Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
Win It Wednesday is back, because who doesn’t love awesome books for free? You might remember me gushing over Ann Aguirre’s Vanguard not too long ago. It was a companion novel to her post-apocalyptic young adult Razorland trilogy. While my Vanguard review focused on the relationship that made the book sing (and the best first kiss scene I’ve read in some time), I discovered many of you hadn’t read the... 
Vanguard (Razorland #4) Ann Aguirre Published: July 25, 2017 (Feiwel & Friends) Purchase at: 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 It’s been several years since I read the original Razorland trilogy, but still when someone brings up Enclave I can’t wait to talk about the fascinating... 
Arcana Rising (Arcana Chronicles #4) Kresley Cole Published: Aug. 15, 2016 (Valkyrie Press) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: Purchased Reviewed by: Chelsea Rating (out of 5): 4.5 Stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it assumes you’re familiar with the characters and the story up to this point. If you haven’t dived into the Arcana Chronicles, we highly recommend it. Start... 
Abandon the Night (Envy Chronicles #3) Joss Ware Published: March 9, 2010 (Avon) 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 in the series. If you haven’t started yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Beyond the... 
Embrace the Night Eternal (Envy Chronicles #2) Joss Ware Published: Feb. 9, 2010 (Avon) 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 review of book 1, Beyond the... 
Beyond the Night (Envy Chronicles #1) Joss Ware Published: Jan. 12, 2010 (HarperCollins) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for and honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 4 stars After what was supposed to have been a seemingly normal adventure to explore some caves in Sedona, Arizona, Dr. Elliott Drake and his companions woke up to a world... 
Frozen (Heart of Dread #1) Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston Published: Sept. 17, 2013 (Putnam Juvenile) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: Borrowed from the library Reviewed by: Amanda Rating (out of 5): 4 stars In the middle of a frozen tundra, Vegas still beckons, Sin City keeping its promises even as the rest of the world is encased in ice. Natasha’s a blackjack dealer, but not... 
Endless Knight (Arcana Chronicles #2) Kresley Cole Published: Oct. 1, 2013 (Simon & Schuster) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: Purchased Reviewed by: Jo Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it does reference events in the first book of the series, Poison Princess (VBC review). Endless Knight, the second novel in the fantastic Arcana Chronicles,... 
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 novella, which... 
Christine Cody is the author of the post-apocalyptic supernatural Western series Bloodlands and the urban fantasy Vampire Babylon books (written as Chris Marie Green) from Ace. Once upon a time, she used to be an eighth-grade teacher until she became a full-time author who has published nearly forty books under all three of her pseudonyms (including Crystal Green). Don’t forget to read the Bloodlands... 
