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