[bksvol-discuss] Fw: Fantasy May 2008
- From: "Amber Wallenstein" <amber.wallens@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 10:21:19 -0400
Fantasy May 2008
"All who joy would win, must share it--happiness was born a twin."
~ Lord Byron (1788-1824), British poet
New and Recently Released!
Tracing the Shadow - by Sarah Ash
Publisher: Bantam Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 1/29/2008
ISBN: 9780553805192
ISBN-10: 0553805193
Fantasy. In Tracing the Shadow, religious fanatics are conducting an
inquisition and purging the kingdom of Francia of all its magi. Just about
everyone
at the College of Thaumaturgy is killed, but two men escape: an alchemist and
his apprentice. The alchemist makes his way to a neighboring land with his
odd radio-like invention while the apprentice forges a strange partnership in
his own land. Meanwhile, an orphaned child is rescued by a holy warrior--but
he has no idea that her magus father met his end on the inquisition's pyres and
that she desires revenge. "Graceful prose and well-drawn characters" (Library
Journal) populate this 1st book in a new series.
First Chapter
Small Favor: A Novel of the Dresden Files - by Jim Butcher
Publisher: Roc
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 4/1/2008
ISBN: 9780451461896
ISBN-10: 0451461894
Urban Mystery Fantasy. If you owe a queen a favor, you're probably going to
have to oblige. If the royal female in question is Mab, monarch of the Winter
Court of the Sidhe, you'll do so or else. In the 10th book in this wonderful
series, Mab wants a dangerous man rescued and thinks Harry is just the man
for the job--but the Summer Queen doesn't want the man saved... Missing the
canceled TV version of The Dresden Files? Pick up the books, starting with
Storm Front. And if you've read all of them already, grab Dead Witch Walking,
the 1st in Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series about a witch in modern-day
Cincinnati.
Black Ships: A Novel - by Jo Graham
Publisher: Orbit
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 3/10/2008
ISBN: 9780316068000
ISBN-10: 0316068004
Historical Fantasy. Debut author Jo Graham creates a fascinating retelling of
Virgil's The Aeneid by using a woman's point of view. Gull is just an innocent
slave child who's been brought across the sea from Troy, but a chariot accident
damages her leg and changes the course of her life. Since Gull is unable
to work and likely will be killed, her mother gives her to Pythia, the oracle
who speaks for the Lady of the Dead. Gull has supernatural talents and
eventually
she takes on the role of Pythia. As Pythia, Gull embarks on a journey, reunites
with her people, and becomes a counselor to Trojan Prince Aeneas. Readers
who enjoy subtle, well-woven fantastic elements will enjoy this historical tale.
The Outlaw Demon Wails - by Kim Harrison
Publisher: Eos
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 3/1/2008
ISBN: 9780060788704
ISBN-10: 0060788704
Urban Fantasy. Sexy and sassy white witch Rachel Morgan returns in her 6th
outing, The Outlaw Demon Wails, and her past is catching up with her. Having
trafficked in forbidden demon magic in order to save the lives of her friends,
Rachel is now paying the price as Al, a demon who's supposedly safely behind
bars in the ever-after, somehow comes after her. Still upset over the death of
her lover, Rachel does what she can to save the other people (such as her
mom) and creatures (including her pixy roommate) in her life before she loses
them. This is a series that is best enjoyed when read in order, so start
with Dead Witch Walking.
Bone Song - by John Meaney
Publisher: Bantam Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 2/26/2008
ISBN: 9780553385144
ISBN-10: 0553385143
Dark Fantasy. Celebrities are being killed in Tristopolis, a grim, dark place
powered by corpses. Now the idolized opera singer Maria deLivnova is coming
to Tristopolis, and Police Lieutenant Donal Riordan is assigned to protect her.
Is Donal strong enough to keep her safe? And who is killing all of the
talented artists and why? Before Donal gets to the bottom of things, he'll have
to face some awfully powerful people. Readers who enjoy strong heroes in
spectacular settings should check out this gothic blend of mystery and fantasy.
First Chapter
The New Weird - edited by Ann and Jeff Vandermeer
Publisher: Tachyon
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 2/1/2008
ISBN: 9781892391551
ISBN-10: 1892391554
Fantasy. What exactly is New Weird? It's a modern version of fantasy that
includes horror, noir, realism, and science fiction, and takes inspiration from
such authors as Mervyn Peake and H.P. Lovecraft. In The New Weird, 16 stories
that fit the editors' definition of this new literary trend are collected,
with contributors ranging from Clive Barker to China Miéville to Michael
Moorcock. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly offers high praise for the
anthology,
predicting that the Vandermeer's collection "will define the New Weird much as
Bruce Sterling's landmark Mirrorshades anthology defined cyberpunk."
Table of Contents
Focus on: Twin Power!
Prince of the Blood - by Raymond E. Feist
Publisher: Bantam Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 6/28/2005
ISBN: 9780553588118
ISBN-10: 0553588117
Epic Fantasy. Prince of the Blood, first published almost two decades ago and
set 20 years after the events of the Riftwar Saga, chronicles the adventures
of royal twins Prince Borric and Prince Erland. The two were formally
fun-loving young men, but their uncle hasn't produced any children, and their
father,
instead of taking the role himself, has named his first-born twin, Borric, the
Heir to the Throne. Now the brothers must attend to their first duties by
being ambassadors to Kesh to honor the Queen's Jubilee celebration. But before
their travel party makes much distance, someone attempts to kill Borric.
This "well-written, lavishly detailed fantasy" (Library Journal) should please
newcomers looking for a light-hearted read.
First Chapter
This Scepter'd Isle - by Mercedes Lackey and Robert Gellis
Publisher: Baen
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 2/1/2004
ISBN: 9780743471565
ISBN-10: 0743471563
Historical Fantasy. During the reign of Henry VIII, two sets of elven twins are
each told about two versions of England's future--in one vision, a ruler
takes the throne and turmoil follows; in another, a red-headed babe grows up to
rule and ushers in a golden age. Rhoslyn and Pasgen Silverhair, who were
kidnapped and raised by the evil Unseleighe Sidhe, try to prevent the rise to
the throne of the red-haired child (but Henry had three babies with red hair!),
while the other set of elven twins, Denoriel and Aleneil of the Seleighe Sidhe,
endeavor to ensure that the red-haired child does become the ruler. This
fun read is sure to please anglophiles--especially those interested in Queen
Elizabeth I.
First Chapter
Morrigan's Cross - by Nora Roberts
Publisher: Jove Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 8/29/2006
ISBN: 9780515141658
ISBN-10: 0515141658
Romantic Fantasy. As the powerful vampire Lilith prepares to unleash
catastrophic destruction upon the world, the Goddess Morrigan enlists the help
of Hoyt
Mac Cionaoith, a 12th-century Irish sorcerer whose twin brother, Cian, was
turned into a vamp by Lilith. Hoyt journeys to 21st-century New York in search
of five other warriors, and there he meets a redheaded witch...as well as his
bloodsucking twin. Can Hoyt, Glenna, and four other brave souls defeat the
dark forces that threaten the earth? The answer lies in this magic-, myth-, and
love-infused book. Don't be confused by bestselling romance writer Nora
Roberts' name on the cover; Library Journal says "the story is a bit more
fantasy than romance...[though it] should satisfy readers of both genres."
The Crooked Letter - by Sean Williams
Publisher: Pyr
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 4/4/2006
ISBN: 9781591024385
ISBN-10: 1591024382
Epic Fantasy. Hadrian and Seth, twin brothers backpacking through Europe, meet
trouble on a train in the form of a murderous Swede. Seth is killed in front
of his twin, and Hadrian is left behind as Seth moves on to another realm. But
there are bigger things happening--the brothers are mirror twins who have
such a strong connection that the gap between their two worlds narrows in order
to keep them close, and there's a power-hungry being manipulating the twins
as part of a plot to take over the realm of the living. Readers who enjoy The
Crooked Letter should check out The Blood Debt, the next in the Books of
the Cataclysm series.
Shadowmarch - by Tad Williams
Publisher: DAW Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 11/1/2004
ISBN: 9780756402198
ISBN-10: 0756402190
High Fantasy. With the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, royal twins
Prince Barrick and Princess Briony must save Southmarch Castle and the
surrounding
lands from their fairy-like enemies, the Qar. But the two are only 15 years
old, their father is being held hostage, their older brother has been killed,
and castle insiders may be plotting against them. Oh, and the Shadowline, a
mist-like divider between their land and the Qar's, is moving. In a starred
review, Publishers Weekly calls this 1st in the Shadowmarch trilogy (Shadowplay
is next) an "impressive opening installment" and says it is "packed with
intriguing plot twists."
Table of Contents
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