In the Village Where Brightwine Flows

You probably remember that I gave Bradley P. Beaulieu's The Lays of Anuskaya series glowing reviews, going as far as to claim that it was one of the most interesting fantasy series I had read in the last decade or so. It was dark, ambitious, complex, and populated with a great cast of characters that leap off the pages. Even for jaded readers looking for a quality read, that book sequence was different from everything else on the market and definitely worth checking out.

I was looking forward to whatever the author would publish next, but you likely also recall that I never could get into Twelve Kings in Sharakhai. I felt that it featured none of the depth, the great worldbuilding, or the superior characterization. Everything was too black or white for my taste, and the protagonists featured none of the complexity and moral ambiguity that made characters like Nikandr Khalakovo, Atiana Vostroma, Nasim, Soroush, Rehada, and Styophan Andrashayev such unforgettable people. This was especially true of Çeda, who was too badass for her own good, and I found it impossible to care for or root for her.

And yet, although it wasn't perfect, I enjoyed Beaulieu's Middle Eastern setting. I wasn't in any hurry to give subsequent novel-length installments in The Song of the Shattered Sands series a shot any time soon, I was intrigued by this new novella.

Here's the blurb:

Street urchins have been turning up missing in the great desert city of Sharakhai. Few care until the son of one of the city’s richest patrons goes missing as well.

The apothecary named Dardzada wants nothing to do with it, but his shrewd mind and skills as an apothecary make him indispensable to his cruel half-brother Layth, the captain of the guard tasked with solving the mystery.

When Layth insists he look deeper into the kidnappings, Dardzada is drawn into a struggle much larger than he ever anticipated, and he soon realizes it will take all his wits to save the victims and himself.

In the Village Where Bright Wine Flows is a stand-alone work that one can read without having read Twelve Kings in Sharakhai and its sequels. I mean, you'll miss a few nuances regarding the characters. But nothing that would prevent you from enjoying the tale in its entirety. Mind you, I haven't read With Blood Upon the Sand and Of Sand and Malice Made, so perhaps I did miss some myself. To all ends and purposes, this novella appears to be a side story that is self-contained and can be enjoyed on its own. That's how it worked out for me, in any case.

Dardzada, the mysterious apothecary who deals with the Moonless Host introduced in Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, takes center stage. And since he proved to be one of the most interesting characters from that book, this was what made me want to give this novella a try. More than just an apothecary, this brilliant and crafty man will unveil a dangerous secret when he investigates the kidnapping and the murder of an adolescent boy who fell in with the wrong crowd. As Dardzada gets closer to the truth, he'll soon realize that his own life could be in danger.

The pace of In the Village Where Bright Wine Flows is quite fluid, which came as a surprise. Bradley P. Beaulieu's works have always been slow-moving affairs, mostly because he's laying a lot of groundwork for what is to come, or he's weaving various threads to bring everything together later on. The novella-length format precludes that sort of approach and the rhythm keeps the tale progressing at a good clip.

Street gangs, drugs, corruption, murder; In the Village Where Bright Wine Flows has all that and more. The story comes together nicely the closer you get to the endgame and this short fiction piece packs a powerful punch at the end.

In the Village Where Bright Wine Flows is a nice addition to The Song of the Shattered Sands series that further fleshes out Dardzada. But as a novella-length stand-alone, it's the perfect opportunity for potential readers who have yet to give Bradley P. Beaulieu a shot to do so.

The final verdict: 7.5/10

You can download this new novella for about 2.99$: Canada, USA, Europe

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Steven Erikson's Willful Child for only 2.99$ here. There is a price match in Canada.

Here's the blurb:

From the New York Times Bestselling author Steven Erikson comes a new science fiction novel of devil-may-care, near calamitous and downright chaotic adventures through the infinite vastness of interstellar space.

These are the voyages of the starship A.S.F. Willful Child. Its ongoing mission: to seek out strange new worlds on which to plant the Terran flag, to subjugate and if necessary obliterate new life-forms, to boldly blow the...

And so we join the not-terribly-bright but exceedingly cock-sure Captain Hadrian Sawback and his motley crew on board the Starship Willful Child for a series of devil-may-care, near-calamitous and downright chaotic adventures through ‘the infinite vastness of interstellar space.’

The New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Malazan Book of the Fallen sequence has taken his lifelong passion for Star Trek and transformed it into a smart, inventive, and hugely entertaining spoof on the whole mankind-exploring-space-for-the-good-of-all-species-but-trashing-stuff-with-a-lot-of-high-tech-gadgets-along-the-way, overblown adventure. The result is an SF novel that deftly parodies the genre while also paying fond homage to it.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Joe Hill's NOS4A2 for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

NOS4A2 is a spine-tingling novel of supernatural suspense from master of horror Joe Hill, the New York Times bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box and Horns.

Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”

Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son.

The Mongrel Mage

Modesitt fans are getting spoiled in 2017 with two different Recluce books! I wasn't even aware that the 19th installment in the saga was on its way. So with Recluce Tales published earlier this year and The Mongrel Mage being released this fall, this is an unexpected surprise.

Even better, this is the beginning of a brand new story arc. If the past is any indication, this one will likely be another two-volume sequence. Time will tell, but I have a feeling that fans of the author will be happy no matter how many novels comprise Beltur's tale.

Here's the blurb:

The Saga of Recluce chronicles the history of this world with world-building detail and an ingenious and disciplined magic system. L. E. Modesitt, Jr. returns to his longest and bestselling fantasy series with volume nineteen, The Mongrel Mage, which marks the beginning of a new story arc.

In the world of Recluce, powerful mages can wield two kinds of magic—the white of Chaos or the black of Order. Beltur, however, has talents no one dreamed of, talents not seen in hundreds of years that blend both magics.

On the run from a power hungry white mage, Beltur is taken in by Order mages who set him on the path to discover and hone his own unique gifts and in the process find a home.

However, when the white mage he fled attempts to invade his new home, Beltur must hope his new found power will be enough to save them all.

Personally, I feel that the worldbuilding is always one of the most fascinating facets of these new Recluce books. Indeed, it allows readers to discover how people and events shaped history during their lifetime. In the last few novels, Modesitt first showed how Saryn's involvement in protecting the regency culminated in drastic changes throughout Lornth, shaping that country into what it would become in later years. Saryn's coming down from Tower Black and the Roof of the World echoed down the centuries the same way the deeds of an inexperienced Lerial, a young man forced to grow up before his time, would change Hamor forever with his attempts to save Cigoerne from its many enemies. It's too early to tell how Beltur's story will fit in the greater scheme of things, yet I'm looking forward to discovering how he'll leave his own indelible mark upon the Recluce timeline.

As is usually his wont, Modesitt continues to explore the relationship between Order and Chaos, one of the trademarks of this series. In Cyador's Heirs and Heritage of Cyador, being able to manipulate both Order and Chaos forced Lerial to test the limits of what he could do, often with unanticipated results. The same goes for Beltur. Although trained as a White Mage, he soon finds out that he's more Black than he ever thought possible. This strange dichotomy doesn't sit well with some of his newfound allies, who sometimes refer to him as a mongrel mage.

The characterization would probably have benefited from more POV characters. In the last Recluce story arc, Lerial, a teenager with an inquisitive mind, was a sympathetic protagonist which was easy to root for. Although his heart is always in the right place, Beltur can be dense at times and he's not as endearing as Lerial turned out to be. Still, rediscovering how to forge cupridium and his experiments to use Order to help defeat the Gallosian forces bent on conquering his new home make Beltur an interesting young man to follow. The supporting cast is particularly engaging, chief among them the gay couple comprised of the Black Mages Athaal and Meldryn, the Healers Margrena and her daughter Jessyla, as well as Captain Laugreth and Squad Leader Gaermyn.

Not surprisingly, the pace was an issue at times. Modesitt's novels are never fast-paced affairs and The Mongrel Mage is no exception to that rule. As was the case in every Recluce installment, the author needs time to establish the various plotlines. Once done, you then follow the main character as he or she must learn, experiment, and puzzle out ways to escape a number of predicaments before the endgame can take place. In that respect, The Mongrel Mage follows the classic Recluce recipe and long-time fans end up with another compelling read. And yet, even though it's the first chapter in a much bigger tale, it felt as though this novel was not as self-contained at other similar Recluce offerings. There is a lot more to Beltur's story, that goes without saying. But I feel that this one didn't stand as well on its own and wasn't as satisfying as other first installments in previous Recluce story arcs.

When all is said and done, The Mongrel Mage turned out to be another solid effort by L. E. Modesitt, jr. Smart, thoughtful, and entertaining without any of the bells and whistles so prevalent in epic fantasy these days, this is adult fantasy by an author who remains in perfect control of his craft and his universe. Looking forward to what comes next!

The final verdict: 7.5/10

For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe

Extract from Peter V. Brett's THE CORE

You can now ready the first 50 pages from Peter V. Brett's The Core online. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb for:

New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett brings one of the most imaginative fantasy sagas of the twenty-first century to an epic close.

For time out of mind, bloodthirsty demons have stalked the night, culling the human race to scattered remnants dependent on half-forgotten magics to protect them. Then two heroes arose—men as close as brothers, yet divided by bitter betrayal. Arlen Bales became known as the Warded Man, tattooed head to toe with powerful magic symbols that enable him to fight demons in hand-to-hand combat—and emerge victorious. Jardir, armed with magically warded weapons, called himself the Deliverer, a figure prophesied to unite humanity and lead them to triumph in Sharak Ka—the final war against demonkind.

But in their efforts to bring the war to the demons, Arlen and Jardir have set something in motion that may prove the end of everything they hold dear—a Swarm. Now the war is at hand, and humanity cannot hope to win it unless Arlen and Jardir, with the help of Arlen’s wife, Renna, can bend a captured demon prince to their will and force the devious creature to lead them to the Core, where the Mother of Demons breeds an inexhaustible army.

Trusting their closest confidantes, Leesha, Inevera, Ragen, and Elissa, to rally the fractious people of the Free Cities and lead them against the Swarm, Arlen, Renna, and Jardir set out on a desperate quest into the darkest depths of evil—from which none of them expects to return alive.

Follow this link to read the extract!

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 21st)

In paperback:

Ernest Cline's Ready Player One is down one position, ending the week at number 4 (trade paperback).

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale is up one position, ending the week at number 5 (trade paperback). For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Game of Thrones, Season 6

As you know, after an extremely disappointing season 5, as a "purist" (heck, I have a character based on me in the books) I elected not to watch season 6 of Game of Thrones to avoid spoilers and because the production no longer truly followed George R. R. Martin's original storylines. I said that I would watch the episodes once I had read The Winds of Winter.

Trouble is, the novel was supposed to be published this year. And now, as everyone knows, it won't be until 2018. If all goes well. Given GRRM's track record, shit has a tendency to happen and push back release dates.

So I finally caved in and started to watch the show again. And halfway through the sixth season, I can say that it suffers from the same shortcomings that made season 5 so painful to watch at times. Subpar writing, atrocious dialogue, dumbass changes in many plotlines that make no sense. The actors, which were once so great, have become terrible given the crappy quality of the scripts they must work with. Don't expect Peter Dinklage to win another Emmy any time soon.

But the worst is that we get certain storylines and important plot points spoiled (no avoiding that, though it's obvious that quite a few things won't occur this way in the remaining books) by B-movie quality moments scripted by something that feels like poor fan fiction.

For its first 4 seasons, Game of Thrones was as good or better than anything else on TV, giving even Breaking Bad a run for its money. Now, it's just a shell of what it used to be. Relying on epic shit instead of substance and intelligence AND epic material. And all the articles I've skimmed through regarding season 7 claim that it's even worse the more you go on.

A crying shame. . . =(

Extract from Brandon Sanderson's OATHBRINGER

The folks at tor.com just posted the prologue of Brandon Sanderson's forthcoming Oathbringer (Canada, USA, Europe).

Here's the blurb:

In Oathbringer, the third volume of the New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive, humanity faces a new Desolation with the return of the Voidbringers, a foe with numbers as great as their thirst for vengeance.

Dalinar Kholin’s Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified.

Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar’s blood-soaked past and stand together—and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past—even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization.

Follow this link to read the extract.

Musical Interlude

Puff Daddy's No Way Out was Bad Boy's response to Dr Dre's The Chronic. Released in July 1997 just a few months following The Notorious B.I.G.'s death, it sold more than 561,000 copies the week of its release and reached the number 1 position on the Billboard 200 chart. It would go on to sell over seven million units and see two of its four singles reach number 1.

"Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" was the first to be released. It moved up to number 1 a few weeks later and would go on to sell 2.7 million units in 1997 alone.

With The Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death and Mase's debut album all topping the charts in the USA that same year and selling millions of records, Puff Daddy and his Bad Boy crew would dominate airwaves for months afterward.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Dan Simmons' Hugo award-winning classic, Hyperion, for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope--and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can get your hands on the digital edition of Luke Scull's The Grim Company for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

First in an epic, gritty trilogy from the hottest new voice in British fantasy.

It is a time of darkness. The last magic of the dead gods is on the wane. Demons and half-formed monsters plague the land as the final barriers between the realms begin to fail. The jealous Magelords of three great cities sit in their towers of stone and brood over the scant power that remains...

It is not a time of heroes. Their songs are long forgotten, their deeds go unwritten.

But, even now, some few still nurse a spark of hope, an unlikely fellowship, united against the tyranny of their immortal overlords - THE GRIM COMPANY.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 14th)

In hardcover:

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dragonsworn debuts at number 12.

In paperback:

Ernest Cline's Ready Player One maintains its position at number 3 (trade paperback).

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale is down one position, ending the week at number 6 (trade paperback). For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download C. S. Friedman's Dreamwalker for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

All her life Jessica Drake has dreamed of other worlds, some of them similar to her own, others disturbingly alien. She never shares the details with anyone, save her younger brother Tommy, a compulsive gamer who incorporates some aspects of Jessica’s dreams into his games. But now someone is asking about those dreams...and about her. A strange woman has been watching her house. A visitor to her school attempts to take possession of her dream-inspired artwork.

Why?

As she begins to search for answers it becomes clear that whoever is watching her does not want her to learn the truth. One night her house catches on fire, and when the smoke clears she discovers that her brother has been kidnapped. She must figure out what is going on, and quickly, if she and her family are to be safe.

Following clues left behind on Tommy's computer, determined to find her brother and bring him home safely, Jessica and two of her friends are about to embark on a journey that will test their spirits and their courage to the breaking point, as they must leave their own world behind and confront the source of Earth's darkest legends – as well as the terrifying truth of their own secret heritage.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

Hey! Just found out that you can still get your hands on the digital edition of Myke Cole's excellent Shadow Ops: Control Point for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Army Officer. Fugitive. Sorcerer.

Across the country and in every nation, people are waking up with magical talents. Untrained and panicked, they summon storms, raise the dead, and set everything they touch ablaze.

Army officer Oscar Britton sees the worst of it. A lieutenant attached to the military's Supernatural Operations Corps, his mission is to bring order to a world gone mad. Then he abruptly manifests a rare and prohibited magical power, transforming him overnight from government agent to public enemy number one.

The SOC knows how to handle this kind of situation: hunt him down--and take him out. Driven into an underground shadow world, Britton is about to learn that magic has changed all the rules he's ever known, and that his life isn't the only thing he's fighting for.

Siege Line

For some unfathomable reason, it often feels as though Myke Cole remains one of the genre's best-kept secrets. True, military fantasy may not be everyone's cup of tea, but Cole's two series are as accessible as they are compelling. It's been years since I last encountered a fantasy series with so much mass appeal and there's nothing I would like more than to see these books get more widely read and enjoyed. The Shadow Ops trilogy was fresh and unlike anything else I have ever read. All three volumes were fun, intelligent, action-packed, and entertaining reads, each packing a healthy dose of ass-kicking! Breach Zone closed the show with an exclamation point and it was obvious then that Cole had become one of speculative fiction's brightest new voices

But the Gemini Cell series would focus on the early days of the Great Awakening, when magic first returned to the world and changed everything. Featuring new characters and new plotlines, I was wondering if the author could do it again. Indeed, the Shadow Ops trilogy generated some lofty expectations for whatever would follow. With Gemini Cell Myke Cole set my mind at ease and proved that his first series was no fluke. Javelin Rain was another worthy sequel that set the stage for what could be a great finale. Now with five quality yarns under his belt, there was no reason to doubt that Siege Line would be another captivating read. And once more, Cole's latest novel delivers on all fronts and caps off this series with style and aplomb!

Here's the blurb:

In Myke Cole’s latest high-octane, action-packed military fantasy, the fate of undead Navy SEAL James Schweitzer will be decided—one way or another…

The Gemini Cell took everything from Jim Schweitzer: his family, his career as a Navy SEAL, even his life. Hounded across the country, Schweitzer knows the only way he can ever stop running, the only way his son can ever be safe, is to take the fight to the enemy and annihilate the Cell once and for all.

But the Cell won’t be easily destroyed. Out of control and fighting a secret war with the government it once served, it has dispatched its shadowy Director to the far reaches of the subarctic in search of a secret magic that could tip the balance of power in its favor. Schweitzer must join with the elite warriors of both America and Canada in a desperate bid to get there first—and avert a disaster that could put the Cell in control.

Myke Cole continues to grow as a writer, getting more mature and in better control of his craft with each new published book. Hard to say whether or not the man has reached his peak, but he sure has become one of my favorite authors out there. As was the case with past installments, the fact that he served for years in the military and seen active duty allows him to imbue his books with a credibility regarding the realism of the use of magic in military operations and its ramifications up and down the chain of command. I feel that this gives any Myke Cole work its unique "flavor" and remains what sets them apart from everything else on the market. The early days of what will come to be known as the Great Awakening form the backdrop of this new trilogy. Magic has returned to our world and the US military is trying to harness these new powers for their own gain. From the get-go, I was particularly looking forward to finding out how the top secret unit known as the Gemini Cell would grow to become the SOC. Sadly, it seemed that this second series occurred too early during the Great Awakening, so it was doubtful that it would fill in the blanks created by the questions raised in the Shadow Ops trilogy. Having finished Siege Line, I can confirm that it is indeed the case. We do learn a few things, mind you. But I figure that there will be at least a series or two to bridge the gap between the two trilogies. If he can get a new book deal, Cole has already said that the next Shadow Ops series would pick up immediately after the events of Breach Zone, with many of the characters from the original trilogy. Which means that readers will likely have to wait for a while before discovering how the SOC came together. And yet, if like me you loved how Cole closed the show in Breach Zone, then you're equally looking forward to finding out what happens next. So it's kind of a win-win situation.

The Shadow Ops series was a more far-reaching work of fiction, with more characters and more multilayered storylines. And although the Gemini Cell trilogy is no less ambitious, the focus is much tighter. It occurs within a more limited time frame and we witness events taking place through the eyes of a smaller cast of protagonists. Early on, I was expecting these new novels to be as sprawling as the Shadow Ops installments. Now that I've reached the conclusion of the second series, there is no denying that Jim Schweitzer's tale, though it will probably kickstart the Great Awakening and everything it will engender, isn't as vast in scope. In and of itself, this raises yet more questions, as Jim Schweitzer's story is far from over. But how the events chronicled within the pages of Siege Line will progress and evolve into something that will lead to international cooperation and the creation of the SOC, that remains to be seen. The silver lining is that Cole still has a lot of stories to tell, which bodes well for all of us!

As is the author's wont, Siege Line is another character-driven affair. Cole always had a knack for creating genuine three-dimensional characters with good back stories. The smaller cast featured in the Gemini Cell series allows readers to connect with the characters at a deeper level. This time around, Jim Schweitzer's point of view is balanced with the perspective of the mysterious Director and that of Wilma "Mankiller" Plante, an Afghanistan veteran and the sheriff of a little hamlet in Canada's Northwest Territories. The supporting cast is particularly memorable, especially Jala Ghaznavi, Reeves and his team, and Joe Yakecan. À la Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey, Cole continues to show a deft human touch which allows him to come up with unexpected emotional scenes packing a powerful punch.

Kudos for his amazing depiction of Northern Canada's frozen and desolate scenery. Not bad for a New Yorker who complains every time temperatures approach freezing point, or if a little snowfall hits his home! The portion of the novel taking place in the Northwest Territories was by far the most interesting, with an endgame that stays with you and immediately makes you want to find out what comes next.

As far as the rhythm goes, this book could be Cole's best paced yet. I felt that both Breach Zone and Gemini Cell suffered from rushed endings. I thought that a 300-page set-up and only 30-something pages to close the show felt a bit incongruous, and that the author likely needed more pages to do justice to the tale he was telling. Javelin Rain was much better balanced and the same can be said of Siege Line. Indeed, though the wordcount appears to be quite similar, it felt as though this third volume was as long as it needed to be.

If you have yet to give Myke Cole a shot, please do so ASAP! Decades separate these two series, so you can start with either without missing a beat. Whatever you do, whether you go for the Shadow Ops books or the second series, you can't really go wrong!

Siege Line is military fantasy with heart and soul. Definitely one of the books to read this year. Or any year!

The final verdict: 8/10

For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Sebastien de Castell's Traitor's Blade for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Falcio is the first Cantor of the Greatcoats. Trained in the fighting arts and the laws of Tristia, the Greatcoats are travelling Magisters upholding King’s Law. They are heroes. Or at least they were, until they stood aside while the Dukes took the kingdom, and impaled their King’s head on a spike.

Now Tristia is on the verge of collapse and the barbarians are sniffing at the borders. The Dukes bring chaos to the land, while the Greatcoats are scattered far and wide, reviled as traitors, their legendary coats in tatters.

All they have left are the promises they made to King Paelis, to carry out one final mission. But if they have any hope of fulfilling the King’s dream, the divided Greatcoats must reunite, or they will also have to stand aside as they watch their world burn…

Brenda Cooper contest winner!

This lucky winner will receive a copy of Brenda Cooper's Wilders, courtesy of the folks at Pyr. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

The winner is:

- Mary Henaghen, from Hewitt, New Jersey, USA

Many thanks to all the participants!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

The #1 New York Times bestselling author's ultimate edition of his wildly successful first novel featuring his "preferred text"—and including his special Neverwhere tale "How the Marquis Got His Coat Back"

Published in 1997, Neil Gaiman's darkly hypnotic first novel, Neverwhere, heralded the arrival of a major talent and became a touchstone of urban fantasy. Over the years, a number of versions were produced both in the U.S. and the U.K. Now Gaiman's preferred edition of his classic novel reconciles these works and reinstates a number of scenes cut from the original published books.

Neverwhere is the story of Richard Mayhew, a young London businessman with a good heart and an ordinary life, which is changed forever when he discovers a girl bleeding on the sidewalk. He stops to help her—an act of kindness that plunges him into a world he never dreamed existed.

Slipping through the cracks of reality, Richard lands in the Neverwhere—a London of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels that exists entirely in a subterranean labyrinth. The Neverwhere is home to Door, the mysterious girl Richard helped in the London Above. Door, a noblewoman whose family has been murdered, is on a quest to find the agent that slaughtered her family and thwart the destruction of this underworld kingdom. If Richard is ever to return to his former life, he must join the journey to save Door's world—and find a way to survive.

A hallucinatory fantasia of mystery, mythology, and terror that "draws equally from George Lucas, Monty Python, Doctor Who, and John Milton" (USA Today), Neverwhere is an "Alice in Wonderland with a punk edge" (Poppy Z. Brite), "that is both the stuff of dreams and nightmares" (San Diego Union-Tribune).

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 7th)

In hardcover:

Christie Golden's Star Wars: Battlefront II: Inferno Squad debuts at number 13.

In paperback:

Ernest Cline's Ready Player One returns at number 3 (trade paperback).

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale is down two positions, ending the week at number 5 (trade paperback). For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Sarah Remy's Stonehill Downs for only 0.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Malachi is the last of his kind—a magus who can communicate with the dead, and who relies on the help of spirits to keep his kingdom safe. When he's sent to investigate brutal murders in the isolated village of Stonehill Downs, he uncovers dangerous sorceries and unleashes a killer who strikes close to home.

Avani is an outsider living on the Downs, one of the few survivors from the Sunken Islands. She has innate magics of her own, and when she discovers the mutilated bodies of the first victims, she enters into a reluctant alliance with Malachi that takes her far from home.

But Mal is distracted by the suspicious death of his mentor and haunted by secrets from his past. And Avani discovers troubling truths about the magus through her visions. She could free Malachi, but first they must work together to save the kingdom from the lethal horror that has arisen.

US Cover Art and Blurb for Mark Lawrence's GREY SISTER

The folks at thatthornguy.com just unveiled the American cover art and blurb for Mark Lawrence's forthcoming Grey Sister.

The cover was done by the artist Bastien Lecouffe-Deharme and it looks pretty damn good!

Here's the blurb:

In Mystic Class Nona Grey begins to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the Convent of Sweet Mercy Nona must choose her path and take the red of a Martial Sister, the grey of a Sister of Discretion, the blue of a Mystic Sister or the simple black of a Bride of the Ancestor and a life of prayer and service.

All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassin, the ambition of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a blade, and the vengeance of the empire’s richest lord.

As the world narrows around her, and her enemies attack her through the system she has sworn to, Nona must find her own path despite the competing pull of friendship, revenge, ambition, and loyalty.

And in all this only one thing is certain.

There will be blood.

Can't wait to read this one!

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 31st)

In hardcover:

Dean Koontz’s The Silent Corner maintains its position at number 11.

In paperback:

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale maintains its position at number 3 (trade paperback). For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Tad Williams' excellent Otherland: City of Golden Shadow for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Otherland…

Surrounded by secrecy, it is home to the wildest dreams and darkest nightmares. Incredible amounts of money have been lavished on it. The best minds of two generations have labored to build it. And somehow, bit by bit, it is claiming the Earth’s most valuable resource–its children.

In addition, you can get your hands on Tad Williams' Shadowmarch and The Dirty Streets of Heaven for the same price.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Tom Doyle's American Craftsmen for only 2.99$ here. There is a price match in Canada.

Here's the blurb:

In modern America, two soldiers will fight their way through the magical legacies of Poe and Hawthorne to destroy an undying evil—if they don’t kill each other first.

US Army Captain Dale Morton is a magician soldier—a “craftsman.” After a black-ops mission gone wrong, Dale is cursed by a Persian sorcerer and haunted by his good and evil ancestors. Major Michael Endicott, a Puritan craftsman, finds gruesome evidence that the evil Mortons, formerly led by the twins Roderick and Madeline, have returned, and that Dale might be one of them.

Dale uncovers treason in the Pentagon’s highest covert ranks. He hunts for his enemies before they can murder him and Scherie, a new friend who knows nothing of his magic.

Endicott pursues Dale, divided between his duty to capture a rogue soldier and his desire to protect Dale from his would-be assassins. They will discover that the demonic horrors that have corrupted American magic are not bound by family or even death itself.

In Tom Doyle's thrilling debut, American Craftsmen, Seal Team Six meets ancient magic--with the fate of the United States hanging in the balance . . .

The Hunter of the Dark

You may recall that I gave Donato Carrisi's debut, The Whisperer, a perfect score a few years back. Dubbed the Italian literary thriller phenomenon, I have always remained on the lookout for anything else written by Carrisi. Read both the first one and The Lost Girls of Rome in French, so I bought the French translation for this one as well. A sequel to The Whisperer titled The Vanished Ones came out a while back and that's the one I originally meant to read next. But when I discovered that The Hunter of the Dark was out and that it was a sequel to The Lost Girls of Rome, I realized that the time was just about right for another quality thriller. And I wasn't disapointed!

Here's the blurb:

A brutal killer is on the streets of Rome. He leaves no trace. And shows no mercy.

A series of gruesome murders leaves the police force in Rome reeling, with no real clues or hard evidence to follow. Assigned to the case is Sandra Vega, a brilliant forensic analyst, struggling to come to terms with the crimes and her own past. Sandra's shared history with Marcus, a member of the ancient Penitenzeri - a unique Italian team, linked to the Vatican, and trained in the detection of true evil, means that the two are brought together again in the pursuit of a malignant killer.

Soon Marcus and Sandra notice the emergence of a disturbing pattern running alongside the latest killings - and every time they think they have grasped a fragment of the truth, they are led down yet another terrifying path.

A sensational new literary thriller from the bestselling author of The Whisperer, this novel captures the beautiful atmosphere of Rome and explores its dark and hidden secrets. 'Shiveringly intelligent', The Times.

As is Carrisi's wont, the action occurs in Italy, in and around the Eternal City of Rome. Once more, a variety of sources were used by the author to write this novel, chief among them criminology and forensic psychiatry manuals, as well as several FBI papers regarding serial killers and violent crimes. With his homework done properly, Carrisi's latest book has an unmistakable genuine feel to it. As a former jurist specializing in criminology and behavioral science, the man truly knows what he's talking about and it shows.

With both French and Italian sharing the same roots, the translation was good. I was told that the English translation for The Whisperer wasn't that great, but it appears that it was different with the English version of The Lost Girls of Rome. Checked a few reviews online and no one is complaining, so it seems that there are no issues with the translation for The Hunter of the Dark.

As I mentioned, this novel is the sequel to The Lost Girls of Rome. Reading those reviews, I came across people who have read The Hunter of the Dark without having read its predecessor and they enjoyed the experience nonetheless. True, The Hunter of the Dark is a more or less self-contained story that can work as a stand-alone book. And yet, doing so means that the reader would miss out on all the nuances that comprise the relationship between Marcus and Sandra, as well as their respective backgrounds. Hence, while it's possible to enjoy Carrisi's newest work on its own, I encourage potential readers to go for The Lost Girls of Rome first. It's an even better read, so you can't go wrong!

As was the case in The Lost Girls of Rome, the characterization was great. As usual, a man and a woman are the main protagonists. Sandra Vega, a forensic analyst, lost her husband a few years before and has finally found love again. Marcus is a man without a past. Coming out of a coma after being shot in the head in a Prague hotel room, all he remembers is that he's a former priest and he's now part of a secret brotherhood investigating horrible crimes that have come under the attention of the church. Unexpectedly, their paths will cross again as they try to find a murderer who brutally kills couples. During their investigation, another dark secret hidden by the Roman Catholic Church will be unveiled and is at the heart of all the disappearances and murders. Once again, I particularly enjoyed how flawed both characters are and how their POVs create an interesting balance between them. The perspective of the mysterious Battista Erriaga is meant to be misleading and the revelation of the man's identity and the church's secret at the end will make it well nigh impossible not to want to read the third installment when it ever gets published.

Once more, there is a thought-provoking theme underlying the entire book: The true essence of evil. Does it exist within all of us, latent and just waiting to be released? The Hunter of the Dark is another complex and multilayered thriller that hits all the right buttons. It's a clever work with plots and subplots forming a chilling tapestry, all of which culminating toward an ending that will shock you. The fact that the novel is based on true law enforcement investigation techniques compounded by the religious aspects of the tale only add another dimension to an already complicated plot.

All in all, this perturbing work is everything a thriller is meant to be. The Hunter of the Dark is another page-turner that just begs to be read. If you are looking for compelling and disturbing books delving into psychology that stay with you long after you have finished reading them, give Donato Carrisi a shot as soon as humanly possible!

The final verdict: 8.5/10

For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe

Win a copy of R. Scott Bakker's THE UNHOLY CONSULT

I received an extra copy of R. Scott Bakker's The Unholy Consult, so I'm giving it away to one lucky winner! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

In this shattering conclusion to The Aspect-Emperor books, praised for their “sweeping epic scale and detailed historical world building” (Grimdark Magazine), R. Scott Bakker delivers the series’ feverishly harrowing and long-awaited finish.

The Men of the Great Ordeal have been abandoned by Aspect-Emperor Anasurimbor Kellhus, and the formerly epic crusade has devolved into cannibalism and chaos. When Exalt-General Proyas, with the Imperial-Prince Kayutas at his side, attempts to control the lost Men and continue their march to Golgotterath, it rapidly becomes clear that the lost Lord-and-Profit is not so easily shaken from the mission.

When Sorweel, Believer-King of Sakarpus, and Serwa, daughter of the Aspect-Emperor, join the Great Ordeal they discover that the Shortest Path is not always the most obvious, or the safest. Souls, morals, and relationships are called into question when no one can be trusted, and the price for their sins is greater than they imagined.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "CONSULT." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Second, your email must contain your full mailing address (that's snail mail!), otherwise your message will be deleted.

Lastly, multiple entries will disqualify whoever sends them. And please include your screen name and the message boards that you frequent using it, if you do hang out on a particular MB.

Good luck to all the participants!