I love high-concept books and The Last by Hanna Jameson promised to be just that: a post-apocalyptic book AND a murder mystery with an unreliable narrator all rolled into one. Sadly, it was nowhere near as good as I…
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7 Rated Books Book Reviews
Book Review: The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray
I am still dipping my toes into the literally fiction pool, finding what works for me and what doesn’t. Books like The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray are definitely my cup of tea. …
8 Rated Books Book Reviews Kirkus
Over at Kirkus: Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson and The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu
It's Friday and I am over at Kirkus today with a post on the awesome girls of Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson and The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu …
Title: Contagion Author: Erin Bowman Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Harper TeenPublication date: July 2018Hardcover: 432 pages It got in us After receiving an urgent SOS from a work detail on a distant planet, a skeleton crew is dispatched…
Title: The Parker Inheritance Author: Varian Johnson Genre: Middle Grade Publisher: ARTHUR A LEVINE / SCHOLASTIC, Publication date: March 2018Hardcover: 331 pages The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in…
We are over at Kirkus today for our regular column! It’s Thea’s turn today with a review of Kiersten White’s newest: YA urban fantasy novel Slayer. Like basically every other SFF nerd of the past 20 years, Thea is…
Title: The Gilded Wolves Author: Roshani Chokshi Genre: Fantasy, YA Publisher: Wednesday BooksPublication date: January 2019Hardcover: 464 pages Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into…
8 Rated Books Book Reviews Miscellaneous
Thrilling: MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Title: My Sister, The Serial Killer Author: Oyinkan Braithwaite Genre: Literary Fiction, Thrillers Publisher: Doubleday Books (US) / Atlantic Books (UK)Publication date: November 2018 / January 2019Hardcover: 240 pages When Korede’s dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call…
Title: The Flicker Men Author: Ted Kosmatka Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Henry Holt & CoPublication date: July 2015Hardcover: 352 pages A quantum physicist shocks the world with a startling experiment, igniting a struggle between science and theology, free will and fate, and…
8 Rated Books Book Reviews
Mini-reviews: Transcription by Kate Atkinson & Death in the Spotlight by Robin Stevens
I have been catching up with books from 2018 that I never got around to reading then and will be writing mini-reviews for those I highly recommend. The two I have for today happen to be historical novels set…
We are over at Kirkus today for our regular column! It’s Thea’s turn, this time with a review of Yoon Ha Lee’s much-anticipated middle grade science fiction novel, Dragon Pearl. Thea has been a huge fan of Yoon Ha Lee’s…
Title: Those Who Knew Author: Idra Novey Genre: Literary Fiction Publisher: VikingPublication date: November 2018Hardcover: 248 pages On an unnamed island country ten years after the collapse of a U.S.-supported regime, Lena suspects the powerful senator she was involved with back in…
Today we bring bring back our feature, “What She Said…” in which we both review books that the other has previously read and reviewed. This feature arose because of a very serious dilemma we faced at Casa de Smugglers:…
7 Rated Books 8 Rated Books 9 Rated Books Book Reviews Kirkus
Over at Kirkus: Round-up of Recent SciFi Reads
I am over at Kirkus today talking about three recent SciFi reads: The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi, Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl and Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee Go over to Kirkus to learn more.…
8 Rated Books Book Reviews What She Said
What She Said: THE DARK DESCENT OF ELIZABETH FRANKENSTEIN by Kiersten White
Today we bring bring back our feature, “What She Said…” in which we both review books that the other has previously read and reviewed. This feature arose because of a very serious dilemma we faced at Casa de Smugglers:…
Title: The Kingdom of Copper Author: S.A. Chakraborty Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Harper VoyagerPublication date: January 2019Hardcover: 640 pages S. A. Chakraborty continues the sweeping adventure begun in The City of Brass—”the best adult fantasy I’ve read since The Name of the Wind” (#1 New York Times bestselling…
Title:Sadie Author: Courtney Summers Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Publication date: September 2018 Paperback: 311 pages A missing girl on a journey of revenge. A Serial?like podcast following the clues she’s left behind. And an ending you won’t…
I included The Epic Crush of Genie Lo in my top 10 of the year but I had not reviewed it – UNTIL NOW. I am over at Kirkus with a full review of the funnest book of 2018. Go over…
We are over at Kirkus today for our regular column! It’s Thea’s turn today with a review of Furyborn by Claire Legrand. The first book in a new series from Claire Legrand, Furyborn tells the story of two different…
8 Rated Books Book Reviews Old School Wednesdays
Old School Wednesdays: A Matter of Oaths by Helen S. Wright
Old School Wednesdays is a regular 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)…
We are over at Kirkus today for our regular column! It’s Thea’s turn today with a review of Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri. The debut novel from Tasha Suri, Empire of Sand is a historical fantasy novel inspired…
We are over at Kirkus! Today, Ana takes a look at The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke Norse Mythology, Beowulf retelling with ladies seeking fortune and fame. Go over to Kirkus to read the whole review.…
We are over at Kirkus today for our regular column! It’s Thea’s turn today with a review of Nightflyers by George R.R. Martin. Originally published in 1980 as a novella, and now fodder for a brand new SyFy original…
We are over at Kirkus today for our regular column! It’s Thea’s turn today with a review of Umbertouched by Livia Blackburne. The second and concluding novel in the Rosemarked duology, Umbertouched is beautifully characterized, self-contained, and full of…
Title:The Defiant Heir Author: Melissa Caruso Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Orbit Publication date: April 2018 Paperback: 515 pages Across the border, the Witch Lords of Vaskandar are preparing for war. But before an invasion can begin, they must call a…
