In which a N.K. Jemisin novel is awesome. Again. Title: The Fifth Season Author: N.K. Jemisin Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Orbit Publication Date: August 4 2015 Hardcover: 449 Pages This is the way the world ends. Again. Three terrible things…
10 Rated Books
A brilliant, realistic look at the future of space exploration and the fate that awaits humans among the stars, Aurora is the best book I’ve ever read from Kim Stanley Robinson. It’s also the best book I’ve read so…
OK, I am SO in love with Archivist Wasp. It’s a top 10 from me. 2015, you are WONDERFUL so far. Title: Archivist Wasp Written by Nicole Kornher-Stace Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, YA, Adventure, Post-Apocalypse/Dystopia Publisher: Small Beer Press…
In which we discuss the brilliant, beauteous, dark, and enchanting new fairy tale from Naomi Novik. Title: Uprooted Author: Naomi Novik Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Del Rey / Macmillan Publication Date: May 18 / May 21 Hardcover: 437 Pages Agnieszka…
Reading Comics: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Ana’s adventures in Reading Comics continue with Nimona by Noelle Stevenson Title: Nimona Author: Noelle Stevenson Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Comics Publisher: Harper Collins Publication Date: May 2015 Hardcover: 275 pages The graphic novel debut from rising star Noelle…
Will Frances Hardinge ever write a book I won’t like? Title: The Lie Tree Author: Frances Hardinge Genre: Fantasy, Historical Murder Mystery Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books Publication Date: May 7 2015 Paperback: 400 pages The leaves were cold and…
“The framing of The Very Best of Kate Elliott is clear: feminist stories featuring a diverse group of female characters presented in a variety of roles and journeys. The most obvious extrapolation here for me given my personal interests…
Old School Wednesdays: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
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)…
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…
Title: Ancillary Sword Author: Ann Leckie Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Orbit Publication Date: October 7 2014 Paperback: 400 Pages What if you once had thousands of bodies and near god-like technology at your disposal? And what if all of…
Old School Wednesdays Readalong: Dawn by Octavia E Butler
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: Ancillary Justice Author: Ann Leckie Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Orbit Publication Date: October 1 2013 Hardcover: 416 Pages On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Breq is both…
Title: Nation Author: Terry Pratchett Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Harper Collins/Corgi Publication Date: 2008 Paperback: 432 Pages Alone on a desert island — everything and everyone he knows and loves has been washed away in a storm —…
Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz Genre: Realistic YA, Romance, LGBT, POC Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Publication date: February 21st 2012 Hardcover: 359 pages A lyrical novel…
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.…
Book Review: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Title: The Haunting of Hill House Author: Shirley Jackson Genre: Horror Publisher: Penguin Publication date: First published in 1959 Paperback: 246 pages First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect…
Joint Review: The Shadowed Sun by N. K. Jemisin
Title: The Shadowed Sun Author: N. K. Jemisin Genre: Fantasy, PoC Publisher: Orbit Publication date: June 7 2012 Paperback: 464 pages Gujaareh, the city of dreams, suffers under the imperial rule of the Kisuati Protectorate. A city where the…
Title: The Freedom Maze Author: Delia Sherman Genre: Historical, SF, Young Adult, PoC Publisher: Small Beer Press Publication date: November 22nd 2011 Hardcover: 258 pages Set against the burgeoning Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and then just before…
Title: Code Name Verity Author: Elizabeth Wein Genre: Historical, Young Adult Publisher: Egmont (UK) / Disney-Hyperion (US) Publication date: February 6 2012 / May 15 2012 Hardcover/Paperback: 452 pages I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end…
Title: The 10PM Question Author: Kate de Goldi Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult Publisher: Templar (UK) / Candlewick (US) Publication Date: August 2010 / September 2010 (First published in NZ in 2009) Paperback/Hardcover: 252 pages Twelve-year-old Frankie Parsons is a…
Title: A Monster Calls Author: Patrick Ness (inspired by an idea by the late Siobhan Dowd) and with illustrations by Jim Kay Genre: Fantasy/Contemporary YA Publisher: Walker UK / Candlewick US Publication date: 5 May 2011 (UK) / 27…
Joint Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M Valente
Title: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making Author: Catherynne M Valente; Illustrations by Ana Juan Genre: Fantasy / YA Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Publication date: May 10th 2011 Hardcover: 256 pages Twelve-year-old September…
Title: Doomsday Book Author: Connie Willis Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Bantam Spectra Publication date: 1992 (1st edition) Paperback: 592 pages For Kivrin, preparing an on-site study of one of the deadliest eras in humanity’s history was as simple as…
Ana’s Holiday Reading: Trapped, Butterfly Swords, The Magicians of Caprona and Daddy Long-Legs
I had a few days off between Christmas and New Year and I did what I usually do when I have some time off: I read. A lot. Although I did not finish all the books I tried to…