Category: book review

  • Review: Midnight Crossroad (Midnight, Texas #1) by Charlaine Harris

    Like The Magicians, I’m glad that I watched the television series version of this story before picking up the books. However, unlike The Magicians, it wasn’t because the screen version fixed things that I hated about the books. In this case, it was purely because writing for screen is different than writing for the page. 

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  • Review: The Lawrence Browne Affair (Turner Series #2) by Cat Sebastian

    A break from the daily routine in the form of a business trip to Seattle for the day job meant a break in my regular reading habits. Ages ago, my favorite contemporary romance author (okay, Anna Zabo is really the only contemporary romance author I really read) noted that a novel by one of their…

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  • Review: Patterns of Interference (Star Trek Enterprise: Rise of the Federation #5) by Christopher L. Bennett

    Obvious benefits of a media tie-in novel are the lack of production value constraints. This means authors are free to make use of a vast array of characters and create new planets beyond the typical constrictions of special effects. Bennett has capitalized on these abilities to great extent, especially writing a familiar cast of characters…

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  • Review: The Bronze Skies by Catherine Asaro

    After I finished this novel, staying up until past midnight on a work night, I posted a complaint on Facebook. Not about this novel, but about how I had over 100 more books on my “to be read” shelf, but all I really wanted to do is go back and re-read everything else in Catherine…

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  • Review: Points of Origin (SG-1/SGA Travelers’ Tales #2) edited by Sally Malcolm

    Favorite story: “Precognition” by Jo Graham touches on the after-effects of one of my favorite episodes of Stargate SG-1, when our heroes travel back in time and are aided by a younger George Hammond. It was lovely to see his progression through the years, taking us to the man we know and love who guided…

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  • SLCC Panel: So I’ve Written a First Draft: Now What?

    The panel I’m most excited about at Salt Lake Comic Con this week is definitely “So I’ve Written a First Draft: Now What?” (Saturday 9/23, 7 PM in room 150G). I’m a weird sort of writer. Putting the first draft on paper is often like pulling teeth (even though once I actually start writing, the…

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  • Salt Lake Comic Con schedule

    On Wednesday morning, my husband and I are heading for both our first trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, and our very first giant comic con! You can pick up my books from Shadow Mountain Publishing at booth 1807, or just hunt me down and buy a copy directly from me! (The perks of having…

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  • Review: The Resurrection Pact (Winston Casey Chronicles #1) by Jay Smith

    Disclaimer: I purchased an ebook version of this novel at release, then acquired a hardcopy version in a book trade with the author, whom I consider a friend. Once upon a time, I was one of THOSE World of Warcraft (WoW) players. Had a full-time job, but still spent 30 to 40 hours a week…

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  • Review: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

    I have a weird history with this book. I was utterly convinced that I’d read it before, but I remembered really bizarre parts of it, such as Shadow being cold in Lakeside and the secret of the klunker on the lake. I even watched season 1 of the new television show (enjoying it immensely), and…

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  • Review: Shattering the Ley (Erenthrall #1) by Joshua Palmatier

    This is one of those books that I snagged at a convention after meeting the author that then sat on my “to be read” shelf for an embarrassing amount of time. When I saw the final book in the trilogy had been released, I figured it was long past time to dive in. “Diving in”…

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  • Review: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

    This year, many of the contributors to my other blog, Speculative Chic, all set New Year’s Resolutions together. Some of them were to catch up on movies, others were to revisit an old favorite video game. Mine was to finally tackle the giant hardcover that had been anchoring my “to be read” pile since I…

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  • Review: Heart of the Dragon (Supernatural #4) by Keith R.A. DeCandido

    I usually avoid reading other reviews of books before writing my own, but for some reason I scrolled down when getting the links for this book. While it looks like the majority of the ratings are positive, the top few reviews that showed up on Goodreads absolutely trashed this book, which is unfortunate. You might…

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  • Review: WILDFIRE (Hidden Legacy #3) by Ilona Andrews

    This was a thrilling conclusion to a major part of the Hidden Legacy story line. Nevada Baylor’s family and her interactions with them are my one of my favorite parts of this series, and it was exciting to see plot progression on that front. For some reason, I had it stuck in my head that…

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  • Confluence Schedule!

    This weekend, I’ll be in Pittsburgh for Confluence 2017, celebrating all things SF and fantasy! I’ll have copies of all three books in the Steel Empires series, including the newest one, Steel Blood, available for sale! Make sure you snag me before they’re gone. Here’s where you’ll definitely be able to find me: Friday: 4…

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  • Book Spotlight & Review: HOUNDS OF THE UNDERWORLD (Path of Ra #1) by Dan Rabarts & Lee Murray

    Today is release day for the newest Raw Dog Screaming Press authors: Dan Rabarts and Lee Murray! I read this book ages ago, and I’ve been so excited to share it with all of you. ABOUT THE BOOK On the verge of losing her laboratory, her savings, and all respect for herself, Pandora (Penny) Yee…

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  • Review: BONE KEY (Supernatural #3) by Keith R.A. DeCandido

    My quest to become a genuine Keith R.A. DeCandido fangirl continues today with his second Supernatural media tie-in novel. I enjoyed this one a lot more than his first, Nevermore, for a variety of reasons. 

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  • STEEL BLOOD featured on The Skiffy and Fanty Show: A Book By Its Cover!

    In a surprise blog tour spot that I knew was coming, but had no idea of when, Steel Blood has been “reviewed” as part of a relaunched monthly feature at The Skiffy and Fanty Show: A Book By Its Cover! It’s a joke column that literally makes up a book review based on what the cover…

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  • Review: DYSTOPIA BOY: THE UNAUTHORIZED FILES by Trevor D. Richardson

    Disclaimer: I consider myself friends with the author, and I received a harcopy version of this novel through a book trade with him. There’s so much talent packed into this novel that I’m honestly not sure where to begin. It’s a beast of a book that almost drags on too long, but at the end,…

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  • Review: NEVERMORE (Supernatural #1) by Keith R.A. DeCandido

    There are four of us in a group of some of my best friends, and we’re all fans of the show Supernatural (though some of us are more caught up than others, ahem). Along the way, we even acquired nicknames from the main characters, and it should surprise none of you that I’m Sam. So when…

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  • Review: WHITE HOT (Hidden Legacy #2) by Ilona Andrews

    This series is a prime example for one of the major rules that applies to book buying: Don’t judge a book based on its cover (or publisher). If you’re already a fan of Ilona Andrews’ other books, there’s absolutely no reason that you won’t also enjoy this series. The romance is there to support and…

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