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Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, As many know we're huge fans of the Assassin's Creed franchise so we've been following the news in association with the title pretty tightly so much so that we can't wait to get our hands on the latest outing in the French Revolution for the Next Gen of consoles. As you've already seen it's a very high end product, they're pushing the current boundries of the systems and with the gamer being able to enter 1 in 4 buildings you know that its going to be huge. Here today, they've released the new trailer with a co-op heist mission, which as you'll see looks pretty swish:
Hopefully like us you can't wait to embark on this historical period and of course the new dawn for the next gen consoles.
All the best and keep you blades sharp but your minds sharper,
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Our friends at Warner Brothers Interactive have asked us to remind you that Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor will now be released on the 3rd October. The title will be released for the following formats: PC PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One
In addition to this there's also a brand new trailer talking about the work behind the scenes with Troy Baker and Nolan North:
Also remember that fans who pre-order Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor will get access at the game’s launch to The Dark Ranger exclusive bonus pack. Available at all participating retailers, the pack will provide exclusive content and challenges for players including:
Dark Ranger Character Skin
Begin your own quest for vengeance with a new Dark Ranger character skin that embodies Talion's darker side
"Test of Power" Challenge Mode
Face Sauron's Captains and defeat them to earn powerful Runes and gain a head start in the game
Test your speed, skill and strategy and measure yourself against your friends on the leaderboards
Access to Exclusive Leaderboards for "Test of Power" Challenge Mode
Test your speed, skill and strategy and measure yourself against your friends on the leaderboards in this challenge mode
Hopefully this will have whetted your appetite so remember to keep your blades sharp and your wits sharper. Gareth and Lady Eleanor
Release Date: 11/09/14 Publisher: Solaris SYNOPSIS:
The Seven Kingdoms are in the grip of an ancient and terrible blood curse. Thousands have died. Thousands more will die. Only one man can end the curse. The fugitive Osgaardan prince, Harkeld, is that man - whether he likes it or not. But the bounty on Harkeld's head is high. He has outrun his father's soldiers, but he can't outrun the assassins who seek him - Fithians, trained in the art of killing. Even the Sentinel mages who guide and guard him are no match for Fithian steel. Faced with the ever-present threat of death, Harkeld must learn to use his fire magic. Or die. Meanwhile, dark plots are unfolding in Osgaard's gold-tiled palace, snaring Princess Brigitta and those she loves. And in the eastern kingdoms, young orphan Jaume journeys with a band of mysterious and dangerous fighters, heading north for a purpose he does not understand.
REVIEW:
The second outing in the Cursed Kingdom series and to be honest its been one I’ve been enjoying.since I read the original back in 2011. What comes across well is the characters, the whims of their desires as ell as the way that the interaction between what is perceived as enemies demonstrates that they have a lot more in common against a common foe.
It’s well written, the dialogue is sharp and when added to a love angle all round gives you a wonderfully rounded experience. Unlike a number of other second books, this one doesn’t suffer from book two blues or acts as a filler giving the reader a full on live story in its own right. Back this up with a rollercoaster pace as well as some wonderfully imaginative prose and all round I was a more than happy reader. Great stuff.
Release Date: 03/07/14 Publisher: Head of Zeus SYNOPSIS:
In the court of every city in the lands of Ro, a sorceress sits. And in the minds of that city's people, each sorceress weaves a song. She and her sisters sing of the liberation of the land, the taming of the highland tribes, and the birth of a precious new race: the children of a dead god. Of course, they do not sing of the death of young Prince Christophe at the hands of that god. Particularly as his replacement dances so well to their tune. Yet all songs have an end. An ending speeded when the assassin Rham Jas Rami accepts a commission from Bromvy Black Guard, traitor duke of Canarn. The rebellion of Ro has begun...Please note: Great care has been taken to make sure this ebook is both beautiful and highly functional.
REVIEW:
I tend to forgive errors in an author’s first book and whilst I’m still forgiving to a certain degree for the second, I do tend to get a bit annoyed when for me, the tale doesn’t deliver the sort of punch I’m hoping for.
What occurs within this book is a tale that has a lot of problems within. The overall arc is sadly lacking for me as a reader, it felt that there were too many get out clauses available and lets be honest here, any civilisation that has flourished for years has had time to fix most of the problems that may occur and this one seems pretty solid.
Back this up with a pace that I felt sadly lacking and with an overall arc that felt very flat and all round its not one I’ll be reading again in the future.
Release Date: 11/09/14 Publisher: Solaris SYNOPSIS:
A brand new SF series from the author of the Pantheon series, which included the break-out hits Age and Ra, Age of Zeus and Age of Odin. Dev Harmer wakes in a new body with every mission, and he has woken this time on Alighieri, a planet perpetually in flames, where the world's wealth lies below the elemental surface, and humanity is not the only race after it.
Dev Harmer, reluctant agent of Interstellar Security Solutions, wakes up in a newly cloned host body on the planet Alighieri, ready for action.
It’s an infernal world, so close to its sun that it surface is regularly baked to 1,000°C, hot enough to turn rock to lava. But deep underground there are networks of tunnels connecting colonies of miners who dig for the precious helium-3 regolith deposits in Alighieri’s crust.
Polis+, the AI race who are humankind’s great galactic rivals, want to claim the fiery planet’s mineral wealth for their own. All that stands between them and this goal is Dev. But as well as Polis+’s agents, there are giant moleworms to contend with, and a spate of mysterious earthquakes, and the perils of the surface where a man can be burned to cinders if he gets caught unprotected on the day side...
REVIEW:
I love spending time with James Lovegrove and having completely fallen for his Pantheon Series, so I was hoping that the magic he wove into the tales that I’ve loved would make its way into this new one.
What James does well is generate characters that the readers want to spend time with. They’re complex, they’re rounded and whilst some of the story elements may seem far-fetched the believability of the principle character really keeps you glued. What occurs within is a story of Science Fiction Crime with a detective who has to adapt not only to differing environments but also different bodies as each one is specially vat grown for him to suit the world that he is being sent to, with his consciousness being implanted into the new body. It works wonderfully well, allows a whole host of different concepts to be explored and all round allows you to hope and dream as it wends its merry way. Back this up with solid prose, some wonderful twists and the chance to see that the stranger things may seem to us, the more they are the same with emotional conflicts and murder speaking many languages and crossing different evolutionary paths. Great stuff.
Release Date: 12/08/14 Publisher: Harper Collins/Voyager SYNOPSIS:
'Fantasy as it ought to be written' GEORGE R.R. MARTIN Tom Badgerlock has been living peaceably in the manor house at Withywoods with his beloved wife Molly these many years, the estate a reward to his family for loyal service to the crown. But behind the facade of respectable middle-age lies a turbulent and violent past. For Tom Badgerlock is actually FitzChivalry Farseer, bastard scion of the Farseer line, convicted user of Beast-magic, and assassin. A man who has risked much for his king and lost more...On a shelf in his den sits a triptych carved in memory stone of a man, a wolf and a fool. Once, these three were inseparable friends: Fitz, Nighteyes and the Fool. But one is long dead, and one long-missing. Then one Winterfest night a messenger arrives to seek out Fitz, but mysteriously disappears, leaving nothing but a blood-trail. What was the message? Who was the sender? And what has happened to the messenger? Suddenly Fitz's violent old life erupts into the peace of his new world, and nothing and no one is safe.
REVIEW:
The latest Robin Hobb story and one that I absolutely loved, especially after feeling a bit disappointed with other recent releases from the author. As with Robin’s other Fool books, it has great storytelling, a familiar feel for fans and for me was a real pleasure to dive back into her familiar world that has given me so much pleasure over the years.
Add to this great characters, wonderful prose and a mystery or two to uncover and I was hooked from start to finish. If you haven’t read any of her various Fool books then please do, they are so much fun and for me a great series to introduce young readers to on their journey into adult fiction. Magical.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, We're keeping up with all the current releases from Warner Brothers Interactive and there's quite a lot today, so here we go: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor will take more time in development, and the release dates for these versions are moving to November 18 in the Americas and November 21 in the UK. The street dates for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One remain September 30 in the Americas and October 3 in the UK. PC and Steam versions are now slated for release in the Americas and Europe on September 30. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor delivers a dynamic game environment where the player orchestrates their personal plan of vengeance as they bend Mordor to their will. The game begins on the night of Sauron’s return to Mordor, as his Black Captains brutally execute the Rangers of the Black Gate. Players become Talion, a ranger who loses his family and everything he holds dear, only to be returned from death by a mysterious Spirit of vengeance. Based on the player’s actions with the in-game Nemesis System, every enemy encountered is distinct and can evolve to become a personal archenemy through the course of the game. As Talion’s personal vendetta unfolds, players uncover the mystery of the Spirit that compels him, discover the origin of the Rings of Power and confront the ultimate nemesis.
Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment revealed a DLC Season Pass for LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham – the first Season Pass for a LEGO videogame.
The Season Pass will include 6 DLC packs each with a unique themed mission level with story and free play modes. Players will be able to unlock a total of over 40 characters, vehicles, achievements and more. The first three of the DLC packs will be available on 14th November and 3 more will be announced at a later date. The Season Pass will be available for the PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, and PC for a great price of £12.79. Each pack can be purchased separately at £2.55 The Season Pass includes: ● The Dark Knight Pack (available 14/11/14) Experience the heart-pounding chase scene from the iconic film complete with cool vehicles and explosive action. Play as the legendary Dark Knight and Commissioner Gordon, as well as the Joker and his goons as they chase down Harvey Dent’s police escort. Bane and Catwoman from the third film are also playable. ● Man of Steel Pack (available 14/11/14) Help Jor-El, his wife Lara and their robot Kelex send the infant Superman “Kal-el” into space towards the safety of Earth as Krypton falls into chaos. Find a way inside Jor-El’s home, fight General Zod’s invading forces and battle against Zod himself to save Superman. ● Batman 75th Pack (available 14/11/14) Play as Joker and Harley, setting up a variety of celebration set pieces. Be the Batman and play as some of the most iconic faces of Batman through the years, including his first appearance in Detective Comics #27. ● Access to Future DLC Content Gain access to three additional game packs, featuring new playable characters, vehicles and levels. Details about the additional content will be revealed at a later date. Download images for The Dark Knight, Man of Steel, and Batman 75th packs at the following link: games.premiercomms.com/release.asp?i=1834 In LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, the Caped Crusader joins forces with the super heroes of the DC Comics universe and blasts off to outer space to stop the evil Brainiac from destroying Earth. Using the power of the Lantern Rings, Brainiac shrinks worlds to add to his twisted collection of miniature cities from across the universe. Now the greatest super heroes and the most cunning villains must unite and journey to different Lantern Worlds to collect the Lantern Rings and stop Brainiac before it’s too late. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, the ultimate super hero game for the entire family launches on 14th November 2014 on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Wii U, 3DS and PC.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Batman™: Arkham Knight is scheduled to release worldwide beginning June 2, 2015.
Also revealed, are two collector’s editions – Batman: Arkham Knight Limited Edition and Batman: Arkham Knight Batmobile Edition. Both will be available in limited quantities at launch in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. Batman: Arkham Knight Limited Edition will also be available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand for PC. Batman: Arkham Knight Limited Edition will include: · Custom Art Book – 80 Page, Full Colour Art Book Showcasing the concept art of Batman Arkham Knight · Limited Edition SteelBook™ – Unique SteelBook™ case and game disc · Comic Book – Limited Edition DC Comics Batman: Arkham Knight #0 Comic Book · Exclusive Character Skin Pack – Three Unique Skins from DC Comics – The New 52 · Batman Memorial Statue – Imposing statue commemorating Gotham’s Protector, the Dark Knight · SRP: o Console – £89.99 o PC – £74.99 Batman: Arkham Knight Batmobile Edition will include: · Custom Art Book – 80 Page, Full Colour Art Book Showcasing the concept art of Batman Arkham Knight · Limited Edition SteelBook™ – Unique SteelBook™ case and game disc · Comic Book – Limited Edition DC Comics Batman: Arkham Knight #0 Comic Book · Exclusive Character Skin Pack – Three Unique Skins from DC Comics – The New 52 · Transforming Batmobile Statue – Fully transformable Batmobile statue realised in exquisite detail by TriForce · SRP: £169.99 (Console only) Images for the Collector’s Edition packages and contents can be found at the following link: http://games.premiercomms.com/pics.asp?i=3124 Batman: Arkham Knight is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and will be available exclusively for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC. Batman: Arkham Knight brings the award-winning Batman: Arkham trilogy from Rocksteady Studios to its epic conclusion. Developed exclusively for the New Generation of consoles and PCs, Batman: Arkham Knight introduces Rocksteady's uniquely designed version of the Batmobile. The highly anticipated addition of this legendary vehicle, combined with the acclaimed gameplay of the Batman: Arkham series, offers gamers the ultimate and complete Batman experience as they tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of the entirety of Gotham City. In this explosive finale, Batman faces the ultimate threat against the city that he is sworn to protect, as Scarecrow returns to unite the super criminals of Gotham and destroy the Batman forever. For more information on Batman: Arkham Knight, please visit www.batmanarkhamknight.com, https://www.facebook.com/BatmanArkham or https://twitter.com/BatmanArkham.
Release Date: 04/09/14 Publisher: Vintage SYNOPSIS:
You are about to discover the secrets of The Quick - But first you must travel to Victorian Yorkshire, and there, on a remote country estate, meet a brother and sister alone in the world and bound by tragedy. In time, you will enter the rooms of London's mysterious Aegolius Club - a society of some of the richest, most powerful men in fin-de-siecle England. And at some point - we cannot say when - these worlds will collide. It is then, and only then, that a new world emerges, one of romance, adventure and the most delicious of horrors - and the secrets of The Quick are revealed.
REVIEW:
Right, I managed to avoid the hype surrounding this novel and whilst I know that a number of other readers have been disappointed in their viewing of the title, however personally I just found it to be so so rather than anything special. Whilst there is a twist quite early on, its predictable, the characters sadly two dimensional and whilst I liked the potential found it didn’t live up to what I was hoping for.
All round an OK book, but nothing that jumps out from the vast crows of Historical Fiction out there. What a shame.
Release Date: 14/08/14 Publisher: Mulholland Books SYNOPSIS:
When Yuko Moriguchi's four-year-old daughter died in the middle school where she teaches, everyone thought it was a tragic accident. It's the last day of term, and Yuko's last day at work. She tells her students that she has resigned because of what happened - but not for the reasons they think. Her daughter didn't die in an accident. Her daughter was killed by two people in the class. And before she leaves, she has a lesson to teach...But revenge has a way of spinning out of control, and Yuko's last lecture is only the start of the story. In this bestselling Japanese thriller of love, despair and murder, everyone has a confession to make, and no one will escape unharmed.
REVIEW:
This was an unusual read for me as it dealt with child murderers and vengeance. Its something that is completely different to any other books out there and for me, whilst quite a thin title was one that allowed me to delve into a fiction that I normally wouldn’t have read. It is very well written and whilst its not only uncomfortable to read, it was a tale that as it unfurled allowed me to think and examine a number of things that are often overlooked in busy modern lives.
All round a tale that made me not only uncomfortable but was a story that I was pleased I put the time into. Definitely something to read if you’re looking for something not only different but one that makes you think and will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
Dug Sealskinner is a down-on-his-luck mercenary travelling south to join up with King Zadar's army. But he keeps rescuing the wrong people.
First, Spring, a child he finds scavenging on the battlefield, and then Lowa, one of Zadar's most fearsome warriors, who's vowed revenge on the king for her sister's execution.
Now Dug's on the wrong side of that thousands-strong army he hoped to join - and worse, Zadar has bloodthirsty druid magic on his side. All Dug has is his war hammer, one rescued child and one unpredictable, highly-trained warrior with a lust for revenge that's going to get them all killed . . .
It's a glorious day to die.
REVIEW:
OK this book is set in Iron Age Britian, however to be honest what I’d tell readers to do is accept it as a fantasy set around that time. What this title does is bring the bloody combat of Conan, the heroism of Eldric with what feels like a Drussesque hero ( from David Gemmell’s Drenai series) into one title.
It’s a difficult path to tread and all round was a debut fiction title that I really had a hard time putting down. Add to this that it’s the first of a trilogy and I’m really looking forward to seeing what other titles bring to the fore. Of course it only gets more complex from there and when added to solid dialogue and of course a supporting cast that helps bring this world to life all round gives you a real treat. Magic.
Release Date: 14/08/14 Publisher: Head of Zeus SYNOPSIS:
DISAPPEARED introduces Celcius Daly, a Belfast Police Inspector laden with flawed judgment and misplaced loyalties. One of 2012's top ten crime novels. A retired Special Branch Detective succumbing to early-stage dementia disappears from his remote home in rural Northern Ireland. An ex-intelligence officer is tortured to death. But why was his obituary printed in the local paper before his death? A son seeks his father's long-lost body and vengeance against those who murdered him. A stone-cold killer stalks the outskirts of Belfast. But at whose behest is he hunting his targets? And why? All are connected by a single strand spun out of the past...but as Inspector Celcius Daly knows, the past is never dead...it's not even past.
REVIEW:
I love spending time with a crime thriller and when one brings history to which I’m familiar with to the fore as well as giving me a story that is not only dark but reveals a lot about the society to which it’s based all round gives me a story that I can really get my teeth into.
The prose is very sharp, the pace wonderful but it’s the way that the author brings the hidden elements of the history into the tale with clever use of dialogue and plot devices that really made this a book that I couldn’t put down. All round a cracking story and one that I’m definitely going to be championing for other crime fans to sit back with. Great stuff.
Release Date: 18/04/14 Publisher: Black Library SYNOPSIS:
Yarrick: the very name carries the weight of legend, of great deeds and of wars won for the Imperium. But Sebastian Yarrick, who fought on Armageddon, who Space Marine Chapter Masters show their fealty to on bended knee, was not always Lord Commissar. He was once just a man, a newly minted officer from the ranks of the schola progenium.
His first mission under the tutelage of Lord Commissar Rasp was on Mistral. Here, an uprising of barons had upset the delicate balance of power. But, as Yarrick was soon forced to learn, Mistral and Imperial politics are often murky, the truth seldom clear cut. As war engulfs the world, a plot unravels that pits old friends against one another and fashions unusual alliances. Chaos cults, the fanatical Adepta Sororitas and clandestine inquisitors all stand between Yarrick and his mission. Here is where the legend began. In this crucible was Lord Commissar Sebastian Yarrick forged in blood.
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of the 40K world and whilst its been a while since I dipped into it, I thought that it was about time I returned with, in my opinion, one of the best Commissar’s out there, Commissar Yarrick. As you’d expect from a Yarrick story, it hits hard, has some great action sequences and douses the pages with Imperial Zeal washing planets clean in the blood of their foes.
It’s a great piece of writing and for me, one of my highlights of Sci-Fi for the year, although the one thing that always niggles me with prequel stories is that you know damn well that there’s never any serious threat to the principle character as their timeline is already written. Don’t get me wrong, it does what you want, but when you know that there’s no real threat of death, it’s the subsequent supporting characters within that really become the ones you care about.
All round, it’s a great piece of 40K fiction and whilst some of the danger was missing for me on a personal level, I did love the whole arc with the politics carefully balanced against the action. A great piece of writing and I really can’t wait to embark again with Yarrick on his next adventure.
Release Date: 15/08/14 Publisher: Titan SYNOPSIS:
In a world where God is a drug, one woman has to get sober. Lyda Rose was one of the neuroscientists who helped create Numinous, which produces the illusion of a personal deity, but since unwittingly overdosing, she has been haunted by her own visions of an angel she calls Dr. Gloria. After a stay in an asylum, she thinks she's put it behind her. Then others start overdosing. Who is still producing the drug, and why?
REVIEW:
To be honest this is a difficult book to review as whilst some of the subject matter delves into mental instability alongside drug use, the original opening which wound me in, seemed to have sadly died for the second part of the book and left me feeling that after such an usual opening that I was let down.
I did like the way that the author brings an unlikely hero to follow, she has a lot of her own problems and when she has to delve into what she not only helped to develop but facing her own demons did keep it interesting. Add to this a few quirky twists, a surprise or two along the way and all round it was an OK book, but had it stuck with the type of telling that the book opened with I’d have been way happier.
Release Date: 29/08/14 Publisher: Deep Silver SYNOPSIS:
Metro Redux is the ultimate double game collection, including the definitive versions of both Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light, each rebuilt in the latest and greatest iteration of the 4A Engine for next-gen consoles and PC. For the first time, console owners can expect smooth 60FPS gameplay and state of the art visuals that were once only available on high-end PC hardware. Newcomers to the series will get the chance to experience two of the finest story-driven shooters of all time in one vast package; an epic adventure combining gripping survival horror, exploration and tactical combat and stealth. Fans of the original games will find the unique world of Metro transformed with incredible new lighting, physics and dynamic weather effects, as well as a host of gameplay improvements and new features. All the enhancements from the acclaimed sequel 'Metro: Last Light' have been transferred to Metro 2033 Redux - superior AI, controls, animation, weapon handling and many more. And both campaigns benefit from all-new melee animations, the ability to check your watch and ammo supplies on the fly, and new full-body player animations. Those who favoured the more survival-horror oriented gameplay of 'Metro 2033' can play both campaigns in the 'Survival' Play-Style, a fraught, slow burn fight for survival. Those who enjoyed the more action-oriented gameplay of 'Metro: Last Light' can try the 'Spartan' Play-Style, providing Artyom with a powerful set of combat skills. With the legendary Ranger Mode included to offer an extra layer of challenge and immersion, and all previous released DLC, Metro Redux offers 50+ hours of AAA FPS gameplay for an incredible price.
REVIEW:
OK, so I read the books when they were released by Gollancz, and to be honest I was left wondering how well it would translate from the page to a game from the start. I loved the dark underground passages with twists and turns where life and death is the price of a bullet (which is currency in the game) and all round I couldn’t wait to get it on the console.
Originally I played the second title, Metro Last Light, on the Xbox 360, and even then I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, yet on the Xbox One, its another experience altogether as both titles have been reworked with a lot of subtler shades, his res quality and flows beautifully with each sequence.
Add to this great voice acting, a choice of weaponry to suit the gamer alongside solid storytelling, all round gave me an even better experience than I had before. You really have to try it on the next gen. Magic.
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: 19/08/14 Publisher: Orbit SYNOPSIS:
Sorcery. Treason. Madness. And, of course, murder most foul ...A shattering accident places Archibald Clare, mentath in the service of Britannia, in the care of Emma Bannon, sorceress Prime. Clare needs a measure of calm to repair his faculties of Logic and Reason. Without them, he is not his best. At all. Unfortunately, calm and rest will not be found. There is a killer hiding in the sorcerous steam-hells of Londinium, murdering poor women of a certain reputation. A handful of frails murdered on cold autumn nights would make no difference ...but the killings echo in the highest circles, and threaten to bring the Empire down in smoking ruins. The game is afoot ...
REVIEW:
The third outing for Bannon and Clare and one that goes to push the boundries of Steampunk Victoriana to the max as the roles of gender are addressed alongside the emotional aspects of the principle characters, in a cleverly woven and wonderfully inventive plot line.
Delving into the depths of poverty that the masses live under, this tale takes you down to the dirty and badly lit streets as a mystery from our own world makes its way into Lilith’s with kickass action meeting cracking dialogue in a full on tale of daring do with barely a moment to breathe. All round a great piece of fiction and one that entertained me for quite some time. Magic.
Release Date:15/08/14 Publisher: Deep Silver SYNOPSIS:
Piranha Bytes, the creators of Gothic and Risen, return to their origins with a new, classic RPG. Risen 3: Titan Lords pulls the player in to a hand-crafted role-playing world full of rugged charm where every decision changes the course of the story. Risen 3: Titan Lords is set for release in August 2014 for the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system as well as Windows PC.
The key element of the cult Gothic series as well as Risen is the vivid world and the freedom to explore it. The world of Risen 3: Titan Lords will be diverse, authentic and full of life, providing the player with an authentic, classic RPG experience.
“Like a carpenter with a hand-crafted piece of furniture, we put together the story, the characters and the landscape until it all fits and the player has the possibility to discover things all around the place. You can try out and find things that others might not. Exploration is the key to our game”, says Bjoern Pankratz, Project Lead at Piranha Bytes.
The world of Risen 3 is abandoned by all gods and suffers from the Titan Wars when a new threat rises from the soil. A young warrior is attacked from the shadows and deprived of his soul. He sets off to reclaim what is lost amidst the darkness that is spreading throughout the world. The banned Mages could be powerful allies on his quest. To get their help, he needs to find the Mage sanctuary on Taranis, also known as the Island of Thunder. Protected by the Guardians, the Mages search the mines of Taranis for crystals loaded with magic energy. Will the player join the Guardians to get in contact with the Mages? Or will he choose one of the other guilds in Risen 3 to reach his goals?
REVIEW:
I played Risen 2 in 2010 and whilst there were some problems, I soon fell in love with advancing my character and getting better weaponry and gear so I could charge in and save the fantasy version of the caribean from its foes. Magic, guns and swords come to the fore with each statistic requiring the gamer to work heavily on increasing the skills in order to get further and to be able to handle tougher monsters.
So when I had the chance to rejoin the world in this latest outing, I couldn’t wait to see how the gameplay had advanced as well as how the characters within helped develop the story. As with Piranha Bytes other Risen, this tale works wonderfully well with a crackingly rich story, I loved the characters, I loved the voice acting, yet for me, a number of the issue’s that hit the second outing remained in this.
Firstly the camera, at times would leave the gamer without a view of what they were doing so it made it easier for the monsters/enemies to hit you. It’s easy to miss some of the items and sadly for me, when it came to one quest when I got to it, I’d already visited the area and cleaned it up so I was unable to complete the secondary quest.
In addition to this, the gamer is also at a disadvantage early on with them getting absolutely slaughtered until they up their combat skills, which at that time really makes the game a lot easier. There are skills that I would have liked to be added such as better riposting alongside parrying and I found that magic took a secondary roll to improving these key skills (alongside lockpicking) to any other being more of an after thought.
All round, whilst there are problems, I did have a lot of fun with this game, and whilst it has taken me a lot of time to write the review (due to logging a lot of game time) I always felt it was better to complete rather than write a review part way through like a fair few others which along with the fact that I stuck with it due to fascination as well as fun, should say that it’s worth your gaming time. Great stuff.
Release Date: 05/06/14 Publisher: Bodley Head SYNOPSIS:
Girls are dying in mysterious circumstances...They are found dead in their beds, covered in blood, with a look of pure horror on their faces. Worse still, their ghosts are left to walk the earth, just waiting for someone to hear the terror that has befallen them. Thomas Ward is the local spook - it's his job to protect the county from things that go bump in the night. But this is no ordinary haunting, and he finds himself on the path of a dangerous beast that is looking to kill again. He soon realizes this beast is just the beginning. An army of monsters is massing in the north, and it poses a threat to all mankind. This is the first terrifying tale in the Starblade Chronicles, from the bestselling author of The Spook's Apprentice.
REVIEW:
There’s always something wonderful about a brand new series set in an established world and with the passing of his Master, Thomas Ward is now “the Counties” Spook.
Weaving a wonderfully rich opening tale into this established world, Joseph allows Tom to make his own way and errors as he learns to fill the role. It’s definitely a series I’ve had a lot of fun reading and when you’ve driven some of the roads on dark nights, boggarts, spirits and monster can feel all too real. Add to this subtle shades of grey alongside a host of new supporting cast members and all round you’re in for a treat.
Release Date: 20/08/14 Publisher: Orbit SYNOPSIS:
As the old gods awaken and satrapies splinter, the Chromeria races to find the only man who might still end a civil war before it engulfs the known world. But Gavin Guile has been captured by an old enemy and enslaved on a pirate galley. Worse still, Gavin has lost more than his powers as Prism - he can't use magic at all. Without the protection of his father, Kip Guile will face a master of shadows as his grandfather moves to choose a new Prism and put himself in power. With Teia and Karris, Kip will have to use all his wits to survive a secret war between noble houses, religious factions, rebels, and an ascendant order of hidden assassins called The Broken Eye. With over two million books in print, Brent Weeks has become one of the fastest selling new fantasy authors of all time.
REVIEW:
The latest outing from Brent and of course, a book that the fans have been crying out for since the release of the last one as they can’t wait to get their next fix of Week’s magic. Seriously this guy is a wizard of words and when you add cracking characters, a huge arc and of course solid action, all round gives the reader a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
The prose is sharp, the pace is unbelievable and when the reader finishes, there will only be one question that they want an answer to, why do I have to wait a year for the next book, and perhaps that’s just a sign of how good this guy is. A real treat.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Whilst the last few days wait for Destiny feels like its taking its toll on us all, we've come across a live trailer for the game. It's good fun and to be honest is soemthing that we really had a whole lot of fun watching. There's some great lines and for us, it goes to show a lot of the fun that we're expecting have within the game. But hey, have a look for yourself:
See you on the Battlefield and hopefully in a firefight or two, Gareth and Lady Eleanor
Release Date: 28/08/14 Publisher: Arrow Books SYNOPSIS:
The greatest hero in the galaxy faces his toughest challenge yet: He must stop being Obi-Wan - and become Crazy Old Ben. For fans of movie-related novels like Darth Plagueis! In this original novel set between the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi comes to the aid of the residents of Tatooine during his exile. But he struggles with his new mission when he realizes that protecting Luke Skywalker - the last hope of the galaxy - means setting aside his compassion and his Jedi warrior training, for the future of the galaxy lies not with Obi-Wan Kenobi, but with a mystical desert recluse known only by the name of Crazy Old Ben.
REVIEW:
Ah a real treat for fans of the Star War’s Universe as we get to see Ben in his early days. It’s full of action, has cracking prose and when added to top notch dialogue as well as having an author who clearly not only understands Ben but brings more a clearer understanding to a very complex character all round generates a story that was a pure joy to sit back and read.
All round a great book and one that I feel will really add something extra to the Star Wars Universe for fans. Just don’t let this one sail by you.
Release Date: 05/06/14 Publisher: Head of Zeus SYNOPSIS:
Somewhere in the city of Cork, a woman's cry echoes through the rainy streets. On a bloodstained mattress in a grimy flat, a burly man lies dead. A terrified girl kneels over his body. She has been trapped here for three days. It doesn't take DS Katie Maguire long to identify the murder victim. He is someone she has been trying to convict for years - a cruel and powerful pimp who terrorised the girls who worked for him. It's Katie's job to catch the killer. But with men like this dead, the city is safer - and so are the scared young women who are trafficked into Cork. When a second pimp is horrifically murdered, Katie must decide. Should she do her job, or follow her conscience? Should she allow the killer to strike again?
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of Graham’s and whilst I was originally turned on to his writing by Lady Eleanor’s love for his horror writing, I’ve had a lot of fun reading his crime work. It has great prose, some wonderful twists and when added to believable characters that you want to spend time with really works well.
Throw into the mix some deft sleight of hand and all round the reader is in for a treat. Yet for all this, for me, the real seller is the dialogue. I love the way that it trips off the page and adds a richness that a number of people don’t tend to think of. All round a great piece of writing and something I can’t wait to see what Graham brings next.
Release Date: 28/08/14 Publisher: Hodder SYNOPSIS:
Private Eye V.I. Warshawski is roused one morning by an SOS from a woman on a farm south of Chicago. When V.I. gets there, she finds no woman - but a dead man in a cornfield, his body savagely mutilated. V.I. is happy to leave the case to the local sheriff: it looks like a falling out among meth dealers. But back in Chicago, she learns that the missing woman is a protegee of her oldest friend and confidante, Dr Lotty Herschel, and is compelled to investigate. What V.I. uncovers pulls her into a world of nuclear secrets and high-stakes computing, with roots reaching back to the Second World War. The detective soon finds herself in a hall of mirrors where she can't tell reality from video games, and her life is on the line. For V.I., this is her most profound, and terrifying, adventure yet ...
REVIEW:
Recently I’ve had quite a huge chunk of Crime Thrillers to make my way through and recently they’ve taken me on a journey around the world. The ones that entertained me had mystery, some wonderful twists but most of all, they had characters that I not only wanted to spend time with but were multifaceted so that I could find many likeable traits about them.
This is something that Sara does extremely well in her writing. She knows how to give the reader a cracking story with a character that can not only kick butt but one that will also be sensitive when the needs arise. It’s a fine line to tread and one that is a difficult trick to manage. All round a solid release and one that I was more than happy to spend the time with.
Release Date: 05/06/14 Publisher: Hodder SYNOPSIS:
AD 273. Obsessed by the solar religions of the east, the emperor Aurelian sets out to obtain every sacred object within his realm. But one - a mysterious rock said to channel the power of the sun god - lies beyond his reach. Warrior-priest Ilaha has captured the legendary stone and is using it to raise an army against Rome. For Imperial agent Cassius Corbulo and ex-gladiator bodyguard Indavara, stopping him constitutes their greatest challenge yet. Assisted by a squad of undercover soldiers and a Saracen chieftain, they trek south across the deserts of Arabia, encountering sandstorms, murderous money-lenders and a ruthless German mercenary. And when they finally reach Ilaha's mountain fortress, they face thousands of warriors who will give their lives to protect him ...and the black stone.
REVIEW:
I’ve loved Nick Brown’s Corbulo since the first outing a while ago and whilst each book has a key mystery that this ancient investigator has to find the answer to, this one is more of a search for an object rather than a killer as the reader is informed early on who was behind it.
As usual with Nick, the plot is fast paced, has some great action and when backed with his cracking dialogue as well as wonderful writing style, it leaves the reader feeling not only fulfilled but also demonstrates that Nick is upping the ante with this latest outing. All round a great book and one that has made this one of my favourite series in recent years.
Release Date: 28/08/14 Publisher: Sphere SYNOPSIS:
1536. In the corrupt heart of Tudor London a killer waits in the shadows...The Real Crime Before dawn on a misty November morning in 1536, prominent mercer Robert Packington was gunned down as he crossed Cheapside on his way to early morning mass. It was the first assassination by handgun in the history of the capital and subsequently shook the city to its core. The identity of his assassin has remained a mystery. Our Story Thomas Treviot is a young London goldsmith and a close family friend of Robert Packington. Through his own upstanding social connections - and some less upstanding acquaintances he has made along the way - Thomas launches a dramatic investigation into Packington's death. As Thomas searches for revenge, he must travel from the golden heart of merchant London, to the straw-covered backstreets of London's poorest districts before reaching the country's seat of power: the court of King Henry VIII. Before long he is drawn into a dark conspiracy beyond his wildest imaginings and claiming justice for his friend starts to look impossible. Especially when Thomas realises that Robert wasn't the man he thought he knew...In the first of a new series investigating real unsolved Tudor crimes, D. K. Wilson brings the streets of Tudor London to spectacular life as Thomas Treviot faces a fight to bring the truth to light in the corrupt world of Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII.
REVIEW:
Most stories set in an historical time period are ones that we already know the answers to, yet just as in modern times, not every crime is solved and here the author bring one from the Tudor Period to life in an imaginative title that not only gives the reader an answer but also allows the reader to get a tale that is nigh impossible to put down.
The characters are delightful to spend time around as they feel like real people that you could meet on the street, they have feelings, they have their own objectives and desires and above all else their interaction really helps give the time period some real body for a modern reader. Back this up with some great twists alongside some cracking dialogue and all round its definitely one of my favourite crime books of the year to date. Great stuff.
Release Date: 03/06/14 Publisher: Bantam SYNOPSIS:
I am Princess Meredith NicEssus. Legal name Meredith Gentry, because “Princess” looks so pretentious on a driver’s license. I was the first faerie princess born on American soil, but I wouldn't be the only one for much longer...
Merry Gentry, ex–private detective, now full-time princess, knew she was descended from fertility goddesses, but when she learned she was about to have triplets, she began to understand what that might mean. Infertility has plagued the high ranks of faerie for centuries. Now nobles of both courts of faerie are coming to court Merry and her men, at their home in exile in the Western Lands of Los Angeles, because they will do anything to have babies of their own.
Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, is a more dangerous problem. He tried to seduce Merry and, failing that, raped her. He’s using the human courts to sue for visitation rights, claiming that one of the babies is his. And though Merry knows she was already pregnant when he took her, she can’t prove it.
To save herself and her babies from Taranis she will use the most dangerous powers in all of faerie: a god of death, a warrior known as the Darkness, the Killing Frost, and a king of nightmares. They are her lovers, and her dearest loves, and they will face down the might of the high courts of faerie—while trying to keep the war from spreading to innocent humans in Los Angeles, who are in danger of becoming collateral damage.
REVIEW:
After a hell of a wait for this, the latest outing in the Merry Gentry series, I was more than looking forward to getting back to the series to see how the tale would pan out, although to be honest I expected just another day and a half of the pregnant Merry’s story within.
What occurs within is set a good few years later and to be honest that’s the best thing that can be said about it. The characters are blurry (I often forgot who was who within), the plot line none existent and when added to a “story” that just seems to go from one bonk scene to another with no plot use other than to fill pages, all round left me not only cold but totally cheated. It’s going to be a long time before I pick up another LKH book.
Release Date: 28/08/14 Publisher: Bantam SYNOPSIS:
Summer, AD 69. Rome and its empire are in turmoil, caught in the coils of a desperate and destructive civil war.
The emperor Otho is dead by his own hand and his rival, Aulus Vitellius, occupies the imperial throne. However, a new challenge has arisen in the East - the legions of Titus Flavius Vespasian have declared him their Emperor.
In the dry heat of an August morning, Gaius Valerius Verrens prepares for his last day on earth. Wrongly accused of deserting his legion on the field of Bedriacum, it seems he is destined to die a coward's death.
Then the executioner's hand is stayed. Vitellius' enemies will spare the life of the man who was once Hero of Rome if he pledges allegiance to Vespasian and his cause. Valerius - tired of the endless slaughter and hoping that he might be reunited with his lost love - agrees. And so he must battle his way south to Rome in order to persuade his friend Vitellius to stand down for the greater good of the city, its people and the Empire.
But this is civil war and this is Rome, and Valerius - his loyalties divided and branded an enemy of the people - is trapped in a maze of distrust, corruption, betrayal and blood-letting . . .
REVIEW:
The latest outing from Douglas Jackson for Gaius and perhaps the one that puts him in the most danger to date as he is offered a way out from execution if he pledges to Vespasian. As usual with Douglas’ writing the reader is treated to not only a kick ass story with solid bloody battle sequences but also accompanied by a deep intelligence of cunningly added with political machinations alongside double-dealing.
It’s definitely something unique and for me a series that I have had a hell of a lot of fun with. (Usually meaning only to read a few pages and then notice the sun creeping through the curtains.) All round a great piece of writing and for me a UK name that truly delivers with each release. Magic.
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.
