August 9, 2018
The Art of Starving (2017) Written by: Sam J. Miller Genre: YA Fantasy Pages: 384 (Hardcover) Publisher: HarperTeen Why I Chose It: The Art of Starving is nominated in the Young Adult category for the Hugo Awards, but it also fits into my 2018 resolution to bring more diversity to my reading, as it was written by a gay man…
May 16, 2018
Jade City (2017) Written by: Fonda Lee Genre: Fantasy Pages: 495 (Hardback) Series: The Green Bone Saga Book #1 Publisher: Orbit Why I Chose It: I picked up Jade City because it is nominated in the novel category of the 2017 Nebula Awards, which Speculative Chic is covering. Fortunately for me, it also fits into my 2018 resolution to read…
April 26, 2018
Autonomous (2017) Written by: Annalee Newitz Genre: Science Fiction Pages: (301) Hardback Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates Why I Chose It: Speculative Chic is covering the 2017 Nebula Awards and Autonomous is nominated in the novel category. I was also drawn to the intriguing cover, which features a severed robot arm with a chain around the wrist. Premise: When anything can…
March 22, 2018
The Book of Etta (2017) Written by: Meg Elison Genre: Post-apocalyptic fiction Pages: 305 (Paperback) Series: The Road to Nowhere Book #2 Publisher: 47North Why I Chose It: The Book of Etta is one of the nominees for the 2018 Philip K. Dick Award, which Speculative Chic is covering. I did not want to read this book at first, because…
March 21, 2018
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife (2016) Written by: Meg Elison Genre: Post-apocalyptic fiction Pages: 291 (Paperback) Series: The Road to Nowhere Book #1 Publisher: 47North Why I Chose It: I read this book because its sequel, The Book of Etta, is nominated for the 2018 Philip K. Dick Award. I really did not want to read this book because…
March 7, 2018
The Changeling (2017) Written by: Victor LaValle Genre: Dark Fantasy Pages: 431 (Hardcover) Publisher: Spiegel & Grau Why I Chose It: I have wanted to read a longer work by Victor LaValle ever since I reviewed his The Ballad of Black Tom for last year’s Hugo Awards. I enjoyed way the novella explored racism and Jazz Age in New York…
February 1, 2018
The Girl in the Tower (2018) Written by: Katherine Arden Genre: Fiction Pages: 346 (Hardcover) Series: Winternight Trilogy Book #2 Publisher: Del Rey Why I Chose It: I picked the first book in the Winternight trilogy, The Bear and the Nightingale, as my favorite speculative book of 2017, so of course I had to read the second book. I was…
January 11, 2018
Reincarnation Blues (2017) Written by: Michael Poore Genre: Science Fantasy Pages: 371 (Hardcover) Publisher: Del Rey Why I Chose It: I literally judged this book by its cover. I was browsing in the science fiction/fantasy section of the Barnes & Noble and picked it up because I liked its colorful and unique cover. The premise: First we live. Then we…
December 12, 2017
The Butterfly Garden (2016) Written by: Dot Hutchison Genre: Horror Pages: 276 (Paperback) Series: The Collector Trilogy (Book 1) Publisher: Thomas & Mercer Why I Chose It: I found the title and a brief synopsis on a list of best horror books. I decided to pick it up because I have been frightened and fascinated by stories of people who…
October 26, 2017
The Deep (2015) Written by: Nick Cutter Genre: Horror Pages: 394 (Hardback) Publisher: Gallery Books Why I Chose It: Someone posted a list of scary book suggestions for October that included Nick Cutter’s The Troop to the Speculative Chic Facebook group. Several of contributors had read his novels and the consensus was that his work is gross and extremely disturbing,…