Alix Marsh

Old Beginnings is the first book in The Forgotten Slayer series and during the book we get to know Flynn and experience his pledge to be a demon slayer on his 13th birthday and having his world turned upside down from there on in. He has to leave his family and move into Victor Grey Academy which sounds like a posh school with big gates surrounding it but it is not a normal school at all, no it is a Demon Slayer Academy and every child that is in the academy have also taken a pledge and are demon slayers.

I felt this book an introduction to each character and to get some knowledge of how the pledge works differently for each child and how they descended all which I think is a build up for what will take place in the next book.

I really liked how this was written, I was hooked from the start as I love fantasy and paranormal books. It was an easy read and because it was middle grade/teen it was a clean book.

I cannot wait to read book 2 to see what happens.… (meer)

After a traumatic month I've been struggling to concentrate on reading so thought I'd try something different (for me) I was drawn to this book by the cover - sort of scary and relaxed at the same time. OLD BEGINNINGS is the first book in a middle grade series that tells the story of a young boy called Flynn Heath who, after a scary experience involving lightening and a strange old man with a beautiful dagger, finds himself enrolled in a new school ... for demon slayers!

The author has captured the essence of teens - smart, savvy and a mix of strength and vulnerability. I was easily drawn back to that feeling of being excited about a whole new world opening up, and yet kind of nervous about it too! Dialogue is snappy and sharp, and adds to the feeling of excitement.

A fast paced read, OLD BEGINNINGS is the first book in a series, which is the only issue I had - I prefer books that complete a story in one book. However, this book can be read as a stand alone and the interplay between Flynn and his "normal life" friends, Rose & Toby, and the friendship bonds he forms with the new "slayer" friends, Jack & Ice, at the Victor Grey Academy were very well drawn.

There's touches of lovely humour (I just loved Mr Rook & Mr Bishop!) and all in all it was an entertaining read, with some thought-provoking points raised (trying to force Jason to become a slayer when he didn't think demons were all bad - this makes one think about our own prejudices) I'm looking forward to Book 2 so I can see where the school house rivalry develops, how the slayers each grow and what Flynn's slayer ancestry is.… (meer)