The nitty-gritty: A dreamy and magical story about fairy tales, real and imagined. Happily ever after is the dropping of a curtain, a signal for applause. It is not a guarantee, and it always has a price. From the moment I saw this darkly atmospheric cover, I knew I had to read Roses and Rot. […]
The nitty-gritty: Sexism and feminism collide in a strange but likable tale about a grim message from the future and the young woman who is determined to try to make things right. It is beyond me to be calm, even though this is a ridiculous piece of whimsy that I did not care for just […]
The nitty-gritty: A fascinating concept, political intrigue, plenty of mysteries, but written in a format that might not work for every reader. I love reading hyped books like Sleeping Giants, because I like to form my own opinions. Sleeping Giants has received all sorts of starred reviews from review journals, but in the blogging community, […]
The nitty-gritty: A wonderful mixed bag of 80s nostalgia, creepy horror and a friendship that weathers all sorts of obstacles. “Promise me you’ll always be my friend,” she said. “DBNQ,” Abby replied. It was their shorthand for “I love you.” Dearly But Not Queerly. And they lay there on the freezing sand and felt the […]
The nitty-gritty: A bunch of stories that will make you very uncomfortable. And that’s a good thing! God watches as you bring another into the room. He does not take his eyes off you. Sits in his LifeChair exactly where you parked him two days before. White beard and tubes. His cartridge core throbs, like […]
The nitty-gritty: A lush and romantic story of palace intrigue, with a supernatural subplot that adds a sense of danger to the tale. The gorgeous colors on this cover initially attracted me to Masks and Shadows, like a bee to a beautiful flower, but I was happy to find an exciting story behind the cover […]
The nitty-gritty: A short tale that’s packed with action, humor, and some old favorite characters. I fell in love with Wesley Chu’s Tao series, which ended last year with The Deaths of Tao, and so I was thrilled to discover he was writing a novella set in the same universe. The Days of Tao is […]
The nitty-gritty: A refreshingly original YA fantasy with pirates, sea monsters and deeply developed and complex relationships. They can try to kill me all they want, but I’m the girl who stands on the backs of the beasts of the NeoPacific. The Minnow blazes from within, promising life and warmth and villainy, but out here […]
The nitty-gritty: A fast-paced sci-fi adventure, with one of the coolest concepts I’ve ever run across, and a twist that you won’t see coming. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Will McIntosh’s adult novels (Love Minus Eighty and Defenders) but this is the first book of his I’ve read. In his YA debut, McIntosh has come […]
The nitty-gritty: A gritty and magical story with plenty of danger, romance and a very special drink called sorcerer’s shine. Magic can achieve a lot of things, but it can’t undo the past. I’ve sworn off sorcery, buried my magic with earth, blood, and tears below the ground, but I’d gladly sell my soul to […]