Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
Contagion (Contagion #1) Erin Bowman Published: July 24, 2018 (HarperTeen) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars After receiving a distress call from a drilling crew on the planet Achlys, the crew of the Odyssey is instructed to head out to the far reaches of the Fringe for a standard... 
Smoke and Iron (The Great Library #4) Rachel Caine Published: July 3, 2018 (NAL) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it will reference the previous books. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Ink and... 
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe Lauren James Published: July 3, 2018 (HarperTeen) 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 In the year 2048 NASA launches The Infinity into space, heading to Earth II on a projected 44-year journey to cultivate new life. The daughter to two astronauts aboard... 
The Sisters Mederos Patrice Sarath Published: April 3, 2018 (Angry Robot) 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 Yvienne Mederos is the eldest sister, Tesara the youngest of the pair, daughters of a successful merchant and his wife. When they are forced into poverty and sent to a... 
LIFEL1K3 (Lifelike #1) Jay Kristoff Published: May 29, 2018 (Knopf 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): 5 stars Once upon a time, there was a family: a father, a mother, three sisters, and a brother. But once upon a time only leads to happily ever after in fairy... 
Furyborn (Empirium #1) Claire Legrand Published: May 22, 2018 (Sourcebooks Fire) 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 Two Queens will rise. One of blood. One of light. Generations ago in a war between humans and Angels, the angels were defeated and locked behind a gate. Do to their... 
The Wicked Deep Shea Ernshaw Published: March 6, 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): 3.5 stars 17-year-old Penny has never really fit in. She’s not part of the “cool” crowd, and she lives with her mother on an island just off the town of Sparrow. Her mother used to read tea... 
The Plastic Magician (The Paper Magician #4) Charlie N. Holmberg Published: May 15, 2018 (47North) 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 Alvie Bechenmacher is headed to London to start her apprenticeship as a Polymaker—a magical trade learning how to bespell plastic. With Polymaking being a... 
Onyx and Ivory Mindee Arnett Published: May 15, 2018 (Balzer+Bray) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 4 stars No one knows exactly what prompted Kate Brighton’s father to attempt to murder the High King of Rime three years ago. Some suspect a disagreement regarding the Inquisition of the... 
Sky in the Deep Adrienne Young Published: April 24, 2018 (Wednesday Books) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Every five years the Aska and Riki clans meet in battle on the fields of Aurvanger in what is known as “the fighting season.” This has been going on for generations... 
