Title: Independent Study Author: Joelle Charbonneau Genre: Dystopia, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Publication Date: January 2013 Hardcover: 310 Pages In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United…
Speculative Fiction
Thea’s Smugglivus 2013 Feats of Strength
The Feats of Strength are an integral part of our annual Smugglivus Tradition. In previous years, the Feats of Strength were a challenge in which we dared each other to read a book that we knew was so far…
Title: In the After Author: Demitria Lunetta Genre: Apocalypse, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Harper Teen Publication Date: June 2013 Hardcover: 455 Pages They hear the most silent of footsteps. They are faster than anything you’ve ever seen.…
Smugglivus 2013 Guest Blogger: The G of Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together
Welcome to Smugglivus 2013! Throughout this month, we will have daily guests – authors and bloggers alike – looking back at their favorite reads of 2013, and looking forward to events and upcoming books in 2014. Who: The G,…
Title: Fragments Author: Dan Wells Genre: Post-Apocalypse, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Balzer + Bray Publication Date: February 2013 Hardcover: 564 Pages Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today, Thea reviews The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason – a Victorian work of speculative fiction starring Mina Holmes (Sherlock’s niece) and Evangeline Stoker (Bram’s sister). Holmes & Stoker! Egyptology!…
Today we are delighted to host an exclusive excerpt reveal! The book is called The Nightmare Dilemma, the second book in the Arkwell Academy series by Mindee Arnett, author of YA fantasy, science fiction, and horror. The Nightmare Dilemma…
Title: Not a Drop to Drink Author: Mindy McGinnis Genre: Dystopia, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Publication Date: September 2013 Hardcover: 320 Pages Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.…
Title: Allegiant Author: Veronica Roth Genre: Dystopia, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Publication Date: October 2013 Hardcover: 526 Pages One choice will define you. What if your whole world was a lie? What if a single…
Title: Parasite Author: Mira Grant Genre: Horror, Medical Thriller, Speculative Fiction Publisher: Orbit Publication Date: October 2013 Hardcover: 504 Pages A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease. We owe our good health…
Hello everyone, from New York Comic Con! This weekend, your friendly neighborhood Book Smugglers are at the Javits Center, enjoying the panels, exhibitors, and assorted sundries. While we’re out, we are thrilled to run a giveaway of the paperback…
Title: Vicious Author: V.E. Schwab Genre: Speculative Fiction, Superheroes Publisher: Tor Publication Date: September 2013 Hardcover: 368 Pages A masterful, twisted tale of ambition, jealousy, betrayal, and superpowers, set in a near-future world. Victor and Eli started out as…
Title: Once We Were Author: Kat Zhang Genre: Speculative Fiction, Dystopia, Young Adult Publisher: HarperCollins Publication Date: September 2013 Hardcover: 352 Pages “I’m lucky just to be alive.” Eva was never supposed to have survived this long. As the…
Once We Were: Kat Zhang on Inspirations & Influences (& Giveaway)
Hello everyone and happy Friday! Today, our guest is Kat Zhang, author of the superlative young adult speculative fiction/dystopian Hybrid Chronicles series. Thea read the first book in the series, What’s Left of Me and loved it; naturally we…
Title: More Than This Author: Patrick Ness Genre: Horror (?), Science Fiction (?), Young Adult Publisher: Walker Books / Candlewick Press Publication Date: September 5 / 10 2013 Hardcover: 480 Pages A boy named Seth drowns, desperate and alone…
Strange Horizons is a weekly speculative fiction magazine that publishes fiction, poetry, essays, interviews as well as some of the best genre reviews that constantly inspire us to do better with our own. Needless to say, Strange Horizons is…
Title: The Bone Season Author: Samantha Shannon Genre: Fantasy, Speculative Fiction Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication Date: August 2013 Hardcover: 280 Pages It is the year 2059. Several major world cities are under the control of a security force called…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today, Ana reviews The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan. The novel is an accomplished claustrophobic read that feels like being punched in the guts. I loved it. Go HERE to see…
Joint Review: The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand
Title: The Year of Shadows Author: Claire Legrand Genre: Paranormal, Horro, Middle Grade Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Publication Date: August 27 2013 Hardcover: 416 Pages Olivia Stellatella is having a rough year. Her mother left,…
The Year of Shadows Blog Tour (& Giveaway): Claire Legrand on Believing in Ghosts
We are thrilled to be kicking off the blog tour for Claire Legrand’s second novel, The Year of Shadows, a middle grade ghost story about love, loss, and friendship! Today, Claire is over to talk about ghosts – specifically,…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today, Thea reviews Edgar Award winning novel The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters. Guess what, folks? She loved it. (That’s the third book she’s read and reviewed this week…
Title: The Shade of the Moon Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer Genre: Dystopia, Post-Apocalypse, Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Publication Date: August 2013 Hardcover: 304 Pages The eagerly awaited addition to the series begun with…
Title: Linked Author: Imogen Howson Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (US) / Quercus (UK) Publication Date: June 2013 (US) / August 2013 (UK) Hardcover: 368 Pages Elissa used…
Hello everyone and happy Friday! Today, we’re pleased to do something a little bit different on the blog. We are presenting you with a joint review, but it’s not a joint review between Ana and Thea – this time,…
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…