I’m pretty sure that somewhere in all fantasy author contracts is the Arthurian Clause: a section stipulating that at least once in their careers, each author must take on some aspect of the King Arthur legends. I’m not sure what the penalty for them is if they don’t, but the penalty for me is that …

I don’t like short story compilations. Even if each story is a perfect, precious jewel–well, that’s actually the problem. A good story is complete. It says what it must, and it’s done. And yes, sometimes that takes 3 pages, or 30, rather than 300. The nature of a single short story is lovely and doesn’t bother …

No, there aren’t atomic Trichechidae in this story. It’s not that they would be out of place–this is a series about people with superhuman but often deeply strange abilities–but they exist only in the mind of the metaphor-destroyer and Steelslayer, David Charleston. Yes, David is back for this final installment of the Reckoners, and it’s …

This begins–no, it doesn’t even begin, it’s epigraphed–with a hymn to the divine twins, Artemis and Apollo. There are three ways to my heart. One is pizza. One is being my husband. The third is mythology. Especially well-researched mythology, so I may have done a little happy dance before I even got to page one. …

You know, I think YA has been trying to one-up itself of late. Ever since Twilight and Harry Potter bowed out of the spotlight, we’ve had more sick, unstable, unfortunate teenagers than you could previously Go Ask Alice about in all the preceding years. But now I think I’ve found the absolute pinnacle, the bloodred …

No, this isn’t any kind of Oz story, but a black-hearted girl with magic powers, a magic ruby, and the meaning of home do feature prominently, so the title is still apt. Ava, our anti-heroine, is looking to get back to her home after being swept up in–no, not a tornado, but certainly in her father’s endless …

I had my qualms about a new Continental novel from the perspective—and foul mouth—of General Turyin Mulaghesh. Not many, and not severe, since Mulaghesh was awesome. But she was not the stars of the previous show, the fantastic City of Stairs. Who can compete with Shara and Sigrud, a brilliant spy and a Viking bodyguard …

I had the privilege of sitting down with Robert Jackson Bennett to ask him about his immanent book, City of Blades. We also discussed his previous books—and writing—and Batman. Christina Ladd: First and most obvious question: where does City of Blades come from? How did you begin to follow up City of Stairs, which turns …

It’s not easy being an wealthy, gifted, powerful scion of a noble house whose heroics have earned him the attention of God Itself. For one thing, if that God has played you false and used you, it’s exceptionally difficult to get away to mourn and heal. For another, you have certain responsibilities that don’t go …

In honor of City of Blades coming out, I re-read American Elsewhere, which–fun story–I hate-bought because the cover (and title) looked so much like American Gods. “Well this is going to be bullshit” I said, probably out loud, probably to myself in a crowded bookstore, probably earning myself nervous glances. And then, readers, it wasn’t. …