More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download TJ Klune's Somewhere Beyond the Sea 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:

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the hugely-anticipated sequel to TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea, one of the best-loved and best-selling fantasy novels of the past decade.

A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.

He’s the headmaster of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there's the island's sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.

But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.

And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of George R. R. Martin's excellent Fevre Dream 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:

Abner Marsh, a struggling riverboat captain, suspects that something’s amiss when he is approached by a wealthy aristocrat with a lucrative offer. The hauntingly pale, steely-eyed Joshua York doesn’t care that the icy winter of 1857 has wiped out all but one of Marsh’s dilapidated fleet; nor does he care that he won’t earn back his investment in a decade. York’s reasons for traversing the powerful Mississippi are to be none of Marsh’s concern—no matter how bizarre, arbitrary, or capricious York’s actions may prove. Not until the maiden voyage of Fevre Dream does Marsh realize that he has joined a mission both more sinister, and perhaps more noble, than his most fantastic nightmare—and humankind’s most impossible dream.

Twelve Months

As you know, the next Dresden Files installment was meant to be Mirror, Mirror. But following the catastrophic events of Peace Talks and Battle Ground, Jim Butcher felt that Harry needed to "become a human being again" by providing time to recover and cope with his losses, moving beyond the typical "worst weekend of Harry's year" format of previous novels. The author realized that throwing Harry directly into the next major arc without any recuperation time would be too much for the character, making Twelve Months essential for his journey.

Be that as it may, my main concern was that such a long interlude, unplanned in Butcher's timeline to boot, wouldn't sit well with fans who will have been waiting for more than five years for their next Dresden fix once this book is released. Sure, Harry needs time to recover. But would readers be happy with such a work coming so many years after the last Dresden Files book? Well, this reader was!

Given the nature of the story, Twelve Months is a very slow-moving work. It is mostly about Harry coping with grief and loss in the aftermath of the Battle of Chicago. The destruction is widespread and whole swaths of the metropolis are now Gaza-like, and relief and rebuilding efforts are slow in coming. The magical conflict acted as a giant EMP burst that fried electronic devices and power systems throughout the entire city. And though locals know the truth, or at least a measure of it, the government is trying to keep the supernatural elements secret and the official word is that this was a terrorist attack. It looks as though this is sort of a transition work that will bridge what transpired before and what will come next. Harry is hurting bad and Murphy's death made him an emotional wreck. The only wizard in the phonebook has been through a lot since Storm Front and he has now hit rock bottom.

Here's the blurb:

One year. 365 days. Twelve months.

Harry Dresden has been through a lot, and so has his city. After Harry and his allies narrowly managed to save Chicago from being razed to the ground, everything is different—and it’s not just the current lack of electricity.

In the battle, Harry lost people he cared about. And that’s the kind of loss that takes a toll. Harry being Harry, he’s doing his level best to help the city and his friends recover and rebuild. But it’s a heavy load, and he needs time.

But time is one thing Harry doesn’t have. Ghouls are prowling Chicago and taking out innocent civilians. Harry’s brother is dying, and Harry doesn’t know how to help him. And last but certainly not least, the Winter Queen of the Fae has allied with the White Court of vampires—and Harry’s been betrothed to the seductive, deadly vampire Lara Raith to seal the deal.

It’s been a tough year. More than ever, the city needs Harry Dresden the wizard—but after loss and grief, is there enough left of Harry Dresden the man to rise to the challenge?

Though crippled physically, psychologically, and emotionally, as a matter of course shit continues to happen around him. And do-gooder that he is, Harry tries to help every way he can. Parts of Chicago lie in ruins and Harry does his best to shelter and feed the survivors who lost their homes and loved ones. But there is chaos on the streets and the police forces are spread too thin to make a difference. The Council is keeping an eye on Harry, ready to send in a death squad should they feel it necessary. Harry's brother is in stasis on Demonreach and not getting better and Justine's been sighted in Europe. To make matters worse, Thomas is wanted for murder and Etri, king of the Svartalves, will accept no compromise but his head to settle the matter. Drakul has given Harry and the White Council leave to come after him, if they so choose, without having to worry about breaking the Accords. Moreover, Harry now has a new apprentice to worry about, just another thing that would put him even higher up on the Council's shitlist. And to make matters even more awkward, to help prepare for their marriage, Mab forces Harry to go on a date with Lara every month. Long story short, Harry is in no shape to deal with any of this shit. Trouble is, he has no choice but to try, for too many people depend on him.

For the most part, Twelve Months does indeed read like one long interlude. As such, it's a bit discordant when compared to the pace of the rest of the series. And yet, though it is indeed slow-moving, it is never dull. Understandably, Harry needed the time to heal and deal with the guilt that breaks him on a daily basis. No matter how uber badass he has become, it's nice to see that he's human afterall. But now that I've read the novel, I feel that the series also needed that breather. Indeed, this unplanned book allows Butcher to bring back a lot of plot threads, many of them from long past installments, which helps readers get refamiliarized with certain storylines and characters without breaking the momentum of the novel. A lot of groundwork has been laid out in the previous seventeen Dresden Files installments and Butcher's newest weaves some of them back together to prepare us of the big apocalypse trilogy to come. Such unhurried rhythm also provides some poignant moments with Molly, Maggie, Michael, and even Harry's grandfather. These were, for me at least, particularly moving.

For a long time, I was wondering if the pace would pick up at some point, or if Twelve Months was all about Harry and Chicago somehow getting back on track over the course of a year and setting the stage for what comes next. Ye of little faith, I should have known that Jim Butcher would have a few surprises up his sleeve. And indeed, the last 20% of the book delivers on basically all fronts. The relationship between Harry and Lara Raith takes an unexpected turn when they agree to work together to find a way to save Thomas from his Hunger. This will take both of them down an unanticipated path, one that will even surprise Mab. The resolution of Thomas' plotline would have made for a satisfying ending, in and of itself. But Harry has made a lot of enemies over the years and they have decided to mount an attack on the crippled wizard's castle. Relying on the help of allies, both old and new (Harry's got a Valkyrie bodyguard named Bear and some new supporters Bob's not too thrilled about), Harry must protect his daughter and those refugees housed in his home from those dark forces that also plan to use those Chicago residents who are afraid of paranormal powers and who have begun to protest in front of Harry's castle as cannon fodder. There is no margin for error and yet Harry must find a way to save the day. Sure it may be a far cry from the endgames of both Peace Talks and Battle Ground, but Butcher nonetheless caps off Twelve Months with a bang. The final scene is also quite touching.

In the end, Twelve Months is indeed a transition book that focuses on Harry's physical, mental, and emotional recovery following the Battle of Chicago. And though it is indeed slow-moving for the better part of the novel, there are enough poignant scenes to keep you hooked until Harry gets better and decides to try to save Thomas. From then on, Butcher takes us on a wild ride that ends with panache. I don't know at which point these plotlines were meant to occur and whether or not it will screw up Butcher's timeline for the next few books, but it does brings Twelve Months to a satisfying close.

So we didn't get Mirror, Mirror. But I have a feeling that fans of the Dresden Files will nevertheless find a lot to like about Twelve Months. Here's to hoping we won't have to wait another five years for the next volume!

The final verdict: 8/10

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Joe Hill's 20th Century Ghosts 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:

From the New York Times bestselling author of NOS4A2 and Horns comes this award-winning collection of short fiction.

Imogene is young, beautiful . . . and dead, waiting in the Rosebud Theater one afternoon in 1945. . . .

Francis was human once, but now he's an eight-foot-tall locust, and everyone in Calliphora will tremble when they hear him sing. . . .

John is locked in a basement stained with the blood of half a dozen murdered children, and an antique telephone, long since disconnected, rings at night with calls from the dead. . . .

Nolan knows but can never tell what really happened in the summer of '77, when his idiot savant younger brother built a vast cardboard fort with secret doors leading into other worlds. . . .

The past isn't dead. It isn't even past. . . .

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 20th)

In hardcover:

Stephen King's Never Flinch is up one position, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Thea Guanzon's Tusk Love debuts at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Stacey McEwan's A Forbidden Alchemy debuts at number 5. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

V. E. Schwab's Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is down one spot, finishing the week at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm maintains its position at number 9. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rachel Gillig's The Knight and the Moth is up three positions, ending the week at number 12. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary returns at number 5. 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 13. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down three positions, ending the week at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Frank Herbert's Children of Dune 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 Children of Dune are twin siblings Leto and Ghanima Atreides, whose father, the Emperor Paul Muad’Dib, disappeared in the desert wastelands of Arrakis nine years ago. Like their father, the twins possess supernormal abilities—making them valuable to their manipulative aunt Alia, who rules the Empire in the name of House Atreides.

Facing treason and rebellion on two fronts, Alia’s rule is not absolute. The displaced House Corrino is plotting to regain the throne while the fanatical Fremen are being provoked into open revolt by the enigmatic figure known only as The Preacher. Alia believes that by obtaining the secrets of the twins’ prophetic visions, she can maintain control over her dynasty.

But Leto and Ghanima have their own plans for their visions—and their destinies....

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Michael J. Sullivan's The Crown Tower 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:

Two men who hate each other. One impossible mission. A legend in the making.

Hadrian Blackwater, a warrior with nothing to fight for is paired with Royce Melborn, a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Together they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the impregnable remains of the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm's most prized possessions. But it isn't gold or jewels that the old wizard is after, and if he can keep them from killing each other they become a legendary team.

This is the first book in the new series, The Riyria Chronicles, from best-selling author Michael J. Sullivan. It takes place twelve years before the events of The Riyria Revelations and no prior knowledge of those books is required. You can read in either chronological order or order of publication, although the author suggests reading in publication order.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Peter F. Hamilton's The Dreaming Void 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:

Reviewers exhaust superlatives when it comes to the science fiction of Peter F. Hamilton. His complex and engaging novels, which span thousands of years–and light-years–are as intellectually stimulating as they are emotionally fulfilling. Now, with The Dreaming Void, the first volume in a trilogy set in the same far-future as his acclaimed Commonwealth saga, Hamilton has created his most ambitious and gripping space epic yet.

The year is 3589, fifteen hundred years after Commonwealth forces barely staved off human extinction in a war against the alien Prime. Now an even greater danger has surfaced: a threat to the existence of the universe itself.

At the very heart of the galaxy is the Void, a self-contained microuniverse that cannot be breached, cannot be destroyed, and cannot be stopped as it steadily expands in all directions, consuming everything in its path: planets, stars, civilizations. The Void has existed for untold millions of years. Even the oldest and most technologically advanced of the galaxy’s sentient races, the Raiel, do not know its origin, its makers, or its purpose.

But then Inigo, an astrophysicist studying the Void, begins dreaming of human beings who live within it. Inigo’s dreams reveal a world in which thoughts become actions and dreams become reality. Inside the Void, Inigo sees paradise. Thanks to the gaiafield, a neural entanglement wired into most humans, Inigo’s dreams are shared by hundreds of millions–and a religion, the Living Dream, is born, with Inigo as its prophet. But then he vanishes.

Suddenly there is a new wave of dreams. Dreams broadcast by an unknown Second Dreamer serve as the inspiration for a massive Pilgrimage into the Void. But there is a chance that by attempting to enter the Void, the pilgrims will trigger a catastrophic expansion, an accelerated devourment phase that will swallow up thousands of worlds.

And thus begins a desperate race to find Inigo and the mysterious Second Dreamer. Some seek to prevent the Pilgrimage; others to speed its progress–while within the Void, a supreme entity has turned its gaze, for the first time, outward. . . .

BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Peter F. Hamilton's The Temporal Void.

Olympos

Though I was two decades late with my review, I thought that Ilium was a great ride. Indeed, its endgame raised the stakes even higher, which in turn raised my expectations for Olympos. It looked as though the grand scale of the story would take on an even wider scope in the second volume. To all ends and pruposes, it seemed that Ilium was just the set-up for what would be an even more ambitious work of science fiction in the sequel and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth it!

Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be. Seldom has a sequel so failed to live up to the potential of its predecessor. In many ways, it feels as though Olympos is the middle book in a trilogy, only there will never be a third installment. Given how high the bar was raised in Ilium, this is a major disappointment.

Here's the blurb:

Beneath the gaze of the gods, the mighty armies of Greece and Troy met in fierce and glorious combat, scrupulously following the text set forth in Homer's timeless narrative. But that was before twenty-first-century scholar Thomas Hockenberry stirred the bloody brew, causing an enraged Achilles to join forces with his archenemy Hector and turn his murderous wrath on Zeus and the entire pantheon of divine manipulators; before the swift and terrible mechanical creatures that catered for centuries to the pitiful idle remnants of Earth's human race began massing in the millions, to exterminate rather than serve.

And now all bets are off.

One of the main reasons I've waited this long to read this duology is because Dan Simmons took a lot of heat back in 2005 when Olympos was released. He was accused of islamophobia and there was a shitstorm as the SJW scifi clique pissed on him and claimed he was a bigot, that he wasn't the same man/writer following the harrowing events of 9/11. Given the proportions of the mudslinging, I was expecting the author to shit on Muslims from start to finish. I was expecting Islam to be a major part of this novel. I mean, those people made Simmons sound like a complete nutjob back then. Imagine my surprise when Muslims are mentioned in only a few paragraphs. We learn that a fundamentalist Islamic Caliphate is responsible for the Rubicon and the long war associated with its aftermath, and that a bunch of Muslim fucktards tried to usher in the end of the world when they realized they couldn't ultimately win. I couldn't quite believe that a few paragraphs elaborating on the back story of the world could generate such a backlash. Twenty years down the line, it's even more mind-blowing.

In my review of Ilium, I said that the worldbuilding was quite impressive, the more so since we had to wait for the sequel for Simmons' universe to come fully realized. I said that the book was a convoluted tale that echoed with depth. And yet, for all the questions raised in the first volume, Olympos provides very little in terms of answers. So little, in fact, that the novel is often more frustrating and enlightening in that regard. Instead of revealing how everything came to be the way it is, you get a few tidbits of information that serve as answers and a whole lot of nothing regarding everything else. It's not just that Simmons is phoning it in, so to speak, but it's like he's not even trying to shine some light on key plot points on which the entire story hinges. Why did the post-humans turn themselves into Greek Gods, of all things, and why did they re-enact the Trojan War for their amusement? Who or what is Prospero. We know he's the avatar of the Earth's logosphere, but what was the whole point of having him in the story? Who or what is Sycorax? What is Setebos and exactly what happened with it? What is the Quiet and why is Setebos so afraid of it? How did Caliban end up on Earth? What were the Voynix and why did they act the way they did? The same can be asked of the calibani? Why was Harman taken on a world tour, only for readers to learn so little about the past? How did Odysseus end up on Earth? And the list goes on. With so many mysteries to solve, why did the author decide to provide so few answers?

It's never boring, mind you. Olympos is as well written as Ilium. It's just that the sequel keeps you wanting more and never really delivers on any of its storylines. The confusion and the frustration grow as you near the end when it becomes evident that Simmons elected not to provide the information that would allow readers to make sense of everything that has transpired over the course of more than 1500 pages.

Thankfully, Olympos does offer some resolution of sorts, but it all feels hollow because you can't really tell what the hell happened and why. Given the quality and originality of Ilium, this book is an unworthy sequel that failed to deliver on basically every front. Which is too bad, because it had the potential to be so much more.

The final verdict: 6.5/10

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey 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:

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Thursday Next series comes a “laugh-out-loud funny” (Los Angeles Times) and “brilliantly original” (Booklist, starred review) novel of a man attempting to navigate a color-coded world.

“A rich brew of dystopic fantasy and deadpan goofiness.”—The Washington Post

Welcome to Chromatacia, where the Colortocracy rules society through a social hierarchy based on one’s limited color perception. In this world, you are what you can see.

Eddie Russet wants to move up. When he and his father relocate to the backwater village of East Carmine, his carefully cultivated plans to leverage his better-than-average red perception and marry into a powerful family are quickly upended. Eddie must content with lethal swans, sneaky Yellows, inviolable rules, an enforced marriage to the hideous Violet deMauve, and a risky friendship with an intriguing Grey named Jane who shows Eddie that the apparent peace of his world is as much an illusion as color itself.

Will Eddie be able to tread the fine line between total conformity—accepting the path, partner, and career delineated by his hue—and his instinctive curiosity that is bound to get him into trouble?

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of George R. R. Martin's Dreamsongs, Volume 1, an excellent collection of short fiction, 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:

Even before A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin had already established himself as a giant in the field of fantasy literature. The first of two stunning collections, Dreamsongs: Volume I is a rare treat for readers, offering fascinating insight into his journey from young writer to award-winning master.

Gathered here in Dreamsongs: Volume I are the very best of George R. R. Martin’s early works, including his Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker award–winning stories, cool fan pieces, and the original novella The Ice Dragon, from which Martin’s New York Times bestselling children’s book of the same title originated. A dazzling array of subjects and styles that features extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume I is the perfect collection for both Martin devotees and a new generation of fans.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Michelle Sagara's The Emperor's Wolves 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:

AT THE EMPEROR’S COMMAND

Multiple races carefully navigate the City of Elantra under the Dragon Emperor’s wing. His Imperial Wolves are executioners, the smallest group to serve in the Halls of Law. The populace calls them assassins.

Every wolf candidate must consent to a full examination by the Tha’alani, one of the most feared and distrusted races in Elantra for their ability to read minds. Most candidates don’t finish their job interviews.

Severn Handred, the newest potential recruit, is determined to face and pass this final test—even if by doing so he’s exposing secrets he has never shared.

When an interrogation uncovers the connections to a two-decade-old series of murders of the Tha’alani, the Wolves are commanded to hunt. Severn’s first job will be joining the chase. From the High Halls to the Tha’alani quarter, from the Oracles to the Emperor, secrets are uncovered, tensions are raised and justice just might be done…if Severn can survive.

Hunter's Redoubt

I'm sure I don't have to remind you that I was a huge fan of Michelle West's the Sun Sword. It is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. Sadly, I was far less enthused about the House War sequence which came after. Especially the finale, War, which is without a doubt the most underwhelming ending to a fantasy series that I've ever read. It took me a year to give West another shot. Invested as I was in this story, I knew I'd eventually return to her grand Essalieyan saga at some point.

It took me such a long time because, according to most fans, the Sacred Hunt duology is West's first and weakest work. And yet, since you cannot read her latest novel, Hunter's Redoubt, without having first read the duology, I had no choice but to go through both Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death. True, my expectations weren't particularly high to begin with, yet I found myself enjoying both novels a lot more than I expected. There is a much tighter focus to the writing, which was a welcome change from everything Michelle West has written after the Sacred Hunt.

Hunter's Redoubt is the first volume in the Burning Crown series, which will focus on the events of the End of Days period. It's a return to the kingdom of Breodanir nearly thirty years following the release of Hunter's Oath. It is also West's first self-published Essalieyan title after being dropped by Daw Books. Given that this is the beginning of the end, so to speak, I was dearly hoping that it would be more Sun Sword and less House War in both scope and execution. Alas, it was more the latter.

Here's the blurb:

THE SHINING COURT IS RISING

The Lord of the Hells has damaged the barriers between the ancient wilderness and the world of man, and that wilderness has begun to seep into mortal lands. His war to rule the entirety of the mortal world has begun.

ONE KINGDOM STANDS AGAINST THE FALL OF THE WEST

The kingdom of Breodanir is in turmoil. Even the merchant roads in the heart of Breodanir can become wild, unknown places between one step and the next; some have walked those roads, never to return. Now, more than ever, Breodanir has need of Hunter Lords as symbols of strength and stability.

Stephen of Maubreche and his huntbrother Nenyane have been summoned in disgrace to the King’s City. They, and other hunters who have rejected Hunter oaths, are to be schooled in the necessity of the oaths they’ve rejected.

If only it were that simple.

The problem students soon find themselves tested against the forces of the wilderness, the shadows of demons—and even each other.

If they fail these tests, Breodanir will fall—and the entirety of the West will become the Lord of the Hells’ domain.

Given how verbose and repetitive Michelle West is, my biggest concern was that without an editor who can put her foot down (even though the author got away with way too much repetition and focus on pointless extraneous plotlines for years), Hunter's Redoubt would be a bit of a mess. Unfortunately, it is that and more. Clocking in at more than a thousand pages, it's is an absurdly long book considering how little actually occurs from start to finish. One would have thought that it would at least conclude the Breodanir storyline of the saga, but to all ends and purposes it's just the start of it. Yes, West is as repetitive as in her previous works, perhaps more. Another problem that plagues this new novel is the fact that West feels the need to retell everything that took place in the Sacred Hunt duology on multiple occasions. A What Has Gone Before section at the beginning of the book would have worked wonders and would have prevented the narrative from getting bogged down time and time again with various details from the earlier novels. I understand that it's been nearly thirty years and that some readers may not remember much more than the key plot points, but such a section would have been the perfect reminder and would have allowed the author to go along with the End of Days elements instead of being forced to go through all the pertinent information from both Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death in several scenes. All told, you could probably cut at least 250 pages from Hunter's Redoubt without losing anything important. It looks as though the absence of a editor will be detrimental to this final series in more ways than one.

As a mater of course, the worldbuilding remains the most amazing aspect of this saga. It's evident that there is a depth to Michelle West's universe that rivals those of Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker, and it's a depth that keeps growing with each new installment. Which continues to be quite a feat, considering how high the bar has been raised thus far. Though the tale doesn't progress quite as much as I would have expected, Hunter's Redoubt unveils new secrets about Breodanir, the firstborn, the Ariani, the Sleepers, the gods and goddesses, Meralonne, the Wilderness, and more. All of which added yet more layers to what is already one of the most convoluted fantasy series of all time. Trouble is, worldbuilding is only the backdrop of the tale. No matter how detailed and complex that facet turns out to be, it's all a matter of execution on the part of the author that will allow it to shine or not. And as mentioned, West's newest has more in common with the House War books, and that's not necessarily a good thing.

Characterization is what ultimately sunk the House War series. Unfortunately, the poor characterization and the weird choice of perspectives often undermined what should have been key and emotionally charged moments. It is a bit better with Hunter's Redoubt. Having said that, it couldn't really be worse. The very best addition is Gervanno di’Sarrado, a former Annagarian soldier and now a caravan guard who'll have the misfortune of getting swept into events when demons decimate his companions and reality continues to unravel in Breodanir. Coming from the Dominion, his perspective is fresh and interesting. Not surprisingly, Stephen of Maubreche, son of the Breodanir god, and his huntbrother Nenyane, a strange girl with no memories of her past, were also intriguing new faces. A little too much air time was given to those sent to the King's City, especially about the tension between Ansel and Heiden. It was nice having things come full circle and have Kallandras and Meralonne return to Breodanir. But did we really need Jarven ATerafin's POV? In true House War fashion, his perspective served no purpose yet kept returning at times when it just got in the way of better things. As far as the supporting cast is concerned, the Master Gardener of Maubreche remains the most fascinating surprise.

The novel starts with a bang with a prologue focusing on the Shining Court which brings various threads from previous titles together. Gervanno di’Sarrado's introduction is also quite good, and for a while it seemed that Michelle West was back on track. However, as the Wilderness keeps encroaching and reality continues to unravel throughout Breodanir, and as demons and strange creatures lay waste to villages, too much focus is put on the students sent to Hunter's Redoubt. Finally, when the major players are sent to do something about it, à la House War West concentrates on the little things that are not always important in the greater scheme of things. Why was the Lord of the Wilderness that must be defeated in order for the people of Margen to be saved never named, even though she was known to Meralonne? How did she bind the Silences? It's the End of Days, Allasakar and the armies of the Shining Court are about to be unleashed on the world, and the Burning Crown is meant to be comprised of four installments. Yet the first volume, weighing in at more than 1000 pages, is only about saving one small village and its people that disappeared in the Wilderness?

This is a Michelle West novel, so of curse there are pacing issues. The middle portion of Hunter's Redoubt is by far the slowest and most problematic. Things start picking up when we finally leave the King's City, but the endgame is not that exciting. Nor is the resolution, as you realize that essentially all that you've read over the course of more than a thousand pages was just about saving one small village in the middle of Breodanir. True, it establishes Stephen and Nenyane as important protagonists with a stake in the conflict to come with the Shining Court, and Gervanno di’Sarrado's link with the fox known as Eldest (as seen on the cover art), yet that's about it. I was hoping that this would match the scope and vision of the Sun Sword series. I guess it wasn't meant to be. . .

As I said, I'm totally invested into this saga and I can't wait to discover how it will end. Here's to hoping that the next volume, The Wild Road, will take the story further and will weave the threads from West's previous series together in a fashion that will make the End of Days a great ending to what has been one of the most complex fantasy series ever written.

The final verdict: 7/10

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can download Susanna Clarke's Piranesi 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:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, an intoxicating, hypnotic new novel set in a dreamlike alternative reality.

Piranesi's house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.

There is one other person in the house-a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.

For readers of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane and fans of Madeline Miller's Circe, Piranesi introduces an astonishing new world, an infinite labyrinth, full of startling images and surreal beauty, haunted by the tides and the clouds.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 13th)

In hardcover:

Stephen King's Never Flinch is down one position, ending the week at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

V. E. Schwab's Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is down three spots, finishing the week at number 5. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm is down one position, ending the week at number 9. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

R. F. Kuang's The Dragon Republic debuts at number 10. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rachel Gillig's The Knight and the Moth is down three positions, ending the week at number 15. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses is up two positions, ending the week at number 10. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is up three positions, ending the week at number 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop is down two spots, finishing the week at number 13. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Jasmine Mas' Psycho Shifters debuts at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame is down two positions, ending the week at number 15. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Martha Wells' Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy 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:

Perihelion and its crew embark on a dangerous new mission at a corporate-controlled station in the throes of a hostile takeover...

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Holly Black's Book of Night 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:

Charlie Hall has never found a lock she couldn’t pick, a book she couldn’t steal, or a bad decision she wouldn’t make.

She's spent half her life working for gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows to peer into locked rooms, strangle people in their beds, or worse. Gloamists guard their secrets greedily, creating an underground economy of grimoires. And to rob their fellow magicians, they need Charlie Hall.

Now, she’s trying to distance herself from past mistakes, but getting out isn’t easy. Bartending at a dive, she’s still entirely too close to the corrupt underbelly of the Berkshires. Not to mention that her sister Posey is desperate for magic, and that Charlie's shadowless, and possibly soulless, boyfriend has been hiding things from her. When a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie descends into a maelstrom of murder and lies.

Determined to survive, she’s up against a cast of doppelgangers, mercurial billionaires, gloamists, and the people she loves best in the world—all trying to steal a secret that will give them vast and terrible power.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness 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:

Ursula K. Le Guin's groundbreaking work of science fiction—winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards.

A lone human ambassador is sent to Winter, an alien world without sexual prejudice, where the inhabitants can change their gender whenever they choose. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the strange, intriguing culture he encounters...

Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.

You can also download Terry Brooks' Galaphile: The First Druids of Shannara for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks makes his triumphant return to the world of Shannara, delving deep into the origin story of the druid order and its enigmatic creator that will change the face of the Four Lands forever.

One of the most iconic structures in the Four Lands is Paranor, the fortress home of the Druid Order. Legend holds that it was erected by an Elven leader known as Galaphile Joss. But who was this Galaphile, and how and why did he choose to establish this center of magic and learning?

Within these pages we meet the real Galaphile, following him from a friendless teenage orphan stranded in the Human world to a powerful adult and master mage, studying under the infamous recluse, Cogline. We learn of the forces that shaped him—those he loved, and those he lost; those who aided him, and those who stood against him.

Throughout it all, Galaphile’s goal is a noble one: to bring order to a chaotic world, and to make life better for those trying to survive it. To this end, he commences building the citadel which will one day be known as Paranor with the aid of the King of the Silver River. But there is one other who seeks dominion over the Four Lands—and for far less virtuous ends.

For this foe has been corrupted by an ancient evil—one that will not only reach out and touch Galaphile’s nearest and dearest, but also echo down through the centuries, sowing the seeds for some of the darkest times the Four Lands will ever face.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Gail Z. Martin's Ice Forged 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:

From one of the most exciting writers of fantasy adventure comes the first novel in The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, a tale of unpredictable magic, battling warlords, and the lust for vengeance set in the unforgiving frozen wastes at the edge of the world.

Condemned as a murderer for killing the man who dishonored his sister, Blaine "Mick" McFadden has spent the last six years exiled in Velant, a penal colony in the frigid northern wastelands. Harsh military discipline and the oppressive magic keep a fragile peace as colonists struggle against a hostile environment. But the supply ships from Dondareth have stopped coming, boding ill for the kingdom that banished the colonists.

Now, as the world's magic runs wild, McFadden and the people of Velant must fight to survive and decide their fate . . .

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 6th)

In hardcover:

V. E. Schwab's Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is down one spot, finishing the week at number 2. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Stephen King's Never Flinch maintains its position at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

K.A. Linde's The Robin on the Oak Throne debuts at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm is up three positions, ending the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rachel Gillig's The Knight and the Moth is up one position, ending the week at number 12. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop is up two spots, finishing the week at number 11. 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 12. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame is down two positions, ending the week at number 13. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing maintains its position at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah J. Maas' House of Flame and Shadow is down thirteen spots, finishing the week at number 15. 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 Kim Stanley Robinson's Aurora 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:

A major new novel from one of science fiction's most powerful voices, AURORA tells the incredible story of our first voyage beyond the solar system.

Brilliantly imagined and beautifully told, it is the work of a writer at the height of his powers.

Our voyage from Earth began generations ago.

Now, we approach our new home.

AURORA.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download A Quest-Lover's Treasury of the Fantastic, an anthology compiled and edited by Margaret Weis, 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:

As far back as Homer's Odyssey, "the quest" has been a compelling and popular storytelling vehicle used in many enduring works of Western literature, including Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Pilgrim's Progress, and the contemporary fantasy favorite, The Lord of the Rings. Now, in homage to these timeless favorites, Margaret Weis has assembled a sparkling reprint collection of quest-driven gems by such notable fantasy authors as Neil Gaiman, C. J. Cherryh, Michael Moorcock, and Mercedes Lackey.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Saara El-Arifi’s Faebound 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:

Yeeran was born on the battlefield, has lived on the battlefield, and one day, she knows, she’ll die on the battlefield.

As a warrior in the elven army, Yeeran has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, is trying to make a living as a diviner, seeking prophecies of a better future.

When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven Lands, both sisters are forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders.

There they encounter the impossible: the fae court. The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world, torn among their loyalties to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Tad Williams' The War of the Flowers 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..

Here's the blurb:

Returning to the fantasy genre that made him a coast-to-coast best-selling phenomenon, Tad Williams writes this stand-alone contemporary fantasy novel, set in Northern California—and also in the strange parallel world that coexists in the farthest reaches of the imagination.Theo Vilmos is a thirty-year-old lead singer in a not terribly successful rock band. Once, he had enormous, almost magical charisma, both onstage and off—but now, life has taken its toll on Theo.

Hitting an all-time low, he seeks refuge in a isolated cabin in the woods. While there, he reads an odd memoir written by a dead relative who believed he had visited the magical world of Faerie. And before Theo can disregard the account as the writings of a madman, he, too, is drawn to a place beyond his wildest dreams...a place that will be, and has always been, his destiny.

Sub-Majer's Challenge

Sub-Majer's Challenge is the 25th installment in L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Recluce Saga and the third volume in Alyiakal's story arc. As you know, I wasn't happy to learn that what was originally meant to be a three-book cycle was turned into a four-book sequence because Tor Books were loath to release Alayiakal's story as three lengthy novels. I felt that such a split had a negative impact on Beltur's three-volume sequence a few years back and it sure looks as though it will be the same with Alyiakal's series.

My fear was that Overcaptain would ultimately be about half of the book the second installment was meant to be, with Sub-Majer's Challenge being the second half. It is now obvious that both novels were padded to a certain extent and trimming a number of scenes could have allowed the author and Tor Books to release Alyiakal's arc in three installments after all.

Here's the blurb:

L. E. Modesitt, Jr., New York Times bestselling fantasy author, continues his sweeping Saga of Recluce series with Sub-Majer's Challenge. The epic scope of the world, the intricate magic system, and a reluctant hero, continue the story arc that began with From the Forest and continued with Overcaptain.

Alyiakal, a sub-majer in the Mirror Lancers of Cyador, The Empire of Light, is serving the last year of his tour as commanding officer of a remote border post. Rumors hint that the Cerlynese Duke, in retaliation for Alyiakal's success in a border skirmish, is readying an even larger attack.

Against terrible odds, Alyiakal gains victory and a promotion. He takes leave only to discover his courtship of Saelora is opposed by her mother. Disappointed and reposted to the remote Pemedra Post—again—Alyiakal must navigate a rapidly developing war.

In the midst of this, when forces outnumbering his command five to one attack a small town, Alyiakal is given orders to drive out the invaders, whatever the cost.

The worldbuilding has always been one of the most interesting aspects of any new Recluce title. Each tale allows readers to discover how people and events shaped history during their lifetime. Alyiakal's story arc is the earliest series in the Recluce timeline. The action takes place more than three centuries before Magi'i of Cyador and Scion of Cyador, and more than seven centuries before Fall of Angels. In our interview last year, Modesitt stated that we'll probably never get the full story of the arrival of the First from the Rational Stars and the founding of Cyad. Which is too bad, as I'm really curious about this. Hence, I relish the few glimpses from the past that Alayiakal's tale has provided thus far. I was hoping to learn more about the Dissidents and what happened to them, but Sub-Majer's Challenge didn't shine any light on that mystery. Here's to hoping that the final volume, Last of the First, will reveal more about them.

Like its predecessor, Sub-Majer's Challenge is the immediate sequel to Overcaptain. As the title implies, it follows Alayiakal's stint as a sub-majer following his promotion and return to Pemedra Post. His romance with Saelora continues to progress and they finally get married. They have both reached a certain stage in their respective careers which allows them to tie the knot without fear of consequences. Someone from Alayiakal's past makes an unexpected return with some startling news. This was by far my favorite surprise and I'm looking forward to see how it will affect Alayiakal in the final installment. Politics are a bit more prevalent in this one, as decisions made in Cyad have repercussions that trickle down via orders from the Mirror Lancers' headquarters.

As a matter of course, Modesitt continues to explore the relationship between Order and Chaos. Being able to manipulate both Order and Chaos forces Alayiakal to test the limits of what he can do, while keeping his abilities secret. This strange dichotomy wouldn't sit well with some of his fellow soldiers, especially his superiors. The same can be said of the Magi'i, who are beginning to suspect that something is afoot. Throughout the novel, Alayiakal continues to funnel chaos energy from the sun every chance he gets. I was a bit disappointed by the fact that he uses the same tactics and strategies to dispatch enemy forces that he did in Overcaptain, which inevitably makes the action sequences in this book a bit predictable and less interesting.

Not surprisingly, like all Modesitt novels Sub-Majer's Challenge suffers from pacing issues from time to time. With the events taking place in Overcaptain meant to be the beginning and perhaps the middle of a single novel, the author's latest provides the endgame and the ending of that split book. As such, it offers some resolution and a more satisfying end than its predecessor. As expected, Alayiakal gets promoted and sent to the capital to work at the Mirror Lancers' headquarters. How he'll end up becoming Emperor remains to be seen, but I figure this means that Last of the First will be more eventful than most Recluce novels thus far.

Looking forward to see how it all ends!

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 Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses 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:

The sexy, action-packed first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Court of Thorns and Roses series from Sarah J. Maas.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.

At least, he's not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin-and his world-forever.

From bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Mark Lawrence's Prince of Fools 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:

The Red Queen is old but the kings of the Broken Empire dread her like no other. For all her reign, she has fought the long war, contested in secret, against the powers that stand behind nations, for higher stakes than land or gold. Her greatest weapon is The Silent Sister—unseen by most and unspoken of by all.

The Red Queen’s grandson, Prince Jalan Kendeth—drinker, gambler, seducer of women—is one who can see The Silent Sister. Tenth in line for the throne and content with his role as a minor royal, he pretends that the hideous crone is not there. But war is coming. Witnesses claim an undead army is on the march, and the Red Queen has called on her family to defend the realm. Jal thinks it’s all a rumor—nothing that will affect him—but he is wrong.

After escaping a death trap set by the Silent Sister, Jal finds his fate magically intertwined with a fierce Norse warrior. As the two undertake a journey across the Empire to undo the spell, encountering grave dangers, willing women, and an upstart prince named Jorg Ancrath along the way, Jalan gradually catches a glimmer of the truth: he and the Norseman are but pieces in a game, part of a series of moves in the long war—and the Red Queen controls the board.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (June 29th)

In hardcover:

V. E. Schwab's Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil debuts at number 1. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Stephen King's Never Flinch maintains its position at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm maintains its position at number 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rachel Gillig's The Knight and the Moth is down six positions, ending the week at number 13. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Stephen King's The Life of Chuck debuts at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Sarah J. Maas' House of Flame and Shadow debuts at number 2. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame is down three positions, ending the week at number 11. 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 12. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop is down three spots, finishing the week at number 13. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down one position, ending the week at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Iain M. Banks' The Algebraist 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:

It is 4034 AD. Humanity has made it to the stars. Fassin Taak, a Slow Seer at the Court of the Nasqueron Dwellers, will be fortunate if he makes it to the end of the year.

The Nasqueron Dwellers inhabit a gas giant on the outskirts of the galaxy, in a system awaiting its wormhole connection to the rest of civilization. In the meantime, they are dismissed as decadents living in a state of highly developed barbarism, hoarding data without order, hunting their own young and fighting pointless formal wars.

Seconded to a military-religious order he's barely heard of - part of the baroque hierarchy of the Mercatoria, the latest galactic hegemony - Fassin Taak has to travel again amongst the Dwellers. He is in search of a secret hidden for half a billion years. But with each day that passes a war draws closer - a war that threatens to overwhelm everything and everyone he's ever known.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (June 22nd)

In hardcover:

Stephen King's Never Flinch is down two positions, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rachel Gillig's The Knight and the Moth is down four positions, ending the week at number 7. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm is down two positions, ending the week at number 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame is down one position, ending the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop debuts at number 10. 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 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down two positions, ending the week at number 13. 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 Hannu Rajaniemi's Invisible Planets: Collected Fiction 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:

Mindblowingly inventive and beautifully written short stories from the most exciting new name in SF.

Hannu Rajaniemi exploded onto the SF scene in 2010 with the publication of his first novel The Quantum Thief. Acclaimed by fellow authors such as Charles Stross, Adam Roberts and Alastair Reynolds and brilliantly reviewed everywhere from Interzone to the Times and the Guardian he swiftly established a reputation as an author who could combine extraordinary cutting edge science with beautiful prose and deliver it all with wit, warmth and a delight in the fun of storytelling.

It is exactly these qualities that are showcased in this his first collection of short stories. Drawn from antholgies, magazines and online publications and brought together in book form for the first time in this collection here is a collection of seventeen short stories that range from the lyrical to the bizarre, from the elegaic to the impish. It is a collection that shows one of the great new imaginations in SF having immense fun.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Margaret Weis' The Lost King for 6.99$ 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. These space opera books were a big hit when they were published inthe 90s and I've always had a soft spot for them. They've been described as Battlestar Galactica meets Game of Thrones, and I guess that's a good description.

Here's the blurb:

A galactic revolution has toppled the Starfire dynasty, and swept into power the harsh Democratic Republic. To support the murdered king is now punishable by death. But on distant worlds, the few surviving Guardians carry a dangerous secret: Somewhere in the galaxy, they shield the rightful heir to the throne.

Stalking the hidden king is the warlord, a ruthless Republican general who wields the bloodsword. Only a few brave rebels dare to oppose him: young Dion who fights to find his destiny: the mercenary Tusk, the outlaw commander Dixter, and the beautiful Lady Maigrey, the only person alive who can match the the Warlord's cunning. Theirs is the ultimate battle against a star-spanning corruption – the ultimate sacrifice for the glory of the lost king's throne.

Fated

Since his name kept turning up every time I reviewed an urban fantasy title, I've been meaning to give Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series a shot for a long time now. As lots of fans pointed out, comparisons with Jim Butcher's Dresden Files are inevitable. Indeed, though both main protagonists couldn't be more different, the premise of the two series nonetheless bears many similarities. Too many? Up to you to decide if that's the case or not.

With seventeen installments already published and another one coming out in 2026, Butcher's saga has grown in the telling and has become one of my favorite SFF series of all time. As such, it's impossible to say how well Jacka's own series will eventually measure up. In the end, Fated shares many of the qualities and basically the same shortcomings as Storm Front.

Here's the blurb:

Enter a “gorgeously realized world” and meet a mage destined for greatness in the first novel in the national bestselling Alex Verus series.

Alex is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London that caters to clientele who can do much more than pull rabbits out of hats. And while Alex’s own powers aren’t as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future—allowing him to pull off operations that have a million to one chance of success.

But when Alex is approached by multiple factions seeking his skills to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever’s inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none....

Although Alex Verus is quite different than Harry Dresden in terms of personality, they share the same type of predicament to begin with. Both ran away from their past and are down-on-their-luck with crappy jobs. Needless to say, both will also be drawn into bigger things that will test them in ways they never envisioned. What the Dresden Files do for Chicago, it appears that the Alex Verus books will do for London, England. And when all the known diviners go to ground so as to not get involved in something that divides the Council and could have grave repercussions for anyone involved, Alex gets press-ganged by competing factions to help them recover an ancient artifact, all the while knowing that he likely won't be allowed to survive its retrieval.

Compared to Harry Dresden, Alex Verus is a more low-key character. As such, you would think that he'd be easier to relate to. And yet, at least in this first volume, I didn't find myself rooting for him like I did for the only wizard in Chicago's phonebook in Storm Front. Being virtually powerless in terms of brute strength against other mages, Alex must rely on his wits to come out on top. He's an interesting protagonist to follow, but his first-person narrative isn't as witty and entertaining as that of his counterpart from the Dresden Files. Alex doesn't have the charisma and the repartee that made Harry such a likeable character. He's a more thoughtful and humane person, mind you, yet I'm not sure he has the superstar potential that Harry Dresden had even at the very beginning. It will be interesting to see how Alex grows as a protagonist as the series progresses. The supporting cast isn't all that memorable, with the exception of Luna and her curse. I'm hoping we see more of her in subsequent installment and that Jacka will explore her relationship with Alex in more details.

One thing that's obvious from the get-go is that Benedict Jacka isn't as talented a writer as Jim Butcher was at the same stage in their careers. Jacka relies on info-dumps way too often in such a short book. He also has a tendency to use deus ex machina solutions to get Alex out of trouble, which becomes tiresome. I understand that this is the author's debut, so hopefully he will grow as a writer with each new volume. Fated offers lots of glimpses regarding lots of aspects of Jacka's universe, but nothing concrete about most of them. The magic system, in particular, could have been more fleshed out. There seems to be a lot more than meets the eye about Alex, his powers, and everything else. But until the author provides more substance, it's hard to say how much potential this series truly has.

Weighing in at barely 218 pages, Fated is a very short work. Kind of par for the course for urban fantasy, I know, and a debut at that, yet it does preclude a lot of exposition and the depth that comes with that. Still, it's a nice introduction, one that you'll go through in no time and, more importantly, one that makes you want to discover what happens next. Here's to hoping that, like Jim Butcher, Benedict Jacka will up his game with each new title and that each new addition will allow this series to reach new heights.

The final verdict: 7.5/10

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