Raine Reiter is an author who weaves together an empowered, female-centered narrative with rich descriptions of nature and an ever-present sense of mystery. Her vivid, flowing prose takes readers of dark fantasy into a world that looks and feels real, while still evoking the enticing paranormal creativity shared by authors such as Richelle Mead and … Continue reading
Category Archives: Novels
Review: Long Lost by Jacqueline West
Long Lost by Jacqueline West Genre: Supernatural Mystery Age category: Middle Grade Release Date: May 11, 2021 Review Long Lost tells two parallel stories about two pairs of sisters. Fiona and Arden live in the modern world, and the family has just moved to a new town in the interest of furthering Arden’s promising skating … Continue reading
Review: The Monster Missions by Laura Martin
The Monster Missions by Laura Martin Genre: Adventure Age category: Middle Grade Release Date: June 1, 2021 Review The Monster Missions is a story about two friends, Berkley and Garth, living in an ocean-covered future Earth and helping their families by scavenging what they can from the shells of civilization that have long sunk beneath … Continue reading
Retro Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs Genre: Contemporary Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Age category: Young Adult Release Date: June 1, 2010 Review Forgive My Fins is a lighthearted romantic YA story. The plot is straightforward enough: Lily Sanderson is a half-human/half-human who has a crush on her high school champion swimmer, Brody. She’s totally positive that … Continue reading
Creating The Twelve Tasks: an interview with Katharine E. Wibell
Katharine Wibell’s lifelong interest in mythology includes epic poetry like the Odyssey, Ramayana, Beowulf, and the Nibelungenlied. In addition, she is interested in all things animal whether training dogs, apprenticing at a children’s zoo, or caring for injured animals as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. After receiving degrees from Mercer University in both art and psychology … Continue reading
Review of Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Lore by Alexandra Bracken Genre: Urban fantasy Age category: Young adult Release Date: January 4, 2021 Review Editor’s Note: This review has been trimmed for mild spoilers and will be updated in a few weeks. This is a book that is designed to feel epic, and it succeeds. In this world, it’s possible to take … Continue reading
Creating Welcome to Harmony: an interview with Dan O’ Mahony
Dan O’ Mahony has been a lifelong fan of the fantasy genre. It is the home of dreamers and outsiders who do not feel quite at home in the ‘normal world” but know, deep down, that they are heroes at heart destined for epic adventures and great deeds. He currently resides near Chandler, Arizona but … Continue reading
Review: The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant
The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant Genre: Historical Fantasy Age category: Middle Grade Release Date: February 2, 2021 Review Tamzin Merchant’s middle grade novel tells the story of the magical Hatmakers, who have served the royal family of England for generations. Into each hat, they are able to add magic through various ingredients, always carefully weighing, … Continue reading
Creating Write Christmas: an interview with Thommy Hutson
Thommy Hutson is a bestselling, award-winning author, screenwriter, producer, and director. A graduate of UCLA, he began his career co-writing the story for the Warner Bros. animated hit SCOOBY-DOO IN WHERE’S MY MUMMY? He followed that with co-writing the concept and additional material for CHILL OUT, SCOOBY-DOO! As an author, Thommy crafted a limited-edition coffee … Continue reading
Review of Slippers and Thieves by Christina Bauer
Slippers and Thieves by Christina Bauer Genre: Modern Fantasy/Fairy Tale Re-telling Age category: Young Adult Release Date: November 26, 2019 Review Slippers and Thieves is the fourth book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series. In this world, certain individuals are born with a life template–a specific fairy tale will apply its rhythm and … Continue reading
Retro Review: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Genre: Portal Fantasy Age category: Middle Grade Release Date: September 1961 Review The Phantom Tollbooth holds a special place in my reader’s journey as a kid. It was read aloud to me in fifth grade–a grade when most kids think they’re too old to still listen to read-alouds. It’s … Continue reading
Review of Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer Genre: Paranormal Romance Age category: Young Adult Release Date: August 4, 2020 Review At the time I first read Twilight, the book hadn’t quite exploded yet. A friend at my Bible study handed it to me when she found out I liked fantasy. And I have to confess, I would … Continue reading