Weekly Roundup, November 26-30, 2018


‘Allo! Welcome to December! Is it just me or has 2018 been the longest year ever? I normally reach the twelfth month and wonder just where the time went. Not the case this year. Anyway, it’s December, and that means that soon I’ll be reading Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather for the fifteenth or so time, because some traditions are too good…

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Out of the Box: Baking


Editor’s Note: Welcome back to Out of the Box! As you know, we’re all delightful, layered individuals. Like cakes. Like delicious German Chocolate cakes. This month, please enjoy a delectable post on the joys of baking. Spoiler: Kelly McCarty loves to bake, and after you read this post, if you don’t crave a cookie by the time you’re finished reading…

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Book Club Discussion: Cinder


Welcome to the Speculative Chic Book Club! Each month, we invite you to join us in reading a book that is voted on by YOU, our readers. Following a short review, please feel free to discuss the book in the comments! Cinder (2012) Written by: Marissa Meyer Genre: Science Fiction Length: 10 hours and 2 minutes (audio) Series: Book One…

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More than a Magic Carpet Ride: A Review of City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty


City of Brass (2017) Written by: S.A. Chakraborty Genre: Epic Fantasy Length: 19 hours, 36 minutes (Audiobook) Series: First Book in the Daevabad Trilogy Publisher: Pyr Science Fiction & Fantasy Why I Chose This: As someone who grew up loving the story of “Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp,” this djinn-focused story hit a lot of the right nostalgia notes for…

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Delayed Reactions: Deryni Rising


  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…

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Sound Off! Ralph Breaks the Internet


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, check your wifi connection and discuss Ralph Breaks the Internet, which premiered in the United States on Wednesday, November 21, 2018. Sound Off! is meant to be a reaction, but not necessarily a review. After all,…

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Chain Reaction: Stories with (A)Gender(ish) Appeal


Earlier this year, Chic-mate Ronya F. McCool reviewed JY Yang’s The Black Tides of Heaven, and I was intrigued. I finished that series recently and decided to round up a few more titles whose characters are nonbinary or trans*.  Representation matters–and I was rewarded with several works that were thoughtful, humorous, and all-around great examples for a range of ages, interests,…

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My Favorite Things with Kristina Elyse Butke


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 one of our newest Content Editors, Kristina Elyse Butke! What…

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