Back in Black

Holly Black, writer of the YA urban fantasy novels Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside and also co-writer of the Spiderwick Chronicles has a new collection of short stories out called The Poison Eaters and Other Stories. Black has long been one of my favorite writers. She has darkly rich style that can move you, frighten you, and make you laugh. She excellently creates and shapes a world that is both beautiful and broken. She takes the standard romanticized view of the faerie world and now the vampire world, and turns it on its head. She shatters the long held image that these creatures are inherently good (or evil) and beautiful and everyone should desire to be like them. I cannot wait to read the rest of the stories. Currently available ONLINE for FREE is her short story The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. READ IT.