Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
![Round 7: Curran vs. Holden [Alpha Showdown 2013]](http://vampirebookclub.net/wp-content/uploads/et_temp/VBC-HomeofAlphaShowdown-67822_200x200.jpg)
It’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2013! You made your nominations and we have 16 of the most badass, alpha characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels locked into the bracket. Only one will be named champion and today’s first bout is sure to end in a knockout.
Round seven is sure to be a tough one. Last year’s champion Curran returns to battle Alpha Showdown newcomer... 
Things are getting nice and busy here at VBC headquarters. I’ve loved reading applications for new reviewers (you can still apply) this week, and I have a couple very good reads atop my to-read pile.
More Lady Corsair and Archimedes Fox!
Next month we’ll get Meljean Brooks’ novella featuring the hero and heroine of Heart of Steel, a book I adored on an epic level. Tethered is an epilogue... 
The Beast Lord Curran is the reigning champion of the Alpha Showdown (which returns in May), so it’s not surprising I had more than one blogger want to pen a love letter to him for Character Love Letters.
Marcela from The Bookaholic Cat won out. Haven’t met the hero from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series? No worries, read on to discover why he’s worthy of your love.
My Dear Curran,
Since the... 
We’re doing things slightly differently this year. This is the first year where we have associate reviewers at VBC. As such, it didn’t feel quite right to only include my top 10. So, you’ll find my 10 picks for the absolute best books of 2012 and below that a top 5 list from Jo and Candace, respectively. Plus, of course, we have your winner for the reader’s choice best book. (See the Best Of lists... 
Cover Reveal: Midnight Blue-Light Special
Have you seen the cover for Seanan McGuire’s next InCryptid novel? Look to your right. While I may like the artwork for Discount Armageddon a bit more, Midnight Blue-Light Special’s tone feels cohesive to me. Thoughts?
Chapter One of Touch of the Demon
When I was at Authors After Dark, Diana Rowland talked about just how much readers are going to love... 
Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels #5.5)
Ilona Andrews
Published: July 31, 2012 (Ace)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Reviewed by: Candace
Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars
Note from VBC: This review assumes you’ve read the previous Kate Daniels novels, but does not provide any spoilers for this or earlier books.
“Shut up,” he told me.
“Promise me.”
“I’m not promising shit,” he said. “I... 
If you’re joining us in this month’s group read of Jeaniene Frost’s Once Burned, we’re posting weekly discussion topics over on our Goodreads group. It’s free to join and we’re already talking Vlad as a hero and all things Leila. Hope you’ll join in.
Cover Art Explosion: Karen Mahoney, Yasmine Galenorn, Andrea Cremer, Ilona Andrews
So very pleased to see another... 
It was the battle many of you asked for: Bones vs. Curran. And the lion clawed up the vampire.
Yes, the Beast Lord from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series fought ruthlessly to take out master vampire Bones in the final round of the Alpha Showdown 2012.
In addition to the great Twitter banter between authors Ilona Andrews and Jeaniene Frost, your comments in favor of Curran proved his alpha...
After two weeks of battles we’re finally at the final round of the Alpha Showdown 2012. Vampires, werewolves and faery kings have fallen in the quest for the title of Ultimate Alpha.
Only Master vampire Bones from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series and Curran from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series have survived the melee unscathed. Now, it’s time for them to enter the...
You saw it coming. Curran and Kate from the Kate Daniels series must battle each other in Round 13 of the Alpha Showdown.
A quick note to commenters asking how these two ended up in the same bracket: Placements in the bracket was decided by seeded position. As in, the number of nomination votes determined where in the bracket each character was placed. The most likely to win (Bones had the most nomination... 
