Release Date: 29/09/11
BOOK BLURB:
Princess Elisa is a disappointment to her people. Although she bears the Godstone in her navel, a sign that she has been chosen for an act of heroism, they see her as lazy and useless and fat. On her sixteenth birthday, she is bartered off in royal marriage and shipped away to a kingdom in turmoil, where her much-older-and extremely beautiful-husband refuses to acknowledge her as his wife. Devastated, Elisa decides to take charge of her fate and learn what it means to bear the Godstone. As an invading army threatens to destroy her new home, and everyone at court maneuvers to take advantage of the young princess, Elisa becomes convinced that, not only is her own life in danger, the whole world needs saving. But how can a young girl who has never ridden horseback, never played the game of politics, and never attained the love of a man save the world? Elisa can't be sure, but she must try to uncover the Godstone's secret history before the enemy steals the destiny nestled in her core.
REVIEW:
If you love a story of magic, of adventure with a good dash or romance then this could well be the book for you. What Rae does in this rerelease is present a title that is about friendships, allegiances and above all else a lead character that’s learning that you have to adapt and change as the world goes on around you. It’s cleverly written, the cast is outstanding and I absolutely enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters who really brought the foreign lands to life. Finally add to the mix a wonderful sense of prose that really brings the reader into the world and it’s a title that was a lot of fun from start to finish. It’s going to be interesting to see how it develops from here in future instalments.
Release Date: 04/08/11
BOOK BLURB:
Something's lying patiently in wait, until the time is right . . .
Thirteen years have passed since Yul fought for his life at the quarry, and Stonewylde has flourished in a new, golden age. But now the shadows are gathering.
Wild and disobedient, Leveret is the bad girl who disappears at night time and would rather roam the woods than sit in school. Only Clip recognises the girl's magical sensitivity and believes she may be the one to lead Stonewylde out of the approaching darkness.
The shadows thicken as Yul and Sylvie find that something - or someone - is tearing their beautiful relationship apart. As Stonewylde starts to disintegrate, a sinister alliance is forming but they have no idea what evil they're really up against . . .
The highly anticipated new Stonewylde novel is here!
REVIEW:
Stonewylde is one of those series that when it gets you in its grip, it refuses to let go. As usual with this, the fourth out of the currently five planned titles in this series, it’s well written, the characters that have developed along the way have moved further on with their lives and whilst you may have through that things would have moved on to a happier tomorrow, the reader is left to wonder what it is with the land and the people that can change so much from their appearances in the previous three titles to date.
Add to this some cracking characterisation as new ones come to the fore, some magical tapestry weaving to help keep things rolling and of course so authorly sleight of hand that will leave you gasping for the final part of the series now. All in a satisfying read and I really hope that there isn’t a huge delay. The wait is going to be unbearable.
Release Date: 07/07/11
BOOK BLURB:
Yul stands at the threshold between life and death. Poisoned at the festival of the dead, his life now hangs by a thread. More than his own will to survive, it's his fellow Stonewylders who must save him. But will they, when Magus has done so much to undermine Yul and turn the people against him? Yet there are cracks in Magus' following. When he confesses a secret that shocks the community, the Stonewylde folk begin to understand his true nature. Magus' spiral into obsession and darkness continues, his kindness and charm now vanished. The cruelty that lies beneath is becoming clear . . . as is the deadly web of deceit and betrayal in which Yul and Sylvie are trapped. The Winter Solstice approaches and Yul and Sylvie refuse to give up hope. But Sylvie is unaware of Magus' real plans for her and she's horrified when he finally shows his hand. Can this really be why she was brought to Stonewylde? As the final conflict draws near, how can she avoid Magus' trap? Yul will need all his strength, and all his supporters, if he is to make a stand and put an end to what Magus has started. As the darkness draws in around them, the wise woman on the hill makes a chilling prophecy. There is no escape and no compromise when death comes knocking: five will die at Stonewylde. The only question is who . . .
REVIEW:
Stonewylde has been a series to capture the readers imagination since its original inception and release a few years ago and with a new fourth part to come shortly it’s was time to catch up with everything as well as to see what would unfurl for the stories heroes as the villains were left with the upper hand in the end of the last instalment.
What occurs is dark and bleak but also shines the greater for the hope that springs from within. Its well written, the characters crisp and whilst the crueller aspects are played to great effect by Magus, the heroes always struggle against his darkness and as such bring this tale to a gripping conclusion. Add to this great prose, wonderfully detailed landscape and of course the growth of the characters that really keep this novel gripping as death and mayhem ensue which make this series one that refuses to let go. Great stuff.
Release Date: 02/06/11
BOOK BLURB:
It's Christmas-time, and Finmere Tingewick Smith (Fin to his friends) is back in Orrery House, with Christopher, one of his two best friends. They're there for the Initiation of the new Knights of Nowhere. The boys have tried to find some normalcy after their recent adventures, but they're badly missing Joe. He's stuck in the Nowhere, guarding two of the Five Eternal Stories that weave all the worlds together; they're held inside his own body. In the Somewhere, Christmas is a time of glad tidings and gifts and goodwill, Christmas trees, carols and the celebration of good things. But there is no Christmas in the Nowhere, and in both worlds, things are not as settled as they look, for Justin Arnold-Mather is getting ready to make his move. In the Nowhere, something is moving through the streets, attacking people - random victims - and leaving them mad and disfigured. And in Orrery House, a tiny crack has appeared in the Prophecy table. The Prophecy is coming alive. The battle lines will be drawn between even the closest of friends, for the fight is on. The Dark King is rising.REVIEW:
Having not read Sarah’s first novel, I only have this one to go on. The plot line is quite adult, the characters fitting in nicely to the appropriate genre and to be honest it’s a great transition title to help get the reader to the adult world. Add to this great character depth with various degrees of peril as well as a roundedness that allows the reader to associate as well as think their own way through which when finally added to a reasonably fast moving plot, some great prose and a decent level of description really allows the reader to get the most from it.
A wonderfully refreshing read and one that has left me wanting more. I’ll definitely have to look into the first one now whilst I wait to see what happens in the third exciting instalment.
Release Date: 26/05/11
BOOK BLURB:
Corvis Rebaine is no hero. In his trademark suit of black armour and skull-like helm, armed with a demon-forged axe and with allies that include a bloodthirsty ogre, Rebaine has twice brought death and destruction to Imphallion in pursuit of a better, more equitable and just society. If he had to kill countless innocents in order to achieve that dream, so be it. At least that was the old Rebaine. Before he slew the mad warlord Audriss. Before he banished the demon Khanda. Before he lost his wife and children, who could neither forgive nor forget his violent crimes. Now, years later, Rebaine lives in a distant city, under a false name. He's a member of one of the Guilds he despises and trying to achieve change nonviolently, from within the power structure. But just because Corvis has changed doesn't mean everyone else has. When Imphallion is invaded the bickering Guilds once again prove unable to respond ...but someone wearing Rebaine's trademark black armour, and bearing what appears to be his axe, does. Someone who is, if anything, even less careful of human life than Rebaine was. Worse, Rebaine's old nemesis Baron Jassion is hunting him once more, aided by a mysterious sorcerer named Kaleb, and a young woman who hates Corvis Rebaine more than anyone else: his own daughter, Mellorin. Suddenly Rebaine seems to have no choice. To clear his name, to protect his country, and to reconcile with his family, must he become the Terror of the East again?
REVIEW:
Having finally gotten around to reading the original tale in the series (the Conquerors Shadow) I was really looking forward to this titles release. I expected more of the same high octane action, good characterisation as well as a wonderfully constructed world.
What unfurled however was sadly a disappointment as there were quite a few holes and to be blunt I did feel that this title was more of a rushed job and the author didn’t have quite the same amount of time to polish and fix the problems. The characters were flat, the plot dilemma’s sadly lacking and when it hinges on collateral damage rather than taking the bull by the horns and getting out there made this feel more like a damp squib than the huge bang I was expecting. With luck things will improve in the next title and as such I will give it a go, but if it has a lot of the same failure points as this title then sadly it could well be time for me to call it a day with Ari.
Release Date: 02/06/11
BOOK BLURB:
NEW EDITION The cracks are beginning to show in the idyllic Stonewylde community. As Yul and Sylvie's forbidden friendship grows into something deeper, Magus' true nature starts to emerge through his charming facade. Ever since Yul defied him at the Summer Solstice, his power has been waning, and his mood darkening. Yul is the problem - and Magus is going to deal with him. Nobody challenges his authority and survives. Sylvie is in danger too. Magus has discovered her secret and now, for all its beauty, her magical gift and Magus' desire to possess it is putting her life at risk. As each full moon rises Sylvie is made to suffer more, and the agony she endures as her magic is stolen leaves her increasingly exhausted, sapping her will to fight back. Unless Magus can be stopped, every full moon could be Sylvie's last. As glorious summer turns to golden autumn, the magic of Stonewylde is becoming a curse to the very people it should nurture ...Are Yul and Sylvie the only ones who see the truth behind Magus' mask of kindness? Why is everyone so deceived by his charm - and why is Mother Heggy, the mysterious wise-woman the only one who will help them? The darkness of winter is coming, and as it does Sylvie and Yul's lives hang by a whisker. Either they will save each other, or history will repeat itself at the sinister standing stone above the cliffs.
REVIEW:
After reading the first novel in this series I was wondering what Kit would do to not only expand upon the carefully built infrastructure of her community but also to add layers of complexity as well as emotional interaction for the characters within. Whilst some of the contents won’t come as a shock due t the way things developed in the previous title it is one that, with the world building out of the way, can concentrate more on the emotional which this one does in spades.
It’s carefully crafted, the characters become more human with actions having consequences and it is a book that works more on the nuances rather than a big power outage. This makes this an ideal YA series and one that whilst Urban Fantasy, one that will strike a chord with many of the readers emotionally. All in a cleverly presented title and one that has great pace as well as character depiction which makes this all in a magical experience.
Release Date: 12/06/11
BOOK BLURB:
Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals - and they're camping outside Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Behind its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan are... tense, to say the least. But they have to work together when the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting: there's been a violent vampire attack which has left three women missing. The mayor's message is simple: get your House in order. Or else. Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it's not easy when she can't tell who's on her side. So she goes outside Cadogan House, secretly calling in a favour from someone who's tall, dark, and part of an underground vamp group which might be able to shed some light on the attack. It's not long before Merit finds herself in the dark, heady heart of Chicago's supernatural society - which seems to be full of vampires ready to fulfill the human's worst fears. She's about to learn that you can't be a vampire without getting a little blood on your hands...
REVIEW:
It’s always a worry that when you start a series partway through that you really won’t give it the attention it deserves, not because you can’t be bothered but because you feel that you’re a little out in the cold and what would have been little niggles can turn into major problems.
What happens with Chloe Neill’s fourth title in the Chicagoland Vampires series is one that not only welcomes the reader but makes sure that the get a great story with a true flavour of Chicago (yeah I want a Saul’s Pizza now.) Its wonderfully written, the characters were fun to hang around and all in the arc moved at a wonderful pace with enough cleverly constructed prose to keep me attached as I discovered the heart of the nefarious plot within. All in a lot of fun and when I get the time I’ll be seeking out the earlier exploits to get the fuller picture.
Release Date: 05/05/11
BOOK BLURB:
NEW EDITION Sylvie is dying. A victim of crippling allergies, poisoned by the pollution and chemicals of modern life, Sylvie is trapped in a hospital bed while her mother and doctors watch her life slipping away. But one of them offers her a chance. There's an alternative community - Stonewylde - hidden away behind high boundary walls in a corner of Dorset. If their leader, the charismatic Magus, would let Sylvie visit then perhaps the clean air and green lifestyle may restore her vitality. Or at least give her some measure of peace before she dies. It's a chance, and when Sylvie and her mother take it, they find themselves in a haven of tranquillity and beauty. But it's not all idyllic. The Magus sends a moody, secretive Village boy to work in their garden as a punishment. He warns them to stay away from him - he's rebellious and in deep trouble. But Sylvie is curious about Yul and, as their forbidden friendship grows, she sees that all is not quite as it seems at Stonewylde. Why was she told to keep away from Yul - and why are she and her mother so drawn to the Magus? Is the crone on the hill really a powerful wise-woman, or just a crazed old hag bent on destroying the peace with her wild prophecies? And what exactly is the magical secret at the heart of this seemingly perfect community?
REVIEW:
Whilst this series was originally released back in 2005 its currently undergoing a revamp from Gollancz YA and shortly to appear in their new imprint Indigo. What unfurls within this title is a wonderful introduction to a world of magic, of manipulation with an underlying love story. It’s beautifully written, the characters vivid and a learning curve that allows them to each grow into their roles as well as the readers imagination is something that generates a story that allows the reader to find something new in subsequent rereads.
Finally add to this successive monthly releases, some wonderful artwork and tied all up with an authors pretty unique writing style and the reader really is in for a treat.
Release Date: 09/12/10
BOOK BLURB:
They called him the Terror of the East. His past shrouded in mystery, his identity hidden behind a suit of enchanted black armour and a skull-like helm, Corvis Rebaine carved a bloody path through Imphallion, aided by Davro, a savage ogre, and Seilloah, a witch with a taste for human flesh. No shield or weapon could stop his demon-forged axe. And no magic could match the spells of his demon slave, Khanda. Yet just when ultimate victory was in his grasp, Rebaine faltered. His plans of conquest, born from a desire to see Imphallion governed with firmness and honesty, shattered. Amid the chaos of a collapsing army, Rebaine vanished, taking only a single hostage - the young noblewoman Tyannon - to guarantee his escape. Seventeen years later, Rebaine and Tyannon are married, living in obscurity and raising their children, a daughter and a son. Rebaine has put his past behind him, given up his dreams of conquest. Not even news of Audriss - an upstart warlord following Rebaine's old path of conquest - can stir the retired warrior to action. Until his daughter is assaulted by Audriss' goons. Now, to rescue the country he once tried to conquer, Rebain once more dons the armour of the Terror of the East and seeks out his former allies. But Davro has become a peaceful farmer. Seilloah has no wish to leave her haunted forest home. And Khanda ...well, to describe his feelings for his former master as undying hatred would be an understatement. But even if Rebaine can convince his onetime comrades to join him, he faces a greater challenge: does he dare to reawaken the part of him that glories in cruelty, blood and destruction? With the safety of his family at stake, can he dare not to?
REVIEW:
I missed this title on its original publication so when I finally found the time I decided to invest the time and the finances intot his title. What unfurls within is a young adult fantasy book that can easily bridge the gap between the Young Adult and the Adult titles on the shelves. Add to this an intriguing sense of humour, some great themes as well as characters that will more than pique the readers interest and it’s a title that is a great start to a brand new series. Whilst I’ve heard good things about the author from friends on the other side of the pond, I really wasn’t sure if it was going to be the type of title for me. Luckily I was surprised at just how enjoyable it was alongside a decent pace, some great action sequences and it’s a title that will more than fulfil the reader’s wants. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
Berren has lived in the city all his life. He has made his way as a thief, paying a little of what he earns to the Fagin like master of their band. But there is a twist to this tale of a thief. One day Berren goes to watch an execution of three thieves. He watches as the thief-taker takes his reward and decides to try and steal the prize. He fails. The young thief is taken. But the thief-taker spots something in Berren. And the boy reminds him of someone as well. Berren becomes his apprentice. And is introduced to a world of shadows, deceit and corruption behind the streets he thought he knew. Full of richly observed life in a teeming fantasy city, a hectic progression of fights, flights and fancies and charting the fall of a boy into the dark world of political plotting and murder this marks the beginning of a new fantasy series for all lovers of fantasy - from fans of Kristin Cashore to Brent Weeks.
REVIEW:
Stephen breaks into the Young Adult Fantasy Market with this offering and to be honest its an offering that will soon win him some younger fans. The writing style is beautiful, the prose ideal and to be brutally honest one that really will help the reader imagine the city in which the tale is set.
Add to the mix great combat, some magical twists and an author who plays for keeps which makes this title a book that really was a real joy to read. Fans of Stephens adult titles will definitely want to recommend this title to younger family members and will enjoy this title just as much themselves. A great kick off to the Gollancz Young Adult publishing business and if the quality is kept will soon make them a serious name for Young Adult quality fiction.
Release Date: 29/09/11
