First Kill (The Slayer Chronicles Series #1)

( 116 )

Overview

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 ...

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First Kill (The Slayer Chronicles Series #1)

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More About This Book

Overview

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.

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Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

Heather Brewer's five volume Chronicles of Vladimir Tod tracked its vampire hero through five school years of biting and other acts of mayhem. Now Vlad's cousin Joss Mcmillan, who appeared in the series, takes center stage in an offshoot epic that promises to attract readers not afraid to listen to a different paranormal drummer. Joss is a Slayer with uncommon, indeed unique powers, but he will need every talent in his arsenal to survive a recent infestation of vampires. Chronicles with claws.

Publishers Weekly
Launching a companion series to the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Brewer rewinds the clock to deliver the back-story of a supporting character. After a vampire murders his younger sister, sensitive outsider Joss McMillan is invited by his reclusive uncle Abraham to join the secretive Slayer Society, an organization dedicated to killing the undead. Three years later, Joss, now 13, is summoned to upstate New York to begin the final phase of his training, in preparation for his becoming a full-fledged Slayer. Pushed to his limits, Joss conquers every challenge that Abraham and the other Slayers present to him, surrendering himself to his unforgiving and dangerous destiny. But as Slayers are killed, evidence points toward a traitor in their midst; forced to fight for his life, Joss must overcome his biggest weakness—empathy for his enemies. Action-packed and suspenseful, Joss's story works equally well as the start of a new series and as an expansion of the Vladimir Tod storyline, offering fans a sympathetic portrait of a slayer's rise to vengeance. Ages 12–up. (Sept.)
VOYA
When Joss was ten, he saw his beloved five-year-old sister victimized by a vampire. Three years later, Joss, unwittingly but according to the plans of others, begins his apprenticeship as a Slayer, member of a tribe of humans trained to find and annihilate "hives" of vampires. The training is tough—not only rigorous, but fraught with events that are set up by his trainers to stump him and those which come from the presence of real vampires. Joss feels he has only one ally in all this physical pain—which includes day-long barefoot runs on a forest trail, followed by chopping tree trunks into logs for hours more—and psychological torment wrought by his grief over his sister, as well as his current alienation from the Slayers who train him. That ally is the "nursemaid" Slayer, a kindly fellow who cooks the Slayers's breakfasts and patches their injuries. Of course, nothing is as it first seems to Joss: the reader understands better than he that his sister's death was not his fault, but other discoveries are made by character and reader together: why the Slayers are being so particularly brutal when training Joss, how vampires operate (in this particular version), and the reality that Joss has inner strengths he did not know about, as well as family who love him. Readers who still have an appetite for vampire lore, and a willingness to enter what looks to be like another fairly well-written series, will appreciate Joss as a character who is both sensitive and brave, as well as smart but able to be tricked by adults who can be smarter still. Reviewer: Francesca Goldsmith
School Library Journal
Gr 6–8—After Joss McMillan, 13, witnesses his little sister's murder at the hands of a vampire, he vows to get revenge. It isn't until his uncle reveals that their family is part of the Slayer Society, a secret group that hunts vampires, that Joss really gets his chance. Although most potential slayers have to wait until they turn 18 to join, the existence of a rather large group of hard-to-kill vampires and a secret prophecy lead the Slayer Society to start Joss's training immediately. What follows is a summer of brutal training. Several seasoned Slayers are slaughtered, and Joss and his uncle are determined to expose the traitor among them. If Joss can survive his training, a traitor bent on killing the Slayers, and a blossoming friendship with a girl, he may just become one of the youngest and most powerful Slayers in recent history. The first title (Dial, 2011) in a new series by Heather Brewer is told from the perspective of the Slayer who has become Vladimir Tod's ("The Chronicles Vladimir Tod" series, also written by Brewer) mortal enemy. While fans of the first series will definitely seek out this title, listeners do not have to be familiar with those books. Alexander Cendese easily captures Joss's teen angst and the juxtaposition of his determination to avenge his sister and his lack of confidence in himself and his abilities. Cendese also lends a variety of accents and tones to the secondary characters, creating an interesting and easy to follow story. For high school and public libraries, especially those where the Vladimir Tod series is popular.—Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, West Springfield, MA
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780803737419
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
  • Publication date: 9/20/2011
  • Series: Slayer Chronicles Series , #1
  • Pages: 320
  • Sales rank: 84718
  • Age range: 12 - 17 Years
  • Lexile: 830L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.60 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 1.30 (d)

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 116 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(90)

4 Star

(14)

3 Star

(5)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(4)
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 116 Customer Reviews

  • Posted Wed Mar 09 00:00:00 EST 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    Twelfth Grade Kills (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Series #5)
    Eleventh Grade Burns (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Series #4)
    Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Series #1)
    Tenth Grade Bleeds (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Series #3)
    Ninth Grade Slays (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Series #2)

    Going to be awesome! Can't Wait!

    I can't wait! If you like Vladimir Tod your going to love this!!! :D

    19 out of 23 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted Wed Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    A loyal minion

    I am very pleased w this book. Of course, if u want to pick up on the mini details and the meaning of the strange people, u have to read the Vlad tod series, starting with 8th grade bites

    9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    Beelzebub Girl (Ancient Legends)
    First Kill (The Slayer Chronicles Series #1)
    Jane Eyre
    A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends Book 1)

    Love it

    Fantastic read. Good plot, great characters. i want more.

    8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    WOOT WOOT!

    Can't wait but what is with joss' hair it looks awkward. But still THE BOOK WILL BE AWESOME!!Just need to paint a different mental pic of joss in my head!

    7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed Apr 06 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    more from this reviewer

    OMG!

    I CAN NOT WAIT! If you like Vladmir Todd you will love this!
    Heather Brewer rocks!

    6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Thu Aug 18 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    Cant Wait!

    Oops ! Joss is the cousin of Vlad"s drudge, Henry McMillan< not Vlad. It should still be agreat read anyway. I just reread all five of Chronicles of Vlad in five days to get ready.

    5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2012

    I WANT TO READ IT

    I want to read it if someone could give me some more info about the book please i am very eager to read it. My friend all say that it is good . I read the sample it sounds good

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Would you rather be a vampire or slayer

    Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Jan 28 00:00:00 EST 2012

    First kill reveiw . Im in about 38 paged Im in about 40 pages

    This us a really good book. If you like action this is it.its about this strange boy and his sister. Joss has almost like superhuman strength. His reflexes are better , he is stronger and faster then normal boys and girls his age. So people at his school think he is weird and he had no friends. He thinks of himself as a ghost basically. Then onr night he wakes up to jis sister crying . He goes over to her room and pushes his head through the door until he sees whats in their. Then he quickly takes his head back out horrified on what he sees. Well im not going t o spoil it . So lets just say he joins the slayer acadamey kills vampires untill he kills the right one trying to avenge his sister. Roar!!!! :)

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2013

    Emoish book

    Love the cover p.s. michie wrote this XD

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    If u loved this......

    Read Vladimir Tod!! I love both of the series! Just the right amount of description, romance, action, and adventure! Read vladmir tod first!!!!!!!!!!! It gives you more insite to the vampires lifestlye and you will probably need it as the slayer cronicles progresses even uf the sumnary says u dont! Enjoy!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Jan 14 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Want to read soooooo bad!!!! Stars egual how bad i want to read it!!!!

    From one of Autie Heathers biggest minion!!!! (MINION IS LIKE A FAN )
    She is not my aunt though that would be awesome!!!
    From a RANDOM MINION :3 *_*

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Jan 06 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Amazing!!

    I only read the sample, yet i am craving more

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Ugh

    I love vladimir so much more but its a good book

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Loved It!

    This series is suspensful, romantic and has a twist of horror in it! I couldnt put the books down! Defenitly a must read!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Amazing

    It is entertaining suspensful and has great detail

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Dec 13 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Wackster!!:$

    OMG!! I am so exited to read this book!! ;D

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Want the second book out

    I cant wait till the second book comes out vlads going to be most likely in it : D

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Nov 26 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Great

    But it needs a better summary BUY THIS BOOK!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu May 02 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Cool

    I liked this book its pretty cool

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 116 Customer Reviews
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