Release Date: 13/03/14
Publisher: Headline
SYNOPSIS:
Featuring stories by Neil Gaiman, Garth Nix and the authors of Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, this is a unique and imaginative collection for readers of all ages. There are some stories that will always be told, tales as timeless as they are gripping. There are some authors who can tell any story. In RAGS & BONES, award-winning and bestselling authors retell classic fairytales and twisted tales in the way that only they can. With magic and love, they bring these stories - whether much loved or overlooked - back to life. Read 'Sleeping Beauty' as only Neil Gaiman can tell it. See 'Rumpelstiltskin' through the eyes of Kami Garcia. And learn of Rudyard Kipling's 'The Man Who Would Be King' from the inimitable Garth Nix.
REVIEW:
Whilst we all loved hearing the fairy tales and traditional stories as children, sometimes things are lost in either the language or the modern interpretation of the original meanings, so its always a great joy when modern authors tackle some of these tales to bring them bang up to modern times. Here, in this volume, a lot of the big names in the YA market tackle some of the classics and bring them to life.
Its well written, they’re short enough to dip into for travel time and to be honest it’s the chance for readers to travel roads with authors that they may not have considered before. It’s a wonderful presentation and all round will be a book that will be treasured for quite some time. I can’t wait to share them with my nephew’s and niece. Great stuff.
Release Date: 06/06/13
Publisher: Orbit
SYNOPSIS:
For one ex-journalist, the nightmare has just begun Miriam Beckstein has said goodbye to her comfort zone. The transition from journalist to captive in an alternative timeline was challenging to say the least. As was discovering her long-lost family, the Clan, were world-skipping assassins. Now civil war rages in her adopted home, she's pregnant with the heir to their throne and a splinter-group want her on their side of a desperate power struggle. But as a leader or figurehead? Meanwhile, unknown to the Clan, the US government is on to them and preparing to exploit this knowledge. But it hadn't foreseen a dissident Clan faction carrying nuclear devices between worlds - with the US President in their sights. The War on Terror is about to go transdimensional. But Mike Fleming, CIA agent, knows the most terrifying secret of all. His government's true intentions.
REVIEW:
The third and final compendium of Charles Merchant Princes titles and as with the others it’s a series that has been a joy to revisit as not only is it a cracking set of stories but its also for me the one that put the author on my favoured authors TBR pile. (The one that’s raided before anything else.)
As with the others the prose is sharp, the pace wonderful and when added to a plotline that keeps the reader guessing as well as trying to catch up in quite a few places all round gave me a blissful feeling as I turned each page. All round a cracking story and one that I was more than happy to revisit. Great stuff.
Release Date: 11/12/12
SYNOPSIS:
Nagash is the first necromancer and the supreme lord of undeath. He wrested the secrets of dark magic from the elves and perverted them to suit his ends. When the priest-kings of Nehekhara stood united against him, he broke their armies and sacked their cities. He raised the largest army of the dead the world has ever known and became an immortal dark god. His deeds are legend. This is his story.
REVIEW:
Whilst this book is a compendium of the three Nagash books that have come before (Nagash the Sorcerer, Nagash the Unbroken, Nagash the Immortal) it’s a great way for you to pick up the series for a very reasonable price leaving the recipient of this with a huge volume to savour without having to wait between books.
The prose within is reasonable and whilst in places I did have difficulty with the series, it is never the less a huge accomplishment to get the events alongside story right for one of the most reviled villains of the Old World. Add to the mix, some solid twists, an author who knows where he’s going and likes to lead you (torch in hand) and all round it’s a great addition for any fan of the undead or the Warhammer Fantasy World. Great stuff.
Release Date: 27/09/12
SYNOPSIS:
Malekith, betrayer and usurper, architect of the great war that will forever divide the race of elves. Alith Anar, wrathful avenger whose spirit will forever haunt the traitorous druchii. Caledor, reluctant leader, the one elf who can hold back the darkness and restore peace to Ulthuan. Witch King, Shadow King and Phoenix King. Their deeds are legend. This is their story.
REVIEW:
Whilst I love getting books when they are released, when its part of a series I tend to get a little impatient, especially when it’s a key series in the history of one of the races in the Warhammer world. Don’t get me wrong, whilst each of these titles are standalone, they really do add a greater context to the pointy eared ones as they have their own civil war. Its wonderfully rich, has great characters with each book being action packed with sword work, heavy blood price and of course double dealing.
Add to this the subtle plot points (some of which you miss during your first readings), cleverly crafted sleight of hand alongside author skills that help bring the world to life and all in it’s a great compendium all round. Great stuff.
Release Date: 27/09/12
SYNOPSIS:
Rebellion consumes the province of Averland and civil war looms, while orcs threaten to sweep out of the mountains and devastate the land. Suspecting the taint of Chaos behind the uprising, the Emperor Karl Franz sends two of his greatest champions to defeat the greenskins, thwart the Dark Gods and restore Imperial rule to Averland.
REVIEW:
This compendium is a duology and deals with a complex plot arc for the two heroes involved. Its wonderfully crafted, has the obligatory sword skills and also deals quite heavily with political machinations. Its clever, it has some solid twists and of course if you haven’t got the two individual titles make a wonderful addition for any Warhammer fan. Add to this an author who knows how to keep you glued with a solid sense of pace and all in it’s a great read.
Release Date: 02/08/12
SYNOPSIS:
Sigmar is the greatest leader of men the world has ever known. By saving the high king of the dwarfs, he earned the eternal friendship of the mountain folk. When a mighty horde of orcs threatened his lands, he united the tribes of men to stand against them at Black Fire Pass. He broke the siege of Middenheim and pushed back the forces of Chaos. In defeating the great necromancer Nagash, he saved mankind and secured the future of his empire. His deeds are legend. This is his story.
REVIEW:
I loved this series when it was released as individual titles but when it comes to the opportunity to purchase them as an all in one compendium you’re not only talking about value for money but also the fact that you don’t have to wait for the next part. This title is perhaps the ultimate Warhammer novel as it follows the start of mankind’s evolution into an Empire from the God King Sigmar.
As with Graham’s other writing the prose are sharp, its chock full of combat and as a reader you know that you’re going to get quality writing throughout. Add to this that the second book won him the David Gemmell Legend Award and all in you know that this is a must have all round. Great stuff.
Release Date: 15/12/11
SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to our anthology, a collection of weird and bizarre tales of twisted imagination by Neal Asher, Tony Ballantyne, Eric Brown, Richard Ford, Ian Graham, Lee Harris, Colin Harvey, Vincent Holland-Keen, James Lovegrove, Gary McMahon, Stan Nicholls, Andy Remic, Jordan Reyne, Ian Sales, Steven Savile, Wayne Simmons, Guy N. Smith, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Jeffrey Thomas, Danie Ware, Ian Watson and Ian Whates. Artwork by Vincent Chong.
The anthology is dedicated to the late Colin Harvey, with great affection.
In the tradition of Poe, Kafka, Borges and H. G. Wells, this collection of weird stories are written with the primary drive of presenting twisted deviations of normality. Whether it's the deviant factory workers of Neal Asher's Plastipak™ Limited, the pus-oozing anti-cherub of Ian Graham's Rotten Cupid, the acid-snot disgorging freak of Andy Remic's SNOT, or Ian Watson's alternate zombie-crucifixion, each story will drag your organs up through your oesophagus and give your brain a chilli-fired beating.
FOCUS ON -
• WEIRD TALES
• DISTURBING CONCEPTS
• DEVIATED BLACK HUMOUR
• NO GENRE LEFT UNGOUGED
REVIEW:
I love a book that gives the reader not only tales that they can dip into, but also allows them to try some writers that they may not previously had chance to give a go to due to costs. So when new publisher Anarchy Books launched last year, they hit out hard and they brought a number of big names to the budget reader.
Here, in this tribute to Colin Harvey, a whole host of stories generate a full spectrum of reactions within and to be honest whilst not every tale will be your personal cup of tea, the sheer talent within is something to not only give you that thrill but makes you wonder how the hell they managed to pack so much in at such a cheap price.
It’s crisp, the authors do what they do best and the reader is in for a treat as these tales have clear arcs without relying on a single line for the pay off or leaving you wondering what the hell happened keeping the stories within the realm of easy accessibility rather than the highbrow stories that are becoming more popular.
All in a great compendium and a sure sign that Anarchy is here to stay.
Release Date: 02/02/12
SYNOPSIS:
Eli Monpress is talented. He's charming. And he's a thief. But not just any thief. He's the greatest thief of the age, and he's also a wizard. And with the help of his partners - a swordsman with the most powerful magic sword in the world, and a demonseed who can step through shadows and punch through walls - he's going to put his grand plan into effect. Because Eli won't rest until he's amassed a fortune. Step one in his plan is to increase the bounty on his head, so he'll need to steal some big things. He'll start small for now though: he'll just steal something that no one will miss - at least for a while. Like a king ...This omnibus edition contains: THE SPIRIT THIEF, THE SPIRIT REBELLION and THE SPIRIT EATER
REVIEW:
The compendium of Rachel’s three Eli Monpress tales which not only means that you get to enjoy them back to back but something that also means you get sheer value for money. It’s wonderfully inventive, gives the fantasy reader a story with an overall arc that not only impresses with the sheer scope but generates character growth throughout that keeps the reader fascinated from start to finish.
Finally add into this a cracking debut that not only announced the author to the reader but sets a wonderful standard for others to follow and overall it’s a series that you really have to read.
Release Date: 03/10/11
SYNOPSIS:
Even in the twenty-first century, the undead walk among us...Before Twilight and True Blood, vampires haunted the nineteenth century, when brilliant writers indulged their bloodthirsty imaginations, culminating in Bram Stoker's legendary 1897 novel, Dracula. Acclaimed author and anthologist Michael Sims brings together the finest vampire stories of the Victorian era in a unique collection that highlights their cultural variety. Beginning with the supposedly true accounts that captivated Byron and Shelley, the stories range from Aleksei Tolstoy's tale of a vampire family to Fitz James O'Brien's invisible monster to Mary Elizabeth Braddon's rich and sinister widow, Good Lady Ducayne. Sims also includes a nineteenth-century travel tour of Transylvanian superstitions, and finishes the collection with Stoker's own Dracula's Guest - a chapter omitted from his landmark novel. Vampires captivated Victorian society, and these wonderful stories demonstrate how Romantic and Victorian writers refined the raw ore of peasant superstition into a whole vampire mythology of aristocratic decadence and innocence betrayed.
REVIEW:
If you’re a firm fan of many of the modern vampire stories, you really have to read these as they’re just as frightening and eerie as the modern counterparts. They have something for everyone from masters of the genre whether you want the calculating vampire or a lonely vamp or even a good old fashioned noble undead you’ve got some in here as well.
Add to this solid writing, a whole host of talent, great prose alongside dialogue and this is true value for money for any fan of the living dead. A cracking read and a wonderful addition to anyone shelves.
Release Date: 02/01/12
SYNOPSIS:
The dark origins of the Warhammer World are soaked in blood. Epic wars between kindred races reshaped the continents, vase civilisations rose and fell, the dead walked the earth in legions. This is an age of mighty heroes who like will never be seen again, such as the man-god Sigmar and Caledor, the Phoenix King of the elves. It is also an era of dread villains like the Witch-King Malekith and Nagash, the Lord of the undead. In these troubled times, dragons still flock the skies and magic exists that can doom or save the world.
It is an age of legend.
REVIEW:
I love a short story compendium and for me, the Black Library really pulls out the stops with these titles as it allows the reader to try an author that they may not have had chance to see before. It’s a great way to launch new talent such as Sarah Cawkwell, whose previous Warhammer 40K novel, The Gildar Rift (out last month) was a real triumph.
Not only do you get new names but established hands of the Star War’s Universe like Paul S Kemp who writes a mean fantasy tale. Back that up with the old hands to the Warhammer world like Gav Thorpe and Clint Werner which guarantee’s some old favourites return. All in, this is a cracking release and one that I had a lot of fun with which is a cracking way to begin the New Year.
Release Date: 06/12/11
SYNOPSIS:
Featuring twenty of the year's standout crime short stories handpicked by one of the world's best thriller writers, Best American Mystery Stories 2011 showcases not only the very best of the crime genre, but the best of American writing full stop. Within its pages, literary legends rub shoulders with the hottest new talent. Contributors in the past have included Lee Child, James Lee Burke, Jeffery Deaver, Michael Connelly, Alice Munro and Joyce Carol Oates.
REVIEW:
The trouble with a lot of books these days is that with so many names you only have chance to read a number of them and of course when you’re not as familiar with them as you ‘d like to be, buying a book can feel a lot like pot luck. What this title guest edited by Harlan Corben does is allow the reader to try the best of a huge selection of authors for the price of one title.
Its great value, the selected short stories have been picked by an expert and of course the reader is guaranteed a selection of titles that will entertain as well as travel the broad spectrum that the genre entails. Finally add to this cracking prose, top notch dialogue and of course high octane pace and I was left a very happy reader. Thank you Otto and Harlan.
Release Date: 31/07/11
SYNOPSIS:
Charlaine Harris (the Sookie Stackhouse novels) and Toni L.P. Kelner (the Laura Fleming mysteries) have gathered together another 11 writers with serious vamp credentials to provide a baker's dozen tales. Meet Sookie Stackhouse, who, as the only non-vampire at a 'Dracula's birthday ball' soon finds that's she's the one on the menu, and Harry Dresden, who drops by a role-playing game to find himself dealing with deadly party crashers. In P.N. Elrod's 'Grave-Robbed', which mixes pathos and comedy, vampire PI Jack Fleming busts a phony medium mid-seance Tanya Huff's 'Blood Wrapped' has Henry Fitzroy searching for the ideal gift for a vampire's 40th mixing with his pursuit of a human kidnapper. And Christopher Golden takes birthdays to heart in his poignant coming-of-age story 'The Mournful Cry of Owls'.
REVIEW:
As many know, compendiums are one of the joys of my reading existence. The reason for this is that when you get a set of tales from the talent of a genre you know that it’s a great way to try authors that you’ve heard of but haven’t tried yet as well as getting short stories from firm favourites. It’s a win win all round and for me, a great price to not have to worry about in case some of the authors aren’t to your personal taste.
This title edited by Charlaine and Toni is a wonderful new addition to those that have gone before and with a whole host of authors like Kelley Armstrong, Jim Butcher as well as Christopher Golden and Rachel Caine, you know that the pleasure is going to be turned up to 11. Great stuff.
Release Date: 09/06/11
SYNOPSIS:
The dwarfs are a stoic and long-lived race. Their unbending will and pride serve them as fearsome warriors on the battlefield and the greatest craftsmen across the Old World. But cross them at your peril, as a dwarf grudge is never forgotten, a quest for revenge handed down from generation to generation until the debt is settled in blood - In this action-packed omnibus, the bravery and resilience of the dwarfs is brought to life as they wage war against the twisted powers of Chaos, vile skaven ratmen, brutal greenskins and their oldest adversaries, the mysterious and powerful elves. From the ancient dwarf holds to the killing fields of the Empire, war will be waged in the name of Grungni , Grimnir and Valaya, and no foe shall forget the day they met these unbreakable warriors in battle. Contains the novels Grudgebearer, Oathbreaker and Honourkeeper.
REVIEW:
Fans of the stunties will love the chance to grab this compendium title made up of three of the best tales of dwarven heroics, vengeance and of course grudges from the Black Library. Contained within this title is: Grudge Bearer, Oathbreaker and Honour Keeper alongside the short story Ancestral Honour which makes up some seriously good value for money. Add to this two of the Black Library’s very talented authors, some great prose, some addictive dialogue along with the acquired dwarven humour which pretty much translates to an axe in the head and the reader really is in for a high octane combat driven set of stories that will inspire many a table top general to re-enact. Great stuff all in.
Release Date: 12/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
After the betrayal at Isstvan, Horus begins his campaign against the Emperor, a galaxy-wide war that can lead only to Terra. But the road to the final confrontation between father and son is a long one - seven years filled with secrecy and silence, plans and foundations being formed across distant stars. An unknown history is about to be unveiled as light is shed on the darkest years of the Horus Heresy, and revelations will surface that will shake the Imperium to its very foundation...Age of Darkness enters a new chapter of the epic Horus Heresy story, and features stories from some of the Black Library's best-known authors, including Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill, James Swallow and Aaron-Dembski Bowden.
REVIEW:
There are times when as a reader I want a title that I can dip into as and when I feel the need or I get a break from the everyday world. Add to this the chance to journey amongst the stars with great companions and a wide selection of authors and you pretty much have a book that will entertain as well as please. What Christian has brought together in this title is a whole selection of Horus Heresy side stories and additions that not only delve into some of the smaller aspects of the overall struggle but also add extra flavour and depths that would otherwise have been missed by so many. All in this is a great title and one that will also allow readers to pay out for one book to decide if they feel like indulging in the overall arc of the most infamous civil war of the 40th Century.
Release Date: 07/04/11
SYNOPSIS:
Necromancer. Bounty hunter. Killer. Dante Valentine has been all three in her life. But in the beginning, she was a Necromancer for hire. And while she was choosy about her jobs, there were just some she couldn't turn down - like when the Devil showed up at the door and offered her a deal. Her life - in exchange for the capture and elimination of a renegade demon. But how do you kill something that can't die? This omnibus edition contains these titles: Workng for the Devil, Dead Man Rising, The Devil's Right Hand, Saint City Sinners and To Hell and Back.
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of Lili’s writing, its always good when you have a great value for money option in order to purchase a series for friends who aren’t quite ready to take the plunge. What you get in this title is five books for under a tenner (depending where you shop), which when added to the reading time required will give anyone the chance to enjoy it all which is even better as I remember how long it felt in between titles originally. Finally back all this up with Lili’s classic writing style which includes great characterisation, solid prose and full on kick-assery to the max and it’s clear why she exploded onto the scene.
All in a great read and one that if you like Urban Fantasy I can’t recommend enough.
Release Date: 01/11/10
BOOK BLURB:
Featuring twenty of the year's standout crime short stories handpicked by one of the world's best thriller writers, Best American Mystery Stories 2010 showcases not only the very best of the crime genre, but the best of American writing full stop. Within its pages, literary legends rub shoulders with the hottest new talent. Contributors in the past have included James Lee Burke, Jeffrey Deaver, Michael Connelly, Alice Munro and Joyce Carol Oates. This year's guest editor is Lee Child, the creator of Jack Reacher and a simultaneous bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic.
REVIEW:
One of the mediums in the publishing industry that feels like its not used to its full potential is that of the compendium. With financial times being what they are, readers tend to stick to what they know spending their hard earned cash on established as well as firm favourites over someone that they might have heard good things about.
Here in the compendium is the readers chance to try some top talent in the mystery genre. Whilst each story has been handpicked as well as published before they are brought together here for the first time and released in the UK by Corvus. It’s got some gems, it has a lot of serious talent and above all else the reader has got some serious reading time ahead of them. Add to the mix that it’s all short stories and the reader can quite easily delve into these on those boring trips to work or even in a lunch hour. Great stuff and above all else is a title that I’m giving a thumbs up to for UK readers. Get to know what is selling well in the US and see why these authors are names that have staked their place in the genre.
