Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
Note from VBC HQ: It’s Throwback Week at VBC, and we’re highlighting some of your favorite reviews from VBC. The VBC team is obsessed with all things Sarah J. Maas. We’re not alone. Our review of Crown of Midnight—from back in 2013!—was one of the top-read reviews on VBC in 2016. Are you a Throne of Glass fan? Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) Sarah J. Maas Published: August 27, 2013 (Bloomsbury)... 
Dark Promises (Dark/Carpathians #29) Christine Feehan Published: March 15, 2016 (Berkley) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: Purchased Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free it may make reference to previous books. Gabrielle Sanders has been thrust reluctantly into the Carpathian world of blood and war. As human scientist, she was... 
Spider Game (Ghostwalkers # 12) Christine Feehan Published: Jan. 26, 2016 (Jove) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 2.5 stars Ghostwalkers are military soldiers who were genetically enhanced mentally, physically and psychically. But these tortuous experiments were not limited to the military. Dr. Whitney, the mastermind behind everything,... 
Truthwitch (Witchlands #1) Susan Dennard Published: Jan. 5, 2016 (Tor Teen) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 3 stars Safiya Fon Hasstrel is a young noblewoman who has been training and studying for years under the direction of her uncle and select tutors. Unbeknownst to the Emperor, she has not been learning to be a proper noblewoman;... 
Hell & High Water (THIRDS #1) Charlie Cochet Published: July 6, 2014 (Dreamspinner Press) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 4 stars To be completely upfront, I have become very picky when it comes to paranormal romance novels. It is rare for a new author/book/series to pique my interest. So for me to pick up (and finish) a book by an... 
Shadows of Self (Mistborn #5) Brandon Sanderson Published: Oct. 6, 2015 (Tor) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it will make reference to previous books in the series. Brandon Sanderson is arguably one of the biggest names in modern fantasy. You have to give a guy props who has the... 
Autumn Moon (Celtic Wolves #3) Jan DeLima Published: Sept. 29, 2015 (Ace) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 3 stars I’ve read a lot of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. So, it’s rare when a book takes me by surprise. Jan DeLima’s first book in the Celtic Wolves series, Celtic Moon did... 
The Winter King (Weathermages of Mystral #1) C.L. Wilson Published: July 29, 2014 (HarperCollins) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars I was a big fan of C.L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul series, so The Winter King has been on my to-be-read list for quite some time. So why did it take me more... 
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) Sarah J. Maas Published: Sept. 1, 2015 (Bloomsbury) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it does reference events from previous books in the series. If you haven’t started yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Throne of Glass. It’s not a secret that... 
Dragonbane (Dark-Hunter #26) Sherrilyn Kenyon Published Aug. 4, 2015 (St. Martin’s Press) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it will make reference to previous books. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s review of book #0.5, Fantasy Lover. So I have been reading... 
