Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
In an effort to help you keep that to-read list updated, I’ve compiled the hot urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases for April 2018. All dates are U.S. and tentative. Also: Click the title of any book to visit the Amazon page for pre-order or purchase goodness. I’ve included genre classification with each book: UF is urban fantasy, PNR is paranormal romance, F is fantasy, SF is science fiction, YA... 
Honor Among Thieves (The Honors #1) Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre Published: Feb. 13, 2018 (Katherine Tegen Books) 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 One hundred years ago when Earth was on the path to total destruction, along came the Leviathans, large sentient ship-like aliens, to offer... 
This Mortal Coil (This Mortal Coil #1) Emily Suvada Published: Nov. 7, 2017 (Simon Pulse) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 5 stars Cat is a hacker—but she doesn’t just hack computers. She hacks genes, people’s DNA. Most people have been implanted with machines that control apps, and the apps control people’s features. Want a tail? Grow one.... 
Artemis Andy Weir Published: Nov. 14, 2017 (Crown) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars The Moon. Long a dream of mankind to not only visit, but maybe—someday—to colonize. In Andy Weir’s Artemis, that dream has become a reality. Let me say this before I go any further into this review:... 
Bannerless (Bannerless Saga #1) Carrie Vaughn Published: July 11, 2017 (John Joseph Adams) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 2 stars Enid lives in the United States—or what remain of them, decades after civilization fell and was virtually destroyed. A time where girls get birth control... 
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland Published: July 13, 2017 (William Morrow) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: purchased Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 2 stars D.O.D.O. The Department of Diachronic Operations. A sort of black ops department that figures out how and why magic disappeared from our world, and then works out how to make magic work again.... 
Cormorant Run Lilith Saintcrow Published: June 13, 2017 (Orbit) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Amy Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars No one really knows what precipitated The Event. Aliens? Trans-dimensional rift? All that is clear is one day The Event happened, and it opened up Rifts in various parts of the world.... 
Future Threat (Future Shock #2) Elizabeth Briggs Published: March 1, 2017 (Albert Whitman & Company) 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... 
Earlier this week VBC’s Amy told you how much fun Carrie Vaughn’s Martians Abroad is. It’s quirky and we loved the fish-out-of-water idea reversed to have a Martian coming to Earth. We liked it so much we’re sharing the first chapter of the novel right here, and a giveaway of Martians Abroad. Read on for a taste of the book, and your chance to win a copy! EXCERPT MARTIANS ABROAD Carrie Vaughn A Tor... 
Ninth City Burning J. Patrick Black Published: Sept. 6, 2016 (Roc) Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Beth Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars Far, far in the distant future, after Earth suffered a harsh answer as to whether there was “life out there,” battles with the aliens have become regular, boring events. Until one... 
