Do or Die: A Zombicide Novel

by Josh Reynolds

Surely there's enough zombie fiction in the world now, right? Perhaps not. Cooperative "zombie havoc" boardgame Zombicide puts you in charge of a zombie apocalypse survivor, and various expansion packs let you fine-tune the setting. Just as the game can be anywhere and anywhen, so can the Zombicide tie-in novels from Aconyte. The last one I read was a gritty sci-fi fable; this one takes us to Florida, and turns everything we think we know about the zombie genre on its head.

Westlake is one of a varied group of survivors, including a chef, a fed, and a luchador. Westlake himself is the strangest of all: he's a zombie hanging on to the final shreds of his humanity, hoping to set his friends up to thrive in his impending absence. But when they travel to the Everglades to track down a drug cartel cache, there are bigger problems waiting for them. Humans aren't the only things that can get zombified—and the only things more deadly than Florida's undead beasts are the locals who worship them.

Do or Die is utterly unhinged in the best of ways. From a sympathetic zombie survivor to cannibalistic cultists to a giant turtle, you never know what you're going to see next. Josh Reynolds, as usual, takes fictional elements that really should work together and makes them absolutely sing.

Do or Die is now on sale.

Valdemar (The Founding of Valdemar Book 3)
by Mercedes Lackey

Some people grew up on Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar epics. Others, like me, are learning on the fly. For those who don't know, the storied high fantasy setting is watched over by Heralds: people specially Chosen by this world's horse-like Companions to watch over the kingdom and its people. Lackey's latest book, simply titled Valdemar, concludes the Founding of Valdemar trilogy—bringing to life historical events heard only in passing throughout the series's long run.

We join the kingdom's first king just before his (reluctant) coronation, and much of the book is spent handling the concerns of a burgeoning kingdom at an easy pace. But this isn't simply a story of overseeing trade and education. Kordas is aware that this new kingdom needs guidance, and his prayers for that guidance are answered in the form of the first Companions. However, their wondrous arrival comes at a cost—and that cost is tied to a looming threat that could bring the kingdom down just as it's being born.

As someone relatively new to these books, I can't say how they'll read for a long-time fan. However, as someone just wading into the stories, I found it (and last month's anthology Anything with Nothing) an intriguing and alluring start. Even without the decades of homework others have done, I could tell that Rothas Sunsinger and Lythe Shadowdancer (two major characters in the story) are likely the stuff of legend to long-time readers. The pacing is interesting, keeping a relatively steady and productive gait throughout the kingdom's construction and ramping up in its final chapter. I would recommend starting from the beginning of the trilogy, naturally; but for fantasy fans, it's a fun read.

Valdemar goes on sale December 26.

The Unofficial Home Alone Cookbook
by Bryton Taylor

Say what you will about what counts as a Christmas movie... Home Alone is a given. The classic 1990 film is beloved by people of all ages (especially my generation), and anything that can bring back that nostalgia makes for a good time. And this new cookbook pulls inspiration from throughout the movie to offer up a variety of dishes, snacks, and drinks for you and your family.

If you're looking for recipes you simply cannot find anywhere else, this is (with the exception of the mixed drinks section) not that cookbook. Many of the recipes in here are fairly common, even standard. Which, for the novelty of the book, is fine. The existence of these specific recipes in one place, photographed and compiled in this way, is the actual point. And it makes for a great gift for that friend in your life who's a big fan of the movie.

With or without the movie connections, though, it's a nice family cookbook. The majority of the recipes are (unsurprisingly) made to be kid-pleasing, and can be made with the younger members of your family. That in and of itself makes it giftworthy.

The Unofficial Home Alone Cookbook is now available.

Winter Cheers and Whiskey Cocktail Cards A-Z
by Adams Media

The last two installments in this month's reviews are a little unconventional. Rather than being books, they're sets of cards. And those of you who have played D&D with me or gone to conventions with me know that I love a good drink—so this duo is a sure-fine win for me.

The two boxed decks are functionally similar, but flavored differently. They're both decks of 75 drink recipe cards, bearing a lovely photograph of a cocktail on one side and a full recipe on the back. Winter Cheers is sorted by its primary spirit, and Whiskey Cocktail Cards A-Z is sorted... well, alphabetically. Don't know anything about bartending? Don't worry. Each box comes with its own bartender's guide, explaining everything from bartending tools to the nuances of the liquors you'll be using to how much a "dash" actually is.

As much as I love a good whiskey, Winter Cheers is my favorite of the two. It's part of Adams Media's Seasonal Cocktail collection, preceded by Summer Sips. Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for festive wintry things. Or maybe it's because my friends' taste in alcohol is varied and I love being able to navigate straight to the sort of thing they'd like. But this gorgeous set feels made for me.

Which is not to say the Whiskey set is anything to sneeze at. Part of the Cocktail Recipe Deck collection (which includes a Tequila deck with Rum and Vodka to follow), this offers a deeper dive into the nuances of the different types of whiskey and how to make them taste their best. I'm especially fond of the historical tidbits about classic cocktails, as well as the sheer range from vintage to modern to creative new recipes.

Winter Cheers and Whiskey Cocktail Cards A-Z are both on sale now.