Book reviews:

Love Roller Derby? Love Books? Love Derby Shorts!

Holy jammers, Batman... it's the first ever roller derby anthology! Buy the paperback now... 14 brilliant and bold short stories for only £5

Moxyland by Lauren Beukes

William Gibson says Moxyland is a Neuromancer for the next gen. It's an apartheid dystopian cyberpunk thriller set in South Africa, and it's a RIDE.

Jonathan Green Talks Fighting Fantasy and Gamebook Adventures

Fighting Fantasy and Gamebook adventures let you be the hero and choose your own path. Steampunk king Jonathan Green tells us more. Turn to page 400!

Modern Historical Fiction... 21st Century Eyes, 16th Century Smile

You can tell the age of a period film by its hairstyles. Do we actually even need accuracy in modern historical fiction?

KLF | Chaos Magic Music Money

Why DID the KLF burn a million quid? We review what is simply one of the best books to come out in 2012.

Channel SK1N

We review Channel SK1N, the long-awaited media culture jamming novel by master of metamorphiction Jeff Noon.

The Court of the Air

Fans of Susanna Clarke may be interested in a well thought out steampunk adventure which weaves together orphans, magical systems, politics, robot spirituality and post-human equality.

Fifty Shades of Grey Area - Politically Correct Fantasies

Stories with non consent and reluctance themes may still be enjoyed by feminists but they are not politically correct. So why see them in supermarkets?

Fantasy Fiction and Vampires vs Orcs

When do we turn to vampires, and when do we turn to fantasy thieves, dwarves and orcs? What lies beneath the escapist trappings of fantasy fiction?

Sexed Up Classics

David Cop A Feel. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Bondage. Time to bitch about some evil sexed up classics happening soon in a book shop near you.

Wise Man's Fear... Revolutionising High Fantasy

In between morsels of Game of Thrones you may be looking for epic high fantasy with class. In books 1 and 2 of the Kingkiller Chronicle you may well have found it.

Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops

Though full of heartbreakingly ridiculous customer requests that will make your mouth gape in disbelief, Jen Campbell's wry book, compiled over years spent as a bookseller, is also packed with Stuff That Is Funny Because It's True.

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

This beautiful little book about Mikage Sakurai, an unsure young woman who slowly makes her way in the world, is a delicate little morsel bursting with rich afternotes. Carry it around in your bag to remind you there's hope.

Weird Women of Fiction

Weird women writers are gremlins. They should never be watered or fed after midnight. And there are more lurking at the back of the pet shop than just Mary Shelley, Atwood and Poppy Z Brite.

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars, a YA romance by respected Nerdfighter John Green, is about a girl with cancer experiencing love and life with one foot in the grave.

Mookychick review of the A Men Trilogy

This epic sci fi noir by John Trevillian has a fierce dark heart with fantasy mythos at its core. Follow the journey of the Nowhere Man, a soldier fated to change humanity with a banned fairy tale.

Top 10 Reasons why Terry Pratchett is Amazing

Terry Pratchett is a hero. Everything he does... he does like a total boss. We just wanted to quantify it.

How to make jewellery with Tatty Devine

Tatty Devine are calling in the lawyers after seeing their designs in Claires Accessories. To show support, check out their jewellery crafting how to book. Make jewellery so personal a high street fashion store will probably try to copy it...

JK Rowling - New book will be an adult novel

Author JK Rowling announces her plans to write a new book. It's going to be adult fiction, and 'very different' to the Harry Potter books which made her famous... We can't wait.

Vintage Hairstyling - Retro Styles with Step by Step Techniques

We review the ultimate vintage hairstyles how-to book. With vivid hair photos and simple step by step instructions, 'Vintage Hairstyling' shows you how to recreate 33 classic retro hairstyles from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Why I hate the Millenium Trilogy

So. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. There's a reason why journalists call the lead character 'Bonkvist'. When you look at the hideously objectified portrayals of all the other women in the books, was the creation of intelligent, resilient and tattooed Lisbeth Salander a total fluke?

THE NECROPHILIAC

Eccentric French novelist Gabrielle Wittkop had a pronounced tasted for the sinister, wrote ten books of dubious repute and killed herself in 2002. The antihero of THE NECROPHILIAC is a Goethesque romantic, and his baroque tale is told in bewitching prose...

Supergods

'Supergods' book review: In his memoir/textbook/countercultural bible 'Supergods', legendary comics writer Grant Morrison explores our enduring fascination with superheroes and provides insight into his own journey as a comics guru.

Tourniquet

Kim Lakin-Smith's richly imagined dark fantasy novel Tourniquet turns Nottingham's rock scene into Renegade City, a futuristic gothic haven for freaks, geeks and outsiders. In this seeming paradise, rock god Druid is led to unravel a mystery and find the worm coiling in Renegade City's murderous heart...

Wasted

By the age of 9, Marya was bulimic. By 12, she was anorexic. WASTED is the powerful memoir of a girl swamped in today's obssession with diet, body and gender, who went to the dark side and found her own way back out.

Steampunk Emporium

Filled with lace and brass Victoriandustrial imaginings, Steampunk Emporium is a treasure for steampunkers and crafters alike. As Miss Emilly Ladybird goes forth to Atlantis and beyond, she brings us 20 easy but breathtakingly beautiful step by step crafts tutorials. Make your own steampunk jewellery and more...

'The Fairy Bible'

The Fairy Bible's tagline is 'everything you ever wanted to know about faeries'. And in many lovely ways this book delivers (without actually stealing you to a fairy kingdom for hundreds of years to teach you more than you'd ever bargained for).

'How to be a Woman'

Funny, smart and wise, 'How to be a Woman' by Caitlin Moran is essential reading for feminists of either gender. Help keep it top of the bestseller lists - it's one of the most joyful and rewarding books you'll read this year.

Neverwhere

Under the streets of London lies Neil Gaiman's secret world of Neverwhere... mysterious tunnels populated by homeless tribes and supernatural beings. Check out the novel, graphic novel and BBC TV series...

American Gods

Fiction reviews: Yes, American Gods is an oldie, but a goldie. Neil Gaiman finds magic in this cynical old world in this mythical tall-tale of epic proportions.

John Green... Nerdfighter

There are some slightly older people who reach out to slightly younger people and are genuinely really, really good at it. Take John Green and his vlogbrother Hank, the people behind Nerdfighters.com. Just... yes.

Never the Bride

'Never The Bride' is gothic fiction spliced with Miss Marple mysteries. Yay! Relish two old biddies solving demonic mysteries and having big old punch-ups in the gothic setting of lovely old Whitby, british home of Dracula...

The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart

'The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart' by Mathias Malzieu is the tale of a boy with a heart almost magically preserved by clockwork, who must never fall in love, or else his heart's mechanism will break. Fancy a ride in this steampunk funfair?

The Ice Age

Seattle-born Kirsten Reed’s debut novel, The Ice Age, is the kind of book you wished would come along more often. A 17 year old hitchiking girl's modern day cross country adventure, 'The Ice Age' is punky, sultry, fresh and full of disdain...

Popco

Popco is a wild ride filled with codes, secrets, quirky loner romance, humanitarian comment and vegan recipes - all wrapped up in a deliciously eclectic story about a toy company and sweatshop labour...

Nineteen Minutes

Jodi Picoult's latest bestselling novel draws on grey areas of morality and examines a nightmare from more than one viewpoint. Nineteen Minutes asks the question: Is there more than one tragedy in a high-school shooting?

The Lies of Locke Lamora

The Lies of Locke Lamora: This fantasy novel by Scott Lynch lures you in with its decadent descriptions... then hurls you headlong into magical murderous madness. Sound appetizing?

The Real Twilight

The sparkly chaste vampires of Twilight are a fiction. What about the real thing? 'The real Twilight' is a book about the modern day vampire, working from the premise that vampires do exist.

Tipping the velvet

Made into a sumptuous BBC drama, Tipping the Velvet is a gripping (and researched) romp through life behind the curtain at a Victorian music hall, cleverly told through the eyes of a young cross-dressing actress experiencing her first first girl-on-girl love...

The Woman in Black

Horror fiction: 'The Woman in Black' is a modern version of a traditional Gothic horror - but it feels as classic as Dracula...

Graceling - fantasy fiction

Fantasy fiction: In the male-dominated genre of fantasy fiction, 'Graceling' by Kristin Cashore reveals a female perspective. Learn of children who each have their own fantastical 'grace' or skill...

All my friends are superheroes

Cult fiction: What's it like to be normal in a world of superheroes - like Copycat, who steals your style so well you're the one who looks like the imitation? Tom knows, and he wants to share his story with you.

Vampire novels - My love lies bleeding

Dark romance: Yes, it's another vampire novel. The twist is that we've got an entire first chapter for you to read for free!

Faking It

Lotte Daley's debut novel 'Faking It' is unashamed chick lit. Built from modern mythology (Derren Brown, Facebook etc.) It's not so much about trumping your rivals as finding out what's real. It's also splendidly rude and funny. Go on, heart it!

Shaikh-Down

A sassy American airhostess and a gay British banker (and their boyfriends) help kick-start a Persian Gulf revolution. A foxy Arab princess comes out on top in Regime Change. Is there a message here for the women of Bahrain? The first 250 readers can download it for free...

Vampire horror romance - Dunraven Road

Dark romance: Dunraven Road is a refreshing change of pace from the bloated, sugary-sweet Twilights of this world. A novel about the often bittersweet pain of passionate love set against a backdrop of sadism, vampires, drug abuse and violent inhumanity.

Elephants on acid

Fringe science: 'Elephants on Acid and other Bizarre Experiments' is an absorbing book dedicated to fringe science experiments - to zombie kittens, the Mozart effect on babies and the real difference between Pepsi and Coke. A worthy edition to anyone's bookshelf!

Wetlands

Cult novels: Helen, the feminist heroine of Wetlands by Charlotte Roche, is a walking, talking, bleeding, masturbating, avocado-fancying, haemorrhoid-hampered apologist for A levels (the rude kind) and DIY tampons...

Kayla Steele: Vampires with a bit of bite

Vampire novels: Real vampires don't sparkle. Real werewolves aren't big fluffy radiators. Real heroines don't pine and waste away just because some dead guy has left them. A real book has more attitude, more fight, more bite. The Kayla Steele Series by Natasha Rhodes is a horror series that delivers.

Killer Tease - Pulp fiction for the modern girl

Pulp fiction: 'Killer Tease' is a modern take on the classic pulp fiction thriller. Set in Brighton's sleazy underbelly, it tells the tale of Eloise Murphy, a burlesque dancer with a murderously bad temper...

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Zombie fiction: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains". Thus begins Quirk Classic 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'. The clue is rather in the name, for this is a retelling of Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'. With zombies.

The Zombie Survival Guide

Zombie fiction: Could you survive a zombie apocalypse? Could you turn your home into a fortress against zombie infestation? Could you reach the safety of your friends in time? Find out with the Zombie Survival Guide - a tongue-in-cheek manual explaining exactly how to survive a zombie attack.

Minor Characters - the dark side of the beat generation

Cult novels: 'This is the muses's side of the story. It turns out that the muse could write as well as anybody' - Angela Carter. Jack Kerouac's mostly-ignored girlfriend wrote a memoir of the beat scene that flipped the lid on the dark side of the Beat Generation...

It's different for girls

Comedy fiction: Jo Brand (one of the UK's top 50 comedians and national treasures) was a teenage punk - and she's written a punk coming of age teenage novel about two girls trying to cope with growing up in a small seaside town in the 1970s when the punk scene was on the verge of exploding. Teenage kicks, seaside sex and soggy chips...

Lovecraft's life and legacy

Horror fiction: H.P.Lovecraft is one of the world's most beloved horror writers, with eerie tales of indescribable beings and maddening alien geometries. M delves into Lovecraft's upbringing (racism, fear of change - the horror! The horror!) and his fearful legacy (Cthulhu plushies...)

The Watchmen - A reader's plot guide

Comic reviews: Watchmen is often described as a multi-layered story and has been described in places as hard to read. Some of this is true, but the Watchmen is in many ways a very straight, enjoyable read where all the action happens at the edges. We tell you how to read between the lines, and get as much out of the Watchmen plot as you can...

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Book reviews: ... In which, dear Reader, we explore an award-winning book by Neil Gaiman which explains everything that happens to you after death, sort of, in a wise yet humorous way, very much so, and which straddles the worlds of adult and child in a way that Pratchett is famous for, and the worlds of living and dead in a way that Gaiman is famous for. The Graveyard Book. The creaking cemetary gate is ajar. Wipe your feet, then come in.

War of the Witches

Fantasy fiction: War of the Witches is probably best suited to girls under eighteen who will be most drawn into the intricacies of its magical plot - it's a total witch-fest. If you're already a Twilight fan, War of the Witches has some real meat to it - no vampires, but more witches and witchcraft in one book than you've ever seen in your life.

Down the rabbit hole - Philosophy and social comment in 'Alice in Wonderland'

Cult novels: You may think that Alice in Wonderland is just a children's tale you happen to take too seriously. Good news - there are more than a couple of reasons to completely justify your obsession with it! And people will be delighted to join you in discussing social issues in Wonderland over tea and treacle...

Invisible Monsters

Cult novels: Transsexualism. Models. Riches. Shotguns. Makeup. Drugs. Disfigurement. Fire. Sexually transmitted disease. Estrogen. Real Estate. Weddings. Homosexuality. High Fashion. There's only one book that has it all from practically the first page - and that's Chuck Palahniuk's 'Invisible Monsters'.

Fan fiction - by the fans, for the fans

Fan fiction: Whether you love it or hate it, fan fiction is a cult phenomenon. Harry Potter dating Draco? Romping hobbits? Spock and Kirk behaving illogically? Despite the controversy of copyright laws, fan fiction is now so deeply entrenched in internet culture that - for better or for worse - it's truly beyond our control...

The Punk Directory

Punk novels: Some time in the early months of 2007, a group of people got together to try to redefine the youth with the Mohawk and covered in leather. The kid on the street corner smoking and spitting, waving a middle finger in the air. Yeah, that wonderful image of a 'punk'. And let me tell you, says Emma Wright, they weren't all too successful.

Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood

Summer novels: The 'Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood' is a collection of cuttings, photos and momentoes kept in a scrapbook kept over the years by a small but perfectly-formed band of girls and brings to life the fabulous adventures and friendships of the mad, bad, dangerous and downright hysterical Ya Yas.

Feminist, Sci Fi, Fantasy and YA Book Reviews

Check out hundreds of cult book reviews to dark romance to horror, fringe science, feminist classics, dystopian YA and zombie apocalypses. So many books, so little time.