The work week begins. Usually, I slip on my business suit and head back into the office to save a few innocent people from wrongful incarceration, but today, I have foregone the formal attire to do paperwork. Something that is good and bad. But one thing that hasn’t changed is my desire to escape the day-to-day grind by reading some great books.
So, without any further ado, here are the novels I will giving a try this week.
SHATTERED SHIELDS edited by JENNIFER BROZEK & BRYAN THOMAS SCHMIDT
“Swords and Shields. Faith and Magic.
Grab yours and get ready, for the enemy is on the move.
High fantasy and mighty conflicts go hand-in-hand. In great wars, armies rise to fight evil hordes and heroes struggle to push beyond their imperfections and save the day. These stories include more than just epic landscapes and characters…but also epic battles.
Imagine a doctor struggling to identify the spy who has infiltrated his company’s ranks and poisoned his colleagues or a boy suspected of murder by a king yet protected by a princess as he helps her father against his own people. Imagine a butcher discovering that he’s called to lead an uprising, or a First Born knowing that she must betray her own in order to save humanity.
The possibilities are endless, but at the heart they have this in common: soldiers—ordinary and otherwise–struggling against extraordinary odds to survive the day. They must withstand dark magic, dodge enemy blades, and defy the odds to survive SHATTERED SHIELDS.
Table of Contents:
Ashes and Starlight (Runelords) by David Farland
The Fixed Stars (October Daye) by Seanan McGuire
The Keeper of Names by Larry Correia
The Smaller We Are by John Helfers
Invictus by Annie Bellet
Rising Above by Sarah A. Hoyt
A Cup of Wisdom by Joseph Zieja
Words of Power by Wendy N. Wagner
Lightweaver in Shadow by Gray Rinehart
Hoofsore and Weary by Cat Rambo
Vengeance (Frost) by Robin Wayne Bailey
Deadfall by Nancy Fulda
Yael of the Strings by John R. Fultz
The Gleaners by Dave Gross
Bonded Men by James L. Sutter
Bone Candy (Black Company) by Glen Cook
First Blood (Paksenarrion) by Elizabeth Moon” — Goodreads
Buy Shattered Shields (BAEN)
STAR WARS: TARKIN by JAMES LUCENO
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .
Bestselling Star Wars veteran James Luceno gives Grand Moff Tarkin the Star Wars: Darth Plagueis treatment, bringing a legendary character from A New Hope to full, fascinating life.
He’s the scion of an honorable and revered family. A dedicated soldier and distinguished legislator. Loyal proponent of the Republic and trusted ally of the Jedi Order. Groomed by the ruthless politician and Sith Lord who would be Emperor, Governor Wilhuff Tarkin rises through the Imperial ranks, enforcing his authority ever more mercilessly . . . and zealously pursuing his destiny as the architect of absolute dominion.
Rule through the fear of force rather than force itself, he advises his Emperor. Under Tarkin’s guidance, an ultimate weapon of unparalleled destruction moves ever closer to becoming a terrifying reality. When the so-called Death Star is completed, Tarkin is confident that the galaxy’s lingering pockets of Separatist rebellion will be brought to heel—by intimidation . . . or annihilation.
Until then, however, insurgency remains a genuine threat. Escalating guerrilla attacks by resistance forces and newfound evidence of a growing Separatist conspiracy are an immediate danger the Empire must meet with swift and brutal action. And to bring down a band of elusive freedom fighters, the Emperor turns to his most formidable agents: Darth Vader, the fearsome new Sith enforcer as remorseless as he is mysterious; and Tarkin—whose tactical cunning and cold-blooded efficiency will pave the way for the Empire’s supremacy . . . and its enemies’ extinction.” — Goodreads
Buy Tarkin: Star Wars
THE GREAT BETRAYAL (WARHAMMER) by NICK KYME
“The war between dwarfs and elves that shaped the Warhammer world begins.
Thousands of years before the rise of men, the dwarfs and elves are stalwart allies and enjoy an era of unrivalled peace and prosperity. But when dwarf trading caravans are attacked and their merchants slain, the elves are accused of betrayal. Quick to condemn the people of Ulthuan as traitors, the mountain lords nevertheless try to prevent conflict, but the elves’ arrogance undoes any chance of reconciliation and war is inevitable. At the city of Tor Alessi a vast army stands against the dwarfs. Here Snorri Halfhand, son of the High King of the dwarfs, will meet his destiny against the elven King Caledor as the first blow is struck in a conflict that could bring about the fall of two great civilisations.” — Goodreads
Buy The Great Betrayal (Time of Legends)
So there are my reads for the week. What are yours?
bookwraiths.com 
Heh, I am reading a warhammer book right now as well, though mine is in the 40k setting.
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I was researching last night where to start my foray into Warhammer 40k. Best I could tell most fans said to begin with The Horus Heresy and go from there, so you could get an idea of what the hell is going on in the universe. Would that be your advice as well?
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Nope. Might work but I have not read any Horus Heresy. I read Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett first, then read through his Gaunt’s Ghost omnibuses. He is considered a top three author for Black Library anyway and each of those works perfect as introductions to the world for us casual fans.
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I love Snorri. I might have to check that one out.
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Shattered Shields looks like it has some really good authors involved. I’ll have to check that one out!
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I’m continuing my read of City of Stairs. I want to read Ancillary Sword and Sixth of Dusk. I’ll continue to listen to a couple of audiobooks that I’m not very excited about but it fills up my commute time.
What kind of paperwork?
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Motion for a New Trial. Nothing like reading hundreds of pages of trial transcripts to get your day going in the right direction. 🙂
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Omg! Lol! Mondays!
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I had cleared my NetGalley pile pretty well this week, so I took the plunge and requested Tarkin as well. I hope it’s as good as his other “villain” book Darth Plagueis.
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I’m a bit nervous honestly. I’ve read reviews saying Tarkin is great and others that say the exact opposite. Crossing my fingers on this one.
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