Jim Hines latest book Slayers of Old is described in the blurb as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets The Golden Girls”. It is a great elevator pitch and, actually, a little hard to argue with. The set up involves a 99-year-old Wizard (Temple) who shares his enchanted house with a former Hunter of Artemis (Jenny) and a half-demon private detective (Annette) both in their fifties. The three are forced out of a kind of semi-retirement running a bookshop to save the world from a Lovecraftian threat. Along the way, secrets will be revealed, pasts will be reckoned with, and there will be some truly great one-liners as everyone reckons with the fact that maybe they are getting too old for this.
Slayers of Old is dark but fun urban fantasy. Set in Salem MA, Hines delivers a diverse world of magical creatures who live among us, generally minding their own business. While Jenny has hung up her bow and arrow due to a trauma in her twenties, she has a side hustle that involves tending to and healing the magical creatures in Salem, the deal being that if she does so they will do no harm. Annette has two grandchildren who have inherited some of her powers and is trying to make things right with her son. And Temple is just dealing with being old and potentially the last of his family. All have to reconcile with their pasts and each other as the threat to them and the world grows.
Slayers of Old has a Lovecraftian flair. The cover of the book shows a cat with multiple eyes and tentacles, and readers will know things are getting out of control when it actually appears. On top of this Hines delivers a fascinating demi-monde full of interesting creatures pulled from different areas of diverse folklore.
Slayers of Old is both scary and humorous at the same time as it is tense and heartfelt. Overall Hines has delivered well-paced, twisty, darkly delightful urban fantasy treat.
Slayers of Old by Jim C Hines
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