February 13, 2020
I’m a huge Stephen King nerd. I mean, I don’t have a map of his multiverse on my wall or anything, but I own hardback copies of most of his books, have read almost everything he’s ever published (still missing a bunch of very early short stories though), and have watched just about every King property that’s been produced for…
February 7, 2020
One of the great things about Science Fiction and Fantasy is that they are entertaining while offering a new social or political perspective or commentary. We love these books, movies, and TV shows because they get so much right, they tell a great story, they make us think, and of course they entertain us. But sometimes, there’s a character or…
February 6, 2020
I seem to do this thing where I’ll be super-excited for a book, buy it the day it’s released…and then never get around to reading it. Or read it much, much later than originally planned. I think part of that stems from knowing once I’m finished, I’m back to waiting for the next/final book in a particular series. That’s pretty…
February 4, 2020
Fun fact: This will actually be my second time reading this book. Why? Because the final book, Exile’s Throne, is on my 2020 Reading List and I need a refresher course. A lot happens in this book, but I couldn’t remember all the details or the character’s names. So I started fresh with The Empress Game; now we are here,…
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 27, 2020
They might not be raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but that doesn’t mean that we love them any less. Welcome back to My Favorite Things, the weekly column where we grab someone in speculative circles to gab about the greatest in geek. This week, we sit down with James Chambers, whose On the Night Border just made the…
January 22, 2020
I can’t remember where I first heard about The Last Sun. I think it popped up on a list of science fiction and fantasy picks for your Christmas list. Wherever it was, I was intrigued enough by the idea of a modern Atlantis to put it on Goodreads so I’d remember to check it out. I shouldn’t have worried. Once…
January 21, 2020
Some writers create worlds on the map, others universes, or lands of imagination. Today we’re taking a road trip on the Connie Willis Scenic Parkway, with stops in the Country of Awards, including the states of Nebula, Hugo, and Locus, among others.