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the_laibararian's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
samirasbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I’d probably give it a 3.5…but I’ll let it have this seeing as this was the stepping stone to my interest in Black politics.
flotrenza's review against another edition
5.0
YES YES YES! WE MEET AT DAWN OKURRRRRR. This book was phenomenal, I actually got tearful in some parts and ya'll this addresses hotep culture so well.
worldsunlikeourown's review against another edition
4.0
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon Pulse, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Kiera Johnson is a high school student who has secretly developed an online game called Slay to create a safe space for black gamers in a community that is not all that inclusive for them, a game specifically for black people. But when a tragedy occurs over a dispute in the game, and a player is murdered, news of the game is made public, and Slay is labelled as a racist and violent game by the media, despite never having played the game themselves. What’s worse, if her identity as the developer of the game is revealed, she even might face a lawsuit.
Slay is more of a character driven book rather than plot driven, which is not a bad thing, per se, but I really would have liked to know more about the other parts of the story, particularly the game itself (because honestly, the first thing I thought of when I read the blurb for this book was Warcross). More attention to other aspects of the story would have also helped the pacing a great deal, which felt significantly slower in some parts.
The main thing I found annoying about this book was the multiple POVs sprinkled in without any warning. Often it took atleast a page or more before the sudden switch in perspective made sense, not to mention that that one chapter is all we get to hear from that character in the entire book. It was a nice touch though, that these POVs were from black gamers who play Slay all around the world.
My reaction to this book was, in some ways, very similar to The Hate U Give, in the sense that neither book was really written for me, but I enjoyed reading them all the same. While many of the references relating to black culture and history in Slay were unfamiliar to me, I still understood and appreciated the messages it is trying to convey.
Slay is a powerful read, and one that makes you think. It gets into a wide range of topics apart embracing your identity, such as online bullying and racism, but despite its heavy content, this is an engaging read. Slay is definitely not the usual type of book on my reading list, but I am very glad that I decided to step out of my comfort zone with this one and I would say this is a must read for this year. Highly recommended!
Slay releases on September 24th, 2019.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon Pulse, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Kiera Johnson is a high school student who has secretly developed an online game called Slay to create a safe space for black gamers in a community that is not all that inclusive for them, a game specifically for black people. But when a tragedy occurs over a dispute in the game, and a player is murdered, news of the game is made public, and Slay is labelled as a racist and violent game by the media, despite never having played the game themselves. What’s worse, if her identity as the developer of the game is revealed, she even might face a lawsuit.
Slay is more of a character driven book rather than plot driven, which is not a bad thing, per se, but I really would have liked to know more about the other parts of the story, particularly the game itself (because honestly, the first thing I thought of when I read the blurb for this book was Warcross). More attention to other aspects of the story would have also helped the pacing a great deal, which felt significantly slower in some parts.
The main thing I found annoying about this book was the multiple POVs sprinkled in without any warning. Often it took atleast a page or more before the sudden switch in perspective made sense, not to mention that that one chapter is all we get to hear from that character in the entire book. It was a nice touch though, that these POVs were from black gamers who play Slay all around the world.
My reaction to this book was, in some ways, very similar to The Hate U Give, in the sense that neither book was really written for me, but I enjoyed reading them all the same. While many of the references relating to black culture and history in Slay were unfamiliar to me, I still understood and appreciated the messages it is trying to convey.
Slay is a powerful read, and one that makes you think. It gets into a wide range of topics apart embracing your identity, such as online bullying and racism, but despite its heavy content, this is an engaging read. Slay is definitely not the usual type of book on my reading list, but I am very glad that I decided to step out of my comfort zone with this one and I would say this is a must read for this year. Highly recommended!
Slay releases on September 24th, 2019.
kappareads's review against another edition
I DO want to pick this up again.
I think I'm just intimidated by the hype and worried like "what if i dont like it" and that nonsense. I also am overthinking the VR aspects bc its clearly a more advanced VR set like, 15 min in the future kinda, and im trying to see this game in our VR set terms
I think I'm just intimidated by the hype and worried like "what if i dont like it" and that nonsense. I also am overthinking the VR aspects bc its clearly a more advanced VR set like, 15 min in the future kinda, and im trying to see this game in our VR set terms
shilohkscott's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
hollowspine's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's really refreshing to have a story that centers a young black woman gamer, and not only a gamer, but a game creator! The MC of the novel, Kiera, is the creator of a very popular MMORPG that celebrates black culture (from all over the world) in the gameplay. The game, Slay, is one of the few places the Kiera feels like she can feel safe being completely herself. At school Kiera is one of only a few black kids and is called on by her friends to explain black culture or be a representative of all black people.
Then her safe world is shattered when someone gets killed and her game is found as a motive for the murder. Suddenly Kiera and her game are put in a spotlight and white people question whether the game is safe or another form of 'gang violence.' It also opens the game up to the general world and almost immediately the game starts getting trolls claiming the game is 'racist against white people.' Kiera still needs to run the game, but at the same time also juggle school responsibilities, her folks (who don't know about her involvement in Slay), her boyfriend who pressures her about their future college plans, and saving her game from both trolls and lawsuits.
Then her safe world is shattered when someone gets killed and her game is found as a motive for the murder. Suddenly Kiera and her game are put in a spotlight and white people question whether the game is safe or another form of 'gang violence.' It also opens the game up to the general world and almost immediately the game starts getting trolls claiming the game is 'racist against white people.' Kiera still needs to run the game, but at the same time also juggle school responsibilities, her folks (who don't know about her involvement in Slay), her boyfriend who pressures her about their future college plans, and saving her game from both trolls and lawsuits.
jaydionne's review against another edition
5.0
My daughter brought this home from her schools library. I told her we can read it together. And I’m so happy I did! This is our new favorite book! The first chapter had us easily HOOKED! My daughter (12y) can’t stop talking about this book! I’m so happy to have this story and we would DEFINITELY be Slayers in our household
mouwuol's review against another edition
4.0
kept me super entertained! first book in a while that had me hooked :)
why did she keep hitting the nae nae though, I mean I do it ironically while cooking but this girl hit the nae nae like its 2015 still
why did she keep hitting the nae nae though, I mean I do it ironically while cooking but this girl hit the nae nae like its 2015 still
rachael_amber's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0