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"'No more!' she said. 'I have read enough books. I know enough words. I want to be outside.'" ~ from Scott Hawkins' The Library at Mount Char
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| The Vorrh by B. CatlingAlternate History. Somewhere in Africa stands the Vorrh, a vast forest at the edge of Essenwald, a colonial city "imported piece by piece to the Dark Continent." Older than humankind and far more dangerous, the Vorrh lures explorers into its primeval depths to devour their memories and steal their souls. Yet one man is determined to map the Vorrh, just as another -- a nameless archer whose bow is carved from a corpse -- is determined to kill him. With its surreal imagery, atmospheric setting, and inventive, intricately plotted storyline, The Vorrh may appeal to fans of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy. |
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| The Library at Mount Char by Scott HawkinsFantasy. Eight-year-old Carolyn is one of 12 children orphaned by catastrophic events and rescued by "Father," who offers them a home and a job in his magical library, assigning each child a "catalog" to study. As Carolyn masters languages, her brothers and sisters pursue, among other subjects, the skill of healing, the art of war, the ways of beasts, and the resurrection of the dead. Decades later, Father disappears. The siblings, by now convinced that their missing guardian is a god and his library a repository for all the secrets of existence, must decide who will inherit everything. The Library at Mount Char's eerie post-apocalyptic setting and menacing atmosphere make this dark fantasy novel a good bet for horror fans. |
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| The Iron Assassin by Ed GreenwoodSteampunk Fantasy. A loyal servant of the Empire of the Lion, Jack Straker, a.k.a. Lord Tempest, reanimates a clockwork-enhanced corpse to create an unstoppable "Iron Assassin" -- which, like many a lethal weapon, soon falls into the wrong hands. The hands in question belong to the Ancient Order of Tentacles, which is plotting to usurp the throne. To ensure that the Order does not succeed, Jack joins forces with Rose Gordhammond, Lady Harminster, on a dangerous and top-secret mission. Set in an alternate 19th-century England where Queen Victoria never reigned but where dirigibles and automata roam the cobblestone streets, this action-packed steampunk adventure enhances its world-building with a large supporting cast and detailed clockwork technology. |
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| Briar Queen: A Night and Nothing Novel by Katherine HarbourContemporary Fantasy. In this sequel to Thorn Jack, Serafina "Finn" Sullivan struggles to adjust to a normal life after investigating the death of her sister, rescuing her lover Jack from the immortal Fata, and nearly becoming a human sacrifice. Alas, normalcy will have to wait. An old enemy returns, seeking vengeance against Finn and Jack. Meanwhile, the couple must travel to the Ghostlands, which lie "betwixt and between" the mortal world and the magical one. Blending traditional folklore and contemporary new adult romance, this novel will cast a spell over readers who enjoy lush storytelling and Gothic atmosphere. |
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| The Invasion of the Tearling: A Novel by Erika JohansenEpic Fantasy. In The Queen of the Tearling, Kelsea Glynn reluctantly left her wilderness exile to claim her royal birthright. Now she reigns over a kingdom threatened by Mortmesne, the domain of the malevolent Red Queen. As Kelsea prepares to defend her realm from invasion, she experiences visions of a woman named Lily, who lived in the ancient days before "the Crossing" that brought Kelsea and her people to the world they currently inhabit. Part epic fantasy, part dystopian adventure, The Invasion of the Tearling's dramatic narrative will have readers eagerly anticipating the forthcoming conclusion. |
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| The Gracekeepers: A Novel by Kirsty LoganFantasy. When rising seas make dry land scarce, civilization splits into two factions: the powerful Landlockers, who control Earth's remaining archipelagos, and the Damplings, subject to restrictive laws on the rare occasions they're granted permission to stand on solid ground. As part of her self-imposed exile, Landlocker Callanish serves as a Gracekeeper, performing funeral rites for Damplings on a remote island. However, a chance encounter with North, a Dampling performer with the floating Circus Excalibur, forces Callanish to face her past as she attempts to help the young woman, who harbors secrets of her own. |
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| Songs of the Earth by Elspeth CooperEpic Fantasy. To quote the Book of Eador: "Suffer ye not the life of a witch" (Abjurations 12:14). Raised by the Elders of the Eadorian religion, Gair has spent his life training to become a Knight of the Church. He's an exemplary defender of the faith, until his latent -- and forbidden -- magical powers manifest. Branded as a witch and a heretic, Gair accepts exile and seeks sanctuary at the Chapterhouse of the Guardians of the Veil, where he meets others like himself who can hear the ancient Songs of the Earth and tap into their power. Just in time, too, since the boundary between worlds is fading, setting the stage for an apocalyptic showdown. Featuring a warrior-monk protagonist who may prove to be either the salvation or the destruction of his people, Songs of the Earth may appeal to fans of Paul Hoffman's Left Hand of God trilogy. |
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| Song of the Dragon by Tracy HickmanHigh Fantasy. For as long as he can remember, human soldier-slave Drakis has fought for the elves of the Rhonas Empire against their sworn enemies, the dwarves. But when he kills the last dwarf king, he also takes a prisoner: Jugar, a dwarf jester with the ability to end Drakis' magical enslavement. However, Jugar has his own reasons for liberating Drakis (aside from saving his own skin): he believes that the young man is the legendary hero destined to overthrow the elven Empire. Could this truly be Drakis' destiny -- and if so, will he accept it? Song of the Dragon kicks off the Annals of Drakis series, which continues with Citadels of the Lost. |
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| The Outstretched Shadow: The Obsidian Trilogy: Book One by Mercedes Lackey and James MalloryEpic Fantasy. As the son of Arch-Mage Lycaelon of Armethalieh, Kellen Tavadon knows that he must master High Magick so that he can one day take his father's place in the city's Council of Mages. But Kellen, attracted to the forbidden Wild Magic, pursues his extracurricular studies until he's discovered by Armethalieh's elders and banished from his home. However, Kellen's exile introduces him to a fascinating (and dangerous) new world of elves, unicorns, and demons -- one in which war is brewing. Don't miss this opening volume of the Obsidian Trilogy, which continues with To Light a Candle and concludes with When Darkness Falls. |
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| Awakenings by Edward LazellariUrban Fantasy. Although in most respects they're polar opposites, NYPD officer Cal MacDonnell and struggling photographer Seth Raincrest have one peculiar thing in common: neither can remember anything that occurred more than 13 years ago. In fact, the men soon discover, it's rather as if, prior to that time, they didn't even exist. Amnesia? Or something altogether stranger? To find out, check out this opening installment of the Heroes of Aandor series, followed by The Lost Prince. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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