SFF in Conversation is a new monthly feature on The Book Smugglers in which we invite guests to talk about a variety of topics important to speculative fiction fans, authors, and readers. Our vision is to create a safe…
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Fantasy
7 Rated Books Book Reviews Old School Wednesdays
Old School Wednesdays: Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
Welcome, everyone, to a brand new weekly Smugglerific feature: Old School Wednesdays! We came up with the idea towards the end of last year, when both of us were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of new and shiny…
Giveaways Inspirations and Influences
Grail of the Summer Stars Blog Tour & Giveaway: Freda Warrington 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 cool thing is that the writers are given free rein so they can go wild…
Title: The Shining Girls Author: Lauren Beukes Genre: Fantasy, Thriller Publisher: Harper / Mulholland Books Publication date: April 25 / June 4 2013 Hardcover: 384 pages The Time Traveler’s Wife meets The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in this…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today, Ana is reviewing “Steampunk” Romance Firebrand by Ankaret Wells, a 2012 Tiptree Honor Book… …and has mixed feelings about it. Go here to read her thoughts.…
7 Rated Books Book Reviews Old School Wednesdays
Old School Wednesdays: Tajore Arkle by Jackie French
Title: Tajore Arkle Author: Jackie French Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Harper Collins Publication date: First published in 1999 Paperback: 289 pages A young girl’s long and dangerous journey to save a friend she has never met …In Greycliffs,…
Title: The Cup and the Crown Author: Diane Stanley Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: HarperCollins Publication Date: October 2012 Hardcover: 352 Pages Night after night, Molly has visions of a beautiful goblet: one of her grandfather’s loving cups, which…
Title: The Obsidian Mirror Author: Catherine Fisher Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Dial (US) / Hodder Children’s Books (UK) Publication Date: April 2013 (US) / October 2012 (UK) Hardcover: 384 Pages The obsidian mirror. Its…
9 Rated Books Book Reviews Kirkus
Over at Kirkus: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today, Thea reviews bestselling Japanese fantasy novel (turned manga and anime series) Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi… …and she freaking LOVED it. This beautiful, thoughtful yet action-packed book…
7 Rated Books Book Reviews
Book Review: The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle by Chirstopher Healy
Title: The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle Author: Christopher Healy Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade Publisher: Walden Pond Press Publication Date: April 2013 Hardcover: 496 Pages Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You remember them, don’t you?…
Today we are thrilled to be part of the official blog tour for middle grade fantasy adventure novel The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy! Thea thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, The Hero’s…
Title: The Crane Wife Author: Patrick Ness Genre: Magical Realism, Fantasy Publisher: Canongate Books Publication date: April 4 2013 Hardcover: 320 pages The extraordinary happens every day… One night, George Duncan – decent man, a good man – is…
Title: Poison Author: Bridget Zinn Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Disney Hyperion Publication Date: March 2013 Hardcover: 288 Pages Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which…
Title: A Corner of White Author: Jaclyn Moriarty Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books Publication date: April 1 2013 Hardcover: 384 pages The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Moriarty! This is…
Title: Stolen Magic (US) / A Reckless Magick (UK) Author: Stephanie Burgis Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Middle Grade, Mystery Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (US) / Templar (UK) Publication Date: April 2013 (US) / October 2012 (UK) Hardcover: 400…
Title: Wide Open Author: Deborah Coates Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Tor Books Publication date: March 2012 Paperback: 304 pages When Sergeant Hallie Michaels comes back to South Dakota from Afghanistan on ten days’ compassionate leave, her sister Dell’s ghost is…
Welcome, everyone, to a brand new weekly Smugglerific feature: Old School Wednesdays! We came up with the idea towards the end of last year, when both of us were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of new and shiny…
Today, we are delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for Jo Walton’s Among Others, winner of the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Novel and of the 2011 Nebula Award for Best Novel and now out in…
Title: Revel Author: Maurissa Guibord Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers Publication Date: February 2013 Hardcover: 352 Pages There’s an island off the coast of Maine that’s not on any modern map. Shrouded in…
8 Rated Books 9 Rated Books Book Reviews Joint Review Old School Wednesdays
Old School Wednesdays Joint Review: Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
Title: Tooth and Claw Author: Jo Walton Genre: Fantasy, Historical Publisher: Tor Fantasy Publication date: First published 2004 Paperback: 336 pages A tale of love, money, and family conflict–among dragons. A family deals with the death of their father.…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today, Thea’s up at bat with her review of Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed. This book came out in early 2012, and Thea jumped on it now…
6 Rated Books 8 Rated Books Book Reviews Middle Grade Review Bonanza
Middle Grade Review Bonanza: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken, Permanent Rose by Hilary McKay, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
The Middle Grade Review Bonanza is a new feature of 2-3 mini-reviews for short (typically 250 pages or less) MG books we both really wanted to read. It’s a new Regular Thing (and we’d love to hear your thoughts…
Title: The Archived Author: Victoria Schwab Genre: Contemporary, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Hyperion Publication Date: January 2013 Hardcover: 328 Pages Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell,…
6 Rated Books Book Reviews Kirkus
Over at Kirkus: Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia Mccall
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today Ana reviews Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall. The book – a retelling of The Odyssey featuring 5 sisters travelling in Mexico, guided by the ghostly La…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today Thea reviews historical fantasy novel A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. A highly entertaining read along the lines of Amelia Peabody – with dragons – A Natural…