First Kill

First Kill


By: Heather Brewer
Reviewer: Mr. Lamincent, 14
Rating: Loved it!


Many a time in the world of literature, we see painfully failed spin off series. Well, The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill is not that.

Based on the series The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, this epic tale follows his friend-turned enemy Joss McMillan, and tells his story on how he became a slayer. The story itself is gritty and real, and doesn't hold back whatsoever. Never have I read a book that so descriptively captures as intense a transformation as this one. You start with Joss being a child; innocent, awkward, loner. After seeing his six year old sister murdered by the hands of a vampire, his uncle, Abraham, offers a solution to his sadness and guilt. It just so happens that the McMillans are a family of Slayers, and Joss was next in line to become one. So, one summer, Abraham takes Joss to a cabin up in the woods so he can be trained by other Slayers.

I knew that I would want to read the whole series before I was even done with half the book. As previously stated, it is incredibly well written and isn't dependant on its original series. I would love it even if I hadn't read Vladimir Tod! :D Prose wise, I found it appropriate to our age group. It had the relaxed-ness of an easy read with the complexity of a classic. At times, however, the story seemed to cut to quickly, ending a chapter in the middle of a scene and beginning the next with having it be over. Of course, that didn't affect so much the story, more of the reader's anticipation.

All in all, I loved it and highly recommend it!! :D