Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
Gameboard of the Gods Teases
As a Richelle Mead fangirl it isn’t exactly surprising that I’m excited to read her new series, Age of X. I’ve really adored her adult series, especially Georgina Kincaid (first book: Succubus Blues), and from what I see here Gameboard of the Gods is going to bring the awesome when it releases on June 4, 2013. The just-revealed cover is to your right, and the... 
If you’re a regular reader here, you know I value strong world building in novels. I’m more likely to give a book a rare 5-star rating if the mythology for the world feels real. This is especially true when the world is so vivid that the most fantastical elements becomes downright plausible.
I need everything to make sense. I appreciate the logic authors put into the rules within their books.... 
She took out a shaman-slash-faerie queen. He toppled a dhampir with God-like fighting skills. Both just barely won their earlier battles. So, can necromancer and vampire hunter Anita Blake take down Shadowhunter Jace Wayland? Is age a factor? Magical ability? Vote below. Remember, only one can advance.
You can get a refresher on just what this Alpha Showdown thing is here, but a key point to remember: Each...
The Alpha Showdown continues today with two powerful women. Both can draw magic and have some serious ties to the mortal realm. But when we put necromancer and vampire slayer Anita Blake up against shaman and faerie queen Eugenie Markham, who will come out on top is solely in your control. Bloggers have taken sides and will give you their best pitch as to why their kick-ass heroine deserves the title of... 
Well, damn. To say you guys liked the YA love interest poll would be a complete understatement (you can vote here). Heated debates over Russian God Dimitri from Vampire Academy and our snarky boy Jace from The Mortal Instruments laced the comments. Also, you really loved hating on Team Edward. As a matter of fact, to the commenter Emelia who left quite possibly my favorite comment ever, email me. I will... 
Short version: The ninth Anita Blake book Obsidian Butterfly is about realizing you must accept who and what you are in order to move forward.
Obsidian Butterfly
Laurell K. Hamilton
Published: 2000
Purchase at: The Book Depository or Amazon
Rating (out of 5): 4 stars
As you must have noted from the “#9″ in the title of this post, Obsidian Butterfly is far from the first in the Anita Blake,... 
Just finished reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Excellent read — particularly as I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with something billed as a “zombie romance” by a friend of mine. Review coming by the end of the week. I’ll just say, the sequel is already high on my to-read list.
Post-zombie book, I returned to working my way through Laurell K.... 
While it’s hard to beat the anticipation of May’s releases (Spirit Bound and Dead in the Family), June has a few noteworthy releases in store for us. Update your to-read lists accordingly.
JUNE 1
Bullet (Anita Blake #19) – Laurell K. Hamilton
I’m only on book 9 in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, series, so I can’t say if this will be fantastic. Nine books in (I’m...
