I did not finish this. The writing was noncommittal-- "No, he would use that pain, tuck it somewhere inside of him until he had the strength to find whatever had killed her and bring it to justice somehow." Really? Somewhere, whatever, somehow. All these words in one sentence to make it seem like this boy, who is supposed to be intellegent, is really just clueless.
Not only that, but this kid who is supposedly really young is the perfect son. Always great with his baby sister, does his chores without asking and without complaint, it can be inferred that he's a great student. I wish there were little boys in the world like this, but it just isn't so.
One of the biggest things that got to me is that he's bullied (in this case, treated like he's undeserving of friendship). Which, many kids experience bullying-- I certainly have!-- but the reason? He's too athletic. That is virtually unheard of in real social hierarchy situations because of the value placed on being good at running, kicking, and throwing. Like hell would these kids exclude him for being able to kick a ball on the roof of the school building, especially with how apologetic he is about it. I can see them hating him in high school if he's entirely full of himself, but most people can overlook that if he's good enough at sports. Which he obviously is, so it brings us back to: unrealistic. He just needed to be a special snowflake to have a special bond with his only friend; it was lazy writing. The only reason I'm giving this two stars is because the premise seemed interesting enough.
Not only that, but this kid who is supposedly really young is the perfect son. Always great with his baby sister, does his chores without asking and without complaint, it can be inferred that he's a great student. I wish there were little boys in the world like this, but it just isn't so.
One of the biggest things that got to me is that he's bullied (in this case, treated like he's undeserving of friendship). Which, many kids experience bullying-- I certainly have!-- but the reason? He's too athletic. That is virtually unheard of in real social hierarchy situations because of the value placed on being good at running, kicking, and throwing. Like hell would these kids exclude him for being able to kick a ball on the roof of the school building, especially with how apologetic he is about it. I can see them hating him in high school if he's entirely full of himself, but most people can overlook that if he's good enough at sports. Which he obviously is, so it brings us back to: unrealistic. He just needed to be a special snowflake to have a special bond with his only friend; it was lazy writing. The only reason I'm giving this two stars is because the premise seemed interesting enough.
May 7, 2023
"First Kill" by Heather Brewer and Z Brewer is an action-packed and thrilling young adult novel about a young boy named Joss McMillan who witnesses his sister's murder at the hands of a vampire, leading him to become a member of the Slayer Society. This group's mission is to rid the world of vampires, and Joss trains to become their youngest and strongest Slayer ever.
The book is written from Joss's perspective, and the authors have done a fantastic job of creating a character that is both relatable and complex. Joss is a young boy who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his sister and the new life that he has been thrust into. His journey of self-discovery is compelling, and readers will find themselves rooting for him as he learns more about his new world and his place in it.
The plot of "First Kill" is fast-paced and exciting, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged. The book is full of action and suspense, and the authors have done an excellent job of creating a world that is both gritty and fantastical. The descriptions of the vampires and the Slayer Society are vivid, and readers will feel as if they are right there with Joss as he navigates his new life.
Overall, "First Kill" is an excellent read for fans of the vampire genre. The characters are well-developed, the plot is engaging, and the world-building is top-notch. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good action-packed young adult novel.
The book is written from Joss's perspective, and the authors have done a fantastic job of creating a character that is both relatable and complex. Joss is a young boy who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his sister and the new life that he has been thrust into. His journey of self-discovery is compelling, and readers will find themselves rooting for him as he learns more about his new world and his place in it.
The plot of "First Kill" is fast-paced and exciting, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged. The book is full of action and suspense, and the authors have done an excellent job of creating a world that is both gritty and fantastical. The descriptions of the vampires and the Slayer Society are vivid, and readers will feel as if they are right there with Joss as he navigates his new life.
Overall, "First Kill" is an excellent read for fans of the vampire genre. The characters are well-developed, the plot is engaging, and the world-building is top-notch. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good action-packed young adult novel.
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