Next SFF Author: Ben Aaronovitch

Author: Kelly Lasiter

Deep Down: Coates has a great knack for character

Deep Down by Deborah Coates

Hallie Michaels is back in civilian life for good, but she’s not sure yet what she wants to do with that life, and she’s loath to be tied down to any one option. An old Army friend offers her a job that would take her away from her small South Dakota hometown again. She’s tempted to take it, but when she checks on her elderly neighbor Pabby Pabahar at her father’s request, Hallie discovers a mystery that may keep her in town for a while.

Pabby’s property is surrounded by black dogs that no one but Pabby and Hallie can see.

March 14th, 2013. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4 | Deborah Coates | SFF Reviews | no comments |

The Magic Circle: Has some problems

The Magic Circle by Jenny Davidson

[In our Edge of the Universe column, we review mainstream authors that incorporate elements of speculative fiction into their “literary” work. However you want to label them, we hope you’ll enjoy discussing these books with us.]

The Magic Circle by Jenny Davidson is the story of three young women in academia, all of whom become involved in a particular type of game that combines urban exploration with LARPing (live-action role-playing). Logical Ruth is primarily interested in games as teaching tools.

House Rules: Did Not Finish

House Rules by Chloe Neill

Chloe Neill’s CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES novels have been brain-candy reading for me for a few years now. The books are quick reads that don’t require a lot of thinking but provide action, romance, humor, and occasional pathos. But, sad to say, I think I’m breaking up with this series.

I had high hopes at the beginning of this seventh book, House Rules. Neill introduces a mystery: two rogue vampires have gone missing, last seen at one of the vampire registration offices the new mayor has set up.

February 21st, 2013. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 0.1 | Chloe Neill | SFF Reviews | 6 comments |

Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia

Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia by Greg Rucka (writer) and J.G. Jones (artist)

I’m a card-carrying geek if there ever was one, but there are a few areas where my fannish education has been a little spotty, one of them being superhero comics. It’s not for lack of enjoying them when I do read them; it’s more that the reams of backstory and frequent reboots feel a little daunting. Then, this past Christmas, I found a copy of The Hiketeia among the presents from my boyfriend, along with a Post-It note that read,

February 15th, 2013. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4.5 | Comics | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |

Romantic getaways

Venice?
Aruba?
Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop?

Everyone loves a romantic getaway!

This Valentine’s Day, we want to know where you’d like to take your sweetheart to celebrate — and the sky is most certainly not the limit. Anywhere in any science fiction or fantasy world is fair game.

As for me, I choose the Beast’s castle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The food is superb, the dishes will sing a lovely tune to slow dance to, and afterward, there’s that library to explore!

How about you?

February 14th, 2013. Kelly Lasiter | Thoughtful Thursday | 13 comments |

Between: Did Not Finish

Between by Kerry Schafer

I hate to give a DNF review to Between by Kerry Schafer. I love finding new authors to read, the cover art is pretty (check out the subtle scales on her shoulder!), and the premise sounded great. Unfortunately, I only got about halfway through the book before setting it aside.

Schafer’s heroine, Vivian, has always had strange dreams, and now those dreams are affecting reality, for her and everyone around her. She’s an ER doctor, and one of her patients dies after an attack by dragons — dragons that come from the Between,

February 13th, 2013. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 0.1 | Kerry Schafer | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |

Biting Cold: Feels like a filler episode

Biting Cold by Chloe Neill

Biting Cold (2012) is the sixth book in Chloe Neill’s CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series. It’s impossible to even give the premise of this book, let alone a useful review, without mentioning major spoilers for books four and five, Hard Bitten and Drink Deep respectively, so if you haven’t read those books, stop reading this review now!

Is the coast clear? OK, here goes. Ethan has just come back from the dead, but he and Merit hardly have a chance to catch up;

February 6th, 2013. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 2.5 | Chloe Neill | SFF Reviews | no comments |

The Elementals: Belongs up there with my favorites

The Elementals by Francesca Lia Block

“Add in the way college isolated you, left you feeling as if the rest of the world, including your past and your family, was just a dream compared to what you read in your books and on the faces of the other students, and anything could happen.”

I’ve long had a thing for college stories. I loved being in college and I always enjoy getting to vicariously revisit it in the pages of a novel. And it’s such a liminal time, which makes it a great setting for a story.

Planning a male fantasy pin-up calendar

A couple of days ago Kat talked to Patrick Rothfuss about his 2013 Fantasy Pin-Up Calendar which raises money for his Worldbuilders charity. They talked about Heifer International, art, sexual objectification, and women’s changing roles in speculative fiction. They also talked about the possibility of a future Male Fantasy Pin-Up Calendar, you know, just to be fair. ;)

So I polled a few female bloggers, asking which male fantasy characters they adore. Here are their suggestions. If you’ll leave your suggestions in the comments, you’ll have a chance to win a book from our stacks.

January 17th, 2013. Kelly Lasiter | Thoughtful Thursday | 21 comments |

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: We love it

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

I’m pretty sure every person in the western world knows who Harry Potter is and knows the basic story line. Harry Potter was The Boy Who Lived. Both his parents were killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the evil Lord Voldemort, but he survived the attack, somehow causing Voldemort to disappear. Now Harry is eleven, and off to his first year at Hogwarts wizarding school. But it seems like Voldemort is making a resurgence. Is Harry safe, even under the watchful eye of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore?

Next SFF Author: Ben Aaronovitch

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