[bksvol-discuss] Fw: Fantasy July 2008

Fantasy July 2008
"Come not between the dragon and his wrath."
~ William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist and poet
New and Recently Released!
Dragons Wild - by Robert Asprin
Publisher: Ace Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 4/1/2008
ISBN: 9780441014705
ISBN-10: 0441014704
Urban Fantasy. While Dragons Wild has "a likable rake and plenty of action and 
quirky humor" (Library Journal), it may leave you feeling a bit melancholy.
Though the book was to be the 1st in a series, bestselling author Robert 
Asprin, an originator of humorous fantasy known for his Myth Adventures series,
unexpectedly passed away on May 22 (at least he went out in a way he would have 
liked, with a Terry Pratchett book in hand). Asprin's latest--and presumably
last--published book tells the story of talented poker player and recent 
college graduate Griffen "Grifter" McCandles, who learns that he and his sister
are almost 100% pureblood dragons.
The Sharing Knife, Volume Three: Passage - by Lois McMaster Bujold
Publisher: Eos
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 5/1/2008
ISBN: 9780061375330
ISBN-10: 0061375330
Romantic Fantasy. The marriage of Dag Redwing Hickory, a Lakewalker (they have 
magical gifts), and Fawn Bluefield, a Farmer (they, um, farm), upsets other
Lakewalkers and Farmers. In search of a way to bring the two groups together, 
the couple set off on a river journey; they are joined by Fawn's younger
brother, a pair of novice Lakewalkers, a farm boy (inadvertently beguiled by 
Dag), and a young female riverboat captain. Passage is the 3rd book in a planned
quartet (the 4th, Horizon, is due next February); readers unfamiliar with this 
delightful, character-driven series should start with the 1st installment,
Beguilement, in order to best appreciate the books.
Kushiel's Mercy - by Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Grand Central
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 6/12/2008
ISBN: 9780446500043
ISBN-10: 0446500046
Fantasy. "Love as thou wilt," Blessed Elua commands her followers, but Imriel 
and Sidonie didn't, and that caused quite a bit of trouble (read Kushiel's
Scion and Kushiel's Justice for details). Now, in the final book in the second 
Kushiel's Legacy trilogy, the couple finally admit their love and face the
consequences--from everyone except Elua. You see, Sidonie is heir to the throne 
of Terre d'Ange and Imriel's mother is a traitor. Some people question
Imriel's true motivation, including Queen Ysandre, who will disinherit her 
daughter Sidonie if she marries Imriel...unless he locates his own mother, 
Melisande,
who has been sentenced to death. Fans of author Storm Constantine's books will 
enjoy this sensual series.
From Dead to Worse - by Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 5/1/2008
ISBN: 9780441015894
ISBN-10: 0441015891
Mystery Fantasy. Not only are the effects of Hurricane Katrina still being felt 
by the people of Louisiana, the vamps and weres still feel them, too. Due
to the upheaval, waitress Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic human with sympathies 
for shapeshifters and the undead, finds herself in the midst of a vampire
skirmish and a were war...and her boyfriend is missing and a couple of gifted 
relatives turn up. Publishers Weekly says author Charlaine Harris "outdoes
herself" in this 8th in the series, "packing the story full of romantic tension 
and supernatural action." If you like Sookie's quick wit, you should make
the acquaintance of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden (Storm Front is the 1st in that 
series).
Promise of the Wolves - by Dorothy Hearst
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 6/3/2008
ISBN: 9781416569985
ISBN-10: 1416569987
Fantasy. If you like novels that feature animals--particularly the canine 
kind--you must check out Dorothy Hearst's fascinating debut novel, Promise of
the Wolves. In the Wide Valley, 14,000 years ago, a female wolf broke pack 
rules--she had an unauthorized litter of pups. To top things off, they were
fathered by an Outsider. Though Kaala, one of those young wolves, is a bit of 
an outcast, she is determined to find her place in the pack. But that won't
be easy, especially since she also breaks pack rules--by saving a young girl's 
life and spending time with humans. This 1st book in a planned trilogy will
have readers howling for the next installment.
Lord of Lies - by David Zindell
Publisher: Tor
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 4/15/2008
ISBN: 9780765311306
ISBN-10: 0765311305
Epic Fantasy. Prince Valashu Elahad, aka Val, has successfully and courageously 
obtained the sacred, grail-like Lightstone from the Dark Angel Morjin. Now
he just has to hang on to it long enough to find the Shining One, who can use 
it to save the lands of Ea. As his brothers and his father, King Shamesh,
march away to do battle against the vast armies of the terrible Morjin, Val is 
left behind to protect the sacred Lightstone. But treasonous plots and betrayal
surround him... Originally published in Britain in 2002, this latest 
installment in the Ea Cycle (after The Lightstone and The Silver Sword) is sure 
to
find readers among Robert Jordan's and Terry Goodkind's fans.
Here Be Dragons
Queen of Dragons - by Shana Abé
Publisher: Bantam Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 12/26/2007
ISBN: 9780553805284
ISBN-10: 0553805282
Historical Romantic Fantasy. In 18th-century England, Kimber Langford, Earl of 
Chasen, is the alpha leader of a group of shape-shifting humans called drákons,
who are capable of transforming into smoke...and dragons. The group desperately 
hides their secret, but they learn that there's a drákon living in the
Carpathian Mountains, Princess Maricara, who knows of their existence. 
Beautiful and strong-willed Maricara has unpleasant news for Kimber and his 
tribe--someone
wants all of them dead. Library Journal calls author Shana Abé's storytelling 
"graceful." If you are drawn in by the drákon's sensual allure, check out
the two other books that feature them, The Smoke Thief and The Dream Thief.
First Chapter
Dragonshadow - by Barbara Hambly
Publisher: Ballantine
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 1/1/2000
ISBN: 9780345421883
ISBN-10: 0345421884
Dark Fantasy. After their adventures in Dragonsbane (though this is the 2nd of 
four books, you don't need to have read the first), bespectacled Lord John
Aversin, who's famous for killing dragons, and his mage-born wife, Jenny 
Waynest, return in a dark tale that will push them to their limits. Their 
12-year-old
son, Ian, who's just beginning to show an aptitude for magic, has been taken 
prisoner by a demon who's snatching souls from mages and dragons. To save
their son and their land, they need the assistance of Morkeleb, the wise black 
dragon...but Morkeleb may not want to help. Booklist says Dragonshadow is
"heartbreaking, wryly comic, and breathtaking" and calls it "fantasy at its 
finest."
First Chapter
Song in the Silence: The Tale of Lanen Kaelar - by Elizabeth Kerner
Publisher: Tor
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 5/1/1998
ISBN: 9780812550443
ISBN-10: 0812550447
Fantasy. Lanen Kaelar is a 20-something farm girl whose cruel father has just 
died and, surprisingly, made her his heir. Now that she has a bit of money
and lots of freedom, Lanen sails the dangerous seas in order to follow her 
lifelong dream: to go to Dragon Isle and look for the True Dragons of legend.
Aboard ship, Lanen encounters a menacing man who may have a strange--and 
dangerous--connection to her. When she gets to the island, Lanen does indeed see
dragons; and there's one with whom she has an instant rapport. If you enjoy 
romantic adventure tales, pick up Song in the Silence, the 1st book in the
Tales of Kolmar trilogy.
First Chapter
Bitterwood - by James Maxey
Publisher: Solaris
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 6/26/2007
ISBN: 9781844164875
ISBN-10: 184416487X
Fantasy. Bant Bitterwood has been killing dragons for years. He's got 
cause--not only does he live in a world ruled by dragons where humans serve as 
pets
or workers, dragons also murdered his family. But Bant's latest killing has 
pushed the dragons to the edge; he killed the heir to the throne. Now the dragon
king has declared war on the human race, and is intent on eliminating all of 
them. Publishers Weekly says in a starred review that the world of Bitterwood
"is stunningly imaginative" and that "the dragons are wonderfully written." If 
you enjoy this tale and can't wait for more like it, you don't have to--James
Maxey's latest novel, Dragonforge, publishes this month, and the story picks up 
about a week after the events here.
His Majesty's Dragon - by Naomi Novik
Publisher: Del Rey
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 3/28/2006
ISBN: 9780345481283
ISBN-10: 0345481283
Historical Fantasy. During the Napoleonic wars, British Navy Captain Will 
Laurence and his crew of the HMS Reliant capture a French frigate and discover
that it's carrying priceless cargo, a Chinese dragon egg. The egg will hatch 
before the ship can reach land, meaning that at its birth the young winged
one will choose its aster, the person it will form a life-long bond with, from 
among the men on board. The dragon hatches and selects Captain Laurence,
who now must leave the Navy and join the Aerial Corps. Naomi Novik's 
18th-century war tale, which won a Locus Award for first novel, will please 
readers
who enjoy character-driven, action-filled novels. His Majesty's Dragon is the 
1st in a series; the 5th and latest, Victory of Eagles, comes out this month.
First Chapter
Dragon Weather - by Lawrence Watt-Evans
Publisher: Tor
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 12/1/2000
ISBN: 9780812589559
ISBN-10: 0812589556
Fantasy. As an 11-year-old boy, Arlian is the lone survivor when dragons ravage 
his village. But Arlian's ordeal isn't even close to being over--he is captured
by Lord Dragon and sold into slavery, where he works in mines. As a teenager, 
Arlian escapes and finds refuge in a brothel, but it isn't long before his
caretakers are punished severely. Vowing to avenge all of these wrongs, Arlian 
seeks retribution--but, troublingly, he discovers that he may have more
in common with his enemies than he thought. Publishers Weekly calls this 1st 
book in the Obsidian Chronicles "a thoroughly absorbing tale."
First Chapter

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