It’s nearly December (OMG is that 2013 we see in the horizon?), it’s cold and dark outside, but over here at Smugglers HQ, we’re all tingly excitement and joyful expectation. For tomorrow, December 1st, we officially kick-start our month…
November 2012
Welcome to the Falling Kingdoms Quest blog tour! In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process.…
Title: The Friday Society Author: Adrienne Kress Genre: (Pseudo-)Historical, Adventure, Mystery, Young Adult Publisher: Dial Publication Date: December 2012 Hardcover: 440 Pages An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns –and the heroines who use them all Set in turn…
Last Sunday we went public and wrote up our terrible experience with Anna Marie Moore Designs. A brief recap: back in June of this year, we contacted web designer Anna Marie Moore about working on an updated design for…
Title: Dragon Slippers Author: Jessica Day George Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens Publication Date: March 2007 Hardcover: 324 Pages Many stories tell of damsels in distress, who are rescued from the clutches of fire-breathing dragons by…
Title: Uncharted Territory Author: Connie Willis Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Spectra Publication date: 1994 Paperback: 160 pages Finriddy and Carson are two explorers sent to survey the planet Boohte. Back home, breathless fans follow their adventures: in reality, they…
Title: Renegade Author: J.A. Souders Genre: Dystopia, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Tor Teen Publication Date: November 2012 Hardcover: 364 Pages Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in…
Ana’s Middle Grade review bonanza: The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry, Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay, and Two Weeks With the Queen by Morris Gleitzman
A few weeks ago I wrote my thoughts on three Middle Grade novels in one post (Ana’s Classic Middle Grade Horror Novel Marathon) and I thought the format worked really well. Since there are so many short MG books…
Hello everyone! A Happy Thanksgiving to all our American readers – hopefully you had a wonderful weekend with friends and family, and ate a lot of delicious food. On to business! Giveaway Winners: We have a few giveaway winners…
It’s Thanksgiving weekend and what better way to celebrate than to host share some of our recent favourite reads with our readers? SO! We are giving away today to one lucky winner: ONE copy of The Changeling Sea by…
Title: Dark Star Author: Bethany Frenette Genre: Urban Fantasy, YA Publisher: Disney Hyperion Publication date: October 23 2012 Hardcover: 368 pages Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in…
It’s Friday so this means we are over at Kirkus! This week, Thea reviews Urban Fantasy (with a twist of historical fantasy) novel Daughter of the Sword by Steve Bein. With only some reservations, Thea loved this book for…
Title: The Twelve Author: Justin Cronin Genre: Horror, (Post-)Apocalypse, Dystopia Publisher: Random House (US) / Orion (UK) Publication Date: October 2012 Hardcover: 568 Pages THE EPIC STORY OF THE PASSAGE CONTINUES At the end of The Passage, the great…
Title: Constable and Toop Author: Gareth P. Jones Genre: Gothic, Mystery, Historical, Middle Grade Publisher: Hot Key Books Publication date: October 4th 2012 Paperback: 372 pages Sam Toop lives in a funeral parlour, blessed (or cursed) with an unusual…
Title: The Changeling Sea Author: Patricia A. McKillip Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Young Adult Publisher: Firebird Publication Date: October 1988 Paperback: 144 Pages Since the day her father’s fishing boat returned without him, Peri and her mother have mourned…
Title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle Author: Shirley Jackson Genre: Gothic, Horror Publisher: Penguin Publication date: First published 1962 Paperback: 224 pages Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her uncle Julian.…
Hello everybody and a good Sunday to all! Giveaway winners: The winner of a copy of Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm is: EMMA DAVIES (comment #10) The winner of the Prodigy Prize Pack is: EMMA (comment #63) The…
“On The Smugglers’ Radar” is a feature for books that have caught our eye: books we have heard of via other bloggers, directly from publishers, and/or from our regular incursions into the Amazon jungle. Thus, the Smugglers’ Radar was…
It’s Friday so this means we are over at Kirkus! This week, Ana reviews SciFi YA Insignia by S. J. Kincaid. Let’s just say it didn’t work for her. This is one of the reasons why: It always frustrates…
Hello, all! In the spirit of the upcoming American Thanksgiving, we’re hosting a giveaway of some of our favorite books – the classic Earthsea cycle from Ursula K. Le Guin, newly repackaged with a mighty pretty set of shiny…
Title: The Ordinary Princess Author: M.M. Kaye Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Middle Grade/Young Adult Publisher: Puffin Publication Date: March 1980 Paperback: 128 Pages Along with Wit, Charm, Health, and Courage, Princess Amy of Phantasmorania receives a special fairy christening…
Title: The Kneebone Boy Author: Ellen Potter Genre: Gothic, Mystery, Middle Grade Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Publication date: September 2010 Hardcover: 288 pages Life in a small town can be pretty boring when everyone avoids you like the plague.…
Title: Flame of Sevenwaters Author: Juliet Marillier Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Roc Publication Date: November 2012 Hardcover: 448 Pages Bestselling author Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters series has been praised as a “magnificent saga” (Alernative Worlds) that is a “gripping tale of…
Guest Author (& Giveaway): David Colby on Inspirations & Influences
“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The best part about I&I posts? Writers are given free rein so they can go wild…
Book Review (& Giveaway): Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm by Philip Pullman
Title: Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm Author: Philip Pullman Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales Publisher: Viking Adult Publication Date: November 2012 Hardcover: 400 Pages Two centuries ago, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published the first volume of Children’s and Household…