Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
I’m planning something fun for Halloween. It will require some participation though. You’ve been warned. Until then, dig into Book Bits. Authors talk badass heroines at NYCC I couldn’t attend New York Comic Con, but luckily NAL/Berkley decided to film the great “We’re No Angels” panel. Top urban fantasy and paranormal authors got to together to chat about their strong female characters in SF/F. On the... 
Trailer time with Julie Kagawa and Cassandra Clare Since the last Book Bits we’ve gotten two delicious trailers for YA books. First, we have the trailer for The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (which I suggest you pre-order). As one who is firmly Team Ash, I’m particularly excited about this book, but I also love the inclusion that the reason things are messed up for him is, of course, because of a girl.... 
It’s been a few weeks, but Book Bits has returned! And, I have news for J.R. Ward and Carolyn Crane fans, excerpts of the urban fantasy and paranormal romance persuasions and cover eye candy. Dive in, readers. Cover for Sacrificial Magic Just yesterday Stacia Kane revealed the cover art for her fourth Downside Ghosts novel Sacrificial Magic. And, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m in love. The design... 
A few times I’ve been asked why I review young adult novels on a blog written, by and large, for adults. The answer is always a simple one: the novels are excellent reads. When written well, YA has epic emotional pull. The latter teen years (and into college) are a tumultuous time when we experience so many things for the first time. It’s easy to get pulled into the rush of first love and first heartbreak... 
Today we’re trying something new. Instead of simply the triumphant return of contest roundup (which is toward the end), we’re giving you some of the best book-related news and happenings from the last week. Chances are we’ve already told you about these via Twitter or Facebook. But those move so quickly. In the event you missed any news, it’s all piled in on convenient place. Also, we’re embedding the... 
Those who follow VBC on Twitter may know things are stressful these days here at the VBC HQ. One of my close family members has a rare brain cancer — complete with experimental treatments. (He has the best doctors and is in great spirits.) My point in mentioning this isn’t to be a downer, but to say things kind of suck. I’m in a perpetual state of tension, but I’ve been getting a nice break from reality... 
Over the last two weeks, those who entered our Nightshade giveaway* told us which love interest from a young adult novel tops their list. We expected Vampire Academy’s resident Russian hottie Dimitri Belikov to top out (he did), but almost always his name was in the same breath as that snarky Shadowhunter Jace Wayland from The Mortal Instruments series. On a side note, we’re with everyone else in lobbying... 
Yesterday a couple blog friends were talking about a book on Twitter. I caught the middle of the conversation focused on how Spaz P threw the damn book across the room. Being a reading masochist, I couldn’t help but ask what book. She and Nat (Wicked Lil Pixie) were chatting about the fantastic agony-inducing Zodiac series by Vicki Pettersson, specifically the fourth book City of Souls. Hearing that a... 
This is Banned Books Week, an annual event where we celebrate our right to read, access to information and revisit those “controversial” classics that shaped our world. Some books show up on the Banned Book List each year. (The list is put out by the American Library Association from the challenges they receive, requesting books be pulled from library shelves or removed from classrooms.) Classics that can... 
