The Slayer Chronicles: The First Kill by Heather Brewer is a fantasy novel about Joss McMillan and his

wish for vengeance. The story starts out by describing a man named Abraham meeting with an old man in London. The setting starts ominous. The old man tells Abraham that the next on his bloodline to wield some kind of stake is a niece of nephew, Abraham, suggests that it is Greg McMillan, the son of his brother Michael. The old man disagrees and says that it is Joss. He goes on to explain that Joss, the son of his brother Harold has the gene. Abraham says that he is far too emotional. The old man sighs and says that all children are emotional and that there is much time for improvement until his training begins. He continues, saying that should Joss refuse training he shall be killed quickly and quietly. Abraham is sad at the thought of killing his own nephew but knows the Society is too powerful to argue with. The setting of the story is somewhere in London. The author doesnt describe the setting in the beginning in any other way but that is in in London. I think the author purposely wanted to make the setting ominous. Using this setting, the author makes the setting interesting. Brewer made the setting ominous and mysterious. Although she says that Abraham meets with the old man in London, he uses vague language to describe the rest of the setting. By using this type of language, the author captures the reader. Joss is the main character of the story. His main problem is to kill the vampire who took her sister life while she was sleeping. When Joss was ten, it was the night after the last day of school. Joss had looked forward to the summer with his cousin Henry. At the middle of the night, Joss woke up and felt that something was wrong. He called for her sister Cecile, who he had a good relationship with. She didnt respond and Joss was uncomfortable. He went into her room. He saw a thing that had his mouth on Ceciles neck. Joss, in shock couldnt call for help. The thing approached him and gave him a gray fog, as he described. At the funeral, his slayer uncle, Abraham approaches him. He comments that it is natural for everyone to cry after he sees Josss depressed face. Joss is surprised at Abrahams comment and remembers that his father mentioned that Abraham is a loner and travels the world quite a lot. Abraham interrupts his thoughts and asked him hoe Cecile dies. Joss says that every time he tries to recall, all he remembers is a gray fog. Abraham tells him to clear him mid and think slowly. Joss remembers what happens. After hearing his story and checking Ceciles corpse, he is convinced and tells Joss it is the work of a vampire. Abraham tells him that he is part of the Slayer Society. He tells Joss that the Slayer Society kills vampires. He also says that he could get vengeance for Cecile. Joss agrees whereupon Abraham tells him that his training to be admitted into the Society will begin at age 18. He tells Joss that to practice he should use his superior physical abilities to practice in any way he can for the next 8 years.

So Joss is called five years early for admittance into the Society. He meets Abraham and is taken aback by his behavior. He remembers what a dapper gentleman Abraham had been at the funeral and was more surprised than hurt by his comments. Abraham asked Joss how he felt. Joss replied that he could do anything Abraham throws at him. Sighing, Abraham says that is what they all think. He says that 18-year-old trainees come to him full of bravado, full or pride but then they realize how difficult the training is. He even calls Joss arrogant for thinking he could complete the training as a 13-year-old. So Josss main problem in this book is to go through the training is one piece. Josss purification test is to live without food and little water (a bottle a day) for two days. Abraham and Sirus (who is his survival specialist/teacher) warns him that there is still time to quit. Joss refuses getting Abraham angry. Sirus explain to him the conditions. Joss cannot fall asleep. He cannot get any food from the house. He also explained the Malek (the tracking specialist) will warn should any vampires come. He also explains that at night he is alone. Joss fails the purification test. Abraham purifies Joss the old way by whipping him. Joss agreed to this because he wanted to get over the training quick so he could kill vampires in order to rest Ceciles soul. There are many problems that out an obstacle to his problem. Nearing the end of the story, Joss is accused for killing Malek (the tracking specialist) and Chazz (the weapons specialist). Joss overhears Abraham and the other specialists agree that Joss who they believe is more powerful than all of them due to his excessive Slayer gene could be the only one who had access to Malek and Chazz at time of death. They said he would be interrogated tomorrow. Joss, shocked and afraid went to bed without much sleep. In the morning Abraham wakes him and asks him to meet. Joss feels ready to contradict every remark he says. He contradicted ever one of Abrahams remarks. He even used the time to suggest that perhaps the glorified Abraham went as far as to kill one of his insubordinates and frame it on Joss. He even revealed to the other specialist the Abraham wanted his cousin Henry to become a Slayer. Abraham is impressed with his argument and so are the specialists. They withdraw their accusations and prepare Joss for the final task: beheading a vampire. Joss feels moral guilt at killing a living thing just as Abraham had predicted before. Abraham reminds Joss that his actions are for Cecile. Joss no used For you, Cecile to ease the pain he gets when he beheads a vampire. The end of the story was the most fascinating part of the story. Joss is happy that everything worked out only to see that Sirus is holding Abraham in the neck. Joss is shocked and Sirus quickly stands up. Joss looks at him confused. Sirus then explains that he is a drudge (vampires human slave). Sirus then runs into the forest. Abraham

mumbles vampire. Sirus has fangs. Joss hunts him down and the other vampires. Joss realizes that he is outnumbered. A vampire, namely Sirus, smells his blood. Panicked, he tries to throw an explosive but misses and throws it on the house full of other vampires. Joss runs and he sees Sirus killed by some falling debris. Abraham is amused when he hears Josss story while the other specialists congratulate him profusely. There are several elements that help me determine that this is a fantasy book. Vampires are a figment of the imagination. There isnt any evidence to support the existence of vampire kind. Also the preposterous notion of species who feast on human blood has never been proven. The fantasy element in this book can largely be credited to vampires.