Slay~ Brittney Morris

Expected UK Publication Date: 3rd October 2019

Slay by Brittney Morris is a YA novel about a black, teen game developer who creates a secret online VR game, Slay, to celebrate black culture. A teen is then murdered over the game and the press begins to call the game racist and exclusionary. The book follows Kiera’s journey to protect Slay and the safe space she has created there.

I am acutely aware that I am not the intended audience for this novel. It is not exclusionary in any way, but it is about black culture and black people finding a place where they feel safe to embrace their blackness. Being white, I know I will never fully understand or experience the things Kiera and her family do. I am also ignorant of some of the cultural things mentioned in this novel.

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the book. I did and I feel like I’ve learned a lot about the cultures mentioned. Morris incorporates black culture in such a unique way, using the game Slay. The players of the game can duel using cards based on things from black cultures across the world. Slay as a VR game was fascinating and, in my opinion, would work really well in real life.

Like all books, there are moments of frustration with the characters. Mine was directed towards the protagonist Kiera over her toxic boyfriend Malcolm. Kiera loves Malcolm despite his toxic behaviour and she doesn’t see it until too late. Malcolm is pro-black but anti-white and anti-feminist. He was rude and controlling in a subtle enough way that I can understand why Kiera didn’t really think it was an issue, but obviously, enough that other characters noticed and warned her. Even when it was all falling down around her, Kiera still struggled to see that Malcolm was a toxic person. It frustrates me as it’s such a common YA trope that girls believe they deserve the toxic people life has dealt them. I’m so glad some characters talked sense into her.

I didn’t understand half the references but they weren’t meant for me. It was a fascinatingly enjoyable glimpse into a world that I’m not a part of. Overall, I have rated Slay by Brittney Morris four out of five stars. If you want to read this when it comes out it’s expected to be available on the 3rd October 2019 in the UK (and I believe it’s out a little earlier in the US).

C🌙