Kendare Blake is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels and short stories. Her work is sort of dark, always violent, and features passages describing food from when she writes while hungry. She was born in July in Seoul, South Korea, but doesn’t speak a lick of Korean, as she was packed off at a very early age to her adoptive parents in the United States. That might be just an excuse, though, as she is pretty bad at learning foreign languages. She lives and writes in Gig Harbor, Washington, with her husband, their cat son Tyrion Cattister, red Doberman dog son Obi-Dog Kenobi, rottie mix dog daughter Agent Scully, and naked Sphynx cat son Armpit McGee.
Sacrificial Animals (2024) Kailee Pedersen "Brutal and mesmerizing, Kailee Pedersen's Sacrificial Animals drew me in immediately. Easily readable in one sitting, this enigmatic family saga is better savored to appreciate the rhythm of the language and the growing sense of unease. Highly recommended."
Lady Macbeth (2024) Ava Reid "A reinvention and a reclamation of a literary figure we think we already know . . . a surprising and highly satisfying read."
Daughter of Calamity (2024) Rosalie M Lin "Unfolding against a backdrop of shadowy club interiors, steam-filled alleys and overlooked temples, Daughter of Calamity is a novel that demands you turn the pages. I was utterly swept up in this tale of glittering cabaret girls and deadly gangsters, and Lin's incarnation of Shanghai-seductive, sprawling, full of malice-is a character in itself."
Dragonfruit (2024) Makiia Lucier "Full of adventure and fascinating lore, the world of Makiia Lucier's marvelous Dragonfruit is one I would have loved to linger in were I not so feverishly turning the pages. One of the rare books that had me at the first chapter. I LOVE THESE SEADRAGONS!"
(Crimson Moth, book 1) Kristen Ciccarelli "A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history. I couldn't look away."
Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear (2024) Robin Wasley "Loaded with imaginative details, mean fluffy cats, and a heroine you'll have no problem rooting for, Robin Wasley's Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear is the most fun you can have when trying to survive a magical hellscape. If you've ever watched a zombie apocalypse movie and thought, well, I'd just die instantly - read this and feel some hope."
The Bad Ones (2024) Melissa Albert "I'm not the first to call Melissa Albert's writing magical and I won't be the last. In this latest, the spell she casts is in the intractable ties that form between girls, the kind that tangle into knots, the kind that make nets that both save and ensnare. Unsettling and unputdownable."
Tonight, I Burn (2023) (Thorn Witch, book 1) Katharine J Adams "I absolutely loved the witchcraft of TONIGHT, I BURN. The magic, secrets, and sisterhood of the Thorn Witch Coven ensnared me immediately, and I was quickly drawn into the plot of deathscapes and spinners of fate. Highly recommended for all lovers of magical fantasies."
The Isles of the Gods (2023) (Isles of the Gods, book 1) Amie Kaufman "[A]n epic, propulsive adventure filled with characters that demand to be loved instantly. The lore of the gods is cool, the prince is delightfully full of himself--the twists and betrayals make for a breathless wild ride...I didn't know what to do besides keep turning the pages."
All the Dead Lie Down (2023) Kyrie McCauley "Macabre yet somehow cozy, All the Dead Lie Down is perfect for readers who enjoy charmingly disturbing children and grand old houses full of secrets. A great book to curl up with on a dark night."
In Nightfall (2023) Suzanne Young "I just read Suzanne Young's In Nightfall and this book has everything: bloodsuckers, beach parties, grannies in tracksuits...There's something so inviting about Young's writing--you open the book, the pages fly by, and before you know it you're just as trapped in Nightfall, Oregon, as her intrepid protagonists. Read this; you won't regret it."
Twin Crowns (2022) (Twin Crowns, book 1) Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber "Doyle and Webber give readers twin plots of daring deception, spectacular settings and two very appealing love interests... you'll root for both twins in this dangerous web of intrigue."
Horror Hotel (2022) (Underlined) Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren "Fast-paced and freaky, Horror Hotel is a fun, ripped-from-the-headlines ghost-hunting adventure, perfect for fans of true crime, and people who always check underneath their hotel beds."
Dead Silence (2022) S A Barnes "Stomach-turning, sinister space horror perfect for fans of Alien and Event Horizon."
All of Us Villains (2021) (All of Us Villains, book 1) Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman "Magical, clever and cutthroat, All of Us Villains sets out to make it impossible to know who to root for.... A fun, twisty ride through a world full of spells and family secrets."
The Bone Thief (2020) (Bone Charmer, book 2) Breeana Shields "I was absolutely swept away by the world of The Bone Charmer."
Wicked As You Wish (2020) (Hundred Names for Magic, book 1) Rin Chupeco "Rin Chupeco's marvelously magical WICKED AS YOU WISH is a great read for fans of fairy tales, myths and legends. In fact, avid fans will want to read it two, three, or four times just to catch all the twists, updates and Easter eggs, as nearly every chapter is loaded with delights. Come for the adventure, stay for the sassy jerkwad firebird."
Runemaker (2019) (Runebinder Chronicles, book 3) Alex R Kahler "Wall-to-wall elemental magic and mayhem. Alex R Kahler knows how to rock some socks."
American Royals (2019) (American Royals, book 1) Katharine McGee "With elegance, saucy secrets, and forbidden love, American Royals is fast-paced and utterly charming. Katharine McGee's prose sparkles, capturing the glamour and pressures of an American monarchy."
Never-Contented Things (2019) Sarah Porter "Tragic and engrossing, filled with nightmarish dreamscapes and menacing villains, it also treads the tender terrain of family, and the strange and sometimes dysfunctional ties between siblings. Highly recommended!"
Stolen Time (2019) (Dark Stars, book 1) Danielle Rollins "Endearing, exciting, and very clever, Danielle Rollins' Stolen Time is the kind of time-travel story I'm always on the lookout for. I know I can't really speak for him, but I feel like Doc Brown would be onboard with this one."
Spectacle (2019) (Spectacle, book 1) Jodie Lynn Zdrok "Clever and full of murder, Jodie Lynn Zdrok's Spectacle had my eyes glued to the pages as the body count rose, and mystery stacked upon mystery as our heroine closed in on a killer who seemed miles ahead of the Parisian authorities. Fans of serial killers and criminal investigations will find much to love, and fascinating passages about morgue tours will appeal to the morbid rubbernecker in us all."
Crown of Feathers (2019) (Crown of Feathers, book 1) Nicki Pau Preto "Set in a world of warrior queens and their fierce phoenixes, Nicki Pau Preto's CROWN OF FEATHERS is absolutely unforgettable. It draws you in with the first flaming feather and doesn't let go. Fans of magical creatures, get in line, because I haven't loved a phoenix this much since Dumbledore's Fawkes. This is an instant favorite."
The Girl King (2019) (Girl King, book 1) Mimi Yu "An absolutely fantastic tale of legends, magic and destiny, Mimi Yu's THE GIRL KING kept the pages turning. The myths are awesome, the heroes are unsinkable, and the antagonists are chock-full of twisted agendas. If you're down with dangerous magic, clans of shapeshifters, and worthy girls who somehow STILL need to prove their worth, then you will love this as much as I did."
Black Wings Beating (2018) (Skybound Saga, book 1) Alex London "Enter the gritty culture of cutthroat falconry in Alexander London's Black Wings Beating and prepare to be riveted. This book has so much to recommend it that I don't know where to begin: clever writing, boisterous, endearing characters, and threats coming from every direction, be they dark wings in the sky or a band of nomadic zealots with a reputation for slaughter. You'll be caught up in the adventure from the first chapter. And did I mention the falcons? You'll fall in love with the falcons."
Furyborn (2018) (Empirium Trilogy, book 1) Claire Legrand "Set in an immersive world of elemental magic, legendary godsbeasts, and cutthroat assassins, Claire Legrand's Furyborn is an addictive, fascinating fantasy. Truly not to be missed, this story of two fierce queens battling their way across two different eras will have you on the edge of your seat."
The Final Six (2018) (Final Six, book 1) Alexandra Monir "I sat down to read a bit before bed and then it was two a.m. and the book was half gone. This is a space competition of epic proportions, loaded with disturbing hidden secrets and intense action. Your eyes will be glued to the page."
The Hollow Girl (2017) Hillary Monahan "Hits the horrifying notes: dread and darkness and grisly ends, yet somehow still feels full of heart…I couldn’t tear my eyes away."
The Devils You Know (2017) M C Atwood "The Devils You Know is a must-read for fans of adventure horror. With plenty of creep and plenty of humor, plus some wicked origin lore, Atwood has crafted the perfect demonic fun-house ride. When can I go again?"
Beasts Made of Night (2017) (Beasts Made of Night, book 1) Tochi Onyebuchi "A thrilling, action-packed story, Beasts Made of Night kept me reading long past bedtime. Set in a richly rendered world that is fascinating, beautiful, and terrible all at once, it made me hold my breath."
Spindle Fire (2017) (Spindle Fire, book 1) Lexa Hillyer "The writing is lovely, the sisters indomitable, and as the truths behind the faerie legends were revealed, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."
Bad Blood (2017) Demitria Lunetta "A story that will both warm your heart, and chill you to the bone."
Stalking Jack the Ripper (2016) (Stalking Jack the Ripper, book 1) Kerri Maniscalco "With ample knowledge of Ripper lore, Maniscalco creates a steadfast and headstrong heroine who is as comfortable in gloves of blood as she is in watered silk. Filled with plenty of gory details, and no shortage of possible suspects, Stalking Jack the Ripper conveys the panic, paranoia, and fascination of 1880s London with a madman on the loose."
Nightstruck (2016) (Nightstruck, book 1) Jenna Black "Jenna Black's Nightstruck is fast-paced, brutal, and delightfully bizarre. her Philadelphia-gone-evil is packed with such chilling descriptions that i read some passages twice just to bask in the horror."
Into the Dim (2016) (Into the Dim, book 1) Janet B Taylor "Janet B. Taylor’s Into the Dim is one truly enjoyable read. A fast-paced, time-travel adventure with rogue Tesla science and Middle Ages history, it will make you want to jump back into the English court, after a proper round of smallpox and typhoid vaccines, of course."
