Release Date: 13/07/17
Publisher: Del Rey UK
SYNOPSIS:
The Regional Office and its band of super-powered female assassins protects the world from annihilation. But a prophecy suggests that someone from inside might bring about its downfall. And now the Regional Office is under attack…
Rose is a young assassin leading the assault, eager to stretch into her powers and prove herself on her first mission. Defending the Regional Office is Sarah - who may or may not have a mechanical arm - fiercely devoted to the organisation that took her in as a troubled young woman.
On the day that the Office is attacked, Rose’s and Sarah’s stories will overlap, their lives will collide, and the world as we know it just might come to an end…
REVIEW:
I'm a huge fan of authors like Tom Holt who manage to wonderfully blend humour alongside cracking Urban Fantasy storytelling, so I had high hopes for this title from Manuel, thinking that I was going to get a tale that would not only be reminicent but bring a new voice to the genre that I could keep an eye out for and love.
What unfurled however was a story that sadly let me down, I felt that whilst a lot of the plot elements were carefully constructed that the language used within was badly put together in places and rather than help move the story forward had you sitting down, scratching your head taking you out of the moment.
Sadly for me, this book left me feeling flat and when I finally finished it, I have to say that I won't be heading back to Manuel's work for some time.
Release Date: 16/11/17
Publisher: Orbit
SYNOPSIS:
Jade is the lifeblood of the city of Janloon - a stone that enhances a warrior's natural strength and speed. Jade is mined, traded, stolen and killed for, controlled by the ruthless No Peak and Mountain families.
When a modern drug emerges that allows anyone - even foreigners - to wield jade, simmering tension between the two families erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all in the families, from their grandest patriarch to even the lowliest motorcycle runner on the streets.
Jade City is an epic tale of blood, family, honour, and of those who live and die by ancient laws in a changing world.
REVIEW:
I love books that try to do something different and whilst this is technically a fantasy novel it fits delightfully into the Urban Fantasy genre. Its quirky, it has a wonderfully eastern flavour and to be honest whilst reading I tended to think of a Hong Kong as a background setting for this tale.
Magic delightfully blends with modern weaponry as the principle character fights to find a balance between their internal struggles and the outer expectations of his clan. The characters are delightfully rounded and when you throw into the mix criminal double dealing all round leaves you wanting more as this tale takes a break in a lull ready to kick back with a roundhouse in the next outing. Cracking.
Release Date: 14/11/17
Publisher: Orbit
SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Mira Grant, author of the renowned Newsflesh series, returns with a novel that takes us to a new world of ancient mysteries and mythological dangers come to life.
The ocean is home to many myths,
But some are deadly...
Seven years ago the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a mockumentary bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a tragedy.
Now a new crew has been assembled. But this time they're not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life's work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.
Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves.
But the secrets of the deep come with a price.
REVIEW:
A book of the mysterious that seeks to uncover the events alongside reality of what heppened in the first tale in the series "Rolling in the Deep." Its well written and, as usual with Mira Grant's writing, a tale that glues you from the outset as she continues to help bring to the fore a real flavour of discovery as the story unfurls.
Its well written and whilst i love the pace, for me the real stars here are her characters that feel that they live and breathe in our own world and would be a person that you could easily pass on the street which for me elevates the book straight away as an author who can get you that involved with thier characters has already created a bond that will be hard to break no matter what happens with the further chapters.
Back this up with great prose as well as an overall arc that leaves the novel open to a future outings make this a book that is a real treat and a series I'll be returning to when the mood hits. Magic.
Release Date: 21/09/17
Publisher: Gollancz
SYNOPSIS:
Charlie is a dreamhacker, able to enter your dreams and mould their direction. Forget that recurring nightmare about being naked at an exam - Charlie will step in to your dream, bring you a dressing gown and give you the answers. As far as she knows, she's the only person who can do this. Unfortunately, her power comes with one drawback - Charlie also has narcolepsy, and may fall asleep at the most inopportune moment.
But in London 2022, her skill is in demand. And when she is hired by a minor celebrity - who also happens to be the new girlfriend of Charlie's lamented ex - who dreams of a masked Creeper then sleepwalks off a tall building, Charlie begins to realise that someone else might be able to invade dreams...
REVIEW:
A story that I've been looking forward to for some time as I remember reading the synopsis in the Orion catalogue and thought wow, so much so, that I made a note on my calendar to keep an eye out for it. What was delivered wa a kick ass story that I loved. It was novel, it had a character I loved to spend time with and whilst she had a great many of her own problems, the overall arc really delivered with a good understanding of pace alongside plot.
For me, a great story and one that I hope will generate other future outings for our heroine. Magical.
Release Date: 28/09/17
Publisher: Gollancz
SYNOPSIS:
Enter New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh's breathtakingly passionate Guild Hunter world with the story of a woman who isn't a vampire or an angel . . . or human . . .
Once a broken girl known as Sorrow, Holly Chang now prowls the shadowy grey underground of the city for the angels. But it's not her winged allies who make her a wanted woman - it's the unknown power coursing through her veins. Brutalised by an insane archangel, she was left with the bloodlust of a vampire, the ability to mesmerise her prey, and a poisonous bite.
Now, someone has put a bounty on her head . . .
Venom is one of the Seven, Archangel Raphael's private guard, and he's as infuriating as he is seductive. A centuries-old vampire, his fangs dispense a poison deadlier than Holly's. But even if Venom can protect Holly from those hunting her, he might not be able to save himself - because the strange, violent power inside Holly is awakening . . .
No one is safe.
REVIEW:
Nalini has a huge following for her Guild Hunters series and when she returns to characters that readers have come to love throughout the books and seems to be giving them exactly what they want, it should have been a title that would not only have made them very happy but something that should have been a firm fan favourite for years to come.
However, whilst she did deliver a story, the book never really took off and left me feeling, as a long term reader, that I was cheated and that certain events were forced almost as if the characters just didn;t want to play. OK, so the overall arc is OK, but when you're not giving whats expected until a very late stage and even then its almost an heavy handed after thought then all round it leaves it feeling very jarring. Sadly for me, its not going into my favourite list of the author and for many others, its going to be more of a meh when asked about it. A great shame.
Release Date: 14/09/17
Publisher: Orbit
SYNOPSIS:
'The Oversight is most dangerous when most reduced. There are many dead and gone who did not remember that.'
The Oversight of London has been sworn for millennia to prevent the natural and the supernatural worlds from preying on each other.
Now at its lowest ebb, with its headquarters destroyed and its last members scattered far and wide, this secret society will battle for survival and face the harshest foe it has ever met: itself.
'Exciting, exhilarating, scary and moving in equal measure, The Oversight is a teeming world of dark deeds and dark magics, brilliantly realised' - M. R. Carey on The Oversight
REVIEW:
Having read the previous two titles in the series I have to say that this final outing in the Oversight Trilogy left me feeling pretty damn flat. the characters didn't reach full potential, various plot points felt ignored and threads from the other two titles left the book feeling fairly flat, almost as if the author had either forgotten about them or that they just weren't required and thus dropped to help Charlie hit his deadline.
All round, whilst the writing is still as addictive as usual and the plot points that were addressed satisfying having lost so much made me feel that there is more to come rather than this was the end. Sad to say I was disappointed and hope that Charlie will return at some point to give me (and other readers) some conclusions to these open air threads.
Release Date: 15/06/17
Publisher: Gollancz
SYNOPSIS:
Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that's exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater bears, brings with him.
Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence - her mind clear of all emotion - Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That's what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious . . . and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.
Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed . . .
REVIEW:
I originally read Nalini's work thanks to a friend on a forum (yep, there you go Jade, a mention) who told me I absolutley must read her work. As after all if I liked Kelley Armstrong, then Nalini would soon make a grab for my affections with her work in Urban Fantasy.
What unfurled was a whole set of novels that took me on journey after journey where romance leads the way and at the end of the day, we all know that love is the most powerful force in the universe. (Or if not it should be.)
OK yeah, that made me sound a bit mushy, but I love to be taken on an emotional rollercoaster, I want to see characters break from their comfort zones, to learn what makes them tick and to get under the covers to get to thier emotional aspect.
Here within this title we're treated to a tough kick ass heroine who seeks to recover and get back for vengeance but as she is in rehab we get to see her softer side. One that accompanied by a skin walker works wonderfully well as we get to see all sorts of changes along the way. I'm not going to say its for everyone, but if you want escapism wrapped up with romance and a good solid dose of whupass then give Nalini a go.
The only thing left is to filk a certain teddy bear show: "I wanna be a Were-Bear, like you...." LOL
Release Date: 06/04/17
Publisher: Orbit
SYNOPSIS:
Alex Verus can see the future. But he never thought he'd see this day.
Manoeuvred by forces beyond his control, the probability mage has made a terrible choice: he's agreed to work for his old master once more.
Richard Drakh, the sadistic dark mage Alex escaped as an apprentice, has him in his clutches again. And this time, he won't let go so easily.
REVIEW:
If you're looking for a deliciously dark title that has a solid principle character, careful plot twists alongside an overall arc that will have you turning left and right as you try to figure things out, then you may want to pick up this book from Benedict Jacka.
The principle character is one you want to spend time with, has good prose alongside a cracking understanding of pace which in turn makes this a top notch read. The only problem is that this is the eighth book in the series so I wouldn't advise you to start here and lets face it why would you when you've got chance to see how the character has changed from the humble beginnings. OK, so yes it wasn't a must read for me at the beginning of the Alex Verus tales but as its developed so too has the writing of Benedict and for me that is the sign of an author really taking the time to make sure that their readers get the best they can possibly give. Magic.
Release Date: 23/03/17
Publisher: Solaris
SYNOPSIS:
Imagine a world filled with fierce, fiery beings, hiding in our shadows, in our dreams, under our skins. Eavesdropping and exploring; savaging our bodies, saving our souls. They are monsters, saviours, victims, childhood friends. Some have called them genies: these are the Djinn. And they are everywhere. On street corners, behind the wheel of a taxi, in the chorus, between the pages of books. Every language has a word for them. Every culture knows their traditions. Every religion, every history has them hiding in their dark places. There is no part of the world that does not know them. They are the Djinn. They are among us.
With stories from: Neil Gaiman, Nnedi Okorafor, Amal El-Mohtar, Catherine King, Claire North, E.J. Swift, Hermes (trans. Robin Moger), Jamal Majoub, James Smythe, J.Y. Yang, Kamila Shamsie, Kirsty Logan, K.J. Parker, Kuzhali Manickavel, Maria Dahvana Headley, Monica Byrne, Nada Adel Sobhi, Saad Hossein, Sami Shah, Sophia Al-Maria and Usman Malik.
REVIEW:
I love books that get to take me on various journeys and the ones that are perhaps dearest to my heart are short story compendiums where I get to try a great many authors to see if I like thier writing style.
Whilst I'm going to admit that I really didn't enjoy the vast majority of tales within, I do have to say that there are a fair few authors that I'm paying attention to for future outings. Yes the tales weren't outstanding as far as I was concerned but I could see the architecture of the creation beneath them. All round not a book I'd recommend at the moment but at least I have some new names to watch out for in future endeavours which for me is worth the price of the book.
Release Date: 04/05/17
Publisher: Ace
SYNOPSIS:
Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker, and the woman rogue vampires fear most. As the Enforcer to Leo Pellisier, Master of the City of New Orleans, she walks softly and carries a big stake. But Leo's power over vast American territories is being threatened. A delegation of European fangheads has arrived, and Leo fears their influence. Jane is tasked with overseeing their visit. But when a revenant vampire is raised, and several humans are killed, she has to wonder if they're already making trouble
REVIEW:
I've been a big fan of Faith's work for quite some time so I've really been looking forward to Janes next outing to see how she would be tested by not only the author but the characters she was faced against.
What happens within the pages is a bloody battle for New Orleans and the New World as players from the Old one seek to take over with not only outright conflict but enough subtle nuances and chess like moves to make it not only difficult to see what they're up to but the overall goals.
Its well written, the principle characters work well together and when you throw into the mix the bonds of all concerned you care about each of them in the conflicts that occur within, so much so that you're heart is in your mouth as to whether they'll survive or not. Add to this top notch prose and of course villains worthy of our heroine and all round I was a more than happy reader.
My only real qualm about the while book was the sheer amount of clothing they went through, surely no one has the budget or the wardrobe space for so many to get ruined? Other than that though a pure joy.
Release Date: 02/05/17
Publisher: Angry Robot
SYNOPSIS:
Don Drake is living rough in a sink estate on the outskirts of Edinburgh, doing cheap spells for even cheaper customers while fending off the local lowlifes. Six months ago, Don fled from London to Glasgow to track down his old girlfriend Debbie the alchemist. With the Burned Man gradually driving him mad, Don meets with an ancient and mysterious tramp-slash-magician, with disastrous consequences. Now his old accomplices must step in to save Don from himself, before he damns himself for good this time.
REVIEW:
The third tale in the Burned Man series and one that take the reader from the lows of previous events and the principle players descent into drugs as he struggles to come to terms with what has gone before.
Its well written, the lead character believable and you can understand how he has been shaped by previous titles. The writing is addictive, the prose apt and when you throw into the mix a kick ass plot that has our hero alongside his friends forced into a situation that no one likes, we get to see just how dark his world has become with his only light against it being used as a pawn. Future outings are going to see one hell of a reckoning (literally) and I for one can't wait to see how events will play out. Definitely a series to read with similar echoes to the Mike Carey Felix Castor series.
Finally whilst you can pick this up without having read previous outings, you really ought to as this title has a lesson in how to help your reader not only associate but root for the lead hero no matter how bleak things seem.
Release Date: 25/04/17
Publisher:
SYNOPSIS:
The sixteenth book in the New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series that RT Book Reviews calls, “An extraordinary series…[containing] one of the most intriguing heroines in the genre.”
If you don’t know Gin “the Spider” Blanco, you don’t know dangerous female heroines.
Irony 101—The Spider herself snared in someone else’s web…
Another week, another few clues trickling in about the Circle, the mysterious group that supposedly runs the city’s underworld. Gathering intel on my hidden enemies is a painstaking process, but a more immediate mystery has popped up on my radar: a missing girl.
My search for the girl begins on the mean streets of Ashland, but with all the killers and crooks in this city, I’m not holding out much hope that she’s still alive.
A series of clues leads me down an increasingly dark, dangerous path, and I realize that the missing girl is really just the first thread in this web of evil. As an assassin, I’m used to facing down the worst of the worst, but nothing prepares me for this new, terrifying enemy—one who strikes from the shadows and is determined to make me the next victim.
REVIEW:
I've loved this series since i discovered it a little while ago. Jennifer always gives me a story that is high octane action mixing it with softer emotional elements and brings it all together with a kick ass plot that doesn't let go.
The writing is friendly, crisp and when you throw into the mix a principle character that you love to spend time with alongside a supporting cast that you care about all round means that its hard each time you turn the final page knowing that it'll be a while before you embark on their next story.
All round a great piece of fun although I really want to know whats in Gen's BBQ sauce so I can make some up before embarking on the next tale. Magic.
Release Date: 06/04/17
Publisher: Orbit
SYNOPSIS:
At the end of the day, Death visits everyone. Right before that, Charlie does.
You might meet him in a hospital, in a warzone, or at the scene of a traffic accident.
Then again, you might meet him at the North Pole - he gets everywhere, our Charlie.
Would you shake him by the hand, take the gift he offers, or would you pay no attention to the words he says?
Sometimes he is sent as a courtesy, sometimes as a warning. He never knows which.
The End of the Day is the stunning new novel by Claire North, author of word-of-mouth bestseller The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August.
REVIEW:
Now to be honest I've not read Claire's work before now and I have to wonder why she wasn't on my radar sooner as this tale just pulled me in from the very beginning. I loved the way that she weaved the plot with cracking dialogue as well as great prose, however the real star for me was the way she brought her characters across, especially the principle player Charlie.
He shone for me from start to finish and I was so engrossed to find out what he was up to as well as how things would develop that I didn't notice time slipping away as I read page after page, chapter after chapter.
Its wonderfully inventive, a tale unlike any other and for me this unique outing really is a book that will stay with me for a long time. Magic.
Release Date: 19/05/16
Publisher: Pan Macmillan/Tor
SYNOPSIS:
The Great Detective's ghost has walked London's streets for an age, given shape by people's memories. Now someone's put a ceremonial dagger through his chest. But what's the motive? And who - or what - could kill a ghost?
When policing London's supernatural underworld, eliminating the impossible is not an option. DI James Quill and his detectives have learnt this the hard way. Gifted with the Sight, they'll pursue a criminal genius - who'll lure them into a Sherlockian maze of clues and evidence. The team also have their own demons to fight. They've been to Hell and back (literally) but now the unit is falling apart . . .
REVIEW:
OK I missed out the second book in the Shadow Police series but I do remember enjoying the first, so when it landed I thought it would be a great bit of fun alongside escapism to get away from the real world.
What Paul does well is bring his comic book background to the fore. The story has some cracking twists, good solid prose and backed with a principle character I fully enjoyed spending time with.
Its defintiely a series that is coming into its own and with Paul's ability to tell a story that just hooks you in really delivers. Magic
Release Date: 19/11/15
Publisher: Gollancz
SYNOPSIS:
First the fae murdered my mother. Then they destroyed my world.
Now I'm fighting for more than revenge.
Aileana took a stand against the Wild Hunt, and she lost everything: her home, her family and her friends. Held captive by her enemy, and tormenting herself over her failure, escape seems like only the faintest possibility. But when she gets her chance, she seizes it . . . to rejoin a world devastated by war.
The future is bleak. Hunted by the fae, running for her life, Aileana has only a few options left. Trying to become part of a society scarred by - and hiding from - the Wild Hunt; trusting that a fragile alliance with the fae will save her; or walking the most dangerous path at all: coming in to her own powers as the last of the Falconers . . .
REVIEW:
OK, I read the original and thought that it was a solid enough title, but even after a reread, this one left me feeling like I didn't have a clue as to where I was with the whole story let alone the lead character as the story started in not only a weird place but took me quite a while to figure out.
That is a bad thing for me as a reader as I'm trying to make sense of something without really concentrating on whats happening at that point. You miss things, you also have trouble reattaching to characters and that can completely destroy the readers trust in the story which as a result means that they won't form the attachment that is required to help you care.
All round a book that because of my problems was one that I really didn't care for and at the end of the day left me feeling cheated and confused. Not a good thing.
Release Date: 02/06/16
Publisher: Del Rey
SYNOPSIS:
16th Century
Edward Kelley and his mentor Dr John Dee have come to a crossroads. At the mercy of Countess Elizabeth Báthory, they set out to find a cure for her unnatural condition.
21st Century
Jackdaw Hammond is living rough in London, blacking out and waking with a sense of dread. Can the lessons of the past help defeat the dark magic that threatens to steal her soul?
REVIEW:
A book I couldn't literally wait to get my teeth into, especially when past names of not only the occult but supernatural tales were the center of the tale. What is not to love? Well to be honest, a story that brought them fully fleshed to life. Each person named is unique and a larger than life character that needed a book all to themselves just to try and get an idea about their personalities, motives and ego. Yet thrown together in one leaves each feeling like a weak 2d flat bitty player rather than the fully vibrant character that they were in real life.
All round, for me, this book needed to be gone through a few more times to help slicken the prose, get the pace steady and with more concentration upon personality development for the characters however I have to say that I did like the concepts and I think that perhaps that with this being the third title in the series, may have left the plot a little short in order to wrap a lot up..
Release Date: 07/06/16
Publisher: Quirk Books
SYNOPSIS:
In this sharp and funny urban fantasy novel, booze is magic, demons are real, and millennial Bailey Chen joins a band of monster-fighting Chicago bartenders instead of finding a “real” post-college job.
Bailey Chen is fresh out of college with all the usual new-adult demons: no cash, no job offers, and an awkward relationship with Zane, the old friend she kinda-sorta hooked up with during high school.
But when Zane introduces Bailey to his monster-fighting bartender friends, her demons become a lot more literal. It turns out that evil creatures stalk the city streets after hours, and they can be hunted only with the help of magically mixed cocktails: vodka grants super-strength, whiskey offers the power of telekinesis, and rum lets its drinker fire blasts of elemental energy. But will all these powers be enough for Bailey to halt a mysterious rash of gruesome deaths? And what will she do when the safety of a “real world” job beckons?
This sharp and funny urban fantasy is perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and grown-up readers of Harry Potter. Includes 14 recipes from a book of ancient cocktail lore.
REVIEW:
This book for me, had the potential to be a new type of UF Comedy in the vein of Tom Holt, so when I originally read the premise, I was pretty hooked and looking forward to a light hearted romp that would not only entertain but help me laugh my troubles away.
Except, thats not what happened. The book tried to be a serious ouring with a new type of magical gift that is "alcohol fueled." The comedy options you would think would be tripping over themselves however for me, the whole book didn't even raise a smile. In fact I just got more and more annoyed as it went on trying to come up with believable circumstances etc that just made it go from weird to downright bizarre.
All round, whilst I saw the potential here, I didn't feel that it was a book that really hit home for me. I did like the odd character, I did like some of the concepts but overall when a book pushes things a little too far, I have to draw the line and let it go.
Release Date: 13/10/16
Publisher: Tor/Forge
SYNOPSIS:
Fear is abroad in the Deadlands as a string of brutal killings and cattle mutilations trouble a frontier town in the Arizona Territory, nestled in the forbidding shadow of the rugged Thunder Mountains. A mule train is massacred, homes and ranches are attacked, and men and women are stalked and butchered by bestial killers who seem to be neither human nor animal. Meanwhile, a ruthless land baron tries to buy up all the surrounding territory and possibly bring about an apocalypse. Once an officer in the Union Army, Tucker Bringloe is now a worthless drunk begging for free drinks at the corner saloon. When he's roped into a posse searching for the nameless killers, Tuck must rediscover the man he once was if he's to halt the bloodshed and stop occult forces from unleashing Hell on Earth ...when the Thunder Moon rises.
REVIEW:
I loved the first book in the series and because I remember playing Deadland's when it originally came out (I'm showing my age here) I've always loved spending time in an Alternate History of the world especially when as a gamer or reader you get to spend time in the saddle emulating your childhood heroes. (All those John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies I watched with my Dad as a kid.)
What Deadlands does well is bring the supernatural into play and whilst its set in the world of Deadlands, it feels free of commitement utilising just the world and history as background in order to tell its won tale.
The book is delightfully fast paced, action sequences about and when added to a principle archetypal hero to spend time around alongside solid dialogue all round gave me goosebumps as I made my way through the book. Back this up finally with a cracking kick-ass plot and I was a more than happy reader. I wished more books based on roleplay games followed this type of writing.
Release Date: 11/08/16
Publisher: Hodder
SYNOPSIS:
The name's Gideon Tau, but everyone just calls me London. I work for the Delphic Division, the occult investigative unit of the South African Police Service. My life revolves around two things - finding out who killed my daughter and imagining what I'm going to do to the bastard when I catch him.
I have two friends. The first is my boss, Armitage, a fifty-something DCI from Yorkshire who looks more like someone's mother than a cop. Don't let that fool you. The second is the dog, my magical spirit guide. He talks, he watches TV all day, and he's a mean drunk.
Life is pretty routine - I solve crimes, I search for my daughter's killer. Wash, rinse, repeat. Until the day I'm called out to the murder of a ramanga - a low-key vampire - basically, the tabloid journalist of the vampire world. It looks like an open and shut case. There's even CCTV footage of the killer.
Except... the face on the CCTV footage? It's the face of the man who killed my daughter. I'm about to face a tough choice. Catch her killer or save the world? I can't do both.
It's not looking good for the world.
Poison City is the first in a fantastical new series for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Lauren Beukes, Sarah Lotz and Stephen King.
REVIEW:
Some books follow trends, others step out not only to forge a different path but to burn their own way through the literary jungle. It's this second group that Paul's stunning Poison City falls into.
It has cracking characters, good solid growth and when you get the backstory for those involved you can see how hard some of the choices are that they have to face. It's definitely quirky, fun to read and gave me a wonderful sense for the part of world where its set. All round its a pure joy to read and with great pace, magical dialogue all round leaves me demanding more. Definitely a book I'm buying for quite a few UF fans I know this year. Magic.
Release Date: 01/09/16
Publisher: William Heinemann
SYNOPSIS:
A SINISTER MESSAGE, A DIRE PROPHECY, AND AN ENEMY UNLIKE ANYTHING THE NIGHT WATCH HAS EVER FACED
For a millennium, the Others, a supernatural race of magicians, shape-shifters, vampires, and healers, have maintained an uneasy peace between Light Others and Dark Others that has protected both our world and the Twilight, a shadowy parallel world beneath our own. Now, these rival factions must unite against the ultimate enemy.
A Light magician and high-ranking member of the Night Watch, Anton Gorodetsky fears nothing. But lately the threats are mounting. A reincarnated vampire has been terrorizing Moscow, and is using the victims to send him a message. His daughter s school is ambushed by a chimera unlike any he has seen. And the Prophets have all reached the same chilling conclusion: Our world is running out of time.
If we are to stand a chance, the rival factions of Others must unite against this evil as the Sixth Watch. But can they put aside their grievances with the world at stake? Will it be enough? Journeying from Russia to Paris, the Alps, and New York City, Anton comes in peace but he is prepared for war. For if he fails, no one is safe.
REVIEW:
I've been a fan of this series for a number of years and whilst I've pretty much loved spending time with the characterrs and world they inhabit, all good things have to come to an end. Sadly for me I felt that this book wasn't as good as a lot of the others. Why?
Well for me, I wasn't happy with the flow of the book. The language felt stunted and I was left wondering if this was down to the author himself or the translation being not as thorough as perhaps that others were. That said, I did get a cracking story, I did get to see things through with a fair few favourite characters and I felt like we got a book that wapped a hell of a lot up nicely enough without leaving us demanding more.
All round it is a solid title but when I feel a little cheated without flowing language and chopped up prose, then it does ruin my reading pleasure quite a bit.
