Shadow Slayer Blog Tour: Review & Trailer

Thank you to both SupaGurl Tours and author Laura A.H. Elliot for the opportunity to participate in the Shadow Slayer tour. At the bottom is a Rafflecopter link for a giveaway and check out the awesome trailer to the book!

**Shadow Slayer is the second book in the Shadow Series. In order to fully understand the series you will have to read the first book 13 on Halloween. My review of Shadow Slayer will have spoilers about book 1.

13 on Halloween
Shadow Series, #1
by Laura A.H. Elliot
Amazon

Synopsis:
Roxie has the best night of her life until the popular kids decide they want to celebrate her birthday in a way Roxie never expects––in her attic, with a gift that’s out of this world, and a pact to never tell a living soul what happens next.

Twelve-year-old Roxie wants to be like Adrianne, the popular girl who gets everything she wants––a flock to prowl around the mall with; invitations to parties; and for Hayden, the cutest guy in the eighth grade to, you know, notice her. When Roxie invites all the eighth grade peacocks (code word : popular kids) to her first ever thirteenth birthday party on Halloween, they all come and give her a gift that’s literally out of this world. Roxie astral projects to Planet Popular where she becomes seventeen instantly and gets everything she’s always wanted, but nothing is as it seems. Being a high school peacock is complicated and Roxie will risk everything to be who she thinks she wants to be. Oh yeah, there’s Prom, doppelgangers, a mysterious map, and lots of bad peacocks too.

13 on Halloween, (Shadow Series #1) is now available as an audiobook on iTunes, Audible or Amazon.

Shadow Slayer
Shadow Series, #2
by Laura A.H. Elliot
Amazon

Synopsis:
Shadows will do anything to become human. You see their influence everyday. You say things you don’t mean or do things that aren’t like you. You look, different. Friends you’ve known forever suddenly never call.

As a freshman, Roxie just wants to fit in which is impossible because she barely runs into her friends at her huge high school. Adrianne’s disappearance and Hayden’s attention rock Roxie’s world. But nothing rocks it like the most gorgeous guy at school, Drew. And nothing is more important to Roxie than astral projecting back to Planet Popular to solve the mystery of the map. But that changes when Drew invites Roxie to Homecoming. Hayden warns her that something’s wrong. Why would a guy like Drew like Roxie anyway? Drew must want something. Hayden’s right. Drew is...different. Planet Popular was just the beginning. Part of a bigger world, the Shadow World. There’s a war brewing between the world of humans and the world of shadows. When the shadow invasion begins at Roxie’s high school, she’ll not only fight for her life but the lives of her family and friends, when she discovers she’s the Shadow Slayer, the one human who can save Earth from the shadow onslaught. But, Roxie can’t even kill a spider. Oh yeah, there’s an evil English teacher, an enchanted play, a sword of Sandonian steel, a homecoming of horrors, and seven magic words too.

My Thoughts:

Starting almost a year later from the first book 13 on Halloween, Roxie and Ally are now Freshman. Their first day of Oakdale High School to be precise. But now their friend Arrianne is gone and their is a freaky new girl and a boy that ranks as a 10 on the hottness scale. Not to mention that the old Enligh teacher is suddenly gone and a new definely non-teacher like guy with tattoos and long hair steps in. And to top it all of, Roxie suddenly has the urge to try out for the school play. 

Now for the first time since she visited Planet Popular does she feel special. Drew (the 10!) is interested in her and she actually got a prize part in the school play. It seems too good to be true. And according to Hayden it is. Hayden warns Roxie that Drew is a shadow, but she doesn't believe him and he is acting weird anyway. But things are not regular or normal in any way. When Drew tells Roxie that they are both Halloween Babies. As to what that means, well I will let you find out. But what I can tell you is that Roxie learns she has a calling. She is a shadow slayer and has a job to do on her 14th birthday. 

I wasn't sure throughout the entire book who was a good guy and who wasn't. There is so much suspense and intrigue. And top it all off with your typical teenage drama makes this book awesome. It is written towards the younger set (11-14) but can be read and enjoyed by all. If I had to compare it to anything I would say it is similar to The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith mixed with a little Buffy slayerness - but without the vampires. 

The Shadow Series is fantastic. I found the characters funny and reminscenct of my high school friends. And while there are some silly things like the name "Planet Popular" the story is not light. The themes are strong and intense - life and death, fate, and the question of who are your real friends. Roxie is a great heroine and I can't wait to see what happens next! 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review as part of a blog tour. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.

Book Trailer:

About the Author:
I love writing about enchanted road trips, shadow worlds, and alien romance while eating lots of popcorn. I live with my hubby and Oso, our aussie shepherd, in our tree house on the central California coast. After twenty-plus years as a freelance graphic designer/animator with clients including E! Entertainment Television and The Los Angeles Times, I crossed over into the world of publishing non-fiction and followed my heart to the world of fiction. Check out my other books at Laurasmagicday.wordpress.com or find me on Facebook or @Laurawriting!

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