Slay

De: Brittney Morris

Narrado por: Kiersey Clemons, Michael Boatman, Alexandra Grey, Dominic Hoffman, Sisi Aisha Johnson

“A book that knocks you off your feet while dropping the kind of knowledge that’ll keep you down for the count. Prepare to BE slain.” (Nic Stone, New York Times best-selling author of Dear Martin and Odd One Out)

Ready Player One meets The Hate U Give in this dynamite debut novel that follows a fierce teen game developer as she battles a real-life troll intent on ruining the Black Panther-inspired video game she created and the safe community it represents for black gamers.

By day, 17-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only black kids at Jefferson Academy. But at home, she joins hundreds of thousands of black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game Slay. No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend, Malcolm, who believes video games are partially responsible for the “downfall of the black man”.

But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the Slay world, news of the game reaches mainstream media, and Slay is labeled a racist, exclusionist, violent hub for thugs and criminals. Even worse, an anonymous troll infiltrates the game, threatening to sue Kiera for “anti-white discrimination”.

Driven to save the only world in which she can be herself, Kiera must preserve her secret identity and harness what it means to be unapologetically black in a world intimidated by blackness. But can she protect her game without losing herself in the process?

©2019 Brittney Morris (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

Great concept, great story

Loved the concept of the game SLAY. I wish it was real. Definitely a YA read but a good one! There's a few pieces of character's stories that I had questions about in the end but overall I'm glad I listened to it.

Wonderful Book

I was not sure what to think of the book when I first started listening. The narrator was amazing, so I kept listening and I am glad I did. I loved the twist and the ending. I think it is a very empowering and thought provoking story.

Amazing book

This was so freaking good. Had me in my feelings and everything and is definitely something that people of all ages could listen too!!

Engaging story full of twists and turns

I loved listening to this book. It really made me think deeply about our existence and experiences on this planet especially when it comes to our skin color.

Vr world come to life & took this girl for a ride!

This was a different kind of read for me. I enjoyed it and totally recommend for a high school young lady. Well done!

Slay Queen, Slay!

This book is an example of supporting and strengthening our young black future creators. We need to uplift them and support their thinking because as you will learn from this book, they are our future.

Black Girl Magic

An amazing story about a game designer. A story that is culturally diverse (all black culture American and African), while incorporating entrepreneurship.
A must read for women’s month for all ages.

Loved it!

Book: 4/5
Narration: 5/5

This book came up as a suggestion by Audible, and normally their suggestions aren't the best, however, this one I was interested in as soon as I read what it was about. The audiobook was fantastic! I loved the multiple narrators and it added even more depth to an already great story.

Kiera is a high school senior that has created a video game to celebrate black culture worldwide. You basically get what you read in the summary of the book, so I won't repeat that.

There are some plot holes in the story and some ups and downs but overall is an enjoyable book. What I enjoyed about it the most were the dialogues between the characters addressing cultural appropriation, gender, racism, and the need for safe spaces. I love how it addressed the issue of racism within our own communities, and how one version of success doesn't cover it for all of us.

The Slay game in itself was a bit unreal even in 2021. I'm not a gamer, and even I found it hard to believe a 17-year-old with no money and a 19ish-year-old created a VR game for half a million people to play, but it was fun and the book wasn't so much about the game and more of what it represented. (It would look great in a movie). I think that there is still space for character development and would love to get a sequel. Another thing that I liked/didn't like at the same time were the chapters where you get a different character's POV without further explanation. I wanted more.

The plot twist at the end wasn't as shocking as it should have been because I guessed it beforehand. With all its up and downs I truly enjoyed listening to this book and opens up a lot of uncomfortable conversations we need to be having right now. (I won't be giving my opinion on how excluding one race from a game hurts the cause more than it helps, as that would take me years to write.)

I look forward to reading more from this author.

This Book Is Amazing- Read it!

I couldn't stop listening. Gripping, heartfelt, honest, raw, intense. You will never be the same💜

Great book

I highly recommend for all ages and races. I am a white adult and believe kids of all ages will enjoy this. It's not just about color.