Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
Update: In the poll excitement, we left off important information. The poll closes at 11:59 p.m. EST Oct. 1. Sorry for any confusion.
It’s almost October. That means it’s time for a new group read pick (and Halloween).
You can still hit up the discussion threads about Nalini Singh’s Slave to Sensation or read my review of the paranormal romance if you’re on the border about reading... 
In a Fix (In a Fix #1)
Linda Grimes
Published: Sept. 4, 2012 (Tor)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Reviewed by: Jo
Rating (out of 5): 4 stars
In a Fix isn’t your typical urban fantasy. It’s a magic- and mythical creature-free zone. Instead there are a select number of the population who have a genetic mutation giving them the ability to alter their appearance. By touching another these... 
In an effort to help you keep that to-read list updated, I’ve compiled the hot urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases for September 2012. All dates are U.S. and tentative. New this month: 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 and YA... 
The City’s Son (Skyscraper Throne #1)
Tom Pollock
Published: Sept. 8, 2012 (Flux) [U.K. edition released Aug. 2]
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Reviewed by: Chelsea
Rating (out of 5): 5 stars
I’ve been waiting for a new series to fangirl over. I needed a book to crawl under my skin, to pull me in with remarkable world building. Tom Pollock does that and more with The City’s... 
Shadow Blade (Shadowchasers #1)
Seressia Glass
Published: 2010 (Pocket)
Purchase at: Amazon
Review by: Jo
Rating (out of 5): 3 stars
Shadow Blade, the first in Seressia Glass’ Shadowchaser series, introduces us to Kira Solomon, antiquities expert by day, Shadowchaser by night. Working for the secret Gilead society, Kira has trained nearly her whole life to be in the middle of an ancient battle between... 
[Note from VBC: We're very lucky to have Kelly from Reading the Paranormal on the blog again today. This time she's reviewing some steampunk goodness for VBC.]
The Doomsday Vault (Clockwork Empire #1)
Steven Harper
Published: Nov. 2011 (Roc)
Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon
Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars
Review by: Kelly from Reading the Paranormal
There are a couple of things you need to... 
Married with Zombies (Living with the Dead #1)
Jesse Petersen
Published: 2010 (Orbit)
Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon
Rating (out of 5): 4 stars
I never thought I would describe any portion of a zombie book as cute, but well Married with Zombies is just that. As the tale progresses it takes on a heavier tone, but always juxtaposes the darkness accompanying a zombie infestation with heavy... 
In an effort to help you keep that to-read list updated, I’ve compiled the hot urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases for January 2012. All dates are U.S. and tentative.
I’ve included genre classification with each book: UF is urban fantasy, PNR is paranormal romance, F is fantasy and YA is young adult.
JANUARY 1
A Demon Does It Better by Linda Wisdom (Demons #2) PNR
Hold Me If You Can by... 
Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna #1)
Kendare Blake
Published: Aug. 30, 2011 (Tor Teen)
Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon
Rating (out of 5): 4 stars
Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood was refreshing for me. It’s not light and it doesn’t shy away from creeping you out a bit. It tackles the ghost story and urban legend tale from a different angle.
The wry wit of protagonist Cas... 
[From VBC: I always dig into the novels that make supernatural elements plausible. Piper Maitland's Acquainted With the Night does just that. Today Piper is stopping by the blog to talk about the science of vampires. (No, really.)]
I live on a farm. When I’m not writing (or cooking), you will find me in the garden, weeding and sifting through the dirt. When I began writing Acquainted With the Night, I... 
