Slay

Whether crafting narratives for major franchises’ video games or her own original fiction, Brittney Morris compassionately and insightfully engages with contemporary issues in her writing, particularly those affecting young Black people. Her debut novel, Slay, was published in 2019 and explores the themes of race, identity, and belonging through the lens of online gaming. The novel’s protagonist, Kiera Johnson, is a 17-year-old who develops a virtual reality game for Black players after encountering discrimination in mainstream games. Although SLAY offers a sense of community and belonging for people around the world, Kiera and her creation come under fire after a player is murdered over a dispute about the game.

The novel explores the ethics of creating exclusive spaces for marginalized groups. While examining these weighty philosophical questions, Morris also addresses the everyday challenges Kiera faces as a young Black woman, such as struggling to balance her responsibilities while making time for her friends and trying to decide whether college is part of her future. Like Kiera, Morris herself is an avid gamer, which helps her add a depth of detail and realism to the virtual world of SLAY.