Rating: 
Summary: An interesting concept...but where's the editor?
Review: ...I was really excited to begin a good read. And it is a good read...mostly. It's a fresh take on the perennially popular vampire mythos, with fairly interesting (if underdeveloped) characters and an intriguing plot. My problem with the book is not the story, however--it is in the vast number of grammatical and spelling errors, not to mention simple typographical errors, contained within. Also, words in the text are often used incorrectly. By this I do not mean taking poetic license with the way a phrase is turned, but simply choosing a word that sounds similar to the one that was meant...and no editor caught it. This may make me a snob, but I found my enjoyment of this novel's novel approach to the genre significantly lessened by the sheer number of errors in the text that should have been caught by a competent editor. I'm not claiming to be one of those (snob, yes; editor, no); I do, however, feel that a professional editor should be employed in the production process and before I pay out for a product.
Rating: 
Summary: Splendid
Review: ...Slayer on the other hand does something totally different.This is the story of Alek Knight, a Slayer for the Coven. A Vatican sanctioned order of vampire slayers. The twist is that they are all dhampirs, half man half vampire, led by the founder of there order Amadeus. Set in modern day NY, the story is about Alek's struggle with the truth about not only his existence, but those of vampires everywhere. The vampres in this book are not just whiny little loners wandering the night spouting bad poetry. These guys go to clubs, party, have fun. They live. Every once in a while one will step out of line and will have to be put down. That is where the Slayers come in. It's a different take on the vampire world. Told in the 3rd person, and has definite roots in Anne Rice's works. I would have given this 5 stars but I did find Alek to be rather whiny at times. The guy breaks down and cries like a girl about 5 times in the whole book.
Rating:
Summary: Worth Reading, Dark Read
Review: A dark, moody read. It evoked many images and kept me turning the pages. I will seek out other books in the series. Karen has some style, and ocne in tune with it, I enjoyed the book. Alek Knight is a terrific character. It is difficult to get a new take on the vampire mythos. Karen did a good job.
Rating:
Summary: Vampire Culture shock
Review: A really enjoyed this kick off of the Slayer vamp series. Alek is a terrific character and I look forward to reading more of him in time to come. Excellent in places, murky in others, but still a good read. The opening sentences are very good and draw the reader in.
Such a culture is hard to get right but Karen did a super job.
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting concept...but where's the editor?
Review: After reading reviews of the novel, I was really excited to begin a good read. And it is a good read...mostly. It's a fresh take on the perennially popular vampire mythos, with fairly interesting (if underdeveloped) characters and an intriguing plot. My problem with the book is not the story, however--it is in the vast number of grammatical and spelling errors, not to mention simple typographical errors, contained within. Also, words in the text are often used incorrectly. By this I do not mean taking poetic license with the way a phrase is turned, but simply choosing a word that sounds similar to the one that was meant...and no editor caught it. This may make me a snob, but I found my enjoyment of this novel's novel approach to the genre significantly lessened by the sheer number of errors in the text that should have been caught by a competent editor. I'm not claiming to be one of those (snob, yes; editor, no); I do, however, feel that a professional editor should be employed in the production process and before I pay out for a product. If grammar doesn't get under your skin, however, give this one a go. As I stated before--it's an interesting take on the ol' bloodsucker legends.
Rating:
Summary: exciting vampire tale
Review: Covenmaster Amadeus of the New York City half-human and half-vampire dhampires informs his top slayer Alek Knight that he chose him to replace him in the near future as Covenmaster. Apparently Amadeus has seen a vision of one of his protégés turning traitor and killing him. Alek rejects the notion that any of them would betray their guide and mentor. However, soon Amadeus concludes that the defector is Alek and apparently the other Dhampires in the coven led by Sean Stone want to slay him. Alek defends his life even as he begins a quest to find the long lost Chronicle, that tells the In the Beginning story of vampires. Joining him on his quest is his natural enemy Teresa the ancient vampire and his deceased sister Debra, who he sent to the grave apparently from the spirit world. Ultimately, tome or not, a final confrontation between master and student is imminent. SLAYER is an exciting vampire tale that takes the creatures of the night and their archenemy dhampires and places them in modern Manhattan where the two species seem to fit in with the human populace as if Karen Koehler chronicled the real world. The story line is loaded with gory action, plenty of biting excitement as the Covenmaster and the top slayer step closer to a final conflict, and a gritty view of New York that enhances the battles of blood. Though one must wonder if Amadeus caused a self-fulfilling prophecy onto himself and his top gun, and several questions remain unanswered (perhaps in future tales), sub-genre fans have quite a treat with this powerful horror thriller. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Darkness Falls!!!
Review: Falling into the dark underworld that is SLAYER. The original cornerstone of the Industrial Gothic movement. Written in the same vein of "The Crow". Here we follow a torn Vampire into the darkest realms of the underworld. We follow Alek Knight as he fights himself and everyone else. We engage the Knight, and we find a fragile heart, one that is on the verge of breaking. But make no mistake. This heart is Black. The slime of the city and the scourge of the streets have forged his steel anger to a razor sharp edge. His mind is now focused, he has but one purpose, and he has the tools to carry out a vengeance that will only end in a massive blood bath. From the beginning Koehler sparked the imagination of a few in the underground, and SLAYER always stood as the definitive work. I have read just about every book in this growing genre, and nothing still captures me as much as SLAYER. I still wonder what might happen if Lestat and Knight would end up in a dark alleyway. Lestat still rules the gothic cemeteries of New Orleans; there can be no doubt in that. But Alek Knight rules the dark alleyways of suburban New York City. For those who love Ann Rice and Clive Barker and James O'Barr all rolled up into one twisted tale, this is the read for you. This is the bible for any respectable Goth entering into the Industrial Gothic movement. Light the candles, pull the drapes and prepare to Hunt the Hunter! A read that will make your eyes bleed...
Rating:
Summary: Sink into darkness...
Review: Granted I read the Koehler books backwards, Scarabus first, then Slayer, but you wouldn't know that Slayer was a first effort. It blew me away. Dreamy, noir drama about an ex vampire slayer who runs Rogue on his people and stops being the hunter to be the hunted. Nancy Collins on steroids. The ambiance is sweet and violent and bloody, plenty of action, more than I expected, more than I usually get out of a vampire book. A Vatican conspiracy to overturn the dark balance between humans and vampires, an old book that can reveal all the old buried secrets, a coven of immortal half vampires who could rule the world. Sink into darkness with me and let me take you down into the dark place where the slayers are...
Rating:
Summary: Over-rated and badly written
Review: I bought Slayer based on the other reviews written here and was horribly disappointed. I can't believe this book made it past an editor. It was so poorly written that I had trouble finishing the book! Slayer is, at best, a derivative parody of gothic, vampire fiction. It fails as a vampire novel because the characters are shoddily recycled from Anne Rice, Michael Moorcock, and the shows/movies mentioned in the other reviews here. The pompous and overwrought writing is painful to read. Please don't buy this thinking that it is some kind of urban gothic manifesto. It isn't.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent first novel by the new mistress of the macabre!
Review: I bought this book on a recommendation and I was not disappointed. Good story with a lot of well-rounded characters you actually give a damn about. Good writing that's somewhere between Anne Rice and Poppy Z. Brite. The vampires are original and very real, no capes, garlic and hokey accents. These are punks, body mods and Euro-trash vampires. Dangerous villains, more dangerous heroes. The club scenes are exquite and realistic. This isn't your parent's horror novel. I'm surprised this book isn't more well known. It would make a great gothic action film.
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