Weekly Most Popular 19 July – 25 July

July 26th, 2010

Thought we’d start a new weekly topic here at fang, so you can be sure you’re not missing out on some of the most popular titles around.

Most popular books, across Fangtastic Fiction sites, for the week 19 July – 25 July.

  1. Nicole Murphy: Secret Ones
    Maggie Shaunessy is used to keeping secrets. She?s a fantastic teacher, but she?s also gadda, part of a hidden, powerful race – and she has a habit of annoying the wrong people.
  2. Gail Carriger: Soulless
    Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she’s a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Where to go from there?
  3. Gail Carriger: Changeless
    Alexia Tarabotti, now Lady Maccon, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears – leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions and an arsenal of biting civility.
  4. Deidre Knight: Red Demon
    After assuming the power of life and death for the immortal Spartan brotherhood, Aristos Petrakos still hasn’t mastered his unpredictable, newfound abilities. And now a medium brings him a message from the other side—a romantic message Ari doesn’t want to hear…
  5. Nalini Singh: Bonds of Justice
    Max Shannon is a good cop, one of the best in New York Enforcement. Born with a natural shield that protects him against Psy mental invasions, he knows he has little chance of advancement within the Psy- dominated power structure. The last case he expects to be assigned to is that of a murderer targeting a Psy Councilor’s closest advisors. And the last woman he expects to compel him in the most sensual of ways is a Psy on the verge of catastrophic mental fracture.
  6. Maya Banks: Wild
    When Duncan finds an injured cheetah, questions about how she wound up in his mountains—and going after the poachers pursuing her—can wait. First he brings her home. Then he checks in on his patient, and finds not a cat, but a gorgeous, very naked woman.
  7. Christine Johnson: Claire de Lune
    Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she’s the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she’s a werewolf.
  8. Sherrilyn Kenyon: Infinity
    Teenager Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is renowned. But his whole world is suddenly turned upside down on the night his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters – immortal vampire-slayers who risk everything to save humanity – and he quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one that s filled with all kinds of evil. However, before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students start turning into flesh-eating members of the undead. Nick knows he s in real danger and he soon has a lot more to deal with than starting high school: he s under pressure to hide his new friends from his mother and his chainsaw from the principal while trying to impress the girl he has a crush on ? all without getting grounded, suspended…or killed.
  9. Jenna Black: Devil’s Playground
    Morgan Kingsley, a kick-ass exorcist, can deal with Lugh, the super-sexy demon living inside her, but does he have to moan softly during her intimate moments with her mortal lover? Understandably, Brian is reluctant to share the pleasures of Morgan’s flesh with a gorgeous rogue from the Demon Realm.
  10. Colleen Gleason:As Shadows Fade
    Directly descended from the very first vampire hunter in the Gardella family, Victoria knows she must continue the lineage so humanity will have protectors against the undead. While Sebastian Vioget appears to be both the perfect warrior and lover to ensure the Gardella legacy, Victoria cannot forget Max Pesaro—the former slayer still haunted by the vampire queen Lilith’s obsession with him.
11. The Bookman Lavie Tidhar
12. The Demon in Me Rowen Michelle
13. Lion’s Heat Leigh Lora
14. Lover Mine J.R. Ward
15. An Original Sin Nina Bangs
16. Moon Sworn Keri Arthur
17. Spirit Bound Richelle Mead
18. Black Magic Sanction Kim Harrison
19. Dark Flame Alyson Noel
20. Power and Majesty Tansy Rayner Roberts

Fang’s New Focus!

July 11th, 2010

You probably noticed that we’ve been offline for the last week, and waiting with bated breath to find out what we’re up to next… well… now we can share.

We originally developed Fangtastic Fiction as the place for people to find out about – and be able to buy – paranormal romance and urban fantasy books. However focusing on our favourite genres AND running inventory and stock take, all while trying to stay competitive is a very big task, so instead …..

We’ve decided to tighten our focus on our greatest passion, which is the sharing of views, reviews and recommendations on authors and their books that we think you would enjoy. And when you want to buy books? We’re no longer going to be selling directly ourselves. Instead we’ll still show a comprehensive inventory and details on books and options of where you can buy the books …. and then you pick the price and who you want to buy from.

Doesn’t that sound like a much better way of doing it?

lots-of-coversWe will be adding and changing our bookstore options overtime, as we still want to be able to support in dependant local bookstores, but we also understand that choice is important. With the changing landscape of book buying, and the increasing availability of eBooks in Australia and New Zealand we don’t want to limit your options, so if you have a independent bookstore to recommend (or if you run one and would like us to know about it) feel free to let us know. We certainly want people to be able to find their new favourite book at their new favourite local – as well as from larger bookstores.

In the coming weeks and months we’ve got some really exciting things planned, including giveaways, competitions… and a couple of special projects we’re working on to get readers and authors in touch with each other. So many great authors write in our favourite genres, not just talented authors, but really genuine and nice people, and we want you to get to know them too… so stay tuned for more excitement in this new chapter of Fangbooks.

We’ll make announcements on new releases and special offers on twitter, so if you’re not following, you might like to start now!  Or you can always just keep checking here at Fangtastic Fiction– and that way you won’t miss our latest blog post either!

As always, if there is anything you don’t see listed that should be, let us know! We love to hear from our fellow readers, so don’t be afraid to drop us a line – compliments or criticisms … we love it all!  Don’t forget, you can always stalk with us on twitter http://www.twitter.com/fangbooks or subscribe to the blog.


July Debut Novels

July 1st, 2010

Book Title: By Midnight
Ravenwood
# 1

Author: Mia James

April Dunne is not impressed.
She’s had to move from Edinburgh to Highgate, London, with her parents. She’s left her friends – and her entire life – behind. She has to start at a new school and, worst of all, now she’s stuck in a creepy old dump of a house which doesn’t even have proper mobile phone reception.
Ravenwood, her new school, is a prestigious academy for gifted (financially or academically) students – and the only place her parents could find her a place, in the middle of term, in the middle of London, on incredibly short notice. So she’s stuck with the super-rich, and the super-smart . . . and trying to fit in is when the rest of the students seem to be more glamorous, smarter, or more talented than she is, is more than tough. It’s intimidating and isolating, even when she finds a friend in the conspiracy-theorist Caro Jackson – and perhaps finds something more than friendship in the gorgeous, mysterious Gabriel Swift.
But there’s more going on at Ravenwood than meets the eye. Practical jokes on new students are normal, but when Gabriel saves her from . . . something . . . . in the Highgate Cemetery, and then she discovers that a murder took place, just yards away from where she had been standing, April has to wonder if something more sinister is going on.
. . . and whether or not she’s going to live through it . . .

Welcome to Ravenwood, the school with bite – the new YA sensation is here!

Read More | Buy By Midnight

Book Title: Secret Ones
Dream of Asarlai # 1

Author: Nicole Murphy

She?s from an ancient clan. He has no family. Can they save the world … together?

Maggie Shaunessy is used to keeping secrets. She?s a fantastic teacher, but she?s also gadda, part of a hidden, powerful race – and she has a habit of annoying the wrong people.

Until Lucas Valeroso meets Maggie, he had no idea what awaited him: super-human powers, a smart and beautiful woman interested in more than unlocking his new abilities and, above all, a sense of belonging.

But dark ambition and dangerous bigotry are emerging in the gadda ranks. Lucas?s new family might cast him out before he?s even truly found his place. And Maggie must work with new allies to find and retrieve a missing artefact before the entire world is changed for all time.

Read More | Buy Secret Ones | Read an Extract

Book Title: Hunted by the Others

H&W Investigations # 1

Author: Jess Haines

They are the Others—the vampires, mages, and werewolves once thought to exist only in our imaginations. Now they’re stepping out of the shadows, and nothing in our world will ever be the same again…

In A Town Like This, Being A P.I. Can Be Murder

Shiarra Waynest’s detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm—if it doesn’t kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York’s most powerful vampires.

As soon as Shiarra meets sexy, mesmerizing vamp Alec Royce, she knows her assignment is even more complicated than she thought. With a clandestine anti-Other group trying to recruit her, and magi being eliminated, Shiarra needs back-up and enlists her ex-boyfriend—a werewolf whose non-furry form is disarmingly appealing—and a nerdy mage with surprising talents. But it may not be enough. In a city where the undead roam, magic rules, and even the Others aren’t always what they seem, Shiarra has just become the secret weapon in a battle between good and evil—whether she likes it or not…

Read More | Buy Hunted by the Others | Read an Extract

Book Title: Claire de Lune

Author: Christine Johnson

Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she’s the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she’s a werewolf.

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire’s new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?

Read More | Buy Claire de Lune | Read an Extract


Moon Sworn – A Lunar Eclipse Special

June 26th, 2010

There’s something so special about a lunar eclipse … about watching a shadow slowly swallow the face of the shining moon. It’s fascinating and calls to a deep mystical sense within us. Watching the full moon eclipse tonight over Australia and New Zealand I thought we should do something special – and what better than a special offer on Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur!!!!

9780749942274moonsworn

The Riley Jensen Guardian series is absolutely terrific. Over the past few years I’ve devoured each book as it was released and when the nineth and final book came out on 1 June was a bittersweet read.  It’s so sad to see the end of a great, complex and fascinating series but at the time this was such a wonderful book and it tied the ends up so neatly that I was left feeling amazed but also content that this was the right ending.  If you want to know more of my thoughts, check out the Moon Sworn review.

So to celebrate both this great book – and the Lunar Eclipse – were offering our normal 10% discount, PLUS another 10% off that from now to 30 June. 

We’ve books in stock and ready to go. All you need to do is enter the code LUNAR when you purchase your book and in a day or so you’ll have your book at your door!


Something old and something new

June 24th, 2010

It seems like every month we look at the upcoming releases and get REALLY excited, but it’s not our fault! The world of paranormal romance and urban fantasy has come so far in the last few years (heck, most book stores actually have a paranormal romance section these days!) so it’s easy to be excited about the fangtastic books that get released each month.

I’ve got two top picks for July that I just have to share (I got a sneak peak and now I’m like a kid on red jelly crystals).

If you’re an urban fantasy fan you’ve probably been following Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series. Although, if you’re like me, the last couple have been good, but nowhere near as good as the first, so you’re looking at Black Magic Sanction and umming and ahhing as to whether it needs to be read immediately.

Let me say… yes… this book is a NEED, not a want! Kim Harrison has brought the story back to the same feel as the first book, with the characters a little older, a little wiser and the writing a little smoother (and more intense).

Kim Harrison could get blood out of a stone with a simple turn of phrase, so be warned, there is more of the emotional intensity that is to be found in her writing. More intense in some ways, but not dragged on. Although Black Magic Sanction isn’t quite as dark as some of the previous books; there’s a feeling of hope that things might, one-day, work out.

There is also the normal humour, action and danger, but less focus on analysing Rachel’s relationships.

Black Magic Sanction actually scored a much coveted five star review from me. This is intense, dark and gritty, urban fantasy at it’s most ‘in your face’.

Buy Black Magic Sanction | Read Extract | Read Black Magic Sanction Review

It’s well known that we at Fangtastic Fiction have a soft-spot for debut authors, but a little known fact is that we actually only rave about the books we have read and enjoyed!  Each month we try and let you know if there are any new authors releasing books, but we don’t tend to go further than that unless we’ve fallen in love with a story (and even WE don’t get a chance to read every book released!).

There is something particularly special when we discover a debut novel that’s good, of course it probably creates a level of anxiety for the author for the same reason… if book ONE is that good… how absolutely mind-blowing will book TWO be!

So let us introduce you to my other top pick for July- the debut novel ‘Secret Ones’ by Australian author Nicole Murphy.

The blurb to Secret Ones doesn’t really convey the beautiful softness of the novel, instead trying to fit it into the dark and gritty world of urban fantasy, which is just isn’t. Secret Ones  blends all that is good in a romance story with the adventure of a fantasy. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s not sugary sweet, but it doesn’t sink into the dark chasm of despair and emotional intensity that you often find in books marked as urban fantasy.

Of course, you don’t just need to take my four star review as the only proof, we’ve got an extract for you to read as well.

It’s the first in a series that promises to be perfect weekend curl up and read material. This is the sort of book that would go perfectly with that mmmmmm coffee moment. Sit back, relax, let Nicole Murphy entertain you.

Buy Secret Ones | Read extract | Read Secret Ones review


True Blood – Congratulations!

June 20th, 2010

My goodness we had some wonderful comments on why people thought there was such growing popularity of paranormal romance.   You know – some of you are really weird, right?!

Some comments were thoughtful, some funny … and not surprisingly there was quite a bit of talking about sex! Appropriate what with True Blood being SOOOO hot!

Sadly there could only be one winner and random.org chose Ingrid!

And thanks again to Time Warner and Orbit/Hatchette for the prizes!


True Blood Competition – FANGtastic!

June 16th, 2010

We’re continuing our Sookie-fest and this time we have series one AND series two of True Blood on DVD to giveaway thanks to our friends at Orion/Hachette and Time Warner. If you thought that Charlaine Harris’ books were great (and we do) you should just see what happens when Alan Ball, the king of noir, gets ahold of the plots!

True Blood Series OneDelivering the best of what audiences have come to expect from Creator and Executive Producer Alan Ball (writer of Oscar®-winning Best Picture “American Beauty”, creator of the Emmy® Award-winning HBO® series “Six Feet Under”), TRUE BLOOD is a dark and sexy tale that boldly delves into the heart – and the neck – of the Deep South.

For a chance to win the True Blood DVDs all you need to do is go to our home page http://www.fangtastic.com.au or http://www.fangtastic.co.nz and post a comment on the competition blog.

Firstly these DVDs are R18 and so to enter you must declare that you are over 18.

Then explain you think that there has been such a growth in paranormal romance and urban fantasy books over the past decade? Why are we now seeing so many vampires, werewolves, angels demons, faeries and otherworldly beings? Is it a reflection of increasing danger in our world, a fad, … or what?

True Blood Series TwoThe top ten answers will be selected and ONE of these will then be randomly chosen as the winner! Yep, that’s right, it’s not going to be enough to simply put your name in the hat for this one – you’ll have to think about your answer!

The competition will start on Wednesday night 16 June and run through to Sunday night 20 June at 6pm when the winner will be chosen.And sorry, but the competition is only open in Australia and New Zealand.

So if you want your dose of True Blood – this is the week for it!!


What a fun Sookie Competition we’ve had!

June 6th, 2010

We’ve had a huge amount of fun the last four days with our amazing competition for the full set of Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris!  Congratulations Angela – books will be on their way to you shortly!

I hope that you all browsed through the comments being made because some of them were simply terrific. Shamefully *hanging head* I don’t know IT, but with so many of you mentioning it I’d better rectify that quickly.

I completely agree with the comments about the genius of Alan Ball BTW.  His dark humour adds an edginess to True Blood that keeps me addicted.  Series one and two are available now on Blu-ray and DVD and series three will be on Foxtel and Austar in August.

We’ve had so much fun with this Sookie-fest that we’re going to do another FANGTASTIC competition in a week or so.  Make sure you sign up for our newsletter because this is where we’ll be announcing it first! You’re going to love it!


Sookie Stackhouse – FANGtastic Giveaway!!

June 3rd, 2010

Over the years we have delighted in the weird, charming and downright spooky Southern style vampire books from Charlaine Harris.  No doubt quite a few of you have as well – after all, more than 500,000 copies of Sookie Stackhouse have been sold in Australia and New Zealand!

Now we can give you a chance to win a full set of the ten books in this series.  This is the nine existing books that have been re-released by Gollancz/Orion as a tie in to the HBO True Blood TV show, as well as new release of book ten, Dead in the Family.

And the result ? A beautiful collection of Sookie books featuring many of the lead characters in True Blood on the cover.

Dead to the World

True Blood is absolutely brilliant.  Alan Ball, the fabulous director, has taken the base Sookie stories and woven his own warped magic into the mix to give us a solid dose of very black humour in amidst the plots and characters from Charlaine Harris.  Series Two has just been released on Blu-ray and DVD and at 8.30pm on 19 August True Blood: Season Three will start on Showcase for Foxtel and Austar.

True Blood is a classic case where film has been able to add a whole new dimension to the fascination of the well written books on which it is based. It’s not a perfect translation to the screen like some adaptations – rather it is MORE!

There have been quite a few examples over the years of paranormal tales adapted for TV or film, but rarely have they been as successful as Sookie and True Blood.

To enter our competition what we want from you is pretty easy.

Comment on this blog about a paranormal/supernatural based book that had a TV/film adaptation and  what you think either worked well, or didn’t, when it was translated to screen. And, if you’re familiar with Sookie and True Blood, you’re welcome to discuss these.

Each entrant will go into the draw – but if you want your name put in twice all you need to do is tweet about this competition (and tell us so we can look out for your tweet) and then we’ll put your name in twice.

9780575097094

The competition closes on Sunday 6th June at 6pm, Australian EST. The winner will be closen in a ‘blind’ draw. This competition is only open for Australia and New Zealand (sorry folks from elsewhere).

Imagine, either books you have read and loved in gorgeous new covers, or an entire new series to explore and discover!  So come and join our Sookie party!

Sookie Stackhouse + True Blood = absolute magic!

We are the judge, jury and executioner of all competitions run by us. We may use your name, but we will never pass on your details.


June Debut Novels

June 1st, 2010

Urban Fantasy

Book Title: Embers

Author: Laura Bickle

Truth burns.

Unemployment, despair, anger—visible and invisible unrest feed the undercurrent of Detroit’s unease. A city increasingly invaded by phantoms now faces a malevolent force that further stokes fear and chaos throughout the city.

Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya—who is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern—suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil’s Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya—with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team—can stop it.

Read More | Buy Embers | Read Chapter Excerpt

Teen Paranormal

Book Title: Hex Hall
# 1

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Anya’s accustomed to danger and believes herself inured to loneliness and loss. But this time she’s risking everything: her city, her soul, and a man who sees and accepts her for everything she is. Keeping all three safe will be the biggest challenge she’s ever faced.

In the wake of a love spell gone horribly wrong, Sophie Mercer, a sixteen-year-old witch, is shipped off to Hecate Hall, a boarding school for witches, shapeshifters and faeries. The traumas of mortal high school are nothing compared to the goings on at “Freak High.” It’s bad enough that she has to deal with a trio of mean girls led by the glamorous Elodie, but it’s even worse when she begins to fall for Elodie’s gorgeous boyfriend, Archer Cross, and frankly terrifying that the trio are an extremely powerful coven of dark witches. But when Sophie begins to learn the disturbing truth about her father, she is forced to face demons both metaphorical and real, and come to terms with her own growing power as a witch.

Read More | Buy Hex Hall

Teen Paranormal

Book Title: 13 to Life

13 TO LIFE # 1

Author: Shannon Delany

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.
The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide–secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

Urban Fantasy

Book Title: Black Blade Blues

Author: J A Pitts

Sarah Beauhall has more on her plate than most twenty-somethings: day job as a blacksmith, night job as a props manager for low-budget movies, and her free time is spent fighting in a medieval re-enactment group.

The lead actor breaks Sarah’s favourite one-of-a-kind sword, and to avoid reshooting scenes, Sarah agrees to repair the blade. One of the extras, who claims to be a dwarf, offers to help. And that’s when things start to get weird. Could the sword really be magic, as the dwarf claims? Are dragons really living among us as shapeshifters?

And as if things weren’t surreal enough, Sarah’s girlfriend Katie breaks out the dreaded phrase… I love you. As her life begins to fall apart, first her relationship with Katie, then her job at the movie studio, and finally her blacksmithing career, Sarah hits rock bottom. It is at this moment, when she has lost everything she has prized, that one of the dragons makes their move.

And suddenly what was unthinkable becomes all too real… and Sarah will have to decide if she can reject what is safe and become the heroine who is needed to save her world.

Read More | Buy Black Blue Blades

Teen Paranormal

Book Title: Mistwood

Author: Leah Cypress

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can’t help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Read More | Buy Mistwood