Slay by Brittney Morris

Series: N/A
# of Pages: 336
Publication: September 24th, 2019
Source: ARC
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
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By day, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only Black kids at Jefferson Academy. But at home, she joins hundreds of thousands of Black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game, SLAY. No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend, Malcolm, who believes video games are partially responsible for the "downfall of the Black man." But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the SLAY world, news of the game reaches mainstream media, and SLAY is labeled a racist, exclusionist, violent hub for thugs and criminals. Even worse, an anonymous troll infiltrates the game, threatening to sue Kiera for "anti-white discrimination." Driven to save the only world in which she can be herself, Kiera must preserve her secret identity and harness what it means to be unapologetically Black in a world intimidated by Blackness. But can she protect her game without losing herself in the process?

Have you ever read a book that defines every part of who you are as a person? As a young, black woman, it has been rather difficult (a little easier in more recent years) to find YA books that closely exhibit my experiences here in the United States. Books like Dear Martin, the Hate U Give, American Street, All American Boys, and more have come to assist black men and women in having the opportunity to see their experiences outlined within the pages of a book. Since reading these books on my own, I have become vigilant in searching for more YA books that assist in creating a world/atmosphere of writing that readers of color can easily relate to. When I requested an ARC of Slay, I did not expect to step into a world where Morris was able to capture my life experience within the first ten pages of the book. Page after page of the novel contained references to both pleasures and displeasures that I have had growing up as a black woman in America. Understanding the importance of this book is understanding that this book was not written and is not for every reader. It’s beauty is found in its ability to allow some readers to see themselves within the pages of a book for the first time in their lives. 

“We are a diaspora. We span hundreds of shades, religions, traditions, and cultural nuances.”

Although it contains a lot of elements related to video games, Slay can be defined as a contemporary novel. It centers around the main character Kiera who has secretly developed a world-wide phenomenon of a game. This game, entitled Slay, gives black people from all around the world the opportunity to game in a safe environment, free of prejudice and racism experienced in similar RPG games. The individuals who play Slay have the opportunity to create lives and flourish in different communities while competing in battles. The battles are conducted between two characters who utilize cards related to black culture to attempt to defeat each other. 

“I made ‘Ain’t’ a card in the game, since Ebonics is part of what differentiates the American black experience from American ‘other’ experiences.”

While the game has proven to be a success, Kiera keeps her identity and involvement in the game a secret from her friends, family, and boyfriend. She manages to continue to live a double life until a young boy is murdered and her game is blamed for his death. It is then that she must find a way to deal with the conflict that arises out of the death: speak up and defend the safe space that she’s created or remain quiet until the situation “blows over.” In reading Slay, I found the plot to be complex. It wasn’t necessarily hard hitting, but it was the effect that the plot had on the characters that made it so interesting and dynamic. While some people will revel in the action that may occur in the book, I found it to be more character-driven. The book is comprised of several different characters including Kiera, her sister Stephanie, her gaming partner Cicada, her boyfriend Malcolm, and their friends Wyatt and Harper. When the death surrounding Slay occurs, each one of these characters react in their own unique ways. While I felt that there was quite a bit of character development in regard to Kiera, Stephanie, and Malcolm, I felt that there could have been time invested into fleshing out the characters of Wyatt and Harper. Their characters seemed to simply serve as a catalyst to Kiera’s issues when they could have been so much more. However, it is the misunderstanding of these characters motives that confuses Kiera until the very end of the book. Personally, I wanted to like all of the characters; however, I only enjoyed Stephanie, Kiera, and Cicada. Wyatt was too morally grey, Harper came across as too passive, and Malcolm was so pro-black that it was detrimental to Kiera’s growth. I did; however, like the way in which Morris was able to bring these characters together to drive the narrative of her novel. 

“According to Malcolm, if black people are to progress, we need absolute focus, relentless drive, and undying ambition, and that looks like something very specific to him. Unless we’re starting our own businesses, building a nuclear family, and avoiding ‘white propaganda,’ we’re not progressing.” 

For me, this book is more than just about plot and characters, but more so a book that attempts to illustrate and assist readers in understanding the black experience. I’m not an avid gamer, but I could understand the need for safe spaces and how exclusion feels even in the world of book blogging and being a booktuber. As stated before, it is necessary to understand the purpose of this book to fully enjoy it. I’ve seen it receive quite a few low reviews because readers did not enjoy the character development (which I can understand) or reviewers who have stated that there is too much going on in reference to the plot. In reading any book, it’s important to understand who the book was written for and how that specific group can or will relate to the contents of the book. 

“We are here first and foremost to celebrate black excellence in all its forms, from all parts of the globe. We are different ages, genders, tribes, tonges, and traditions. But tonight, we are all black...and tonight we all SLAY.” 

Overall, I found this book to be captivating and I thought that the social commentary stood out more and resonated with me more than the plot or character development. It was truly rewarding to see so many thoughts and feelings that I have written across the pages of a novel.

. 5