‘Shadow and Bone’ Official Trailer Expands the Grishaverse and Crow Storylines

March 31, 2021May 15, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Adapted from the successful award-winning fantasy novels by Leigh Bardugo, fans have been wondering just how Netflix was going to mesh the Grishaverse trilogy with the Six of Crows duology for Shadow and Bone. With the release of the official trailer, we get a glimpse of how the beloved Crows play into Alina Starkov’s story.

Literature, Podcasts

Southern Fried Asian: Christina Soontornvat

September 12, 2018September 10, 2018 Southern Fried Asian

On a brand new episode of Southern Fried Asian, children’s lit author Christina Soontornvat is Keith’s special guest.

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Fantasy, Literature2 Comments

And the Nominee Is…..

October 26, 2015October 26, 2015 Dennis R. Upkins

With October being LGBTQ History month — as well as Black Speculative Fiction Month, the following news seems almost provident.

My sophomore novel, West of Sunset, has been nominated for 2015 Gaylactic Spectrum Award in the best novel category. I’m immensely humbled by this honor. It’s wonderful to be reminded that if you’re willing to dream and put in the work, opportunities manifest as a result.

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Comics, Fantasy, Interview3 Comments

Knowing Our Passions: More with Marjorie Liu

October 13, 2015May 2, 2016 Zhouweiwen

Yesterday, we published the first part of my sprawling interview with fantasy novelist and comic book writer Marjorie Liu. She was at New York Comic-Con promoting next month’s release of her first creator-owned comic for Image Monstress.

For the second half of our interview, I ask her about her previous career as a lawyer, how she decided to become a writer, and what it means to be a prominent Asian American in the media.

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Fantasy, Interview, Literature

Lie To Me: An Interview With Michael James Bode

October 11, 2015October 12, 2015 Dennis R. Upkins

In honor of LGBTQ History Month and National Coming Out Day

Originally posted on Geeks Out.

You all are in for a real treat. Mike Bode and I have been good friends going back well over a decade. Before either of us became published authors, we both had a loyal following on Livejournal. Bode was one of my favorite bloggers. My fellow ATL resident is armed with a rapier wit and a glass of the finest wine that would make one Olivia Pope proud.

So when I learned that he stepped into the writing game with his debut novel, Queen of Lies, the first in the Architects of the Grand Design series, I was too excited to boost the signal. His second installment, The Mirrored City, will be available October 29.

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Fantasy, Literature6 Comments

Half-Resurrection Blues: An Endorsement

March 22, 2015April 9, 2015 Shawn Taylor

A spoiler free endorsement.

Daniel José Older is the type of writer that forces you to reevaluate your likes and dislikes for particular (sub)-genres. Up until I read Half-Resurrection Blues, I declared a moratorium on anything even resembling urban fantasy. Most urban fantasy almost supernaturally privileges European myth/folk/legend and leaves zero room for stories or influences from other cultures. Fairy court intrigues, battles amongst the Sidhe, and some kind of blonde or “flowing raven haired” chosen one or outcast or bi-species offspring rule the urban fantasy space to such a degree that reading these books feels like looking at a “No Melanin Allowed” billboard written in fairy dust. With Half-Resurrection Blues, though, Older makes a very bold departure.

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