Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
If you’re a long-time VBC reader, you may know I ‘shipped Rose and Dimitri in Richelle Mead’s highly successful Vampire Academy series. In that series we met Adrian Ivashkov. He was a little old to be hanging around high schoolers without, you know, a reason. He was that charming older guy who somehow always had booze. He was hot and a bad influence. Things change, though. People change. They grow. I can... 
This Cruel Design (This Mortal Coil #2) Emily Suvada Published: Oct. 30, 2018 (Simon Pulse) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free it will reference the previous book. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1,... 
The Darkest Star (Origin #1) Jennifer L. Armentrout Published: Oct. 30, 2018 (Tor Teen) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it may unintentionally contain spoilers for two series set in the same world. If you haven’t stepped into this world... 
Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) Laini Taylor Published: Oct. 2, 2018 (Little Brown Books for Young Readers) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Lazlo Strange is no longer himself. Or rather he is, but he’s also so much more. And Sarai, well…she has changed as well. While... 
We love fast-paced fantasy books at VBC, and we’ve found another series you’re going to want to devour: The Witchlands by Susan Dennard. We’re talking magic skills, a great friendship arc, and a hot dude who captains a ship. Even better Dennard makes her Witchlands world—a second world where some people are born with “witchery” abilities—accessible and immersive. So, naturally, we partnered with Tor Teen... 
Shadow of the Fox (Shadow of the Fox #1) Julie Kagawa Published: Oct. 2, 2018 (Harlequin Teen) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars Yumeko is a kitsune, a fox with magical powers. Well…sort of. She’s half-human as well, and has lived her entire life in a monastery with monks, getting... 
Oh, VBC crew, I have something delightful for you with today’s Win It Wednesday: a signed copy of Two Dark Reigns. I adore Kendare Blake’s books. Each new one is better than the last, which is seriously saying something. I fell in love with Anna Dressed in Blood, and now I think everyone else is also in love with her Three Dark Crowns series. Amy reviewed Three Dark Crowns and One Dark Throne for us, and... 
Rule (Rule #1) Ellen Goodlett Published: Sept. 11, 2018 (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars Three half-sisters from three different places in the kingdom with three different mothers. All with secrets that could be considered treason—and all... 
Blind the Eyes (Threads of Dreams #1) K.A. Wiggins Published: June 1, 2018 (Snowmelt & Stumps) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 3 stars Cole lives a dreamless life—both sleeping and awake. Dreams are not allowed, for they will call the Mara, who will first eat the dreams—and then kill the... 
These Rebel Waves (Stream Raiders #1) Sara Raasch Published: Aug. 7, 2018 (Balzer+Bray) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars Six years ago, Lu was a solider in the revolution to free Grace Loray from the religious dictatorship of Argrid. Now, Grace Loray is trying to stabilize the... 
