Posts

Review: My Vampire Plus-One

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My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine My rating: 4 of 5 stars Silly, sexy fun by the author of My Roommate Is a Vampire where we first met Reginald, an annoying (one could even say obnoxious) vampire who's on the outs with his bloodsucking tribe because of his stupid practical jokes. Not only on the outs, but on the run as they've been trying to kill him for decades as punishment for his pranks. One night while he's fleeing the latest assassins he literally runs into Amelia Collins, whose family is constantly trying to set her up, so when she sees Reggie in a coffee shop the next day she knows it's fate--he's going to be her fake boyfriend for a family wedding. Hijinks ensue (of course!) and their are some great snicker out loud moments--forget elegant Dracula, these vampires where foam cheeseheads and have posters of Twilight's sparkly Edward on their bedroom walls. It was just the romantic fantasy escape I needed and I enjoye

Review: My Vampire Plus-One

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My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying

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How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: The Incorruptibles: A True Story of Kingpins, Crime Busters, and the Birth of the American Underworld

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The Incorruptibles: A True Story of Kingpins, Crime Busters, and the Birth of the American Underworld by Dan Slater My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: The Midnight Feast

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The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: Dark Restraint

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Dark Restraint by Katee Robert My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: Saga, Volume 11

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Saga, Volume 11 by Brian K. Vaughan My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Tu B'Av Sameach!

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"Apparently Miss Kahn wasn’t quite as phlegmatic on the idea of arranged marriage as I was. When her parents told her what they planned, she immediately dashed off a vitriolic letter, informing me that it is a new century, and she lives not in the ghetto in Europe, but in a country founded on principles of freedom. She added she had no intention of marrying, how did she put it? ‘A swarthy Spanish pirate of low ways and poor prospects.’" He smiled winsomely. "Naturally, I began courting her in earnest." --Captain Sinister's Lady   To translate the post title into English, "Happy 15th Day of the Month of Av!" Why is this day different from all other days? It's the day specifically marking romance and love in the Jewish calendar. Tu B'Av (15th of Av) is a minor festival that's grown in prominence in recent decades, largely because enterprising folks in Israel found a way to monetize it. It's now celebrated much the way Valentine's Day

My Worldcon Schedule--GlasgowIn2024

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I'm heading out to Glasgow, Scotland for the World Science Fiction Convention--GlasgowIn2024. I'll be moderating two panels, plus doing my usual Worldcon activities: attending other panels to boost my own writing skills, volunteering, hanging out with friends, tea at the Willow Tearoom (a must do anytime I'm in Glasgow), and just having a good time.  Here's my schedule, and I hope to see you there: Saturday, August 10, 2024 Rogues, Pirates and Bandits with Hearts of Gold Alsh 2, Duration: 60 mins 13:00 BST 08:00 EDT Darlene Marshall (moderator) Edgar Governo H.G. Parry N.L. Bates Chris Wooding , Fantasy, Science Fiction, Literature, From Robin Hood to that charming rogue in everyone's D&D campaign, readers and writers love the idea of a kind-hearted criminal. Social inequality and those standing apart from ordered society are at the heart of those stories, but how important is striking the balance between giving outcasts a home and adhering to the social contrac

Review: Postwar Stories: How Books Made Judaism American

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Postwar Stories: How Books Made Judaism American by Rachel Gordan My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews