Book Review: The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron

Publisher’s description

In the world of the Vanquishers, vampires were history . . . until now.

“A sharp vampire tale full of bite, heart, and humor.” —Rena Barron, author of the Maya and the Rising Dark series

“Boog and her friends will capture your heart in an instant.” —Mark Oshiro, author of The Insiders

Malika “Boog” Wilson and her best friends have grown up idolizing The Vanquishers, a group of heroic vampire hunters who wiped out the last horde of the undead decades ago. Nowadays, most people don’t take even the most basic vampire precautions—the days of garlic wreaths and early curfews long gone—but Boog’s parents still follow the old rules, much to her embarrassment.

When a friend goes missing, Boog isn’t sure what to think. Could it be the school counselor, Mr. Rupert, who definitely seems to be hiding something? Or could it be something more dangerous? Boog is determined to save her friend, but is she ready to admit vampires might not be vanquished after all?

No one ever expected the Vanquishers to return, but if their town needs protection from the undead, Boog knows who to call.

Inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Watchmen, this adventure launches readers into an exciting new series.

Amanda’s thoughts

This was my first read of the school year. If the kids are having quiet reading time in the library, so are the adults. I’d read about 20 pages, then have to set it down and wait for a while before I could pick it back up. I read it during lunch and on my breaks too. I wanted to find out all the secrets, see all the secrets I had already learned revealed, and start to get a peek at what might be coming in this series. Just because it’s been 20 years since the last vampires were around town doesn’t mean that life has returned to normal for our main characters and their families. And their vigilance is for good reason, though the kids’ understanding that vampires are bad and should be killed grows complicated when they realize someone in their orbit has been turned. As much as I enjoyed the vampire story (who’s safe? who’s a secret vamp? what do the parents know?), I really loved the friendship on display here and the close family ties, not just within families but between families. Boog, Jules, and Cedrick have grown up together and are like siblings, and I loved watching them work out all of their schemes, especially as things took increasingly perilous turns. With perfect pacing, lots of mystery and suspense, and characters full of heart, this series starter is a great read that will leave readers anxious to see what happens next.

Review copy (finished) courtesy of the publishers

ISBN-13: 9781547609772
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication date: 09/20/2022
Age Range: 8 – 11 Years

Filed under: Book Reviews