Release Date: 15/05/14
Publisher: Gollancz
SYNOPSIS:
This is the tale of a city - like any other city, to begin with - and how it was lost and won, and lost again. This is the tale of an unusual army and its extraordinary leaders: Rem, the librarian, whose tears are ink; wise Gursoon, who defines their conscience; and the silver-tongued thief, Anwar Das, who knows when to ignore that conscience. And it is the tale of the mysterious Zuleika, with her unexpected gift for violence. Without her, the city could not have been taken; because of her, it could not be held. Most of all, this is the tale of Bessa, the city of silk and steel, as much legend as truth: its fate will haunt you for as long as stories are told ...
REVIEW:
The latest Mike Carey and that has been written alongside his wife and daughter. Whilst a multiple author title is often hard to get into, this one is not only smooth but one that has magic weaving its way through the pages and when added to Mikes wonderfully identifiable style that brings story to the fore with cracking characters all round generated a story that I was more than happy I took the time to savour.
Add to this some great twists, top notch prose and of course dialogue that just rolled off the pages into my imagination alongside a world that was fully formed and all round I was a more than happy reader. Great stuff.
Release Date: 19/06/14
Publisher: Gollancz
SYNOPSIS:
In the year 1740, with the whole of Europe balanced on the brink of war, a company of Austrian soldiers is sent to the village of Narutsin to defend the border with Prussia. But what should be a routine posting is quickly revealed to be anything but. The previous garrison is gone, the great house of Pokoj, where they're to be billeted, a dilapidated ruin, and the people of Narutsin sullen and belligerent. Convinced the villagers are keeping secrets - and possibly consorting with the enemy - the commanding officer orders his junior lieutenant, Klaes, to investigate. While Klaes sifts through the villagers' truths, half-truths and lies, Drozde, the quartermaster's woman, is making uncomfortable discoveries of her own - about herself, her man, and the house where they've all been thrown together. Because far from being the empty shell it appears to be, Pokoj is actually teeming with people. It's just that they're all dead. And the dead know things - about Drozde, about the history of Pokoj, and about the terrible event that is rushing towards them all, seemingly unstoppable. The ghosts of Pokoj, the soldiers of the empress and the villagers of Narutsin are about to find themselves actors in a story that has been unfolding for centuries. It will end in blood - that much is written - but how much blood will depend on Klaes' honour, Drozde's skill and courage, and the keeping of an impossible promise ...
REVIEW:
A new title from the Carey’s that brings cracking storytelling, prose and experience to a wonderfully imaginative world that the reader will just love to spend time in. The characters really stand out and not only help bring the world to life but give the reader someone to hang onto as the events unfurl thrusting all into uncertain times.
Back this up with dialogue that just leaps off the page alongside a pace that has some great lulls to allow you to think through what you’ve just read and all round it’s a book that gave me a huge amount of pleasure to read. Great stuff.
