Second Chance

The Slayer Chronicles #2

by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer

Companion to the New York Times bestselling series The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod...It’s time for him to prove himself as a Slayer. A killer is on the loose in New York City, but the Slayer Society knows that this isn’t any normal predator…This is something supernatural.Now Joss McMillan must use all of his strength and skill to save the innocent people of New York. His status as a Slayer—and his very life—depend on it. The stakes are life or death.More than a million readers have been enthralled by the New York Times bestselling series The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod. And now, with this companion series, The Slayer Chronicles, they can sink their teeth into life on the other side of the stake.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Vampires, Fiction, Paranormal, Horror, Supernatural

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Heather Brewer is the pseudonym of Zac Brewer…but you can call him Z.

Zac is the NYT bestselling author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, as well as The Slayer Chronicles series, Soulbound, The Cemetery Boys, The Blood Between Us, and more short stories than he can recall.

He grew up on a diet of Twilight Zone and books by Stephen King. He chased them down with every drop of horror he could find—in books, movie theaters, on television. The most delicious parts of his banquet, however, he found lurking in the shadowed corners of his dark imagination. When he’s not writing books, he’s skittering down your wall and lurking underneath your bed. Zac doesn’t believe in happy endings…unless they involve blood.

He lives in Missouri with his husband, two children, and four furry overlords that some people refer to as “cats”.

Reviews

[natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh okay, just finished this sucker (HAH WOW, WHAT A PUN)
I started reading Vlad Todd books, like what...in my Freshman year? Maybe Sophomore? Bah, whatever, Joss is like...my favorite character.
But getting an inside view of this kids head pretty much ruined him for me.
How fucking obnoxious can you get with the Cecile nightmares. I understand that yes! he should have continuous nightmares about her. Brewer's horror elements fall flat though and I end up just getting annoyed and skipping through those chapters. They're not. of. import.
Alright, let's get something straight. This novel takes place right after the second Vlad Todd book (when Joss was first introduced.) He gets all flippin nervous over the fact that he did a private job. THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. If one of /my/ students took on a private job, and I was aware of whether or not they succeeded, I would be proud of them. They're trying to move themselves up by trying. I would have said: "hey, next time, let me know. I'll be there just in case."
BUT NO.
SUDDENLY JOSS FACES DEATH FROM THE SLAYER SOCIETY. ALSO HE'S A SOCIAL OUTCAST FOR THE MAJORITY OF FIVE PAGES BEFORE EVERYONE IS BUDDY BUDDY WITH HIM AGAIN.
THAT SHIT DON'T WORK LIKE THAT.
I hate Brewer's constant goth shout outs. They're typical, dull, and obnoxious. I don't care that Em is wearing striped red and black (or purple and black?) socks or ironically enough- a Count Chocula shirt. Or if Joss has a Buffy t-shirt that says "I'm a slayer", it's like Vampire Kisses...I just DGAF.
ALSO. JOSS HAS HIS OWN PERSONAL "INNER ACTOR", REMINDING OH TOO PAINFULLY OF THE LADY IN 50 SHADES OF GRAY. THIS "INNER ACTOR" WILL HAVE ITS JAW DROP IN SHOCK, WILL STAND PROUD, AND EVEN LAUGH IN THE FACE OF DANGER.
WHY.
I should be rating this with one star, but I'm interested in whatever the hell is going to happen in the sequel. This series honestly feels like a joke though. I really can't take it seriously.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to get this ARC, and it came from the author herself! When I emailed and asked if there was anything she'd be willing to do to help me celebrate my 3rd Blogoversary, she emailed back saying that she was sending me something in the mail, and this was what I got!! The awesomeness of the author aside, I really enjoyed this book.

To read the rest of my review go HERE.

[PJforaDay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel cheated.I wait for this book to come out just so I can see 9th grade through Joss and Bam!She skips that and instead goes on about Joss's mental anguish of Celine.Grrr.
The team dynamics were interesting though.


Meh.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find at Scott Reads It
"Kid, not everything in life can be summed up neatly in a paragraph. No book has all of the answers. Not even the really good ones. You have to find the answers for yourself sometimes."

I was the first to place a hold on Second Chance yet it took forever to finally come. When it came I was pretty excited because all of Heather Brewer's books are awesome. I am convinced that after reading Second Chance that Heather Brewer could never ever disappoint me at all. Anyway Second Chances leaves off where First Kill ended with Joss failing to kill Vlad Tod and so he gets a second chance. Anyway Joss's mission is to stop a serial vampire otherwise the consequence is death.

I really liked how in Second Chance we see more of Joss and I think Joss is on the path to accepting vampires aren't entirely bad. Maybe I am just trying to see the brighter side of Joss but I honestly think that Joss isn't a bad person. I am mean sure he is a Slayer but he thinks he is doing the world a favor by getting rid of the "Creatures of the Night". I really think that in the next few books Joss will get a chance to avenge Cecile's death and he will learn to forgive and forget. I mean seriously the Slayer Society is completely corrupt and I could so see Joss doing a coup and reform the Slayers to only slay wicked vampires. I highly don't that could happen but who knows?

Second Chance is an enjoyable fast-paced read that fans of Vlad Tod will devour instantaneously. Honestly if you're a fan of Vlad Tod and you haven't picked up Second Chance yet, what are you doing? It was really interesting to see what happened to Joss after his attempt to kill Vlad. We get more vampire vs. slayer awesome action scenes in Second Chance and even we see some characters from the Vlad Tod series. I won't spoil who makes an appearance but I assure you it's not Vlad. I really hope Vlad makes an appearance in book 3 because honestly I am looking forward to Vlad forgiving Joss. Second Chance is an action-packed book that will leave readers clamoring for book 3.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Good

The parallel.  I like that Brewer decided to give Joss his own side-story series so we get a whole different perspective on the tale and characters we know from the Vladimir Tod series.
The action scenes.  The action scenes are well written and interesting.

The Bad

Joss.  I just can't stand Joss anymore. The entire book, he is so obsessed with fitting into the Slayer Society way of life and getting approval from his Uncle Abraham that he does completely irrational, stupid things that go on for chapters at a time. Even when he does something that I think kind of makes sense, we find out shortly after his reasons for doing what he did are still nonsense.
The horror elements.  The horror elements, particularly the dreams Joss has about his sister, are badly written and, at times, flat out boring.
The writing.  The writing itself is just plain. This felt more like juvenile fiction story than young adult novel.
The constant fashion and band references.  Throughout the book, Brewer makes constant references to characters' hipster, trendy clothing and punk rock bands. This, in conjunction with the short period of time I spent following Brewer's blog, has convinced me that Brewer tries entirely too hard to convince her readers she is still "hip" and "cool". I mean, she calls her fans her "minions" for God's sake. How pretentious can one person be?

Favorite Quote

"Was Joss Batman? Or was he the Joker, ready and hungry just to watch the world burn?"

Overall

I really couldn't stand this book and as much as I enjoyed the Vladimir Tod series, I will absolutely not be picking up any more of the books in this series.

[Rachael Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have we talked about how much I love the Slayer Chronicles? I know that Vlad is Mrs. Brewer's baby but I really do like Joss. There is a certain determination about him that really speaks to me. He has a sad home situation but he keeps on keeping on and that says so much about his character.

However, sometimes it really does seem that Joss's loyalty may be his fatal flaw. Now that he has come in contact with three vampires that he genuinely liked, he is starting to question his actions. I really like how this is playing out. On one hand, he feels loyal to the Slayer Society and feels the need to avenge his sister. On the other hand, he has met vampires he didn't consider to be monsters and his sister is tormenting him in his dreams.

This was a great read, one that you could probably pull off on a rainy Saturday. Do it. My only regret is not reading it in one sitting.

[Ricky · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this middle installment of The Slayer Chronicles - it wasn't going to be the very middle, but then Brewer shortened the series from five books to three - we pick up Joss McMillan's story once again about a year after First Kill, in the heart of another summer of slayage. This time around, though, Joss has a ton of baggage to take with him, and not the actual luggage kind - I'm talking emotional. The events of Ninth Grade Slays have come and gone, his friendship with Vlad and even his cousin Henry is over (for now), and the Slayers have him under what is basically the Doom of Damocles - hence this book's title - because of his having accepted an unofficial job from D'Ablo, which kick-started his presence in Bathory in Slays.

So what's a fourteen-year-old vaguely Johnny Depp-looking Slayer dude to do? Why, help the Slayer Society take on an apparent vampiric serial killer in New York. Along the way, he solidifies some friendships among the Slayers (though it's clear that they're all substitutes for the loving family ties he no longer really has), plays tourist while searching for Em (and visits Obscura, which always gives me a chuckle because I used to watch Oddities on the Science Channel from time to time), visits V Bar (and does NOT partake of the house red - and holy Lord, I forgot how much the V Bar secretly influenced some of my own work on a vampire-themed Gravity Falls fanfic), and occasionally sees the mysterious Dorian (a favorite of mine and August Graves' for a reason.)

Still, though, Joss is that most complex of Z Brewer creations, and even when he makes bad and/or boneheaded decisions, you still can't help but wish you could hug some sense into him.

One more Slayer Chronicles book left...these books are really short, it's true, but they're pretty rich for it. And size ain't everything. Look at the book I read before this one - 500 pages, and I didn't enjoy most of them. This one? 275 pages or so, and they were damn good ones. (Because they're Z's pages, of course.)

[Damien Brogdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The read stars the same main character as the first vampire slayers chronicle, Joss, the now young adult isn’t in his home town anymore but now the modern temple of New York. Joss is looking for a new target who is suspected to be one of the oldest vampires known throughout the slayer society and Joss’s short straw luck is pushed to take this humanoid on himself. His other problem, although human, is still after him, Kat. The girl whose caretaker's vampire life was stripped from his grasp by an accidental explosion of Joss's.
Kat doesn’t care that an accident killed him. She wants vengeance. But receiving threats from her can’t distract joss from his problem at hand. In this case, the vampire. And to do this, he needs clues, evidence, the morgue, and loads of perseverance to put his sister's soul to rest.
This book is a roller coaster of action, emotion, and drama. Nothing stops you from wanting to keep reading this series. I've never actually enjoyed multiple books in a series but this one intrigued me in a variety of ways. And although the books are only filled to about 300 pages maximum, these reads are filled to the brim with immense detail throughout the entire book. I highly recommend this series to any young

[Devyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was better than the last one, though I'm still disappointed I didn't get to read about when Joss was with Vlad. I'm curious about exactly how many times the name Cecile has been typed in this book because I'm freaking dead tired of reading it.

[Laura L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was so much better than the first one.

[Kate Tilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joss is the definition of a cinnamon roll.

[Shyma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always thought The Slayer Chronicles would be a bad choice for reading, but I had to try it for the sake of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, which I fell in love with. First Kill almost made me give up on reading The Slayer Chronicles; the repeatable dreams of Joss's sister's death Cecil gave it a boredom factor, so as the long training period in the summer. With the appearance of D'Ablo and Dorian in First Kill, who I consider my favorite vampires persuaded me to give the series a second chance.

Second Chance is the slayer's version of Grade Nine Kills (from the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod sires). It shows Joss's feelings conflicted personality in details, and how he shifted from being an outcast at school to a known loved student. When reading Second Chance, Joss' nightmares kept being mentioned, which was somewhat dull. Joss's personality already irritated me in The Chronicle of Vladimir Tod series and with his obsession of proving him self to the Slayer Society kills the excitement when reading the book, but with him questioning the Slayer Society in this series made him open up a little bit. Still, his thought of "all vampires are bad" do not seem to change in this book. The funny thing is that he is sent on a mission "Private Job" where his cousin Henry lives to kill a group of vampires, but when he goes to school, the one to become his best friend is a vampire (Vlad).

The threat messages from Kat, whose father was murdered by Joss in First Kill made the book a little bit interesting, so as the appearance of the most known vampires such as Dorian. The language is easy to read, and the book is graphic and focuses on the simplest details such as the type of shirt and pants the character's wear. To me, that is a good thing to have an actual picture of the scenes. I cannot wait for the next book in the series, because all I seek is some action, and that did not seem to appear.

[kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now, that's more like it! I didn't like the first book of this series and had questioned whether or not to continue it. I am happy to say that I'm glad I gave it another try.
I liked this one much more than the first, mostly because it wasn't just the tale of a young boy getting the crap kicked out of him by several adults.
The pace of this book clips along at a good speed, lots of action with not so much inner dialogue or introspection. I felt like I understood Joss a little better in this one, also.
This is definitely a companion to the Vlad Tod series and somewhat echoes those books, although it is is more the story of what happens to Joss outside of those adventures. I'm not sure you could read them and be satisfied whether you've read Vlad's story or not, although you'll likely want to read Vlad's story because that is a fun series.
So, I admit that I've gone from thinking this is a not recommended series to a maybe. Will have to read the final book to know for sure.
Fast read.

[Molly Mortensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this one was better than the last. (Not that that's saying much.) But it wasn't nearly as depressing or boring. I read it in a day. (Though I was sick so I didn't have much else to do.)

There were numerous small inconsistencies throughout. The one that stands out is, Joss kicks vampires in the balls several times, then he's facing off against a vampire and wonders if such a move would work. So, while they didn't effect the story, they were still annoying.

The second definitely feels like a side story. There's plenty of action, but all of the important stuff happened off page. (This takes place the summer after Joss met Vlad. So while you didn't need to read the Vlad books before the first slayer, you need to read book two of Vlad before this. It's recounted, but I'd still feel like I missed something.)

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Definitely stronger than the first one.

I love how we get to see Joss in action after his summer of training. He becomes a bit more confident and that's a good trait on him. He's a great character, the layering of his confidence as a slayer and his insecurity as a 14 year old boy is so intricate, it's captivating.

Excellent plot and resolution. Even better seeds planted for the next book.

[Jordan Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Definitely like it more than the first, not that First Kill wasn't a good read ( I loved that one too), but I loved this one. I've always been a Vlad girl, but I think I'm loving Joss more and more with every book. Can't wait for book three!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't even read it yet but already know its gonna be amazing? Anyone know the exact date????????

[Gabriela L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read “Second Chance” by Heather Brewer. “Second Chance” is the second book that is part of the Slayer Chronicles series. I read the Vampire Chronicles last year which is the first series you should read because in the Slayer Chronicles there is very important information that was explained in the previous series. “Second Chance” is a very interesting book with a lot of action.This book keeps you sucked in and makes you want to keep reading all day. While reading at times it makes you react to what is happening. Heather Brewer also uses very good visualizes in the book which makes you make a clear picture of what is happening in your head. “Second Chance” is about a young teenager named Joss who is a vampire slayer and he trying to redeem himself after what happened the year before in the first book of the Slayer Chronicles Series. He encounters many enemies and comes close to death many times. Since he is only a kid he gets very nervous when he is tasked with important missions that he has to do by himself. Joss also has nightmares that terrorize him after a horrific accident that happened to him which motivates him to complete his task and want to get revenge. I enjoyed the book from cover to cover besides one small thing. While reading you are sucked into all the action, but then the action start to slow down and story seemed to get slow. I would then find myself skimming through until the action picked up again. I would recommend this book and series would be more for teenager because there is violence and some explicit language. It would also be a good book for those who enjoy action books.

[Jayden Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joss, a vampire slayer, is the main character. He failed to kill his opponent Vladimir Todd and is granted a second chance in New York City, where he strives to fit in with the slayer society and prove himself worthy as a slayer to his Uncle Abraham. I dislike Joss because he continues to make rash decisions in order to establish his worth as a slayer. In the story, Joss had to track down a vampire who was on a killing spree in New York; he later kills the vampire who was suspected of being the killer (Otis), but later realizes that Otis wasn't the only vampire on the loose, and he had to kill them all to preserve his life. One of the book's advantages was that we got to create a series for Josh and we got to see how he felt and his thoughts. Some weaknesses of this book were the repetitive writing when it came to Joss's dreams about Cecile. I found it annoying when the author kept describing Joss's dreams a lot. To me, his dreams weren't scary at all, they were just boring. I think I would like this book a lot more if the author hadn't made Joss's dreams about Cecile so flat.

[Darian - Books With A Chance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m just not sure how I feel about this one. I was disappointed that it completely skipped over his year with Vlad. I know if you read the Vlad books you’d already know but I guess I was wanting it from Joss’s point of view. And I really thought he had a lot of kills under his belt before going to see Vlad, he did but they were accidents. I thought he was this badass vampire slayer but reading this I actually had to remind myself that he’s 14 and he should be scared.
I did love that Dorian has another role in this book, more than just two pages this time. And I grew to like the character Morgan.
Joss doesn’t become this badass slayer until the middle of the book when he finally has a kill, a real kill. It’s pretty cool that he was able to kill four vampires on his own. It does make me want to read the next book in the series, I’m hoping to see how the Slayer Society really thinks of him.

[hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this series a long time ago, around sixth or seventh grade (I'm now a sophomore in college), which led me to believe I wasn't going to enjoy this book when I finally did get around to reading it. I'm pleasantly surprised to say that I still LOVE these books! There were times while reading this where I was thinking things like, "That's a bit childish", but it wasn't enough to hinder the reading experience for me, especially considering these books are geared towards younger audiences. The writing made it super easy to fly through this book and overall, it felt great to jump back into this world. Now I'm tempted to do an entire re-read of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series.

[Morigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a great book, I love the Slayer Chronicles. In my opinion it’s a younger teens book, but that's just my opinion. Just all the drama, excitement and maybe a little blood . You definitely should start with the first book or you’ll be confused. As you may know the main character is Joss the Slayer. Joss is still trying to do his job as a slayer and kill vampires and getting better and better at it. Even when he finds himself in great danger. Joss is a very relatable character because he’s a teenager and he’s having family issues, and we all probably have experienced that before.

[Emily Pegram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings. I wish they hadn't focused so much on the nightmares and more time on the actual vampires. Also wish that a bit more realistic view of the injury Joss received from having his skull bashed. He didn't even have a mild concussion just got up all fine the next day? Could have at least been a few days. The ending felt a little rushed. In all it's a good fun read.

[jennylis · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this to finish the stories between joss and vlad even though i had already ready read all of vlad’s stories and i just couldn’t get into this book the way i could the other one

[Matt H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked this book I had no idea it was the second in a series, but it still mostly all made sense and was a decent book with a good plot.

[Stephanie Jolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start this review off by doing something different: I want to rant and rave about Heather Brewer.
Years ago, I read The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites, and I fell in love with that world. I read every book that was already available and eagerly awaited those that were yet to be released. I wanted to be a vampire so badly. And then when Twelfth Grade Kills came out, the perfect world I'd lived in for so long came to a close. I thought I'd never get to be a part of that world again.
But then the Slayer Chronicles came out, and I got to experience "Life from the other side of the stake" as the tag line goes. I remember when the second one came out, I was supposed to be spending time with my cousin, but there was no way I was taking my eyes from that book. I ended up spending her entire visit on the front porch swing, reading that book.
Heather Brewer is an incredible author. Her books aren't three inches thick, they aren't difficult reads, and there's nothing vulgar or sexual in any of the seven books based in Vlad's world. I haven't read any of her books from her other series, though I do own Legacy of Tril, so the above statement is solely taken from the one's I have read (Her other books may be the same way, but I haven't read them to tell you). The picture Heather paints with her words and the story line of her books is just incredible. She's so talented, and she's an author that actually cares about her fans (or Minions, as we're referred to).
That being said, with the last book in the Vampiric world I've come to love being released, I decided to reread the last book in the series, Second Chance, to refresh my memory.
Second Chance is book two in the Slayer Chronicles series, and it's all about Joss McMIlan, the invisible boy; the vampire slayer. Joss' sister Cecile, was murdered by vampires, right out from under his nose, and he'd been so scared that he'd done nothing to try and help her. He blames himself for not protecting her, and once his Uncle Abraham recruits him into the Slayer Society, he finds a way to get revenge and search for the monster who took his precious baby sister's life. After learning the trade in the first book, and taking an illegal, private job over the summer, Joss is called to Manhattan to help his Slayer family dispose of a fanged serial killer, but once he gets there, he discovers that the Society knows about the private job he took, and they doubt his loyalties. To prove himself, Joss has to take the lead for this job, making all the decisions for the team, taking the falls, and celebrating the successes. It's something he's never done- something he wasn't even sure how to do- but it's the only way to make everyone see that he could be trusted, so he accepts the position and takes on the challenge. As he searches for the killer, things are uncovered that make the task even more difficult than it already was, and when a strange being keeps showing up, giving Joss clues and hints, he starts to wonder who he can really rely on, and who's just playing with his head.
I loved the book just as much as I loved the other Chronicles books, and I wouldn't change a thing about them. If you're a vampire enthusiast, these are good books for you- it's not necessarily your typical Dracula type vampire, and the stories are set in our modern world. These are some of the best books I've read, and I have nothing bad to say about any of them.
If you haven't read any of Heather Brewer's books, I strongly suggest- no, I URGE you- to go out and pick up a copy of Eighth Grade Bites. Just look for the cover depicting a boy wearing a black hoodie with a Vampiric smiley face on the front. It's a great world to delve into.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Heather Brewer has written an amazing and entertaining book. I've grown to really care about Joss as a character and as a person. You really don't get to know him in The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod - All we know if he's trying to kill Vlad, and we hate him for this. But seeing his backstory has really changed my opinion of him.

The first chapter was a great introduction. It recapped the first book without being boring and without info-dumping. Brewer jumps right into the story; it's fast-paced and full of action, right from page one. Sometimes, it takes at least 50-100 pages before the story really gets going, which can make it feel like it's dragging. But with Second Chance, the action is immediate.

I feel really bad for Joss and his non-relationship with his family. Worse still, his fractured relationship with Henry is heart-breaking. And as much as I hate how Abraham treats Joss, I hate Joss's father even more. I hate that Joss blames himself for his family's fractured state.

Joss's dreams about Cecile are getting so creepy. They seem very realistic, and sometimes I had to turn back a page or two, just to find the spot where it said Joss blacked out or fell asleep, to make sure it really was just a dream. The torment Joss feels over his sister's death is obvious, the guilt laying a heavy burden on him.

Joss takes on a lot of responsibility in Second Chance, though much of that responsibility is forced on him by the Slayer Society and Abraham. Joss has grown to be wise and confident, though he doesn't always feel this way. His growth from book one to book two is very obvious. He doubts himself much too much, though he still does a great job of accepting his role in Second Chance. He throws himself into his duties, and manages to do more, learn more, and fight more than his older and wiser team members. At the same time, he struggles with finding his place as a slayer, as well as with his resignation to kill vampires, to see them all as evil.

Morgan quickly became one of my favorite characters. He was always loyal to Joss, helping him and teaching him in any way he could. He treats Joss as an equal, like a brother. He doesn't dumb things down for him. My fingers are crossed that he continues to play a significant role in the series, mostly for Joss's sake. I don't think Joss can handle another betrayal.

We get a lot of insight into what Joss was thinking the night he staked Vlad. Seeing his guilt, his confusion, gives the reader the opportunity to understand Joss's feelings regarding Vlad and how he feels about being a slayer. I also loved seeing Otis, and the exchange between Otis and Joss was intriguing.

I still want to punch Abraham for how he treats Joss, and some of my favorite scenes are when Joss stands up to Abraham. It shows character and determination; Joss refuses to let Abraham step all over him, refuses to let Abraham treat him like a child.

Overall, I really loved this book. I mean, it's Heather Brewer. What's not to like? The end was epic and Joss really - in my opinion - proved himself. The end was a bit ominous and chilling, though, and there are a few characters I don't fully trust. Second Chance definitely sets things up for an incredible ending in Third Strike. I'm excited to read it and see what happens!

Also, as a side note, I loved the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reference!


You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second Slayer book, Joss McMillan is summoned to New York to help hunt down a rogue vampire blatantly consuming humans. While there, his secret is revealed: he had taken a private job--something taboo in the Slayer Society.

See, this book inserts with the Vladimir Tod Chronicles. Joss had just spent the school year in Bathory living with his cousin Henry, and becoming best friends with Vlad--that is until he learns Vlad is a vampire. Joss stabbed him with his stake, but had not actually killed him. For this indiscretion, Joss is under probation. The Slayer Society has stayed his execution until his loyalty can be proved. The only way to prove his devotion to the SS is to eliminate the rogue vampire terrorizing New York.

So, at age 15, Joss is the head of his own Slayer clan--even having some power over his uncle, Abraham. With the help of his team, Joss and Co. track the many vampires in the city. Joss is responsible for isolating Em, the teenaged-appearing eldest of the New York coven. While in pursuit, Joss unwittingly enters the V Cafe--a vampire hangout. The barista divulges too much info to him--and then gives him more when he recognizes that Joss will likely hurt his friend less than Em and the Vampire Council will.

With a name and a location, Joss sets off to confront Boris--alone--as this is how his uncle seems to insist he act. It soon becomes clear that Boris is not acting alone--that, in fact, it was a brotherhood of four rogue vamps.

Joss accepts yet another favor from Dorian, the strange person who had given him his great-grandfather's stake. In the course of this book Joss learns that Dorian is a powerful vampire--and someone he is destined to kill. What he hadn't expected to learn was that some vamps--like Vlad, and Sirus and maybe even Dorian--are not the heartless creatures he believed them to be. His regret for killing Sirus is only compounded by the menacing texts he continues to receive from Kat, Sirus' daughter.

In the end, Joss' life is no longer forfeit--but he's got both Em and Kat on his trail. And, if he's honest, Joss is wondering if there is any way he can patch up his relationships with both Henry and Vlad.

This book is a direct and complimentary read to the CoVT. It fills in the gaps nicely and sets the stage for Joss and Vlad to reunite, as well as fostering their coordination in later Tod books. For kids who enjoy Vlad's books, I think they will find the Slayer books just as enjoyable. Joss is a killer, sure, but he is entirely sympathetic. His need for vengeance springs from witnessing his sister's death by vampire-bite, and he is continually tormented by nightmares in which Cecile returns as a vampire. He is otherwise a societal outcast--and only receives any validation when he is within the Slayer society--and even that is hard won.

[Carie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 for this one. I liked it a lot more than FIRST KILL. I still have some problem with Joss in general, but I warmed up to him a bit more in this book. The story was fairly exciting and I liked the tie-ins to the Vlad books, as well as the appearances by characters we know and love from that series. I do find a lot of the plot in this book to have kind of a simplistic, juvenile tone (as with other books in this world) and it’s really ridiculous that Joss would be the only one of the slayers to kill any of the 4 vampire villains--that he would be the only one who could best these strong, old vamps over any/all of the adults--adults who are supposedly hardened, experienced slayers--not to mention that Joss was the only one to have any case-breaking ideas (and that the case/mystery was SO easy to solve anyway)--come on!!! And, how much sense does it make that the slayer society wouldn’t give Joss (or ANY new slayer) a stake or other comparable weapon ASAP ?!! That makes absolutely NO sense to me! It’s also completely unbelievable that the vamps in the final confrontation in Central Park would let all the slayers go and hunt them down after capturing them all to begin with. Was this just for the fun of exposing themselves to the slayers, taunting them, and telling them all their plans upfront (as well as giving them time/opportunity to organize and kill the vamps since they now know exactly who the culprits are and what they’re doing)?! Seemed totally stupid and somewhat suicidal on the vamps part! --really, really dumb IMO!

But, I did think this book had some VERY exciting and intense moments where I really didn’t know how the characters were going to get out of the bad situations they found themselves in! And I’m liking the way things are going regarding Joss’ realizations, feeling, and growth. I heard this series only has one more book, so I’m very interested to see if Joss’ ideas/development will lead where I’m hoping in the next book… I’m hoping the idea is for Joss to gain a much more tolerant view of vamps and realize that there are good and bad people everywhere--human OR vamp .

I was hoping to have a new understanding of Joss before this series ended--as well as coming to actually like him. I’m not sure if one more book is enough to get me there, as well as to tie up all the loose ends and answer all the questions for this series (AND regarding Joss’ role in the Vlad series). We’ll see…