Ana: I’m [Bill S. Preston, esquire] Ana, Romance reader at heart…
Thea: And I’m ["Ted" Theodore Logan] Thea, Speculative Fiction junkie…

Ana & Thea: And we’re…[Wyld Stallyns] BOOK SMUGGLERS!!!!!!!

*play facemelting riffs on air guitars*

We’ve brought you some of our favorite authors with their reflections on 2008 and plans for 2009… We’ve brought your some of our favorite bloggers with their own wonderful ‘best of’ lists… But now it’s finally time to get our own hands dirty! We have scoured our personal libraries, gone through all our reviews for the year, and we are happy to report that we finally have our final picks ready to go.

Thus, we Smugglers are proud to present you with our Most Excellent Books of 2008!

THEA:

This is, quite possibly, one of the hardest tasks I have had to face all year. Narrowing down the many, many books published in 2008 into a single favorites list? Gaah! After hours of contemplation and crawling around my overflowing bookshelves–I have resolved to start keeping a spreadsheet of Books Read, with reference categories “Publication Date” and “Rating” for next year–here’s my list (in no particular order).

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Review HERE

It’s no secret that we love Neil Gaiman. This late year release following the a young boy named Nobody and his loving ghostly guardians is Gaiman at his best. Touches of horror and the strange, combined with an emotional story about Growing Up, The Graveyard Book is one that should be read by old and young alike.

The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

Review HERE

The sixth entry in The Hollows series, The Outlaw Demon Wails follows witch Rachel Morgan as she makes some of the toughest revelations and roughest decisions of her life. Kim Harrison is one of my favorite authors, and her writing is in top form here with all the characters I have come to know and love in this series. Easily my favorite Urban Fantasy series. Period.

Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier

Review HERE

Juliet Marillier is one of those authors whose writing holds me completely awestruck. I don’t think I can stress enough the beauty of her words, the lushness of the world she has created with Sevenwaters. Again, here’s a favorite quote:

I ordered myself to be calm. I would be ready, no matter what. I would do this even if years and years had passed. I had the green glass ring, I had the necklace, I had the egg stone and I had Fiacha. And I had a plan, a plan that frightened me half out of my wits, but then the very notion of confronting Mac Dara would be enough to make most young women turn tail and flee, I thought. Perhaps, to survive in a place like this, a person had to be half mad; as mad as a man who would sacrifice his future to save a friend; as mad as a woman who could love a child made of sticks and stones.

the dead and the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Review HERE

When Meljean Brook wrote about the first book in this series on her blog, I was intrigued. Life As We Knew It, published in 2007, is easily one of my favorite reads of the year–and the dead and the gone, companion novel to that first book, also makes my 2008 list. This is a young adult series, but don’t let that label fool you–these books deal with staggeringly complex emotions and relationships. Plus, the apocalyptic scenario–an asteroid has hit the moon and pushed its orbit closer to the Earth, causing a string of catastrophic environmental changes–is terrifyingly real. the dead and the gone is dark, haunting tale about the end of the world and one I highly recommend.

**On a related note, ever since reading Life As We Knew It, I have been on something of an apocalypse fiction kick. After reading these two companion books, I went for a re-read of one of my older favorites, Lucifer’s Hammer (in which a comet hits the Earth, resulting in a string of catastrophic events). Then today whilst perusing blogs, I found this video. Cue Twilight Zone music (or should i say Pink Floyd).**

Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti

Review HERE

This is Dru Pagliassotti’s debut novel, and it is quite the stunner! Set in an imaginative world of wires and metal, this steampunk tale follows Taya Icarus as she is pulled into a web of political and emotional intrigue. Clockwork Heart features superb world building, a sweet romance, and some solid writing to boot. I expect big things from this author in the future!

Fables volume 10: The Good Prince by Bill Willingham

Fables vol. 1 Review HERE

Though two trade paperback collections of Fables were released this year (this and Vol. 11: War and Pieces), this one is my slight favorite. Collecting Fables issues 60-69, The Good Prince moves in an entirely new direction–Ambrose (also known as Flycatcher) comes into his own here in a spin on the traditional Arthurian Legend. We journey into the Witching Well, see some familiar faces, and watch as the Prince valiantly challenges the Adversary without spilling a drop of blood. I loved this new, important role for Fly (of ALL people!). I’m a total newbie to Fables having started the series late this year–but once I started, I could not keep my hands off these wonderful books. I’m an official fanatic and have finally caught up with the monthlies. One of the best comics out there, in my (admittedly less experienced) opinion!

**Note: Vol. 11: War and Pieces is also spectacular–it is the WAR, after all. The only reason why Prince beats it out for the spot is because things seemed a little too easy for Bigby and the Gang in Pieces. I digress. On with the list!**

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

Review HERE

Mercedes Thompson is easily one of my favorite Urban Fantasy heroines–she’s smart and tough, but she also knows exactly who she is and what her limited capabilities are (i.e. she does not run off at the mouth pretending to be some invincible idiot hardass in leather pants and swinging a big gun or whatever). In this third installment, Mercy tries to help clear her former boss’ name, she makes a decision in that tantalizing romantic triangle, and she also goes through a heck of a lot of pain. This is the most emotional of the Mercy books, and my favorite to date (emphasis on to date–Bone Crossed is more intense in terms of character development, and probably edges this one out a smidgen).

Joker by Brian Azzarello

Review HERE

This is a groundbreaking, dark beauty of a graphic novel–and has overthrown The Killing Joke as my favorite Joker book. Following as a sort of unofficial sequel to The Dark Knight, Azzarello’s Clown Prince of Crime undergoes a much darker and violent rebirth in Joker: gone is his playful, comic edge. In its place, we have the grimy haired, smudged and scarred version Heath Ledger played to perfection in the film. Bermejo’s art is breathtaking, perfectly complimenting Azzarello’s flowing writing and sadistic tone. This is a new classic–I loved every glossy page.

A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Review HERE

Another young adult novel makes it on the list with this debut novel from Elizabeth C. Bunce. A Curse Dark as Gold is one of the most skilled retellings I have read in a very long time. What’s even cooler is that it is not another romance-fairy-princess retelling: instead of going down that tried, tired route, A Curse Dark as Gold retells the fable of Rumpelstiltskin (sans the princess and prince storyline, naturally). This is a book about relationships, love and magic; it is about the lengths a sister will go to in order to save her village and her family. A Curse Dark as Gold is a gorgeous tale, and I cannot wait to see what future novels Ms. Bunce has in store for us.

The Living Dead Anthology

Zombie Essentials List HERE

This anthology is a bonafide door stopper–but it’s so damn awesome, I rejoice in how long it is! The Living Dead collects previously published Zombie lit from the past 30 years, from an all star list of authors (Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, George R. R. Martin, Clive Barker, Poppy Z. Brite, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Laurell K. Hamilton, and freaking Dan Simmons to name a few). This is an essential collection for any zombie aficionado.

Notable Mentions:
(For other damn good books from this year, and for those not published in 2008)

It’s so hard to narrow down to a favorite 10 of all the books I had the pleasure of reading this year, so I’m cheating and mentioning a few more 2008 favorites here that didn’t quite make the cut. This year I was introduced to Richelle Mead’s unputdownable writing, and her Georgina Kincaid and Vampire Academy series’ are some of my favorites. Succubus Dreams and Shadow Kiss both deserve special mention, as they are fantastic, game changing installments to each respective series.

While we’re on female protagonist driven Urban Fantasy, I also have to mention Rachel Caine’s latest in her Weather Warden series, Gale Force. This is one of the most criminally under appreciated series’ out there, and it’s a shame that more folks haven’t discovered the living force of nature (literally!) heroine that is Joanne Baldwin. Easily in my top 3 favorite Urban Fantasy collections for the fantastic world (sans fey, fur or fangs), the sympathetic characters, and most importantly the hell-or-high-water, break-neck pace of each book. They’re like Pringles: you can’t eat just one.

Then there’s Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews, the second book in her Kate Daniels series–and a nice improvement from the first novel. Tighter plot, tighter characters, and minus the choppiness of Magic Bites.

There were also a few new fantasy novels (surprisingly they all involve pirate ships) I read and loved this year–beginning with the impishly delightful Raine Benares in Magic Lost, Trouble Found and the 2008 release of Armed & Magical. Moira J. Moore’s latest installment to her Heroes series, Heroes Adrift was also a nice treat. But perhaps the best ship-involved fantasy novel I read in 2008 was Jo Graham’s debut novel, Black Ships–a retelling of Virgil’s The Aeneid from the perspective of an oracle who joins the lost Wisullans (Trojans) in their quest for a new home.

I should probably also mention a few comics and graphic novels I loved this year. Thanks to Meljean Brook (more on her in a bit), my already woozy wallet took another hit with a rekindled comic habit! I have to mention three Wonder Woman comics that totally rocked my socks–The Hiketeia by Greg Rucka (it has THE FIGHT!); JLA: A League of One by Christopher Moeller (drop dead gorgeous painted art, plus the throwing of rocks); and last but certainly not least, The Circle by Gail Simone. Holy crow, Ms. Simone’s take is freaking awesome, and The Circle is the heartbreaking start to her run on the WW book.

2008 also marked a big Young Adult year for me–some favorites I should mention are Melissa Marr’s Ink Exchange, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, Kelley Armstrong’s The Summoning, and Neal Shusterman’s Unwind (ok technically a 2007 release, but who’s counting).

For books published prior to 2008 (but I only read this year), I have to name Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind (beautifully translated by Lucia Graves), a book Ana dared me to read and one that is indisputably one of the best novels I have read this year. Then there’s Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, which needs no introduction or pimpage–it is an instant classic, and one very dear to my heart.

But my hands-down favorite read of 2008 comes from the Young Adult genre–with the aforementioned Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It.

Favorite New Characters:

This year also introduced me to three new characters–a “mutant” (he’s not really a mutant), a parasol wielding Egyptologist, and the sweetest Southern waitress you’ll ever meet. Lois McMaster Bujold’s unlikely hero, Miles Vorkosigan, is fiercely intelligent, melodramatic, and hilarious in all his endeavors–and he’s now become one of my favorite heroes, period. Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody is beyond description–I can hardly blame the Master Criminal for wanting to worship at her feet, as I feel exactly the same way! Her sparkling, wonderful narrative is among the best in fiction. And speaking of wonderful first person narratives, there’s Charlaine Harris’ slice of homestyle pecan pie, Sookie Stackhouse. Each Sookie book is a fun read, but it’s Sookie herself that sells the series, and I’m very pleased to have made her acquaintance this year.

How About Them Authors?

One of the best things about running a blog is getting to talk face to face (well, virtual face to face) with authors, and 2008 introduced me to some wonderful new ones! First, there’s the fabulous Linnea Sinclair, whose science fiction romance novels rule the galaxy. I love her Dock 5 series (Gabriel’s Ghost, Shades of Dark), and The Down-Home Zombie Blues is another fantastic read of 2008. Linnea is one of the most friendly, accessible authors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and she genuinely cares for her fans. Lisa Shearin is another author I have to mention in this same light–her blog is fantastic, and she really makes an effort to connect with all of her fans. Last but not least, there’s the incredible Meljean Brook. As Ana and I have said countless times before, we are unabashedly Meljean fangirls (as is half the blogosphere!) and for good reason. Besides penning one of the best paranormal romance series’ on the market, Meljean also happens to be the most awesome, nerdy (in a good way!) chick we know. She updates her blog regularly, has a staggering knowledge of popgeekery, a great devotion to Wonder Woman and Batman (and superheroes in general), great taste in books (which eerily falls right smack dab in the middle of Ana’s and my own tastes)…plus, she’s just a damn cool person.

Books on the 2009 Horizon:

What am I looking forward to in 2009? For the ongoing series’ I am reading, I cannot wait to get my hands on White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison, Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews, The Trouble With Demons by Lisa Shearin, and Succubus Heat by Richelle Mead.*

There are also a ton of YA titles I am dying to read, starting with Carrie Ryan’s debut novel, The Forest of Hands and Teeth–which has generated enough buzz to power a small village for a few months. There’s Catching Fire out in September, sequel to Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, and Maria Snyder’s Storm Glass, a spinoff YA series in the Study universe. Finally, two other YA titles I cannot wait to get my hands on: Kelley Armstrong’s The Awakening (sequel to her debut YA novel, The Summoning) and Tamora Pierce’s Bloodhound (the long awaited second book in her Beka Cooper series).

Lastly, there’s a new Dan Simmons novel on the horizon!!!!! The Drood is a sort of Victorian mystery, following Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. Dan Simmons writes everything from mystery to supernatural horror to hard science fiction to historical fiction–and all of it is amazing.

So there you have it! My notable reads of 2008. Now please, give it up for Ana!
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*Given my list, you might be asking what about Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr or Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs? This ninja can report that BOTH live up to all expectations.

NINJA VANISH!

ANA:

Looking back at the books I read in 2008, it is pretty easy to discern that I am indeed a romance reader at heart – out of the 134 books read and reviewed (yes, I made my Challenge by the way! Hooray me!) by me this year, the majority are romance novels. Although I love other genres (and is part of New Year resolutions to read more Fantasy, Sci-Fi and YA) , I am happier and more satisfied when I read romance – GOOD romance though. (What makes a romance “good”? Many things: from exquisite writing to good plot, from interesting, well developed main characters to interesting and well developed secondary characters. I can even accept clichés, as long as they are well done. But I digress) .

All of this to say: it was easy for me to pick my top 10 this year – I KNEW these books would be the best of the year as I was reading them. You will see that 8 out of the top 10 list are romance novels – the last two entries are YA. And out of the 8 romance novels, 4 are historical romance – still my favorite sub-genre.

So here it goes, with the exception of the first book below, all others are in no particular order.

King of Sword and Sky by C.L. Wilson

Review here

My top 1 book of the year. This is book 3 in the Tairen Soul series and is a perfect combination of my two favorite genres: Romance and Fantasy. In one sentence: “save the Tairen, save the fey world” : the story is epic in its scope, with the fantastic and carefully thought-out world-building coupled with an amazing pair of protagonists, secondary characters that make me CARE for them as much as I care for the central ones and a villain that is everything a villain should be: EVIL without being a caricature. I hate and I fear him and I want him to die a thousand (slow) deaths when the series end. The final book , Queen of Song and Souls is easily my MOST anticipated read of 2009.

Demon Bound by Meljean Brook

Review here

Meljean Brook is one of the writers I discovered this year and what a discovery. She has become one of my favorite writers with her world of Guardians and Demons fighting for Earth and Hell; a beautiful, unique writing style and some of the best heroes and heroines out there. Demon Bound is a book that expands the storylines that came before and sets things in motion for the remainder of the series. Jake Hawkins, the protagonist? My top 1 hero of the year – for this character arc was one that was truly amazing: from seemingly carefree young Guardian to a man in every sense of the word.

The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran

Review here

This is the debut work that knocked my socks off. The first half of this book , set in India during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 where the protagonists first meet and fall in love is PERFECTION: the historical setting carefully researched by the author and the writing was so beautiful it made me want to weep. The second half is set in London 4 years later, when the lovers reunite. Honestly, this is the book I would flaunt at the face of those that say “romance novels are trash”. (If only the cover did not have the dreaded man titty.). Meredith Duran has two novels coming out in 2009 – and I simply cannot wait.

The Two Dukes of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

Reviews here and here

Technically they are two books, so I am cheating here. BUT The Lost Duke of Wyndham and Mr Cavendish, I Presume tell basically the same story from two different points of view and this is the beauty of these books – same events but with utterly different flavors. Jack Audley (the highway man) and Thomas Cavendish (the Duke of Wyndham) are long lost cousins that reunite and the search for proof that Jack is the real Duke changes these men’s lives forever , whilst they also fall in love with their respective heroines. Jack’s book made me laugh as much as Thomas’ book made me cry. This is Julia Quinn at her best.

Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase

Review here

The fact that the author is Loretta Chase should be enough to explain why this book is here – I have yet to read one disappointing book by this author. Her writing is glorious, her historical research flawless and the romance, always and forever aw-worthy. Your Scandalous Ways starts a new series called Fallen Women, where the female protagonists are far from being virginal, innocent young ladies. In this particular book, the heroine is a courtesan who bedevils the hero – a Spy for King and Country. And it is set in Venice. What more could one possibly want? Humor, wonderfully tasteful sex scenes, witty dialogue, all Loretta Chase’s trademarks, and all present here.

Ink exchange by Melissa Marr

Review here

Melissa Marr is another new-to-me author which I discovered this year. As I read her debut work Wicked Lovely, I knew it was a match made in heaven: warped fairytales, with a darker tone and a beautiful prose. Ink Exchange is set in that same world of fairies of the Dark Court mingling with the human world and causing havoc to the life of one girl: Leslie. This book is DARK, and it deals with deeper, grimmer issues such as rape, self-discovery and choices. For a YA novel in a world populated with Bellas and the such , this is a prime example of good storytelling. I was shocked, disgusted at points but ultimately completely satisfied with the novel. I am a Melissa Marr fangirl. The next book in the same world – Fragile Eternity- is out in 2009.

Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh

Review here

Yet another new-to-me author discovered in 2008 (apparently I had been living under a rock without even realizing it). I devoured Nalini’s Psy/Changeling books and was more than ready to read Hostage to Pleasure, a book about a man called Dorian who I had my eyes set on since book 1. This one did not disappoint and we were all granted with a fantastic present in the end – to us and to the character. This is another prime example of an author that takes pride in being extremely careful with her world- building, one that is interesting and gripping and with storylines that continue from book to book without ever overshadowing the romance aspect and vice-versa.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Review here

This is the one book I saved a place in my top 10 list for even before reading it. This is the power of the name Neil Gaiman. I just knew it would be here , from the moment I read the blurb online. It is the Jungle Book in a Graveyard with Gaiman’s trademarked creativity and imagination. There is a chapter about the medieval Danse Macabre that is absurdly brilliant. Enough said.

When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James

Review here

Love and chess set in Georgian times. This is hands-down the smartest historical romance series that I know of. When the Duke Returns is the 4th book in a series that has an ensemble cast evolving around a love triangle with three of the most fascinating characters you will ever read in a romance novel. The whole series resemble a play with other characters (each central pairing of each book) that come and go, always leaving the central core of Jemma, Elijah and Villiers. When the Duke Returns tells the story of Isidore and Simeon, married by proxy when really young and now trying to get on with their marriage but these two are so completely different – will it ever work? Eloisa James thrives when writing already-married couples trying to save their marriage. I absolutely adored this book and I feel I will positively die of happiness when I get the final 2 books in my greedy hands in 2009.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

Review here

This was one of my first forays into Contemporary romance. I am no newbie to Lisa Kleypas, but I read only her historicals and was wary of trying a contemporary. I should have trusted The Kleypas. Blue-Eyed Devil was both gut-wrenching and uplifting. The first part was highly emotional in portraying the mental, emotional and physical abuse the heroine suffered in her first marriage to a man with a personality disorder. Lisa Kleypas went to great lengths to write this relationship as realistically as she possibly could and it panned out. The second part where the heroine meets the man that helps her heal with love is that sort of romance that one looks for when picking up a romance novel: perfect. Hardy Cates is my second favorite hero of 2008 and this book is stunning. This is the reason why I read romance novels, for that warm, fuzzy feeling when I close the book and say: that was a good one.

Notable Mentions:

Where to start? I think I will start by mentioning Linnea Sinclar whose 2008 book, Shades of Dark almost made the top 10. Another new-to-me 2008 discovery (maybe I was living in another dimension not under a rock?), Linnea’s books are consistently good with that perfect balance of romance and Sci-fi: from Gabriel’s Ghost to Shades of Dark, from The Down Home Zombie Blues to Games of Command. Not a single one disappoints.

I mentioned Meljean Brook and Nalini Singh above and I need to go back to the two of them. There were books I read by them that were published in 2007 and could not make the list above but would make a Best Read of the Year (regardless of publishing date) list : and those would be Demon Angel , Meljean’s first book and Caressed by Ice, Nalini’s third. In fact Caressed by Ice may well be one of my favorites books of all time, this is how much I loved the Psy-Changeling tension in that one.

More

Well, there were three other romance writers that blew me away with the quality of their writing regardless of what worked in the plots or not and they were: Joanna Bourne with her debut novel The Spymaster’s Lady; Sherry Thomas and her book Delicious; and Jo Goodman with the Price of Desire. These three very talented women together with Meredith Duran made me want to cry when I read their books. Their prose is a thing of beauty and I hold my breath for their next books – the potential for perfection is right there and I simply cannot wait.

Worthy of mention are two other 2008 romance novels that I loved: What a Scoundrel Wants by Carrie Lofty (Will Scarlet’s story ) and A Rake’s Guide to Pleasure by Victoria Dahl, both books equally good, equally…different from the usual tropes.

Of older romance novels: I read The Lion’s Daughter by Loretta Chase – it was her first book and one that deserved a perfect 10 from me. If you want to know how good Loretta Chase is, read that book. It was her first book people and it was awesome. Also, of the Ye Old Romance world, one of my favorites was The Rake by Mary Jo Putney, I am sucker for reforming the rake stories and really, Reggie is one of THE most reprobate rakes – his plight against alcoholism was dealt with very seriously and I was very impressed.

I read other genres too?

Graphic novels: Fables is ubber cool, incredibly smart and and and I NEED TO CATCH UP. I read the first 3 volumes so far and must read more. I cannot speak of Graphic novels and not mention The Killing Joke, the ultimate Joker story (sorry Thea it is still better than Joker) , full of crazy and important dialogue between Batman and Joker.

I loved, no scrap that, I ADORED beyond measure UF Sunshine by Robin McKinley. It was such a strange book, but one I remember so vividly. Also in UF , I need to mention Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs; Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake and all the Sookie Stackhouse’s books I read – I need to catch up with about 3 books before the next one comes out. But my hatred for Bill remains strong as does my love for Eric Northman.

Speaking of amazing heroines: this is the year I was introduced to the awesomeness that is Amelia Peabody: the feminist Victorian heroine who goes traipsing around the archeological world of Egypt being a busybody and arguing (and loving) her equally awesome husband Emerson and trying to keep an eye out for Villains (MC anyone?) and her troublesome (and extra double awesome) son Ramses. It is love folks, what I feel for Amelia. Of the undying kind.

There is also one small, quite old book that Thea dared me to read and which I loved: Mara, Daughter of the Nile. This little YA book is full of non-stop action, an amazing young girl as the protagonist and Sheftu, her love interest.

Love the authors

Last but not least – I echo Thea’s sentiments: gotta love them authors!

What about 2009?

Ha! Do you have time? So many books I am dying for: CL Wilson’s last Tairen Soul book. All the Nalini Singh’s that are coming out in 2009; Demon Forged by Meljean Brook; Don’t Tempt Me by Loretta Chase; the next Julia Quinn, the next Lisa Kleypas, the next Kresley Cole; This Duchess of Mine and A Duke of her Own both by Eloisa James; the next books by Meredith Duran, Sherry Thomas, Linnea Sinclair, Melissa Marr, and ect, etc, etc. and of course I hold my breath for all the debuts out there, just waiting for me to discover them! Bring it on!2009 is going to be all kinds of AWESOME.

And with that we, your Friendly Neighborhood Book Smugglers, bid you so long, farewell, au revoir, see you in 2009!

And be Excellent to Each Other, dudes!

Who: Li, of the fantastic book review blog Me and My Books.

Li is another blogger who we stalk on the regular–and it shows in TBR purchases. It is because of Li that we met some of our favorite literary characters this year: the lovable Miles Vorkosigan and the ineffable Amelia Peabody! Li provides a broad range of book genres, excellent reviews, and also great updates on excerpts, upcoming books, and covers. Needless to say, we’re huge fans!

For our last Guest Blogger of Smugglivus, please welcome Li!

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Li:

A big thank you to Thea and Ana for inviting me to join in their Smugglivus fun! I’ve been enjoying the pre-countdown, countdown, and Smugglivus guest posts, and despite a bit of procrastination, I’ve made it and here’s my contribution to the party – my favourite 2008 reads and 2009 releases I’m looking forward to.

A bit of personal background first: I’m a long time romance reader, starting off with historical romance way back when. I’ve also been reading SF/F since my teens, and therefore have been loving the shift towards novels that increasingly cross the boundaries between the various genres. During 2008, I’ve found myself continuing to read quite a bit of urban fantasy, starting to spend a lot of time in the YA aisles, and slowly drifting away from historical romance.

So without further ado, my favourite books of 2008!*

Patricia Briggs’ “Iron Kissed” (urban fantasy): Third in Ms Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series, and one that packs a punch. I loved Ms Briggs’ straight fantasy books, and am so glad she decided to start writing urban fantasy. One of the best UF series out there, IMO.

Karen Chance’s “Embrace the Night” (urban fantasy): Third in Ms Chance’s Cassie Palmer series – hmm… a pattern emerging? Ms Chance’s UF world is one of the more unique ones out there, with the main protagonist being Cassie, a clairvoyant with time-travelling abilities. I also enjoyed “Midnight’s Daughter”, a spin-off from her Cassie series that came out late 2008.

Diana Peterfreund’s “Rites of Spring (Break)” (YA): Err… third in Ms Peterfreund’s Secret Society series. I swear I didn’t plan it this way. Moving on swiftly, Diana Peterfreund is a new-to-me author for 2008 and this is a compulsively readable series. Having been initiated into the Rose & Grave secret society and the happenings of the previous year, Amy is growing up and figuring out what matters to her. And oh yeah, falling in love. I adored the romance in RoSB.

Eloisa James’ “When the Duke Returns” (historical romance): Fourth in her Desperate Duchesses series. One of the very few historical romances I’ve read this year, but one that completely worked for me – not just the main h/h relationship, but the secondary couple… Jemma & Elijah *swoon*. I also love Georgian-set historicals, so the time period’s an added bonus in this book.

Josh Lanyon’s “Death of a Pirate King” (mystery / m/m romance): Fourth in the Adrien English series. I dipped my toe into the waters of m/m romance in 2008, and was rewarded by finding this series by Josh Lanyon. Adrien English is a bookstore owner and aspiring mystery author, with a talent for stumbling over dead bodies. Throw in a repressed detective and you get excellently-written mysteries and an angst-filled relationship. What’s not to love?

And the 2009 releases I’m most excited about? The obvious ones are the follow-ups to my 2008 favourites, so that would be Patricia Briggs’ “Bone Crossed” (January), Karen Chance’s “Curse the Dawn” (April), Eloisa James’ “This Duchess of Mine” (May) and “A Duke of My Own” (July), Diana Peterfreund’s “Tap and Gown” (August), and Josh Lanyon’s yet-unnamed Adrien English book 5.

Other 2009 releases I am eagerly anticipating include:

Nalini Singh’s “Angel’s Blood” (urban fantasy romance – March): First of a new series. Vampires and archangels. Need I say more?

Jacqueline Carey’s “Naamah’s Kiss” (dark fantasy – June): A new Kushiel book. I want.

Diana Peterfreund’s “Rampant” (YA fantasy – May): Killer unicorns. Intriguing.

Juliet Marillier’s “Heart’s Blood” (dark fantasy romance – November): I’m currently in the process of glomming Ms Marillier’s backlist, so this will be a must-get.

*I’ve limited myself to actual 2008 releases here, else the list will be waaaay too long.

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Thanks again, Li!

And that brings us to the end of our Guest Post extravaganza–but fear not! Tomorrow we reveal which books (and films and tv moments) make OUR top picks of 2008! Stay tuned…

Next on Smugglivus: Ana and Thea! (Yeaaaaaah, boyyyyy!)

Who: Kate, the incredibly intelligent and wonderful woman that runs the review blog What Kate’s Reading.

Kate runs a fantastic blog, reviewing historical fiction, academic works, non-fiction, romance, and home of the infamous ‘Unbuttoned Yet Tucked In’ series (in which Kate argues that not all romance novels with horrible covers are horrible books–a sentiment we can all relate to!). Kate also writes some very sharp, insightful reviews–this year she has started providing reviews for Lit Mob (this is in addition to running her own blog, and writing other professional and academic reviews)!

Without further ado, we give you Kate!

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Kate:

Ana and Thea, why do I always seem to be writing in airports for you? For your reference, this was mostly written during a layover at Minneapolis/St. Paul. Thanks for having me in your extraordinary Smugglivus month!

Some musings on Suite Francaise – my favorite book of 2008 – and the purpose of context in art

In 2007 a monumental piece of literature was published for the first time even though it had been penned nearly half a century prior: Irene Nemirovsky’s Suite Francaise. Mark my words, this will not just be a notable book of 2008 but is destined to become a canon of mid-20th century literature both for the work itself and the time and place that made the work possible. Nemirovsky, a converted Jew living in France with her husband and children, penned Suite Francaise in the early 1940s before she herself was arrested, imprisoned, and killed in a Nazi camp. The papers that would become Suite Francaise – incomplete papers, as Nemirovsky had only time to finish two of the intended five parts – were hidden with the author’s children as they dodged the Nazis throughout the war, and were only discovered at the end of the century; the two Nemirovsky daughters had always assumed the hidden, handwritten books were their mother’s journal and had not read them in deference to their painful past. But when they discovered those books were their mother’s unfinished masterpiece, it was translated and published, incomplete and still in its draft form, as Suite Francaise.

The two completed parts of Suite Francaise tell a multi-layered story of France during the Nazi invasion and occupation. The first section, “A Storm In June,” follows multiple Parisians on their exodus from the city, a horrific time in which the glories and ugly, ugly pitfalls of mankind are all too evident in many of the class-conscious and selfish characters. The second story, “Dolce,” tells the story of one small French town as it deals with the occupation of German soldiers, an uncomfortable time of painful compromise and tiny rebellions, and learning that the enemy can be shockingly evil, unnervingly kind, and inherently human. Throughout these stories Nemirovsky instills her characters with a quiet desperation and humanity that fill the pages with a certain anxiety, a sort of tacit finality: we know how the War ended, and we know how Nemirovsky met her end. But despite the reader’s knowing of certain outcomes, the narratives rise above our preface-reading oracles. Regardless of circumstance, history, personality, or outcome, Suite Francaise as a piece of literature matches the importance and greatness of Suite Francaise as a historical narrative, one author’s sterling critique of the time and place that would eventually kill her.

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the context of art in all fields – particularly literature, music, and visual arts – and its meaning, use, and importance in a person’s interpretation. In the case of Suite Francaise I’ve read a reader’s pondering – which I unfortunately cannot find to cite, sorry – in which the person wondered if the book would have been so popular and such a critics’ darling if it weren’t for the back story of the author, a history very thoughtfully provided in the publication through the author’s letters and notes. This too gave me pause, and after long consideration I do believe that in the case of Suite Francaise the context of the writing provides it with a greater history, sense of place, and pedagogical potential, but without that context the book would stand on its on as a great work of fiction. But how important is context to art, overall? Does knowledge of the context of creation enhance our understanding of it – or prejudice our viewing?

I tend to think that context should remain where the context is intended, such as with Suite Francaise, and to stretch this theory out to the visual arts, I find it very easy to view Suite Francaise as the literary equivalent to Picasso’s seminal stunning and forceful Guernica. Painted in direct response to the brutal bombing of a small Spanish village by Nazis during World War Two, Picasso hashed severed limbs in oil on his canvas, disembodied heads, destroyed animals and lives in a painting that is as much silent scream of anguish as political protest. It is a direct response to a worldly action – there are few other in the arts that are so transparent – , and no one would dream of entirely separating the meaning of the piece from its worldly subject matter. Why then should we even consider doing so with a piece of literature that is so specifically a response to a very particular time and place? In such a circumstance the context is a vital part of its creation.

In terms of the spectator, the appreciator – the consumer, if you will, Marcel Duchamp may have said it best: “…the creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act.” Because of this, bringing the context – the baggage, if you will – to the interpretive table can sometimes be detrimental. Personally, I am not a fan of Jackson Pollock, and much of me believes that my opinion is because of his relationship with Lee Krasner as opposed to any artistic qualities of his art. Sad, but true. Because of the context of his creativity, because of my own knowledge of his life, I bring interpretational baggage to my viewing of his art, and my personal distaste for him overrides any artistic sensibility that I may have. To be fair I am not much of a visual person, but I can’t think of a literary equivalent to my distaste for Pollock. (I do abhor Hemingway, but I’m pleased to report it’s because I find his work both boring and masochistic – nothing to do with Hemingway the Man.)

There does eventually come a point, though, when context and appreciation may overlap too much, when one mistakes appreciation for the context for appreciation of the art. One does not have to like Beethoven’s Ninth to appreciate it for the fact that it was written when the great composer was nearly fully deaf – which is to say, one appreciates the context though not the content. One can appreciate how a Morris Louis and a Helen Frankenthaler may look hung across the room from each other without liking the pieces themselves; one can buy into the Hemingway mystique to try to buy into his fiction. To me, this poses a personal question: if one needs the context to appreciate the art, is it worth that person appreciating it at all?
Fortunately I don’t believe that’s a question that needs to be asked of Suite Francaise. Without its context – should the book have been written by a thirty-year-old man in 1999 – the words stand for themselves. But within the metadata of the fiction, if you will, lies that other narrative, separate and just as important as the words on the paper. There is no use and no point in separating Nemirovsky’s tragedy from the book. To do so is folly, and to do so is to lose the calamity imbued within its words.

My thanks to Jeff Phegley, Todd Flatt, Steve Short, Rachel Denny, and Evan Tewinkel for some great discussions which helped me refine my opinion.

In other news of Irene Nemirovsky, the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York City is holding what looks to be a fascinating exhibition called “Woman of Letters: Irene Nemirovsky and Suite Francaise” through March 22, 2009, which includes the original manuscript of Suite Francaise, the valise in which it was found, personal papers, photographs, and other ephemera of the author, her family, and her story. The museum has several public events and lectures surrounding the exhibition, and public tours can be booked with contact information on their website. Are you, like me, too far from that neck of the woods to view the exhibition live? Their website does a great job of presenting the content of the exhibition (and making you wish you could afford that red-eye to New York.)

In other news of What Kate’s Reading, look for two new features in the upcoming year: a weekly roundup of book blog giveaways and an irregular series spotlighting independent bookstores around the country…maybe even the globe! Expect more monthly giveaways, and the continuance of the popular Unbuttoned Yet Tucked In series, reviewing romance novels chosen specifically for their cringe-inducing covers. In personal news I’ve had a small publisher ask for my manuscript, which while in itself doesn’t necessarily mean anything, still feels pretty damn good.

Many, many warm and heartfelt thanks to Ana and Thea, the amazing Book Smugglers!

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Thank you Kate for yet another fascinating article!

Next on Smugglivus: Li of Me and My Books

Day 5 of Smugglivus

Who: Carolyn Jean from The Thrillionth Page

The Thrillionth Page is one of our favorite blogs and it is all down to the gloriously creative CJ. Her reviews come in many formats: thoughts as she reads the books or post-reading reflections in which she examines her reactions and how she enjoyed the books , all wrapped up with depth and imagination. She sometimes blogs with her other persona, the creepy sweet little CJ and they are both here today!

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Carolyn Jean and Little CJ’s Smugglivus post!

Happy Smugglivus, everybody from Carolyn Jean

and little CJ

CAROLYN JEAN:
I read so many great books that came out this year, it’s hard to pick my favorites, and I’m not going to rank them. But I want to talk about a few of my standouts, not in any specific order.

The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne

CAROLYN JEAN:
Fabulous historical about a lady French Spy and a hunky English spy. Honestly, this book took over my mind and swept me off my feet—the characters, the plot, the twists and turns. So good. I never wanted it to end.

LITTLE CJ:
Carolyn Jean was so excited about this one, she made her husband read it. He was going on a trip on a plane and she made a fake cover for it, so he wouldn’t be embarrassed reading it in front of the other passengers. He thought the book was lame. She still can’t understand it. Hello, it’s a chick book!

Demon Night by Meljean Brook

CAROLYN JEAN:
Another of Brook’s exciting and inventive Guardian series. This one was about a kind of rough and tumble Wild West angel and a scrappy girl bartender. Pure reading pleasure! I loved the way the characters’ personalities fed into the conflict here. Lots of plotty yumminess and psychological goodness.

LITTLE CJ:
Psychological goodness…ah yes, Ms. Freud, you are so astute. Tell the truth. You liked the way Ethan talked during sex in that desert scene. You thought it was so hot to read about, because you are into sex talk! And let me just say, certain people who have girlhood portraits hanging on the wall should monitor the ways they act and the things they say!

Dark Desires after Dusk by Kresley Cole

CAROLYN JEAN:
Book 5 from the Immortals series. I just didn’t want to put this one down! I loved the characters, the conflict, the entertainingly high stakes. It was just tons of fun. I can’t wait for her next, Demon King, out in February!

LITTLE CJ:
Carolyn Jean is really in awe (coughjealouscough) of Kresley Cole for how she balances her stories. Carolyn thinks Cole can never top this book; furthermore, she believes Cole possesses a unique ability to make things look simple that really aren’t, as well as a special recklessness and detachment that makes her an excellent author, qualities Carolyn Jean knows she can never gain by force of will. Boo hoo!

Death of a Pirate King by Josh Lanyon

CAROLYN JEAN:
Wow, all my books are parts of series this year! Anyway, this is book 4 in the Adrian English mystery series. These books are just so thoroughly entertaining and witty. I love being inside Adrian’s head, and this one managed to be both funny, plotty and poignant all at the same time.

LITTLE CJ:
Carolyn Jean is one of those smug people who think they can figure out the endings of things, and if she can’t, she thinks the ending either wasn’t somehow “earned” or else was a ‘ghost in the machine’ that is, a cheat. However, this book totally defied her. It had an ending that she didn’t guess, but it flowed perfectly from the text when you look at the book in hindsight, shocking the hell out of Carolyn Jean. Snap.

Predictions for 2009!!

Sookie Stackhouse

CAROLYN JEAN:
Eric and Sookie will get together. I strongly feel it will be Eric in the end, because he has that core of sweetness she uncovered in a certain book, and it will be back again, I know it!

LITTLE CJ:
Sookie goes with Tiger guy. He bites her and turns her into a tiger and she mauls Eric.

Paranormal trends

CAROLYN JEAN:
Shape shifters, vampires and demons will continue to be strong. Fae will be middling, and ghosts are a non-starter. (Aside from Kresley Cole’s book #4)

LITTLE CJ:
2009 will be the year of the were-elephant, where normal humans magically transform into giant lumbering beasts who can’t fit into their jeans. Oh, wait, that’s just Carolyn Jean. She overdid it on the cookies this holiday.

Hero trends

CAROLYN JEAN:
Alpha heroes will continue to be popular.

LITTLE CJ:
* gasp! * Here’s the deal: Carolyn Jean couldn’t think of any more predictions, so she went with this one. Yeah, that’s really a bold one, Carolyn Jean.

Interior decoration

CAROLYN JEAN:
Budding authors will contemplate redoing their office décor, removing certain childhood portraits that their great aunts painted of them and put up other portraits instead.

LITTLE CJ:
* gulp! *

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Thanks CJ and Little CJ! : D

Next on Smugglivus – Kate of What Kate’s Reading

Day 5 of Smugglivus

Who: Kmont from Lurv a la Mode

Kmont in one word: cool. We love her very in-depth reviews of Romance (mostly paranormal), Fantasy and SCi Fi . Her sense of humor is of that kind that makes one fall of the chair with laughter. This is another blog that is a MUST visit every day. Oh, and I 2009, Kmont will be running her own reading Challenge. You can sign up here.

Kmont, folks:
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It’s always difficult for me to pin down absolute, die hard favorite reads. If I had a do-or-die ten minutes to decide before a daring escape from some disaster, I’d never be able to make a choice…except for one that’s stayed in the forefront for most of ‘08. I made a list of faves for my blog and even that I have to take with a grain of salt. But here it’s almost 2009 and all I can think about still is Rain Tairen Soul and my next reading meal of him.

Cue the melodramatic, Fey emo sighs.

For me, Wilson’s work embodies what I love most about the romance book industry: It’s ability to adapt and welcome new horizons. No, fantasy romance in and of itself isn’t new, but, in my opinion, the very fact that Wilson’s genius with her Tairen Soul series was recognized in the form of publication gave me a spark of renewed interest in romance reading, something refreshing and unique to nom, nom, nom onto.

For anyone not familiar with the rambling I do over at Lurv, my reading roots are based deeply in mainstream fantasy and science fiction, two loves I’ve returned to slowly this year. And I always enjoyed more the ones that featured a small romance aperitif. Love is essential for me and reading; small doses or large, it enhances my reading experience like no other element.

With Wilson’s Tairen Soul epic, I felt that my love of reading had come full circle. Here was a clear love of fantasy and all it entails to pull a work of fantasy off: epic-scale adventure, relentlessly vindictive evil, an unsurpassed love and one of the richest worlds I’ve ever seen it all housed in. The Tairen Soul series is the whole package and I’ve never been more in love with a set of glued-together pages as I have been with these books.

So naturally I started thinking that Rain and I were meant to be together.

Hey, don’t look at me like that – it’s not as crazy at it sounds! I mean,

1) I love cats. Ha! See there?

2) I have no cat allergies. Double ha!

3) Through my extensive romance sub genre reading, I will bring to the Fey and Tairen new ways to fight the evil mages: plasma guns and space jumpers from Linnea Sinclair’s and Ann Aguirre’s scifi worlds; crazy Valkyrie warriors from Kresley Cole’s IAD series; voluminous Victorian gowns, perfect for the stay-at-home Fey moms and wives to hide weapons under as the creepeee eeeevol draws near (a la Gleason’s Gardella series). I don’t think we’ll need any help from the erotic romance section –these Fey men’ve got that part down pat.

4) I’m very forgiving and can get past Rain mistakenly believing that Ellysetta Baristani was his truemate. Even though they’ve slept together. In front of the entire romance reading community. Many, many times. What can I say, he’s an exhibitionist.

5) I’ll forgive the romance community for seeing my Rain naked. This once.

Maybe Kim Lenox could knit one of Asher’s sweaters for my Rain’s sweet, tight buns? But that wouldn’t be a sweater – a swutter, maybe?

Anyway, those are just a few of the reasons that Rain and I are perfect for one another.

What? Why does everyone look so sad? I’m happy — we’re happy!

Of course, that was all in fun and love for one of the best books of 2008. Without further gilding of the lily, I simply give props to one of the best authors to be published in 2008. Here’s to many more from C.L. Wilson.

It was hard, but eventually I was able to get past Rain to realize that 2008 was a great year in books: Ann Aguirre’s first two Sirantha Jax books were A-ma-zing (and her publishing schedule through 2010 has me grinning in frenzied reader lust); Kim Harrison hit another Cincinnati Hallows home run with book 6, The Outlaw Demon Wails; Charlaine Harris proved there is no such thing as a slump in her Sookie Stachouse series with From Dead to Worse, still going strong at eight books long. Newbies had their share of the spotlight too and two I enjoyed most were Ione’s Pleasure Unbound and urban fantasy writer Devon Monk for Magic to the Bone.

I have to pause here long enough to thank Thea and Ana, both of whom were a tremendous influence to my reading this year, not to mention what still waits in the TBR pile (Yes, I swear I’ll get to Orphans of Chaos!). We don’t always agree by The End, but man if these two haven’t helped put a dent in my pocketbook. The good kind. Thanks to them I discovered fresh and fun new-to-me authors like Lisa Shearin, Rachel Caine and oh hell – the list is just too long. Suffice to say, the year wouldn’t have been as fruitful reading-wise without their awesome reviews, author interviews and insight. So thank you, Smugglers!

2009 is already shaping up to be a busy reading year. Besides the usual reads, I’ve initiated a reading challenge, Year of the Category, so that’s 12 books right there. I’ve got another list in the making – and 29 books long so far — that will be posted in January of must-reads. Any of the authors named here already, naturally I will be following up with their upcoming work with absolute relish. Some top new ones in the mainstream market I’m interested in though, are:

1) Ghostland by Jory Strong

2) Darkborn by Allison Sinclair

3) Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

4) Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

I don’t know how I’m going to get all these books read, but it’s all about the love, baby. And since we’re all book lovers here, bring it on 2009. I do believe we’re ready.

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*Ana frantically adds books to 2009 TBR list*

Next on Smugglivus: CJ of the Thrillionth Page

Day 4 of Smugglivus

Who: Lisa Trevethan of Urban Fantasy Land

Lisa is one of the contributors for Urban Fantasy Land, a fantastic blog for all your Urban Fantasy needs in any format: books, comics, tv and movies. New authors, new titles, new covers, author tidbits and interviews, reviews and giveaways, you name it, they have it. Over this holiday period they had some pretty cool Urban Fantasy authors talking about their holidays. You can read the posts here.

And Lisa is offering a VERY VERY cool-generous-awesome giveaway. Read on:

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I have to say that 2008 was not the most prolific of reading years for me. My job and my health cut down on my reading time considerably and where I usually read between 50-70 books per year, this year it was about 30. Not all of those were in the Urban Fantasy genre either. But, just because this year wasn’t prolific doesn’t mean I didn’t run across some real gems.

Here is a list of my fave reads of 2008 and as much as I wanted this list to be 10 instead of 9 to make it a nice even number, I would have been throwing that last book in for all of the wrong reasons.

The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison – It’s no secret that I love Kim Harrison’s books but after the events of For a Few Demons more, I felt there was a delicate balance to walk. I think that she was spot on in the way she portrayed Rachel’s deep sense of loss and then showing how she was beginning to move her life forward. I was very pleased with how she handled the aftermath of a devastating event and showed there is hope and life goes on without it being over the top.

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews – Ms. Andrews is a master at world-building, setting and description. If I were to teach such things, I would have students read the books first for their enjoyment and then go back and take a much closer look at the construction. Magic Burns was an action packed, dark and gritty read from start to finish with lush yet economical prose and a meticulously formulated world.

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost – Ms. Frost is excellent at plotting and characterization. The chemistry between Cat and Bones is palpable and pretty darn combustible. One Foot in the Grave is fast-paced, tightly plotted and a real page turner. I also like how the revelations about Cat aren’t just for shock value. They move the story forward. Ms. Frost’s books are always exciting, fun reads.

Hotter Than Hell by Jackie Kessler – I have to admit, this is the first book I have read by Ms. Kessler. She has been on my To Buy list forever but I just hadn’t done it yet for real reason in particular. Well, shame on me. Ms. Kessler has a formidable writing style with a distinct gift for imagery and she stays on course with a bold storyline. Daunaun is an incubus. He acts like an incubus. The blows delivered by the plot were not softened and/or sanitized for our protection. There was no pretty bow added for the sake of an artificial HEA. I respect her immensely for sticking to the story and will definitely be reading her backlist.

Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine – While I am very familiar with Ms. Caine’s Weather Warden Series, this is the first of the Morganville Vampire Series I have read. I was not disappointed. Ms. Caine’s world and characters are well developed and highly believable. The action is fast paced and non-stop and while I hadn’t read any of the previous books, she provided enough information on previous events without it being an infodump that I had a handle on the backstory. Feast of Fools was a great read and once again, I will be reading the backlist of this series.

Host by Faith Hunter – Ms. Hunter is another author I find excels in world-building and description. No sooner do you start reading than you find you are in the center of the action in a post-apocalyptic earth almost more participant than bystander. Host is a great read that is gritty, romantic and thought provoking. This is a really interesting series written in a unique voice and I hope it continues.

Thank YOU Lisa for playing and for the generous giveaway!

Next on Smugglivus – Kmont from Lurv a La Mode

Day 4 of Smugglivus

Who: Karen Mahoney, writer of YA and Urban Fantasy whose first story will be published in 2009. She talks about her writing and life at her livejournal: Karen Mahoney.

Karen is one of our buddies – a honorary Book Smuggler (as she – cheekily – talks about herself ) , reader-turned-friend. The love for all things Neil Gaiman brought us together and then we started reading her livejournal and lo and behold, the woman is a super-geek just like us! Karen is also going places in 2009, not only her first story , Falling to Ash will be published in the anthology The Eternal Kiss (Running Press) but she will also be blogging with other UF authors such as a Toni Andrews, Keri Arthur, Jenna Black, Rinda Elliott, Jackie Kessler, Devon Monk, Lilith Saintcrow andRachel Vincent. The blog is called Deadline Dames and will start running in January.

For now, you should probably go check Karen’s blog – she is running a 8 Days of Christmas feature giving away LOADS of books - all open until early January.

So here she is – Karen:

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When Ana and Thea invited me to be part of their Smugglivus celebrations I was, of course, completely daunted. A guest blog about anything related to books, reading and writing in 2008 – and what I’m looking forward to in 2009? Um… just how long was this piece supposed to be?!

Luckily for you poor people reading this, I’ve managed to narrow it down. Here are just a few of my top reads of 2008 (with a focus on YA urban fantasy, as that’s what I write!):

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters – Teenagers all over America who die aren’t staying dead. They are coming back as zombies – “living impaired” or “differently biotic” to use the terms coined in the book. But how can they reintegrate into a society that fears them? When Phoebe falls for back-from-the-dead Tommy, it sets off a devastating chain of events. I loved this book and can’t wait for the sequel coming in 2009.

(UK cover)

(US cover)

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr – I make no secret of what a fangirl I am! When it comes to Melissa’s gorgeous prose and heartbreaking character dilemmas, I am left speechless. Ink Exchange is her second novel and was just as darkly powerful as her debut, Wicked Lovely. This probably wins Best Cover Art, too.

Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception by Maggie Stiefvater – A wonderful debut by an author to watch. Think, ‘homicidal faeries’ combined with scarily good writing, and you’re only halfway there. It’s a novel that’s full of surprises, and I look forward to more from Maggie in 2009.

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead – Third book in the ‘Vampire Academy’ series, and quite possibly the best. I didn’t think Richelle could beat book two (Frostbite), but Rose continues to be one of my favourite main characters in an ongoing YA series.

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong – YA debut by the talented author of the ‘Women of the Otherworld’ adult urban fantasy series, this book surprised me in many ways. It cruelly ended on a cliffhanger that leaves the reader begging for the next book due in 2009.

There are too many adult books that I could highlight as winners in 2008, so I’ll list just three:

The Ghost in Love by Jonathan Carroll – Probably my favourite living writer of adult fiction, this is Carroll’s fourteenth novel and is one of his best. Poignant, beautifully written and filled with magical twists and turns, it’s a book that stays with you long after you think you’re done with it.

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost – Book two of the ‘Night Huntress’ series, which I enjoyed even more than the first instalment. Watching Cat grow and mature as a person, while seeing her reunion with the gorgeous vampire, Bones, more than lived up to my expectations. Roll on book three… (any day now!)

Lord of Bones by Justine Musk – Long-awaited sequel to Musk’s debut, Blood Angel, here we go deeper into the world of the ancient race of Summoners, and watch as demon-hunting Jess grows into her powers. I love the writing style and richness of the world, as well as the mysterious link between Jess and the demon-tainted rock guitarist, Lucas Maddox.

And talking of demon hunters, I have to give a shout out to my favourite TV show of 2008:

Supernatural – I love the Winchester brothers! In this short (non-spoilery) scene from Season 3, Dean rescues Sam with the help of an enchanted lucky rabbit’s foot…

What I’m looking forward to in 2009:

So many amazing books – some of which I’ve mentioned above – but here are a few more. On the adult side of things:

Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand and Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn – back-to-back releases for books 5 & 6 (January and February) in the superb Kitty Norville werewolf series. Cormac had better be making a reappearance, that’s all I can say! *g*

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs – the fourth Mercy Thompson novel. I loved the first two books, had a few issues with book 3, but am looking forward to seeing what else Briggs has in store for Mercy. I hear the vampires are making a return in this one…

A couple more YA mentions:

Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr, and the first book in a manga series set in her ‘Wicked Lovely’ world.

And a debut novel that releases in March 2009, Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this, and I can honestly say it’s up there among my all-time favourites:

Check out the awesome book trailer:

Phew! If you’re still with me after all of that – thank you and congratulations. There is so much to look forward to in 2009, including my debut publication in an anthology of YA vampire stories, The Eternal Kiss (Running Press). My story is called ‘Falling to Ash’ and puts the spotlight on an important supporting character from my currently-on-submission novel. Moth is a young vampire who returns to her hometown for a memorial service, one year after her mother’s death, but is reluctantly pulled back into the vampire world while she’s there. What should be a routine job for her ‘boss’ turns into something with potentially deadly consequence. I still find it hard to believe that 2008 saw me finally achieve my goal of finding an amazing agent (Miriam Kriss of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency in New York), and I’m hoping 2009 will see me take the next step on this inspiring journey…

Thanks for inviting me over here, girls, and a Very Happy Smugglivus to you and all your readers. Keep Smuggling in 2009!

—
Karen Mahoney has been a professional Tarot reader, a college counsellor and a dating agency consultant. Ever since she was six years old what she really wanted to be was Wonder Woman, but has instead settled for being a writer. She works part-time as the Romance & Fantasy buyer at Murder One Bookshop in London. Karen writes urban fantasy for young adults, and does nothing to hide the fact that she is a total geek. She is British, but hopes that you do not hold this against her. Her (almost) daily blog is here .

Ta muchly Karen!

Next on Smugglivus Lisa of Urban Fantasy Land with a giveaway!

Day 4 of Smugglivus

Who: Angiegirl (Angie), solo blogger that runs the EEEEVIL review blog, Angieville. (Why EEEEVIL? Because Angie is single-handedly responsible for quadrupling Thea’s TBR this year.)

Angie’s blog is one we stalk for book recommendations–she always has some great find we never would have heard of otherwise. Not only does Angie have the hookup for young adult fiction and awesome fantasy books, but her reviews are clear, concise, and still all-encompassing of the text in question.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we give you the fabulous Angie!

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Angie:

Can I just say how fun it is to be here at Smugglers Central! I was honored to get Thea and Ana’s invitation to be with you guys today. While mulling over ideas for Smugglivus, I hit on something similar to Tia and decided to give out awards in various categories for the best of ‘08. Therefore I’m excited to be hosting the first ever Bard Awards. The Bards honor outstanding achievement in the publishing industry. Thus far winners are determined by a single round of voting by one thoroughly unbiased, extremely enthusiastic reader. So without further ado, let’s get started handing out the awards for 2008.

And the Bard goes to….

Best Performance by a Heroine in a Recurring Role: Mercy Thompson for Iron Kissed
She’s made of awesome. ‘Nuff said.

Best Debut Performance by a Heroine in a Leading Role: Sirantha Jax for Grimspace
Jumpin’ Jax’s got more than enough bravado, self-doubt, and naked emotion to fuel any number of books and win any pilot’s heart. March doesn’t stand a chance and neither do we.

Best Performance by a Hero in a Tall, Dark, and Brooding Role: Nicholas Brisbane for Silent in the Sanctuary
He’s furtive, distrustful, less than forthcoming. And when he’s around life feels somehow larger.

Best Performance by an Antihero in a Leading Role: Poe for Rites of Spring (Break)
He’s just so snippy and awkward and fun to hate. I love him so very, very much.

Best Adapted Fairy Tale: A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Gorgeous storytelling. Who’d have thought Rumpelstilstkin could be so compelling?

Best Comedy: Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Hamlet on unicycles…she slays me.

Best Performance by a Villain: Leck of Monsea for Graceling
Seriously, the dude scared the crap out of me.

Best Unpronouncable Character Name: Prince Mochriadhemiach for The Mage’s Daughter
In my mind, I say MEE-OSH, and I leave it at that. Who knows for sure?

Best Performance by an Angstpuppy in a Leading Role: Luke Dillon for Lament
Sexy as sexy. That’s Luke.

Best Fresh New World: Dru Pagliassotti for Clockwork Heart
Steampunk/romance/urban fantasy treat complete with metal-winged icarii.

Best New Take on Some Old Vampires: Jeri Smith-Ready for Wicked Game
Obsessive-compulsive vampire DJs clinging to sanity by a thread. As creatures who might eat you go, they’re just so vulnerable.

And last, but not least…

Best Author Pimping: Ann Aguirre for her fabulous sell of Moira J. Moore’s Hero series: Resenting the Hero, The Hero Strikes Back, and Heroes Adrift
Thank you, Ann. You’re absolutely right. Moore is one of the best authors you’ve never heard of. Highly recommended for fans of Lisa Shearin.

As for my 2009 Must Be Mine list…what can I say? It’s long. It’s growing (thanks to you guys)! So I’ll settle for leaving you with a few long-awaited highlights, bright and in color.

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Hark? What’s the creaking sound you hear? That would be Thea’s amazon cart, chock full of books to try. Thanks Angie!

Next on Smugglivus: Karen of Karen Mahoney’s livejournal

Day 4 of Smugglivus

Who: The Discriminating Fangirl (aka “TDF”), geek blogger extraordinaire of The Discriminating Fangirl. From the second we saw her tagline:

“pop culture + geekery = happiness”

…we knew it was love. TDF runs an eclectic blog, reviewing everything from comics to urban fantasy and paranormals, as well as providing movie news and fun, random linkage. Plus, she has one of the coolest blog layouts and names out there! This is a blog that we highly encourage everyone to follow–TDF’s reviews are sharp and informative, and her commentary on all things geeky is priceless.

Without further ado, we give you The Discriminating Fangirl!

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The Discriminating Fangirl:

I’m a pretty picky reader. That’s why I picked this particular pseudonym; I’m not just a fangirl, I’m a discriminating fangirl. I won’t read just anything that crosses my path. I spent hours in the bookstore, reading back covers, reading first chapters, trying to find something that will tickle my fancy.

Needless to say, I’m kind of difficult to buy for when it comes to holidays and birthdays. My family usually gives up and gives me gift certificates to bookstores–which I think is fantastic, heh–but I started thinking… what if other people out there have a discriminating reader to buy for? A discriminating reader who really digs SF/fantasy, comic books, paranormal romance, urban fantasy… er, in other words, a reader like me?

Despair no more, for I bring you…

A (Slightly Late) Gifting Guide for Your Discriminating Fangirl (or Fanboy)
Or, Getting Ready for Birthdays and Next [Insert Gift-Giving Winter Holiday Here]

Books & Other Sundry Printed Materials

1. The Books of Neil Gaiman

Okay, okay, this is an easy one. Neil is… how do I put it? Awesome. He writes incredibly imaginative spec fic, from fairy tales (Stardust) to mythological mysteries (American Gods to deliciously creepy children’s stories (Coraline). For the already-a-fan, The Graveyard Book is out in hardback and would make a great gift. For the not-yet-a-fan, try the anthologies of his short stories and poetry, Smoke & Mirrors and Fragile Things. And for the comic book fan, he’s got more than enough to choose from.

2. Richelle Mead’s Georgina Kincaid Series

The three books in this series, Succubus Blues, Succubus On Top, and Succubus Dreams are pretty much my favorite urban fantasies. The protagonist, Georgina, is a succubus employed by Hell, which is more a hellish bureaucracy than fire and brimstone. The series follows her as she deals with supernatural troubles, her smart alecky friends, and the possibility of romance with a mortal man, Seth. Mead’s writing is engrossing and often laugh-out-loud funny. I’m waiting imaptiently for the fourth book in the series, Succubus Heat to come out. Is it May yet?

3. Hellboy Collections

Okay, this is definitely a personal preference thing. I’ve recently gotten really into Hellboy, thanks to the movies, and I’m starting to make my way through the comics. I really love Mike Mignola’s art style, and the stories I’ve read so far are fascinating. I love the inclusion of mythology and the paranormal. There are plenty of trade paperback collections to choose from, both from the Hellboy title as well as BPRD.

4. Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials Series

This is a controversial series of books, but it’s one that I really enjoy. The books are an amazing coming-of-age story for Lyra and Will, and carry a strong message of thinking for yourself. Pullman has been criticized for his atheistic and anti-establishment position, but what I took away from these books is the importance of questioning what you’re being told instead of blindly accepting it. And even if you’re not into that philosophical stuff, it’s still a great adventure story.

Reading Accessories
Or, Stuff a Discriminating Fangirl (Or Fanboy) Needs To Read in Comfort)

1. Stacked Coffee Cup

Do you read into the wee hours of the night? Do you find yourself sucking down cups o’ joe to stay awake so you can finish that book? This might not hold three cups of coffee, but it certainly looks like it does.

2. The Peeramid Bookrest

Okay, we all want to get comfortable while we read. I don’t know anyone who’d like to read while uncomfortable… say, hanging upside down from the ceiling or while sitting in a cold bath. This lap pillow, specially designed to prop up your book, helps you get just that much more comfy while you’re reading. Try searching for the Peeramid on Amazon.

3. Learn A New Language Shower Curtain

Okay, so you might not become fluent by reading your shower curtain, but you can definitely pick up new words and phrases while sudsing up. Who knows? Maybe this will inspire you to take that French class, and then you can read twice as many books!

4. Tea-For-One

I like coffee and all, but I’m definitely a tea drinker. And who wants to keep getting up to refill a teacup when you can bring the pot with you? Tea-for-ones are nifty little contraptions that let you carry the pot and the cup without dropping or spilling either. The pot fits into the cup and can be easily removed for optimum pouring. Stash Tea has some great designs (I like the bamboo leaf set myself), and Google brings up a ton of shops that carry tea-for-ones.

So what about you? What did you get the discriminating fangirl/fanboy in your life? If you’re a discriminating fan yourself, what would you add to this list? Help me stack my wishlist for next holiday season.

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Thanks again, TDF, for the awesome gift giving guide!

Next on Smugglivus: Angie of Angieville

Day 3 of Smugglivus

Who: Heather, the pioneering gal behind the dedicated Science Fiction Romance site, The Galaxy Express!

Heather runs a true, dedicated niche blog–and though you might think Science Fiction Romance is too narrow a genre classification to warrant such devotion, you could not be more wrong. Heather’s blog provides awesome insights into the branding and marketing of the genre (see her recent guest article) as well as giving in-depth reviews of SFR books and profiles/interviews of SFR authors. Truly, this is an awesome site, and one we highly recommend!

A round of applause, dear audience, for Heather!

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Heather:

2008 Retrospective: Birth of a Science Fiction Romance Community

Greetings, Smugglivus attendees!

My name is Heather Massey, and I’m the conductor for The Galaxy Express, a blog devoted to science fiction romance. The fab ladies here extended an invitation my way to post for Smugglivus, so I jumped at the chance to be a part of this commemorative celebration.

Congratulations, Ana and Thea, for a most excellent accomplishment!

Now for our feature presentation:

Science fiction romance goes waaaay back, far before The Galaxy Express began its journey across the sea of stars. The subgenre is nothing new, and the advocates behind it have been chugging along through feast or famine, but science fiction romance still has that undiscovered country feel about it.

I wanted to help advance it.

You can read the full story behind that in an interview I did here. Essentially, the time seemed right. Authors Linnea Sinclair, Susan Grant, Rowena Cherry, and Jacqueline Lichtenberg are the advance guard of science fiction romance. Loyal readers such as >Kimber An, Lisa Paitz Spindler, Laurie Green, Ella Drake, and other Skiffy Rommers have been flying the science fiction romance banner for years. I simply threw up a big tent so we could all party together.

And the support of the SF & romance bloggers has been phenomenal. Because of the outpouring of positive responses, I knew I was onto something. I’m honored that so many sites—Enduring Romance, Lisa Paitz Spindler, and Dear Author, to name just a few—all added The Galaxy Express to their blogrolls right out of the gate.

Then there’s John “Link King” DeNardo of SFSignal who linked to various Galaxy Express posts—and he’ll be the first one to tell you he’s a better man for it ;). And when a debut blogger gets visitors from premier sites such as The Book Smugglers and Ramblings on Romance, well that leaves me all atwitter.

As the year 2008 unfolded, I also had the pleasure of participating in discussions at Grasping for the Wind. As if that weren’t yummy enough, I was invited to become a blogger at Tor.com, where I crash the party with all kinds of science fiction romance goodness.

And speaking of…

Science fiction romance: Smarter. Stronger. Edgier.

Science fiction romance continues to evolve and is experiencing growing pains, but that makes the anticipation of where it could go that much more exciting.

It’s evolving for the better, as indicated by the increased focus on external plots and swell science like nanotechnology. Authors have been creating flawed heroes and heroines who challenge many a romance stereotype. And what’s not to love about girls with guns—and pimped up trucks? Or admirals with attitude (Philip Guthrie, meet Brit Bandar)?

Rather than the “favorite books” angle, I’d like to present examples of what made the past year a particularly strong one for science fiction romance. The following sampling of books I read epitomizes the subgenre for me and indicates a promise of what’s in store for the future:

DRIVEN by Eve Kenin
GRIMSPACE by Ann Aguirre
HIDDEN by Kristin Landon
MOONSTRUCK by Susan Grant
SHADES OF DARK by Linnea Sinclair
THE OUTBACK STARS by Sandra McDonald

(Honorable mention goes to a 1997 futuristic romance I read in January, KNIGHT OF A TRILLION STARS by Dara Joy. I have a feeling they won’t make ‘em quite like that again!).

As for science fiction romances on my TBR pile, the first includes Linnea Sinclair’s HOPE’S FOLLY (February 2009). Lots o’ buzz around this book. I’m also looking forward to Susan Grant’s WARLORD’S DAUGHTER (February 2009), especially since she’s taking her stories and characters in a different direction—one that promises much coolness. Then there’s BEYOND THE RAIN, an intriguing story by debut author Jess Granger (August 2009).

Other books include series titles such as WANDERLUST (Ann Aguirre), THE COLD MINDS (Kristin Landon), and THE STARS DOWN UNDER (Sandra McDonald). There are other Shomi titles I’d like to explore, as well as more old school futuristic romances (in particular, I’ve got my eye on Catherine Spangler’s SHADOW CROSSING. I mean, check out the hero’s sexy uniform!).

Since Sharon Lee & Steve Miller have re-released some of their “Regency in space” books, I’m ordering those as well. And finally, I’m also looking forward to sampling more ebooks, particularly by authors such as Nathalie Gray, Ann Somerville, and Sara Reinke.

And that’s just the short list!

Science fiction romance: 2009 and Beyond

Science fiction romance is a subgenre in flux, and will continue to be for the next year or two. Probably more. I discussed that issue at length in a recent guest post at Dear Author.

About a month after launching The Galaxy Express, I posted my State of the Science Fiction and Romance Union in which I made a few predictions. Not enough time has passed to evaluate them all, but a few have shown some colors: The economy did indeed weaken further, and some authors have taken a detour into other genres, or are seriously considering it.

Yet the cup of hope overfloweth as it seems that 20090-2010 might be the years in which aspiring science fiction romance authors storm the NY castle with their manuscripts in hand—and those are just the ones I know about.

Since a good bit of time has passed since The Galaxy Express’ launch, accompanied by a fresh prospective, I have a few predictions for 2009:

Debut authors or the works of established authors in traditional print formats will appear sporadically. A few published authors may have surprise science fiction romance manuscripts/proposals up their sleeves as well. I know of one for certain. Because of the current economic challenges, epublishers most likely will step up to fulfill the demand while NY is downsizing.

We’ll continue to see smarter, edgier, and spicier stories. The sex scenes will increase before they’ll plateau or take a breather. But the speculative component will strut its stuff in an increasingly sophisticated fashion. And in light of this post, it seems a few good villains might be in the pipeline as well.

Whatever happens, I invite one and all to join me aboard The Galaxy Express for continuing coverage on the science fiction romance front. I’m honored to share this journey with such devoted colleagues. Thanks for your support, and for your art!

NB: The accompanying image is © Hiroyuki Kitazume.

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Thanks again Heather for yet another insightful article!

Next on Smugglivus: The Discriminating Fangirl