Toni's Review of The Slayer by Theresa Meyers ***3 Stars***
Chasing Trouble
Winn Jackson isn’t interested in hunting nightmares across the Wild West—even if it’s the family business. Unlike his rakehell brothers, Winn believes in rules. As sheriff of Bodie, California, he only shoots actual law breakers. That’s what he’s doing when he rescues the Contessa Drossenburg, Alexandra Porter, a lady with all the elegance of the Old World—grace, beauty and class. And then he sees her fangs.
Alexandra isn’t just some bloodsucking damsel in distress, though. She’s on a mission to save her people—and she’s dead certain that Winn’s family legacy is the only way. Luckily, aside from grace and class, she also has a stubborn streak a mile wide. So like it or not, Winn is going to come back with her to the mountains of Transylvania, and while he’s at it, change his opinions about vampires, demon-hunting, and who exactly deserves shooting. And if she has her way, he’s going to do his darnedest to save the world…
****************************************
The Jackson brothers are on a mission. They may not believe the rumors that they are the prophesized Chosen, but they can’t let evil reign. They need to find the three sections of the Book of Legend. It will take recombining the Book to stop the archdemon lord, Rathe, from opening the Gates of Nyx, a portal between the human and Darkin realm.
Many years ago Winchester Jackson gave up hunting for the quiet life. He prefers being the sheriff for Bodie over hunting down Darkin, the supernatural children of the night that prey on humans. Things are heating up though and the Darkin are seeking out Winn. All he wants is to be left alone, but when the Darkin want your help to stop their enemy, you tend to take notice.
Contessa Drossenburg, Alexandra Porter has come to persuade Winchester to aid her people with finding the last third of the Book. Vampires have guarded the Book for over six centuries and it has been stolen. One would think they wouldn’t want or need the help of a hunter, but when their way of life and food supply are being threatened, they will do anything to stop the threat, including working with their sworn enemy.
Winn and Alexandra’s adventure takes them around the world. From the first moment they meet, they are attracted to each other. Their attraction almost jumps off the pages. While this book is very light on sex, it is filled with sexual tension. These are two people, who should not want each other, but something is pulling them together and there seems to be nothing they can do about it.
The Slayer may be book two in The Legend Chronicles, but personally I think it could be read anytime so far in the series. The Hunter and The Slayer run simultaneously. While The Hunter goes into a little more detail of the battle ahead, there is enough information in The Slayer, you won’t be lost.
I’m sorry to say, but I’m just not feeling this book 100%. The story as a whole is good. I love the idea, but something was missing. Character development focused mainly on the two protagonists, leaving me wanting in regards to secondary characters and the villain. In fact, the villain didn’t seem very villain-ish at all. However, Rathe’s evil behavior does play a larger role in The Hunter. He almost seemed like an afterthought in this book. He loomed in the background and then once the showdown was upon us, it was just over.
The ending is probably one of the most rushed I have ever read. I was getting down to the last dozen pages thinking something was wrong. It can’t be ending and then suddenly was resolved. There was tons of build up and then a simple unfulfilling resolution. This might be something that would be hard to remedy though. All three brothers need to find their portion of the Book before there can be a conclusion. I am not sure how it will all play out, but I am still interested in the outcome.
The more I think about it, I can see this series improving once all the books are written. This would allow the reader to enjoy the books as one big novel. The Slayer didn’t even have a cliffhanger. It just left me hanging. While it may appear that I don’t like the series, I really do. It’s is action packed and the universe is fun to read about. That is probably the genius of Ms. Meyers. I am frustrated with this particular book, but the desire to know what is going to happen is pulling me in and holding on. I believe this series is still a winner and I’m looking forward to Remington’s story, The Chosen. It is scheduled for release March 2013. There is also a rumor of a novella for the fun and funky inventor of the series, Marley Turlock. It looks like it should be coming out late 2012, YAY!!
For my review of The Hunter, book one of The Legend Chronicles, click below:
Thanks for reading!! - Toni
Comments