Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
A couple weeks ago I joked on Twitter that I was in need of a book boyfriend Advent calendar. There was quite a bit of “yes, please!” from others, but no one could find a good one. Clearly, this was up to me. So, to make the chaotic holiday season a little more fun and a lot more sexy, we’re going to feature a book boyfriend every day for the next 25 days. That’s right. Welcome to VBC’s 25 Days of Book... 
Blood Kiss (Black Dagger Brotherhood Legacy #1) J.R. Ward Published: Dec. 1, 2015 (Signet) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Chelsea Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Note: This review was originally published at Heroes & Heartbreakers. We’re running it in part here, but for the full article, please visit H&H. The...
A couple weeks ago I joked on Twitter that I was in need of a book boyfriend Advent calendar. There was quite a bit of “yes, please!” from others, but no one could find a good one. Clearly, this was up to me. So, to make the chaotic holiday season a little more fun and a lot more sexy, we’re going to feature a book boyfriend every day for the next 25 days. That’s right. Welcome to VBC’s 25 Days of Book...
In an effort to help you keep that to-read list updated, I’ve compiled the hot urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases for December 2015. All dates are U.S. and tentative. Also: Click the title of any book to visit the Amazon page for pre-order or purchase goodness. I’ve included genre classification with each book: UF is urban fantasy, PNR is paranormal romance, F is fantasy, SF is science fiction,... 
Alyssa Richards’ Somewhere in Time releases next week (Dec. 8, if you want to get technical), and we’ve snagged the opening of the book exclusively for VBC readers. If you like your paranormal romance with the mental abilities element, this one is going to work for you. Expect ghosts and a heroine with psychic skills. The first chapter of the novel is being revealed in three parts. The beginning is here... 
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... 
Winter (Lunar Chronicles #4) Marissa Meyer Published: Nov. 10, 2015 (Feiwel & Friends) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: purchased Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Note: While review will be spoiler free, it will make reference to previous events in the series. If you haven’t started yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Cinder. In Winter we finally meet the famed Lunar... 
The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) Rick Riordan Published: Oct. 6, 2015 (Disney-Hyperion) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Jannelle Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Magnus Chase has been living on his own for the past two years, homeless on the streets of Boston, Massachusetts, suffering from the death of his mother that dreadful night two... 
The holidays are sneaking up on me. Like every year. We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes at VBC trying to figure out which books will make our Top 10 list for 2015. Right now it’s narrowed down to 25. There were so many magnificent books that released this year. Seriously. It was the year of awesome. I want to know which books you’d put on the list. Our editorial team will still narrow our picks to... 
Black Wolves (Black Wolves Trilogy #1) Kate Elliott Published: Nov. 3, 2015 (Orbit) 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 Captain Kellas has been one of the most loyal of the Black Wolves. First, under the great King Anjihosh who freed the Hundred from the rule of demons. And later, under... 
