Release Date: 19/08/10
BOOK BLURB:
The elves have fled to Calius, seeking to escape the overwhelming power of the demonic Garonin. A desperate last stand in their own dimension saved the race, at the cost of 100,000 elves lost to the Garonin. The elf who led that fight, Takaar, is blamed for the losses and has gone into hiding. Now the weakened elf race is tearing itself apart in civil war, human mercenaries have arrived in Calius and are ripping the continent apart. Only one elf can unite the elves. And only one elf believes in him. A young warrior named Auum sets out to bring back the shamed hero and save the elven race. James Barclay's ELVES trilogy will tell the whole story of his immortal elven race, and will appeal to all fans of Tolkien and fantasy - this is a uniquely entertaining take on a fantasy staple perfect to bring new readers to Barclay. And old readers of James Barclay will welcome a return to one of their favourite creations and will also love seeing one of their favourite characters again - the Tai Gethan warriror Auum destined to be one of the Raven.
REVIEW:
The latest offering from James and one that brings the War of the Elves and Mankind directly to the reader’s attention in his own indomitable style. It’s beautifully written with touches of emotional context richly woven within. Death, honour, betrayal and double dealing abound within this title and its clearly a demonstration of James’ talent that he manages it with skill to spare. But when you tie it all up with his own style of descriptive combat that has enthralled readers since his Raven days and you have something that readers will latch upon and love. A great offering from this author and one that I can’t wait to see how it develops further in future offerings especially a certain battle mad elf who the readers will most certain vote for as one of their favourite Barclay characters to date.
Release Date: 01/07/10
BOOK BLURB:
Bob Howard is an IT specialist and field agent for the Laundry, the branch of Her Majesty's secret service that deals with occult threats. Overworked and underpaid, Bob is used to his two jobs overflowing from a strict nine to five and, since his wife Mo has a very similar job description, he understands that work will sometimes follow her home, too. But when 'work' involves zombie assassins and minions of a mad god's cult, he realises things are spinning out of control. When a top-secret dossier goes missing and his boss Angleton is implicated, Bob must contend with suspiciously helpful Russian intelligence operatives and an unscrupulous apocalyptic cult before confronting the decades-old secret that lies at the heart of the Laundry: what is so important about the missing Fuller Memorandum? And why are all the people who know dying ...?
REVIEW:
I’ve always got a lot of enjoyment from titles by Charles Stoss, here in the third offering in his Laundry series the author continues to do what he does well, the humour is crisp, the writing pretty addictive and you know damn well that you’re going to get exactly what you want. Whilst some of the humour may seem to have been recycled from the previous two its still top notch and something that very few Sci-Fi authors do well. This title is a real treat and something different to the vast majority of titles out there, however don’t pick this up if you haven’t read the previous two as you’ll be missing something special. If you haven’t read any of Charles books to date but love authors like Tom Holt, then you may well want to give this guy a go, a real summer holiday break from the mundane.
Release Date: 01/07/10
BOOK BLURB:
Peter Tobin was already serving a life sentence for murder when he was charged with the murder of two young women - Vicky Hamilton and Dina McNichol, in November 2007. Both girls went missing in 1991. Their bodies were discovered by police in 50 Irvine Drive, Margate - where Tobin once lived. In their new true crime investigation, Paul Harrison and Professor David Wilson examine this shocking case, including full details of Tobin's trial. But perhaps even more importantly, they look into other similar cases around the country. With developments in DNA testing, the police are coming closer and closer to solving a range of terrible and high profile murders. There have been at least five major arrests in recent months, with further arrests sure to follow. Harrison and Wilson investigate these cases, and ask how new DNA tests will change police investigations. But they also ask whether this will be enough to stop murderers in the future, and whether there are larger forces at work in society that need to be addressed before we can stop people from killing again and again.
REVIEW:
As a title, if you’re not interested in crime you really won’t want to read this book as its fairly jumpy and tends to go into quite a lot of detail in regard to each of the crime steps giving the story an all over the place feel. Add to this a lot of repetition and many sub categories that you really did not need to such as how the science functioned (which felt more like unnecessary padding to allow the book to hit a certain word count.) I did feel that more could have been done and a greater depth of investigation could have been engaged with before publishing especially when recent news events have Tobin’s previous home being examined for more suspected victims. If you’re interested in the case it’s OK but if you want a more varied look into serial killers there are better titles out there. A shame that the authors didn’t hold off as I feel that theres more to this story than they’ve achieved within.
Release Date: 08/07/10
BOOK BLURB:
Flicking through her friends' holiday snaps, Kate Benson receives a sudden shock. For there in the background is her husband, Charlie. Dark hair, blue eyes, familiar smile: there's no mistaking him. But that's impossible. Because Charlie died exactly a year ago. Determined to track down the man in the photograph, Kate follows the trail from Miami to Sicily, where her husband drowned in mysterious circumstances. But when she discovers serious discrepancies in the original investigation, Kate starts to question whether she ever really knew the man she loved so much. Was Charlie murdered? Was their marriage as perfect as Kate remembers? Who are the people following her? Who can she trust? And is Kate herself to be trusted? Because there are secrets in her past too ...
REVIEW:
With this, her second offering, Ruth Newman takes the reader to a whole new world of scare and demonstrates why she’s fast becoming a name within the genre to set your standards by. There’s a strong female lead, twisting plot outlines and an overall care that demonstrates attention to detail. Back that up with strong, believable dialogue, a sparse descriptiveness in writing style and you know that this author believes in neither unnecessary filling or wasting words which keeps this offering pretty streamlined which then allows reader to get to the guts pretty quickly.
Release Date: 04/08/10
BOOK BLURB:
The art and science of sword fighting goes back almost to the dawn of civilization and has been an obsession for much of mankind throughout recorded history. From the Roman arena to feudal Japan and from the duellists of Europe to the development of modern-day Olympic fencing, Richard Cohen traces the course of swordsmanship with wit and erudition in a fascinating and wonderfully discursive account. Packed with anecdote, superbly written and built on a solid foundation of historical research, this is a tribute to a deadly but beautiful skill, the mastery of which for centuries defined a man.
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of fantasy I’ve always been fascinated with the whole sword play angle, be it the old fashioned hack and slash or the more refined duelling. Within this offering you get a history of sword work by a well known and talented swordmaster. Beautifully written with some of the authors personal anecdotes make this offering one of the best titles I’ve read about the development on this subject. Definitely a book that I’m going to have “borrowed” by my Dad who’s just as crazy as I am.
Release Date: 03/06/10
BOOK BLURB:
8,000 years ago Europe was a very different place. England was linked to Holland by a massive swathe of land. Where the North Sea is now lay the landmass of Northland. And then came a period of global warming, a shifting of continents and, over a few short years, the sea rushed in and our history was set. But what if the sea had been kept at bay? Brythony is a young girl who lives in Northland. Like all her people she is a hunter gatherer, her simple tools fashioned from flint cutting edges lodged in wood and animal bone. When the sea first encroaches on her land her people simply move. Brythony moves further travelling to Asia. Where she sees mankind's first walled cities. And gets an idea. What if you could build a wall to keep the sea out? And so begins a colossal engineering project that will take decades, a wall that stretches for hundreds of miles, a wall that becomes an act of defiance, and containing the bones of the dead, an act of devotion. A wall that will change the geography of the world. And it's history. Stephen Baxter has become expert at embedding human stories into the grandest sweeps of history and the most mind-blowing of concepts. STONE SPRING begins a trilogy that will tell the story of a changed world. It begins in 8,000 BC with an idea and ends in 1500 in a world that never saw the Roman Empire, Christianity or Islam. It is an eye-opening look at what history could so easily have been and an inspiring tale of how we control our future.
REVIEW:
If you love your alternate history books, then you’ve more than likely come across Stephen’s work before. Here in this latest offering the tale is set in 8000BC when the North Sea didn’t exist and the whole area is known as Northland. What Stephen asks in this title is “What if they built a stone wall that would prevent the land from flooding?
It is interesting, it’s fascinating but above all else Stephen brings to the fore an offering that has a believability about it. Great stuff and one that will more than please readers of the old tales especially when it’s backed up with credible research and great prose.
Release Date: 28/05/10
BOOK BLURB:
Lift Off presents personal and professional works by Scott Robertson, Program Director of the Entertainment Design major at Art Center College of Design. This book features the following chapters: Airships, Spacecraft, Aircraft, Lefty Sketches, Hovercraft, Original 'Card Collection' and selected work from the conceptual design of vehicles for the video games Field Commander and Spy Hunter 2 .
REVIEW:
A title that collects a number of sketches from artist Scott Robertson and one that Titan has brought in for an incredible price. Renowned throughout the game industry you may well have seen a number of Scott’s work although perhaps not known it. (He designed vehicles in games such as Field Commander and Spy Hunter 2.) Beautifully put together this offering is more an inspiration for those with an artistic flair as well as giving tips on some construction basics to aid you in your own creative crafts. It’s informative, it’s carefully selected and above all else it’s definitely something that is a joy to flick through for inspiration. A great product.
Release Date: 30/06/10
BOOK BLURB:
There's more than one way to skin a cat - or kick someone's ass. In this wickedly funny field guide, you'll find 365 ways to nail the bastards who try to get you down. A drunk giant throws a punch at you in a bar. Apply Ju Jitsu Hold Number 1, Number 2 or Number. 3. Then yell, 'Timber!' Your next-door neighbor runs off with your wife. Turn on his backyard hose. By the time they get back, his backyard will be the swamp this snake deserves. Your colleague steals your best account. Insult a motorcycle gang in his name. Written under an alias by a man who's been there, done that, and lived to deny it all, this is all you need to protect and avenge yourself against every possible threat - be it physical, emotional, psychological, financial, or sexual. From cue balls and steel-toed boots to spiders and Crazy Glue, you'll find an amazing array of 'household' weapons and tactics designed to put that moron in his/her place once and for all.
REVIEW:
A lighthearted offering that whilst full of combat manoeuvres and the mental mind screw over on your “victim” then it’s a fun read. However try to put a number of these things into practice and you’ll be the one who gets their assed kicked as it seems more like a backfiring offering on level with Roger the Dodger in the Beano. It is fun, it is light-hearted and it will be something that will amuse but leave all thoughts of revenge at the door.
Release Date: 01/04/10
BOOK BLURB:
In 2005 a Vatican-run university opened its doors to priests from around the world, running a course for would-be exorcists. Looking for a story, Rome-based investigative journalist Matt Baglio attended the class, and there met Father Gary Thomas -- a Californian priest who had been chosen to attend by his bishop. Father Gary was concerned that many of the 'possessed' were in reality suffering from psychological disorders best left to the care of doctors. How and why his view changed is the subject of this book. We follow Father Gary's year-long training with a senior exorcist as he is transformed from a doubter into a believer. Baglio gained unprecedented access to this world, including participating in exorcisms and culminating with Father Gary's own fearsome confrontation with the Devil. Woven into his story is the fascinating history of exorcism, its rites and rituals, and the ways and reasons that people become possessed. Matt Baglio speaks to psychologists and detectives, as well as Vatican clergy, to wrinkle out the truth about this most Gothic of subjects. The Rite is proof that the truth about demonic possession is not only stranger than fiction, but far more chilling.
REVIEW:
As a fan of unusual titles, I was fascinated by the chance to see how a modern exorcism was conducted by the church of today. That said, whilst the subject matter was fascinating the authors interpretation and overall depiction of events of today was sadly lacking, there was no passion, it was pretty standard writing and was just written as basic facts so inevitably was pretty boring. Add to the mix that the various events within this title felt more like the people involved were using religious matters to hide mental illness and its sadly a title that’s more miss than hit.
Release Date: 22/07/10
BOOK BLURB:
Arrows will fly. Swords will swing. Heroes will fall. Legends will survive. And the Holy Land will never be the same. 1190 AD: Richard the Lionheart has launched his epic crusade to seize Jerusalem from the cruel Saracens. Marching with the vast royal army is Britain's most famous, most feared, most ferocious warrior: the Outlaw of Nottingham, the Earl of Locksley -- Robin Hood himself. With his band of loyal men at his side, Robin cuts a bloody swathe on the brutal journey east. Daring and dangerous, he can outwit and outlast any foe -- but the crimson battlefields of the Holy Land are the ultimate proving ground. And within Robin's camp lurks a traitor -- a stealthy enemy determined to slay Christendom's greatest outlaw before the trumpets fade. Blazingly paced and richly imagined, featuring a cast of unforgettable characters and packed with fast, furious action, Holy Warrior is adventure at its thrilling, white-knuckle best.
REVIEW:
If you missed the first title by Angus Donald, make sure that you catch up pretty quick as this title is a definite must read for fans of historical fiction. Our principle hero and Robin Hood are on crusade and with villains and killers popping up out of the woodwork its an adventure and a half. Back that up with our heroes being at the Jewish Massacre of York as well as the Holy Lands and it’s a real journey. Angus’ use of Alan as a natural story teller works well and when backed up with some great dialogue, some interesting twists alongside a great overall arc and you know it’s a new chapter in the Hood Mythos that will enthral a great many new readers. A great series to use as a bridging gap between the Young adult and Adult market and one that will definitely become a firm fav.
Hail Mighty Readers,
OK, the Summer is high and on the wain but we've just got some news from our friends at Bloomsbury of author appearances. So with luck, one of your YA favs will be visiting a place near you:- Mary Hoffman, author of numerous YA novels including the hugely successful Stravaganza series will be at Edinburgh Festival on Saturday 21st August at 1pm. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website www.edbookfest.co.uk
- Cathy MacPhail, author of Underworld, Roxy’s Baby and a whole host of other action-packed titles will be at Edinburgh Festival on Monday 23rd August at 10am. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website www.edbookfest.co.uk
- Simmone Howell is making a rare visit from her native Australia for two appearances at Edinburgh Festival. The author of Notes from the Teenage Underground and Everything Beautiful will be running a workshop on Tuesday 24th August at 6pm and talking about her writing on Wednesday 25th August at 10am. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website www.edbookfest.co.uk
- Ian Beck (Pastworld) will be joining Philip Reeve at Edinburgh Festival on Wednesday 25th August at 5pm to talk steampunk and much more. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website www.edbookfest.co.uk
- Gemma Malley (The Declaration, The Resistance, The Returners and The Legacy) and Sophie Mackenzie will be appearing at Edinbugh Festival on Thursday 26th August at 6:30pm. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website www.edbookfest.co.uk
- Lucy Jago will be at Montacute House, the National Trust property that inspire her book of the same name, on Saturday 28th August at 2pm. She will be signing copies of her book. If you can’t make it, but would like to reserve a signed copy call 01935 823 289
- Jim Carrington (Inside My Head) will be on a panel alongside Alex Diaz and C.J. Skuse, chaired by Julia Green (Drawing with Light) at the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature on Thursday 30th September at 8:30pm. To book your tickets call 01225 463 362 or visit the website www.bathkidslitfest.co.uk
- Mary Hooper (Fallen Grace) and Celia Rees (Witch Child and The Fool’s Girl) will be talking all things historical at Cheltenham Festival on Saturday 16th October at 6pm. To book your tickets call 0844 576 7979 or visit the website www.cheltenhamfestivals.com
- Celia Rees will be running a workshop on writing for teenagers at Cheltenham Festival on Sunday 17th October at 10am. Place are limited. To book your tickets call 0844 576 7979 or visit the website www.cheltenhamfestivals.com
BOOK BLURB:
The final, never-before-published volume in the noirish, gritty urban fantasy for adults from the bestselling Children's author. 'The Cardinal is dead - long live The Cardinal' For ten years Capac Raimi has ruled the City as The Cardinal. Created by the first Cardinal to rule after him and continue his legacy, Capac cannot be killed. But that doesn't stop his enemies trying. And he has a lot of enemies. In the past Capac has always been content to wait his adversaries out, safe in the knowledge that he can't lose playing a long game. But things are changing. Rival gangs are gaining power in the City. And figures from Capac's past are reappearing - people only he remembers, the first Cardinal's other creations, who disappeared with him ten years ago. It can only mean one thing. The mysterious Incan priests, the ancient powers behind the City, have never been happy about ceding control to Capac. Now they have a plan to take the City back. And this time Capac really could have a fight to the death on his hands!
REVIEW:
Darren Shan is one of those authors that you either love or hate. Personally I love the guy’s writing but that doesn’t mean that it will appeal to everyone. Within this offering is a tale that will keep you guessing, some great characters and to be honest quite a bit of growth and whilst you can technically read this without having read the previous two I’d heavily advise against that as you won’t get the full Shan flavour. It’s quirky, its twisted and to be honest the weirdness is strangely appealing. A great offering from the author in this series and definitely a real piece of escapism.
BOOK BLURB:
Terrifying serial killer thriller set in the gritty Glasgow of the near future, from the bestselling author of the Logan McRae series. There are worse things than the death penalty! They call them halfheads: convicted criminals, surgically mutilated and lobotomized by the State, then sent out to do menial jobs in the community so everyone will know what happens when you break the law. There are no appeals, no reprieves, and no one ever comes back. Until now. Dr Fiona Westfield, one of the most prolific serial killers Glasgow has ever seen, is waking up. Surrounded by blood and death and darkness. William Hunter has risen through the ranks since putting Westfield away; now he's Assistant Network Director, in charge of police actions. But a routine murder investigation is about to embroil him in an appalling conspiracy. The vast connurb blocks on Glasgow's deprived south side are ready to explode. Eleven years ago the VR riots killed millions -- now someone wants to start them all over again. And Will is being dragged back into a past he desperately wants to forget!
REVIEW:
OK, you have a reader who is after a crime novel, wants a touch of sci-fi and blends it all together with a real tale of daring and mystery. What are you going to reach for? Well worry no longer as this latest offering from Stuart goes to prove that there is something for everyone in most genres. Here you get a great lead character, a whole host of interesting background cast members and of course the obligatory self styled villain. It’s well written, it’s descriptive and the dialogue, which whilst written in a glasweigan dialect is pretty addictive and fitting. Overall the arc is very impressive and leaves this novel as a great starting point for multiple sequels. A great option all in and when you back that up with a female Hannibal Lector you know that you’ve gotten a real treat.
BOOK BLURB:
She'll charm you, punish you, then kill you...Mia Kettering is a ruthless killer who hides in plain sight. Indeed, no one believes that a beautiful, wealthy socialite could be capable of murder. But now she's begun her master plan that will leave six women dead, punished for their dark pasts. Detective Dani Cole is determined to track down a serial killer whose victims include a young woman she pulled out of a life of crime. Her investigation leads her to Mitch Sheridan, who once saved her life but then disappeared. With danger hot on their heels, Dani and Mitch unearth a deathly chain of deception that leads to a killer who is closer than they think - and more terrifying than they imagine...
REVIEW:
Having fallen in love with Kate’s writing style a few titles ago, it’s become a bit of a guilty pleasure when the new title lands. I pick up some snacks, a couple of cans of pop and then get myself all snuggled into my duvet to get the full reading experience. You see, once you start, its pretty damn hard to put this authors books down. She has a unique writing style that you can spot from a distance backed up with characters that really do leap off the page into your imagination which, when backed up with a really good real world type of scare leave you feeling that you’ve gotten something special. Whilst this is a great thing for most authors, Kate’s writing style takes it further, so much so, that you really will be gripped to the last page.
BOOK BLURB:
The world is in turmoil. In the east the savage Merduks, followers of the Prophet Ahrimuz, have captured the holy city of Aekir. The western kingdoms are too distracted by internecine bickering to intervene and the Church seems more obsessed with rooting out heresy. It is an age where men go to the stake for the taint of magic in their blood, where gunpowder and cannon co-exit with werewolves and sorcerers. It is the turning point when two great religions will fight to the death and the common folk will struggle to merely survive.
REVIEW:
Fans of this series shouldn’t get too excited just yet as this title is an omnibus of the series. For new readers, well, lets put it this way, you have one hell of an adventure ahead. Contained within this book, you get the first two books in Paul’s Monarchies of God Quintet (that’s Hawkwood’s Voyage and The Heretic Kings.) Originally released in 95 (yep it was a shock to me too), the first book, really does set this up as an epic opening and with a series that’s told from multiple points of view, you’ll end up with something similar to the effect woven more recently by authors like George RR Martin.
Add to the mix authenticity in regard to the weaponry alongside the seafaring techniques, this series really is a gem in the crown of epic fantasy. Finally what makes this series something really special though is the authors characters. Not only are they fully rounded but they step off the page fully formed into your imagination but to be honest it’s the dialogue really makes this something special. So hitch up your leggings, gird your loins and prepare for something epic.
BOOK BLURB:
A brilliant and enthralling debut historical thriller in the vein of C.J. Sansom. London, December 1563. England is a troubled nation. Catholic plots against the young Queen Elizabeth spring up all over the country. At his house in the parish of St Bride, the herald William Harley -- known to everyone as Clarenceux - receives a book from his friend and fellow Catholic, Henry Machyn. But Machyn is in fear of his life, claiming that the book is deadly...What secret can it hold? And then Clarenceux is visited by the State in the form of Francis Walsingham and his ruthless enforcers, who will stop at nothing to gain possession of it. If Clarenceux and his family are to survive the terror of Walsingham, and to plead with the queen's Secretary of State Sir William Cecil for their lives, Clarenceux must solve the clues contained in the book to unlock its dangerous secrets before it's too late. And when he does, he realises that it's not only his life and the lives of those most dear to him that are at stake...
REVIEW:
Whilst I loved the authors Medieval Travel Guide I did feel a little disappointed with this offering. The plot outline was reasonable and the historical part made you feel as if you were walking through the streets with the characters however whilst they were passable the dialogue felt forced and as such made me feel that it wasn’t as polished or as rounded as it could have been. The author is clever with what they’ve done and hopefully in future titles they’ll work on the dialogue aspect to help it come to life.
BOOK BLURB:
When sixteen-year-old Lucrezia de' Medici marries the fifth Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso d'Este, she imagines life with her handsome husband will be idyllic. But little does she know that he is a very complicated man. The marriage is fraught with difficulties from the start, and, as time passes, Lucrezia becomes increasingly alienated. For Alfonso, the pressure mounts as the Vatican threatens to reclaim his title should the couple remain unable to produce an heir. Only his lover Francesca seems able to tame his increasing fury. But Alfonso's growing resentment towards his duchess soon becomes unbearable, and he begins to plot an unthinkable way to escape his problems. Originally inspired by a Robert Browning poem, His Last Duchess gorgeously brings to life the passions and people of sixteenth-century Tuscany and Ferrara. It is a story you are unlikely to forget for a long time.
REVIEW:
To be honest, this is a title that’s based on a poem and a pretty short one at that so there wasn’t really any background material to fall back upon for rounding the characters or for authenticity which unfortunately makes for a very weak title. This offering was not well written, the characters were pretty archetypal and to be blunt the author over padded this offering and not only made it something that really didn’t do much but took the story arc from plausible to improbable to the ridiculous. Personally I feel that I’ve been spoilt with historical fiction bodice rippers by authors like Philippa Gregory and really was given an inferior title by this author. Save your cash and vote with your pocket. If you have to read this offering borrow it from the library.
BOOK BLURB:
Maxine finds herself covered in blood and crouched beside Jack's dead body, with no memory of what happened. Grief-stricken, Maxine isn't sure what to believe - or who to blame. Then an Avatar bounty hunter comes through the veil into our world, investigating a death of his own. Completely ruthless and subservient to those who bred him, his mission is to find Jack - dead or alive. Racing to stop the hunter, Maxine must also deal with the blood on her hands. But the answers she uncovers will be devastating, and the earth's salvation won't wait.
REVIEW:
The third instalment for Majorie and one that challenges our lead heroine. It’s got intrigue, its got some politics and above all else it has left our heroine wondering who she can trust in a situation that she’s going to have to work pretty hard to get out of. It’s gripping, it’s definitely got some moxy and above all else it’s a title that leaves the author a whole range of area’s to explore if she revisits the world. It’s definitely an adventure, it’s definitely a tale that the reader will love, and whilst I missed the second part I wasn’t left feeling out in the cold as far as the characters were concerned. A great sign but if you’ve not read at least the first part, put this title down and explore the shelves as otherwise spoilers may well prevent you from enjoying the other titles.
BOOK BLURB:
610AD. The bloodthirsty Emperor Phocas is preparing for the greatest battle of his life. Enemy armies are racing closer to attack his fortress, the golden city of Constantinople, and traitors within plot his downfall. Clinging to power by masterminding a campaign of terror, he is running out of funds, allies and time ...but he has one card left to play. Aelric, a naive and ambitious young clerk from Britain, is sent to Constantinople ostensibly on a mission to copy old texts for the Church of Rome. On his arrival he discovers the terrible dangers lurking behind the shining streets and glittering facades. A pawn in a secret conspiracy that will change the course of history, he can only rely on his wits, charm and fighting skills to stay alive.
REVIEW:
Set during the reign of Edward (Longshanks) the first of England, this offering takes the reader to a time where warfare was fought as savegly against the people as it was against the invaders in this offering from Paul Finch. He gets the feel right for the time period and with characters who are as much villain as hero it sets a tone for a war of attrition that no side can afford. Add to the mix zombies and a siege and you know that its something that is quite cinematic. It’s well written, it’s got crisp description and it’s a stand alone title that makes it easy for people to dip into. Whilst this won’t be for all fans of Urban Fantasy it’s a title that will please a lot of readers who enjoy a dip into Historical Fiction alongside their zombies. An offering I really enjoyed.
BOOK BLURB:
The tears of Alexander shall flow, giving bread and freedom ...612 AD. Egypt, the jewel of the Roman Empire, seethes with unrest, as bread runs short and the Persians plot an invasion. In Alexandria, a city divided between Greeks and Egyptians by language, religion and far too few soldiers, the mummy of the Great Alexander, dead for nine hundred years, still has the power to calm the mob -- or inflame it ...Aelric, the young British clerk who has become a senator and the trusted henchman of Emperor Heraclius, has come to Alexandria to send Egypt's harvest to Constantinople and to force the unwilling viceroy to give its land to the peasants. But the city -- with its factions and conspirators -- thwarts him at every turn. And when an old enemy from Constantinople arrives, supposedly on a quest for a religious relic that could turn the course of the Persian war, he will have to use all his cunning, his charm and his talent for violence to survive.
REVIEW:
The second novel for me by Richard Blake and one that I really devoured after finishing the first. As with the original, its beautifully written with a great excursion from modern times that’s backed up with a seriously enjoyable writing style. Top notch entertainment and something of a guilty pleasure. I’ll definitely seek out other titles by this author and I really want to see what he has in store for his characters in future excursions.
BOOK BLURB:
Fact: Ithyphallophobia is the fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis. Fact: You are more likely to be killed by a donkey than an airplane crash. This is a hilarious collection of little-known facts about the world that are weird, creepy, disgusting and sure to frighten the bejeezus out of anyone. This ultimate bathroom book will enlighten you to a variety of troubling truths about everything from the secret ingredient found in bottled water to what your brother was doing just before you shook his hand, from a fish that wants to swim up your genitals to how a simple airplane flight can blow out your rectum. Educational, entertaining and horrifying, this book isn't guaranteed to help you go to the bathroom, but it's certain to make your time there more enjoyable.
REVIEW:
I love books that are to be honest, bathroom offerings. They’re full of useless facts (except for trivia) that really will amuse as well as fascinate you to a certain degree. That said this offering hit the spot as to its target yet I was really put off this title by the snide alleged humour of the author after each fact was written. It wasn’t required and really took a lot of the enjoyment out of this offering. Perhaps next time, if humour is required the title could be written by someone with a sense of humour rather than additional childish adlibs.
BOOK BLURB:
He had brought his master’s Empire to the furthest reaches of the world. All had fallen before him. Now he longs for home.
But home isn’t what it was. Could it be that everything he’s fought for all those years has been a lie?
A sweeping fantasy of immense battles, demonic magic and dark politics.
REVIEW:
Having loved Gav Thorpe’s writing from his Black Library offering I knew that this would be something different and I hoped special. Yes, it has his combat sequences that are pretty unique, yes it has his touch of sparse descriptiveness that allows you to get to the meat of the story without unnecessary fussiness and backed it up with politics that make this a reasonable opener for a new epic fantasy series.
It has all the elements to make this something special although for me personally I found the book blurb off putting alongside something that could have been better phrased for the market. All in it is a good solid opening to a new series although it may not appeal to a lot of Gav’s established fans who prefer not having to go through quite a long set up.
BOOK BLURB:
The second book in this edgy urban fantasy trilogy. Chess is a fiercely independent witch and talented Debunker - working for the Church of Real Truth to exorcise ghosts and expose human liars. But she has a dark little secret that is causing her a lot of problems! a drug addiction. Trying to catch a spectral serial killer with a fondness for his victims' eyes is distracting Chess from her day job, and her growing attraction to Terrible is making things worse. Life is getting too complicated and Chess must break the rules to keep her head above water.
REVIEW:
Having loved the dark world created by Stacia in the previous novel, I really couldn’t wait to get to grips to see how this title would improve the world as well as the characters. What you get is still the same fast paced action but its backed up with a very sensitive principle character who is not only emotionally weak but also a woman who lives on her wits rather than straight out kick ass ability. It’s refreshing, its got a darker edge than a lot of the titles out there but most of all it’s a title that may escape a few radars for a while yet. Whilst following a character who has an addiction may be a bit tough for a number of readers it adds to the vulnerability and as such is something that will make this a read that sticks in your memory. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
The third book in this gritty, sexy, urban fantasy trilogy. Rogue spirits and psychopomps are terrorising people, and now someone is planning to open the gates to the City of Ghosts and unleash the dead on humanity. Faced with her greatest challenge yet, Chess has to travel to the spirit city to finally lay all her ghosts to rest!
REVIEW:
The third instalment for Majorie and one that challenges our lead heroine. It’s got intrigue, its got some politics and above all else it has left our heroine wondering who she can trust in a situation that she’s going to have to work pretty hard to get out of. It’s gripping, it’s definitely got some moxy and above all else it’s a title that leaves the author a whole range of area’s to explore if she revisits the world. It’s definitely an adventure, it’s definitely a tale that the reader will love, and whilst I missed the second part I wasn’t left feeling out in the cold as far as the characters were concerned. A great sign but if you’ve not read at least the first part, put this title down and explore the shelves as otherwise spoilers may well prevent you from enjoying the other titles.
BOOK BLURB:
Only seven minutes younger than Rolencia's heir, Byren has never hungered for the throne. He laughs when a seer predicts that he will kill his twin. But the royal heir resents Byren's growing popularity. Across the land the untamed magic of the gods wells up out of the earth's heart. It sends exotic creatures to stalk the wintry nights and it twists men's minds, granting them terrible visions. Those so touched are sent to the Abbey to control their gift, or die. At King Rolen's court enemies plot to take his throne, even as secrets within his own household threaten to tear his family apart. Political intrigue and magic combine in this explosive first book in an exciting new fantasy trilogy.
REVIEW:
Epic fantasy is fast clawing its way back up the charts and with this offering from Rowena, its pretty easy to see why. You’ve got great characters, an absolute solidly built world and of course political intrigue that puts our own politicians to shame. Add to the mix characters who are ruled by their own moralistic iron chains of conduct backed up with double dealing, descent combat sequences and plenty of things to make you wet yourself and you know that its shaping up to be one hell of a series. Thank god I’ve already got book 2 ready to roll.
BOOK BLURB:
Rolencia’s ancestral enemy, Merofynia, has invaded and marches on King Rolen’s castle. Powerless to help, thirteen yeard old Piro watches as her father, King Rolen, listens to poisoned whispers concerning his son Bryen.
How could the King doubt his second son? Determined to prove his loyalty, Bryen races across the path of the advancing army to ask the Abbot to send the warrior monks in defense of the castle.
REVIEW:
The second novel in the Chronicles of King Rollin’s Kin and one that really doesn’t let up the pace from the original. Characters flesh out even more with personal and emotional growth backed up with consequences from previous actions. Add to the mix that this offering is beautifully written, alongside cracking dialogue and an author who knows how to guide the reader through a stormy sea of pace (riding the peaks and troughs with a masters touch) and you know that you’ve gotten a book that should become a firm favourite with the fans. I predict great things for this author and probably an award or two. Get on board now before the hype hits. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
Just back from London, Harper picked up some new skills while she was away. But instead of taking the time to hone them, she'd rather focus on what's important. Like finding the two-bit perp who 'killed' her. She's convinced he's a valuable clue in the puzzle of her past and her missing father, as well as a key to figuring out who's trying to manipulate her powers and why. There's just one problem. Turns out the man who 'killed' her was murdered himself while she was away. Lucky for Harper, she has an airtight alibi, but that doesn't mean the police are going to play nice. With Seattle's recent surge in violence - thanks to the vampires - she's already under suspicion. Which means Harper has to watch her step. Because finding the ghost of her 'killer' - and rescuing her father - will mean entering into the Grey. And with her growing powers pulling her more deeply into that paranormal world, Harper's afraid she may not be able to come back out...
REVIEW:
In this latest offering in Kat’s Greywalker series and one that really brings a lot of events to a head. Its engaging, it brings back past characters and it definitely will keep the reader hopping (and hoping) right to the very end. Whilst it isn’t the end of the series it does close a significant chapter in the principle characters life. Add to the mix emotional angst, some pretty scary truths and topped off with a none stop plot and its definitely a real joy to read. For me, whilst not the authors best, its not far off. This title really will please the reader and give them something a bit new to play with, as well as generating a tale that you won’t put down once you’ve started.
BOOK BLURB:
Scottish teenage werewolf Kalix MacRinnalch is in London trying to settle down and live a normal life. Her new friends support her as she goes to college to learn to read and write, but her old enemies won't leave her alone. Many powerful werewolves want Kalix dead, and the Guild of Werewolf Hunters is still dedicated to wiping out the entire MacRinnalch werewolf clan. Life might be easier for Kalix if her werewolf family were able to help, but her sister the Enchantress needs all of her sorcerous powers to locate the perfect pair of high heels, her brother Markus is busy in Scotland organising an opera, and her cousin Dominil is engaged in her own merciless vendetta with her enemies. Kalix must carry on alone but she's finding it difficult enough to pay the rent and cope with her anxiety and depression, while struggling with werewolf hunters and exams at the same time...
REVIEW:
To be honest I really didn’t get into the originally offering by this author and really wasn’t expecting that much from this, the second title in the series. As with the original we continue with the tale of Kalix, as she struggles to immerse herself in the real world by learning to read and write with the support of her friends. It is well written, the villains pretty good fun but to be honest with you, I still have the same problem with this as I did with the first. I just didn’t like the principle character. It made this offering not only difficult to get into but it made it a real struggle to finish but most of all it left me wondering if I should even try the next title by this author as it felt that none of the problems had been corrected. It’s definitely an interesting world, it definitely has some fun characters but when you can’t writing a protagonist that the reader can latch onto and support then you’ve lost half the battle to start with.
BOOK BLURB:
Ty has lived under the ocean for his entire life. Following global warming and the rise of the seas, his family joined an underwater community in hopes of living in the new frontier of the ocean floor. But When Ty meets Gemma, a girl from "topside", who is searching the seas for her brother, she quickly makes his life very complicated. Together Ty and Gemma face dangerous sea creatures and venture into the frontier town's rough underworld as they search for her missing brother. But the deeper they dig, the more attention they attract, and soon Ty and Gemma find themselves being hunted by a gang of outlaws who roam the underwater territories causing havoc, and who seem to have eerie abilities. But Ty has a secret of his own, living underwater for his entire life has meant he has also developed a "special" power. Can he keep it a secret from Gemma and his family or is it time for him to finally tell everyone the truth?
REVIEW:
With so many authors out there releasing titles it is always hard to find something that is not only new but interesting that no one’s ever really tackled before. Yet here in this, her first release Kat Falls not only brings the reader into a new world but does it so much better than a number of other authors out there. Whilst some of the themes are similar to Sophie McKenzie, the characters are more real, they have touches that really make them stand out and have a believability that leaves you wanting to meet and greet them as they appear within the pages. Its captivating, the story arc is amazing and it’s a title that leaves the author free to include follow up’s that really has put Kat on my radar. Get this title before others start the hype. You will not regret it.
BOOK BLURB:
Arimnestos is a farm boy when war breaks out between the citizens of his native Plataea and and their overbearing neighbours, Thebes. Standing in the battle line - the wall of bronze - for the first time, alongside his father and brother, he shares in a famous and unlikely victory. But after being knocked unconscious in the melee, he awakes not a hero, but a slave. Betrayed by his jealous and cowardly cousin, the freedom he fought for has now vanished, and he becomes the property of a rich citizen of Ephesus. So begins an epic journey from slavery that takes the young Arimnestos through a world poised on the brink of an epic confrontation, as the emerging civilization of the Greeks starts to flex its muscles against the established empire of the Persians. As he tries to make his fortune and revenge himself on the man who disinherited him, Arimnestos discovers that he has a talent that pays well in this new, violent world, for like his hero, Achilles, he is 'a killer of men'.
REVIEW:
The best way to sum this novel up is OMG. Its definitely my must buy recommendation to all fans of the historical fiction genre and one that I’m also recommending to a number of fantasy fans who’ve also enjoyed offerings in the Greek world by people like David Gemmell.
Add to this mix a tale of war, of slavery and of course the events of the ancient world as seen by a warrior in hindsight and its definitely something special. Christian adds great storytelling in an almost campfire tradition backed up with almost unparalleled dialogue and characters that step from the past to the reader of today’s imagination and I suspect that it could inspire many a future classical historian.
BOOK BLURB:
Shortly after Fiona's return to Fort Weyr, three Turns older and wiser, her queen, Talenth, is infected with the dreaded sickness that has consumed so many of Pern's precious fire-breathing dragons. Talenth's recovery and the recovery of all the other dragons of Pern is delivered by the unflagging efforts of Lorana and Kindan at Benden Weyr - but their one vital clue is only bought with the loss of all the dragons of Telgar Weyr. Fiona is sent to relieve the distressed weyrfolk of the now-dragonless Weyr. When her queen, Talenth, rises to mate, Fiona finds herself not only Telgar's senior Weyrwoman but in the center of the dilemma that confronts all Pern - how can the one thousand fighting dragons do the job of three thousand? And, if they can't, how long will it be before all of Pern is consumed by Thread?
REVIEW:
Part of the problem with an established series is that the author has to inject something new every so often and unfortunately when the world was designed by another author you are very limited to what you can do. That said Todd McCaffrey has tried to add that additional flair to his writing. In this, his new offering to the world of Pern, Todd has brought the key elements of what made his mother a name in the genre to the fore and added his own take with the depth of characters that inhabit the world. Whilst it isn’t anything new, it does do what readers want and presents more of the same of whats come before. If you like that, then get this title, if you want something a little more fresh to the genre then this offering won’t be to your taste.
BOOK BLURB:
Avery Cates is in better shape than ever with the top-class augments the army's fitted him with. Pity he's no more than a puppet then, because they've also got a remote that can fry his brain at any second. And now a corrupt colonel is selling his controls to the highest bidder. Avery has visions of escape and bloody revenge - until he realises just who's bought him. Because the highest bidder is Canny Orel himself, Avery's oldest enemy. And as the System slides into chaos, Canny wants Cates to do one last job. Avery just needs one chance to get back at the old gunner - but this time, it's Canny who's holding all the cards.
REVIEW:
Having followed this series since the beginning, I’m always happy to pick up the next offering to see what Jeff brings to the table this time round. As usual you get a great story, some descent combat and backed it all up with a tale with more kinks than a fetish ball. It is well written, the characters do come alive although at times, it’s the dialogue that let the author down to me. It’s not that its bad but it’s the fact that its written in the speakers dialect that make it difficult to translate for me. If you can let that sort of thing go, you’re all sorted. If not he might not be the best author for you.
BOOK BLURB:
When orcs and goblins invade the Empire, the Emperor Dieter IV does nothing. While the other elector counts bicker, Prince Wilhelm is left to defend the Reikland alone. The Grimblades are among his brave army that opposes the greenskins. Amidst desperate war across the Empire and a plot to kill the prince, can the Grimblades survive the orc invasion and be victorious?
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of the Warhammer novels its always great to get some of the tales about the Heroes of certain battles be they the good guys or the villains. Within this offering we get a tale set around the Goblinoid Invasion of Grom the Paunch which as a huge fan of the Greenskin’s really made my day.
Alas the tale really didn’t hit the spot in my opinion. I really didn’t get a real grip on the principle unit mentioned within this offering (the Grimblades) and it felt that it wasn’t as fully rounded or as polished as it could have been. The characters didn’t give me a firm team to route for, the battle sequences pretty standard and to be honest the whole thing could have been a massive adrenaline injection so that there were no real lulls or peaks to help the tale move along. It’s a great shame that Nick’s usual talent didn’t shine through but I do wonder if he’d bitten off a little more than this one title could have chewed.
BOOK BLURB:
After Istvaan V, Horus declares outright war against the Imperium. In the shadows of the Emperor's Palace, powerful figures convene. Their plan - to send a team of assassins to execute the arch-traitor Horus and end the war for the galaxy of mankind before it's even begun. But what they cannot know is that another assassin is abroad already, with his sights firmly set on killing the Emperor.
REVIEW:
Fans of the 40K universe really have embraced the Horus Heresy, the most important event in mankind’s development. Here, in this offering you get a tale that is not only action packed but also one that really doesn’t let up from the beginning, it’s high octane, the characters gripping and above all it’s the story arc that really carries this piece. Whilst fans already know how the tale will end, it’s always interesting to see how the author will work their way to the conclusion alongside what they’d bring to the table. This title, to my mind, is perhaps the strongest of the 13 offerings so far and whilst they’ve all been great, I really do think that this has taken James’ writing to a whole new level.
BOOK BLURB:
The Night Lords are among the most feared Chaos Space Marines in the universe.They prey on their victims from the shadows, stalking the faithful of the FalseImperium in their ultimate quest to destroy the Emperor. The warband of the Exalted, travelling aboard The Covenant of Blood, are recovering from the events at Crythe Primus. But their dark crusade against the loyal Imperial forces continues, and they will leave a trail of blood and terror behind them.
REVIEW:
With the pace of life seemingly to pick up its always a good thing when you get the chance to enjoy an audio book as you can multitask. What you get with Black Library’s is a Radio Play with some top notch writing and its these latest additions to their stable that really make them worth the readers time. In this offering you get a cracking tale by Aaron Dembski-Bowden with some great voice talent which really brings this Night Lords tale to life. A real joy and definitely one that will keep many a listener happy on long journeys.
Release Date: 19/08/10
