More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Katharine Kerr's Daggerspell for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link.

Here's the blurb:

Even as a young girl, Jill was a favorite of the magical, mysterious Wildfolk, who appeared to her from their invisible realm. Little did she know her extraordinary friends represented but a glimpse of a forgotten past and a fateful future. Four hundred years—and many lifetimes—ago, one selfish young lord caused the death of two innocent lovers. Then and there he vowed never to rest until he'd rightened that wrong-and laid the foundation for the lives of Jill and all those whom she would hold dear: her father, the mercenary soldier Cullyn; the exiled berserker Rhodry Maelwaedd; and the ancient and powerful herbman Nevyn, all bound in a struggle against darkness. . . and a quest to fulfill the destinies determined centuries ago.

Here in this newly revised edition comes the incredible novel that began one of the best-loved fantasy seers in recent years—a tale of bold adventure and timeless love, perilous battle and pure magic. For long-standing fans of Deverry and those who have yet to experience this exciting series, Daggerspell is a rare and special treat.

You can also download Elizabeth Moon's Sheepfarmer's Daughter for only 5.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter may be the daughter of a humble sheep farmer in the far north end of the kingdom, but she dreams of so much more. After refusing her father’s orders to do the sensible thing and marry the pig farmer down the road, Paks, runs away to join a band of mercenaries, dreaming of daring deeds and military glory. But life in the army is different than she imagined, and her daydreams at first seem to be turning to nightmares. But Paks refuses to let her dreams die—and does her duty with honor and integrity. Her path is an arduous one, but it will transform her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.

The Compton Crook Award‑winning first novel from Nebula‑winning author Elizabeth Moon. The first in the Paksenarrion Trilogy—now with an all‑new introduction by the author.

Sheepfarmer's Daughter

These last few years, I've been trying to give older SFF works a shot. Unfortunately, being a reviewer means that I receive new books all the time. Which means that the hundreds of unread novels/series I already owned when I created the Hotlist back in 2005 have remained unread to this day. It dawned upon me a while back that I will never get the chance to read all the books I have at home and those I don't have but want to read. Still, I've decided to give those I should have read long ago a go. Or at least as many of them as humanly possible.

Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion is one such series I've been meaning to read forever. I remember buying Sheepfarmer's Daughter during the early 90s. Paksenarrion's tale grew in scope and popularity over the years, and I kept telling myself that I would read it soon. Some call it the ultimate paladin story and I was eager to finally discover what it was all about. At the turn of the year, once I finished the first arc of Katharine Kerr's Deverry cycle, I told myself that the time had come for Elizabeth Moon to be next in the rotation.

Here's the blurb:

Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter may be the daughter of a humble sheep farmer in the far north end of the kingdom, but she dreams of so much more. After refusing her father’s orders to do the sensible thing and marry the pig farmer down the road, Paks, runs away to join a band of mercenaries, dreaming of daring deeds and military glory. But life in the army is different than she imagined, and her daydreams at first seem to be turning to nightmares. But Paks refuses to let her dreams die—and does her duty with honor and integrity. Her path is an arduous one, but it will transform her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.

The Compton Crook Award‑winning first novel from Nebula‑winning author Elizabeth Moon. The first in the Paksenarrion Trilogy—now with an all‑new introduction by the author.

As a former member of the US Marine Corps, it comes as no surprise that Moon spent the bulk of her career writing military fantasy and military science fiction works. She definitely knows what she's talking about and she imbues her stories with a realism that civilian authors probably never quite get right. As Pakse joins a mercenary company, readers get to live through the unending repetitive nature of drills and military training. The same goes for life on the road as an infantry unit and the harsh routine that such a lifestyle implies. Some readers seem to find such things a bit boring, yet I figure that they are staples of military life. Especially for new recruits like Pakse.

I really enjoyed how Moon pulled the rug from under the sheep herder/farmer becoming the chosen one trope and replaced it with a girl unwilling to marry a pig farmer instead. Though it's early yet, you can already tell that Paksenarrion is destined for great things. And yet, for the better part of Sheepfarmer's Daughter she's just a naive country bumpkin do-gooder who wants to live life on her own terms. Military life will make her grow as a character. It was interesting to see how the camaraderie with her fellow mercenaries, the emotional highs of victory, the bitterness of having to surrender, and the horrible loss associated with the death of her friends will all shape Pakse into the woman she is meant to become. Understandably, Paksenarrion takes center stage in this story. There are a few poignant moments with secondary characters which show the strength of the bonds forged in such adversity, but I wish there could have been a bit more of them. The supporting cast doesn't get to shine that much, other than Canna and Saben during their harrowing escape with Pakse and Stammel, especially during what led to the rape trial.

Sheepfarmer's Daughter does suffer from pacing issues. I guess it's inevitable with the depictions of the drudgery of drills and military life in general. Having said that, these slower portions are offset by more exciting action sequences of battles and sieges. So it was never a problem for me. Elizabeth Moon's prose creates a vivid imagery and it's impossible not to root for Pakse. It's evident that this first volume is just a set-up book meant to get you invested in the main protagonist and her story. It sure worked for me.

Sheepfarmer's Daughter was first published in 1998, but it has aged particularly well. This is not always the case for books/series dating from the 80s and 90s. Anyone looking for a strong female lead and no romance will probably find a lot to like about this novel. Personally, I'm looking forward to reading the sequels!

The final verdict: 7.75/10

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

Musical Interlude

Kicking it old school today! =)

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts' Daughter of the Empire, first installment in the excellent Empire trilogy, for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

An epic tale of adventure and intrigue, Daughter of the Empire is fantasy of the highest order by two of the most talented writers in the field today.

Magic and murder engulf the realm of Kelewan. Fierce warlords ignite a bitter blood feud to enslave the empire of Tsuranuanni. While in the opulent Imperial courts, assassins and spy-master plot cunning and devious intrigues against the rightful heir. Now Mara, a young, untested Ruling lady, is called upon to lead her people in a heroic struggle for survival. But first she must rally an army of rebel warriors, form a pact with the alien cho-ja, and marry the son of a hated enemy. Only then can Mara face her most dangerous foe of all—in his own impregnable stronghold.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (February 23rd)

In hardcover:

Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm maintains its position at number 1. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame maintains its position at number 2. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

TJ Klune's The Bones Beneath my Skin debuts at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles debuts at number 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down six spots, finishing the week at number 12. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Chloe C. Peñaranda's The Night is Defying is down ten positions, ending the week at number 13. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down one position, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses is down one position, ending the week at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Callie Hart's Quicksilver maintains its position at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is down five spots, finishing the week at number 9. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses maintains its position at number 5. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Callie Hart's Quicksilver is down one position, ending the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower is down four spots, finishing the week at number 15. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can download Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian: 20 Adventure Tales of Conan for only 0.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale. 1740 pages featuring Conan the Cimmerian for less than 1$, it doesn't get much better than this!

Here's the blurb:

Conan The Barbarian is the original stories about adventure stories of conan the cimmerian written by Robert E. Howard in 1934-1936. In this book contains 20 stories of Conan The Cimmerian.

1.The Hyborian Age, first published in The Phantagraph, February-November 1936.
2.Shadows In the Moonlight, first published in Weird Tales, April 1934.
3.Queen Of the Black Coast, first published in Weird Tales, May 1934.
4.The Devil In Iron, first published in Weird Tales, August 1934.
5.The People Of the Black Circle, first published in Weird Tales, September, October and November 1934.
6.A Witch Shall Be Born, first published in Weird Tales in 1934.
7.The Jewels Of Gwahlur, first published in Weird Tales, March 1935.
8.Beyond the Black River, first published in Weird Tales magazine circa 1935.
9.Shadows In Zamboula, first published in Weird Tales, November 1935.
10.The Hour Of the Dragon, first published in Weird Tales, December 1935-April 1936.
11.Gods Of the North, first published in Fantasy Fan, March 1934.
12.Red Nails, First Published in Weird Tales, July, August-September, October 1936.
13. The Shadow of the Vulture, First published in the pulp magazine Magic Carpet Magazine, January 1934.
14.The Phoenix on the Sword, First published in 1932.
15.The Scarlet Citadel, First published in 1933.
16.The Tower of the Elephant, First published in 1933.
17.Black Colossus, First published in 1934.
18.The Slithering Shadow, First published in 1934.
19.The Pool of the Black One, First published in 1934.
20.Rogues in the House, First published in 1935.

Quote of the Day

There was an old Weston adage. The more human evil's face, the more dangerous the threat. It was, more often than not, true.

- MICHELLE WEST, Hunter's Oath

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

With the House War series ending in such disappointment, it took me a year to give Michelle West another chance. I was a bit concerned, for most people seem to agree that her first duology is her weakest work. And yet, perhaps because I had no expectations, I'm really enjoying this one thus far.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Robin Hobb's excellent Ship of Magic for only 3.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

Bingtown is a hub of exotic trade and home to a merchant nobility famed for its liveships—rare vessels carved from wizardwood, which ripens magically into sentient awareness. Now the fortunes of one of Bingtown’s oldest families rest on the newly awakened liveship Vivacia.

For Althea Vestrit, the ship is her rightful legacy. For Althea’s young nephew, wrenched from his religious studies and forced to serve aboard the ship, the Vivacia is a life sentence. But the fate of the ship—and the Vestrits—may ultimately lie in the hands of an outsider: the ruthless buccaneer captain Kennit, who plans to seize power over the Pirate Isles by capturing a liveship and bending it to his will.

BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Robin Hobb's Mad Ship.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (February 16th)

In hardcover:

Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm maintains its position at number 1. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Iron Flame maintains its position at number 2. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Chloe C. Peñaranda's The Night is Defying debuts at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down two spots, finishing the week at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing is down one position, ending the week at number 2. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is down one spot, finishing the week at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses maintains its position at number 5. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Callie Hart's Quicksilver is down one position, ending the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower is down seven spots, finishing the week at number 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Mist and Fury maintains its position at number 15. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Quote of the Day

She wanted to hold her son, one last time. Wanted to, but knew by the proud little thrust of his chest and chin that he would have been humiliated by it.

Children could be so cruel on their race and struggle to grow. But they could be crueler still, by dying.

- MICHELLE WEST, Hunter's Oath

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

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Ken Liu's The Grace of Kings 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:

Two men rebel together against tyranny—and then become rivals—in this first sweeping book of an epic fantasy series from Ken Liu, recipient of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards.

Wily, charming Kuni Garu, a bandit, and stern, fearless Mata Zyndu, the son of a deposed duke, seem like polar opposites. Yet, in the uprising against the emperor, the two quickly become the best of friends after a series of adventures fighting against vast conscripted armies, silk-draped airships, and shapeshifting gods. Once the emperor has been overthrown, however, they each find themselves the leader of separate factions—two sides with very different ideas about how the world should be run and the meaning of justice.

Fans of intrigue, intimate plots, and action will find a new series to embrace in the Dandelion Dynasty.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Joe Abercrombie's Red Country 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:

A New York Times bestseller!

They burned her home.
They stole her brother and sister.
But vengeance is following.

Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she'll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she's not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old step father Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb's buried a bloody past of his own. And out in the lawless Far Country the past never stays buried.

Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts. Even worse, it will force them into an alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust . . .

RED COUNTRY takes place in the same world as the First Law trilogy, Best Served Cold, andThe Heroes. This novel also represents the return of Logen Ninefingers, one of Abercrombie's most beloved characters.

You can also get your hands on N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season, Hugo award winner, 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:

THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS... FOR THE LAST TIME.

A season of endings has begun.

It starts with the great red rift across the heart of the world's sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun.

It starts with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter.

It starts with betrayal, and long dormant wounds rising up to fester.

This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy.

You can now download Marlon James' Black Leopard, Red Wolf for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

In this epic, internationally bestselling novel from Marlon James, the Man Booker Prize-winning author of A Brief History of Seven Killings, myth, fantasy and history merge in the stunning story of a mercenary's quest to find a missing child.

Tracker is known far and wide for his skills as a hunter: "He has a nose," people say. Hired to find a mysterious boy who has disappeared, Tracker breaks his own rule of always working alone when he finds himself part of a group assembled to search for the boy. The band is a hodgepodge, full of unusual characters with secrets of their own, including a shape-shifting man-animal known as the Leopard.

As Tracker follows the boy's scent, he and the band are set upon by creatures intent on destroying them. As he fights for survival, Tracker starts to wonder: Who, really, is this boy? Why has he been missing for so long? Why do so many people want to keep the boy from being found? And perhaps most important of all: Who is telling the truth, and who is lying?

Drawing from African history and mythology and his own rich imagination, Marlon James has written a saga of breathtaking adventure that's also an ambitious, involving read. Defying categorization and full of unforgettable characters, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is both surprising and profound as it explores the fundamentals of truth, the limits of power, the excesses of ambition, and our need to understand them all.