Growing up as a blerd, loving speculative literature was always a conflicting experience. On one hand I absolutely loved the world building of science fiction and fantasy novels, but on the other, I rarely saw myself or themes that represented my personal experience. Published by BLF Press, “Black From the Future: A Collection of Black …
The Bone Garden, due out next week, has already been compared to The Graveyard Book and Coraline, which is certainly accurate in the broad strokes. It takes place in a graveyard, and features two children having dangerous adventures between the tombstones. And like Coraline, the heroine is a young girl investigating a very strange mystery, …
If you only read one book this summer, let it be Margaret Owen’s The Merciful Crow. Actually, if you only read one book this year, let it be The Merciful Crow, too. I’m serious. I’ve read a lot of good books this year, but none have this absolutely magical combination of first-class worldbuilding, stellar characterization, …
Phil Stamper is an author who understands growth in movement. Originally from a rural village near Dayton, Ohio, Phil’s journey has taken him from his home state to Washington, DC and on to New York. He studied music, then went into publishing, then into public relations, and then into publishing development, so it seems natural …
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim starts out exactly as its pitch promises: it’s Project Runway meets Mulan. Maia, daughter of a tailor who has fallen on hard times, longs to be known for who she is inside, rather than as the girl everyone sees on the outside. Aside from singing “Reflection” and getting a …
Sophie Cameron’s newest release Last Bus to Everland follows Brody Fair who, after meeting a boy named Nico, is shown a diverse magical place called Everland. In Everland, time stands still, rules are nonexistent, and the party is always going. This novel is an addition to the portal genre novel that deals with human truths, …
Her Silhouette, Drawn in Water, by Vylan Kaftar, never intends to be what you expect. You can feel it gearing up even from the first paragraphs, ready to undermine the darkness and damp through which we watch Bianca climb, already eager to break through. Her companion on the prison planet, her lover Chela, doesn’t want …
A Winter’s Promise was one of those rare books that stood at the exact intersection of nostalgia and innovation. It had the feel of a 20th century classic of children’s literature, but invested with the insight and maturity of more modern YA. I was beyond excited to get my hands on the second installment (of …
Every year thousands of gaming fans flood Boston in the hopes of getting to play the newest and best games at PAX East. This year was no exception and with this being my fourth PAX, I have to say, it may have been the best yet. Walking around the show floor there were some noticeably …
Or, where to spend your Christmas cash if you want books. This is necessarily heavy on releases for the beginning of the year and sequels, since many other titles haven’t been announced. Many further goodies await, but for now, this year already looks intriguing, exciting, and magical as heck. The Wicked King (Holly Black) January …