New Realms of Fantasy and New Reviews Online

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I just got my contributor’s copy of the new issue of  Realms of Fantasy. As you may recall, this is actually its landmark 100th issue, after surviving several “deaths” and publisher transitions.  And I have to say, it looks fabulous.  I’m pleased as punch to be a part of this magazine (going on five and a half years now!) and I’m hoping it’ll continue to stay strong in the years to come.

In this issue, I look at eight YA books:
The Iron Thorn, by Caitlin Kittredge
Teeth, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Rage, by Jackie Morse Kessler
Tiger’s Curse, by Colleen Houck
Angel Burn, by L.A. Weatherly
Falling Under, by Gwen Hayes
After Midnight, by Lynn Viehl
A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

Fiction in this magazine includes work from Ursula K. LeGuin, Leah Bobet, Josh Rountree & Samantha Henderson, Sharon Mock, Thea Hutcheson, Patrick Samphire, Euan Harvey, and David D. Levine.

As per my usual policy, reviews from the previous issue may now be found archived on my website.  They include:
The Emerald Atlas, by John Stephens
The Iron Queen, by Julie Kagawa
The Painted Boy, by Charles de Lint
Out for Blood, by Alyxandra Harvey
The Goddess Test, by Aimee Carter
Fallen Angel, by Heather Terrell
Night School, by Mari Mancusi
Hexbound, by Chloe Neill

Go forth, enjoy, and as always, let me know what you think.  I’m always interested to hear when my reviews turn people on to good books.

Hexbound, by Chloe Neill (Signet, 2011)

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Struggling to master her newfound magical abilities, Lily continues to work with the Adepts, a secret group of mages dedicated to protecting the innocent and battling the Reapers, mages who exploit others for power. With Chicago as their battleground, the two factions clash repeatedly. Meanwhile, stranger things than mages are stalking the streets at night, threatening to cause real trouble. Lily’s also determined to uncover her parents’ secrets, and still find time to date here werewolf boyfriend. With so much on the line, something’s bound to give. With an interesting premise and a host of memorable characters, this series fails to disappoint. I’m looking forward to each new entry.

Night School, by Mari Mancusi (Berkley Books, 2011)

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Twins Sunny and Rayne are anything but normal. They’re both dating vampires, while Rayne is both vampire and slayer at the same time. And now, according to their parents, they’re both fairy princesses … and that part of the family’s come to collect them. For their own safety, the girls are sent to stay at the remote Riverdale Academy, a school for slayers. As Riverdale proves full of surprises, Rayne’s forced to hide her true nature with no way to feed. With fairies, vampires, and traitors galore, disaster is inevitable. Only Mancusi could make this increasingly bizarre set of circumstances work so well, as one twist after another is introduced. The end result is a past-paced, quirky, fun continuation of the series that’s sure to keep fans amused.

Fallen Angel, by Heather Terrell (Harper Teen, 2011)

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When Ellie meets Michael, they discover an immediate connection, and a mutual attraction. To their surprise, they both possess superhuman powers, including flight, persuasion, and an affinity for blood. They’re not vampires, but something much older, and their parents have hidden the truth all their lives. Now, as the manipulative Ezekiel comes to exploit them for his own shadowy agenda, they‘re determined to uncover the truth on their own.. But will what they learn strengthen their love, or tear them apart? While we’ve seen a number of forbidden love/fallen angel-themed books of late, this one’s pretty strong, taking some unexpected twists along the way. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next.

The Goddess Test, by Aimee Carter (Harlequin Teen, 2011)

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Kate has just moved to the tiny town of Eden, so her dying mother can return home for the last time. Soon, Kate experiences several bizarre events, ending with her making a deal with Henry, the self-proclaimed god of the dead. In return for her mother getting a few more months of life, Kate must stay with Henry, while undergoing a series of tests. Pass, and she’ll rule the underworld by his side. Fail, like all those who tried before her, and perish. Now Kate has to do everything in her power to pass, even though she doesn’t want to spend her life in the realm of the dead. Reality and fantasy blend seamlessly as she’s further drawn into a world where the Greek gods are real, where she’s meant to be the new Persephone, and where appearances are deceiving. It’s an intriguingly romantic, heartfelt twist on an old set of myths, with plenty of potential for future offerings.

Out For Blood, by Alyxandra Harvey (Bloomsbury, 2011)

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Hunter Wild comes from a family of vampire hunters, and is a rising star student at the Helios-Ra Academy, which trains people like her. Despite that, she’s fast becoming friends with the vampiric Drake family, who’d rather forge a peaceful alliance with her people, than snack on humans. As feral, cannibalistic vampires threaten both sides, and a mysterious illness strikes the Helios-Ra student body, Hunter has to team up with the flirtatious Quinn Drake to combat a mutual foe. Soon, they’re falling for one another, even as they fight for their lives. Humor, action, and romance blend together perfectly in this series, while sharp characterization and an underlying sense of pure fun make this book a joy to read.

The Painted Boy, by Charles de Lint (Viking, 2011)

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When the enigmatic James Li comes to the Arizona town of Santo del Vado Viejo, he finds new friends, and new enemies. One of the Yellow Dragon Clan, he’s in the process of embracing his true nature and destiny. To do that, he’ll need to find his own limits while battling the drug dealers and gangbangers terrorizing the town, as well as winning over the locals and resident spirits. It all comes down to an epic clash of magic, emotion and music, in de Lint’s uniquely addictive style. Rich language, lush descriptions, complex situations and the intricate blending of mythologies and beliefs demonstrate why de Lint is still considered a master of the genre. It rarely gets better than this.

The Iron Queen, by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin Teen, 2011)

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Meghan Chase, the half-Fae daughter of Summer King Oberon, is ready to return to mortal life with her boyfriend, the exiled Winter Prince Ash, when the two are pulled back into the ongoing war between the old Faerie Courts and the newly-emerged Iron Fae. With a new Iron King poised to destroy Summer and Winter and remake Faery in his image, only Meghan, with her unique blend of abilities, has what it takes to stop him. With an unlikely group of fractious allies, she must accomplish the impossible at any cost, even her own life. Romance takes a back seat to high stakes action as the war in Faery takes its toll and leaves its mark. This third installment in the series is just as compelling and complex as its predecessors, and wholly satisfying.

The Emerald Atlas, by John Stephens (Alfred A. Knopf, 2011)

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Ever since their parents’ disappearance ten years ago, Kate, Michael and Emma have bounced from one orphanage to the next, ultimately ending up at the remote home of the eccentric Dr. Stanislaus Pym. There, they discover a strange green book which launches them on a series of time-jumping adventures involving an immortal Countess, an imperiled town, and a hidden dwarven kingdom. As the siblings affect past and present, they learn just why they’ve been drawn into what promises to be an epic struggle between good and evil. Ambitious, entertaining, magical and whimsical, this marks a strong beginning to a new trilogy, invoking just a little Harry Potter and Series of Unfortunate Events along the way.

Big Review Roundup!

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Just to remind people that I still review books for a variety of fine publications, both print and online.  I realized I’ve been horribly lax in posting updates, so here’s a massive round-up of reviews from the past few months.  I know some of you are used to me posting links to author sites and journals, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll skip that step this time around.  Google is your friend.  

SF Site:
Married With Zombies and Flip This Zombie, by Jesse Petersen
Afterlife: The Resurrection Chronicles, by Merrie Destefano
Doubleblind and Killbox. by Ann Aguirre
Amortals, by Matt Forbeck
Kris Longknife: Redoubtable, by Mike Shepherd

Green Man Review:
Dead Waters, by Anton Strout
Midnight Riot and Moon Over Soho, by Ben Aaronovitch
For Heaven’s Eyes Only, by Simon R. Green
Scorched, by Sharon Ashwood
Nekropolis and Dead Streets, by Tim Waggoner
Sixty-One Nails and The Road to Bedlam, by Mike Shevdon

Trolls in the Hamptons, by Celia Jerome
License to Ensorcell, by Katherine Kerr
Killing Rocks, by D.D. Barant 
Managing Death, by Trent Jamieson
Unleashed and Play Dead by John Levitt
Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine
Unseen by Rachel Caine
The Black Ship and The Hollow Crown by Diana Pharaoh Francis
Bitter Night and Crimson Wind by Diana Pharaoh Francis

Sleeping Hedgehog:
Welcome to Bordertown, edited by Ellen Kushner and Holly Black

Realms of Fantasy (February 2011 issue) (Reviews once again archived on my website)
Enchanted Ivy, by Sarah Beth Durst
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Solitary: Escape From Furnace #2, by Alexander Gordon Smith
Black Hole Sun, by David Macinnis Gill
Low Red Moon, by Ivy Devlin
Behemoth: Leviathan #2, by Scott Westerfeld
Torment: Fallen #2, by Lauren Kate
The Candidates: Delcroix Academy #1, by Inara Scott
Personal Demons, by Lisa Desrochers

Realms of Fantasy (April 2011) (Available in print only)
The Emerald Atlas, by John Stephens
The Iron Queen, by Julie Kagawa
The Painted Boy, by Charles de Lint
Out for Blood, by Alyxandra Harvey
The Goddess Test, by Aimee Carter
Fallen Angel, by Heather Terrell
Night School, by Mari Mancusi
Hexbound, by Chloe Neill

Go forth and enjoy, and if my reviews convince you to pick up even one book you hadn’t considered previously, feel free to come back and tell me about it!