December 4, 2018

Do you enjoy a side of complicated social questions with your fiction? Do you have an opinion on the ongoing issues of the anti-vaccination movement? Are you a reader of medical thrillers? Have I got the book for you! Kingdom of Needle and Bone (2018) Written by: Mira Grant Genre: Sci-fi/thriller/horror (don’t look at me like that, they all apply)…

Read More » June 12, 2018

Binti: Home (2017) Author: Nnedi Okorafor Genre: science fiction Pages: 168 (kindle) Series: Binti Trilogy Publisher: Tor Why I chose it: I first read Binti back in February, when I searched specifically for fantasy and science fiction written by authors of color. I was blown away by how awesome Binti was, especially as I listened to the audiobook and the…

Read More » May 15, 2018

“And Then There Were (N-One)” (2017) Written By: Sarah Pinsker Read at Uncanny here Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Uncanny Magazine   Why I Chose It: Because Speculative Chic is covering the 2017 Nebula Awards, and because Sarah Pinsker writes great stories, if her track record (check her bio on her site or at the end of the story link) is any…

Read More » March 22, 2018

All Systems Red (2017) Written by: Martha Wells Genre: Science Fiction Pages: 144 (ebook) Publisher: Tor.com Why I Chose It: All Systems Red had been nominated for the 2017 Philip K. Dick Award, and here at Speculative Chic, we’re reading the nominees! I chose All Systems Red based on the positive reviews and feedback I had been seeing online. The premise: In a…

Read More » March 14, 2018

Of Lips and Tongue (2016) Written by: A.G. Carpenter Genre: Dark Fantasy, Southern Gothic Pages: 113 (Kindle) Series: Touch Trilogy Book 1 Publisher: Falstaff Books Why I Chose This: I’ve heard amazing things about this book and been looking for something dark to sink my teeth into. The premise: Delaney Green is one of them that don’t burn. Possessed of the…

Read More » March 6, 2018

Happiest of bookdays to Seanan McGuire! Today, the newest installment of her InCryptid series is released upon the unsuspecting world. I’ve already given you a good list of reasons to pick up the series at the link above. This week is for the existing fans. If you, like me, have been charmed or heartbroken by an Aeslin mouse or two,…

Read More » January 16, 2018

Beneath the Sugar Sky, the third in Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series, was recently released into the wild. Before I get into my review of the novella, I want you to take a minute to read this essay that McGuire wrote for Tor.com regarding My Little Pony. I’ll wait. Back? Great. I had you read that because it gives you…

Read More » December 13, 2017

Taste of Marrow (2017) Written by: Sarah Gailey Genre: Alternate History Pages: 192 pages Publisher: Tor.com Why I Chose This: I loved the first part of this series, River of Teeth, and I was super ready to jump back into hippo-infested water. The premise: A few months ago, Winslow Houndstooth put together the damnedest crew of outlaws, assassins, cons, and saboteurs…

Read More » December 5, 2017

When you picture mermaids, I’m assuming that something like Disney’s famous redhead, Ariel, comes to mind. Am I right? That’s a fairly common image. Mermaids, in general, are seen as beautiful creatures, half human female, and half elegant fish. But what if they weren’t the gorgeous, singing, harmless beings that we’ve been led to believe in? Mira Grant answered that…

Read More » November 8, 2017

River of Teeth (2017) Written by: Sarah Gailey Genre: Alternate History Pages: 178 pages Publisher: Tor.com Why I Chose This: Hippos. I mean, I heard about this book and the amazing idea of hippos being bred as a meat source, and I was in love with the ridiculousness of it all. The premise: In the early 20th Century, the United States…

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