Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this zippy paranormal romance, Duke (When Life Gives You Vampires) uses supernatural elements to underline a tale of personal growth. Struggling actor Carrie Adams earns a living as a bartender while bickering with her annoyingly attractive coworker, up-and-coming musician Nick Stokes, and managing the disappointment of her parents, who wish she'd become a lawyer instead. Then, overnight, she develops 24 pounds of muscle and the ability to manifest a flaming sword. Turns out Nick's been made into a vampire and the universe's way of balancing things out is to make Carrie a vampire slayer. As Carrie stuggles to land auditions despite her intimidatingly buff build, she must also learn to keep her inner slayer in check so she doesn't kill Nick--who she's starting to actually like. Now that she's part of L.A.'s underground supernatural scene, her life's become dangerously complicated, and her growing feelings for Nick may doom them both. Duke's familiarity with the ins and outs of Hollywood adds a layer of verisimilitude, but her light touch with vampire tropes means readers looking for immortal brooding bad boys or visceral combat scenes may be disappointed. Those in the mood for a swift, sassy romance, however, will be satisfied. (Aug.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Duke's second entry in her "Slaying It" paranormal romance series (following When Life Gives You Vampires) follows twentysomething Carrie, a Los Angeles bartender by night and aspiring actor by day. Carrie has a difficult relationship with food and her body, which is complicated because she knows that casting directors make career-changing decisions based on looks alone. Struggling with self-doubt, she also contends with her bar coworker Nick, an irritatingly attractive musician who gets under her skin. Then Carrie wakes up one day to discover that she has a different body, with a startlingly muscular physique and the ability to manifest a sword made of fire. It turns out that Nick has become a vampire, and Carrie has been selected as his slayer. Fiona Aarington offers a lively and bright performance, capturing the book's humor and infectious energy. With clear distinctions between Carrie's and Nick's voices, Aarington keeps the story moving while also providing space for Duke's refreshing take on body acceptance, self-confidence, and growth. VERDICT A fun paranormal romance, full of action, steam, and an empowering take on body acceptance and the power of confidence.--Taylor Skorski
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