Slayers of Old
by Jim C. Hines
What happens if “chosen ones” don’t die young, but live to Old Age? Hines has created a funny, charming fantasy that follows three retired heroes who open a bookshop and gift store in Salem, MA only to find that something unexpected is lurking in town. Temple is an aging wizard who derives power from his family’s ancestral home. Jenny is a former slayer in the Buffy vain, who got fed up with being used and decided to chose a different path for herself. Anette is a former PI, half succubus/half human grandmother. The three represent standard urban fantasy tropes, but with hot flashes and c-pap machines. I think it is nice to see a trend where fantasy focuses on the older generation entering the next life phase now as well as young adults, just beginning their journeys. I’ve read several high fantasy books with this focus, but it was enjoyable to see an urban fantasy spin. Slayers of Old will be a fun read for any generation, but if you’re middle age or older it will especially hit hard. You can listen to a variety of Hine’s other works on Hoopla as digital audiobooks.
The Devil She Knows
by Alexandria Bellefleur
When Samantha Cooper’s girlfriend, Hannah, rejects her proposal, she is both dumped and left homeless; it seems like things couldn’t get any worse. Then Samantha is accosted by Daphne, a beautiful blond with a penchant for pink, in an elevator with a devil’s bargain to get Hannah back. She can have 6 wishes if she just signs over her soul. It is a deal that Samantha should, but of course doesn’t refuse. The twists lead to some funny and also disastrous results for Samantha who must come to terms with whether Hannah was truly her soulmate and if a nightmare demon might actually be her dream girl. The Devil She Knows is a fun romantic romp that also is a good read for those in the process of breaking up with it’s focus on evaluation of one’s own self-worth and finding a love who can appreciate a person for who they truly are. I also enjoyed and would recommend Bellefleur’s debut novel Written in the Stars, a 2021 Lambda Literary Award Winner, which is available from Hoopla along with her other previous novels in ebook and audiobook.
Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 