Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Im so excited to share this book with all of the Black anime fans I know! Sharina Harris deserves her tens for this!
As a fan of Vampires and Fullmetal Alchemist, this was a perfect blend that has been anticipating a sequel.

I liked the concept of the vampires in this story, their origins, and how the FMC deals with learning that they're not what she's been told about them. The FMC is unique and has personality, but she does fall into the trope of being the "all-powerful" like many YA fantasy books, including training montages and boarding school. Unfortunately, there's a lot that happens in the first few chapters that don't let us connect with the FMC emotionally.

I also didn't like how the romance was written. It wasn't a slow burn as I thought it'd be considering they're enemies, and it lacked the chemistry between the two MCs to have a romance readers would root for. And it didn't seem necessary to have MMC's POV since most of the story is in FMC's POV.

Though it's supposed to be YA, there's swearing/profanity, clubbing, underage drinking, allusions to pornography, blood, and violence that generally isn't in YA (readers as young as twelve are considered YA). This book would've been better as an NA paranormal/urban fantasy. Many pop culture references seemed like they were for the older crowd and not the intended audience.

Thank you to NetGalley/publisher for this eARC.

This gave me the same feeling and love I have for TVD and HP. It did feel a little dragged out on some parts but overall a good read!

"Sign of the Slayer" by Sharina Harris is a captivating read that masterfully blends the elements of dark academia with a thrilling vampire narrative. This book immediately drew me in, reminiscent of the excitement and intrigue found in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with a unique twist. The blend of a whodunnit mystery and academic setting kept me constantly second-guessing and deeply engaged throughout the story​​.

The world Sharina Harris builds in this novel is rich and layered. I was particularly impressed with how history, mythology, and pop culture were seamlessly woven into the narrative, creating a vivid and immersive experience. The book's ability to mix action, adventure, and suspense was exceptional, and the inclusion of these elements contributed significantly to the overall enjoyment of the story​​.

What stood out to me was the book's exploration of the dark academia genre. Harris's execution of this theme was flawless, bringing a fresh and intriguing perspective to the vampire lore. The detailed world-building, especially in the realm of vampire politics, added depth and complexity to the story. It's not just about the clashes and conflicts; there's also a slow-burn romance that gradually unfolds, adding another layer of depth to the narrative​​​​.

The humor in the book was a delightful surprise. It had moments that were genuinely laugh-out-loud funny, which balanced the darker themes of the story beautifully. The references to movies, along with the sarcasm and geeky humor, added an enjoyable lightness to the narrative, making it an all-around entertaining read​​​​.

"Sign of the Slayer" is a brilliantly crafted novel that will surely appeal to fans of both dark academia and vampire fiction. Sharina Harris has skillfully created a world that is as engaging as it is thrilling, filled with well-developed characters, intriguing plot twists, and a captivating blend of genres. Whether you're a fan of action-packed adventures, complex world-building, or slow-burn romances, this book has something for everyone.

A fun, paranormal romance that readers will devour. The plot, characters, and romance were GREAT. The vampire world was also intriguing and felt really fresh.

I did not read this story past the 16% mark. There was an interesting enough start to the story - I was in my high school's marching band and found the opening well-portrayed. Yet, the subsequent attack and uncovering the world scenes relayed a sense of disconnect I found with the prose.

“Your mind and imagination are your greatest weapons.”

Vampire slayers and sexy princes? What more could you want? I really enjoyed this new paranormal romance book. It's slow paced but has tons of mystery and kept me easily hooked. If you like dark academia, I definitely recommend reading the book.

Solid 2.5. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I’ve had this review in my drafts for a while now and decided to finally sit down and send it.

The concept and cover of this book were what caught my attention and the execution of it was really good but while this had a very interesting concept with equally interesting characters, the writing style was sadly, not my cup of tea.

I di think this can find a very more apt audience that will fully enjoy the whole experience.

Mm....I wanted something fun and nice, but within 2 pages of this book there were SO many pop culture references and it felt so Gen Z that I was already over it.

Unfortunately, it never won me back over.

If you love buffy the vampire slayer, anything YA and teen vampires, and violence and fun this is for you. This book is written for teens - from the language to the vibes it’s a YA. BUT with some great buddy and old school (lol 90s/00s) vibes and call backs which are so so fun for my generation. I will say there are a few detailed sex scenes which I was surprised about but I don’t necessarily think it makes it NA or adult. I just wish there was a point to include protection as that’s pretty irresponsible imo.

The best parts were the beginning - riveted - and the last 100 pages. The book slows down a bit in the middle with a lot of lore as Raven is figuring out the slayer and vampire worlds. I think it’s a great start and I will for sure continue the series. Also more grandma Lou!!!!

This is a great upper YA vampire fantasy. I liked the teen drama feel to it at 28, but this is perfect for a highschooler or anyone wishing for a pop of dorky teen gothic nostalgia. Certain aspects of growing up just read so well to transcend generations and Sharina Harris really hit the nail on the head there. The book is just so much fun.

It has a distinctly YA feel about it but the characters are full of life and snark and joy. I loved the development of their story and the forbidden romance aspect, the training environment, (I am nothing if not a sucker for a vengeful FMC who comes into their own power in real time. The way Raven learns to embrace the parts of herself she ignored or was ashamed of growing up is so relatable and the added elements of fantasy and alchemy created a rich backdrop for the Slayer Society training ground. In additon, the band geek with a heart of fire vibes were addictive and I found myself kicking my feet and giggling often throughout.

I cannot wait to read more of Sharina Harris' works.

Sign of the Slayer by Sarina Harris was a delightful treat for my vampire starved soul. This work has filled a void left in my heart from the days of Buffy a fulfilled a need I didn't know I had. I desperately crave more by this author and with these characters..

Pros
-pacing
-dialogue
-world building

Actual rating: 3.5 / 5

Thank you to Hear Our Voices for including me in the cover reveal and the book tour. All opinions remain 100% my own.

For my playlist suggestion, check out my IG: Wolfhailstorm

I really enjoyed being thrust into this world with Raven.
I was apprehensive with how the author would marry the lore of vampires and their hierarchy in a modern way, with the ancient Egyptology she started to include about 40% in and I would have loved if we had that influence included earlier on to get more of the lore embedded in.

There were some moments where it was difficult to suspend my disbelief - how our mc managed to become so powerful and engrossed with this new way of life so quickly after her world got turned upside down, bit there were moments that brought me back.

I really enjoyed the romance aspect and the vampire underground lore. I also really enjoyed reading about the battle scenes and how the Slayer Society was organised.

There were so many times when I was shocked by plot twists I didn't see coming and I was eager to see how the story would eventually develop.

I did feel like the plot about Grandma Lou was predictable and it wasn't as neat a hint as I think it could have been.

Although Raven wasn't my favourite mc, I did enjoy being in her head and going through this odd life with her. I also loved that she was learning to navigate her anger, not to be afraid of it, not to let it consume her but let it fuel her in some ways.

I would definitely pick up the sequel.

Sign of the Slayer is a YA fantasy about a senior in HS band member that witnesses and survives a vampire attack on her band bus and finds out that she is a vampire slayer. During that attack she is saved by a mysterious boy that turns out to be a vampire prince. So how is she suppose to kill vampires but work with this one....

I found many pieces of this book confusing and I have to many unanswered questions. While I enjoyed parts of this book I think I was more annoyed with more of it. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a bit underwhelming. Now I'm a vampire girl so this caught my eye. While it does have Buffy vibes a little bit, Raven is definitely more of a Faith character than a Buffy. I don't know about anyone else, but Faith's attitude was annoying and Raven had so many moments that irked me.

besides Raven, the pacing and the writing style kept me from really enjoying it. The pop culture references were okay, but the slang was a miss for me.

All in all, this book wasn't for me but I'm sure others will enjoy it.

Unfortunately, I really did not like Sign of the Slayer. There were quite a few aspects of the book that just did not work for me. To begin with, the writing style and the pacing were both off. The author would spend a lot of time and details on a certain scene that ended up being unimportant and then rush through scenes that were vital to the story. The characters were all over the place too and most were under-developed. Grandma Lou, Charlotte, Richmond, Dakota - none of them got the backstories or the development they needed. The dialogue was forced and unnatural. And, finally, I found the main character, Texas, to be extremely whiney and unlikable. I know she was supposed to be strong and determined, but that is not how she came across. I really struggled to finish this book, and I will not be reading the sequel.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Spoiler ahead!!!
I truly believe that the description of this was correct. It was very Fullmetal Alchemist and Vampire Diaries just with black characters. Aso buffy the vampire slayer. It was a very fun read that had me enthralled the whole time. I even cried while reading this book. I do love the main character there was sometimes I felt annoyed with her but I then thought about her situation. She went from seeing all her friends be killed to then being told she has powers to then being told she can never see her family again to then going from Texas to Atlanta to then being in love with a vampire to then having to basically fight in a war. There was a lot talked about in this book but some of it wasn't explained/talked about as much they needed to be. I thought there was some stuff missing. I truly love the characters and the world-building. It had me thinking what if we had vampires in our world? Some of the plot twists were predictable but some also had me completely shocked. I found a lot of this very relatable and very exciting. I loved a lot of the one-liners and quotes. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I didn't really like the way the sex scene was written but i feel like everyone is different and there were probably people who liked it.

This was a great book based on buffy the vampire slayer TV show. Love any book that is about vampires. Really enjoyed the writing style