Decoding the Newbery is a monthly column in which Newbery Medal winners are examined and deconstructed by regular contributor and author Catherine Faris King. This month, Catherine reads The Hero and the Crown, the Newbery winner for 1985. “The…
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7 Rated Books 8 Rated Books Reading Comics
Reading Comics: GOTHAM ACADEMY, ODY-C, THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL
Ana’s adventures in reading comics continue with a spotlight on three 2015 trades – one to enjoy, one to keep, one to treasure. Gotham Academy Vol 1 collects issues #1-6 of this DC Comics’ new(ish), ongoing series by writers…
A trilogy ender that is solid…until its hugely problematic resolution. Title: Earth Flight Author: Janet Edwards Genre: Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Pyr Publication Date: September 2015 Hardcover: 300 pages Jarra never wanted to be a celebrity.…
7 Rated Books Book Reviews Middle Grade Review Bonanza
Middle Grade Review Bonanza: BINNY IN SECRET by Hilary McKay, FIRST CLASS MURDER by Robin Stevens, THE HOUSE OF EYES by Patricia Elliott
The Middle Grade Review Bonanza is a feature with 2-3 mini-reviews for short MG books we really wanted to read. It’s a new Regular Thing (and we’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations for future entries). Three Middle…
8 Rated Books Book Reviews Reading Comics
Reading Comics: MONSTRESS Issue#1 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
It would not be an exaggeration to say I have been in tenterhooks about Monstress since I first heard about it back in January. Monstress is a new creator-owned title by writer Marjorie Liu and artist Sana Takeda and…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus for our regular weekly column! Today, Thea hogs the column again–this time with a review of YA horror novel The Suffering by Rin Chupeco. A sequel to 2014’s The Girl…
4 Rated Books 6 Rated Books 7 Rated Books Book Reviews Halloween Week
YA Horror – Review Round-up: A MADNESS SO DISCREET; DAUGHTERS UNTO DEVILS; THE DEAD HOUSE
Welcome to Halloween Week 2015! Over the course of the week, you will hear from guest authors, bloggers, and your very own Book Smugglers about all things Halloween–including reviews of horror novels and films, essays on the genre, and…
7 Rated Books Book Reviews Halloween Week Joint Review
Halloween Week 2015 Joint Review: Uzumaki by Junji Ito
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)…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus for our regular weekly column! Today it’s Thea’s turn with a review of horror novel Day Four by Sarah Lotz. Sadly, Thea was even less impressed with this sophomore, companion…
In a word: HARROWING. Title: The Traitor Baru Cormorant Author: Seth Dickinson Genre: Fantasy, Speculative Fiction Publisher: Tor Publication Date: September 2015 Hardcover: 400 pages THE TRAITOR BARU CORMORANT is an epic geopolitical fantasy about one woman’s mission to…
It’s Friday Monday and we are over at Kirkus! Today, Ana reviews The Shadow Behind the Stars, the sophomore novel by Rebecca Hahn featuring the three fates from Greek mythology. It’s a beautiful, haunting novel. Go HERE for the…
5 Rated Books 7 Rated Books Book Reviews Joint Review
Old School Wednesdays Joint Review: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson 4)
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)…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus for our regular weekly column! Today Thea reviews “locked spaceship” sci fi novel Lightless by C.A. Higgins. What’s it about? Alternate states, thermodynamics, sociopathy, rebellion, and entropy. It’s fantastic, and…
Book Reviews Decoding the Newbery
Decoding the Newbery: The Education of a King – Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Decoding the Newbery is a monthly column in which Newbery Medal winners are examined and deconstructed by regular contributor and author Catherine Faris King. This month, Catherine read Bridge to Terabithia, the Newbery winner for 1978. October’s book is…
While atmospheric and loaded with potential, Nightfall falls short of the mark in terms of scares or general plot cohesion. In plain words, Nightfall is readable, but ultimately a forgettable disappointment of a novel. Title: Nightfall Author: Jake Halpern…
The third – and final – book in Leckie’s trilogy is everything I was hoping for and more. Title: Ancillary Mercy Author: Ann Leckie Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Orbit Publication Date: October 6 2015 Paperback: 336 pages The stunning…
I finished reading The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps and on both cheeks I bore a delta of rinsed skin. Title: The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps Author: Kai Ashante Wilson Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Tor.com Publication Date: September 1 2015 Paperback:…
It’s Friday and we are over at Kirkus! Today, Ana reads Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, one of the first novellas recently released by Tor.com. Go HERE for the full scoop.…
6 Rated Books Book Reviews
Book Review: Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti
At the end of the day, Zeroes was an ok read – with really great, fun parts but underwhelming on the whole. Given the premise and the authors involved, I am afraid I was expecting a lot more. Title:…
Prunella Gentleman is my patronus and Zen Cho a new favourite author. Title: Sorcerer to the Crown Author: Zen Cho Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Ace / Macmillan Publication Date: September 2015 Paperback: 416 pages In this sparkling debut, magic and…
True Grit meets gold speculation in this YA western adventure. Title: Vengeance Road Author: Erin Bowman Genre: YA, Western Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Publication Date: September 1 2015 Hardcover: 336 Pages Revenge is worth its weight in…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus for our regular weekly column! Today Thea looks at graphic novel Hexed: The Harlot and The Thief (Vol 1)by Michael Alan Nelson, Dan Mora & Gabriel Cassaya. It’s Buffy meets…
7 Rated Books 8 Rated Books Book Reviews
Old School Wednesdays Joint Review: The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson 3)
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)…
Sophisticated space opera. Psi powers. Holographic princess impersonation. Badass female protagonists who display said badassery in the physical AND political arenas. What else could you possibly ask for? Title: The Empress Game Author: Rhonda Mason Genre: Science Fiction, Speculative…
Decoding the Newbery is a monthly column in which Newbery Medal winners are examined and deconstructed by regular contributor and author Catherine Faris King. This month, Catherine examines the 1964 medalist A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle “…it…