Chelsea

Do readers just love to hate cliffhangers?

I’m starting to think we, as readers, actually love cliffhangers. Or at least love to hate them. Really. Earlier this week, we talked about those gasp-inducing, anxiety-causing cliffhangers on the VBC Facebook page. And while it was easy to name the one that gutted us the most — favorites were Karen Marie Moning’s Dreamfever ending and Chloe Neill’s Hard Bitten — it was always...

Chelsea

May Group Read: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

At VBC HQ we’re knee deep in Alpha Showdown 2012 preparations. This means it’s a great time for a re-read. As such, we’ve picked Karen Marie Moning’s Darkfever as the May group read. Many of you have mentioned — on both Facebook and Twitter — how you were surprised not to see Jericho Barrons defending his Alpha Showdown 2011 title this year. While there were no new books...

Chelsea

Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden #1)

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) Julie Kagawa Published: April 24, 2012 (Harlequin Teen) Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Simply put: The Immortal Rules is Julie Kagawa’s best novel to date. She merges a strong heroine, two kinds of vampires (one dark and complex, the other zombie-esque), a fight for humanity and anti-authoritarian overtones in a...

Chelsea

If You Like Demonica… Read Otherkin

Around this time last year, I advised hardcore fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series to give Larissa Ione’s Demonica series a try. Well, you should be caught up on Demonica at this point (and our reviewer Candace would remind you to start her Lords of Deliverance series, too). Now what to read? I have you covered, dear readers. If you’ve devoured the demons and hunters...

Chelsea

Terrible Fever Symptoms [Updated for Sacrificial Magic]

Before the release of the third Downside Ghosts novel, we determined the symptoms of Terrible Fever. We were waiting on the third book, City of Ghosts, wondering if we’d get more of the surprising hero. And, oh man, did we. But now that readers are so in love with Terrible the fever only gets worse. As such, we’re here to help you diagnose your Terrible Fever, now with more symptoms. Not only...

Chelsea

Early Review: Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane (Downside Ghosts #4)

Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts #4) Stacia Kane Published: Mar. 27, 2012 (DelRey) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Note: This review contains no spoilers for Sacrificial Magic, but assumes you have read the three prior novels. If that is not the case, please check out my review of the first novel Unholy Ghosts. Chess needed to grow for the Downside Ghosts series to...

Chelsea

Review: A Sliver of Shadow by Allison Pang (Abby Sinclair #2)

A Sliver of Shadow (Abby Sinclair #2) Allison Pang Published: Feb. 28, 2012 (Pocket) Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Note: While this review does not contain spoilers for A Sliver of Shadow it may make reference to events of A Brush of Darkness. If you’ve yet to start the series, please read the VBC review of book one. Remember how you fell in love with...

Chelsea

March Group Read: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

The results of the March Group Read poll were overwhelmingly clear. You guys want to re-read Dark Lover before the release of Lover Reborn. I get it. This month Vampire Book Club will be re-reading the very first Black Dagger Brotherhood novel and remembering just why we fell for the vampire warriors J.R. Ward so deftly crafted. If you haven’t yet joined the BDB bandwagon, now’s the time. There...

Chelsea

Karina Cooper Q&A & Giveaway: Magic, Seattle and happily-ever-afters

As you may have gathered from my early review of Karina Cooper’s All Things Wicked (which hits stores today), I’m a bit enamored with her Dark Mission series. She has the attributes I look for in all my favorite authors: precise writing, remarkable character development worth getting invested in and both creative and gritty world-building. So, of course, I had to pick her brain on just how New...

Chelsea

Early Review: All Things Wicked by Karina Cooper (Dark Mission #3)

All Things Wicked (Dark Mission #3) Karina Cooper Published: Jan. 31, 2012 (Avon) Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Note: While this review is free of spoilers for All Things Wicked it makes references to people and places from the prior two novels. If you’re new to the series, please read our review of Blood of the Wicked. The more I read the Dark Mission...