| Books! Where are the great books?

TOP TEN TUESDAY

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! This is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where a new top ten list hits the web every week!

Our list this week is going to include some recent novels and some oldies but goodies, so here goes.

SOPHOMORE NOVELS I LOVED AS MUCH AS THE AUTHOR’S DEBUT!

10. Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War

Mr. Preston really ratchets up the swashbuckling action and steampunk thrills in this second installment of his Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin series, and I for one found myself loving all the daring-do and zeppelin battles even more the second time around!

9. The Obsidian Heart

Mark T. Barnes’ Echoes of Empire series started off with the complex, detailed world-building of The Garden of Stones, but when this follow-up came out, it was all about the fantasy action and intrigue. Reading this one turned me from a lukewarm reader into a hardcore fan!

8. West of January

This second novel from the very prolific Canadian writer Dave Duncan was a genre-blender of fantasy and scifi themes that found a way to mix dwarves with technology, giant spiders with climatic changes. And after finishing this wild romp across an alien world, I became a follower of Mr. Duncan, faithfully reading his books for many years.

7. Magician: Master

Okay, I know Raymond E. Feist wrote Magician as a single novel before it was split into two books for publication reasons, but when I was a teenager, I read it as two, separate volumes, so that is the way I view Magician. With that reasoning in mind, this sophomore novel was what turned a fairly generic fantasy series into one of my favorites back in the day.

6. Sword of the North

A grimdark delight which built upon the vicious, dark and brutal first volume as well as continuing to surprise with its wit and humor. Nope, Mr. Scull had no sophomore slump with this one, just wetted his fans appetite for more of this group of despicable (Okay, one or two aren’t that bad.) characters and their ongoing exploits in a world that is slowing dying.

5. The Grand Design

While I was a huge fan of The Jackal of Nar, I couldn’t disagree too strongly with my friends who argued that the novel was a bit formulaic with many standard fantasy tropes, but after reading this second book, I felt able to tell them to just shut up, because several of the traditional bad guys came alive here. Yeah, I’m looking at you Count Biagio.

4. The Illearth War

People either love or hate Thomas Covenant. After reading book one of this classic trilogy, I was firmly in the hate group. The guy made me sick to my stomach, but I decided to continue on because I always finished series back then. And The Illearth War made me glad I did, as I discovered other characters to rout for and fell completely in love with the Land.

3. The Walls of Air

Now, I love this Barbara Hambly series; it is one of my favorites of all times, up there with Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Back in the day though, I started this one with doubt that Ms. Hambly could top book one, but Walls was so good, so filled with ancient mysteries and brutal horrors that it was the final push that sealed my fate as a Darwath fan.

2. Knight’s Shadow

Book one of Greatcoats was a mixture of three musketeer camaraderie and grimdark plotlines; the former outshining the latter. In his sophomore novel however, Sebastien de Castell turns the whole series on its head, transforming it into a grimdark fantasy closer to George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire rather than Dumas’ Three Musketeers. And I for one am hooked on it.

1. Veil of the Deserters

My favorite sophomore novel is this stunning tour de force by Jeff Salyards. I’ll admit book one moved fairly slow, taking its time introducing people and characters, but this story comes out of the gate like a grimdark hurricane, pummeling a reader with its realistic action, realistic people, and realistic tone. Best damn sophomore book I’ve read!

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday | Tagged Barbara Hambly, Darwath, Dave Duncan, Echoes of Empire, JEFF SALYARDS, John Marco, Knight's Shadow, Luke Scull, Magician, Mark T. Barnes, raymond e. feist, Richard Ellis PReston Jr, romulus buckle, Sebastien de Castell, STEPHEN R. DONALDSON, The Grim Company, thomas covenant, Top Ten Tuesday, VEIL OF THE DESERTERS, West of January | 6 Comments

FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (NOVEMBER 2, 2015)

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The work week begins. I quickly slip into my business suit and head back into the office to save a few innocent people. But while I try to fool myself into being excited about the grind, deep down, I’m not, so I’m going to escape dreary reality by reading some great books.

And this week I’m going try to finish off a few books I’m behind on even as I begin reading one that I have been dying to get my hands on since I closed the last installment of the series. That book is . . .

Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards

Genre: Fantasy — Grimdark

Series: Bloodsounder’s Arc #3

Publisher: Night Shade Books (February 2, 2016)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 608 pages

“Men are more easily broken than myths.

Emperor Cynead has usurped command of the Memoridons—Tower-controlled memory witches—and consolidated his reign over the Syldoonian Empire. After escaping the capital city of Sunwrack, Captain Braylar Killcoin and his Jackal company evade pursuit across Urglovia, tasked with reaching deposed emperor Thumarr and helping him recapture the throne. Braylar’s sister, Soffjian, rejoins the Jackals and reveals that Commander Darzaak promised her freedom if she agreed to aid them in breaking Cynead’s grip on the other Memoridons and ousting him.

Imperial forces attempt to intercept Braylar’s company before they can reach Thumarr. The Jackals fight through Cynead’s battalions but find themselves trapped along the Godveil. Outmaneuvered and outnumbered, Braylar gambles on some obscure passages that Arki has translated and uses his cursed flail, Bloodsounder, to part the Godveil, leading the Jackals to the other side. There, they encounter the ruins of human civilization, but they also learn that the Deserters who abandoned humanity a millennium ago and created the Veil in their wake are still very much alive. But are they gods? Demons? Monsters?

What Braylar, Soffjian, Arki, and the Jackals discover beyond the Godveil will shake an empire, reshape a map, and irrevocably alter the course of history.”

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in Funday Monday | Tagged BLOODSOUNDER'S ARC, Chains of the Heretic, Funday Monday, JEFF SALYARDS | 7 Comments

WRAP-UP — OCTOBER 2015

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Bookwraiths

I’ve noticed lots of my favorite bloggers doing monthly wrap ups lately. A finally tip of the hat to the month behind and all the great (at least, we hope they were all great) books that have been reviewed as well as anything else exciting that happened. And I have to admit loving these wrap ups. Mainly because real life gets busy sometimes and I miss posts. Yeah, even from my favorite bloggers. So these end of the month wrap ups have really helped me out. And since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I decided to join the group with my own monthly wrap up posts.

BOOK REVIEWS THIS MONTH

GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEWS

SHORT STORY REVIEWS

SPECIAL FEATURES

TOUGH TRAVELING MEME

~There were also the regular Funday Monday, Waiting on Wednesday, and Stacking the Shelves Saturday posts as well, so if you missed anything, take a look!

Posted in Monthly Wrap Up | Tagged An Apprentice to Elves, Bookwraiths October 2015, comic reviews, Emperor of Thorns, fantasy short stories, Graphic Novel Reviews, Mark Lawrence, Monthly Wrap Up | Leave a comment

STACKING THE SHELVES, VOL. 7

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga’s Reviews is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, whether it be physically or virtually. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

First up this week is the concluding volume in Jeff Salyards amazing grimdark series Bloodsounder’s Arc.

Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards

Genre: Fantasy — Grimdark

Series: Bloodsounder’s Arc #3

Publisher: Night Shade Books (February 2, 2016)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 608 pages

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Next up I have two books that I won off a giveaway! I know, someone does actually win those things. 🙂 And this time I was the luck contestant. I’m still in shock.

The Bloodbound by Erin Lindsey

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Bloodbound #1

Publisher: Ace (September 30, 2014)

Length: 368 pages

“Of all those in the King of Alden’s retinue, the bloodbinders are the most prized. The magic they wield can forge invaluable weapons, ones that make soldiers like Lady Alix Black unerringly lethal. However, the bloodbinders’ powers can do so much more—and so much worse…

A cunning and impetuous scout, Alix only wishes to serve quietly on the edges of the action. But when the king is betrayed by his own brother and left to die at the hands of attacking Oridian forces, she winds up single-handedly saving her sovereign.

Suddenly, she is head of the king’s personal guard, an honor made all the more dubious by the king’s exile from his own court. Surrounded by enemies, Alix must help him reclaim his crown, all the while attempting to repel the relentless tide of invaders led by the Priest, most feared of Oridia’s lords.

But while Alix’s king commands her duty, both he and a fellow scout lay claim to her heart. And when the time comes, she may need to choose between the two men who need her most…”

Purchase the book at Amazon.

The Bloodforged by Erin Lindsey

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Bloodbound #2

Publisher: Ace (September 29, 2015)

Length: 368 pages

“As war between Alden and Oridia intensifies, King Erik must defend his kingdom from treachery and enemies on all sides—but the greatest danger lurks closer to home…

When the war began, Lady Alix Black played a minor role, scouting at the edge of the king’s retinue in relative anonymity. Though she’s once again facing an attacking Oridian force determined to destroy all she holds dear, she is now bodyguard to the king and wife to the prince.

Still, she is unprepared for what the revival of the war will mean. Erik is willing to take drastic measures to defend his domain, even if it means sending Prince Liam into a deadly web of intrigue and traveling into the perilous wild lands of Harram himself.

Only the biggest threat to the kingdom might be one that neither Alix nor Erik could have imagined, or prepared for…”

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in Stacking the Shelves | Tagged Bloodbound, BLOODSOUNDER'S ARC, Chains of the Heretic, Erin Lindsey, JEFF SALYARDS, Stacking the Shelves, The Bloodbound, The Bloodforged | 3 Comments

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Bookwraiths

An Officer and a Gentleman by Richard Ellis Preston, Jr.

Genre: Steampunk

Series: Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin #0.1

Publisher: Westmarch Publishing (October 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 20 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

A swashbuckling steampunk short centering on Romulus Buckle’s early years abroad a zeppelin. Nope, it isn’t the Pneumatic Zeppelin, but the trading zeppelin Bromhead, where Romulus finally understands the true cost of being an airman.

This one starts off with a bang. Literally. Pirates having sprung a surprise attack on the heavily loaded trading airship, nearly destroying the officers with a huge barrage on the lighter-than-air craft. Romulus, of course, is caught in the thick of the confusion, trying to keep the zeppelin floating and then hurrying off to confront the pirates who begin to board her.

This is our young heroes first taste of true combat aboard a zeppelin, and he is filled with anxiety, adrenaline, and determination to show the crew that he has both the courage and leadership skills to live up to his position as 2nd lieutenant.

As is always the case with Mr. Preston’s Pneumatic Zeppelin stories, the descriptions of the airships, the swashbuckling fighting, and general steampunk details are amazing, making you feel like you are standing right beside Romulus as he wields his sword and fires his black bang powder gun in the Snow World. And as the swashbuckling tale continues to escalate, it really is difficult to slow down until you eventually reach the last page.

Nope, I’m not a steampunk aficionado, but any zeppelin story penned by Mr. Preston is on my list of must-reads. So while I’m waiting on book three of the Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, this one really hit the spot, and I’d encourage everyone out there to pick up this series and test it out. I really think you’ll enjoy it . . . especially if you’re a sucker for zeppelins like me.

Purchase the story at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, Short Stories, Steampunk | Tagged 47North, Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, Richard Ellis PReston Jr, romulus buckle, steampunk series, steampunk zeppelins, zeppelins | 3 Comments

THE MULTIVERSITY

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Multiversity by Grant Morrison

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: DC Comics (October 27, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 448 pages

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Short Version: A collection of fairly self-contained stories with an overarching plot that attempts to tie them all together. Some of the stories were good; some were bad. Overall, I liked The Multiversity, but the main story was a bit bizarre and a tad confusing — in other words, typical Grant Morrison.

Long Version: Yet another ambitious DCU story focusing on the destruction of the Multiverse. This time the apocalypse is being orchestrated by a group of uber villains dubbed “The Gentry.” These guys’ devious plot is to insert a cursed comic book into every world, thereby causing a chain reaction which will ultimately lead to the total devastation of worlds!

Naturally, when reality begins to unravel, the various heroes of all the different multiverse earths have to uncover what is causing the problems, unite in some way, and fight to keep everything from being destroyed in a Final Crisis! (Uh, didn’t Morrison already write about a Final Crisis? Okay. Guess this is another one.) Brawl-fests ensue thereafter.

Like people who read my reviews know, I’m one of those on the fence about Grant Morrison. Honestly, I’ll read one story and be blown away by his mind-warping plot lines, but then I’ll read another and think it is a load of shite, which he has made obtuse and overly complex merely to hide its overall stench. And The Multiversity didn’t really change my view of Morrison in the least.

Most of the issues in this series are decent, if not spectacular. The Multiversity #1 and #2 are the usual big event type stories with pages and pages of superheroes fighting villains. In between these bookend issues, there are one-shots stories; each set in a different world with a different set of heroes. In one, Morrison and Frank Quitely channeled their twenty-first century Watchmen, producing the highly anticipated ‘Pax Americana.’ In another the focus is on a world where crime has been eliminated and a celebrity culture of superheroes has grown up. The Society of Super-Heroes goes all retro in one issue; Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew make an appearance; and there is even a Guidebook filled with details about the multiverse worlds.

The only issue which really struck a nerve with me was the Grant Morrison-Jim Lee ‘Mastermen.’ Here Morrison tackles the question of “What if Superman had crashed in Nazi Germany and been raised by Hitler?” Naturally, Supes (now known as Overman) wins World War II for Hitler and eventually becomes the next Fuhrer of a Third Reich which rules the world. Only Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters still resist the Overman’s enlightened but totalitarian rule. Pretty straight forward but had some real strength to it.

Now to be fair, there are much smarter comic reviewers out there saying the whole set up in The Multiversity has a deeper meaning. Its complexity meant to express a more important message. Specifically, Morrison is setting The Gentry up as the representative of intellectuals who are ruining comics and the character Nix Uotan as the adult bloggers/critics who are destroying the magical mayhem of comics by always seeking to make it more adult oriented and logical. I didn’t try to read that into the story, but it might be there, and perhaps it will make the series more meaningful to some of you. As for me, I’m reading to be entertained, not enlightened, so the whole “deeper meaning” stuff didn’t make me like this series any more or any less.

The one thing I can rave about is the art. Each comic is drawn by a different artist, and every one of them does an excellent job. Ivan Reis, Chris Sprouse, Ben Oliver, Frank Quitely, Cameron Stewart, Marcus To, Jim Lee, and Doug Mahnke to name just a few. Each bringing their A game to The Multiversity, making it a real joy to keep turning the pages.

So should you buy this collection? If you’re a Morrison fan, you don’t even need to ask the question, because you will undoubtedly love The Multiversity. If your not a Morrison fan, then don’t expect to have anything here change your feelings about his work. And if you’re on the fence about all this, what do you have to lose? Nothing. So pick this one up and dive in, because you might love one of the stories.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, DC, Graphic Novels | Tagged DC Comics, Grant Morrison, The Multiversity | 2 Comments

FOREVER EVIL

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Forever Evil by Geoff Johns.

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Trinity War

Publisher: DC Comics (September, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 208 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Following on the heels of Trinity War comes Forever Evil!

The Justice League is DEAD! The world’s most powerful heroes vanishing as the Crime Syndicate arrives from Earth-3; this evil version of the Justice League taking over the world.

Villains shall inherit the earth . . . or might they save it from its would-be conquerors? If Lex Luthor has any say in the matter it will be the latter . . . strange as that may sound.

When I read this book, I had little expectations of anything remotely enjoyable happening. I mean, why would I? Trinity War had disappointed, and this was Geoff Johns’ finishing up that whole plot line. It just looked like a train wreck waiting to happen. But, I actually found myself enjoying this one.

First, the art was really good. Absolutely no letdown in this area at all, as David Finch and Richard Friend delivered some amazing superhero action from first to last page. Every character distinctly rendered; every fight superbly choreographed.

Second, Johns did some amazing things with Luthor. Nothing that hasn’t been done before, but he made it work in the confines of what could have been another DC brawl-fest. But here — even though there were fights galore — it never overshadowed the characterization that Luthor underwent.

Third, I love the Crime Syndicate. When I was a kid growing up long ago, I always sought out any appearance by these evil versions of my favorite DC heroes, not just for variety sake but because they were cool. And in Forever Evil, Johns has made them even more so. Really great to see them in action again.

Even with all that being said, I have to admit this story had some huge freaking plot holes. Ones that you couldn’t overlook even though you desperately wanted to. They were really bad actually. Things Geoff Johns of all people shouldn’t have allowed to remain in his story.

Was it still a fun read though? Hell, yes. Mindless fun, maybe, but it was still much better than Trinity War, in my opinion. So pick it up, sit back and enjoy the show.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, DC, Graphic Novels, Justice League | Tagged Crime Syndicate, DC Comics, Forever Evil, Geoff Johns, Justice League, Lex Luthor, The New 52 | 3 Comments

JUSTICE LEAGUE: TRINITY WAR

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Justice League: Trinity War by Geoff Johns, Ray Fawkes, & Jeff Lemire.

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Trinity War

Publisher: DC Comics (March 18, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 320 pages

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Trinity War was another of DC’s “Big” events in The New 52 universe. Geoff Johns, Jeff Lemire, and Ray Hawkes bringing together all the clues and hints that had been incorporated into DC books for quite and while, promising to give readers lots of DCU character cameos, tons of information on shadowy people in the DC universe, and setting up the DCU for great stories going forward. So, with all this build up, it had to be great, right?

Well, there were tons of characters in this one. That lore about shadowy denizens of the New 52 DCU was definitely there. The ending left everything in a huge limbo, where you could see more stories organically growing from it. And it was all presented in stellar fashion by the art team, who rendered every DC character in beautiful detail, conveyed real emotion in the talking scenes and pulled off every pulse-pounding brawl.

Unfortunately, the artwork could not save Trinity War.

I’m not one to just say a book sucks and let it go. Not my style. I like to understand and explain why something didn’t work for me. The problem here is that it boils down to the writing not being very good. At least, in my opinion, it wasn’t.

Now, to be fair, there were moments when the story held promise. Not every page of this was bad. There were times I thought Trinity War had hit its stride and was going in the right direction. But then the narrative would run off the rails again, leaving me grimacing as I tried to understand why an immortal woman trained in every form of combat ever invented had to have the help of the Justice League, or why the DC heroes actually asking the help of other heroes was a damn epiphany? These type of head-scratching moments coupled with all the points of view and too many dead end plot lines ruined the lead up to the conclusion.

Honestly, the conclusion of Trinity War could have been great. How the writers managed to screw it up boggles my mind, because the Pandora’s Box idea was a good one. I mean, this creepy dude above manipulating everyone to open the damn thing and see what happens was pretty cool. Even a casual fan like myself wanted to know what the hell was going to happen. Instead of seeing all the Pandora’ Box foreshadowing lead to something coherent, however, it turned into yet another brawl-fest, which seems to be the ending to everyone of these big DCU events.

You know, I really wanted to like this comic collection, but it left me feeling like I’d wasted a couple hours of my time. If you try it, I really hope it suits your palate more than it did mine.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in 2 Stars, DC, Graphic Novels, Justice League, The New 52 | Tagged DC Comics, DCU event, Justice League, The New 52, Trinity War | 2 Comments

FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (OCTOBER 26, 2015)

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Bookwraiths

And this week I’m going to be trying to lose myself in a couple of novels, beginning with this steampunk adventure from the great people over at Tor!

Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper by David Barnett

Genre: Steampunk

Series: Gideon Smith #3

Publisher: Tor (October 13, 2015)

Length: 384 pages

“In an alternate nineteenth century where a technologically advanced Britain holds sway over most of the known world and the American Revolution never happened, young Gideon Smith is firmly established as the Hero of the Empire.

Back in London, Gideon and his colleagues: journalist Aloysius Bent, airship pilot Rowena Fanshawe, and Maria, the mechanical girl to whom Gideon has lost his heart, are dragged into a case that is confounding the Metropolitan Police. For the city is on the edge of mass rioting due to the continuing reign of terror by the serial killer known only as Jack the Ripper, who is rampaging though London’s less salubrious quarters.

While chasing the madman, a villain from their past strips Gideon Smith of his memory and is cast adrift in the seedy underbelly of London, where life is tough and death lurks in every shadowy alley.

With mob rule threatening to engulf London, the Empire has never needed its hero more…but where is Gideon Smith?

Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper is the latest in David Barnett’s riproaring steampunk adventures about a Britain that never was…but should have been.”

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Next up is an series that I’ve always wanted to read from beginning to end but never been able to. Now, though, we have the complete series.

The Complete Morgaine by C.J. Cherryh

Genre: Fantasy

Series: This is the complete series in one volume.

Publisher: DAW (September 1, 2015)

Length: 817 pages

“Together for the first time in one volume—all four novels in the dark science fiction epic, the Morgaine Cycle.

The gates were relics of a lost era, a linked network of portals that the ruthless Qual empire used to span Time and Space. The Science Buereau has come to believe that sometime, somewhere in the unreachable past, someone has done the unthinkable and warped the very fabric of the universe using these gates. Now, it is up to Morgaine, a mysterious woman aided by a single warrior honor-bound to serve her, to travel from world to world sealing the ancient gates whose very existence threatens the integrity of all worlds…”

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in Funday Monday | Tagged C.J. Cherryh, David Barnett, Funday Monday, Gideon Smith, Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper, steampunk series 2015, The Complete Morgaine | 5 Comments

STACKING THE SHELVES, VOL. 6

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Bookwraiths

First up this week is the sequel to the alternate history Clash of Eagles.

Eagles in Exile by Alan Smale

Genre: Alternate History

Series: The Clash of Eagles Trilogy #2

Publisher: Del Rey (March 15, 2016)

Length: 592 pages

“Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Steve Berry, Naomi Novik, and Harry Turtledove, Alan Smale’s gripping alternate history series imagines a world in which the Roman Empire has survived long enough to invade North America in 1218. Now the stunning story carries hero Gaius Marcellinus deeper into the culture of an extraordinary people—whose humanity, bravery, love, and ingenuity forever change his life and destiny.

In AD 1218, Praetor Gaius Marcellinus is tasked with conquering North America and turning it into a Roman province. But outside the walls of the great city of Cahokia, his legion is destroyed outright; Marcellinus is the only one spared. In the months and years that follow, Marcellinus comes to see North America as his home and the Cahokians as his kin. He vows to defend these proud people from any threat, Roman or Native.

After successfully repelling an invasion by the fearsome Iroqua tribes, Marcellinus realizes that a weak and fractured North America won’t stand a chance against the returning Roman army. Worse, rival factions from within threaten to tear Cahokia apart just when it needs to be most united and strong. Marcellinus is determined to save the civilization that has come to mean more to him than the empire he once served. But to survive the swords of Roma, he first must avert another Iroqua attack and bring the Cahokia together. Only with the hearts and souls of a nation at his back can Marcellinus hope to know triumph.”

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Next up is a series that I’ve been hearing a lot about. This humorous fantasy caper seems to be one many people love, so I decided why not give it a try.

The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Rogues of the Republic #1

Publisher: 47North (October 8, 2013)

Length: 438 pages

“The most powerful man in the republic framed her, threw her in prison, and stole a priceless elven manuscript from her family.

With the help of a crack team that includes an illusionist, a unicorn, a death priestess, a talking warhammer, and a lad with a prophetic birthmark, Loch must find a way into the floating fortress of Heaven’s Spire–and get past the magic-hunting golems and infernal sorcerers standing between her and the vault that holds her family’s treasure.

It’d be tricky enough without the military coup and unfolding of an ancient evil prophecy–but now the determined and honourable Justicar Pyvic has been assigned to take her in.

But hey, every plan has a few hitches.”

Purchase the book at Amazon.