The nitty-gritty: A stylish and atmospheric tale, part ghost story, part psychological thriller, that sneaks up on you slowly. The creepy mirror was full-size and seemed unnaturally enormous hanging on the wall that way and reflecting only darkness. Framed in antique scrollwork, the glass within was pitch-black, and there was no image beyond the impression […]
The nitty-gritty: An action-packed and thrilling story that’s got something for everyone: terrifying monsters, stolen children, evil scientists, and of course, a circus sideshow full of dangerous creatures. Welcome to the show! “Run?” asked Annie. “Run where? The trees close in on all sides. If it’s the woods I need to fear, my fate is […]
The nitty-gritty: Strange and horrific, I loved this novella, even though it’s still giving me nightmares. Once, while they are sweating together, a molly appears in the doorway and joins them. It does not go bad while the three of them make love, and Molly kills it with regret and an ice pick the next […]
The nitty-gritty: A multi-generational saga of a family of witches, with plenty of drama, familiars, and just a touch of magic. I’ve always loved multi-generational stories, although I usually associate them with historical and literary fiction, not fantasy. But Louisa Morgan has combined all three genres into a fascinating and far-reaching tale of a family […]
The nitty-gritty: Fast and furious, violent and action-packed, this story will make you wish you had magical powers! Brad Abraham’s debut is being billed as “Harry Potter meets James Bond” and after reading Magicians Impossible I have to say that’s a pretty good description. I had several Harry Potter flashback moments while reading this, and […]
The nitty-gritty: A fun, fast-paced thriller about the conspiracy theories behind 9/11, this contemporary YA will give teens (and adults!) plenty to think about. I don’t usually read YA thrillers, but when Geoffrey Girard asks you to read his book, you do! I have to admit I don’t know much about conspiracy theories—although my sixteen […]
Big thanks to Wunderkind PR and Serial Box for the chance to review this hysterically funny and geeky series! When I was first pitched Geek Actually, the latest from the innovative folks at Serial Box, I was a little hesitant. After all, the covers scream “Contemporary chick lit!” which is definitely not my thing. But […]
The nitty-gritty: Like all the best fairy tales, this story is both magical and foreboding, a cautionary tale of the pitfalls of gender stereotyping, told as only Seanan McGuire can. Just as she did in Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire captures a mood of nostalgia and sadness in her follow-up, Down Among the Sticks […]
The nitty-gritty: A powerful collection of loosely tied together stories of the women who fell in love with superheroes—and died because of it. I never wanted children. Let’s get that straight up top. All I ever wanted to do was to drink beer, play my horn, and ride mutant armadillos till the end of the […]
The nitty-gritty: A high-octane adventure tale in space, populated by some of the craziest characters you’ll ever meet. Well, this is probably the strangest, wackiest story I’ve ever read, and that’s saying something. Being a lover of speculative fiction, “strange” is the norm and I’ve definitely read my share. Mary Turzillo takes strange to a whole […]