June releases

Another great trio of books caught my attention this month in Fantasy releases.  I'm mostly eager for Hulick's follow-up to my best debut of 2011 (Among Thieves review), Sworn in Steel. UPDATE: However it seems like we will all be waiting for it, Hulick confirmed that the book is delayed and Amazon is wrong...

The following books are also released in June:

The Spirit War by Rachel Aaron - June 5 (The Legend of Eli Monpress book 4)

False Covenant by Ari Marmell - June 26 (A Widdershins Adventure book 2)

And from the 2012 releases list I posted in January, The Skybound Sea by Sam Sykes should be out in November, Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch has moved to 2013 and The Red Knight by Miles Cameron (aka The Black Captain) will be out in September.

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Sworn in Steel

Douglas Hulick

UPDATE: June 5th (delayed, no official date yet)

It’s been three months since Drothe killed a legend, burned down a portion of the imperial capital, and unexpectedly elevated himself into the ranks of the criminal elite. Now, as the newest Gray Prince in the underworld, he’s learning just how good he used to have it.  

With barely the beginnings of an organization to his name, Drothe is already being called out by other Gray Princes. And to make matters worse, when one dies, all signs point to Drothe as wielding the knife. As members of the Kin begin choosing sides – mostly against him – for what looks to be another impending war, Drothe is approached by a man who not only has the solution to Drothe’s most pressing problem, but an offer of redemption. The only problem is the offer isn’t for him.  

Now Drothe finds himself on the way to the Despotate of Djan, the empire’s long-standing enemy, with an offer to make and a price on his head. And the grains of sand in the hour glass are running out, fast . . .

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The Shadowed Sun

N.K. Jemisin

June 7th

Gujaareh, the city of dreams, suffers under the imperial rule of the Kisuati Protectorate. A city where the only law was peace now knows violence and oppression. And nightmares: a mysterious and deadly plague haunts the citizens of Gujaareh, dooming the infected to die screaming in their sleep. Trapped between dark dreams and cruel overlords, the people yearn to rise up -- but Gujaareh has known peace for too long. 

Someone must show them the way. 

Hope lies with two outcasts: the first woman ever allowed to join the dream goddess'' priesthood, and an exiled prince who longs to reclaim his birthright. Together, they must resist the Kisuati occupation and uncover the source of the killing dreams... before Gujaareh is lost forever

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The Hammer and the Blade
Paul S. Kemp
June 26th

A pair of down-at-heel treasure hunters and incorrigible rogues. Egil is a priest, happy to deliver moral correction with his pair of massive hammers. Nix is a sneak-thief; there’s no lock he cannot open, no serving girl he cannot charm. Between them, they always have one eye open for a chance to make money – the other eye, of course, is on the nearest exit.  Nix’s idea? 

Kill a demon.

Steal the treasure.

Retire to a life of luxury. 

Sounds easy when you put it like that. 

Unfortunately for Egil and Nix, when the demon they kill has friends in high places, retirement is not an option.