I have discovered a whole new line of authors to follow. Highly recommend. It was an interesting way to read. I dont normally go for anthologys but im so glad i picked thiss one up

If you enjoy vampire fiction, don't let this one slip under the radar.
I've been enjoying vampire fiction for many years, everything from Bram Stoker to Charlaine Harris to Octavia E. Butler, and yet this anthology was chock full of things new to me. New stories, new authors, new ideas, new perspectives.
As with all anthologies, some stories are stronger than others, but overall it is a beautifully varied and nicely structured book, with some exciting digressions from the usual vampire tropes.

I really liked going through these short stories! Each had something to add to the usual trope and the different takes are so refreshing!

I love a good vampire story. And I mean good. Say the word ‘vampire’ and I’m interested, and it’s always better when there’s something different done with the monster. Luckily, SLAY is full of good and great vampire stories.

SLAY: Stories of the Vampire Noire focuses purely on African and Afrodiasporic voices, with Black protagonists at its centre. The stories – and vampires themselves – are inspired by a wide range of mythology and folklore, and it all weaves together well to give a truly unique anthology.

The book is split into three sections: US & Britain, Africa, and The Future.  Some think it’s time for the vampire trope to be buried and staked, but books like SLAY, with so many different voices and takes on this monster, proves those people wrong. It’s the kind of anthology where every story is strong and draws you deeper and deeper in.

The first story in the anthology, “Desiccant”, follows Tituba, as she moves into a new apartment complex where something strange is happening to the residents. It’s a really solid start to the whole book, with a unique voice and a really fascinating take on vampires. “The Retiree” focuses on an older protagonist, as he settles into a care home. Witty and dark, and very chilling. “Diary of a Mad Black Vampire” uses the epistolary format to great effect, utilizing it to give us an insight into this vampire’s mind and “Encounters” is a really wonderful, sweet tale.

Other standouts were “The Last Vampire Huntress”, “Di Conjuring Nectar of Di Blood” and “His Destroyer”.

The stories aren’t all horror focused, and there’s a variety of different genres and subgenres here, though the majority do carry an undercurrent of fear. There are a lot of different stories, and each one is worth the price of admission. There’s a little something here for every kind of vampire fan, while presenting different takes on the blood-sucking monsters.

As long as books like SLAY keep coming out, I’ll keep reading, and these authors prove vampires aren’t going away any time soon.

Vampire stories from the African diaspora? Hell yes! Sign me up. This anthology is a brilliant mix of 28 short stories. There were definitely some that I enjoyed more than others, but overall these short stories are well worth a read especially if you're looking for some extra horror for spooky season.

Technical issues (on my end) stopped me from reading this as quickly as I would like, and I lost my notes as a result of this, but this anthology is most assuredly unique and interesting. Like most people who were reading paranormal romance pre- and post-twilight, I have read a huge amount of vampire fiction, so I loved the idea of focussing a vampire anthology on African diaspora. Fantasy in general doesn’t have very much racial diversity, and black and Afro-descended people are by far the least represented. The anthology also included LGBT+ characters; finding an anthology that showcases well-written gender and sexual minorities, as well as people of colour, was a nice surprise.  
Dessicant by Craig Laurence Gidney was an original take on vampirism, with some obvious parallels between the way POC and other marginalised people are fed on in society, it was also a classic horror story. While it had less dialogue and character development than I usually prefer in short stories, Dessicant stuck with me in a way that well-written horror often does. 
Love Hangover by Sheree Renee Johnson is closer to what I usually read, and reminded me at times of Seanan McGuire’s InCryptid series (one of my favourites), I didn’t connect to the characters or the story as much as I would like. The story is richly told and full of emotion, though, and perhaps those who’ve been caught up in a toxic relationship (or properly experienced the dance/club scene) will find the story more evocative than I did. I did enjoy the 70s feel of the story, and another very take on vampires. 
As I’m writing from memory, I only have a detailed review of two of the stories, but if you’re at all a fan of vampires or urban fantasy/horror, you will find something to enjoy in Slay. I enjoyed reading this anthology, and hope to see more collections of this kind in the future. I enjoyed the variety of authors and tones included in Slay, and I think this collection of stories is a great jumping off point for people seeking out vampire fiction from authors, or focussing on characters, that they might not have heard of before.

Slay, Edited by Nicole Givens Kurtz
Available October 13, 2020

Slay is an excellent collection of vampire short stories from around the world and set throughout time. Each short story was fascinating and wonderful on it's own, but more powerful and exciting when placed within this collection. Covering a broad array of vampire lore and origin stories, there is definitely a story to hook every vampire loving reader.. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

There are so many good short stories in this anthology!  I like that they don’t all start by telling you what kind of creature is in the story.  The Editor did a great job picking stories that really had similar feels to them without being cookie cutter.

The characters and stories are well written.  There is diversity in the characters.  Some of the plots are close to what you’d expect in a vampire story, others have you guessing.

I am happy to say that I found some mythologies in here that I want to learn more about.  I would recommend this book for anyone who loves a quick supernatural story or a fantastic vampire novel.  I read a few stories at a time because I wanted to write short reviews of each for myself, so it took me a little longer to read than if it wasn’t an anthology.  The beauty of anthologies is you don’t have to read them in one sitting, but you definitely could.

I am looking forward to finding out more about these authors!

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.  I will be adding this review to my website EveHallows.com.

#Slay #NetGalley

First of all, thank you for the digital arc of this book!
I have been a vampire fan since I was a little girl. I was too young really, but the stories helped me get through some really dark times in my own life. I wish I would’ve had this book. 
Each story has a different way of telling a story of an age old creature. I don’t have a favorite yet but I’ll read these again in the future for sure. I absolutely recommend this book to vampire fans and anyone who is looking to be introduced to the world of vampire lore.

An anthology wonderful in concept and execution. SLAY shows the versatility of vampire stories as well as its contributors. There was a bevy of familiar names in the author list and just as many names that were new to me. The vampires in these stories take a multitude of forms, and their strengths and weaknesses are just as varied, as are those who hunt and oppose them. The vampires' motivations range from blood lust to ethics to love to desires for freedom. Generally, I preferred the stories where the vampires were sensual and sadistic and shied away from the stories that felt like action movies. My personal favorites of the collection were Dessicant by Craig Laurance Gidney, Diary of a Mad Black Vampire by Dicey Grenor, Snake Hill Blues by John Linwood Grant, Asi's Horror and Delight by Sumiko Saulson, Love Hangover by Sheree Renee Thomas, and The Dance by L. Marie Wood. A must-read for lovers of vampire stories.

A great collection of short stories and one I would happily recommend to anyone who is a fan of Vampires.. This collection has interesting mix of stories and portrayals of Vampires. Each story kept me interested and held my attention. 
A short story collection I can see myself returning back to (especially in those October months). I particularly enjoyed Love Hangover by Sheree Renee Thomas and In Egypt’s Shadows by Vonnie Winslow Crist. Nicole Kurtz has done a great job with the editing and flow of the stories. 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A nice mix of short stories. I would have liked for the stories to be more spread out through the three categories - Americas/Europe, Africa, and Future. I would have loved to see more in the future category as I think they were my favourite overall. 

There were plenty of great stories in this book, but still a handful I didn't really like and another handful of "okay" stories (mostly in the first section). 

I will make sure to check out the authors of the stories I really liked.

This is a collection of stories  told around vampires and vampire slayers.  For the most part the stories are really good and quite original for such an overdone genre.  Great fun!

’SLAY: STORIES OF VAMPIRE NOIRE—[Edited by Nicole Givens Kurtz]— is a revolutionary anthology celebrating vampires of the African Diaspora. SLAY is a groundbreaking unique collection and will be a must-have for vampire lovers all over the world.’
 
My Favorites: 
 
’Desiccant’ – by Craig Laurance Gidney 
 
’The Retiree’-  by Steven Van Patten – Love It!
 
’A Clink of Crystal Glasses Heard’ – by LH Moore – Love it!
 
’Diary of a Mad Black Vampire’ – by Dicey Grenor 
 
’The Last Vampire Huntress’ – by Alicia McCalla 
 
’Gritty Corners’ – by Jessica Cage 
 
Shadow of Violence – by Balogun Ojetade – Love it!
 
’Encounters’ – by  K. R. S. McEntire – Love it!
 
’Unfleamed’ – by Penelope Flynn 
 
’Frostbite’ – by Delizhia D. Jenkins 
 
’In Egypt's Shadows’ – by Vonnie Winslow Crist 
 
’Rampage’ - by  Miranda J. Riley 
 
’Message in a Vessel’ – by V.G. Harrison – Love it!
 
Thank you, NetGalley and Mocha Memoirs Press, for loaning me an eGalley of  SLAY: STORIES OF VAMPIRE NOIRE in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book!

All the stories consist of vampire, vampire hunters and magical creatures.

Some of the stories stood out more than others but all of them have a wit to them.

I hope there are more books in this vein and the publishing of this book shows that there is an appetite for these kinds of stories.

It’s been a while since I picked up an anthology, and I couldn’t resist Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noire as my undying love for Buffy and vampires in general kicked its way to the surface; even though I don’t read a lot of vampire fiction these days, they’re still my favourite type of monster. What makes Slay stand out is its aim to highlight and celebrate diverse voices, as well as protagonists of the African Diaspora, offering near thirty stories that differ from one another, but involve the common theme of vampires and vampiric entities. Segmented geographically, each tale falls respectfully into the categories of US and UK, Africa and lastly, the future. I didn’t like or didn’t connect to all of them, but there were still those that stood out.

Desiccant by Craig Laurance Gidney was a strong opening that centered around odd happenings in an apartment building, while The Dance by L. Marie Wood submerged the reader in an erotic encounter between two strangers. Diary of a Mad Black Vampire by Dicey Grenor packed a punch, and Encounters by K. R. S. McEntire brought to life a memory. Frostbite by Delizhia D. Jenkins told of a disturbing family secret, and Snake Hill Blues by John Linwood Grant introduced a formidable heroine. No God But Hunger by Steve Van Samson described a desperate hunt gone wrong, and Message in a Vessel by V. G. Harrison depicted an unsettling future.

The above were notable, but below were my top three:

Love Hangover by Sheree Renée Thomas – Delilah was something else, something more ancient.
Frankie meets the other-worldly Delilah, soon becoming entangled in a relationship of deadly desires. So much was packed into this one, and when I think back I recall how impressed I was that it felt so much longer than it was, much like a fully fleshed out novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the 70’s disco scene, as well as the overall spotlight on music and how vividly it served as an escape. The first-person POV immersed me completely; Frankie’s obsession and pining for Delilah’s affections, it was tragic, and I couldn’t help but feel for her.

Ujima by Alledria Hurt – First came the rain, then the heat of summer, then the Master as the nights grew longer.
Imani’s new life in the cadre is turned upside down when she reunites with someone close to her heart. I was immediately pulled into this world, and wanted to know more. It reminded me of the urban fantasy novels I used to love; a heroine to admire, going against the odds. The way it was written was captivating, from that opening scene, to the ending that seized my heart. The surviving bond to family that doesn’t quite die is a common trope for the undead, but it was executed brilliantly here.

His Destroyer by Samantha Bryant – She was to be the instrument.
Dienihatiri awakens to find herself a weapon of revenge. This was a unique spin on biblical lore, specifically the tenth plague of Exodus. I’m a fan of retellings and making something new out of already known legends, it encourages me to dig further and compare. The emotion illustrated here demonstrated how terrible supposed retribution can be. I found it totally engrossing and mystical, with a dark and disturbing tone.

In conclusion: Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noire dedicates itself to vampire lovers, providing something for every type of reader. I’d say that the horror is quite tame in most, but that’s a personal opinion as everyone has different standards on what they expect from the genre. In any case, there’s a wide variety that explores the struggles and turmoil surrounding the mortal and immortal both.

I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology.  There were some stories I enjoyed more than others, but each brought a different take of vampire lore, drawing from Afrocentric mythologies and cultures. I also LOVED that this anthology was so queer as well. I want this to be made either into a live action anthology or an animated anthology because I feel the stories really do set themselves up to be presented in more than one medium.

This was a wonderful anthology of short stories! I've read a few this year, and this may be my favourite so far. I read it in the spirit of Halloween, and I am so happy I did as it's the perfect read for it. The anthology focuses solely on vampire tales from across the African diaspora. The anthology is split into three sections: UK/America, Africa and Future. I found this to be a nice touch and I like that it organised the tales according to diaspora/ theme as this wasn't something I had previously considered in the sense of how different story plots would be affected according to where they are geographically in the world, as well as time wise (although looking back, of course it would be). 

The stories were all so richly imagined, with some tales revolving around a killer vampire elephant, as well as another about a murderous disco vampire siren killer (one of my favourite stories!). Each story was so unique and although I didn't enjoy every single one, I appreciated the imagination in each story. 

I loved that every single main character was black, as this isn't something that I have frequently encountered with regards to vampires. It was certainly very refreshing to read. My favourite section was the Future section, as although I'm not a massive fan of science fiction, I thought the stories in this section were the most captivating and enthralling to read. 

My only criticisms were that I thought some of the stories ended unnecessarily abruptly. It seemed rushed and slightly lazy of some of the writers, particularly since the stories were really engaging prior to that. This isn't really a criticism but a lot of the stories I really wanted to read so much more about! It's not that these ones ended abruptly, just that the stories were so brilliant that I wanted it to be a full blown story. 

I would say if you're looking to diversify your bookshelf and you love anything to do with sci fi or fantasy, 100% this is the book for you. Also, the front cover? Possibly my favourite of the year.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am very envious of the job that Nicole Givens Kurtz had with SLAY because I cannot imagine the joy of getting to read so many works of art and I can guess how many Kurtz read that did not make the cut. 

As usual, I let my finger roam the contents page and the first story was definitely a treat though some might look at it like a trick (laugh). I started with Diary of a Mad Black Vampire by Dicey Grenor and I have to confess that I found nothing “mad” about Ashanti. Her logic made sense to me, so what does this say about me I wonder? (laugh) The format of diary entries made the story entertaining as did the progression of Ashanti and Tetra’s relationship. I kind of guessed the ending, but it still made the story entertaining.

Vonnie Winslow Crist gave me an unexpected ending In Egypt’s Shadow. Obsession can lead people down a dark path and its recipient of such adoration onto another path. I loved Crist’s take on this vampire tale and the twist. I hope to see more from Crist.

I am on my knees and begging for more! Please tell me that there is more after Message in A Vessel. I am hooked. V.G. Harrison’s sci-fi dystopian thriller is fantastic. Holy sugar! It is like an entire book within this short story and I am craving more. I don’t want to give anything away, but this story is a must read!

Slay is not your ordinary vampire anthology...it is better! Make sure this collection of stories is part of your Halloween reading.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

https://druidcat.wordpress.com/2020/10/28/slay-stories-of-the-vampire-noire-ed-nicole-givens-kurtz/

NetGalley kindly provided a review copy of this book, but my opinions are my own.

‘Slay’ is a vampire anthology unlike any I’ve read – and I’ve read quite a few! It focuses on black protagonists, with stories divided into sections based on which country they take place. This is neither all-white or all-UK/American, and is refreshingly contemporary.

This book arrived just as I was about to start a month of hospital treatments, so it became my companion every day. It’s a good-sized book, but I usually read a story or two at a time – because I often had to pause between each tale to think on what I’d just read!

The majority of these stories are excellent, really A+ writing for their original settings and memorable characters. These are far more than black caricatures; most protagonists have fully-realized histories, motivations, families and friendships sketched excellently over their limited pages. This book has a lovely undercurrent of community, with each tale managing to share space in both the supernatural world and that of the real.

At first, I actually began to not quite believe my eyes – was this an anthology with no ‘bad’ stories? The first third were all remarkable, and I’ve made notes of their authors to follow up.

But then I found a couple of chapters that seemed to have (oddly) missed out on an editor. The storylines seemed interesting, but I couldn’t get past the errors or writing style. This may be an issue with this being a review copy, but it was a shame nonetheless.

Stephen King once said that while novels were akin to a relationship, short stories were a loving kiss from writer to reader. These are kisses that I’ll remember fondly and gladly revisit.

Huge thanks to the editor who made this all happen, and the authors who shared their worlds with this jaded old vampire fan – and reminded me why I love this genre all over again.

Definitely recommended.

[Link to Amazon listing included]