Blog Post #17: The Slayer Chronicles First Kill by Heather Brewer- Conflict

In "The First Kill," the conflict is very unique because it is between 2 people you would never expect to have major problems. The conflict in this story is obviously Slayers vs. Vampies, but in Joss's situation specificly, I think there is more to the story.

In the story, the only reason why Joss is spending the summer with his uncle Abraham is because he wants to get revenge on the vampire who killed his little sister. So basically, Joss is here because of vampires, and that is the main problem! But the conflict that is just about Joss is his uncle. Joss always tries to impress his uncle by doing everything he tells him to, and he even tried to kill a vampire with barely any training!!! Joss is only 13 years old, Abraham acts like he is an 18 year old. In one part of the book, Abraham trains Joss by making him take down Abraham and 2 other slayers at once, and when Joss completes that task, Abraham walks away without a word, like he is dissapointed! Joss never understood his uncle, and this trip to him isn't making him like his uncle any more. I think Joss works way to hard to impress his uncle. He is willing to run 10 laps on the long trail on a hill, and it will take you almost an hour just to run 1 lap! But even after Joss does everything Abraham wants him to, Joss still didn't earn his respect.

I think one of the reasons why Joss is still even there training with his uncle is because if he leaves, then he can be killed since he knows to much information about the Slayer Society, and the second reason is because he wants to get revenge for his sister and since Sirus is there, it isn't all bad. Sirus is Joss's friend, mentor, and father like figure. He looks out for Joss and protects him. Without Sirus there for Joss, he would probably dead right now! Abraham is Joss's uncle, but that is just a name, he does not treat Joss like a nephew, he barely treats him like a living thing! Abraham acts like Joss is a machine or robot, and whatever he tells him to do, he will do it! Abraham creates the tension most of the time, he thinks being hard on Joss will make him a better slayer, but in the end, yes Joss will become a better slayer, but Joss will end up remembering Abraham as the man who tortured him for months just so they can kill creatures.

The conflict in this story, isn't easy to spot, but focusing on the main characters, it will eventually come to you. This book can be confusing sometimes because of all the things that happen, but the thing the reader should be focused on the most, is the journey Joss takes to be a slayer, and what happens to him along the way and the people who go along with him.