The Vanquishers

The Vanquishers, Book 1

By: Kalynn Bayron

Narrated by: Ecstasia Sanders

Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Bloomsbury presents The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron, read by Ecstasia Sanders.

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

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.

©2022 Kalynn Bayron (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic reviews

"A sharp vampire tale full of bite, heart, and humor that’s sure to please any ‘thirsty’ reader. The undead don’t stand a chance with Malika ‘Boog’ Wilson and her friends on the case." (Rena Barron, author of the Maya and the Rising Dark series)

"A heart-pounding and hilarious reimagining of classic vampire mythology. Boog and her friends will capture your heart in an instant. You’ll cry, laugh, and ache in this stunning, unique adventure. I’m ready to become a Vanquisher!" (Mark Oshiro, author of The Insiders)

Excellent inclusivity, but I found the book dull

I found the narrator’s voice to be pleasant. I usually prefer that a narrator not do voices, but hers weren’t grating. She didn’t do an Elizabeth Holmes low pitch voice that sounds like a surfer, nor did she do breathy voices.

The author captured the essence of children around age 10, though I think the kids are supposed to be older.

I think that this novel would have been much better as a short story. There’s a lot of what feels to me like padding. The book is over half-finished before there is a vampire. Before that, there was some meandering and odd authorial choices.

After there’s a vampire, the children become stupid and there’s a lot of repetition of things that don’t really need to have been said once, especially given that these children have parents experienced with vampiric lore.

I really want to like this book. For example, the author did a good job of including characters who aren’t white. I’m especially impressed with how well the author presented a non-binary, main character.

But overall, the book was very frustrating to me and a bit dull because of the endless padding and repetition of things the children have already said.

I have a hunch that a child around age 10 or who has a strong interest in gender inclusivity might not mind these things so much.