Wow, we’ve already made it through the first week of December! How’s your month coming along? To a good start, I hope! Right now, I’m trying to muster the energy to put up my Christmas tree. Traditionally it’s up on December 1st and down by January 2nd…but every day I look at my pretty ornaments and just sigh. Why clean and decorate when I can watch episodes of The Dragon Prince? (My rewatch is coming along nicely, btw.) My goal is to stop being lazy and put it up Saturday after I’ve gotten some sufficient rest. November was a doozy of a month and I’m still recovering from it, it seems. The antidote is to relax, of course…so why don’t you stretch out on the couch with me, grab some popcorn to snack on or a hot cup of tea, and curl up with the Weekly Roundup?
Monday
This week’s special guest for My Favorite Things is author Darin Kennedy, in honor of his awesome Fugue & Fable series! For this entry, we’re talking multiple universes with multiple crises, a comedy that delights in all things meta, forthcoming superhero reboots and remakes, and more! Dive into the infinite here!
Tuesday
J.L. continues winding through her 2019 Resolution with reading Ilona Andrews’s Kate Daniels series. Many congrats to J.L. — with Magic Triumphs, she’s hit the end of the series and completed her resolution! While some books in the series were rereads, this is the first time she’s touched the finale. With everything building up to this point, was this a book a triumphant conclusion to this sprawling urban fantasy series? Take a look!
Wednesday
Lane reviews Naomi Kritzer’s Catfishing on CatNet, a YA science fiction novel that expands the world in the award-winning short story “More Cat Pictures, Please.” Described as a “thought-provoking near-future YA thriller that could not be more timely as it explores issues of online privacy, artificial intelligence, and the power and perils of social networks” (whew!), this book featuring a cat-loving AI into self-improvement and kindess. Of course, there’s more than meets the eye here, so read on!
We also have a special guest post from Bram Stoker Award-winner Sara Tantlinger, joining us for You’re My Inspiration. We’re celebrating her new release (and debut novella!) To Be Devoured, and talking those foundational things that propel authors and creators to do what they do. In this edition, Tantlinger discusses the imagery from nature that pops up in her novella — carrion birds and moths like the moon — as well as authors from the literary canon: one bright as a tiger, the other awakening to her potential while seeking solace in the written word. Intrigued? Look no further!
Thursday
Nicole reviews Akwaeke Emezi’s Pet, a genre-defying YA fantasy featuring uniquely named characters, an imperfect utopia with a world like ours (but not), and a strange creature born from a painting and a drop of blood (that description alone is pretty enticing). Does the novel live up to the exciting premise? Only one way to find out!
Friday
The Dragon Authors (made up of Steven Brown and Erin Michelle Sky) have assembled the perfect Top 10 list to help lift you up during this busy holiday time. We’re talking all things adorable, courtesy of Disney’s new streaming platform, Disney+. As our intrepid duo points out, social media has nonstop exploded over the past few weeks, discussing all the great things to have come out (Baby Yoda, anyone?). Our team has assembled for you the absolute cutest of the cute, so please enjoy!
Book Club
Every day leads us closer to our fabulous Book Club relaunch! Each month a Speculative Chic contributor will host a book of their choice and lead the discussion. We want to give you plenty of time to prepare, so we’ve announced our first three months in 2020:
- Shara White — This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
- Kristina Elyse Butke — The Atrocities by Jeremy C. Shipp
- Kendra Merritt — An Illusion of Thieves by Cate Glass
We’re getting pretty excited and hope you are too! Crack those books open and get to reading, and we’ll see you at the Book Club in January!
I had an epiphany last week. When it comes to animation, I seem to have a “type” that I never really noticed before!
And with this, my evil plan is complete — I have repeatedly subjected you to Roundups with featured images of beautiful purple elf-men with long white hair…this collage is the grand finale! Mwa ha ha ha!
Seriously though…I’ll see you next week with a far more relevant conclusion and featured image (I hope so, anyway). To me, those sections (along with the intro) are the hardest parts of writing the Roundups — so wish me luck for doing the next one, and in the meantime, please enjoy my pretty purple princes. 😈
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