Set in Northern Ireland in 1977, the sequel to Stina Leicht’s debut novel (Of Blood and Honey) is simply a superbly crafted novel. A highly palatable blend of urban fantasy, magical realism, and historical fiction, the subtle way in which Leicht immerses readers in the realm of Fairie is utterly brilliant. While the first novel only hinted at the twilight realm on The Other Side, its sequel – And Blue Skies from Pain – opens up the veil and reveals more information...

I’ve written a few blogs in recent months explaining why I think the Golden Age of paranormal fantasy may finally be coming to an end. Essentially, it’s because of two hugely significant factors: some of the genre’s most iconic series (like Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan saga, Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire sequence, etc.) are ending, and there has been a conspicuous lack of exciting and innovative debut novelists in recent years. That’s why I’m so excited about Suzanne Johnson’s debut novel Royal Street...

The collaboration between renowned artist/writer Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and insanely prolific novelist Christopher Golden has produced some extraordinary results in the past – namely Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire – so it comes as no surprise that their latest collaborative effort is equally unforgettable...

Not only is Stacia Kane’s newest Downside novel, Sacrificial Magic, one of the very best novels I’ve read so far this year, this series is one of the very best paranormal fantasy sagas on the shelves – one of the very best paranormal fantasy sagas ever written, in my opinion – so, as Rachel Morgan, Sookie Stackhouse, and Sabina Kane ride off into the sunset, I can only hope that fans of those series looking for their next paranormal fantasy fix discover Stacia Kane and her unforgettable junkie heroine...

After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall is a highly intelligent, sublimely understated apocalyptic glimpse into humankind’s future – it's comparable in thematic impact to Walter M. Miller, Jr.'s classic A Canticle for Leibowitz, and that is saying something. Simultaneously disheartening and inspiring, this novel’s ultimate power is very much like the megatsunami referenced within its pages – you won’t see it coming but when it hits you, you will be swept away...

Although I wrote a blog a few years ago about the typographical errors in books and their unintentional entertainment value, I (sadly) feel the need to revisit this subject. Since I wrote that blog back in early 2010, I’ve been reading a lot more self-published stuff – in the form of books as well as ebooks – and the frequency of grammatical errors in some of these works is just mind-boggling at times...

I read fiction first and foremost to be entertained. But as a book critic who has read and reviewed almost 10,000 books in my long and (not so) illustrious career, finding a novel that genuinely surprises me has become increasingly difficult over the years. The debut novel from James Renner (author of true crime releases like Amy: My Search for Her Killer and The Serial Killer's Apprentice), not only surprised me; it blew my mind...

As a book reviewer, I read literally hundreds of new releases every year and, every now and again, an old classic that has been reissued and given new life – but it is exceedingly rare for me to read a book that has been out of print for years, or decades. I  made an exception, however, when I ran across a dog-eared copy of a novel in a used bookstore that had been a vastly significant read for me when I was in my early teens: 2150 A.D. by Thea Alexander, originally published back in 1971 by Warner Books...

Honestly, I don’t understand the appeal of watching former stars attempt to ballroom dance with professionals. As I sat there on the couch trying to read while Melissa Gilbert, Martina Navratilova, etc. were spun around the dance floor, I couldn’t help but think how much more exciting the show would be if it were Dancing With the Science Fiction/Fantasy Stars, a reality show that pairs up iconic science fiction/fantasy characters with professional dancers...

Science fiction, at its very best, challenges readers and compels them to look at the world around them in a different light – and that is exactly what Jennifer Pelland’s brilliant debut novel Machine does. While the subject matter – mind uploading and the ultimate question “what makes an entity human?” – certainly has been explored countless times before in novels like PKD’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Pelland examines the topic with an intimacy and honesty that makes Machine an undeniably powerful read...