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BOOK SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY: AN APPRENTICE TO ELVES

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Bookwraiths

An Apprentice to Elves by Sarah Monette and

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Tor (October 13, 2015)

Length: 320 pages

Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear return with the third book in their Iskryne trilogy, AN APPRENTICE TO ELVES (A Tor Hardcover, $26.99, On-Sale: October 13, 2015). The third collaboration between renowned fantasy writers Bear and Monette, the trilogy began with A Companion to Wolves, and continued in The Tempering of Men. Separately, Bear and Monette have been nominated for and won the Nebula, Hugo, World Fantasy, and Locus awards – among others. Together, they have created the world of the Iskryne, a warrior culture with telepathic wolf companions.

AN APPRENTICE TO ELVES picks up the story of Alfgyfa, a young woman who has been raised in the Wolfhall by her father, Isolfr. The warrior culture of Iskryne forbids many things to women-and most especially it forbids them bonding to one of the giant telepathic trellwolves. But as her father was no ordinary boy, Alfgyfa is no ordinary girl. Her father has long planned to send his daughter to Tin, a matriarch among the elves who live nearby, to be both apprentice and ambassador, and now she is of age to go.

Publishers Weekly declares that Bear and Monette “have boldly created a fascinating world that begs further exploration” and RT Book Reviews points out that “Monette and Bear each excel at creating unique worlds… It’s no surprise that this joint effort combines their strengths into something extraordinary.” The third book from this stellar team is the perfect place to dive into their fascinating world.

“But even with magic, the problems are real. War, gender, relationships, social status, all are issues that are struggled with by these characters. While it is a story of the fantastic, it is the people in it that makes Apprenticed To Elves work.”
— San Francisco Book Review

About the Authors:

SARAH MONETTE is the acclaimed author of Mélusine and The Virtue as well as award-nominated short fiction. Born and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (one of the secret cities of the Manhattan Project), she studied English and Classics in college, obtaining a M.A. and Ph.D. in English Literature. She collects books, and her husband collects computer parts, so her living space is the constantly contested border between these two imperial ambitions.

Follow Sarah Monette at: Website | Twitter

ELIZABETH BEAR was born on the same day as Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, but in a different year. This, coupled with a childhood tendency to read the dictionary for fun, led her inevitably to penury, intransigence, the mispronunciation of common English words, and the writing of speculative fiction. She lives in Massachusetts with a Giant Ridiculous Dog. Her partner, acclaimed fantasy author Scott Lynch, lives in Wisconsin. The recipient of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, she has also won two Hugo Awards for her short fiction, a Sturgeon Award, and the Locus Award for Best First Novel.

Follow Elizabeth Bear at: Website | Twitter

Praise for the Iskryne series:

Every bit as absorbing as the first volume, The Tempering of Men is compelling and intensely readable. Told from multiple perspectives, the characters are well-drawn and distinct, especially Brokkolfr and Amma, his amusingly maternal wolf-sister. Monette and Bear each excel at creating unique worlds when writing solo fiction, so it’s no surprise that this joint effort combines their strengths into something extraordinary. — RT Book Reviews, Top Pick

The meticulously crafted setting and powerful, often moving rendition of characters and relationships-human and nonhuman alike-result in a brutal and beautiful novel about the meaning of honor. …the authors have boldly created a fascinating world that begs further exploration. — Publishers Weekly, starred review on A Companion to Wolves

Coauthors Monette and Bear combine their literary talents… [A] well-written and emotionally powerful quasi-Nordic fantasy. — Library Journal on A Companion to Wolves

The world they depict is fraught with a sense of wonder rare even in fantasy.… [Monette and Bear] have taken one of the most escapist of fantasy subgenres, in which humans and animals meld, and turned it into something powerful and surprisingly deeply human. — Booklist on A Companion to Wolves

What Bear and Monette have done for wolves in this book is no more and no less than what Anne McCaffrey has done for dragons–they have made the wolf iconic, memorable, something larger than life…. The storyline is gripping–I read this thing at a sitting–the writing is exquisite, and the book is destined to be a classic of its kind. — SFSite on A Companion to Wolves

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

The people over at TOR have been nice enough to provide one hardcover copy of An Apprentice to Elves for this giveaway. North American residents only.

To enter all you have to do is send an email message to bookwraiths@gmail.com with “Apprentice to Elves Giveaway” in the subject line and give me your best snarky comment about elves. You know you have some.

Next Sunday I will draw the winning name and notify them via email. If the winner doesn’t respond within 48 hours, I will draw another name, then rinse and repeat until I find someone who wants this wonderfully vivid fantasy novel

Posted in Author Spotlights, Giveaway | Tagged An Apprentice to Elves, ELIZABETH BEAR, Iskryne, Sarah Monette | 3 Comments

THE GILDED CHAIN

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Gilded Chain by Dave Duncan

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The King’s Blades #1

Publisher: Harper Voyager (September 1, 1999)

Author Information: Website

Length: 418 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

The Gilded Chain begins the six book series The King’s Blades by Dave Duncan. (If one includes the companion young adult trilogy The King’s Daggers, then there are nine novels in this fantasy world.) The unique thing about The King’s Blades series is that every book is a stand alone tale set in the same world but with brand new characters and different adventures; something that all readers weary of long multi-volume, interconnected fantasy works should appreciate. For whatever reason though, this is a swashbuckling story that has largely went under the radar of most fantasy aficionados, but shouldn’t for reasons I’ll try to point out.

This opening installment of the series focuses in on a young, unwanted youth who finds himself dumped at the school for the King’s Blades by his uncaring benefactors. While he does go through a recruitment process (or interview if you will), Mr. Duncan keeps it very short, laying out just enough facts to get a reader acclimated to the type of school this is before jumping ahead many years.

Now, our young waif is proudly called Durendal; a special name he took for himself in emulation of the legendary Durendal, who is considered the greatest King’s Blade to ever grace the kingdom. And while it is a lofty bar to set for himself, the youth has lived up to it so far, and is eagerly awaiting the call of the King when he will be bound to his sovereign or to another whom the King has chosen for him.

This binding is what makes the Blades the most feared swordsman in the realms. For this ceremony of allegiance is a sorcerous affair whereby their old self is killed and a new one arises that is soul sworn to obey and protect the life of their liege lord above their own in every way. This results in Blades not requiring sleep, despising the taste of alcohol or any substance that would dull their senses, remaining on constant alert for any threat to their lord, refusing to be bought or bribed, and always fighting to the death without any qualm. It is a difficult life to be among the King’s Blade, but one of the highest honor for every member of the school.

Since Durendal is a special student, primed for great things, it would seem inevitable that he would immediately be thrust into grand affairs. Mr. Duncan doesn’t follow that normal route however, choosing to put our youth through the wringer for a bit before he eventually finds his bearings upon a grand quest to another part of the world. Durendal’s task to uncover the fate of a missing Blade who was on a secret mission for the King himself; his orders to return the Blade or dispose of him and finish the mission if he can.

The unique thing about The Gilded Chain is the way Mr. Duncan designs the narrative. It is a flip-flop affair where we flash back and forth from the old Durendal and the young. Somewhat confusing political intrigue that is taking place in the present ultimately are explained by these visits to our hero’s pasts. Clues and answer to the present mystery are mined directly from that same story of Durendal’s life. And while it causes the narrative to read slowly at first, it eventually becomes a very compelling piece of writing that livens up the story considerably.

For world-building fans out there, I should warn you that there isn’t anything inherently unique or new in this setting. Chivail (Durendal’s home kingdom) is very reminiscent of sixteenth century England with King Ambrose IV strikingly similar to Henry VIII, and the society, technology, and warfare are comparable to that same time period in history. The only difference between Tudor England and Chivail being the integration of magic into this renaissance society.

As he always does, Mr. Duncan has established a creative – albeit simplistic – magic system to set this world apart from other fantasy faire. Here magic is based upon spirits of the eight elements of this world’s cosmology. Invocations abound: both benevolent and sinister, and no one really goes around shooting fire from their eyes or destroying whole armies by waving their hands in the air. So while magic is definitely prevalent in every day life (especially around the King who has magical protectors who “sniff” out magic users), it doesn’t overpower the classic setting.

Overall, The Gilded Chain is a solid, entertaining novel, written in a flowing, easy to read style, steadily paced, and littered with interesting characters, intriguing plots, swashbuckling adventure, and a nice dose of mystery. It even has a nice, twisted ending.

Could this novel be labeled (Because everyone loves labels, right?) a classic fantasy?

Absolutely, Mr. Duncan leans this one toward old school fantasy. Even with that being said however, he writes this story with grittiness and violence (though it isn’t any gorier than necessary); sexual liaisons and situations do occur (but are tastefully mentioned yet never focused excessively on); bad language does get spoken (but the expletives are those of Chivail, which doesn’t exactly match our own real world curse words); and the good guys tend to be imperfect but noble people while the bad guys are imperfect evil people (though a morality play this is not).

So if you are looking for a fun read with some swashbuckling action, a dash of mystery, and a classic fantasy flavor, pick up The Gilded Chain. Don’t let the old school fantasy scare you off.

Purchase the novel at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, Fantasy, Swashbuckling | Tagged Dave Duncan, overlooked fantasy series, stand alone fantasy, swashbuckling fantasy, The Gilded Chain, The King's Blades | Leave a comment

EMPEROR OF THORNS

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

Genre: Fantasy – Grimdark

Series: The Broken Empire #3

Publisher: Ace (August 6, 2013)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 448 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Prince of Thorns was a seminal work in the fantasy genre. Jorg Ancrath a sociopathic protagonist who became both loved and reviled — seemingly in equal measure. The cry for “More Thorns!” overpowering. Quickly, Mark Lawrence turned Thorn‘s into an epic trilogy; a rousing tale of madness, mayhem, machinations, and meditations on the human condition. And with this final volume, the author has gifted readers with a fitting conclusion, remaining true to Jorg ‘s destructive nature yet giving him a measure of redemption.

Emperor of Thorns begins with our favorite Ancrath tantalizingly close to realizing his lifelong ambitions. At twenty years old, Jorg is already king of seven nations, secure in his power, soon to have an heir, and the annual concave to elect an Emperor of the Broken Empire is fast approaching. While he is not certain of being elected to the throne, Jorg has a plan; one that will allow him to assume the reigns of power.

What stands in Jorg’s way — as always, it seems — is his abusive father as well as the rising threat of the Dead King, who has completed his conquest of the Drowned Isles and has turned his necrotic eyes upon the continent. And so the tables are set for a final role of the dice for Jorg to either win all or lose all!

Interspersed in the tale of Jorg’s procession to the Imperial Conclave is the flashback scenes that Mark Lawrence has made a centerpiece of this series. Here he goes back to Jorg’s time on the Horse Coast years before, detailing his quest to uncover the technology of the ancients in the nuclear wastelands of the peninsula and the further journey that these discoveries produce.

Lastly, there are a few chapters scattered throughout focusing on Chella. This female necromancer has hounded Jorg throughout the trilogy, and here the narrative spotlights her . . . more as a way to introduce and detail the Dead King than for any other reason.

As I mentioned earlier, this novel was a fitting ending to the trilogy. An action-packed extravaganza that was equal parts sociopathic mayhem and philosophical pronouncements as well as two journeys of discovery by Jorg with tidbits of world building, rousing fights and his grimace worthy actions in equal measures.

Is it as awe-inspiring as Prince of Thorns?

Not in my estimation. But worth is in the eyes of the beholder, and my preference for book one might be nothing more than just that: my personal preference of one good thing over the other. Because, honestly, I can’t point to anything that did not feel right about this book. It had wonderful pacing. It showed real growth in the characters. It made revelations about Jorg, his world, and the magic permeating it. Its flashbacks chapters even satisfactorily completed the story begun in King of Thorns. It reveals the Dead King in all his dark might and glory. And in the final conclusion it had the perfect emotional mix of realism, cynicism, and hope to cap this epic journey.

If I was forced to name anything in the book that I did not find wholly appealing, it probably would be the pacing of the final few chapters before Jorg and the Dead King finally meet. It just seemed very rushed. Mark Lawrence frantically attempting to wrap this epic series up as quickly as possible.

All in all, The Broken Empire is a fantasy series that will long be remembered by fans and detractors alike. A series that went somewhere that no other fantasy epics had truly ever been . . . at least, uber popular series. And I for one am very glad that I set aside my disillusion with book two and completed Jorg Ancrath’s journey, because it was quite the ride.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, Epic, Fantasy, Grimdark | Tagged best grimdark fantasy series, Emperor of Thorns, grimdark, Jorg Ancrath, King of Thorns, Mark Lawrence, Prince of Thorns, the broken empire | 7 Comments

PRETTY POLLY

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Pretty Polly by Barbara Hambly

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Darwath Short Story

Publisher: Self Published (July 14, 2015)

Author Information: Website

Length: 38 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Barbara Hambly labels this and other Keep of Dare novelette’s as the “Further Adventures” of Gil Patterson, Rudy Solis, and Ingold Inglorion, because life didn’t end for these guys when the Darwath trilogy ended. And being a fan of Darwath (and many other of Ms. Hambly’s fantasy series), I want to thank her for gifting these short stories/novelettes to her fans. They are indeed priceless additions to these tales with Pretty Polly being no exception.

The Keep of Dare has established a normal routine five years after the Rising of the Dark, and while Gil Patterson and Ingold Inglorion continue in their roles as keep guard and keep wizard, they now are also parents to a small baby. But while motherhood is stressful, what Gil has recently been dealing with is vivid dreams of her life and loved ones left behind when she abandoned her former life as a southern Californian graduate student to follow Ingold back to Darwath. Images that make her wonder if they are as true as her old dreams of Ingold Inglorion were before his subsequent arrival upon earth years before.

What is especially unsettling is how Gil’s ominous dreams are occurring at the same time as the disappearance of people around the keep — specifically people in the upper and outer levels where strange noises and reports of spirits have been rampant ever since the remnants of humanity took shelter in the ancient, obsidian cube that is Dare’ Keep.

When Ingold decides to accompany witnesses into the dark recesses of the keep to investigate the disappearances, things go from bad to worse as he himself disappears!

As Gil desperately tries to find the father of her child and the greatest wizard remaining in the world, she quickly discovers that magic and ancient technology will not be of much use to her. Instead, she will have to rely on her quick wits and old-fashioned ingenuity to unravel this newest mystery of Dare’s Keep.

All in all, this was yet another excellent story of this group of survivors. Ms. Hambly mixing in enough mystery (both magical and normal), further characterization, and tidbits of world building to make this a must-read for Darwath fans. And for those unfamiliar with the series, there is no real need to understand the previous books to understand what is going on here and enjoy it all. Highly recommended!

Purchase the novelette at Amazon.

Posted in 3 Stars, Epic, Fantasy, Short Stories | Tagged Barbara Hambly, Darwath, Darwath short stories, Further Adventures of the Keep of Dare, Ingold Inglorion, Pretty Polly | Leave a comment

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY — THE KING’S JUSTICE

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to let readers share their excitement for books coming out soon, and the novel I’m eagerly awaiting is this book of two novellas by one of my favorite fantasy writers: Stephen R. Donaldson.

The King’s Justice by Stephen R. Donaldson

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Novella Collection

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (October 13, 2015)

Length: 320 pages

“Two new, original novellas—Donaldson’s first publication since finishing the Thomas Covenant series—are a sure cause for celebration among his many fans.

In The King’s Justice, a stranger dressed in black arrives in the village of Settle’s Crossways, following the scent of a terrible crime. He even calls himself “Black,” though almost certainly that is not his name. The people of the village discover that they have a surprising urge to cooperate with this stranger, though the desire of inhabitants of quiet villages to cooperate with strangers is not common in their land, or most lands. But this gift will not save him as he discovers the nature of the evil concealed in Settle’s Crossways.

The “Augur’s Gambit” is a daring plan created by Mayhew Gordian, Hieronomer to the Queen of Indemnie, a plan to save his Queen and his country. Gordian is a reader of entrails. In the bodies of chickens, lambs, piglets, and one stillborn infant he sees the same message: the island nation of Indemnie is doomed. But even in the face of certain destruction a man may fight, and the Hieronomer is utterly loyal to his beautiful Queen–and to her only daughter. The “Augur’s Gambit” is his mad attempt to save a kingdom.”

AUTHOR BIO:
Stephen R. Donaldson is the author of the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, a landmark in modern fantasy. Every volume, beginning with Lord Foul’s Bane in 1977, has been an international bestseller. Donaldson returned to the series with The Runes of the Earth in 2004, and completed it with The Last Dark in 2013. He lives in New Mexico.

Author Information: Website

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in Waiting on Wednesday | Tagged STEPHEN R. DONALDSON, The King's Justice, thomas covenant, Waiting on Wednesday | 3 Comments

FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (OCTOBER 5, 2015)

Posted on October 5, 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 to be trying to lose myself into this book.

An Apprentice to Elves by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Iskryne World #3

Publisher: Tor (October 13, 2015)

Length: 320 pages

“Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear return with the third book in their Iskryne trilogy, An Apprentice to Elves. The trilogy began with A Companion to Wolves, and continued in The Tempering of Men. This novel picks up the story of Alfgyfa, a young woman who has been raised in the Wolfhall by her father, Isolfr.

The warrior culture of Iskryne forbids many things to women—and most especially it forbids them bonding to one of the giant telepathic trelwolves. But as her father was no ordinary boy, Alfgyfa is no ordinary girl. Her father has long planned to send his daughter to Tin, a matriarch among the elves who live nearby, to be both apprentice and ambassador, and now she is of age to go.

About the Authors:

Follow Sarah Monette at: Website | Twitter

Follow Elizabeth Bear at: Website | Twitter

Purchase the novel at Amazon.

Posted in Funday Monday | Tagged An Apprentice to Elves, ELIZABETH BEAR, Funday Monday, Iskryne World, Sarah Monette | 4 Comments

EARTH-2: THE TOWER OF FATE

Posted on October 4, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Earth-2: The Tower of Fate, Vol. 2 by James Robinson

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Earth-2, Vol. 2

Publisher: DC Comics (October 8, 2013)

Length: 176 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Much better story than volume one, in my opinion. Lots of interesting and mysterious stories going on everywhere you look. Several diabolical bad guys; some purely evil, some who might not be. Our good guys are not just fighting, but dealing with personal issues as well as attempting to learn to be heroes. And we have the introduction of one of my personal favorites: Doctor Fate — a character that never gets enough love.

Equally important to this story is our returning cast: Green Lantern, Flash, and Hawkgirl. Green Lantern uncovering some information about the train crash that killed his partner, which suggests there is going to be some major crap coming down the pipeline. Flash is teamed up with Doctor Fate most of this story line, and I have to say he has really grown on me until he is my favorite character right now. And Hawkgirl is flying around in the mix, not center spotlight but always nearby (though I hope the next volume might make her more of a focus.)

As for foreshadowing of future problems, I really thought the Terry Sloan angle was interesting; this guy being revealed as possibly a force of evil hidden at the center of the U.N. security forces. His motives and desires for the future murky at best, but damn interesting.

What really shocks and awes in this volume is the introduction of a surprise character into the mix: Fury. Promising to really make a splash in the coming issues; this badass villain looks to kick some serious ass for her “foster father” Steppenwolf, the Apokoliptian General hiding somewhere on Earth-2 waiting to unleash hell upon its inhabitants once again.

As for the artwork, it is above average. Great fight scenes; good storytelling technique; cool shifts between panels, splash pages, and mixed. Really a huge reason I enjoyed this collection so much.

After Earth-2: The Gathering disappointed me a bit, this one did the opposite: encouraged me to continue with this series. I’ve always loved Earth-2 tales; they were some of my favorites when I was a kid in the 1970s; and perhaps they can be again.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, DC, Graphic Novels, The New 52 | Tagged DC Comics, Doctor Fate, Earth-2, The New 52, The Tower of Fate | 2 Comments

JLA EARTH-2

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Bookwraiths

JLA Earth-2 by Grant Morrison

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: DC Comics (August 30, 2013)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 144 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Morrison really perplexes me how he can write such great stories, then throw something absolutely bizarre at you the next time out. Talk about hot and cold. This guy should trademark the term as a description for his writing style. Thankfully, JLA Earth-2 was Morrison at his best.

Here Alexander Luthor discovers a way to travel from his anti-matter earth to the matter earth of the JLA; his desire to beg the JLA for help in stopping the evil rule of the Crime Syndicate. As those familiar with DC already know, the Crime Syndicate (Ultraman, Superwoman, Owlman, Johnny Quick, and Power Ring) come from Earth-2 (at least at the time of this DC continuity), are the evil counterparts of the JLA, and rule their world with iron fists. Luthor is the only “good guy” on this earth.

From this beginning, Morrison crafts an interesting story about the clash of the JLA and the Syndicate, mixing in a few twists and turns that really dash our heroes hopes and plans. The fights aren’t all that much, but the characterization is better than I expected from such a short story. And while Frank Quitely isn’t my favorite artists, I thought the artwork was well done and helped convey the story in a fast paced manner.

All in all, I really liked this one, but it would have been better if it would have focused a bit more on the Crime Syndicate and less on the familiar JLA characters. Not that I don’t love Bats, Supes, and the rest, but it would have been good to see how the bad guys rolled and why.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, DC, Graphic Novels | Tagged Crime Syndicate, DC Comics, Frank Quitely, Grant Morrison, JLA Earth-2 | 1 Comment

STACKING THE SHELVES, VOL. 4

Posted on October 3, 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!

The first novel is one I missed out on when it was published but was quick to pick up when I found it on sale at Amazon.

The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu

Genre: Fantasy — Epic

Series: The Dandelion Dynasty #1

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (April 7, 2015)

Length: 320 pages

“Two men rebel together against tyranny—and then become rivals—in this first sweeping book of an epic fantasy series from Ken Liu, recipient of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards.

Wily, charming Kuni Garu, a bandit, and stern, fearless Mata Zyndu, the son of a deposed duke, seem like polar opposites. Yet, in the uprising against the emperor, the two quickly become the best of friends after a series of adventures fighting against vast conscripted armies, silk-draped airships, and shapeshifting gods. Once the emperor has been overthrown, however, they each find themselves the leader of separate factions—two sides with very different ideas about how the world should be run and the meaning of justice.

Fans of intrigue, intimate plots, and action will find a new series to embrace in the Dandelion Dynasty.”

Purchase the book at Amazon.

The other new arrival is by an new author whose book I couldn’t turn down when it was offered.

The Sane King by Matt Knott

Genre: Fantasy — Grimdark

Series: Iron Nails #1

Publisher: Warrior’s Oath Publishing (August 27, 2015 )

Length: 396 pages

“Heroes are not born, but forged.

A lone warrior takes up the cause of a hunted boy. A desperate nation seeks to bolster its fragile army. A malevolent god feasts on the nightmares of men and seeks to bring ruin to all.

The wanderer, Rayle stands against the preternatural forces lurking on the edges of civilization and sanity. In the bleak lands of the Wrack, he rescues Bray from brutal men. Swearing to help the boy seek vengeance for the death of his brothers, Rayle finds himself locked in savage contest that tests both his strength of arms and will.

The Younger Union, losing its long war against a tyrannical enemy is moved to enforce ancient contracts. Tensions build as an idyllic farming community becomes the stage upon which the future of the north will be decided.

When events collide, and a monstrous power threatens to drown their world in blood, Rayle and his unlikely allies must fight to stop the tides of carnage. To win they must first survive, and to survive they must overcome their fears, doubts, and regrets.

They must unite and set aside differences, and in doing so they may stand against the madness of The Sane King.”

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in Stacking the Shelves | Tagged Ken Liu, Matt Knott, new fantasy series, Stacking the Shelves, The Dandelion Dynasty, The Grace of Kings, The Sane King | 4 Comments

THE POWER OF SIX

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Power of Six by Nicholas C. Rossis

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Short Story Collection

Publisher: Self Published (May 4, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 138 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This book by Nicholas C. Rossis has its feet planted firmly in the age-old question: “How real is reality, really?” Each short story in this collection focusing on a different scenario where things might not be exactly what they seem.

Simulation Over starts things off in fine sci-fi horror style with a lone man desperately trying to escape a monster infested building. But soon it becomes clear that the building’s central computer might be involved in the sudden apocalypse, and our survivor wonders how he can stop a runaway A.I. who has begun to contemplate the very nature of reality.

For the Last Time: a time machine story with a twist. Our lucky (or unlucky) recipient finding that every action — and every attempt to undo an action — only leads to even more unintended consequences.

The Hand of God follows a salty war veteran as he entertains a bar crowd with tales of his heroics during a devastating war. The narrative progresses as expected until the end, where it takes an unexpected turn.

The sci-fi atmosphere of old school classics is readily seen in I Come in Peace. Here a man who has shut himself away from the world is visited by an alien entity. The spirit promising to change his life!

A Fresh Start asks the question “Where would you be if you could be anywhere and do anything?” The main character being given this opportunity after stumbling into a creepy house.

The Sentry is another homage to classic science fiction. Here a young warrior diligently guards his family from monsters. While it sounds fairly standard, the ending surprises.

Big Bang by Amos A. Carpenter is a non-Rossis tale, but it definitely compliments the collection. The focus is on a group of youngsters playing a computer simulation about the creation of the universe; each player assuming the role of “gods” who direct their followers. Wonder if you will catch the twist at the end.

What’s In a Name finishes the collection in straight-forward fashion with a ship and its ultimate fate.

All in all, this was a great read. Each story was entertaining, thought-provoking, and never exactly what it seemed. Especially enjoyable was Mr. Rossis’ writing style: clear, uncluttered with unerring pacing and the innate ability to build a plot to the perfect climax. Needless to say, I will definitely be reading more of Mr. Rossis’ work and encourage others to do so as well.

Purchase the book at Amazon.