Panel: Raising the Stakes: Vampires, Slayers, and Sequels

Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of many books for teens and young readers, including And I Darken, Now I Rise, Bright We Burn, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, and Slayer. In Chosen (Slayer #2, Simon Pulse) Nina has turned the Watcher’s Castle into a utopia for hurt and lonely demons, but she’s still waiting for the utopia part to kick in. With her sister Artemis gone and only a few people remaining at the castle—including her still-distant mother—Nina has her hands full. Plus, though she gained back her Slayer powers from Leo, they’re not feeling quite right after being held by the seriously evil succubus Eve, Leo’s mom. And while Nina is dealing with the darkness inside, there’s also a new threat on the outside, portended by an odd triangle symbol that seems to be popping up everywhere, in connection with Sean’s demon drug ring as well as someone a bit closer to home. The darkness always finds you. And once again, it’s coming for the Slayer.

Meagan Albright is a Youth Services Librarian III at NSU Alvin Sherman Library with more than 22 years experience in bookstores and libraries. She’s served on local and national committees, including Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) Notable Children’s Book Committee, Theodore Seuss Geisel Award Selection Committee, and Intellectual Freedom Committee, among others. Meagan has written for the ALSC blog and published in peer-reviewed journals including “Children & Libraries” and “Public Libraries”, where her article on library service to the LGBTQ community received “Public Libraries” Feature Article Award.

Renée Ahdieh is the author of The Beautiful, Flame in the Mist, and Smoke in the Sun as well as the #1 New York Times bestselling The Wrath and the Dawn and its sequel, The Rose and the Dagger. In her spare time, she likes to dance salsa and collect shoes. The Damned (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers) is Ahdieh’s latest installment in The Beautiful series. The first book, set in 1870s New Orleans, was a historical murder mystery with a twist of vampirism. In The Damned, Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The war between the immortals seems imminent. The price of loving Celine was costly. But Celine has also paid a high price for loving Bastien and in the process she has inadvertently set into motion a chain of events that could lead to her demise and unveil a truth about herself she’s not ready to learn. Forces hiding in the shadows have been patiently waiting for this moment. Seventeen.com praised it noting “Forbidden romance and harsh consequences set up this highly anticipated sequel that will leave you wanting so much more.”