April releases

April isn't the busiest month in term of Fantasy releases but it will give us time to check that backlog. My spotlight for the month consist of "merrier" books than the actual trend of Grim and Dark Epic Fantasy.

From my coming up in 2014 post earlier this year, you'll notice that Sam Sykes' The City Stained Red was pushed back to August and Richard Ford's The Shattered Crown was released last month.

For the readers interested in tie-ins, Patrick Weekes (author of The Palace Job, my review should be up soon) is also releasing a book set in the Dragon Age video game world, Dragon Age : The Masked Empire on April 8th.

What will you read this month?

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The Goblin Emperor

Katherine Addison

April 1st

A vividly imagined fantasy of court intrigue and dark magics in a steampunk-inflected world, by a brilliant young talent. 

The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an "accident," he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir. 

Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment. 

Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend... and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne – or his life.

This exciting fantasy novel, set against the pageantry and color of a fascinating, unique world, is a memorable debut for a great new talent.

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Steles of the Sky

Eternal Sky book 3

Elizabeth Bear

April 8th

Re Temur, legitimate heir to his grandfather’s Khaganate, has finally raised his banner and declared himself at war with his usurping uncle. With his companions—the Wizard Samarkar, the Cho-tse Hrahima, and the silent monk Brother Hsiung—he must make his way to Dragon Lake to gather in his army of followers. But Temur’s enemies are not idle; the leader of the Nameless Assassins, who has shattered the peace of the Steppe, has struck at Temur’s uncle already. To the south, in the Rasan empire, plague rages. To the east, the great city of Asmaracanda has burned, and the Uthman Caliph is deposed. All the world seems to be on fire, and who knows if even the beloved son of the Eternal Sky can save it?

Winner - giveaway of The Pilgrims by Will Elliott

The winner of the giveaway for The Pilgrims by Will Elliott, courtesy of Tor is :

Chi Shannon from Salem, Oregon

Congrats!

Giveaway - The Pilgrims by Will Elliott

On March 18th, Tor released The Pilgrims by Will Elliott, the first book of the Pendulum series.  What's even more interesting is that you have the chance to get a free copy for yourself!  Giveaway time!

Here's the blurb:

Eric Albright is leading a normal life until a small red door appears under a train bridge near his home. Then a ghostly being wakes him in the dead of night, with a message from another world: You are Shadow. In Levaal, the world between worlds, the dragon-gods grow restless in their sky prisons, and the Great Spirits struggle to contain them. Vous, the worlds Friend and Lord, simmers in madness as he schemes to join the ranks of gods. He and the Arch Mage have almost won their final victory over the Free Cities. A dark age dawns. But Eric and his friend Case are now Pilgrims, called to Levaal for a battle more ancient than the petty squabbles of men. And they will learn why some doors should not be opened ...

You only have to send me a mail (contact on the right) with your name and address and "Pilgrims" as the subject.  The giveaway is open only for the US and Canada. I'll pick up the winner on March 28th.

Cover art for Esslemont's Assail

Here is is, the cover art for the sixth and final book in the Malazan Empire series by Ian C. Esslemont, Assail. It's not amazing but it will fit with its brethren.

The book will be out August 5th.  Here's the blurb again:

The final chapter in the awesome, epic story of the Malazan empire.   

Tens of thousands of years of ice is melting, and the land of Assail, long a byword for menace and inaccessibility, is at last yielding its secrets. Tales of gold discovered in the region's north circulate in every waterfront dive and sailor's tavern and now countless adventurers and fortune-seekers have set sail in search of riches. All these adveturers have to guide them are legends and garbled tales of the dangers that lie in wait -- hostile coasts, fields of ice, impassable barriers and strange, terrifying creatures. But all accounts concur that the people of the north meet all trespassers with the sword. And beyond are rumoured to lurk Elder monsters out of history's very beginnings. Into this turmoil ventures the mercenary company, the Crimson Guard. Not drawn by contract, but by the promise of answers: answers to mysteries that Shimmer, second in command, wonders should even be sought. Arriving also, part of an uneasy alliance of Malazan fortune-hunters and Letherii soldiery, comes the bard Fisher kel Tath. And with him is a Tiste Andii who was found washed ashore and who cannot remember his past life, yet who commands far more power than he really should. Also venturing north is said to be a mighty champion, a man who once fought for the Malazans, the bearer of a sword that slays gods: Whiteblade. 

And lastly, far to the south, a woman guards the shore awaiting both her allies and her enemies. Silverfox, newly incarnated Summoner of the undying army of the T'lan Imass, will do anything to stop the renewal of an ages-old crusade that could lay waste to the entire continent and beyond. Casting light on mysteries spanning the Malazan empire, and offering a glimpse of the storied and epic history that shaped it, "Assail" is the final chapter in the epic story of the Empire of Malaz.

Abercrombie's Half a King UK cover

Joe's Half A King US cover was unveiled a while ago (by the way the book will be released in July) and now the UK cover art has surfaced (the first one).  There are similitude... but I prefer the UK one.

What about you?

Blood Song review

Blood Song is the debut Fantasy novel and first book of the Raven's Shadow series, a trilogy, by UK author Anthony Ryan. Ryan finished the book a couple of years ago (in 2010 to be precise) and after many rejections for his script (in retrospect, some publishers must be kicking themselves), he decided to self-publish the book.  It was a success and the novel was eventually picked up by Ace (click here to read about the process). The book was released last year and the follow-up, Tower Lord will be out in July 2014.

"The Sixth Order wields the sword of justice and smites the enemies of the Faith and the Realm." 

Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order. The Brothers of the Sixth Order are devoted to battle, and Vaelin will be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate, and dangerous life of a Warrior of the Faith. He has no family now save the Order. Vaelin's father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the unified realm. Vaelin's rage at being deprived of his birthright and dropped at the doorstep of the Sixth Order like a foundling knows no bounds. He cherishes the memory of his mother, and what he will come to learn of her at the Order will confound him. His father, too, has motives that Vaelin will come to understand. But one truth overpowers all the rest: Vaelin Al Sorna is destined for a future he has yet to comprehend. A future that will alter not only the realm, but the world. 

Orders, brotherhoods or guilds.  They have been part of many Fantasy stories, even more so when their members are young men or women (for the latter it's less frequent...) dumped by their parents, beggar children or vagrants in need of a home or thieves in need of redemption. Usually, while being related to some kind of religion (war is often an aspect of Gods found in Fantasy) these orders were put in place to educate youngsters in the art of fighting in various forms with some entity behind it all, a religious organisation, an Empire or a rich patron.  Sounds familiar enough? If you have read books like Paul Hoffman's The Left Hand of God, Elspeth Cooper's Songs of the Earth or more recently The Emperor's Blade by Brian Staveley, it should.

In comparison with the first two novels I enumerated, Blood Song succeeds phenomenally.  Within the Sixth Order, right from the start of the book but after an introduction with his future self, we find ourselves following the exploits, failures, hardships and joy of the larger than life Vaelin Al Sorna.  The world in which the young man tries to take his place is a grim one, reminiscent of the darkest period of the Middle Ages, but, even within the confines of his Order, he will find ways to prove himself.  It's the story of the coming of age of a legend, a dangerous man whose actions will change the world.  There's a specter of prophecy surrounding him, within and without his Order, which becomes solely the mean to hone him as a weapon as he eventually grasp the ins and outs of the world.

Vaelin's story is told with some perspective from hindsight, it's the recounting of his life where we already believe that he made incredible but awful things.  Ryan accomplished something that could fall flat easily.  It's relatively simple to create expectations like this right from the start but it's another feat to deliver throughout the book. The road ahead is not a straight one. The author's story leaves a couple of open threads for the follow-ups and judging by the way he resolved most of the storylines he tackled in this first opus, with more than enough unexpected resolutions, we should be in for a treat.

Even if the focus of Blood Song is Vaelin, his brothers and the various protagonists he encounters in his journeys don't lack development. However, it's sad to say that it's almost solely a man's world and the women in the book deserve more presence and dedication. That world is not the most original setting of Epic Fantasy you can find but with the right amount of description and a writing that feels natural (with much editing?... it's hard to say), the flow of the narrative always feel right.  You can never go wrong with a good pace and plenty of action as is the case with this novel.

Magic is also growing up alongside Vaelin.  Some part of it are nebulous and connected to that specter of prophecy that I talked about but it serves its purpose well even if there is some occurrences of the dreaded (for me at least) "intrinsic use of uncertain powers that saves the day". I refer here to the blood song and the mysterious helpers giving Vaelin some warnings...

Blood Song is a great debut.  I'm convinced that with a first book in a series as strong as this one, the Raven's Shadow is worth keeping an eye on.  It's not groundbreaking Fantasy but as you live the story of Vaelin right alongside him, and I really mean live it. You won't forget it.  Really an exceptionally compelling character. I'm glad that Ryan persisted in his quest to be published.

Technically, I really like the cover of the Ace Books edition (the one at the top of the review). The hardcover edition of the book stands at 592 pages. You can find a nice map of the Unified Realm and the Alpiran Empire here.

Blood Song review rating :

Characterization
World building
Magic system
Story
Writing

Overall (not an average)

Anthony Ryan's page

New maps - Mark Smylie's The Barrow

The Barrow is the first novel of Mark Smylie, the writer and illustrator of the Artesia comics (and it's getting great reviews so far, it seems to be some nice 'grimdark, Fantasy).  The setting for the book is the same as the one he uses for the comics and he posted several maps of his Known World.

Here they are for everyone to enjoy and they were added to the index!

Guest post - Craftsmanship in Fantasy by Miles Cameron

The Fell Sword, released on March 11th, is the second book in the Traitor Son Cycle by author Miles Cameron, who adopted Canada.  Miles is his pseudonym for his Fantasy writing since he's already know in the Historical and Military Fantasy ground as Christian Cameron.  The author is also a reenactor which you can find more about on his webpage.

You can also read my review of the first book of the series, The Red Knight, here.

For the release of the Fell Sword, Miles wrote several guest posts in his blog tour. Here's an interesting one on craftsmanship in Fantasy.

Enjoy!

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Craftsmanship in Fantasy

by Mile Cameron

I love fine craftsmanship, and my books—especially Red Knight and  Fell Sword owe both depth and inspiration to men and women who make beautiful things. 

Some of that craftsmanship comes from the past—a look inside a seventeenth century wheelock pistol will inspire almost anyone, as will the enameled jewelry of the early fifteenth century—but most of my favorite items come from the present day.  We are lucky—we are, by historical standards, incredibly wealthy and we have access to virtually everything that has come before us, so modern craftspeople have an incredible repertoire of techniques on which to draw. 

I have met JT Palikko, who makes blades that seem magical to me and works on an island off Helsinki in Finalnd; I have a number of pieces by Leo Todeschini, whose work is magnificent and whose balestrino crossbow looks like something that should only exist in ‘Assassin’s Creed’. Eric Schatzel is an American ‘blacksmith’ who makes blades and axes that look and feel like originals.  Peter Fuller of Canada and Jiri Klepac of the Czech Republic and Craig Sitch of Australia are all brilliant armourers, as good as the men who made the harnesses we see in museums.  My friends Josh Brevik and Ward Oles can do quillwork and metalwork to rival the 18th century originals; my friend Aurora Simmons makes modern jewelry and medieval jewelry and buckles and ancient Greek pins of astounding complexity.  My friend Justin Clement can sew an eighteenth century buttonhole (not to mention he whole garment on which it goes!) and my friend Tasha Kelly has reproduced the whole of Charles of Blois’ insanely complex two layer quilted pourpoint. 

I know gunsmiths and blacksmiths—Jymm Hoffman can make you an entire train of artillery, given time and money—whitesmiths, book binders, butchers and cooks and lace makers and people who work tapestries and make moccasins.  My father taught me this love, and he is, as far as I know, the last man in the world who can make a horsehair fishing line.  Erv Tschanz taught me leatherwork and is still a master at it—and hornwork, the ‘plastic’ of the pre-modern world.  Karl Robinson is another—his leatherwork looks as if it was made by elves and not a man. 

All these people—all these crafts—inspire me to write about them.  Material culture is a wonderful story by itself!

Words of Radiance is huge!

Earlier today, I received Brandon Sanderson's much awaited novel, Words of Radiance, courtesy of Tor. I had read on some blogs that is was quite the doorstopper but it's only when you have it in your hands that you really understand. It's the size of a dictionary, but when compared with other huge hardcovers, it seems to be only slightly bigger than Towers of Midnight or Dust of Dreams.

Anyway, looks like a great and long reading is ahead of me, it simply wont be a lightweight experience!

A round of covers

It's time for another round!

Orbit books revealed the covers for their upcoming line-up.  The covers include the Autumn 2014 to Winter 2015 Orbit UK covers and the Fall 2014 to Winter 2015 US Covers. Here's the one I found more interesting.

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This cover for Sam Sykes' The City Stained Red looks much better than it's UK predecessor.

In comparison with the Gollancz cover:

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The third book in the Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan, The Autumn Republic.  It completes a nice trilogy of covers.

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The next one is from a debut author, Angus Watson, it's called Age of Iron and will be released on September 2014. It's a typical 'grimmy looking' epic Fantasy cover but it doesn't look bad. The blurb follow.

LEGENDS AREN'T BORN. THEY'RE MADE. 

Dug Sealskinner is a down-on-his-luck mercenary traveling south to join up with King Zadar's army. But he keeps rescuing the wrong people. 

First Spring, a child he finds scavenging on the battlefield, and then Lowa, one of Zadar's most fearsome warriors, who has vowed revenge on the king for her sister's execution. 

Now Dug's on the wrong side of the thousands-strong army he hoped to join ­-- and worse, Zadar has bloodthirsty druid magic on his side. All Dug has is his war hammer, one small child, and one unpredictable, highly-trained warrior with a lust for revenge that's going to get them all killed . . .

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Next is the fifth Shadowdance book by David Dalglish, A Dance of Ghosts. The infamous hooded assassin strikes again!

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The last one from Orbit is the omnibus for the Inheritance trilogy by N.K. Jemisin (including The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, The Broken Kingdoms and The Kingdom of Gods... which I still haven't read). The look of the cover is in the same style as Jemisin's upcoming book, The Fifth Season.

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Harper Collins UK is reissuing George R.R. Martin's a Song of ice and Fire books and the new covers are looking great!

They are also reissuing Robin Hobb's assassin trilogy.

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Speaking of Hobb and finally for this round, here's the cover art for her upcoming novel Fool's Assassin:

March releases

The most expected book of 2014 (judging by my eager meter poll) is out this month but March isn't only about Brandon Sanderson. Here's my spotlight.

In addition to the books I present, The Fell Sword (The Traitor Son book 2) by Miles Cameron (March 11th) and The Raven's Shadow (The Wild Hunt Quartet book 3) by Elspeth Cooper (also March 11th) will be released in North America.

UPDATE: Terry Brooks' The High Druid's Blade has been pushed back to July.

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Words of Radiance

The Stormlight Archive book 2

Brandon Sanderson

March 4th

In the first volume, we were introduced to the remarkable world of Roshar, a world both alien and magical, where gigantic hurricane-like storms scour the surface every few days and life has adapted accordingly. Roshar is shared by humans and the enigmatic, humanoid Parshendi, with whom they are at war. Among those caught up in the conflict are Highprince Dalinar Kholin, who leads the human armies; his neice Jasnah, a renowned scholar; her student Shallan, a brilliant but troubled young woman; and Kaladin, a military slave who, by the book’s end, was beginning to become the first magically endowed Knight Radiant in centuries. 

In Words of Radiance their intertwined stories will continue and, as Sanderson fans have come to expect, develop in unexpected, wonderfully surprising directions. The war with the Parshendi will move into a new, dangerous phase, as Dalinar leads the human armies deep into the heart of the Shattered Plains in a bold attempt to finally end it. Shallan will come along, hoping to find the legendary, perhaps mythical, city of Urithuru, which Jasnah believes holds a secret vital to mankind’s survival on Roshar. The Parshendi take a dangerous step to strengthen themselves for the human challenge, risking the return of the fearsome Voidbringers of old. To deal with it all, Kaladin must learn how to fulfill his new role, while mastering the powers of a Windrunner.

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The Barrow

Mark Smylie

March 4th

Action, horror, politics, and sensuality combine in this stand-alone fantasy novel with series potential. Set in the world of the Eisner-nominated Artesia comic books. 

To find the Sword, unearth the Barrow. To unearth the Barrow, follow the Map. 

When a small crew of scoundrels, would-be heroes, deviants, and ruffians discover a map that they believe will lead them to a fabled sword buried in the barrow of a long-dead wizard, they think they've struck it rich. But their hopes are dashed when the map turns out to be cursed and then is destroyed in a magical ritual. The loss of the map leaves them dreaming of what might have been, until they rediscover the map in a most unusual and unexpected place. 

Stjepan Black-Heart, suspected murderer and renegade royal cartographer; Erim, a young woman masquerading as a man; Gilgwyr, brothel owner extraordinaire; Leigh, an exiled magus under an ignominious cloud; Godewyn Red-Hand, mercenary and troublemaker; Arduin Orwain, scion of a noble family brought low by scandal; and Arduin's sister Annwyn, the beautiful cause of that scandal: together they form a cross-section of the Middle Kingdoms of the Known World, brought together by accident and dark design, on a quest that will either get them all in the history books, or get them all killed.

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The Tropic of Serpents

Memoir by Lady Trent book 2

Marie Brennan

March 4th

The thrilling adventure of Lady Trent continues in Marie Brennan's The Tropic of Serpents . . . 

Attentive readers of Lady Trent’s earlier memoir, A Natural History of Dragons, are already familiar with how a bookish and determined young woman named Isabella first set out on the historic course that would one day lead her to becoming the world’s premier dragon naturalist. Now, in this remarkably candid second volume, Lady Trent looks back at the next stage of her illustrious (and occasionally scandalous) career. 

Three years after her fateful journeys through the forbidding mountains of Vystrana, Mrs. Camherst defies family and convention to embark on an expedition to the war-torn continent of Eriga, home of such exotic draconian species as the grass-dwelling snakes of the savannah, arboreal tree snakes, and, most elusive of all, the legendary swamp-wyrms of the tropics. 

The expedition is not an easy one. Accompanied by both an old associate and a runaway heiress, Isabella must brave oppressive heat, merciless fevers, palace intrigues, gossip, and other hazards in order to satisfy her boundless fascination with all things draconian, even if it means venturing deep into the forbidden jungle known as the Green Hell . . . where her courage, resourcefulness, and scientific curiosity will be tested as never before.

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Blood and Iron
The Book of the Black Earth book 1
Jon Sprunk
March 11th

Set in a richly-imagined world, this action-heavy fantasy epic and series opener is like a sword-and-sorcery Spartacus. 

It starts with a shipwreck following a magical storm at sea. Horace, a soldier from the west, had joined the Great Crusade against the heathens of Akeshia after the deaths of his wife and son from plague. When he washes ashore, he finds himself at the mercy of the very people he was sent to kill, who speak a language and have a culture and customs he doesn't even begin to understand. 

Not long after, Horace is pressed into service as a house slave. But this doesn't last. The Akeshians discover that Horace was a latent sorcerer, and he is catapulted from the chains of a slave to the halls of power in the queen's court. Together with Jirom, an ex-mercenary and gladiator, and Alyra, a spy in the court, he will seek a path to free himself and the empire's caste of slaves from a system where every man and woman must pay the price of blood or iron. Before the end, Horace will have paid dearly in both.

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The High Druid's Blade

The Defenders of Shannara book 1

Terry Brooks

March 11th - Pushed back to July

The High Druid's Blade: The Defenders Of ShannaraLegend has it that Paxon Leah is descended from the royals and warriors who once ruled the Highlands and waged war with magical weapons. But those kings, queens, and heroes are long gone, and there is nothing enchanted about the antique sword that hangs above Paxons fireplace. Running his familys modest shipping business, Paxon leads a quiet lifeuntil extraordinary circumstances overturn his simple world . . . and rewrite his destiny. When his brash young sister is abducted by a menacing stranger, Paxon races to her rescue with the only weapon he can find. And in a harrowing duel, he is stunned to discover powerful magic unleashed within himand within his ancestors ancient blade. But his formidable new ability is dangerous in untrained hands, and Paxon must master it quickly because his nearly fatal clash with the dark sorcerer Arcannen wont be his last. Leaving behind home and hearth, he journeys to the keep of the fabled.

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The Shattered Crown

Steelhaven book 2

Richard Ford

March 13th (UK)

The King is dead. His daughter, untested and alone, now wears the Steel Crown. And a vast horde is steadily carving a bloody road south, hell-bent on razing Steelhaven to the ground...or the city will fall.  

Before the city faces the terror that approaches, it must crush the danger already lurking within its walls. But will the cost of victory be as devastating as that of defeat?

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The Boy with the Porcelain Blade

Den Patrick

March 24th

Lucien de Fontein has grown up different. One of the mysterious and misshapen Orfano who appear around the Kingdom of Landfall, he is a talented fighter yet constantly lonely, tormented by his deformity, and well aware that he is a mere pawn in a political game. Ruled by an insane King and the venomous Majordomo, it is a world where corruption and decay are deeply rooted - but to a degree Lucien never dreams possible when he first discovers the plight of the 'insane' women kept in the haunting Sanatoria. 

Told in a continuous narrative interspersed with flashbacks we see Lucien grow up under the care of his tutors. We watch him forced through rigorous Testings, and fall in love, set against his yearning to discover where he comes from, and how his fate is tied to that of every one of the deformed Orfano in the Kingdom, and of the eerie Sanatoria itself.