Second Chance: The Slayer Chronicles, Book 2

Gr 6–8—In Brewer's sequel (2012) to First Kill (2011, both Dial), teen vampire slayer Joss McMillan is getting one second chance to prove himself and his loyalty to the Slayer Society after betraying his team by taking a secret assignment. Still reeling from failing at his solo mission, Joss is plagued by feelings of inadequacy and nightmares of his dead sister. Now, while he's feeling his lowest, Joss has been assigned to lead the team to kill a vampire serial killer who has been plaguing New York City. Joss utilizes the skills he learned during Slayer training and helps to determine that there may not be just one serial killer picking off victims in the city. Delving deeper into the Slayer world, Joss begins to discover that, just as with humans, there are many different things that drive vampires and that things may not ever be as black and white as they seem. Narrator Alexander Cendese does a good job channeling Joss' inner turmoil as he deals with a scary assignment and the guilt from being unable to save his younger sister's life. Both pacing and tone match the emotional and tense scenes as Joss hunts in a new urban environment. Numerous flashbacks and references to Brewer's "The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod" series may have listeners checking out the author's first five-book set. Recommended for libraries with fans of the first book in the series.—Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, MA