June 9, 2020
During this here quarantine I’ve been video gaming like it’s my erstwhile commute. Which is to say, daily and multiple times a day. Throughout my time in isolation, I’ve made it a point to stick to things I find comforting and calming. In gaming terms, this would be Dragon Age: Inquisition, which I have in fact been playing quite a…
June 8, 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 Albert Wendland, whose Temporary Planets for Transitory Days comes out…
June 5, 2020
At Speculative Chic, we feature a lot of authors who share everything from their favorite things to the inspiration for their work. But why not also share their fiction? Welcome to Fiction Friday, where you’ll be able to sample the fiction of a variety of authors, including those who write at Speculative Chic! Today, we’re featuring our very own Kendra…
June 4, 2020
This is the final book available for the Embraced series. The title sounds slightly less hokey, though my guess is it’s supposed to be a play on How to Love Yourself. I might be wrong, but I don’t much care. Quick story time: Officially this book is Embraced by Magic Book 1 because, in case you didn’t notice, Kerrelyn Sparks…
June 3, 2020
Technically, this is a reread, but it’s a reread with purpose. Robert Jackson Bennett is one of my favorite writers, slipping onto my auto-buy list. The thing is, it wasn’t always that way. I read The Company Man, and didn’t like it. So then I read Mr. Shivers and didn’t like it. After that, I read The Troupe and almost…
June 2, 2020
On the very last day before the public library closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, I made a frantic trip to snatch up as many books as I could. Grave Sight was one of the books that I grabbed because I enjoy Charlaine Harris’ light, quirky paranormal mystery books. I also chose this book because it was the only first…
June 1, 2020
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe (2019) Written by: Heather Webber Genre: Magical Realism Host: Kelly McCarty Discussion Date: 6/26/2020 The Premise: Heather Webber’s Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town Southern charm. Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate…
June 1, 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 Nancy O’Toole Meservier, whose latest installment of her superhero/urban fantasy…
May 29, 2020
Some people like their book club books to be the kind of literature they would never read on their own: books they need to be goaded into reading. Others like book club books to be challenging — in either a socially-conscious way or in provocative writing style. There is nothing wrong at all with those approaches; I’ve enjoyed book clubs…
May 28, 2020
For my 2020 Resolution Project, I’m tackling two great Netflix animated series, starting with Voltron: Legendary Defender. We’re already at Season Four — the halfway point in the series! — and if you need some refreshers, take a look at my breakdowns of Seasons One, Two, and Three. The Premise: DreamWorks’ Voltron Legendary Defender picks up immediately following the events of…