"Life -- the way it really is -- is a battle not between good and bad, but between bad and worse."
~ Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996), Russian poet and essayist |
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New and Recently Released!
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| Murder of Crows: A Novel of the Others by Anne BishopDark Fantasy. Written in Red introduced Meg Corbyn, a fugitive cassandra sangue (blood prophet) who escaped the facility in which she was bred and found sanctuary in the Lakeside Courtyard, a human-free zone operated by the shapeshifting terra indigene, also known as the Others. As the Courtyard's human liaison, Meg uses the same prophetic powers that once enriched her owners to help her new friends, who face a growing threat from the Humans First and Last Movement, activists determined to exterminate the terra indigene and claim their land. Unfortunately, the movement's primary weapons against the Others are young women like Meg, whose blood can be harvested and turned into a lethal drug. |
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| The Tropic of Serpents: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie BrennanAlternate History Fantasy. This sequel to A Natural History of Dragons picks up three years after Lady Isabella Trent's perilous journey to the mountains of Vystrana. Restless and chafing under society's constraints, she eagerly defies convention and accepts explorer Lord Hillard's invitation to join an expedition to the continent of Eriga, home to several new dragon species. Narrated by Lady Trent in the style of a Victorian travel memoir, this engaging series' strong-willed and adventurous heroine may appeal to fans of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody mysteries who don't mind the inclusion of elements of the fantastic. |
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| Ghost Train to New Orleans by Mur LaffertyUrban Fantasy. This follow-up to The Shambling Guide to New York City sends human travel writer Zoe Norris to the Big Easy to document New Orleans' nightlife for the "coterie," the polite term for the supernatural beings whose world Zoe uneasily inhabits. Although she's not a vampire (like her boss) or a death goddess (like her BFF), Zoe can talk to cities -- and when they talk back, she's honor-bound to help them out. Fans of unlikely urban shamans might also enjoy Kate Griffin's Magicals Anonymous series, which begins with Stray Souls. |
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| The Wicked: A Novel by Douglas NicholasHistorical Fantasy. In Something Red, exiled Irish warrior queen-turned healer Molly led a ragtag troupe of outcasts across the bleak, inhospitable terrain of medieval England. The Wicked continues the story of Molly and her not-so-merry band -- comprised, currently, of her shapeshifting ex-crusader lover Jack, her granddaughter Nemain, and 13-year-old squire Hob -- as they assist a Norman lord whose estate is plagued by a series of mysterious deaths. Lush, descriptive prose and rich period detail combine with a suspenseful plot and eerie atmosphere to produce a page-turning read. |
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| Only Superhuman by Christopher L. BennettScience Fantasy. In the 22nd century, genetic engineering and bionic enhancements have given rise to super-humans, some of whom have teamed up to fight crime as the Troubleshooters. Emerald "Emry" Blair, a.k.a. "the Green Blaze," has been tasked with traveling to the Outer Belt to infiltrate rival super-group the Vanguardians. Emry's family ties to the Outer Belt, which serves as the Vanguardians' home base, make her the perfect spy -- at least on paper. In person, she's rebellious, impulsive, and inclined to use her abilities to cause problems instead of solving them, especially when she discovers that her superiors may have a secret agenda. |
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| Ghosts of War: A Tale of the Ghost by George MannFantasy. The United States and Great Britain teeter on the brink of war in this action-packed novel's version of the 1920s -- and it's up to the masked hero known as "the Ghost" to thwart a warmongering conspiracy. Teaming up with a police inspector and a British spy, the Ghost stalks the sidewalks of New York in search of the evildoers. Ghosts of War is the 2nd book in the Tales of the Ghost series, after Ghosts of Manhattan. For another blend of steampunk, noir fantasy, and alternate history featuring mad scientists and roaming vigilantes, check out Ian Tregillis' Milkweed Trilogy, which starts with Bitter Seeds. |
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| Wild Cards I: The Book That Started It All by George R.R. Martin (editor)Short Stories. If you enjoy short-form superhero tales, this anthology should fit the bill. With contributors including George R.R. Martin, Melinda Snodgrass, Roger Zelazny, and Carrie Vaughn, Wild Cards I kicks off the long-running series of short stories featuring super-powered individuals and the problems -- large and small -- that they face in their daily lives. First published in 1986, this revised and expanded edition includes new material as well as the original content. |
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| Vicious by V.E. SchwabDark Fantasy. The (mostly) friendly rivalry between college roommates Victor and Eli ended when their research into EOs (ExtraOrdinaries, or people with super-human abilties) left one person dead and landed Victor in prison. Ten years later, Victor escapes and uses the opportunity to make good on his vow to kill Eli. For reasons that will gradually become clear, these super-powered friends-turned-foes are on a collision course that's bound to result in somebody's destruction -- and cause considerable collateral damage in the process. Darkly humorous and suspenseful, this compelling novel employs parallel narratives that shift between the past and present, exploring themes of betrayal, redemption, and sacrifice. |
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| Prepare to Die! A Novel of Superheroes, Sex, and Secret Origins by Paul TobinContemporary Fantasy. Reaver, a.k.a. Steve Clarke, a superhero whose powerful whallop can take an entire year off an enemy's life, has two weeks to live. So says his archenemy, Octagon, who commands a legion of supervillains. Granted two weeks to put his affairs in order, Steve returns to his tiny Oregon hometown, where he reunites with Adele, his first love, and reminisces about what his life was like before the freak accident that transformed him into an indestructible punching machine -- and considers what it could have been had he been spared. Veteran comic-book scribe Paul Tobin flexes his novel-writing muscles in this "pitch-perfect superhero tale for grownups" (Publishers Weekly, starred review). |
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| After the Golden Age by Carrie VaughnContemporary Fantasy. Celia West is the estranged daughter of legendary superheroes Captain Olympus and Spark, who have been saving the world since before she was born. Utterly lacking in superpowers (unless you count her talent for getting kidnapped by bad guys), Celia works as a forensic accountant. It's as far from the family business as she can get -- until her firm assigns her to the District Attorney's office to gather evidence for the trial of the century, involving her parents' arch-nemesis, the Destructor. There's just one problem: when she was 17, Celia briefly joined forces with the Destructor in the ultimate act of teenage rebellion. If you enjoy this novel, check out its sequel, Dreams of the Golden Age. |
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