Slayer (Slayer #1) by Kiersten White - Restarting August 13th 2019

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Into every generation a Slayer is born…

Nina and her twin sister, Artemis, are far from normal. It’s hard to be when you grow up at the Watcher’s Academy, which is a bit different from your average boarding school. Here teens are trained as guides for Slayers—girls gifted with supernatural strength to fight the forces of darkness. But while Nina’s mother is a prominent member of the Watcher’s Council, Nina has never embraced the violent Watcher lifestyle. Instead she follows her instincts to heal, carving out a place for herself as the school medic.

Until the day Nina’s life changes forever.

Thanks to Buffy, the famous (and infamous) Slayer that Nina’s father died protecting, Nina is not only the newest Chosen One—she’s the last Slayer, ever. Period.

As Nina hones her skills with her Watcher-in-training, Leo, there’s plenty to keep her occupied: a monster fighting ring, a demon who eats happiness, a shadowy figure that keeps popping up in Nina’s dreams…

But it’s not until bodies start turning up that Nina’s new powers will truly be tested—because someone she loves might be next.

One thing is clear: Being Chosen is easy. Making choices is hard.

[Jennifer]

Counting the days until this book arrives! 🙌🏼

[Jenn]

I am so excited to be reading this!!

26%: (view spoiler)[ I AM LOVING THIS BOOK! So with magic gone, Nina was the last activated slayer only she never knew because her mother kept her potential hidden! Also, I hope the demon in Cillian's cellar becomes like a cool sidekick friend (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

48%: (view spoiler)[ Well we met another Slayer and she wasn't a very nice one. I'm wondering if Nina will every actually meet Buffy seeing as how she keeps seeing Buffy in her dreams. Also, wtf Artemis? Way to be a supportive and understanding sister. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

70%: (view spoiler)[ So Honora returned and yeah, I really don't like her at all. Yet Artemis is so infatuated with her it's crazy. I also don't trust Honora and feel like she has something to do with Doug or the demon killing people (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ I had a feeling something was off with Eve but I didn't want to be right. How did Leo give her back the Slayer power? Also, still don't like Artemis. She seemed really jealous and petty, like oh you don't need me know I"m just gonna leave with this horrible person bye. Very interested in what the second book will bring. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapters 1-5

(view spoiler)[So I need to preface this by saying I'm not a Buffy fan. I've watched the show but not extensively and I have a limited knowledge of it. But it's Kiersten White, so of course I'm gonna read this!

I'm a little confused as to what is going on if I'm honest. Is this book canon? What exactly did Buffy do, and did she do it in the series? Where is she in this world, and will she show up in the book?

So we have Nina and Artemis, sisters whose Father was Buffy's first watcher before Giles. Artemis is being trained to be a Watcher and Nina is kinda in yhe background. Until she kills a hellmouth and it turns out she might be a Slayer. Then its revealed that her mother and another guy on the council had suspicions about her being a slayer but kept quiet.

I kinda hate the mother. Why is she so cold and distant to Nina? My guess is that she hates the Slayers because of what happened to the father, and she resents her daughter for being one. I feel sorry for Nina. It feels like everyone doubts she can be anything and while I get that her sister cares for her and she has friends in the castle, they're not acting like they believe she could be a Slayer. It's awful to feel like you're not good enough and Nina is facing that on a daily basis.

I'm also kinda struggling with this book so far. Maybe it's because I'm not a Buffy fan but I will plod on..

(hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapters 6-10

(view spoiler)[Soooo.. I kinda hate Artemis and Helen. Artemis is just very condescending towards Nina and I hate it. Oh and Helen? She's even worse. She's supposed to be Nina's mother and when she's not full-on ignoring her, she's treating her like something on the bottom of her shoe. Fuck them both.

Prediction: romance between Nina and Leo. Obviously that's going to happen now that they're training together. Love me some angsty enemies to lovers tropey goodness.

(hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 6-10"

I was not a fan of Artemis or Helen. Agree with you on both of those points.

[Ashleigh]

Jenn wrote: "Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 6-10"

I was not a fan of Artemis or Helen. Agree with you on both of those points."

They're really frustrating me at the moment!

[Karen]

Expected to have to wait for publication, but got approved on NetGalley so can’t resist!

[Karen]

Up to ch9. I’m surprised Nina isn’t more annoyed by her family.

[Karen]

Up to ch18. White has just the right blend of humour and action. Loving Nina’s reaction to being in the middle of things, but don’t understand why Artemis is so prickly towards her now.

[Karen]

Up to ch25. Honora...don’t like her. Maybe she’ll turn out to be doing something amazing, but I don’t think so.

[Karen]

Up to ch28. Sure there’s going to be a twist...but also waiting for further scenes from Doug.

[Karen]

Finished. Now, that was like the best Buffy moments all wrapped up and presented with a bow. Review on home page. Applause...

[✨Skye✨]

Can anyone tell me if I need to be familiar with the Buffy story to get this? I only ever watched bits and pieces growing up but I have this as an arc...

[Jenn]

Skye - You don't have to be. There are references and hidden gems for people who have watched the series, but the author does explain the world as though you're a newbie.

[Sierra]

25%(view spoiler)[ i wouldnt want to be a slayer. is it really buffys fault shes a slayer? why did her mother do that? why didnt she get both of them at the same time? (hide spoiler)]
50%(view spoiler)[ i couldnt imagine going from healing things to killing demons. oh wow was she attacked by an animal? oh wow another slayer did that to her? wow thats crazy. i couldnt imagine why (hide spoiler)]
75% (view spoiler)[ oh wow she dreamed it and it was true. thats so weird. why doesnt she let her do what they are suppose to do? is she right about that? (hide spoiler)]
finished (view spoiler)[oh no is she going to save him? can she save him? now the demon is going to get away can she save him and get the demon? (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

27% (view spoiler)[ I like the main character, it's a bit of an odd world though. Not sure I get it yet, but the Buffy references do go over my head so maybe that's why. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Loving this so far! I'm really connecting with Nina, but not so much with the other characters yet.

[✨Skye✨]

49% (view spoiler)[ I love Cillian and Rhys, they seem like genuinely good friends. Artemis I don't like so much. She's petty and jealous and won't let Nina stand on her own two feet. Predicting a Leo/Nina thing. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

75%(view spoiler)[ I knew Honora was bad! Or at least I kinda hope she is. Artemis constantly choosing her and believing her over Nina is really frustrating me. Is something off with Eva? Leo seems to be acting strange around her. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

Done (view spoiler)[ Cliffhanger epilogue much? Artemis is still trash, but I feel like Helen could redeem herself. And what a reveal that Imogen was the hunter! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting August 13th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[Tiera]

Starting this early Jennifer! I needed an audio while I was working out and running errands so I grabbed the audio off Audible.

[Jennifer]

No prob. I started a road trip today, so I’ll prob start today too. But I won’t be able to add comments until Monday.

[Tiera]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ I thought that this book was a retelling of the whole Slayer angle I did not realize that this is actually a continuation of the Buffy the Vampire story line with a new FMC. Thats kind of Awesome. I watched the series when I was a kid, not sure that I ever saw them all but I'm following along and remembering all kinds of things. The series being such a big part of my childhood gives me all kinds of nostalgia starting this book. Really though what is going on with Athena and her mom! Surely her mom didn't leave her in the fire in order to injure her. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[ So this is a slayer thing? Having the combined consciousness during sleep? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 19: (view spoiler)[ "Braid its hair to death..." lol well at least the secretion demon is funny! I wish I knew what the heck was going on! I wish some people would cut Athena some freaking slack, and what the heck killed Bradford! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 25: (view spoiler)[ I knew Honora was freaking bad news.. Dang this girl is really holding a grudge.. and a candle for Artemis.. Despite me totally being team Athena through all this, its pretty obvious that shes been wallowing in her own pit of despair and not seeing everyone else's problems at all. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 32: (view spoiler)[ How is this supposed to go down now that Athena no longer has Slayer powers.. I hope she gets them back.. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[ I find it funny that in the begining everyone hated Buffy because she saw the gray and not the black and white and now here we are seeing that same gray.. Glad we got rid of that Wanda chick.. I'm still a little confused about who the real bad guy is.. I'm not exactly ruling out the mom yet.. js. This was a pretty good book I expected it to have more of an episode feel and was happy when it didn't totally feel that way. I have no idea whats in store for Athena now that she doesn't have slayer power tho? Back to being a Medic? (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ch 8 - (view spoiler)[ I feel so bad for Athena so far. She has really been trained to feel worthless. Her sister is prized in the community, while she is not. And the way she is always thinking of her mom saving her sister from the fire instead of her. Geez, I would have a complex too. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 16 - (view spoiler)[ I would think the watchers would know that there are demons out there that might not be evil. Didn't Buffy work with a bunch? Poor Doug. At least she didn't kill him right off. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 24 - (view spoiler)[ Freaking Honora! I knew she was going to be on the bad side of things. I just feel bad that Artemis doesn't see it. Athena is never going to win that battle with her sister.
It will likely be what drives them apart. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ So does that mean that Leo might reappear in her life? I kind of liked him, even if he was a demon. I hope she keeps her returned powers a secret, otherwise, the Nanny, aka the Hunter, will find out. (hide spoiler)]

So, I actually had to look up the books by this author to double check that she didn't write the Buffy series because I was completely confused by all the references to the TV show plots. But now I get it. I think it is kind of cool too. One always wonders what happens to the characters after cancellation, this was a fun spin off / fanfiction story. I could be talked into the next one in 2020.

[Jaye]

Just finished! (view spoiler)[I don't know what it is about this author but I never like her books and she's written so many of them that I've tried. (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

The characters were SO annoying in here oh my god. (view spoiler)[I just hated nina and artemis so much and all the weird mentions of buffy and references from the show were just so pointless, besides to show that this is indeed fanfiction. (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

The ending: (view spoiler)[I hate the whole thing about how nina loses her powers... just to easily get them back in the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

(view spoiler)[The plot twist about Leo lol I just laughed. And then they even make a joke about slayers and demons (hide spoiler)]