He knew me because he said I was awesome. And I was awesome. Maggie Cunningham, The Awesome. Fuck yeah. Title: The Awesome Written by Eva Darrows Genre: Contemporary/Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Speculative Fiction Publisher: Ravenstone Publication Date: May 2015…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus for our regular weekly column! Today Thea takes a look at YA speculative fiction novel Undertow by Michael Buckley. Undertow is NOT what she was expecting. In a good way.…
Seraphina is back in this entertaining and highly anticipated sequel. While it’s still a solid fantasy novel, Shadow Scale never quite manages to hit the high, sweet notes that made me fall in love with Seraphina. Title: Shadow Scale…
Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped)…
Echo is a novel of great ambition, with four historical settings, different characters and stories in a planned symphony that doesn’t quite sound perfect when it all comes together in the end. Title: Echo Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan Genre:…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus for our regular weekly column! Thea takes over this week with a review of a highly anticipated book, dystopian YA speculative fiction novel City of Savages by Lee Kelly. A…
A dystopian-style novel with a reality television twist, The Vault of Dreamers is solid, enjoyable YA speculative fiction. Title: The Vault of Dreamers Written by Caragh M. O’Brien Genre: Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Roaring Brook Press…
Dracula meets Ghostbusters in this thrilling if somewhat frustrating YA horror. Title: Shutter Author: Courtney Alameda Genre: Horror, Young Adult Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Publication Date: February 3 2015 Paperback: 384 Pages Horror has a new name: introducing Courtney…
An action-packed, wonderfully diverse take on superheroes in the 21st century – and in the Chinese Zodiac pantheon. Title: The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence Written by Stan Lee and Stuart Moore, Art by Andie Tong Genre: Speculative Fiction, Superheroes, Young…
“It’s still our world down there, Dr. Nelson,” she said, “but that’s like saying that the ice ten thousand feet beneath the arctic icepack is, too. Yeah, it is, but not anything we know. Our government has spent thirty…
Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped)…
It’s Friday, which means we’re over at Kirkus! Today it’s Thea’s turn with a review of highly anticipated novel Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes… It’s a beautifully written book, that walks the line nicely between cop procedural thriller and…
Title: MARY: The Summoning Written by Hillary Monahan Genre: Horror, Young Adult Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Publication Date: September 2014 Hardcover: 256 Pages There is a right way and a wrong way to summon her. Jess had done the research. Success…
Title: The Three Author: Sarah Lotz Genre: Horror Publisher: Little, Brown (US) / Hodder and Stoughton (UK) Publication Date: May 2014 Hardcover: 467 Pages (UK) Four simultaneous plane crashes. Three child survivors. A religious fanatic who insists the three…
Title: The Oathbreaker’s Shadow Author: Amy McCulloch Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Random House Children’s Publishers / Flux Publication Date: 2013 / 2015 Hardcover: 416 Pages Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world where you tie a knot for every…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! This week, Thea reviews the eagerly anticipated third and final book in Ben H. Winters’ Last Policeman trilogy, World of Trouble. The book ends phenomenally, but ultimately she has mixed…
Title: I Kill the Mockingbird Author: Paul Acampora Genre: Contemporary, Middle Grade Publisher: Roaring Brook Press Publication Date: May 20 2014 Hardcover: 176 Pages When Lucy, Elena, and Michael receive their summer reading list, they are excited to see…
Title: Half a King Author: Joe Abercrombie Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Del Rey / HarperCollins Voyager Publication Date: July 15 / July 7 2014 Hardcover: 376 Pages Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted.…
Title: Graduation Day Author: Joelle Charbonneau Genre: Dystopia, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Publication Date: June 2014 Hardcover: 304 Pages In book three of the Testing series, the United Commonwealth wants to eliminate the…
Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped)…
Title: The Lost Author: Sarah Beth Durst Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Harlequin Mira Publication Date: May 27th 2014 Paperback: 350 Pages It was only meant to be a brief detour. But then Lauren finds herself trapped in a town called…
It’s Friday which means that we are over at Kirkus! Today it’s Ana’s turn to review California Bones by Greg van Eekhout She had mixed feels. Go HERE to see why.…
Title: Andromeda’s Fall Author: William C. Dietz Genre: Military Science Fiction Publisher: Ace (US) / Titan (UK) Publication Date: December 2012 (US) / January 2014 (UK) Paperback: 352 Pages (UK edition) When a bloodthirsty power grab on Earth results…
Title: One Wish Author: Michelle Harrison Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade Publisher: Simon and Schuster Publication Date: May 22 2014 MMPr: 346 Pages One wish only, understood? There are rules, so listen good . . . The Spinney Wicket Wishing…
Title: We Were Liars Author: E. Lockhart Genre: Contemporary Young Adult, Magical Realism Publisher: Delacorte Press Publication Date: May 13 2014 Hardcover: 240 Pages A beautiful and distinguished family. A private island. A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political…