July releases

Several interesting releases this month, just in time for the summer.  You can read my review of Wake of the Bloody Angel here.  From the list of 2012 releases I posted in January, the only exception is The Unholy Consult (final volume of R. Scott Bakker second trilogy) and it will see the light of day in 2013.

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Wake of the Bloody Angel

Alex Bledsoe

July 3rd

Twenty years ago, a barmaid in a harbor town fell for a young sailor who turned pirate to make his fortune.  But what truly became of Black Edward Tew remains a mystery, one that just has fallen into the lap of freelance sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse.  

For years, Eddie has kept his office above Angelina’s tavern, so when Angelina herself asks him to find out what happened to the dashing pirate who stole her heart years ago, he can hardly say no–even though the trail is two decades old.  Some say Black Edward and his ship, the Bloody Angel, went to bottom of the sea, taking with it  a king’s fortune in treasure.  Others say he rules a wealthy, secret pirate kingdom.  And a few believe he still sails under a ghostly flag, with a crew of the damned.  

To find the truth, and earn his twenty-five gold pieces a day, Eddie must take to sea in the company of a sexy former pirate queen in search of the infamous Black Edward Tew . . . and his even more legendary treasure.

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The Broken Iles

Mark Charan Newton

July 5th

War spills into the Boreal Archipelago, as two rival cultures bring their eternal battle into this adjacent realm. Fresh from a military victory, Commander Brynd Lathraea plans to rebuild the city of Villiren, where he is confronted with a dilemma. There are friendly forces who have no other choice but to live alongside his own people, and their numbers will be required to fight in the looming conflict. The commander turns politician as he seeks to build bridges and embrace mysterious new technologies to further his ambitions. However, many in Villiren are sceptical of aliens coming to their city, tensions run high, and even the dream of a peaceful future brings with it inevitable clashes of beliefs. Meanwhile, Villjamur has been destroyed. A vast swathe of refugees from the legendary city are now on the run from an immense alien presence in the sky. Villages are being cleared and people are dying en masse. And Inquisitor Fulcrom finds himself at the helm of an operation to aid the refugee exodus to the coast, but it's a race against time before this threatened genocide is complete. Ancient civilisations line up on the field of battle. Exotic creatures and a possible god walk alongside citizens of the Empire. As the Legends of the Red Sun series draws to a close, there will be one final and immense conflict to decide the fate of multiple cultures forever. 

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Shaprs

K.J. Parker

July 17th

For the first time in nearly forty years, an uneasy truce has been called between two neighboring kingdoms. The war has been long and brutal, fought over the usual things: resources, land, money... 

Now, there is a chance for peace. Diplomatic talks have begun and with them, the games of skill and chance. Two teams of fencers represent their nations at this pivotal moment. 

When the future of the world lies balanced on the point of a rapier, one misstep could mean ruin for all.