June 5, 2018
Bring Me Their Hearts (2018) Author: Sara Wolf Genre: YA Fantasy Pages: 400 (Hardcover) Publisher: Entangled Teen Disclaimer: I was offered a free NetGalley copy from Entangled in return for a fair review. Why I Chose It: When you’re presented with a smorgasbord of ARCs but only one of them involves fantasy, royalty, and the cutting out of hearts…I mean, what else…
May 16, 2018
So, back around the turn of the year, several of our contributors here at Speculative Chic made New Year’s Resolutions, committing to movies or books or authors that, at some point, they’d given short shrift, or moments in pop culture that had passed them by. At the time, I was at a loss for my own resolution. But that was…
April 12, 2018
I have been a Stephen King fan since I was an angsty 14-year-old who didn’t want to go on a vacation with my mom, brother, sister, and new stepdad. The room I was in of the cabin we’d rented had a bookshelf. On that bookshelf was a ridiculously thick book. On the spine, the words: The Stand. I spent every…
March 29, 2018
It seems like it’s always award season somewhere, and right now the Speculative Chic crew is reading the nominees for the Philip K. Dick Award! After the Flare (2017) Written by: Deji Bryce Olukotun Genre: Science Fiction Pages: 275 (kindle) Publisher: The Unnamed Press Why I chose it: I picked this particular book from the list of nominees because I…
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…
March 6, 2018
Happiest of bookdays to Seanan McGuire! Today, the newest installment of her InCryptid series is released upon the unsuspecting world. I’ve already given you a good list of reasons to pick up the series at the link above. This week is for the existing fans. If you, like me, have been charmed or heartbroken by an Aeslin mouse or two,…
February 23, 2018
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. We’re still experimenting with the format, so just like last month, this month we’re just doing a review followed by your discussion in the comments! Brown Girl in the Ring (1998) Author: Nalo…
February 20, 2018
At the tip-top of the gothic house, an attic looms. This particular attic does not entrap Mrs. Rochester, though it’s a close relation to the upper level of the House of Usher. No, in this MOIST attic, four children — the Dollangangers (Cathy, Chris, Carrie, and Corey) — are held captive by their evil grandmother for the primal sin of…