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A review by reader44ever
Ninth Grade Slays by Z Brewer
4.0
3.5 stars - good
This was a good book, but I didn't love it or even "really enjoy it." In fact, had I not been reading this story for Book Riot's 2017 Read Harder Challenge, I might have DNFed it. Though who am I kidding?! I'd probably have finished it just to see if maybe the story would redeem itself.
But it was kind of slow, and the early parts were sort of a chore to get through. (Too much time spent on school-related stuff for my taste.) I actually found myself wondering if I'd have enjoyed this story more if I was still in high school. But sadly, my freshman year of high school was almost 28 years ago. (And this book was released only around eight years ago.)
Also, Vlad was kind of a wimp in this book.Afraid to talk to Meredith - "the prettiest girl in school" - and getting beat up by bullies, without really trying to fight back. . . I just didn't enjoy him all that much for most of this story. :-(
And lastly, Vlad broke down into tears a number of times in this story. But I never once felt like crying with him. :-(
The latter portion of this story (the last 70 or so pages), which I read after taking a break to go to the bookstore (I bought six books!), were good. Probably because we moved away from school-related stuff and into Vlad figuring out the threats to his life.
Like Vlad,I was surprised to find D'Ablo still alive. Unlike Vlad, I was not surprised to learn that Joss was the slayer. After Jasik said he wasn't there to kill Vlad, I figured Joss was the only person it could be. I was surprised that Jasik turned out to be a vampire.
In the end,Joss stakes Vlad (!!!); Vlad survives (!!!); D'Ablo and Jasik escaped to fight another day; Otis returns and tells Vlad that he will stay around for the summer; and Vlad, once he's released from the hospital and back at school, makes plans to hook up with Meredith at Freedom Fest. . .
So the end was good, but it didn't entirely redeem the story. I am not sure if I want to continue this series. But Vlad has lots of room for growth, so I might.
This was a good book, but I didn't love it or even "really enjoy it." In fact, had I not been reading this story for Book Riot's 2017 Read Harder Challenge, I might have DNFed it. Though who am I kidding?! I'd probably have finished it just to see if maybe the story would redeem itself.
But it was kind of slow, and the early parts were sort of a chore to get through. (Too much time spent on school-related stuff for my taste.) I actually found myself wondering if I'd have enjoyed this story more if I was still in high school. But sadly, my freshman year of high school was almost 28 years ago. (And this book was released only around eight years ago.)
Also, Vlad was kind of a wimp in this book.
And lastly, Vlad broke down into tears a number of times in this story. But I never once felt like crying with him. :-(
The latter portion of this story (the last 70 or so pages), which I read after taking a break to go to the bookstore (I bought six books!), were good. Probably because we moved away from school-related stuff and into Vlad figuring out the threats to his life.
Like Vlad,
In the end,
Meredith's voice was hushed in the nearly empty hallway. "Will I see you after class?"
Vlad beamed. "Count on it."
The door closed behind Meredith, and Vlad floated down the hall to first-period English. Tonight was Freedom Fest, and this time, he was going to make Meredith happy she went with him. [fin]
So the end was good, but it didn't entirely redeem the story. I am not sure if I want to continue this series. But Vlad has lots of room for growth, so I might.