Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
As you read yesterday, I loved Karen Mahoney’s latest novel The Wood Queen. The just-released-today novel has a love interest who can be incredibly sweet and gentlemanly. He can also be a bit infuriating at times. Xan is often shirtless. The letter below isn’t spoiler-y, so if you’ve yet to read The Iron Witch, you’re safe, too. Read on as Xan tries to be romantic and write Donna a love letter. Bonus:... 
The Wood Queen (The Iron Witch #2) Karen Mahoney Published: Feb. 8, 2012 (Flux) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Note: This review contains no spoilers for The Wood Queen, however it does make reference to events in the first novel The Iron Witch. If you liked Karen Mahoney’s The Iron Witch, be prepared to love The Wood Queen. While the first novel introduced us to Donna’s... 
In an effort to help you keep that to-read list updated, I’ve compiled the hot urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases for February 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. FEBRUARY 2 Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne YA Pulse by Tricia Rayburn (Siren #2) YA FEBRUARY 7... 
It’s been a busy week at VBC HQ, so we’ll jump right into the news after reminding you to enter our giveaways for a signed copy of Lothaire and a copy of Cinder. First taste of Iced Karen Marie Moning has officially started teasing her Fever series spinoff Iced. The short teaser posted this week is good. I have been fretting over this novel, because the protagonist is Dani O’Malley — the irritating young... 
It’s been a long break, readers, and I’m tired. If you follow me on Twitter, you know, I’ve been traveling quite a bit and working extra hard — all that. But it’s a new year with new books and I’m ready to devour the goodness. I got an extra special present in the mail over the holidays: an advanced copy of Sacrificial Magic. Now, I typically don’t tell you guys when I get something early (feels icky),... 
This week we got two deleted scenes from YA novels featuring kissing — and more for the Jace/Clary scene — plus news on upcoming books from Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, P.C. and Kristin Cast and even a little video to make your day (compliments of the lovely Tessa Dare). Enjoy! Cover tease for next The Hollows novel I really loved Pale Demon, and the end left things wide open for Kim... ![Giveaway: Nyx in the House of Night [CLOSED]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HIAf0hLnL.jpg)
UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Congrats to Brooke D. on winning Nyx in the House of Night. Despite my less-than-favorable review of Awakened, like many of you I’ve stuck with the House of Night series. One of the things — in addition to my love for Stark circa book 6 — that keeps me coming back is the mythology element. P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast have crafted a vampire world based around the worship... 
The Iron Witch Karen Mahoney Published: Jan. 25, 2011 (Flux) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Donna was attacked as a child by a fire-breathing beast. Alchemists replaced her scortched arms with iron, flesh and magic. She’s stronger, colder and from time to time the iron tattoos on her forearms move with life. The Order of the Dragon, the alchemist secret society her... 
The Vampire Diaries is one of my must-watch TV shows. And not just because of my mini obsession with all things Ian Somerhalder (yep, the eye candy to the right is him). The CW has brilliantly adapted the world from L.J. Smith’s series of the same name into something soapy, engaging with plenty of sex and violence. But before everyone was swooning over the TV versions of Stefan and Damon, they were all... 
