More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download David J. Williams' The Mirrored Heavens 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.

Even better, you can your hands on the entire Autumn Rain trilogy for only 6.68$! Intelligent and exhilarating in equal measures, this series features enough politicking, backstabbing, action and explosions and battles to satisfy anyone looking for a good science fiction yarn that goes all out.

Here are links to my reviews of all three installments:

The Mirrored Heavens
The Burning Skies
The Machinery of Light

Here's the blurb:

In the 22nd century, the first wonder of a brave new world is the Phoenix Space Elevator, designed to give mankind greater access to the frontier beyond Earth. Cooperatively built by the United States and the Eurasian Coalition, the Elevator is also a grand symbol of superpower alliance following a second cold war. And it’s just been destroyed.

With suspicions rampant, armies and espionage teams are mobilized across the globe and beyond. Enter Claire Haskell and Jason Marlowe, U.S. counterintelligence agents and former lovers—though their memories may only be constructs implanted by their spymaster. Now their agenda is to trust no one. For as the crisis mounts, the lives of all involved will converge in one explosive finale—and a startling aftermath that will rewrite everything they’ve ever known—about their mission, their world, and themselves.

You can also download Jim Butcher's Brief Cases 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:

An all-new Dresden Files story headlines this urban fantasy short story collection starring the Windy City’s favorite wizard.

The world of Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, is rife with intrigue—and creatures of all supernatural stripes. And you’ll make their intimate acquaintance as Harry delves into the dark side of truth, justice, and the American way in this must-have short story collection.

From the Wild West to the bleachers at Wrigley Field, humans, zombies, incubi, and even fey royalty appear, ready to blur the line between friend and foe. In the never-before-published “Zoo Day,” Harry treads new ground as a dad, while fan-favorite characters Molly Carpenter, his onetime apprentice, White Council Warden Anastasia Luccio, and even Bigfoot stalk through the pages of more classic tales.

With twelve stories in all, Brief Cases offers both longtime fans and first-time readers tantalizing glimpses into Harry’s funny, gritty, and unforgettable realm, whetting their appetites for more to come from the wizard with a heart of gold.

The collection includes:

• “Curses,” from Naked City, edited by Ellen Datlow
• “AAAA Wizardry,” from the Dresden Files RPG
• “Even Hand,” from Dark and Stormy Knights, edited by P. N. Elrod
• “B is for Bigfoot,” from Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron, edited by Jonathan Strahan. Republished in Working for Bigfoot.
• “I was a Teenage Bigfoot,” from Blood Lite III: Aftertaste, edited by Kevin J. Anderson. Republished in Working for Bigfoot.
• “Bigfoot on Campus,” from Hex Appeal, edited by P. N. Elrod. Republished in Working for Bigfoot.
• “Bombshells,” from Dangerous Women, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
• “Jury Duty,” from Unbound, edited by Shawn Speakman
• “Cold Case,” from Shadowed Souls, edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie Hughes
• “Day One,” from Unfettered II, edited by Shawn Speakman
• “A Fistful of Warlocks,” from Straight Outta Tombstone, edited by David Boop
• “Zoo Day,” a brand-new novella, original to this collection

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (May 17th)

In hardcover:

Amber V. Nicole's The Throne of Broken Gods debuts at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Ellis Hunter's Blood Bound debuts at number 5. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

TJ Klune's We Burn So Bright debuts at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Alex Aster's Starside is down one position, ending the week at number 7. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Matt Dinniman's Carl's Doomsday Scenario is up five positions, ending the week at number 9. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Matt Dinniman's The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook returns at number 13. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Devney Perry's Rites of the Starling is down seven spots, finishing the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary is down one position, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl maintains its position at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Christopher Ruocchio's Kingdoms of Death 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 fourth novel of the galaxy-spanning Sun Eater series merges the best of space opera and epic fantasy, as Hadrian Marlowe continues down a path that can only end in fire.

Hadrian Marlowe is trapped.

For nearly a century, he has been a guest of the Emperor, forced into the role of advisor, a prisoner of his own legend. But the war is changing. Mankind is losing.

The Cielcin are spilling into human space from the fringes, picking their targets with cunning precision. The Great Prince Syriani Dorayaica is uniting their clans, forging them into an army and threat the likes of which mankind has never seen.

And the Empire stands alone.

Now the Emperor has no choice but to give Hadrian Marlowe—once his favorite knight—one more impossible task: journey across the galaxy to the Lothrian Commonwealth and convince them to join the war. But not all is as it seems, and Hadrian’s journey will take him far beyond the Empire, beyond the Commonwealth, impossibly deep behind enemy lines.

Platform Decay

Like many readers, I enjoyed the first four Murderbot Diaries novellas. Having said that, I did begin to feel that too much of the plot always involved Murderbot saving a bunch of clueless and often stupid people. As mentioned in a number of my reviews, as fun and entertaining as these novellas turned out to be, everything was becoming a little redundant. Moving forward, I was hoping that Wells would elevate her game and bring this series to another level. Which she did in Network Effect, the first novel-length project featuring Murderbot. Indeed, the author kicked the story into high gear and the book became an exciting ride that made you want to beg for more.

Then came Fugitive Telemetry, which takes place before Network Effect. This was a little disappointing for this new novella couldn't move the story forward. Even worse, Martha Wells went for the same recipe which was already getting a old, at least in my book. In the end, it was as fun to read as the original novellas, but the novel proved that the author could push the envelope further and add layers to this tale and its characters. In my opinion, it felt as though Fugitive Telemetry was a backward step, relying on the same ingredients that made the past installments a commercial success instead of trying to move toward bigger and better things.

As the direct sequel to Network Effect, I dearly hoped that System Collapse would raise the bar higher than ever. Sadly, it's now clear that the Murderbot Diaries are a cash cow for Tordotcom and that they have no intention of making this series reach new heights any time soon. System Collapse read like the second part of Network Effect, and it's obvious that these two books should have been released as a single novel. Like all its predecessors, System Collapse was an engaging read. But I must admit that the magic has worn off. It feels like Wells is microwaving leftovers and rehashing the exact same plotlines over and over again.

So what about Platform Decay? More of the same, unfortunately. Once again, Murderbot must come to the rescue of people who have put themselves into danger. Though there's nothing new other than Murderbot having to deal with children, it remains a compelling read. Alas, the overall story arc of the series barely moves forward. As things stand, though there are eight volumes and a couple of shorts, the Murderbot Diaries are comprised of more installements than most SFF series while boasting a pagecount shorter than many epic fantasy or space opera novels.

Here's the blurb:

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment of Martha Wells' bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.

Having someone else support your bad decision feels kind of good.

After volunteering to run a rescue mission, Murderbot realizes that it will have to spend significant time with a bunch of humans it doesn't know.

Including human children. Ugh.

This may well call for... eye contact!

(Emotion check: Oh, for f—)

Sadly, the worldbuilding facet is once again kept to a bare minimum. As was the case with the last couple of Murderbot titles, there's very little in terms of revelations or new concepts/ideas and this newest work maintains the episodic format of the Murderbot Diaries. As always, there seems to be more than meets the eye. Which is probably what is the most frustrating aspect of this series. As mentioned in my previous reviews, as limited in scope and vision as all these novels/novellas/short stories appear to be, numerous signs hint that there is a depth to the storylines that will be explored in the future. Network Effect did just that and was a rewarding read. Still, just how ambitious and multilayered the Murderbot Diaries will turn out to be remains to be seen. And truth be told, Martha Wells and Tordotcom appear to be in no hurry whatsoever. Like System Collapse, Platform Decay felt a bit like a money-grab. Remember that I'm not paying for these books and I still feel this way. Can't imagine paying premium ebook prices or forking out nearly 20$ for hardcovers without feeling short-changed. Of course, your mileage may vary in that regard. . .

As I always say, first-person narratives are always tricky, but Martha Wells created an extremely endearing main character. Murderbot's POV definitely gives these works their unique flavor and makes this antisocial SecUnit one of the most interesting protagonists in science fiction today. Murderbot's perspective, full of sarcasm and social awkwardness, is as entertaing to read as it's always been. The addition of the emotion checks worked quite well and were fun to read. The supporting cast, especially the children, add a new emotional layer that Murderbot must learn to deal with and was well done.

Once again, Murderbot is called upon to save people. Yes, that's pretty much all it does in every story thus far. As mentioned in plenty of my reviews, as long as each new novella/novel/short story built on the groundwork laid by its predecessor, I would have no problem with that. Trouble is, it's not the case and this is beginning to be quite annoying. As was the case with both Fugitive Telemetry and System Collapse, Platform Decay doesn't cover a lot of ground and seems to be yet another a example of same old, same old. Was Network Effect just a fluke? No matter how charitable one tries to be, it sure looks as though they're trying to milk this series as much as humanly possible. And given the size of these books, even if you can mathematically call some of them novel-length projects, charging nearly as much for what is essentially little more than a novella as you'd pay for doorstoppers by Peter F. Hamilton, Alastair Reynolds, or Neal Stephenson, it makes for extremely poor value. Especially in this economy. As fun and entertaing as they can be, you're not exactly getting a lot of bang for your buck. And eight books down the line, it still feels as though we're only reading the beginning of Murderbot's story.

Given its size, I wasn't expecting Platform Decay to suffer from any pacing issues. But the rhythm does lag in the middle as the SecUnit tries to find a way to get those he must protect to safety. Still, I went through it in no time. Like its last few predecessors, though I liked it, there's no denying that something's missing. Network Effect raised the bar higher than it's ever been before and I'm now looking forward to more ambitous and complex storylines. The subsequent Murderbot Diaries installment were inferior works that failed to live up to my expectations. Time will tell if Martha Wells can step back up to the plate and follow through with bigger and better Murderbot adventures.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

The final verdict: 7/10

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

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download R. A. Salvatore's Spearwielder's Tale trilogy omnibus, comprised of The Woods Out Back, The Dragon's Dagger, and The Haggis Hunters, 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 factory worker becomes a hero in a mystical world of adventure and danger, in this fantasy trilogy from the New York Times–bestselling author.

Gary Leger is desperate for adventure. Daydreaming and fantasy novels are his only escapes, and he spends much of his free time reading in the woods behind his house. That's when adventure finds him. Or rather, that's when he's hit with a tranquilizer arrow . . .

When Gary comes to, he discovers he's traveled to the land of Faerie, a world populated by creatures from his fantasy novels—and they need his help. Only Gary can wear the enchanted armor that will allow him to wield a magic spear. In a series of adventures, Gary will team up with a trouble-making leprechaun, an aloof elf, a surly dwarf, and more. Together they must face off against a fearsome witch, a deadly dragon, an army, and a wicked king to restore peace to the kingdom.

You can also download Lois McMaster Bujold's Darksight Dare for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Penric takes a chance…

Two intractable problems are brought to the door of sorcerer Learned Penric of Vilnoc and his Temple demon Desdemona. Cinar Camurat, a mutilated Cedonian cavalry captain, has traveled two thousand sea miles to Penric for aid. Iva of Bita, a secret hedge sorceress, lies dying in her Orban hill village, and wants no aid at all.

Penric and Desdemona know well the hazards of medicine and magic, but their greatest puzzle may lodge in the tangle of hopes and fears in human and demonic hearts.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Peter V. Brett's The Warded Man 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:

As darkness falls after sunset, the corelings rise—demons who possess supernatural powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity.

For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards—symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile. It was not always this way. Once, men and women battled the corelings on equal terms, but those days are gone. Night by night the demons grow stronger, while human numbers dwindle under their relentless assault. Now, with hope for the future fading, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will dare the impossible, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past. Together, they will stand against the night.

You can also get your hands on the digital edition of Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Here we meet fifteen-year-old runaway Kafka Tamura and the elderly Nakata, who is drawn to Kafka for reasons that he cannot fathom. As their paths converge, acclaimed author Haruki Murakami enfolds readers in a world where cats talk, fish fall from the sky, and spirits slip out of their bodies to make love or commit murder, in what is a truly remarkable journey.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Peter F. Hamilton's Pandora's Star 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 year is 2380. The Intersolar Commonwealth, a sphere of stars, contains more than six hundred worlds interconnected by a web of transport “tunnels” known as wormholes. At the farthest edge of the Commonwealth, astronomer Dudley Bose observes the impossible: over one thousand light-years away, a star . . . disappears. Since the location is too distant to reach by wormhole, the Second Chance, a faster-than-light starship commanded by Wilson Kime, a five-times-rejuvenated ex-NASA pilot, is dispatched to learn what has occurred and whether it represents a threat.

Opposed to the mission are the Guardians of Selfhood, led by Bradley Johansson. Shortly after the journey begins, Kime wonders if the crew of the Second Chance has been infiltrated. But soon enough he will have other worries. Halfway across the galaxy, something truly incredible is waiting: a deadly discovery whose unleashing will threaten to destroy the Commonwealth . . . and humanity itself.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (May 10th)

In hardcover:

Alex Aster's Starside is down one position, ending the week at number 6. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Devney Perry's Rites of the Starling is down four spots, finishing the week at number 8. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Matt Dinniman's Carl's Doomsday Scenario is down two positions, ending the week at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary is down one position, ending the week at number 2. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl maintains its position at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Melissa J. Cave's Traitor Son 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.

The two sequels, Stardust Child and Last of His Blood, are also on sale for 4.99$ each.

Here's the blurb:

A battle-scarred knight who dreams of peace. A secret princess who knows the Empire’s darkest truths. And a marriage written in blood and betrayal.

After seven years of war, Remin of Andelin returns as the Empire’s most infamous hero...and the son of its greatest traitors. His reward is a ravaged duchy on the edge of the Empire, a noble title that only brings more enemies, and the hand of a princess no one’s ever heard of.

Princess Ophele Agnephus was raised in exile, the illegitimate daughter of the Divine Emperor and a disgrace to the sacred stars. Bound by her father’s bloody legacy and distrusted by her husband, she faces an even deadlier choice: to protect a secret that could shatter the Empire, or tell the truth about the cataclysm that destroyed Remin’s world.

Remin can’t afford to trust her. Even as he labors to build his new city by day and protects it from devils by night, he knows that Ophele could be everything: his love and his bride, the foundation of his new House…or the Emperor’s weapon, placed at his side to destroy everything he has left.

Epic in scope and intimate in heart, Traitor Son is a sweeping romantic fantasy about love in the ruins of a century of war, and the impossible dream of peace. Perfect for fans of monster-hunting in The Witcher, the lush world and Machiavellian politics of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series, and the sweeping history and unforgettable romance of Outlander.

Begin an epic journey with Traitor Son, and discover a love that could redeem an Empire.

You can also download Christopher Ruocchio's Disquiet Gods for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

The sixth and penultimate novel of the galaxy-spanning Sun Eater series merges the best of space opera and epic fantasy, as Hadrian Marlowe continues down a path that can only end in fire

Ambitious universe-building combines with intimate character portraits for storytelling on a truly epic scale—for fans of Orson Scott Card, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Patrick Rothfuss and Jack Campbell

The end is nigh.

It has been nearly two hundred years since Hadrian Marlowe assaulted the person of the Emperor and walked away from war. From his Empire. His duty. From the will and service of the eldritch being known only as the Quiet. The galaxy lies in the grip of a terrible plague, and worse, the Cielcin have overrun the realms of men.

A messenger has come to Jadd, bearing a summons from the Sollan Emperor for the one-time hero. A summons, a pardon, and a plea. HAPSIS, the Emperor’s secret first-contact intelligence organization, has located one of the dreadful Watchers, the immense, powerful beings worshipped by the Pale Cielcin.

Called out of retirement and exile, the old hero—accompanied by his daughter, Cassandra—must race across the galaxy and against time to accomplish one last, impossible task:

To kill a god.

Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead

K. J. Parker's Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead completely flew under my radar last year. I had never heard of it until last month's ebook sale. The blurb immediately piqued my curiosity and I decided to give it a shot. The premise appears to be similar to that of Joe Abercrombie's The Devils. But other than being two fun and often hilarious reads, the two novels have very little in common.

Brother Desiderius is by far the most endearing and sarcastic narrator I've encountered in recent years and, despite certain flaws in execution, he truly made this book a memorable read.

Here's the blurb:

From World Fantasy Award-winning author K.J. Parker comes a devilishly clever tale of murder, intrigue, and existential crisis.

Not even the Church of the Invincible Sun is invincible – and somebody has to do its dirty work. Enter Sister Svangerd and her accompanying priest, both first-rate practitioners. Their mission is simple: to make a meddlesome princess disappear (permanently).

To get to her, they must attend the legendary Ecumenical Council, the once-in-a-century convening of the greatest spiritual minds the world has to offer. But when they arrive, they find instead a den of villainy that would make the most hardened criminal blush.

To complicate matters further, it appears that some people who were definitely grim reapered might be not quite dead after all. What began as a little assassination is about to escalate into a theological debate with terrifying consequences for everyone.

Brother Desiderius, reluctant priest of the Church of the Invincible Sun, scribe, and self-proclaimed top-of-the-line forger of documents, must accompany Sister Svangerd, devout nun and eager assassin, on a mission to kill a troublesome member of the clergy during the upcoming Ecumenical Council convened by the patriarch in the far-away city of Choris Anthropou. Business as usual for the unlikely duo, or so it seems until they are attacked on the road at the beginning of their journey. To make matters worse, someone else murders their target before they have the chance to do so. Soon, the would-be assassins are thrust into an unanticipated episode of the Long Game, the eternal struggle between the forces of Good and Evil. Various factions have decided that Brother Desiderius is at the heart of everything that must transpire during the council for their side to ultimately claim victory. But what can a cynical atheist who doesn't even believe in the Long Game do when people around him start to die and, even more worrisome, don't stay dead? It's quite the connondrum for this poor unbeliever.

The title can be a bit misleading, as Sister Svangerd is not the main protagonist. Not even close, to be honest. If not for the fact that the narrator is so entertaining, it could perhaps have been a bit of a problem for me. Given the title, one would expect the nun to play more than what turned out to be a marginal role in the tale that is Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead. And yet, it's definitely Brother Desiderius' first-person perspective that gives this novel its unique flavor. Through the priest's cynicism and ironic world views, K. J. Parker explore themes such as the nature of good and evil, faith, religious dogma, free will and predestination, and much, much more. The dark humor that permeates every page of this book worked its magic on me from start to finish.

The author keeps his cards close to his chest regarding the worldbuilding aspect of this new trilogy. Moreover, given the atheist nature of the main character, the fact that he believes in nothing and figures that religion is rubbish, it forces those who are trying to pressgang him into furthering their own agenda, be it for good or evil, to explain every little thing to Brother Desiderius. Which means that, after meandering for the better part of the entire novel, the plot only begins to make sense following a number of info-dump conversations which come late into the story. Again, though it's part of the title, the use of the walkers/zombies became a bit redundant after a while. I didn't mind, so enamored was I of the priest's POV. But yes, execution was lacking to a certain extent, especially in the second half of the book.

Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead doesn't suffer from any pacing issues. True, it's a slow-moving plot that can be a little confusing at times. And there isn't anything that can be called an exciting endgame or a riveting finale. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

How an irreverent and cynical unbeliever ended up as the lynchpin for all the factions involved in the generation-spanning battle between the forces of Good and Evil, Brother Desiderius has no idea. God knows I want to discover what happens next!

The final verdict: 8/10

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

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Peter F. Hamilton's The Reality Dysfunction 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:

Space is not the only void…

In AD 2600 the human race is finally beginning to realize its full potential. Hundreds of colonized planets scattered across the galaxy host a multitude of prosperous and wildly diverse cultures. Genetic engineering has pushed evolution far beyond nature’s boundaries, defeating disease and producing extraordinary spaceborn creatures. Huge fleets of sentient trader starships thrive on the wealth created by the industrialization of entire star systems. And throughout inhabited space the Confederation Navy keeps the peace. A true golden age is within our grasp.

But now something has gone catastrophically wrong. On a primitive colony planet a renegade criminal’s chance encounter with an utterly alien entity unleashes the most primal of all our fears. An extinct race which inhabited the galaxy aeons ago called it “The Reality Dysfunction.” It is the nightmare which has prowled beside us since the beginning of history.

THE REALITY DYSFUNCTION is a modern classic of science fiction, an extraordinary feat of storytelling on a truly epic scale.

You can also download Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Sisterhood of Dune 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 inspiration for the HBO original series DUNE: PROPHECY, coming Fall 2024!

It is 83 years after the last thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin, after Faykan Butler took the name of Corrino and established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium.

The war hero Vorian Atreides has turned his back on politics and Salusa Secundus. The descendants of the disgraced Abulurd Harkonnen have sworn vengeance against Vor, blaming him for the downfall of their noble family.

Raquella Berto-Anirul has formed the Bene Gesserit School and, through a terrible ordeal, has become the first Reverend Mother.

The descendants of Aurelius Venport and Norma Cenva use mutated, spice-saturated Navigators who fly precursors of Heighliners.

And Gilbertus Albans, ward of the hated thinking machine Erasmus, is teaching humans to become Mentats…while hiding an unbelievable secret.

Led by the fanatic Manford Torondo, the Butlerian movement, fiercely opposed to all forms of "dangerous technology," sweeps across the known universe in mobs, millions strong, destroying everything in its path.

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 Tad Williams' Shadowmarch for only 1.99$ by folllowing 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:

For generations the misty Shadowline has marked the boundary between the lands of men and the lost northern lands that are the lair of their inhuman enemies, the ageless Qar. but now that boundary line is moving outward, threatening to engulf the northernmost land in which humans still live--the kingdom of Southmarch.

For centuries, the Eddon family has ruled in ancient, forbidding Southmarch Castle, guarding the border against the Qar's return, but now this powerful royal line has been dealt a devestating blow. The monarch, King Olin, is being held captive in a distant land, and it falls to his inexperienced heirs to lead their people in a time of growing danger and dread.

It is on the two youngest Eddons that the heaviest burdens fall. The twins Barrick and Briony, who in such evil times have only each other, may lose even that bond as darkness closes over them. As the Qar's power reaches out across their land, will Southmarch Castle, the only home they've ever known, become in fact what it has long been called--Shadowmarch?

Audible Deal

If you're into audio books, Audible has a promotion that allows you to get the first three months of your membership for as little as 0.99$ per month.

Follow this link if you're interested.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box 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:

Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre: a cookbook for cannibals . . . a used hangman's noose . . . a snuff film. An aging death-metal rock god, his taste for the unnatural is as widely known to his legions of fans as the notorious excesses of his youth. But nothing he possesses is as unlikely or as dreadful as his latest discovery, an item for sale on the Internet, a thing so terribly strange, Jude can't help but reach for his wallet.

I will "sell" my stepfather's ghost to the highest bidder. . .

For a thousand dollars, Jude will become the proud owner of a dead man's suit, said to be haunted by a restless spirit. He isn't afraid. He has spent a lifetime coping with ghosts—of an abusive father, of the lovers he callously abandoned, of the bandmates he betrayed. What's one more?

But what UPS delivers to his door in a black heart-shaped box is no imaginary or metaphorical ghost, no benign conversation piece. It's the real thing.

And suddenly the suit's previous owner is everywhere: behind the bedroom door . . . seated in Jude's restored vintage Mustang . . . standing outside his window . . . staring out from his widescreen TV. Waiting—with a gleaming razor blade on a chain dangling from one bony hand. . .

A multiple-award winner for his short fiction, author Joe Hill immediately vaults into the top echelon of dark fantasists with a blood-chilling roller-coaster ride of a novel, a masterwork brimming with relentless thrills and acid terror.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (May 3rd)

In hardcover:

Devney Perry's Rites of the Starling is down three spots, finishing the week at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Alex Aster's Starside maintains its position at number 5. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

James S. A. Corey's The Faith of Beasts debuts at number 7. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Matt Dinniman's Carl's Doomsday Scenario maintains its positions at number 12. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Matt Dinniman's The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook returns at number 13. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary maintains its position at number 1. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl is up one position, ending the week at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

L.J. Shen's Twisted Pawn is down ten spots, finishing the week at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Danielle L. Jensen's The Tempest Blade debuts at number 15. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

UK cover art for Steven Erikson's LEGACIES OF BETRAYAL

The folks at Penguin Random House have unveiled the new cover art for Steven Erikson's upcoming Legacies of Betrayal and I must admit that it's much better than its American counterpart.

Here's the blurb:

Endless training, gruelling marches, and the frenzy of battle against more enemies than can be counted - such is the life of a marine in the Malazan Empire.

Year by year, month by month, week by week, day by day, moment by moment. Skills are honed to deadly precision, the secret language of the soldier in a world drowning in perpetual discontent, the eternal conflict against the fates. And we should forget the seemingly inevitable interference of mischievous gods and more often than not, the resurrected remains of ancient and once believed long-dead entities.

As a new holy war starts sparked in the fire-blackened cauldron of Seven Cities, the Fifth and Sixth squads are about to embark a mission they don't want for a cause they don't care about. Not that anybody asked their opinion. They can only hope that their objective isn't as hopeless as it seems, and that they aren't simply being used as pawns - a strategic sacrifice, if you will, in the machinations of their betters.

So what's life like as a marine in the Malazan Army?

Well, let's see, shall we . . .

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

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The epic, beloved novel of two boy geniuses dreaming up superheroes in New York’s Golden Age of comics, now with special bonus material by the author

“It's absolutely gosh-wow, super-colossal—smart, funny, and a continual pleasure to read.”—The Washington Post Book World

One of The New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century • One of Entertainment Weekly’s 10 Best Books of the Decade • Finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize • A Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Book of the Century

A “towering, swash-buckling thrill of a book” (Newsweek), hailed as Chabon’s “magnum opus” (The New York Review of Books), The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is a triumph of originality, imagination, and storytelling, an exuberant, irresistible novel that begins in New York City in 1939.

A young escape artist and budding magician named Joe Kavalier arrives on the doorstep of his cousin, Sammy Clay. While the long shadow of Hitler falls across Europe, America is happily in thrall to the Golden Age of comic books, and in a distant corner of Brooklyn, Sammy is looking for a way to cash in on the craze. He finds the ideal partner in the aloof, artistically gifted Joe, and together they embark on an adventure that takes them deep into the heart of Manhattan, and the heart of old-fashioned American ambition. From the shared fears, dreams, and desires of two teenage boys, they spin comic book tales of the heroic, fascist-fighting Escapist and the beautiful, mysterious Luna Moth, otherworldly mistress of the night. Climbing from the streets of Brooklyn to the top of the Empire State Building, Joe and Sammy carve out lives, and careers, as vivid as cyan and magenta ink.

Spanning continents and eras, this superb book by one of America’s finest writers remains one of the defining novels of our modern American age.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Pierce Brown's Red Rising 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:

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Adrian Tchaikovsky's Spiderlight 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:

An exhilarating fantasy quest from Adrian Tchaikovsky, the author of Service Model and the Shadows of the Apt series.

The path to victory will only be seen through a spider's eyes.

The Church of Armes of the Light has battled the forces of Darkness for as long as anyone can remember. The great prophecy has foretold that a band of misfits, led by a high priestess will defeat the Dark Lord Darvezian, armed with their wits, the blessing of the Light and an artifact stolen from the merciless Spider Queen.

Their journey will be long, hard and fraught with danger. Allies will become enemies; enemies will become allies. And the Dark Lord will be waiting, always waiting...

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 Michael A. Stackpole's A Hero Born 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 sweeping epic fantasy from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Dark Glory War and Star Wars novels.

An apprentice swordsman, Locke has ridden the narrow trail to the City of the Sorcerers to see with his own eyes the Ward Walls that hold back the Realms of Chaos. It is Locke's dream to become a Chaos Rider, and he seeks his destiny beyond the Wall. And it is Locke's hope that somewhere in the Wildness, where time and change rage out of control, his lost father still survives.

But more than mere survival is at stake. For on the other side of the Wall awaits a Darkness beyond all ken—a burgeoning evil that will test the steel of one young hero . . . and the entire bold and foolish race called Humanity.