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Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy, Diverse, 4 Stars, Young Adult,  

People who should read this: People who love video games, own voice stories, and a fast paced, exciting ride. 

In an industry that’s screaming for Own Voice stories, Slay is the book we’ve all been looking for. And even if you’re a white person like me just wanting a fun sci-fi book, you’ll also enjoy the ride and maybe learn a few important things along the way.

I must put a warning here… suspend your disbelief that a 15-year-old can spend three years making an online game that can accommodate 500,000 people. Though it seems like this is based in our current time, a few things make me think that it’s actually based a little in the future. This world has low cost VR equipment and what I think is a system that allows an average person to create a game, kind of like how anyone can write a blog nowadays. So please don’t be like my book club and get stuck in the particulars. 

Like the idea that there was too much exposition. As a representative of the other half of the group, I never thought there was too much internal monologue explaining why so and so’s actions were wrong. Remember, this book is written for the Young Adults of the world. Do you remember being 17? I don’t think we were all that smart back then, though we liked to think that we understood the world. Oh what a time. 

I think I’ve about covered the main issues I saw and heard. How about some of the good things? And I’m going to refrain from the controversial stuff, like is the game really discriminatory, because this is a book blog not a political platform. You can form your own opinions and then share those opinions with the people in your life. I want this to be a safe space and will delete any hateful comments. 

To be honest with you… I really loved this book. I want to scream it from the rafters. One reason for this is that Morris brought up tons of great topics for readers to discuss. There’s cultural appropriation, the idea of calling the cops on your own people, and what is discrimination. On top of that, there’s the very real topic of toxic thoughts in black teachings - that the idea of being friends with or dating a white person is wrong. It’s all on the table, giving readers a chance to open their minds, and bringing up even more reasons why the world needs to change. 

Plus the story is a lot of fun. A fast paced thrill ride. 

The story is so much fun because of the characters that carry it. Flesh and blood… what I always say. They had enough backstory and characteristics to make them real. But it’s even more than that. The way they interacted with each other was real. And those pesky side characters really did believed the story was all about them. Morris adding in a chapter here and there from another characters really helped as well. They weren’t half haphazardly tossed in. She made sure to place them after Kiera had some sort of interaction with the character in conversation or in the game. Maybe her editor helped a lot, but the decisions and talent in the book does not make it feel like a debut story. 

Slay is also steeped in black history and culture, mostly shown through the game. Another reason that I was in love with it. I’m sure that black people know of what Morris wrote about, but there was the perfect amount of explanation without exposition for me to be able to follow along and to learn. 

All and all, I want everyone I know to give this book a chance. I might even get my husband to give it a try. 

Happy Reading

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 140/175