|
|
"'We are not dead!' He could hear the smile, even in her answering yell. 'Certainly we are. It is only that our bodies have not yet learned the truth.'" ~ Jay Lake (1964-2014), American fantasy and science fiction writer, Mainspring
|
|
New and Recently Released!
|
|
| Magic Breaks: A Kate Daniels Novel by Ilona AndrewsUrban Fantasy. Although she's finally settled down with a shape-shifting Beast Lord, magical mercenary Kate Daniels doesn't have time for any lovey-dovey stuff. Between battling her father, an immortal warlord; keeping her mate's Pack out of trouble; and protecting her home turf of Atlanta from various supernatural menaces, Kate's life is busier (and more dangerous) than ever. Magic Breaks is the 7th full-length novel starring Kate Daniels, but newcomers will want to start at the beginning of this fast-paced, action-packed series with Magic Bites. |
|
| City of Stairs by Robert Jackson BennettFantasy. Now that its gods are dead, the once-powerful city of Bulikov is a shadow of its former self -- its history erased, its citizenry subjugated, and its laws enforced by Saypur, its technologically advanced former colony. Posing as a diplomat, intelligence operative Shara Thivani arrives in Bulikov to investigate the murder of Dr. Efrem Pangyui, a controversial scholar whose secret research, if published, could destabilize an entire civilization and change the course of history. Don't miss this intriguing "amalgam of spy thriller, murder mystery, and high-concept fantasy" (Booklist). |
|
| Dust and Light: A Sanctuary Novel by Carol BergHigh Fantasy. When "pureblood" sorcerer Lucian de Remeni-Masson loses the privileges of his rank due to youthful indiscretion, his (and his family's) survival depends on his accepting a position with Bastien de Caton, coroner of the city of Palinur. Tasked with using his magical powers to identify corpses, Lucian goes one step further and attempts to discover how these nameless unfortunates died and which parties were responsible -- an undertaking that lands him in even more trouble. Returning to the setting of her popular Lighthouse Duet (Flesh and Spirit, Breath and Bone), fantasy author Carol Berg introduces new characters in this opening volume of the Sanctuary Duet. |
|
| Poison Promise: An Elemental Assassin Book by Jennifer EstepUrban Fantasy. In this 11th installment of the gritty, violent Elemental Assassins series, restaurateur and hit-woman Gin Blanco -- aka "the Spider" -- agrees to help her sister, a cop, take down vampire drug kingpin Beauregard Benson. However, as Gin pursues Benson and his organization, she discovers that she may have even more powerful enemies than she realized. If you're new to the series and enjoy the action-packed, high-octane thrills of Poison Promise, start at the beginning with Spider's Bite -- and keep an eye out for the forthcoming Black Widow. |
|
| Fool's Assassin: Book One in the Fitz and the Fool Trilogy by Robin HobbEpic Fantasy. Former king's assassin FitzChivalry Farseer, highborn but illegitimate, takes center stage in this series opener. Retired from active service and married to the love of his life, Fitz -- living under the alias "Tom Badgerlock" -- anticipates a quiet life as caretaker of the Crown's bucolic Withywoods estate. Alas, when a group of marauders interrupt the manor's Winterfest, Fitz must once again pick up his weapons and battle the villains. Although Fool's Assassin is the 1st volume of a stand-alone series, fans of Robin Hobb's previous Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies will enjoy reuniting with familiar characters and returning to this well-developed world. |
|
Acclaimed fantasy and science fiction writer Jay Lake passed away on June 1, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. Although he left a considerable body of work behind -- including the posthumously published short story collection Last Plane to Heaven -- fans craving something similar may be interested in the following books, which share many of the elements that distinguished his fiction: vivid and evocative prose, complex and fascinating characters, and detailed, highly atmospheric world-building.
|
|
| Scar Night by Alan CampbellDark Fantasy. Held in place by giant chains, the city of Deepgate hangs suspended above a deep chasm that most citizens tend to avoid. But when a traitor threatens the safety of Deepgate, two young people -- innocent angel Dill and his troubled assassin-turned-bodyguard Rachael -- descend into the depths of the abyss to locate a legendary source of magic that will enable them to save the city. Angels and airships, gothic cityscapes, and warring gods distinguish this debut novel by British fantasy writer and former video game developer Alan Campbell. With its sweeping, yet intricately plotted narrative, and inventive clockwork world, this 1st book in the Deepgate Codex series (followed by Iron Angel and God of Clocks) may appeal to fans of Jay Lake's Mainspring series. |
|
| Railsea by China MiévilleDark Fantasy. Artfully blending fantasy, science fiction, and steampunk, Railsea introduces a world in which a seemingly infinite prairie criss-crossed by railroad tracks provides the backdrop for exciting tales of adventure featuring angels, monsters, pirates, and more. Kirkus Reviews describes Railsea as "Moby-Dick meets Kidnapped by way of the Strugatsky brothers' Roadside Picnic." |
|
| Palimpsest by Catherynne M. ValenteDark Fantasy. Existing beyond the boundaries of reality, the city of Palimpsest is a surreal realm of myth and magic that becomes common ground for four strangers -- locksmith Oleg, Italian bookbinder Ludovico, lost girl Sei, and lesbian beekeeper November -- whose matching tattoos hint at a shared destiny that they must work to discover. Palimpsest's diverse cast of characters, lush and vivid setting, and lyrically rendered eroticism make it a good match for Jay Lake's novels. |
|
| City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff VanderMeerDark Fantasy. The ancient city of Ambergris is a strange and fascinating place, inhabited by unusual and intriguing individuals. Structured as a collection of interconnected short stories, City of Saints and Madmen is a novel for fantasy fans who enjoy extensive world-building coupled with evocative language. Readers who enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of Jeff VanderMeer's surreal, atmospheric depictions of Ambergris may want to try Jay Lake's short story collections.
|
|
Contact your librarian for more great book!
|
|
|
Durham County Library
300 N. Roxboro Street
Durham, North Carolina 27701
919-560-0100
durhamcountylibrary.org
|
|
|
|