Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
Wicked Saints (Something Dark and Holy #1) Emily A. Duncan Published: April 2, 2019 (Wednesday Books) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Tranavians and Kalyazins have been in a centuries-long holy war ever since the Tranavians had forsaken belief in the gods, and their power, to... 
Trail of Lightning (Sixth World #1) Rebecca Roanhorse Published: June 26, 2018 (Saga) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Chelsea Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Trail of Lightning, like its heroine Maggie Hoskie, packs a powerful punch in a small package. This urban fantasy debut is brimming with fresh, clever... 
I am all kinds of nerdy excited for the television adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. It’s not just the cast, which includes Ricky Whittle (a.k.a. Lincoln from The 100) as Shadow Moon and Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday. The look, the feel, the timing is right for a revisit of this great fantasy novel. Not too long ago, I did a re-read of American Gods on audio. It has a full-cast recording, and was,... 
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight (Charley Davidson #11) Darynda Jones Published: Jan. 24, 2017 (St. Martin’s Griffin) 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 Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it will reference previous books. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s... 
The VBC team is full of fans of Sierra Dean’s books. Her Rain Chaser series definitely got our attentions earlier this summer with the release of Thunder Road. We loved the concept of a full pantheon of gods and their human flunkies. It was super good, and we recommended it. (Be sure to read Beth’s full review for more non-spoiler-y details.) We’re thrilled for the sneak peek at the cover of the second... 
Thunder Road (Rain Chaser #1) Sierra Dean Published: July 26, 2016 (Sierra Dean) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 4 stars What if the world as we knew it was still populated with gods? All of them, of every pantheon, keeping themselves occupied by interfering with humans, and creating petty... 
Death and Relaxation (Ordinary Magic #1) Devon Monk Published: June 17, 2016 (Odd House Press) Purchase: Amazon Review Source: Purchased Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Ordinary, Oregon is a complete misnomer, and no one knows that better than the Reed family. For generations the Reeds have been the resident peacekeepers in a small town that’s home to the likes of many varieties of creatures... 
Unwanted (Elemental Assassin #14.5) Jennifer Estep Published: July 18, 2016 (Pocket Books) Purchase: Amazon Review Source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it will reference previous books. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Spider’s Bite. I love when... 
The Curse of Tenth Grave (Charley Davidson #10) Darynda Jones Published: June 28, 2016 (St. Martin’s) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Margaret Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it does make reference to previous books. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s... 
The Immortals (Olympus Bound #1) Jordanna Max Brodsky Published: Feb. 16, 2016 (Orbit) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Margaret Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Selene di Silva, once known as Artemis, prowls the streets of New York in search of women who need her help and punishes the men who harm them. She’s lost most... 
