January 24, 2018
This year I resolved to read more classic science fiction and fantasy, hopefully making a dent in that stack of books I really should have read by now. Mostly because they should be good books, but also to be better informed about my genre and its history. I decided that this meant reading six science fiction and six fantasy books…
January 18, 2018
Pegasus (2010) Written By: Robin McKinley Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Pages: 416 (Hardcover) Series: Pegasus Book 1 Publisher: Putnam Why I Chose It: Robin McKinley has been one of my all time favorite authors since I read The Blue Sword back when I was a kid. I haven’t absolutely loved everything she’s ever written (Deerskin, I’m looking at you). But…
January 9, 2018
Warprize (2011) Written By: Elizabeth Vaughan Genre: Fantasy Romance Pages: 340 (Kindle) Series: Chronicles of the Warlands Book 1 Publisher: Berkley Why I Chose It: It was described as Fantasy Romance, and I’m a sucker for romance in my fantasy. Also the woman on the cover reminded me a lot of Kahlan from The Sword of Truth television show. And…
January 3, 2018
Rat Queens Volume 1: Sass and Sorcery (2014) Written By: Kurtis J. Wiebe Art By: Roc Upchurch Genre: Fantasy Pages: 128 (Trade Paperback) Publisher: Image Comics Why I Chose This: A friend handed this to me a few years ago and said “you have to read this.” I did and I loved it, but I don’t think the second volume had…
December 29, 2017
Welcome back to Sound Off!, a semi-regular column where members of Speculative Chic gather together to chat about the latest BIG THING in entertainment. This time, embrace your differences and discuss The Shape of Water, which premiered in the United States on Friday, December 8, 2017 (wide release on Friday, December 22, 2017). Sound Off! is meant to be a reaction, but…
December 27, 2017
When Prudence first came out I somehow missed that the series, The Custard Protocol, is a sequel to The Parasol Protectorate. I don’t know how. I must not have been paying very close attention. Or maybe it’s because I don’t like the covers quite as much as the first series. But I’m a completionist and as soon as I realized…
November 22, 2017
Is it cheating to write a review for an old favorite? I hope not since I seem to be making a habit of it. I’ve read The Parasol Protectorate a few times since it came out (and it’s not even that old), and it never fails to make me laugh. Beware, there will be minor spoilers for the entire series.
November 17, 2017
Tortall: A Spy’s Guide (2017) Written By: Tamora Pierce Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Pages: 320 pages (Hardcover) Series: Tortall Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers Why I Chose It: Anything by Tamora Pierce is an instabuy for me. I even dragged my husband and child to the bookstore at dinner time because two-day shipping wasn’t quick enough. The Premise:…
October 25, 2017
I really hate being scared. Being scared makes me angry, and being angry makes me cry, which just makes me more angry. This applies to movies, ghost stories, extreme sports. Haunted houses are not my thing, and I’m a bit of a party pooper on sleepovers and camping trips. As a reader I’ve gotten to the point where I actually…
October 17, 2017
Revenge of the Witch (2006) Written By: Joseph Delaney Genre: Dark Fantasy Pages: 384 (Paperback) Series: The Last Apprentice Publisher: Greenwillow Books Why I Chose It: I’ve been trying to branch out a bit more in my reading lately. I tend to stick to genres I already know because I’m boring like that. So, I’m challenging myself to leave safe…