- RICHARD SWAN, Grave Empire
For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Quote of the Day
- RICHARD SWAN, Grave Empire
For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Jay Kristoff's Nevernight for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
Nevernight is the first in an epic new fantasy series from the New York Times bestselling author, Jay Kristoff.
In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.
Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.
Now, a sixteen year old Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic — the Red Church. Treachery and trials await her with the Church’s halls, and to fail is to die. But if she survives to initiation, Mia will be inducted among the chosen of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the only thing she desires.
Revenge.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Guy Gavriel Kay's The Lions of Al-Rassan for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite empire has splintered into decadent city-states led by warring petty kings. King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, aided always by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan -- poet, diplomat, soldier -- until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever.
Meanwhile, in the north, the conquered Jaddites' most celebrated -- and feared -- military leader, Rodrigo Belmonte, driven into exile, leads his mercenary company south.
In the dangerous lands of Al-Rassan, these two men from different worlds meet and serve -- for a time -- the same master. Sharing their interwoven fate -- and increasingly torn by her feelings -- is Jehane, the accomplished court physician, whose own skills play an increasing role as Al-Rassan is swept to the brink of holy war, and beyond.
Hauntingly evocative of medieval Spain, The Lions of Al-Rassan is both a brilliant adventure and a deeply compelling story of love, divided loyalties, and what happens to men and women when hardening beliefs begin to remake -- or destroy -- a world.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download 31 od J. R. R. Tolkien Tolkien's works for only 1.99$ or 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
For anyone wanting to build their e-library, this is the moment!
This week's New York Times Bestsellers (March 9th)
In hardcover:
Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm maintains its position at number 1. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame is down one position, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down two spots, finishing the week at number 10. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
In paperback:
Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down one position, ending the week at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Callie Hart's Quicksilver is up one position, ending the week at number 7. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses is up one position, ending the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale returns at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Ed McDonald's Witch Queen of Redwinter for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
Having been saved from execution at the hands of the Draoihn—powerful magic users Raine used to count as allies—Raine finds herself in the Fault, a vast magical wasteland, which is falling apart before her eyes.
Alongside her two closest companions, they are searching for the only person Raine believes can help them get back home: the enigmatic and infuriatingly elusive Queen of Feathers.
But what home are they trying to get back to? Ovitus LacNaithe, power-hungry traitor that he is, has taken control of the Draoihn and is unwittingly doing the bidding of a darker master. He is soon to take control of the Crown of Harranir and plunge the land into unending darkness.
The fate of two worlds hangs in the balance. The stakes have never been higher. It’s going to take Raine’s dark, terrible powers, as well as the unbreakable bond of three friends, to ensure everyone lives to see the dawn.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The Blighted Stars
I've been hearing good things about Megan E. O'Keefe for a while. So when a slew of Orbit titles went on sale a few months back, I got my hands on The Blighted Stars to find out for myself whether or not I'd enjoy her brand of science fiction.
This is by no means hard scifi. It's a character-driven, easy-to-read space opera sprinkled with a bit of romance. Hence, I would say that The Blighted Stars is a very accessible work that can appeal to any SFF reader. Having said that, fans of novels/series that resound with more depth à la Peter F. Hamilton, Alastair Reynolds, Ian McDonald, or James S. A. Corey may feel that something's missing. However, readers intimidated by the scope and vision of those aforementioned authors will probably feel right at home in O'Keefe's universe.
Here's the blurb:
When a spy is stranded on a dead planet with her mortal enemy, she must first figure out how to survive before she can uncover the conspiracy that landed them both there in the first place.
She’s a revolutionary. Humanity is running out of options. Habitable planets are being destroyed as quickly as they’re found and Naira Sharp knows the reason why. The all-powerful Mercator family has been controlling the exploration of the universe for decades, and exploiting any materials they find along the way under the guise of helping humanity’s expansion. But Naira knows the truth, and she plans to bring the whole family down from the inside.
He’s the heir to the dynasty. Tarquin Mercator never wanted to run a galaxy-spanning business empire. He just wanted to study rocks and read books. But Tarquin’s father has tasked him with monitoring the mining of a new planet, and he doesn’t really have a choice in the matter.
Disguised as Tarquin’s new bodyguard, Naira plans to destroy his ship before it lands. But neither of them expects to end up stranded on a dead planet. To survive and keep her secret, Naira will have to join forces with the man she’s sworn to hate. And together they will uncover a plot that’s bigger than both of them.
What I enjoyed the most about The Blighted Stars is the fact that things go down the crapper from the get-go. There is no introduction to set the stage for what comes next. Everything goes sideways at the very start, which makes for an exciting beginning. It does mean that you have to buckle up and go with the flow. Information will be provided in a non-linear fashion as the story progresses. The author appears to be a geology nerd and she did go all out in this novel. Maybe a bit too much, in my humble opinion, but it doesn't hurt the overall reading experience. O'Keefe borrows concepts and ideas from Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon and the videogame/TV series The Last of Us, yet makes them her own.
I liked that O'Keefe turned the tables on the old trope of the female protagonist and her male bodyguard, and made Naira Sharp the stronger and more lethal character. Tarquin Mercator's your typical clueless, rich do-gooder, but he does redeem himself on occasion. The budding romance doesn't really get in the way of the story, yet I'm not sure it adds anything special to the plot. Yes, it is corny at times. I still don't know why it had to become a romance at all. Tarquin ruined Naira's life when he testified against her at her trial, but what transpires in The Blighted Stars could have led to respect and friendship and would have been less cheesy. Of course, with the way the novel ends, it will be interesting to see what O'Keefe has in store for the both of them. Still, less focus on the romance and more depth on the political intrigue could have been beneficial. The entire MERIT and Tarquin's father's storylines were the plot's weakest links, to be honest, and they could have used a bit more work.
The Blighted Stars doesn't suffer from pacing issues. The author keeps things moving at a good clip, with a rousing endgame and a good, if predictable, ending. This first volume opens the door for lots of bigger and better things to come. Let's hope that Megan E. O'Keefe can step up to the plate and deliver sequels that live up to the potential shown in this first installment.
Looking forward to what comes next.
The final verdict: 7.75/10
For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Helene Wecker's The Hidden Palace for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
In this enthralling historical epic, set in New York City and the Middle East in the years leading to World War I— the long-awaited follow-up to the acclaimed New York Times bestseller The Golem and the Jinni—Helene Wecker revisits her beloved characters Chava and Ahmad as they confront unexpected new challenges in a rapidly changing human world.
Chava is a golem, a woman made of clay, who can hear the thoughts and longings of those around her and feels compelled by her nature to help them. Ahmad is a jinni, a restless creature of fire, once free to roam the desert but now imprisoned in the shape of a man. Fearing they’ll be exposed as monsters, these magical beings hide their true selves and try to pass as human—just two more immigrants in the bustling world of 1900s Manhattan. Brought together under calamitous circumstances, their lives are now entwined—but they’re not yet certain of what they mean to each other.
Both Chava and Ahmad have changed the lives of the people around them. Park Avenue heiress Sophia Winston, whose brief encounter with Ahmad left her with a strange illness that makes her shiver with cold, travels to the Middle East to seek a cure. There she meets Dima, a tempestuous female jinni who’s been banished from her tribe. Back in New York, in a tenement on the Lower East Side, a little girl named Kreindel helps her rabbi father build a golem they name Yossele—not knowing that she’s about to be sent to an orphanage uptown, where the hulking Yossele will become her only friend and protector.
Spanning the tumultuous years from the turn of the twentieth century to the beginning of World War I, The Hidden Palace follows these lives and others as they collide and interleave. Can Chava and Ahmad find their places in the human world while remaining true to each other? Or will their opposing natures and desires eventually tear them apart—especially once they encounter, thrillingly, other beings like themselves?
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Kim Stanley Robinson's 2312 for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
Winner of the Nebula Award for Best SF Novel of the Year.
The year is 2312. Scientific and technological advances have opened gateways to an extraordinary future. Earth is no longer humanity's only home; new habitats have been created throughout the solar system on moons, planets, and in between. But in this year, 2312, a sequence of events will force humanity to confront its past, its present, and its future.
The first event takes place on Mercury, on the city of Terminator, itself a miracle of engineering on an unprecedented scale. It is an unexpected death, but one that might have been foreseen. For Swan Er Hong, it is an event that will change her life. Swan was once a woman who designed worlds. Now she will be led into a plot to destroy them.
It's So Easy and Other Lies
As much as I loved Appetite for Destruction, I was never a huge Guns N’ Roses fan like my brother. As a bass player, he was into Duff McKagan and still is to this day. Sure, there were a lot of cool songs on the Use your Illusions albums, but I likely never would have gone to see them live as headliners. Then came the the mega stadium tour that they played with Metallica. It was the heavy metal event of the century at the Olympic stadium and of course I was there. Needless to say, the Montréal riot that ensued left an extremely bad taste in my mouth.
Long story short, James Hetfied, frontman of Metallica, stepped too close to a piece of pyro going off and was injured and needed to be rushed to the hospital. Band members and a translator came on stage to make the announcement and promise that they'd return to Montréal later on. Which they did, headlining two nights at the Forum a few months later. Of course I was there and they rocked the place and had us begging for more. But I digress. With the Metallica gig cut short, 55,000 people now needed to wait for Guns N’ Roses to come on. Moody Axl Rose had already become infamous for is lateness and August 8th, 1992, was going to be a case in point. Not only did Guns N’ Roses appear nearly 3 hours following Hetfield's injury, but something was obviously annoying Axl Rose to no small degree. A few songs into the set, he threw his mic down and left the stage, leaving his bandmates a bit bewildered. They also left a few moments later and never returned. It was quite evident that things were about to get ugly, so my friends and I left in a hurry. What followed was a massive riot that is still talked about to this day. It was so bad that for years afterward non-alcoholic beer was served at venues hosting rock bands to make sure that things wouldn't spiral out of control they way they did that day at the Olympic stadium.
Interestingly enough, the Montréal riot made it into this book. What was shocking was the fact that it wasn't even close to being the worse rampage engendered by Axl Rose's antics!
I absolutely loved this book. Duff McKagan's fall from grace, his pleading the doctors at the Seattle hospital to kill him, and his long and arduous tale of redemption made for an unforgettable read. Little did we know that Guns N’ Roses was already in self-destruct mode months before the Use your Illusions albums were even completed. But as interesting as the band's demise turned out to be, it is McKagan's personal tale of what came after that was the most compelling. His candid recollections take us on a wild ride of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. And yet, it's not what stays with you once you reach the last page. Yes, McKagan was a dumbass musician who sort of got blinded by fame and fortune. But it's the story of how he pulled himself out of that hole, got clean by starting to ride an old mountain bike and then by practicing martial arts and meditation, and then got married and became a father that really made an impression on me. He was lucky to have a caring family and people who truly wanted to help him live a better life. It wasn't easy and there were some rough patches along the way, but he made it. Funny how a guy who was part of one of the most notorious rock and roll bands in history became a dorky dad who embarrasses his two daughters like any other regular father out there.
A must read for any rock and roll fan!
Here's the blurb:
In his New York Times bestseller, Duff McKagan, founding member of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, shares the story of his rise to fame and fortune, his struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction, his personal crash and burn, and his life-saving transformation via a unique path to sobriety.
In 1984, at the age of twenty, Duff McKagan left his native Seattle—partly to pursue music but mainly to get away from a host of heroin overdoses then decimating his closest group of friends in the local punk scene. In LA only a few weeks and still living in his car, he answered a want ad for a bass player placed by someone who identified himself only as “Slash.” Soon after, the most dangerous band in the world was born. Guns N’ Roses went on to sell more than 100 million albums worldwide.
In It’s So Easy, Duff recounts Guns’ unlikely trajectory to a string of multiplatinum albums, sold-out stadium concerts, and global acclaim. But that kind of glory can take its toll, and it did—ultimately—on Duff, as well as on the band itself. As Guns began to splinter, Duff felt that he himself was done, too. But his near death as a direct result of alcoholism proved to be his watershed, the turning point that sent him on a unique path to sobriety and the unexpected choices he has made for himself since.
In a voice that is as honest as it is indelibly his own, Duff—one of rock’s smartest and most articulate personalities—takes readers on a harrowing journey through the dark heart of one of the most notorious bands in rock-and-roll history and out the other side.
For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Long story short, James Hetfied, frontman of Metallica, stepped too close to a piece of pyro going off and was injured and needed to be rushed to the hospital. Band members and a translator came on stage to make the announcement and promise that they'd return to Montréal later on. Which they did, headlining two nights at the Forum a few months later. Of course I was there and they rocked the place and had us begging for more. But I digress. With the Metallica gig cut short, 55,000 people now needed to wait for Guns N’ Roses to come on. Moody Axl Rose had already become infamous for is lateness and August 8th, 1992, was going to be a case in point. Not only did Guns N’ Roses appear nearly 3 hours following Hetfield's injury, but something was obviously annoying Axl Rose to no small degree. A few songs into the set, he threw his mic down and left the stage, leaving his bandmates a bit bewildered. They also left a few moments later and never returned. It was quite evident that things were about to get ugly, so my friends and I left in a hurry. What followed was a massive riot that is still talked about to this day. It was so bad that for years afterward non-alcoholic beer was served at venues hosting rock bands to make sure that things wouldn't spiral out of control they way they did that day at the Olympic stadium.
Interestingly enough, the Montréal riot made it into this book. What was shocking was the fact that it wasn't even close to being the worse rampage engendered by Axl Rose's antics!
I absolutely loved this book. Duff McKagan's fall from grace, his pleading the doctors at the Seattle hospital to kill him, and his long and arduous tale of redemption made for an unforgettable read. Little did we know that Guns N’ Roses was already in self-destruct mode months before the Use your Illusions albums were even completed. But as interesting as the band's demise turned out to be, it is McKagan's personal tale of what came after that was the most compelling. His candid recollections take us on a wild ride of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. And yet, it's not what stays with you once you reach the last page. Yes, McKagan was a dumbass musician who sort of got blinded by fame and fortune. But it's the story of how he pulled himself out of that hole, got clean by starting to ride an old mountain bike and then by practicing martial arts and meditation, and then got married and became a father that really made an impression on me. He was lucky to have a caring family and people who truly wanted to help him live a better life. It wasn't easy and there were some rough patches along the way, but he made it. Funny how a guy who was part of one of the most notorious rock and roll bands in history became a dorky dad who embarrasses his two daughters like any other regular father out there.
A must read for any rock and roll fan!
Here's the blurb:
In his New York Times bestseller, Duff McKagan, founding member of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, shares the story of his rise to fame and fortune, his struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction, his personal crash and burn, and his life-saving transformation via a unique path to sobriety.
In 1984, at the age of twenty, Duff McKagan left his native Seattle—partly to pursue music but mainly to get away from a host of heroin overdoses then decimating his closest group of friends in the local punk scene. In LA only a few weeks and still living in his car, he answered a want ad for a bass player placed by someone who identified himself only as “Slash.” Soon after, the most dangerous band in the world was born. Guns N’ Roses went on to sell more than 100 million albums worldwide.
In It’s So Easy, Duff recounts Guns’ unlikely trajectory to a string of multiplatinum albums, sold-out stadium concerts, and global acclaim. But that kind of glory can take its toll, and it did—ultimately—on Duff, as well as on the band itself. As Guns began to splinter, Duff felt that he himself was done, too. But his near death as a direct result of alcoholism proved to be his watershed, the turning point that sent him on a unique path to sobriety and the unexpected choices he has made for himself since.
In a voice that is as honest as it is indelibly his own, Duff—one of rock’s smartest and most articulate personalities—takes readers on a harrowing journey through the dark heart of one of the most notorious bands in rock-and-roll history and out the other side.
For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Robin Hobb's The Inheritance and Other Stories for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
The Inheritance and Other Stories is a marvelous new collection of short fiction from New York Times bestselling master storyteller Robin Hobb—including tales written under the pseudonym Megan Lindholm, by which the acclaimed fantasist first began her illustrious writing career. Included in this essential volume are Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated short masterworks, as well as brand new tales and the never before published in the U.S. title story—a unique compendium of wonders displaying the breathtaking skill, imagination, and remarkably varied styles of both alter egos.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Terry Brooks' Running With the Demon for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
In Running with the Demon, Terry Brooks does nothing less than revitalize fantasy fiction, inventing the complex and powerful new mythos of the Word and the Void, good versus evil still, but played out in the theater-in-the-round of the “real world” of our present.
On the hottest Fourth of July weekend in decades, two men have come to Hopewell, Illinois, site of a lengthy, bitter steel strike. One is a demon, dark servant of the Void, who will use the anger and frustration of the community to attain a terrible secret goal. The other is John Ross, a Knight of the Word, a man who, while he sleeps, lives in the hell the world will become if he fails to change its course on waking. Ross has been given the ability to see the future. But does he have the power to change it?
At stake is the soul of a fourteen-year-old girl mysteriously linked to both men. And the lives of the people of Hopewell. And the future of the country. This Fourth of July, while friends and families picnic in Sinnissippi Park and fireworks explode in celebration of freedom and independence, the fate of Humanity will be decided . . .
A novel that weaves together family drama, fading innocence, cataclysm, and enlightenment, Running with the Demon will forever change the way you think about the fantasy novel. As believable as it is imaginative, as wondrous as it is frightening, it is a rich, exquisitely-written tale to be savored long after the last page is turned.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Karen Miller's The Innocent Mage for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
"The Innocent Mage is come, and we stand at the beginning of the end of everything."
Being a fisherman like his father isn't a bad life, but it's not the one that Asher wants. Despite his humble roots, Asher has grand dreams. And they call him to Dorana, home of princes, beggars?and the warrior mages who have protected the kingdom for generations.
Little does Asher know, however, that his arrival in the city is being closely watched by members of the Circle, people dedicated to preserving an ancient magic.
Asher might have come to the city to make his fortune, but he will find his destiny.
You can also download James Islington's The Shadow of What Was Lost, first volume in the Licanius trilogy, for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale. It's supposed to be a must for fans of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time.
Here's the blurb:
It has been twenty years since the god-like Augurs were overthrown and killed. Now, those who once served them - the Gifted - are spared only because they have accepted the rebellion's Four Tenets, vastly limiting their powers.
As a Gifted, Davian suffers the consequences of a war lost before he was even born. He and others like him are despised. But when Davian discovers he wields the forbidden power of the Augurs, he sets into motion a chain of events that will change everything.
To the west, a young man whose fate is intertwined with Davian's wakes up in the forest, covered in blood and with no memory of who he is...
And in the far north, an ancient enemy long thought defeated begins to stir.
You can also download L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Overcaptain for only 2.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
L. E. Modesitt, Jr. continues the Saga of Recluce, the long-running, best-selling epic fantasy series. Overcaptain, the sequel to From the Forest, continues to follow the early life of a man known by many names depending on who you ask—hero, tyrant, emperor.
Alyiakal, overcaptain in the Mirror Lancers of Cyador, has completed his tour of duty as officer-in-charge of a small, remote post. He just wants to finish and see his best friend consorted and assume his next post assignment. If only it were that easy.
He discovers corruption in the Merchanter Clans of Cyador, but investigating Mirror Lancer officers end up dead. Before he can go on leave, he has to replace one of these officers, close a post, dodge an attempt on his life, and an investigation from Magi-i.
At Lhaarat, Alyiakal is assigned as a deputy commander to a post that never had one, and the commander doesn't want one—and that's just the beginning of Alyiakal’s problems.
This week's New York Times Bestsellers (March 2nd)
In hardcover:
Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm maintains its position at number 1. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame maintains its position at number 2. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales debuts at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is up four spots, finishing the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Chloe C. Peñaranda's The Night is Defying is down one position, ending the week at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
In paperback:
Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing maintains its position at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Callie Hart's Quicksilver is up two positions, ending the week at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses is down three positions, ending the week at number 9. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Bones of the Dragon for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
First in a series filled with Norse-like mythology and exotic adventure in a magic-forged world, from the New York Times-bestselling coauthors.
In Bones of the Dragon, Skylan Ivorson is a sea-raider of the Vindras and eventually becomes the Chief of Chiefs of all Vindras clans, an honor he truly feels he deserves as one who has been blessed by Skoval, the god of war.
But sometimes a blessing is a curse in disguise.
Skoval and the other ancient deities are under siege from a new generation of gods who are challenging them for the powers of creation . . . and the only way to stop these brash interlopers lies within the mysterious and hidden Five Bones of the Vektan Dragons.
It will be up to the Vindras people, as the dragon-goddess’s champions, to undertake the quest to recover all Five. The fate of the Old Gods and the Vindras rests on their recovery—for this is not only a quest to save the world. It is also a quest for redemption.
Welcome to the World of Dragonships!
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Peter V. Brett's The Desert Prince for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
Fifteen years have passed since the end of the war with demons, creatures of darkness who have hunted the night and plagued humanity since time out of mind. The heroes of humanity’s hour of need have become legend, and those who remain struggle to escape their shadows.
Olive Paper and Darin Bales have grown up in this new peaceful world. Demons have been all but destroyed, but dangers still lurk for the children of heroes.
Olive, princess of Hollow, has her entire life planned out by her mother, Duchess Leesha Paper: a steady march on a checklist to prepare her for succession. The more her mother writes the script, the more Olive rails against playing the parts she is assigned.
Darin faces challenges of a different kind. Though free to choose his own path, the weight of legacy hangs heavy around his shoulders. It isn’t easy being the son of the man people say saved the world. Everyone expects greatness from Darin, but the only thing he’s ever been great at is hiding.
When Olive and Darin step across the wards one night, they learn the demons are not all gone, and those that remain hunger for revenge. Events are set in motion that only prophecy can foresee as Olive and Darin seek to find their own places in the world in time to save it again.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Katharine Kerr's Daggerspell for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link.
Here's the blurb:
Even as a young girl, Jill was a favorite of the magical, mysterious Wildfolk, who appeared to her from their invisible realm. Little did she know her extraordinary friends represented but a glimpse of a forgotten past and a fateful future. Four hundred years—and many lifetimes—ago, one selfish young lord caused the death of two innocent lovers. Then and there he vowed never to rest until he'd rightened that wrong-and laid the foundation for the lives of Jill and all those whom she would hold dear: her father, the mercenary soldier Cullyn; the exiled berserker Rhodry Maelwaedd; and the ancient and powerful herbman Nevyn, all bound in a struggle against darkness. . . and a quest to fulfill the destinies determined centuries ago.
Here in this newly revised edition comes the incredible novel that began one of the best-loved fantasy seers in recent years—a tale of bold adventure and timeless love, perilous battle and pure magic. For long-standing fans of Deverry and those who have yet to experience this exciting series, Daggerspell is a rare and special treat.
You can also download Elizabeth Moon's Sheepfarmer's Daughter for only 5.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter may be the daughter of a humble sheep farmer in the far north end of the kingdom, but she dreams of so much more. After refusing her father’s orders to do the sensible thing and marry the pig farmer down the road, Paks, runs away to join a band of mercenaries, dreaming of daring deeds and military glory. But life in the army is different than she imagined, and her daydreams at first seem to be turning to nightmares. But Paks refuses to let her dreams die—and does her duty with honor and integrity. Her path is an arduous one, but it will transform her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.
The Compton Crook Award‑winning first novel from Nebula‑winning author Elizabeth Moon. The first in the Paksenarrion Trilogy—now with an all‑new introduction by the author.
Sheepfarmer's Daughter
These last few years, I've been trying to give older SFF works a shot. Unfortunately, being a reviewer means that I receive new books all the time. Which means that the hundreds of unread novels/series I already owned when I created the Hotlist back in 2005 have remained unread to this day. It dawned upon me a while back that I will never get the chance to read all the books I have at home and those I don't have but want to read. Still, I've decided to give those I should have read long ago a go. Or at least as many of them as humanly possible.
Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion is one such series I've been meaning to read forever. I remember buying Sheepfarmer's Daughter during the early 90s. Paksenarrion's tale grew in scope and popularity over the years, and I kept telling myself that I would read it soon. Some call it the ultimate paladin story and I was eager to finally discover what it was all about. At the turn of the year, once I finished the first arc of Katharine Kerr's Deverry cycle, I told myself that the time had come for Elizabeth Moon to be next in the rotation.
Here's the blurb:
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter may be the daughter of a humble sheep farmer in the far north end of the kingdom, but she dreams of so much more. After refusing her father’s orders to do the sensible thing and marry the pig farmer down the road, Paks, runs away to join a band of mercenaries, dreaming of daring deeds and military glory. But life in the army is different than she imagined, and her daydreams at first seem to be turning to nightmares. But Paks refuses to let her dreams die—and does her duty with honor and integrity. Her path is an arduous one, but it will transform her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.
The Compton Crook Award‑winning first novel from Nebula‑winning author Elizabeth Moon. The first in the Paksenarrion Trilogy—now with an all‑new introduction by the author.
As a former member of the US Marine Corps, it comes as no surprise that Moon spent the bulk of her career writing military fantasy and military science fiction works. She definitely knows what she's talking about and she imbues her stories with a realism that civilian authors probably never quite get right. As Pakse joins a mercenary company, readers get to live through the unending repetitive nature of drills and military training. The same goes for life on the road as an infantry unit and the harsh routine that such a lifestyle implies. Some readers seem to find such things a bit boring, yet I figure that they are staples of military life. Especially for new recruits like Pakse.
I really enjoyed how Moon pulled the rug from under the sheep herder/farmer becoming the chosen one trope and replaced it with a girl unwilling to marry a pig farmer instead. Though it's early yet, you can already tell that Paksenarrion is destined for great things. And yet, for the better part of Sheepfarmer's Daughter she's just a naive country bumpkin do-gooder who wants to live life on her own terms. Military life will make her grow as a character. It was interesting to see how the camaraderie with her fellow mercenaries, the emotional highs of victory, the bitterness of having to surrender, and the horrible loss associated with the death of her friends will all shape Pakse into the woman she is meant to become. Understandably, Paksenarrion takes center stage in this story. There are a few poignant moments with secondary characters which show the strength of the bonds forged in such adversity, but I wish there could have been a bit more of them. The supporting cast doesn't get to shine that much, other than Canna and Saben during their harrowing escape with Pakse and Stammel, especially during what led to the rape trial.
Sheepfarmer's Daughter does suffer from pacing issues. I guess it's inevitable with the depictions of the drudgery of drills and military life in general. Having said that, these slower portions are offset by more exciting action sequences of battles and sieges. So it was never a problem for me. Elizabeth Moon's prose creates a vivid imagery and it's impossible not to root for Pakse. It's evident that this first volume is just a set-up book meant to get you invested in the main protagonist and her story. It sure worked for me.
Sheepfarmer's Daughter was first published in 1998, but it has aged particularly well. This is not always the case for books/series dating from the 80s and 90s. Anyone looking for a strong female lead and no romance will probably find a lot to like about this novel. Personally, I'm looking forward to reading the sequels!
The final verdict: 7.75/10
For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts' Daughter of the Empire, first installment in the excellent Empire trilogy, for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
An epic tale of adventure and intrigue, Daughter of the Empire is fantasy of the highest order by two of the most talented writers in the field today.
Magic and murder engulf the realm of Kelewan. Fierce warlords ignite a bitter blood feud to enslave the empire of Tsuranuanni. While in the opulent Imperial courts, assassins and spy-master plot cunning and devious intrigues against the rightful heir. Now Mara, a young, untested Ruling lady, is called upon to lead her people in a heroic struggle for survival. But first she must rally an army of rebel warriors, form a pact with the alien cho-ja, and marry the son of a hated enemy. Only then can Mara face her most dangerous foe of all—in his own impregnable stronghold.
This week's New York Times Bestsellers (February 23rd)
In hardcover:
Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm maintains its position at number 1. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame maintains its position at number 2. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
TJ Klune's The Bones Beneath my Skin debuts at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles debuts at number 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down six spots, finishing the week at number 12. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Chloe C. Peñaranda's The Night is Defying is down ten positions, ending the week at number 13. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
In paperback:
Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down one position, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses is down one position, ending the week at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Callie Hart's Quicksilver maintains its position at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is down five spots, finishing the week at number 9. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses maintains its position at number 5. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Callie Hart's Quicksilver is down one position, ending the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower is down four spots, finishing the week at number 15. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can download Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian: 20 Adventure Tales of Conan for only 0.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale. 1740 pages featuring Conan the Cimmerian for less than 1$, it doesn't get much better than this!
Here's the blurb:
Conan The Barbarian is the original stories about adventure stories of conan the cimmerian written by Robert E. Howard in 1934-1936. In this book contains 20 stories of Conan The Cimmerian.
1.The Hyborian Age, first published in The Phantagraph, February-November 1936.
2.Shadows In the Moonlight, first published in Weird Tales, April 1934.
3.Queen Of the Black Coast, first published in Weird Tales, May 1934.
4.The Devil In Iron, first published in Weird Tales, August 1934.
5.The People Of the Black Circle, first published in Weird Tales, September, October and November 1934.
6.A Witch Shall Be Born, first published in Weird Tales in 1934.
7.The Jewels Of Gwahlur, first published in Weird Tales, March 1935.
8.Beyond the Black River, first published in Weird Tales magazine circa 1935.
9.Shadows In Zamboula, first published in Weird Tales, November 1935.
10.The Hour Of the Dragon, first published in Weird Tales, December 1935-April 1936.
11.Gods Of the North, first published in Fantasy Fan, March 1934.
12.Red Nails, First Published in Weird Tales, July, August-September, October 1936.
13. The Shadow of the Vulture, First published in the pulp magazine Magic Carpet Magazine, January 1934.
14.The Phoenix on the Sword, First published in 1932.
15.The Scarlet Citadel, First published in 1933.
16.The Tower of the Elephant, First published in 1933.
17.Black Colossus, First published in 1934.
18.The Slithering Shadow, First published in 1934.
19.The Pool of the Black One, First published in 1934.
20.Rogues in the House, First published in 1935.
Quote of the Day
- MICHELLE WEST, Hunter's Oath
For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.
With the House War series ending in such disappointment, it took me a year to give Michelle West another chance. I was a bit concerned, for most people seem to agree that her first duology is her weakest work. And yet, perhaps because I had no expectations, I'm really enjoying this one thus far.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Robin Hobb's excellent Ship of Magic for only 3.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.
Here's the blurb:
Bingtown is a hub of exotic trade and home to a merchant nobility famed for its liveships—rare vessels carved from wizardwood, which ripens magically into sentient awareness. Now the fortunes of one of Bingtown’s oldest families rest on the newly awakened liveship Vivacia.
For Althea Vestrit, the ship is her rightful legacy. For Althea’s young nephew, wrenched from his religious studies and forced to serve aboard the ship, the Vivacia is a life sentence. But the fate of the ship—and the Vestrits—may ultimately lie in the hands of an outsider: the ruthless buccaneer captain Kennit, who plans to seize power over the Pirate Isles by capturing a liveship and bending it to his will.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Robin Hobb's Mad Ship.
