April 30, 2020
Can you believe that we’re already through the first four months of the Speculative Chic Book Club? One thing we’ve learned is that everyone gets their hands on books a little differently, and as a result, they may need a little more time to do so and finish reading. Between that and social distancing making library lending is a challenge,…
April 24, 2020
Editor’s Note 6/22/2020: At the time of the original posting, Speculative Chic was unaware that author Paul Krueger had harassed various people in the publishing industry. We do not condone harassment, and we stand with those people who’ve been harmed as a result of his actions. Speaking up is one of the bravest things they can do, and we thank…
April 1, 2020
Steel Crow Saga (2019) Written by: Paul Krueger Genre: Epic Fantasy Host: Nancy O’Toole Meservier Discussion Date: 04/24/2020 The Premise: Four destinies collide in a unique fantasy world of war and wonders, where empire is won with enchanted steel and magical animal companions fight alongside their masters in battle. A soldier with a curse Tala lost her family to the…
March 27, 2020
I really love heist stories — heists, capers, feats of daring-do and espionage — and I’m realizing that I need to explore more of them, since my overall experience is limited to things like Ocean’s Eleven and The Italian Job. I especially love when I can get these types of stories in with my fantasy. Mixing in different genres like…
March 1, 2020
An Illusion of Thieves (2019) Written by: Cate Glass Genre: Fantasy Adventure Host: Kendra Merritt Discussion Date: 3/27/2020 The Premise: A ragtag crew with forbidden magic must pull off an elaborate heist and stop a civil war in An Illusion of Thieves, a fantasy adventure from Cate Glass. In Cantagna, being a sorcerer is a death sentence. Romy escapes her…
February 28, 2020
Ghost stories and haunted houses are my absolute favorites in horror, so I actively seek them out. But due to the quirks of my brain and the busyness of everyday life, I don’t have the focus to read books of standard or more length. I’ve kept to reading comics, novellas, and short stories for the last decade or so. When…
February 1, 2020
The Atrocities (2018) Written by: Jeremy C. Shipp Genre: Gothic Fantasy/Horror Host: Kristina Elyse Butke Discussion Date: 2/28/2020 The Premise: Jeremy Shipp brings you THE ATROCITIES, a haunting gothic fantasy of a young ghost’s education. When Isabella died, her parents were determined to ensure her education wouldn’t suffer. But Isabella’s parents had not informed her new governess of Isabella’s… condition,…
January 31, 2020
Welcome (or for some of you, welcome back!) to the Speculative Chic Book Club! Thank you so much for joining us on our relaunch in 2020. To say I’m excited about it is an understatement: I’m tickled that every month, a different blogger gets to select a book and lead us in a discussion, and I knew that to kick…
January 30, 2020
Our first book club discussion isn’t until tomorrow, but I know some of us like to savor our reads. Maybe you want time to re-read the pick, maybe you need time to get your hands on a copy from the library, or maybe you simply enjoy taking your time. Whatever your situation, I thought now would be a good time…
January 1, 2020
This is How You Lose the Time War (2019) Written by: Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Genre: Science Fiction/Time Travel Host: Shara White Discussion Date: 01/31/2020 The Premise: Two time-traveling agents from warring futures, working their way through the past, begin to exchange letters — and fall in love in this thrilling and romantic book from award-winning authors Amal El-Mohtar…