Welcome to the December 2014 round-up of YA Speculative Fiction!

This Shattered World Amie Kaufman Meagan Spooner book coverJubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met. Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet’s rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents. Rebellion is in Flynn’s blood. His sister died in the original uprising against the powerful corporate conglomerate that rules Avon with an iron fist.

Of the eight reviews submitted in December 2013, three of them are for books by Amie Kaufman. This Shattered World, the second book in her science fiction series with Meagan Spooner, was reviewed twice. I already cheated and shared these last time, but I thought they deserved a mention again! Tsana enjoyed the sequel, saying “I really like with the authors are doing with this series and with their brand of YA SF”, and I raved about it as well: “I am again left in awe at the world and characters that Kaufman and Spooner have created”.

I also reviewed This Night So Dark, the short novella that bridges These Broken Stars and This Shattered World.

Wildwood Dancing Juliet Marillier book coverHigh in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It’s an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle’s hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier was reviewed by Lee @ Rally the Readers, who liked the fairytale aspect: “More often than not, fairytale romances miss their mark with me, but I absolutely fell for this one. It suited this story perfectly, and I unabashedly loved it.”

Ju Transcendancing reviewed Raven Flight (Shadowfell #2), and commented on the protagonist, Neryn: “Neryn is the kind of hero that I love best, she’s unassuming but not without pride in her ability and determination to do the best she can to play her role.”

The City of Silver Light Fox book coverOn a night of frost and ice, she falls from the sky, the beautiful ice-girl Cari, cast out of her world and into ours. It’s an unusually cold Winter, but 15 year old Jake is more concerned with the ice forming in his dad’s new relationship and the fact that the girl he likes is dating his best friend. And now his elderly neighbour is acting even weirder than usual. Could things get even more confusing?

Brenda was delighted with The City of Silver Light by Ruth Fox- “an amazing fantasy novel by Aussie author Ruth Fox!”

Team HumanMel is horrified when Francis Duvarney, arrogant, gorgeous, and undead, starts at her high school. Mel’s best friend, Cathy, immediately falls for the vampire. Cathy is determined to be with him forever, even if having him turn her could inadvertently make her a zombie.

Team Human by Sarah Rees Brennan and Justine Larbalestier (Justine is the Aussie in this duo) was reviewed by Lee @ Rally the Readers, who says “If you’ve read any vampire book at all, not necessarily Twilight, you’ll still appreciate the plentiful humor in Team Human that mostly targets all things vampiric.”

The final December review is my review of Corruption (Disruption #2) by Jessica Shirvington. I thought the book “a great sequel that surpasses its predecessor in every way.”

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About Me

Hi! I’m Shaheen from Speculating on SpecFic, a book blog dedicated to works of speculative fiction – fantasy, science fiction, magic realism, paranormal romance and much more. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love reading and use my blog to peddle my love to others. When not reading (rare times indeed), I can be found completing my PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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