TW: abuse, rape. Debut YA thriller The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu is a portrayal of a toxic friendship, abuse cycles and the frayed, complex in-betweens. It opens with the death of Remy’s beloved boyfriend Jack. Remy is a…
Browsing Tag
Feminism
Title: Those Who Knew Author: Idra Novey Genre: Literary Fiction Publisher: VikingPublication date: November 2018Hardcover: 248 pages On an unnamed island country ten years after the collapse of a U.S.-supported regime, Lena suspects the powerful senator she was involved with back in…
“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their Inspirations and Influences. In this feature, we invite writers to talk about their new books, older titles, and their writing…
Vivian, a young high school girl fed up with the sexism and rank misogyny in her school, creates and distributes an anonymous zine called “Moxie” and unintentionally starts a feminist movement. I recently read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today, it’s Thea’s turn and she takes a look at a dystopian science fiction classic, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, and the recent Hulu television adaptation. How does the…
Title: American Street Author: Ibi Zoboi Genre: Contemporary YA, Magical Realism Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins Publication Date: February 14, 2017 Hardcover: 336 Pages On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find…
Giveaways Guest Author Inspirations and Influences
Here We Are: Feminism For The Real World – Kelly Jensen on Inspirations & Influences (& Giveaway)
“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their Inspirations and Influences. In this feature, we invite writers to talk about their new books, older titles, and their…
“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their Inspirations and Influences. In this feature, we invite writers to talk about their new books, older titles, and their…
A profound, feminist dystopian novel about friendship, sisterhood and courage, Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff is exquisite. Title: Maresi Written by Maria Turtschaninoff Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia, Speculative Fiction Publisher: Pushkin Press (UK) Publication Date: January 2016 Hardcover: 256…
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…
Only Ever Yours is 1984, Mean Girls and Handmaid’s Tale rolled into one, featuring a brave if completely pessimistic magnifying glass to how we treat women right here right now. It takes everything that is misogynistic about our world…
8 Rated Books Book Reviews Reading Comics
Reading Comics: Thor: Goddess of Thunder Vol. 1 by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman
Ana’s adventures in Reading Comics continue with Thor: Goddess of Thunder. Title: Thor: Goddess of Thunder Author: Jason Aaron (Text), Russell Dauterman (Illustrator) Genre: Fantasy, Comics Publisher: Marvel Publication Date: May 26 2015 Hardcover: 136 pages Mjolnir lies on…
8 Rated Books Book Reviews Read Diversely
Book Review: Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia
History, self-awareness, negotiated boundaries and family secrets are at the heart of Gone Crazy in Alabama, the third – and final – book in Rita Williams Garcia’s excellent Gaither Sisters series. Title: Gone Crazy in Alabama Author: Rita Williams-Garcia…
Read Diversely Reading Comics
Reading Comics: A Look At Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro.
Only four issues into this new comics and my love for it knows no bounds. Bitch Planet is a pulpy dystopian series written by Kelly Sue DeConnick (Of the excellent Pretty Deadly and Captain Marvel) and artist Valentine De…
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…
My experience reading The Girl in the Road by Monica Byrne can be boiled down to: this was an amazing novel until it wasn’t anymore. I am deeply conflicted about it. Title: The Girl in the Road Author: Monica…
The Grace of Kings is excellent in many ways and highly disappointing in one major aspect. There is a lot that that can be said about it but my review will concentrate on structure, narrative, ideas and… women. Title:…
There are those books that grab you by the throat and don’t let go. Infandous is one such book. This is a short review of a short novel that is perfectly concise in its telling, beautiful in its writing,…
“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…
The Astronomer Who Met The North Wind by Kate Hall Published 12/2/2014 | 3,312 Words Down there, the North Wind whispered in her ear. Down where I don’t blow so fierce, there you will be able to observe your…
Title: The Cure For Dreaming Author: Cat Winters Genre: Speculative Fiction, Historical, Young Adult Publisher: Amulet Books Publication Date: October 14 2014 Hardcover: 368 Pages Olivia Mead is a headstrong, independent girl—a suffragist—in an age that prefers its girls…
3 Rated Books Book Reviews Smugglers Ponderings
Smuggler’s Ponderings: Gaming, Female Empowerment, Gold Farming and the problematic White Saviour Complex in Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang’s In Real Life.
Warning: incoming Caps Lock of Fury. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. In Real Life, this new graphic novel written by Cory Doctorow with art by Jen Wang is full of them. In its heartfelt introduction,…
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)…
Read Diversely SFF in Conversation
SFF in Conversation: Corinne Duyvis and The Insidious Comfort of Invisibility
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…
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…