![]() ![]() Francine isn't as pretty or well dressed as Freesia, and she soon figures out that Agalinas is part of a virtual world that she is able to live in with the aid of drugs that help her forget reality. When frequent black outs turn ugly, she finds herself in a beige house in Arizona, where a woman who looks like her mother (but less shiny), refers to her as "Francine". She has good friends, and every day is a party. She can check on her friendlies with her bubble, and even find out what her enemies are up to. In Bubble World by Carol Snow, Freesia's perfect bubble is about to pop.įreesia's life on the island of Agalinas is perfect- her classes are more concerned with sips and nibbles than school work, she can shop as much as she wants, and her mother brings her coffee in bed every morning. Unfortunately for her, these signs are more than random blips in the universe. But in Freesia's experience, it's better not to think about things like that too much. ![]() ![]() Lately things on the island may have been a bit flippy: sudden blackouts, students disappearing, even Freesia's reflection looking slightly. She has so many outfits she could wear a different one every day for a year and not run out. She lives on the beautiful tropical island of Agalinas, surrounded by idyllic weather, fancy dress shops, and peacocks who sing her favorite song to wake her up in the morning. ![]()
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![]() But when you’re born with money and looks, intention only goes so far. I like Fran - I think that she is largely a relatable and well-intentioned person. A friend of mine once said that skinny, rich white people are the Vichy France of queers. Sometimes that’s a neutral thing, and sometimes it’s unfortunately a dangerous sort of collaborator kind of thing. Fran sort of embodies the part of me that wants to be invisible as a trans woman, that wants to conform and disappear into the world around me and not have to deal with any harassment or legal consequences of being a woman in the way that I am. GRETCHEN FELKER-MARTIN: I’d say it’s pretty psychologically straightforward where they come from. ![]() SARAH NEILSON: How did you come up with the three main characters, and what do you like most about them? Shondaland spoke with Felker-Martin about imagining characters of varying trans experiences, the transgressive and transformative aspects of horror, state and interpersonal violence, and how her work as a film critic informs her fiction. ![]() ![]() LaTanya McQueen Takes on Plantation Weddings. ![]() Tananarive Due on Her Horror Novel 'The Between'. ![]() ![]() ![]() Or, worse, I approach it from the absolute opposite end of the spectrum, as if in the very moment when a close connection shatters. No matter how often I've seen my own face in the mirror or in photographs, I always approach it with the gaze of a stranger-a suspicious stranger. But the sad thing is, I can't seem to get to it with myself. Whatever language you speak, it's the moment when the person before you, and the connection between you, becomes more real. If you spoke a language like French, it would be the moment you moved from formal to familiar, from vous to tu. It feels like a kind of shimmer, as if a veil has dropped away, and you can suddenly see the face behind the face of the person you're getting to know. There's a moment when a friendship is deepening that a face changes before your eyes. Why was her least favorite picture of herself the one her friend cherished most? Noelle Oxenhandler discovers that there are some things your mirror won't tell you. ![]() ![]() ![]() * "Reedy tackles pressing issues with prescient clarity and delicate sophistication. Listen closely, because this is an important new voice in YA fiction." - Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Extinction Machine, Rot & Ruin, and Fire & Ash Trent Reedy balances disturbing subject matter with heartfelt insight, and he does it all with great style. "Tense, heart-wrenching, and all too believable - I can't wait to read more!" - Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author of Battle Magic Butterworth IV, New York Times bestselling authors of The Last Witness and Hazardous Duty Prepare to lose sleep reading what could be your very near future." - W.E.B. "Powerful and timely! Trent Reedy's chilling tale hits hard as an ambush. " Divided We Fall delivers cover-to-cover action, intrigue and suspense, all with a gut-punch of an ending that'll leave you begging for the next installment." - Brad Thor, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Patriot ![]() ![]() ![]() This was a time of intense, roiling trouble. ![]() That book showed ferocity and sweep as it focused on Boston in 1919, an excellent choice of year. Lehane approached “The Given Day” was thrilling. You’ve been through a lot by the time you finish it, including a few figurative choruses of “Danny Boy.” But it’s also suspenseful, devious, well-constructed and as filled with ethical questions as it is with gangsters. ![]() “World Gone By” is, of necessity, the most elegiac of the three. ![]() Instead of sequels, he wound up producing a very loosely linked trio, adding on “Live by Night” (2012) and now “World Gone By.” Each is written very differently: first, a research-filled epic then a lean, classic Edgar-winning specimen of 1930s crime noir and now a suspenseful but reflective accumulation of all the wisdom these books have offered. That’s not exactly how things worked out. When “The Given Day” arrived in 2008, Dennis Lehane described his 704-page magnum opus as the beginning of a possible trilogy. ![]() ![]() One of many who have come and gone, as Vera’s mother tries to earn money based on the history of the house. An artist has move into the guest house out back. Strange things are happening at the house Vera’s father built. Basically Vera is just coming home to clear out the house and watch her mother die, but things aren’t as straightforward as she’d like them to be. Vera was always closest to her father but he’s not around anymore. She and her mother have the most complicated relationship. But now Vera’s mother is dying and she wants her daughter to come home. Her mother threw her out as soon as she was old enough and Vera never returned. Vera must face them and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes. There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting… but who else could it possibly be? A parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spare parts. ![]() Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there.Ĭoming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the memories - she’s come home, back to the home of a serial killer, the house that he built, her home. “Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Within the first few pages, we’ve already got people doing Bad Things, a terrifying creature, and a whole lot of death. ![]() In HUNGER, we start off with a little set-up to set the pacing for the violence in the story. I’m loving the dangerous, dusty trails, and the towns filled with wild casts of characters – the bloodshed and gore that are trademark of the ‘splatter western’ subgenre are a really awesome bonus! ![]() While I may not normally consider myself a ‘western fan’ type of girl, these books and this series are starting to change that for me. Maybe one book isn’t your thing? That’s okay, ’cause you’ve got several more titles (and authors) to choose from! Lucky for me, so far, 2 out of 2 of these books have hit home runs for me. I love this kind of series, ’cause it’s really accessible to new readers as well as old fans to the genre. Are you a big fan of westerns? Because I’m not, but I loved this! HUNGER is the second book in the ‘Splatter Western’ series being published by Death’s Head Press where each book is a total standalone that you can enjoy even independently of books that come before/after it. ![]() ![]() “A tricky plot complete with against-the-clock pacing, firefights, explosions, and plenty of magic. “What’s not to like about this series?.It takes the best elements of urban fantasy, mixes it with some good old-fashioned noir mystery, tosses in a dash of romance and a lot of high-octane action, shakes, stirs, and serves.”- SF Site The supporting cast is again fantastic, and Harry’s wit continues to fly in the face of a peril-fraught plot.”- Booklist (starred review) “Butcher.spins an excellent noirish detective yarn in a well-crafted, supernaturally-charged setting. “One of the most enjoyable marriages of the fantasy and mystery genres on the shelves.”- Cinescape “Superlative.”- Publishers Weekly (starred review) ![]() ![]() ![]() Hamilton and Tanya Huff will love this series.”- Midwest Book Review “Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring Philip Marlowe.”- Entertainment Weekly ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() In June 2022, the company was quired by Abercrombie & Kent Ltd. ![]() On July 24, 2020, the company celebrated its 30th anniversary. Until 2022, the company's chief officers were Tom Wolber (President and CEO) and Karl Muhlberger (COO / Chief Operating Officer). The relaunched cruise company started with the maiden voyages of its (for now only) two ships - Crystal Serenity (debut on July 31st) and Crystal Symphony (debut on September 1st). The vessels are top-ranked in numerous categories, offering intimate cruising experience, 5-star hotel amenities, superior services, elegance and perfection in every detail.Īfter being acquired by Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group in 2022, the company was officially relaunched in February 2023 as just "Crystal", opening bookings for past guests on February 13th, and for the general public on February 22nd. Crystal Cruises is one of the top-luxury travel brands and premium passenger shipping companies, Crystal currently operates only ocean voyages on two premium/smaller-sized ships with all-inclusive travel package deals. ![]() ![]() A Wizard of Earthsea – Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk.An error leads him to learn the hard way how to become a great sorcerer.Įarthsea Books in Order: I. Those who are born with Magic are sent to a school in order to become wizards, like the young mage named Ged. The story takes us in the world of Earthsea which is a vast archipelago of hundreds of islands where Magic is a central part of life-except in the Karg society where it is banned. Le Guin, The Earthcea Cycle was published between 19, beginning with A Wizard of Earthsea. ![]() What is Earthsea about?Ī series of fantasy novels written by the American writer Ursula K. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.Ī classic of the young adult fantasy canon. ![]() |