Phoenix Love uses his skills as a pickpocket to ensure there's always enough money to pay the cost of taking care of his younger brother. He isn't on the top of his game the night he lifts Senior Constable Daniel Hart's wallet. Daniel has never seen a more beautiful man, and despite Phoenix's talents as a thief and the special ingredient he diligently adds to customer's drinks, Daniel still decides he wants to get to know him better.

There's more to Phoenix than meets the eye, and his life is turned upside down when he is recognized. Detective Paul Somerset has chased a serial killer for five years and the reintroduction of Phoenix has him believing the young man to be either the culprit or an accomplice. Not to mention, Phoenix's actions make him look guilty as sin. Is Daniel too smitten too see the truth being Phoenix or is everyone else too blind to understand that he's a victim?

The Slayer's Apprentice is a fantastic story that kept me on the edge of my seat. Zathyn Priest has created a story centered on strong characters and an even stronger plot. Phoenix has lived through hell. The one thing that keeps him anchored is his little brother Echo. Over the past four years, he has thrown all the nurturing he possesses into protecting and loving his brother. Daniel is older, wiser, and not ashamed of his sexuality. While he wants Phoenix, he knows that to accept less than the total package would mean selling himself short. I didn't have a clue of the true culprit until their identity was revealed. That's rare for me and made me enjoy the story that much more. The Slayer's Apprentice is a gay romance horror story, with very few references of sexual interaction. It focuses more on the combination of events leading to delivering justice to the Slayer and Phoenix and Daniel's budding romance.

Reviewed by: NeNe