“I might not remember my name, or anything about who I am. But I could never be near you and not know exactly what you are to me.”
Honestly, I went into Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood with the lowest expectations. Like… it’s 90 pages, what is it really going to give me? Probably nothing. I love my build-up, I live for slow burn stories, that’s why I don’t usually bother with novellas. BUT to my utter surprise… this was a five-star read. Like, what is happening?! 😭🔥
Summary of Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
When a vampire slayer loses all his memories, the only person who can help him is the vampire he’s tried to kill for centuries.
When Aethelthryth—“Ethel” to her modern-day Manhattan neighbors—finds her sworn nemesis Lazlo Enyedi with no memory of who or what they are, an ancient hunt becomes an unexpected chance at forbidden passion. He’s crashing on her couch, solving her sudoku puzzles, and looking at her like she’s his eternal flame (minus the whole bursting-into-ashes part). As his memories slowly return, Ethel realizes she might be in danger of losing more than just her head…
Review of Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
I usually don’t rate novellas or write reviews on them, like, why would I spend two days writing a review for a 90-page book I’ll probably never think about again? But here we are, lol. Never say never, I guess. So let’s dive into my little review of this little novella.
Plot Analysis of Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
So imagine this: you’ve spent literal centuries in a dramatic enemies-to-the-death situation with one annoyingly persistent vampire slayer. He’s basically turned “eternal grudge” into a personality trait. Then one day, poof, he forgets everything. No name, no mission, no centuries-old vendetta. Just vibes.
Naturally, instead of taking advantage of the situation and finally getting rid of him, you do the totally logical thing and let him hang around your apartment. Because why not? He’s suddenly sweet, weirdly charming, and definitely doesn’t remember that his entire personality used to be “I want to kill you, but also I think about you way too much.”
What follows is a chaotic little tale of memory loss, questionable decisions, and unresolved centuries of sexual tension. It’s messy, it’s sharp, it’s 90 pages of “what are we even doing here?” and I mean that in the best way.
Characters of Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
Aethelthryth: Ethel was an absolute sweetheart the whole damn novella. And yes, I know she’s technically dead and cold as ice (hello, vampire 101), but somehow, she still radiates warm, golden-retriever energy. I adored her. Like, how dare a bloodsucking immortal be this lovable? Rude.
Lazlo Enyedi: Don’t even get me started on Lazlo. This immortal, deadly, seven-foot wall of muscle with ancient beef and golden retriever energy?? I was DONE. Absolutely feral. The way he acted around Ethel? I was clutching my metaphorical pearls and squealing into the void. Soft, devoted, slightly confused but always obsessed? Sir, please… I am but a humble girl. He had me MELTING like a popsicle in a heatwave. Dramatic? Yes. Deserved? Also yes.
The romance : The tension? Tensioning. The banter? Absolutely bantering. Their dynamic felt so natural and believable it had me kicking my feet and giggling like a teenager with a secret crush. They gave me everything I didn’t even know I needed, and then some. Honestly? Pure perfection. This tiny story managed to make me feel more in 90 pages than some 500‑page romances ever do.
Pacing & writing style
Ali Hazelwood can write. POINT. Hot for Slayer was no exception. The woman managed to cram top-tier romance, tension, banter, and actual character growth and development into just 90 pages. Make it make sense??? I couldn’t understand how, but honestly, that’s not even the point, because I loved it. I adored it. Her writing, as always, was engaging, easy to read, and a total page-turner. She had me hooked from page one like it was a full-length novel. Talent? Yeah, she has it.
The pacing in Hot for Slayer was chef’s kiss perfection, I genuinely have zero complaints. It kept me hooked, entertained, and fully invested from start to finish. Not once did I check how many pages were left (a miracle for a novella). It just flowed, and I was living for every second of it.
Tropes and Trigger warnings of Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
Tropes of Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
- Enemies to lovers
- Slayer × Vampire
- One bed
- Forced proximety
- Amenesia
Trigger warnings of Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
- Blood
- Violence
- Childhood abandonment
- Amenesia
Some quotes I enjoyed
“As long as you don’t let anyone get to you before I do, Aethelthryth.” “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll always save myself for you.”
“When he noticed my eyes on him, he lifted the blade up to his face. And with a smile that did not feel like a smile, he began to lick it clean of my blood.”
“It was . . . Well.”
“It just was.”
“It was one-sided,” he tells me after he’s done chewing. “From you.”
“What?”
“The dislike.”
“I assure you, it was not.”
“And I assure you, when I look at you, I feel anything but that.” A pause. “Why are you not eating?”
“I know your smell. I know your skin. Your hair. It’s all familiar. I have it all memorized. And I dream of you—of this. So many dreams, all so different, we must have done it a million times, in a million different ways. Tell me what you’re hiding from me, let’s get this over with, and then let’s do it a million more times.”
“Some lives run invisibly. Undetected by most. And when a person comes along who sees those lives for what they are, who acknowledges their reality, who reminds people that there is value in different ways of existing . . . A minute of that is worth more than a thousand nights with a lover. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Aethelthryth, nothing would make me happier than having you with me here, or in any other place that I will call home, for as long as I live. Please, come in.”
Final Thoughts
I went into Hot for Slayer with the bar on the floor. Like hello? It’s a 90-page novella. What could it possibly give me? A light chuckle? Maybe a cute kiss? Certainly not an emotional chokehold and a new obsession, but here we are.
This tiny story had NO business being this good. The tension? Cooking. The banter? Snappy and elite. The vibes? Immaculate. I was giggling, kicking my feet, clutching my imaginary pearls and muttering “he’s so obsessed with her” like it was a spell. And don’t even get me started on Ethel and Lazlo. The way I fell for them in under two chapters? Embarrassing. I don’t even like novellas like that, but this one? This one said, “Watch me.”
Ali Hazelwood really out here proving she can do whatever she wants. 90 pages? No problem. Full character arcs, emotional depth, sizzling chemistry, and worldbuilding that actually works in short form? EASY. I read the last page and immediately felt bereft. Like, hello??? WHERE’S THE REST???
So now I’m begging. Please, Ali. I need more. A full book. A trilogy. A six-season Netflix deal. Something. I will take anything. You can’t just give me this much in such a small dose and then vanish. I’m on my knees. Literally. Please.
About the author
Ali Hazelwood is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis, as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her three feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).
Practical Information for Readers
Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood Book Formats
Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:
- Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
- eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
- Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
- PDF Hot For Slayer : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.
Where to find Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood PDF
- Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
- Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
- Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.
Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood Age Rating
I’d recommend Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood for readers aged 17+ due to explicit sexual content.
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