Booklog 54/2025: Jim C Hines: Slayers of Old

[jacey]

What happens to slayers or Chosen Ones, when they start to age and want to retire? In this case, a former Hunter of Artemis (Jenny), a very elderly wizard (Temple), and a half-succubus former PI (Annette) settle down together to run Second Life Books in Salem, MA, in a sentient house. Annette's grandkids come to visit and all is cosy in this peaceful town until some of the locals start to summon things better left in the demon realms. Our three retired heroes have to try to save the world one more time, and while doing do save some misguided kids who've been turned to the demon side. Expect a haunted van, a cat with tentacles and a looming apocalypse.

The story is told in rotating chapters from all three main character viewpoints. It's quirky and fun despite being horror-adjacent. Jim C Hines can always be relied on to entertain.

Comments

[gorgeousgary]

My first reaction when I saw the cover was, "it's just like a Flerkin, but with the tentacles at the rear!"

[jacey]

I had to look up flerken, but, yes, definitely similar.