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The Feats of Strength are an integral part of our annual Smugglivus Tradition. In previous years, the Feats of Strength were a challenge in which we dared each other to read a book that we knew was so far…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! This week, Thea takes over with a review of the last book she read in 2014: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. A pre- and post-apocalyptic fable about a…
10 Rated Books 9 Rated Books Book Reviews Joint Review Read Diversely
Joint Review: The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Title: The Three-Body Problem Author: Cixin Liu (translated by Ken Liu) Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Tor Publication Date: November 11 2014 Hardcover: 400 Pages With the scope of Dune and the commercial action of Independence Day, Three-Body Problem is…
Title: Brown Girl Dreaming Author: Jacqueline Woodson Genre: Historical, Memoir, Middle GRade Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books Publication Date: August 2014 Hardcover: 336 pages Jacqueline Woodson, one of today’s finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today Ana is talking about Love and Romanpunk by Tansy Rayner Roberts: She loved this collection of short stories – it’s funny and fun. Go here to read more about…
5 Rated Books 6 Rated Books Book Reviews Old School Wednesdays
Old School Wednesdays Readalong: Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
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: Stitching Snow Author: R.C. Lewis Genre: Fairy Tale Retellings, Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Publication Date: October 2014 Hardcover: 338 pages Princess Snow is missing. Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands…
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: Foulsham Author: Edward Carey Genre: Gothic, Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Hot Key Books (UK) / Overlook Juvenile (US) Publication Date: September 2014 Hardcover: 400 pages Foulsham, London’s great filth repository, is bursting at the seams. The walls that…
An aesthetically gorgeous movie that fails to deliver on any other meaningful level. NOTE: This review, particularly the latter portion, contains spoilers. If you wish to avoid spoilers altogether, you may want to look away. Interstellar (Paramount Pictures and…
8 Rated Books Book Reviews Progressive Publishers Doing Cool Things Read Diversely
Book Review: A Hero at the End of the World by Erin Claiborne
Title: A Hero at the End of the World Author: Erin Claiborne Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Big Bang Press Publication Date: November 11 2014 Hardcover: 308 pages Sixteen year-old Ewan Mao knows one thing for certain: according to…
Title: In A Handful of Dust Author: Mindy McGinnis Genre: Post-Apocalypse, Dystopia, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Publication Date: September 2014 Hardcover: 384 pages The only thing bigger than the world is fear. Lucy’s life by…
Happy Halloween! Ana is over at Kirkus today, talking about Maplecroft, the new horror novel from Cherie Priest. It’s a good one! Go here to read more about it.…
7 Rated Books 8 Rated Books Book Reviews Halloween Week Joint Review Old School Wednesdays
Old School Wednesdays Readalong: Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson
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: Tales of Terror from the Black Ship Author: Chris Priestley; Illustrated by Dave Roberts Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Middle Grade Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens USA Publication Date: August 2008 Hardcover: 256 pages When Ethan and Cathy fall ill during…
Title: The Fall Author: Bethany Griffin Genre: Horror, Young Adult Publisher: Greenwillow Books Publication Date: October 7 2014 Hardcover: 420 Pages Madeline Usher is doomed. She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until…
Title: The Cure For Dreaming Author: Cat Winters Genre: Speculative Fiction, Historical, Young Adult Publisher: Amulet Books Publication Date: October 14 2014 Hardcover: 368 Pages Olivia Mead is a headstrong, independent girl—a suffragist—in an age that prefers its girls…
Title: A New Dawn Author: John Jackson Miller Genre: Science Fiction, Science Fantasy, Speculative Fiction Publisher: Del Rey Publication Date: September 2014 Hardcover: 367 Pages A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . . “The…
It’s Friday, which means we’re over at Kirkus! Today Ana talks about Elissa Sussman’s book Stray It’s a – not so good – fairytale dystopia. Or dystopian fairytale. Or something, who knows. Go here to hear more about it.…
8 Rated Books Book Reviews Old School Wednesdays
Old School Wednesdays: The Tricksters by Margaret Mahy
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: Falls the Shadow Author: Stefanie Gaither Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Publication Date: September 2014 Hardcover: 352 Pages When Cate Benson was a kid, her sister, Violet,…
Title: Lagoon Author: Nnedi Okorafor Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Publication Date: April 10 2014 Paperback: 306 Pages When a massive object crashes into the ocean off the coast of Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous and legendary city,…
Title: Razor’s Edge Author: Martha Wells Genre: Science Fiction, Science Fantasy, Speculative Fiction Publisher: LucasBooks Publication Date: January 2013 Hardcover: 251 Pages Times are desperate for the Rebel Alliance. Harassment by the Empire and a shortage of vital supplies…