Superheroes, Friendship, and Romance in a High-Stakes Mystery

Marked for Slaughter by Samaritan Ari Jackson

“An exciting action-packed mystery/thriller that is sure to appeal to fans of Marvel comics.”

Sometimes the inspiration for a book is as intriguing as the book itself. 

In the case of Marked for Slaughter, a suspense-packed mystery geared for teens, author Samaritan Ari Jackson explains that she wrote it in middle school because “I thought I could do it, so I did.”

The Story Behind the Superhero Saga

Jackson wrote the book for a class in which she certainly didn’t need the credit, but she simply wanted the confirmation that “if I worked hard enough for my goals, I could achieve anything.”

So try to imagine a group of superheroes known as The Vigilantes, childhood friends who have banded together to wipe out evil in the world. 

Now imagine them on the streets of New York taking in the sights and sounds, in town for a high-stakes meeting with their enemies that could impact the future of the planet.

Yet weeks before the scheduled meeting takes place, one of the group’s old classmates turns up dead. Now it’s personal. And this is only the beginning. Do they have to look out for themselves, or, well, the world? 

An unknown assassin strong enough to kill a vigilante continues to target individual members of the group, along with some of their old human high-school classmates. But why? Could they know this killer? As the date of the meeting approaches, the heroes are hit with a frightening truth about one of their own that leaves them desperate for answers.

Friendship, Love, and Superpowered Stakes

Despite the group’s dwindling members and low morale, the remaining friends are determined to take down their murderer. After all, there’s a world that needs saving. 

“We’re the Vigilantes, the ones who have no problem putting down our enemies like they do our people,” says Samore. “Some may call it cruel and unjust, but I call it revenge for the people who’ve been oppressed and couldn’t fight back against people who believe themselves superior to them, human and non-human.”

The author’s talent for weaving together characters with diverse personalities and quirks allows for a captivating and heart-warming story with an overarching theme of love, friendship and the importance of having a strong support system.. Not only is Marked for Slaughter a perfect read for superhero fanatics, it also contains fiery romance elements as well. 

What’s a superhero without a love interest? The relationship of best friends Kaden and Sam blossoms into a hot yet understated romance, while Marsai and her fiancé Paul, much to the group’s annoyance, are playfully affectionate with each other and do not hold back on displaying their love in front of their friends. On the surface, they are a perfect couple, but will their love be the death of them all?

Unexpected Twists and Powerful Representation

Jackson’s novel contains an unexpected plot twist sure to leave readers gasping for air, and her timely insertion of comic relief creates an overall well-balanced story. Not only does the book flow at a Netflix series-like pace, Marked for Slaughter provides great representation for people of color. As the author humorously posted in a Tik Tok video, in 10 words, the book can be summed up as “Black country kids with super suits and good music taste.” 

This book is great for fans of Marvel and DC comics, as well as readers just looking for some good old-fashioned escapism.

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