UPDATE:​ This month's meeting is being pushed back to Thursday, May 5th due to a scheduling conflict that cannot be avoided. Thank you for your understanding & see you next week!

This is a stunning novel that tells the story of Fatima, a concubine in the royal court of Granada, the last emirate of Muslim Spain, and her dearest friend Hassan, the palace mapmaker.

Hassan has a secret--he can draw maps of places he's never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the newly formed Spanish monarchy arrive to negotiate the sultan's surrender, Fatima befriends one of the women, not realizing that she will see Hassan's gift as sorcery and a threat to Christian Spanish rule. With their freedoms at stake, what will Fatima risk to save Hassan and escape the palace walls?

As Fatima and Hassan traverse Spain with the help of a clever jinn to find safety, The Bird King asks us to consider what love is and the price of freedom at a time when the West and the Muslim world were not yet separate.
​

If this sounds like something you would like to read, you can get your copy of the book from the store for 15% off when you order with us: in-store, online, over the phone (828.386.1219), or via email. Our booksellers will be happy to help you get the book in the format that you prefer!

Paperback
E-book
​Audiobook

Starting Monday, April 4th, we will be open to the public Mon-Sat from 11am-7pm so you can pickup orders at the register. However, you can also pickup your book using our pickup basket at the front door or the drive thru window. We're available for pickup Mon-Sat from 9am-7pm (starting April 4th). We simply ask that you call ahead when coming to get your order. We also offer free media mail shipping for orders $30+ and free local delivery (within Boone town limits). Getting your book to you as conveniently as possible is important to us! 
 
Finally, you can add the event to your calendar from ours (check the event page) to get reminders & updates about any changes to the event! 

Building a Home of Stories in 'The Bird King' -- NPR.org
G. Willow Wilson Reimagines the Last Days of Moorish Spain -- The New York Times 
Author Talks: G. Willow Wilson with N.K. Jemisin -- NYPL
G. Willow Wilson, The Bird King -- Politics & Prose

Suzanne Walker is a Chicago-based writer and editor. Her academic work has been published in Classical World and Barriers and Belonging. She has spoken widely on topics ranging from disability representation in sci-fi/fantasy to applying the themes of science fiction to everyday political activism. You can follow her on twitter: @suzusaur.

What's the book about?

It's a story of love and demons, family and witchcraft. Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers' bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods.

As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any townhome. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help.

​Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery. 
​

If this sounds like something you would like to read, you can get your copy of the book from the store for 15% off when you order with us: online, over the phone (828.386.1219), or via email. 

You can pickup your book using our pickup basket at the front door or the drive thru window. We also offer free media mail shipping & local delivery (within Boone town limits). Getting your book to you as conveniently as possible is important to us! 

Finally, you can RSVP on the Facebook event to get reminders & updates about any changes to the event! Do that here!

Review: Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu -- The Nerd Daily​
Graphic Novel Review: Mooncakes, by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu -- The Queerblr
Interview: Wendy Xu & Suzanne Walker reflect on transforming MOONCAKES into a graphic novel -- Comicsbeat.com

Keep reading to find the summary, reviews of the book, interviews with the author, and info about how to buy your book from us in various formats. ​

When Gyre Price lied her way into this expedition, she thought she’d be mapping mineral deposits, and that her biggest problems would be cave collapses and gear malfunctions. She also thought that the fat paycheck—enough to get her off-planet and on the trail of her mother—meant she’d get a skilled surface team, monitoring her suit and environment, keeping her safe. Keeping her sane.

Instead, she got Em.

Em sees nothing wrong with controlling Gyre’s body with drugs or withholding critical information to “ensure the smooth operation” of her expedition. Em knows all about Gyre’s falsified credentials, and has no qualms using them as a leash—and a lash. And Em has secrets, too . . .

As Gyre descends, little inconsistencies—missing supplies, unexpected changes in the route, and, worst of all, shifts in Em’s motivations—drive her out of her depths. Lost and disoriented, Gyre finds her sense of control giving way to paranoia and anger. On her own in this mysterious, deadly place, surrounded by darkness and the unknown, Gyre must overcome more than just the dangerous terrain and the Tunneler which calls underground its home if she wants to make it out alive—she must confront the ghosts in her own head.
​
But how come she can’t shake the feeling she’s being followed?

If this sounds like something you would like to read, you can get your copy of the book from the store for 15% off when you order with us: online, over the phone (828.386.1219), or via email. This title is also available from our audiobook partner, Libro.fm, as a DRM-free audiobook--buy it here. 

You can pickup your book using our pickup basket at the front door or the drive thru window. We also offer free media mail shipping & local delivery (within Boone town limits). Getting your book to you as conveniently as possible is important to us! 

Finally, you can RSVP on the Facebook event to get reminders & updates about any changes to the event! Do that here!

Monsters Imaginary & Real Haunt the Caves of The Luminous Dead -- NPR Books
Rich & Complicated Survival Horror: The Luminous Dead by Starling -- tor.com
The Luminous Dead--Spooky Reads! -- Horror Bound Blog
Podcast Episode #6: Interview with Caitlin Starling  -- Sublime Horror Podcast
Q&A with Caitlin Starling, author of 'The Luminous Dead' -- Fictionist Magazine

​Keep reading to find the summary, reviews of the book, interviews with the author, and info about how to buy your book from us in various formats. ​

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead.
​

If this sounds like something you would like to read, you can get your copy of the book from the store for 15% off when you order with us: online, over the phone (828.386.1219), or via email. This title is also available from our audiobook partner, Libro.fm, as a DRM-free audiobook--buy it here. 

You can pickup your book using our pickup basket at the front door or the drive thru window. We also offer free media mail shipping & local delivery (within Boone town limits). 
​

"Smart, Snarky 'Gideon The Ninth' Swears Her Way Through The Stars" -- NPR Books

"Gideon the Ninth is about lesbian necromancers in space. Obviously, it's perfect."
-- Vox

"Wet Hot Necrogoth Summer: A Non-Spoiler Review of Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir" -- Tor.com

"Interview with Tamsyn Muir: The gay goth space opera of our dreams" -- BookPage
​
"The Horror of it All! A Conversation with Tamsyn Muir" -- Clarkesworld

May's choice this year is The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden. This month, we decided to go a diverse route and give our members a refreshing twist to the kinds of fiction that they might be used to. Nicky Drayden is a Systems Analyst who dabbles in prose when she’s not buried in code. She resides in Austin, Texas where being weird is highly encouraged, if not required. This is her debut novel. We expect a very engaging meeting at the end of the month! But what is this book even about?

In South Africa, the future looks promising. Personal robots are making life easier for the working class. The government is harnessing renewable energy to provide infrastructure for the poor. And in the bustling coastal town of Port Elizabeth, the economy is booming thanks to the genetic engineering industry which has found a welcome home there. Yes—the days to come are looking very good for South Africans. That is, if they can survive the present challenges:

A new hallucinogenic drug sweeping the country . . .

An emerging AI uprising . . .

And an ancient demigoddess hellbent on regaining her former status by preying on the blood and sweat (but mostly blood) of every human she encounters.

It’s up to a young Zulu girl powerful enough to destroy her entire township, a queer teen plagued with the ability to control minds, a pop diva with serious daddy issues, and a politician with even more serious mommy issues to band together to ensure there’s a future left to worry about.

We love a good diva taking charge. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy reading, we really hope that you'll come grab a copy from the bookstore or from one of the local libraries, then join us at the book club meeting. 

You can buy your copy from Foggy Pine Books and get 15% off until the end of the month. The book club display is on the same shelf as the bestsellers! You can also buy it from us online, if you prefer to read a digital copy or listen to the audiobook: ​​

We'll meet at Hatchet Coffee on May 30th at 7:30pm. Hatchet Coffee has drinks & snacks available for purchase but we typically also have snacks to share with one another.  Bring a friend and come discuss the book with us, even if you weren't able to completely finish it or if you didn't like it. You can see the Facebook event & RSVP here .

A Madcap Debut: The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden - Tor.com
Q & A: Nicky Drayden Talks ‘The Prey of Gods’ - Fantasy Review Barn

April's choice this year is Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. We've really been enjoying our foray into fantasy and science fiction so we decided to read a few books that might be considered "classics", or at least very well known, that we hadn't read before. Many of us were already fans of Gaiman or Pratchett but a few didn't enjoy the books they'd previously read by those authors. So, we're expecting a lively discussion at the end of April! So, what is this book about anyway?

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .

We don't know about you but we just love an excellent fight between Good and Evil, especially if there's lots of snark. This has been on our TBR for a while so we're glad to finally be able to get to it, especially since we get to discuss it with such an awesome group. 

If this sounds like something you'd enjoy reading, we really hope that you'll come grab a copy from the bookstore or from one of the local libraries, then join us at the book club meeting. 

If you decide to get your copy from Foggy Pine Books, the paperback copies are on sale for 15% off until the end of the month. You can also buy it from us online, if you prefer to read a digital copy or listen to the audiobook. ​

Digital Audiobook
eBook
Paperback
Mass Market
Large Print
Audio CD

We'll meet at Hatchet Coffee on April 25th at 7:30pm. Hatchet Coffee has drinks & snacks available for purchase but we typically also have snacks to share with one another.  Bring a friend and come discuss the book with us, even if you weren't able to completely finish it or if you didn't like it. You can see the Facebook event & RSVP here .

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman-Fun, with Footnotes -- The Guardian Review
Good Omens is the Perfect Gateway Fantasy -- Tor.com Review
Pratchett & Gaiman: The Double Act -- Locus Online Interview

We're ringing in 2019 with a classic science fiction story by Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Our group hasn't read a science fiction book in a while and we wanted something fun and exciting to read at the beginning of the year. Douglas Adams was a prolific author, script writer, humorist, satirist, and dramatist. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of his most famous works and has been turned into a radio series and a film. He also wrote the series Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and for the well-known time travel show, Doctor Who. 

Let's learn a little more about our book club book though. Here's the summary from the publisher: 

Seconds before Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together, this dynamic pair began a journey through space aided by a galaxyful of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox—the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian (formerly Tricia McMillan), Zaphod’s girlfriend, whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; and Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he’s bought over the years. Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? For all the answers, stick your thumb to the stars!

So, if you want to go on a space adventure, learn the meaning of life, and figure out why you always bring a towel to space, join us at the new Hatchet Coffee lounge for the January meeting. 

​If this sounds like something you'd like to read, you can get your copy of the book from the store with a 15% discount until the end of January. If you'd like to purchase online, we have the following the formats available:

Digital Audiobook
eBook
Paperback
Audiobook CD

We'll meet at Foggy Pine Books on January 31st at 7:30pm. We'll have free wine and snacks for book club members to share.  Bring a friend and come discuss the book with us, even if you weren't able to completely finish it or if you didn't like it. You can see the Facebook event & RSVP here.

The Guardian Review--"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams"
Kirkus Review--"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
BBC Radio 4 Interviews--"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

This month's choice for the Hatchet Coffee Book Club is Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore, known for his comedic novels. We realized at the last meeting that we hadn't attempted any comedy books. Most of us had heard of or previously read something by Christopher Moore. Mary's favorite book by this author is A Dirty Job, about a man who unintentionally becomes the next Reaper and must learn the ropes so that souls can be harvested in time. Oh, he also runs a thrift store and is a single dad to a baby girl who ends up being guarded by Hell Hounds. So, that's the type of novel that Christopher Moore writes and we thought this one, about the death of Vincent Van Gogh, would be a great place to start.

Here's the official summary: 
In July 1890, Vincent van Gogh went into a cornfield and shot himself. Or did he?
Vincent’s friends, baker-turned-painter Lucien Lessard and bon vivant Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, have their doubts. Now they’re determined to answer the questions surrounding van Gogh’s untimely death—like who was the crooked little “color man” Vincent claimed was stalking him across France . . . and why had the painter recently become deathly afraid of a certain shade of blue? Ooh la la, quelle surprise, and zut alors, what follows is a surreal odyssey and brothel-crawl deep into the art world of late-nineteenth-century Paris, as the one, the only, Christopher Moore cooks up a delectable confection of intrigue, passion, and art history . . . with cancan girls, baguettes, and fine French cognac thrown in for good measure.

Sounds awesome, right? You can get your copy of the book from the store with a 15% discount until the end of the month. If you'd like to purchase online, we have the following the formats available:

Digital Audiobook
Large Print Paperback
Paperback
​eBook
Audio CD

Due to an author event that we had to schedule on the last Thursday, we're meeting on the last Friday instead for July. We'll meet at the Hatchet Coffee lounge on July 27th at 7:30pm. We'll have free wine and snacks for book club members to share.  Bring a friend and come discuss the book with us, even if you weren't able to completely finish it or if you didn't like it. You can see the Facebook event & RSVP here.

Washington Post Review--"Book World: ‘Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d’Art’ concocts a new ending for van Gogh"

Kirkus Review--"Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore"

NPR Interview--"Art, Mystery, and Posh Pigments in 'Sacre Bleu'"

Recording of Live Interview about "Noir", his new book