Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
Note from Chelsea/VBC: Today we have Glen Hirshberg on the blog. His latest novel Motherless Child offers a darker take on vampires. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of the book here. Get a taste for his style in today’s guest post. A few months ago, Melissa Singer, my excellent editor, sent me the image that would eventually adorn the cover of the Tor edition of my new novel, Motherless Child. Right... 
The One (The Selection #3) Kiera Cass Published: May 6, 2014 (HarperTeen) 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 does reference events from past books in the series The Selection series by Kiera Cass was one of my picks for our Beach Reads last year. In my mind it’s a perfect book for... 
Need a read to push you to the edge of your seat this summer? We just might have you covered. We have one copy of Glen Hirshberg’s Motherless Child to give to one lucky VBC reader. Here’s the back-cover blurb: In his powerful novel, Motherless Child, Bram Stoker Award–nominee Glen Hirshberg, author of the International Horror Guild Award–winning American Morons, exposes the fallacy of the Twilight-style... 
Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods #1) Melissa de la Cruz Published: Aug. 19, 2009 (Disney Hyperion) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Mary Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Schulyer Van Allen has many of the same insecurities that any normal fifteen-year-old girl would have. She doesn’t look like the popular girls, she isn’t blonde or rich, and she doesn’t have a jock boyfriend.... 
Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) Laini Taylor Published: April 8, 2014 (Little Brown Books for Young Readers) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: Purchased Reviewed by: Krista Rating (out of 5): 3 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it does reference events from previous books in the trilogy. Check out VBC’s reviews for Daughter of Smoke and... 
City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) Cassandra Clare Published: May 27, 2014 (Margaret K. McElderry) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Jill Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Note: While this review will attempt to be spoiler free, it does make references to previous books in the series. If you haven’t started yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, City of... 
The Taking (The Taking #1) Kimberly Derting Published: April 29, 2014 (HarperTeen) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: Borrowed from the library Reviewed by: Amanda Rating (out of 5): 3 stars *Cue X-Files theme* Kyra Agnew was a mostly normal high schooler. I say mostly because she did stand out in one way—she excelled at softball. Good enough to have top colleges scouting her. But after... 
Blood Trinity (Belador #1) Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love Published: October 19, 2010 (Pocket Books) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Jill Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars Evalle is part of a band of supernatural warriors called the Beladors. They fight against anything that harms humanity, which usually takes the form of black magic witches. She happens to be an... 
Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson #6) Darynda Jones Published: May 20, 2014 (St. Martin’s Press) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Jo Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it does make references to previous books in the series. If you haven’t started yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, First Grave on the Right. While... 
Grim Shadows (Roaring Twenties #2) Jenn Bennett Published: June 3, 2014 (Berkley Sensation) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by Jo Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it may make reference to previous books in the series. If you haven’t started yet, check out VBC’s review of... 
