Kiera has a secret that not even her family and high school friends know about: She is the owner and creator/coder of SLAY, an extremely popular online VR role-playing game celebrating Black culture and, more importantly, a safe space free from racial "othering." But when a young teen is murdered in real life over in-game money, the media spotlight suddenly shines unfavorably on SLAY and harsh speculation ensues about the game and its perceived threats.

I loved this book most of all for clueing me in on so many not necessarily outwardly visible aspects of Black culture, which was both educational and a delight. Importantly, Black joy plays a significant role in the narrative, despite a tragedy being a pivotal plot element. As a lifelong gamer I was excited by the virtual world Kiera built and wanted to more about SLAY's origin. How/where did Kiera and Claire meet? How did their partnership develop? The technology-curious me also wanted to know more about the game servers, where they are hosted, and how that all came about. That said, there were some aspects of SLAY gameplay that I willingly suspended my disbelief in favor of pure entertainment. Recommended! ( )

Story: 7 / 10
Characters: 9
Setting: 8
Prose: 6.5 ( )

This was *so* good - can't wait for Morris' next book. My 14 yo also really enjoyed it. ( )

Wow. Just... Wow. I could not put this book down!! Every scene kept me enthralled, I just had to know what happened next!! I love the way that Morris addresses the issues of race and gaming in the story. The way she weaves complex issues and the discussions around them into the story works so naturally, and it's just beautiful. Wow. I am definitely going to keep an eye out for more of her books in the future!! ( )

Perfect story to tell during this stage of a teen's life. It's not just a book about gaming but a story of self-discovery and expression. The writing was so well done, I could feel Kiera’s shock, confusion, hurt and determination come across from the writer's words. It's told from Kiera's POV, along with her co-creator, Cicada, which definitely helped drive the path of the storyline of self-expression & discovery. While it is from a female POV, some young adult males might enjoy it for the gaming aspect alone. It was an eyeopener for me to see the world through a young, female African American. ( )