May 29, 2020

Some people like their book club books to be the kind of literature they would never read on their own: books they need to be goaded into reading. Others like book club books to be challenging — in either a socially-conscious way or in provocative writing style. There is nothing wrong at all with those approaches; I’ve enjoyed book clubs…

Read More » May 28, 2020

For my 2020 Resolution Project, I’m tackling two great Netflix animated series, starting with Voltron: Legendary Defender. We’re already at Season Four — the halfway point in the series! — and if you need some refreshers, take a look at my breakdowns of Seasons One, Two, and Three. The Premise: DreamWorks’ Voltron Legendary Defender picks up immediately following the events of…

Read More » May 27, 2020

I wholeheartedly admit that I am a sucker for anything described as “illustrious leader must unite a band of misfits to save the world/galaxy.” Probably a niche genre but yeah, I love stories like Firefly and Star Trek (2009) and Mass Effect. Ensemble pieces where not everyone works together perfectly at first but by the end you have a cohesive…

Read More » May 26, 2020

Although I have well over a dozen books that I’m supposed to be reading for my 2020 resolution, the next book in the Embraced series was released, so I’m playing catch-up on all of them and re-reading the first three, so I remember who these women are, who their men are, and how they’re all connected in this particular world.…

Read More » May 25, 2020

They might not be raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but that doesn’t mean that we love them any less. Welcome back to My Favorite Things, the weekly column where we grab someone in speculative circles to gab about the greatest in geek. This week, we sit down with Michelle D. Sonnier, whose latest novella, Death’s Embrace, came out…

Read More » May 24, 2020

Another week has come and gone and we’re edging ever closer to June. Where did the time go? What is time? What is space? All the quantum foam’s gone to my head, it seems…Actually, they say during major catastrophic events (like a pandemic) one can easily lose their sense of time, so I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Is…

Read More » May 22, 2020

At Speculative Chic, we feature a lot of authors who share everything from their favorite things to the inspiration for their work. But why not also share their fiction? Welcome to Fiction Friday, where you’ll be able to sample the fiction of a variety of authors, including those who write at Speculative Chic! Today, we’re featuring Nancy O’Toole Meservier, whose…

Read More » May 21, 2020

Continuing my re-read of The Embraced series since the fourth one has finally come out. Luckily my library has these in ebook format with no holds, and they’re fairly quick to go through. I still take issue with their titles, though.  So I Married a Sorcerer (2017) Written by: Kerrelyn Sparks Genre: Fantasy Romance Pages: 496 pages (Mass Market Paperback) Series:…

Read More » May 20, 2020

Hey there, dear Chicers! I hope you’re staying healthy, safe, and sane out there. My sister and brother-in-law are both nurses, so thank you to everyone who’s following the CDC guidelines to help curb the spread of COVID-19. Also, if you or one of your family members is an essential worker, thank you and them, too, for keeping the world…

Read More » May 19, 2020

Today we shall gird our swords and prepare our spells as we journey through vengeful and vindictively verdant forests effused with purple passions under the tutelage of the most seductive, skilled, and practically perfect leader of the land of Joiry, none other than Jirel herself. Jirel, arrogant, beautiful, and skilled, has a wide background in defeating demons while looking impeccable,…

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