Welcome!

Hi. I’m speculative fiction author Kristen Brand. If you’re looking for a good book in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, then you’re in the right place. My novels all have fast-paced action, witty banter, and at least a hint of romance. I’m a huge nerd, which comes through in my writing, and I love reading and talking about books, comics, and short stories.

Check out my books page for a full list of all my novels. Or look at my web fiction for links to free stories you can read online.

Thanks for stopping by!

Last Week in Superhero Fiction (4/26/18)

Superhero Fiction News Graphic

If you have a Spotify account, check out this superhero-themed playlist made by Damien Benoit-Ledoux for his novel Guardians. Listen to it while reading—or if you ever find yourself actually saving the world and need a soundtrack. 😉

I’ve been seeing a lot of great buzz for Lee Blauersouth’s debut YA novel, Secondhand Origin Stories. You can read a review of it at Spines in a Line, which includes links to excerpts and other reviews on the book’s blog tour.

Nicholas Ahlhelm has the details on The Good Fight 4: Homefront, the latest anthology of superhero short stories from the authors of The Pen & Cape Society. I read the first volume of The Good Fight (which is FREE on Amazon) and enjoyed it, so I’m looking forward to seeing what these authors do next.

Superhero romance fans may find this review of Dusk by Jessica Florence of interest. Charli at Rad Babes Read says its her favorite in Florence’s Hero Society series yet.

ETA: I just saw this cover reveal of the awesome-sounding Superheroes Suck by Jamie Zakian. You can enter a giveaway at the bottom for a free copy of the book and a Starbucks gift card.

Any news I missed? What superhero fiction are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments!

Why I Love Journals (And You Should Too)

I’m kinda obsessed with journals.

It’s not my fault. There are so many gorgeous journals out there just begging to be bought, and I’m a writer. A pen and paper are tools of the trade, so buying journals is a pretty much a business expense.

The thing is… I hardly ever write in them.

That’s awful, right? I have so many cool ones. Take a look at these:

My writing journals
Of course there’s a Wonder Woman one. You should know me by now.

They’re too pretty to write in. No, seriously. A blank journal is a book of limitless possibilities. I could write the greatest genre mashup novel ever inside one, or jot down ideas for characters and settings that eventually spawn off into a giant epic fantasy series. Or maybe tomorrow I’ll fall through a magic portal and need a journal to record my thrilling adventures. (Hey, it could happen.) Continue reading Why I Love Journals (And You Should Too)

Turn Back the Pages: The Infinity Gauntlet

Turn Back the Pages is a biweekly feature where I spotlight a comic that is not fresh and new. It may have come out a few months ago or even a few years ago. Maybe it was hyped and popular, or maybe it was an underappreciated gem. Whatever the case, it’ll be a great comic that’s well worth a read.

Infinity Gauntlet Cover

You may have heard about a little movie called Avengers: Infinity War. Or maybe not. There hasn’t been much advertisement or hype for it. 😉

As we endure the tortuous wait for opening night, let’s talk about the comic it’s based on: The Infinity Gauntlet. (No, not Infinity War, ironically enough. That’s the sequel comic.) Having read bits and pieces of the storyline, I finally got the chance to read the entire graphic novel from start to finish, and it’s fascinating.

It’s also nothing like the movie is going to be. Continue reading Turn Back the Pages: The Infinity Gauntlet

The White Knight & Black Valentine Series is EVERYWHERE

Good news, super readers! For years now, my superhero books have only been available on Amazon, but as of today, I’m sending them out into the big, wide world.

They’re still available on Amazon, of course. But if you prefer to buy ebooks somewhere else, you can chose from Kobo, Apple iBooks, and a variety of other stores. I hope offering more options will make it easier for you all to read and enjoy my novels.

Hero Status

Hero StatusA retired superhero marries his former nemesis, then has to prove her innocence when she’s framed for murder.

Click here to buy at your preferred online retailer

Continue reading The White Knight & Black Valentine Series is EVERYWHERE

Last Week in Superhero Fiction (4/13/18)

Superhero Fiction News Graphic

Jason Reynolds, author of Miles Morales: Spider-Man, was interviewed on Late Night with Seth Meyers and spoke a little on the background of the book. The Mary Sue has the details.

Karen Diem has posted the first chapter of Power on her website! Book 3 in her Arca series, it’s coming out May 5th, and you can preorder it now.

Russ Linton, author of Crimson Son, was at Dallas FanExpo selling books recently and wrote a blog post on the experience. His booth looks awesome, which isn’t surprising, because his books have really cool covers.

Toren Chenault has posted a full short story titled God Killer that relates to his upcoming novel, Mystic Man. You can read it on his website, PeaceLoveAndComics.com.

Any news I missed? What superhero fiction are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments!

Book Review: Cold Stone & Ivy

You know that feeling when you finish reading a certain book? When you just have to tell everybody how awesome and amazing it was? You’re a reader, so you know what I mean

I finished Cold Stone & Ivy: The Ghost Club by H. Leighton Dickson a little while ago. I was in a bit of a reading slump beforehand, and boy, did this novel shake me out of it. Take a look:

Cold Stone and Ivy Cover

Book Description

Jack the Ripper gave her his heart. Now he wants it back.

The year is 1888, the clockwork British Empire is crumbling and young writer Ivy Savage has literally received a heart in the post. Terrified, her father sends her north to a strange sanitarium in Lancashire where the brilliant but unpredictable “Mad Lord of Lasingstoke” makes his home. Continue reading Book Review: Cold Stone & Ivy

Turn Back the Pages: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl

Turn Back the Pages is a biweekly feature where I spotlight a comic that is not fresh and new. It may have come out a few months ago or even a few years ago. Maybe it was hyped and popular, or maybe it was an underappreciated gem. Whatever the case, it’ll be a great comic that’s well worth a read.

Squirrel Girl Cover

Life is rough.

I get it. There are bills piling up, work deadlines to meet, and God only knows what’s going on in politics. Sometimes, you just need a break. Sometimes, you need something silly and fun to distract you. Sometimes, you need Squirrel Girl.

I feel like if Marvel had tried to make Squirrel Girl relevant a decade ago, they would have given her a grim and gritty reboot complete with a traumatic backstory and skimpy costume. But that’s not the case with The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and Erica Henderson. It doesn’t just take the silliness of her premise and run with it—it straps on rocket-powered boots and blasts off with it at supersonic speeds. Continue reading Turn Back the Pages: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl