The second publisher-specific gift guide for the holidays. Here is a small selection of some great, recent books to come from Headline, and also a few upcoming titles that you should really all mark your calendars for…

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Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops Series: Control Point, Fortress Frontier and Breach Zone

Army Officer. Fugitive. Sorcerer.

Across the country and in every nation, people are waking up with magical talents. Untrained and panicked, they summon storms, raise the dead, and set everything they touch ablaze.

Army officer Oscar Britton sees the worst of it. A lieutenant attached to the military’s Supernatural Operations Corps, his mission is to bring order to a world gone mad. Then he abruptly manifests a rare and prohibited magical power, transforming him overnight from government agent to public enemy number one.

The SOC knows how to handle this kind of situation: hunt him down – and take him out. Driven into an underground shadow world, Britton is about to learn that magic has changed all the rules he’s ever known, and that his life isn’t the only thing he’s fighting for.

Anyone who’s been reading CR for a while will know I’m a big fan of Myke Cole’s novels. The first two are already out, and Breach Zone will be published at the start of 2014. Magic, action, and solid story-telling. It’s guns ‘n’ sorcery at its best.

Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops novels are published by Ace Books in the US.

Also on CR: Interview with Myke Cole, Guest Post on Influences & Inspirations

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Neil Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn’t thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she’d claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie — magical, comforting, wise beyond her years — promised to protect him, no matter what.

A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly’s wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark

It’s Neil Gaiman’s new novel. Do you really need more of a reason? It’s brilliant. Almost everyone says so! As I’m a huge, long-time fan of Gaiman’s fiction, I really can’t for the life of me think why I haven’t got around to reading this… Methinks it will have to be one of my Christmas reads on my trip to Canada…

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is published by William Morrow in the US.

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Christopher Golden, Snowblind

Twelve years ago the small town of Coventry, Massachusetts was in the grasp of a particularly brutal winter. And then came the Great Storm.

It hit hard. Not everyone saw the spring. Today the families, friends and lovers of the victims are still haunted by the ghosts of those they lost so suddenly. If only they could see them one more time, hold them close, tell them they love them.

It was the deadliest winter in living memory.

Until now.

When a new storm strikes, it doesn’t just bring snow and ice, it brings the people of Coventry exactly what they’ve been wishing for. And the realisation their nightmare is only beginning.

Was Christmas too cheerful? Well, how about this new horror novel from the excellent Golden? And, who knows, maybe it’ll be snowing by the time it’s released (mid-January) and it’ll be like the universe has provided a pathetic fallacy just for you!

Snowblind is published by St. Martin’s Press in the US.

Also on CR: Interview with Christopher Golden

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Suzanne Johnson, Royal Street, River Road and Elysian Fields

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco spends more of her time mixing potions and retrieving pixies than she does sniffing out supernatural bad guys that slip over from the preternatural beyond. It is DJ’s eccentric boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, who is tasked with protecting the city.

But when Hurricane Katrina hammers the city’s fragile levees, it unleashes more than just flood waters. As the winds howl and Lake Pontchartrain surges, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld start to crumble away…

Now the dead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering soldiers sent to help the city recover. To make it worse, Gerald St. Simon has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting asshat as DJ’s new partner, and the pirate Jean Lafitte – who has an impressive libido for a 200-year-old – wants her to walk his plank.

If she is going to survive, DJ will have to learn that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies can be found in unlikely places… and that duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.

A new(ish) urban fantasy series set in post-Katrina New Orleans? That sounds really cool. I somehow picked up an ARC of, I think, the middle book from the US publisher. The series seems to have been released in rather a stealth manner in the UK (book three was released in August, according to the catalogue). Also, points for using “asshat” in the synopsis…

Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans novels are published by Tor Books in the US.

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Adam Sternbergh, Shovel Ready

“I don’t want to know your reasons. I don’t care. Think of me as a bullet. Just point.”

Spademan used to be a garbage man. That was before the dirty bomb hit Times Square, before his wife was killed, before New York became a burnt-out shell. Now the wealthy spend their days tapped into virtual reality; the rest have to fend for themselves in the streets. Now there’s nothing but garbage.

So he became a hit man. He doesn’t ask questions, he works quickly, and he’s handy with a box-cutter.

When he’s hired to kill the daughter of a high-profile evangelist, Spademan’s life is upended. He will have to navigate two worlds – both the slick fantasy and the wasteland reality – to finish the job, clear his conscience, and make sure he’s not the one who winds up in the ground.

Coming in January, I have been itching to get my mitts on this book for a while. Luckily, I also just got an ARC… Mwahahah! (Too much? Ah well.)

Shovel Ready is published by Crown Publishing in the US.

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Jennifer Williams, The Copper Promise

There are some far-fetched rumours about the caverns beneath the Citadel…

Some say the mages left their most dangerous secrets hidden there; others, that great riches are hidden there; even that gods have been imprisoned in its darkest depths.

For Lord Frith, the caverns hold the key to his vengeance. Against all the odds, he has survived torture and lived to see his home and his family taken from him … and now someone is going to pay. For Wydrin of Crosshaven and her faithful companion, Sir Sebastian Caverson, a quest to the Citadel looks like just another job. There’s the promise of gold and adventure. Who knows, they might even have a decent tale or two once they’re done.

But sometimes there is truth in rumour.

Soon this reckless trio will be the last line of defence against a hungry, restless terror that wants to tear the world apart. And they’re not even getting paid.

Very intrigued by this. Other than that, I don’t really know much about it. Have been hearing some good things about it, though. I’ll be sure to get around to the ARC at some point very soon. Published in February 2014.

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Any other Headline titles I forgot…? Share below. (Or via Twitter, and I’ll add them.)

I was in Brighton for the World Fantasy Convention a couple of weekends ago (I arrived bleary-eyed and caffeine-starved on Friday morning), and after a good amount of time telling myself to go easy on purchases and books for signing… I failed miserably. I was there for work, rather than as the writer of this blog (though it was great to finally meet a number of my fellow bloggers for the first time, too). It was a lot of fun, but even only being there for two days, it was pretty tiring – anyone who was there for all four days, burning the candle at both ends: I salute you, and especially for the volunteers who did a fantastic job. As you can see from the photo above, it was a very good weekend. However, only the left and middle pile were from WFC, and the pile on the right is made up of review copies that arrived while I was away. So, in advance of reviews, here is some information on what I have recently acquired… [More has arrived since this photo was taken, but I’ll put those in a monthly post or something in the near future.]

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First of all, though: David Towsey’s Your Brother’s Blood, Daniel Polansky’s She Who Waits, and Mark Charan Newton’s Drakenfeld I already owned, but I took them to WFC to get signed. All three of these authors were most gracious when I cornered them brandishing book and pen. Expect reviews ASAP.

Secondly, and before we get on to the shwag, I wanted to mention a couple of authors who really stood out for me, over the course of panels and general conversations: Sarah Rees Brennan and Holly Black (who were really kind and chatty, when I caught up with them for an unofficial signing); Wes Chu, whose stealth reading before Scott Lynch was brilliant; Kim Newman did a great job on the Vampires panel; Brad Beaulieu was a real gent when we caught up in the bar; Richard Ford, likewise; and Joe Hill’s discussion with Gilliam Redfearn was really interesting and made me like him even more (I have so much catching up to do… His novels, Locke & Key… Good times are ahead!).

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James Barclay’s Vault of Deeds (PS Publishing)

The status quo is being upset so much it feels distinctly queasy. You see, in the land of Goedterre, good always triumphs over evil. Or that’s how it should be. But something is wrong.

Picked this up in one of the sealed, lucky-dip PS Publishing packages at the Registration desk.

Despite that rather brief and unenlightening synopsis, I enjoyed Barclay’s first Raven novel, Dawnthief, and so I’m intrigued to see what this is all about.

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Sarah Rees Brennan’s Unspoken and Demon’s Lexicon (Simon & Schuster)

Demon’s Lexicon: Nick and his brother Alan are on the run with their mother, who was once the lover of a powerful magician. When she left him, she stole an important charm – and he will stop at nothing to reclaim it. Now Alan has been marked with the sign of death by the magician’s demon, and only Nick can save him. But to do so he must face those he has fled from all his life – the magicians – and kill them. So the hunted becomes the hunter… but in saving his brother, Nick discovers something that will unravel his whole past…

Unspoken: Kami Glass is in love with someone she’s never met – a boy the rest of the world is convinced is imaginary. This has made her an outsider in the sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale, but she doesn’t complain. She runs the school newspaper and keeps to herself for the most part – until disturbing events begin to happen. There has been screaming in the woods and the dark, abandoned manor on the hill overlooking the town has lit up for the first time in 10 years. The Lynburn family, who ruled the town a generation ago and who all left without warning, have returned. As Kami starts to investigate for the paper, she finds out that the town she has loved all her life is hiding a multitude of secrets – and a murderer – and the key to it all just might be the boy in her head. The boy who everyone thought was imaginary may be real… and he may be dangerous.

Alyssa really enjoyed these, and so when I was able to pick them up at the convention, and also meet Sarah to get them signed, I was rather happy. They sound intriguing.

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Michael Crichton’s Binary, Easy Go, Grave Descend and Scratch One (Hard Case)

I’m going to talk about these in a single, separate post – mainly because, in the time it’s taken me to write this, I have been sent the other four in the re-release series. I will also be running a giveaway for four of them! So… check back next week. They are, though, a lot of fun. And rather silly. But in an endearing, “Oh, how problematic our mores were back then”-sort-of-way…

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Liz De Jager’s Banished (Tor)

Sworn to protect, honour and slay. Because chaos won’t banish itself…

Kit is proud to be a Blackhart, now she’s encountered her unorthodox cousins and their strange lives. And her home-schooling now includes spells, fighting enemy fae and using ancient weapons. But it’s not until she rescues a rather handsome fae prince, fighting for his life on the edge of Blackhart Manor, that her training really kicks in. With her family away on various missions, Kit must protect Prince Thorn, rely on new friends and use her own unfamiliar magic to stay ahead of Thorn’s enemies. As things go from bad to apocalyptic, fae battle fae in a war that threatens to spill into the human world. Then Kit pits herself against the Elder Gods themselves – it’s that or lose everyone she’s learnt to love.

This is the first book in The Blackhart Legacy. I briefly meet Liz at WFC (after consuming a surprisingly tasty lasagna in the canteen – the warm Diet Coke, not so nice), but in my sleep-deprived, caffeine-starved state at the time, I didn’t properly say hi. I’m intrigued to read this, as a lot of fellow bloggers have enjoyed it. Hopefully in the not-to-distant-future.

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Austin Grossman’s You (Mulholland)

When Russell joins Black Arts games, brainchild of two visionary designers who were once his closest friends, he reunites with an eccentric crew of nerds hacking the frontiers of both technology and entertainment. In part, he’s finally given up chasing the conventional path that has always seemed just out of reach. But mostly, he needs to know what happened to Simon, his strangest and most gifted friend, who died under mysterious circumstances soon after Black Arts’ breakout hit.

As the company’s revolutionary next-gen game is threatened by a software glitch, Russell finds himself in a race to save his job, Black Arts’ legacy, and the people he has grown to care about. The deeper Russell digs, the more dangerous the glitch appears – and soon, Russell comes to realize there’s much more is at stake than just one software company’s bottom line.

I also have Soon I Will Be Invincible by Grossman, which I’d also like to read ASAP. But for an endless amount of time in which to read… This sounds interesting. I’m fascinated by computer companies and tech companies as a whole (not always their products, but never mind). Mixing that with weird, speculative fiction… well, that could be a real winner.

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Lily Herne’s Deadlands (Constable & Robinson)

Welcome to the Deadlands, where life is a lottery.

Since the apocalypse, Cape Town’s suburbs have become zombie-infested Deadlands. Human survivors are protected from the living dead by sinister, shrouded figures – the Guardians. In return, five teenagers are “chosen” and handed over to them for a mysterious purpose: this year, Lele de la Fontein’s name is picked. But Lele will not stick around and face whatever shady fate the Guardians have in store for her. She escapes, willing to take her chances in the Deadlands.

Alone, exiled and unable to return home, she runs into a misfit gang of renegade teens: Saint, a tough Batswana girl; Ginger, a wise-cracking Brit; and handsome Ash, a former child soldier. Under their tutelage, Lele learns how to seriously destroy zombies and together they uncover the corruption endemic in Cape Town, and come to learn the sickening truth about the Guardians…

Jared of Pornokitsch told me about this mother-daughter writing team’s novels, and also let me know that they were having a signing. So off I went, and they were both really cool. So I bought this first novel in the series. Sounds like another interesting take on the zombie apocalypse (for which I’m a bit of a sucker…). Hopefully I’ll get around to this pretty soon.

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Erika Johansen’s The Queen of the Tearling (Bantam Press)

On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon — from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic — to prevent her from wearing the crown.

Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.

But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun — a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend… if she can survive.

The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.

I’m rather intrigued by this. Not really sure what to expect. Hopefully reading this soon. It appears to actually be some kind of post-apocalyptic novel…?

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Drew Karpyshyn’s Old Republic: Annihilation (Arrow)

The Sith Empire is in flux. The Emperor is missing, presumed dead, and an ambitious Sith lord’s attempt to seize the throne has ended fatally. Still, Darth Karrid, commander of the fearsome Imperial battle cruiser Ascendant Spear, continues her relentless efforts to achieve total Sith domination of the galaxy.

But Karrid’s ruthless determination is more than matched in the steely resolve of Theron Shan, whose unfinished business with the Empire could change the course of the war for good. Though the son of a Jedi master, Theron does not wield the Force—but like his renowned mother, the spirit of rebellion is in his blood. As a top covert agent for the Republic, he struck a crucial blow against the Empire by exposing and destroying a Sith superweapon arsenal—which makes him the ideal operative for a daring and dangerous mission to end Ascendant Spear’s reign of terror.

Joined by hot-headed smuggler Teff’ith, with whom he has an inexplicable bond, and wise Jedi warrior Gnost-Dural, Darth Karrid’s former master, Theron must match wits and weapons with a battle-tested crew of the most cold-blooded dark side disciples. But time is brutally short. And if they don’t seize their one chance to succeed, they will surely have countless opportunities to die.

I haven’t read any of the Old Republic novels (this is the fourth), but I have read a couple of Karpyshyn’s other novels and rather enjoyed them. I also really need to read his new fantasy novel, Children of Fire.

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Scott Lynch’s The Republic of Thieves (Gollancz)

Having pulled off the greatest heist of their career, Locke and his trusted partner in thievery, Jean, have escaped with a tidy fortune. But Locke’s body is paying the price. Poisoned by an enemy from his past, he is slowly dying. And no physiker or alchemist can help him. Yet just as the end is near, a mysterious Bondsmagi offers Locke an opportunity that will either save him – or finish him off once and for all.

Magi political elections are imminent, and the factions are in need of a pawn. If Locke agrees to play the role, sorcery will be used to purge the venom from his body – though the process will be so excruciating he may well wish for death. Locke is opposed, but two factors cause his will to crumble: Jean’s imploring – and the Bondsmagi’s mention of a woman from Locke’s past… Sabetha. The love of his life. His equal in skill and wit. And now his greatest rival.

Locke was smitten with Sabetha from his first glimpse of her as a young fellow-orphan and thief-in-training. But after a tumultuous courtship, Sabetha broke away. Now they will reunite in yet another clash of wills. For faced with his one and only match in both love and trickery, Locke must choose whether to fight Sabetha – or to woo her. It is a decision on which both their lives may depend.

Signed and numbered copy of The Republic of Thieves? The fantasy series that got me back into fantasy? Yeah, I couldn’t resist… Also attended a reading by Scott, at which he read from a new short story (to be published in Rogues, I believe). I’m not 100% sure when I’m actually going to get around to reading this. I want to re-read the first two books first, as it’s been so long since I read those. Need to refresh my memory.

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John Jackson Miller’s Kenobi (Century)

The greatest hero in the galaxy faces his toughest challenge yet: He must stop being Obi-Wan-and become Crazy Old Ben.

In this original novel set between the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi comes to the aid of the residents of Tatooine during his exile. But he struggles with his new mission when he realizes that protecting Luke Skywalker-the last hope of the galaxy-means setting aside his compassion and his Jedi warrior training, for the future of the galaxy lies not with Obi-Wan Kenobi, but with a mystical desert recluse known only by the name of Crazy Old Ben.

I recently re-watched the original Star Wars trilogy (as I do very often), and it made me think about what Kenobi did between the prequel trilogy and the original (superior, essential, awesome) trilogy. Well… Miller seems to have written the answer to this predicament. I’ll be reading this hopefully soon – although, I have struggled to get back into the Star Wars fictional universe. Which is odd, seeing as I’ve read everything set after Episode IV, and a fair bit before, except for the last three novels. Part of this is my (apparently) ever-present book-funk. I will endeavour to give this a read ASAP, though.

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Terry Pratchett’s Raising Steam (Doubleday)

To the consternation of the patrician, Lord Vetinari, a new invention has arrived in Ankh-Morpork – a great clanging monster of a machine that harnesses the power of all the elements: earth, air, fire and water. This being Ankh-Morpork, it’s soon drawing astonished crowds, some of whom caught the zeitgeist early and arrive armed with notepads and very sensible rainwear.

Moist von Lipwig is not a man who enjoys hard work – as master of the Post Office, the Mint and the Royal Bank his input is, of course, vital… but largely dependent on words, which are fortunately not very heavy and don’t always need greasing. However, he does enjoy being alive, which makes a new job offer from Vetinari hard to refuse…

Steam is rising over Discworld, driven by Mister Simnel, the man wi’ t’flat cap and sliding rule who has an interesting arrangement with the sine and cosine. Moist will have to grapple with gallons of grease, goblins, a fat controller with a history of throwing employees down the stairs and some very angry dwarfs if he’s going to stop it all going off the rails…

I struggled with Snuff. That made me rather book-depressed. After hearing Rob (Terry’s assistant) give a short reading from this at WFC, as well as the general discussion as a whole during Sir Terry’s panel, I am interested to see how this turns out. One of the things I love about Pratchett’s Discworld series is that it’s always moving forward. There are technological, sociological, and economic developments that unfold across the series. The fantasy world doesn’t sit still. I am, therefore, very intrigued to see how the arrival of steam trains in Discworld mix things up.

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Justin Richards’s The Suicide Exhibition (Del Rey)

WEWELSBURG CASTLE, 1940.

The German war machine has woken an ancient threat – the alien Vril and their Ubermensch have returned. Ultimate Victory in the war for Europe is now within the Nazis’ grasp.

ENGLAND, 1941

Foreign Office trouble shooter Guy Pentecross has stumbled into a conspiracy beyond his imagining – a secret war being waged in the shadows against a terrible enemy.

The battle for Europe has just become the war for humanity.

This is The Thirty-Nine Steps crossed with Indiana Jones and Quatermass. Justin Richards has an extremely credible grasp of the period’s history and has transformed it into a groundbreaking alternate reality thriller.

I had never heard of this. But it seems to be about Nazis and alien monsters of some kind! So… that’s always cool. Count me in. And that cover’s pretty cool…

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Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind (Gollancz)

Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature.

A high-action story written with a poet’s hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

I’ve already read this, and its sequel The Wise Man’s Fear. This series was a much-discussed topic at WFC (including part of a very enjoyable dinner conversation). Patrick Rothfuss was at the convention signing everything, so I decided to pick up a copy.

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Brian Staveley’s The Emperor’s Blades (Tor)

The circle is closing. The stakes are high. And old truths will live again…

The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must bury their grief and prepare to unmask a conspiracy.

His son Valyn, training for the empire’s deadliest fighting force, hears the news an ocean away. He expected a challenge, but after several ‘accidents’ and a dying soldier’s warning, he realizes his life is also in danger. Yet before Valyn can take action, he must survive the mercenaries’ brutal final initiation.

Meanwhile, the Emperor’s daughter, Minister Adare, hunts her father’s murderer in the capital itself. Court politics can be fatal, but she needs justice. And Kaden, heir to an empire, studies in a remote monastery. Here, the Blank God’s disciples teach their harsh ways – which Kaden must master to unlock their ancient powers. When an imperial delegation arrives, he’s learnt enough to perceive evil intent. But will this keep him alive, as long-hidden powers make their move?

Tor UK are really boosting this novel (chapters 1-5 are available online – go find it yourself, you lazy eejit). A new epic fantasy series. “Another one?” you may ask. Well, yes. Because there can never be too much good SFF. I’m looking forward to trying this.

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Django Wexler’s The Forbidden Library (Doubleday Children’s)

Alice always thought fairy tales had happy endings. That – along with everything else – changed the day she met her first fairy

When Alice’s father goes down in a shipwreck, she is sent to live with her uncle Geryon – an uncle she’s never heard of and knows nothing about. He lives in an enormous manor with a massive library that is off-limits to Alice. But then she meets a talking cat. And even for a rule-follower, when a talking cat sneaks you into a forbidden library and introduces you to an arrogant boy who dares you to open a book, it’s hard to resist. Especially if you’re a reader to begin with. Soon Alice finds herself INSIDE the book, and the only way out is to defeat the creature imprisoned within.

It seems her uncle is more than he says he is. But then so is Alice.

I’m a fan of Wexler’s fiction. And he seems to be a really nice guy, too. (We have conversed at length on Twitter about a great many things – including our mutual appreciation of the fiction of Sir Terry Pratchett). The Forbidden Library is his foray into YA fiction, and I’m looking forward to giving it a try. I had no idea when it was going to come out in the UK, so finding it at WFC is certainly a nice thing. [That’s the US artwork – published by Kathy Dawson Books – because Doubleday haven’t released the British artwork, yet. Although, if the ARC is anything to go by, it will feature an extreme close-up of a bright, red dragon. Which is also very cool…]

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Jack Yeovil’s Beast in Velvet (Black Library)

As a killer called “The Beast” stalks the Imperial capital of Altdorf, evidence points to members of the Imperial court. With the gruesome murders mounting, the disgraced watchman “Filthy” Harald Kleindeinst is reinstated for a single assignment: to stop the Beast’s reign of terror and discover its true identity.

This was a spur-of-the-moment purchase. I read it when it first came out (in 1993), but after I found out that Kim Newman was at the covention, I spotted this on a table in the Dealer’s Room. Yeovil was, of course, a penname of Newman’s. A nostalgic discovery and opportunity presented and seized.

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… is apparently a thing. Which I am experiencing at the moment. I haven’t liked about 3/4 of the books I’ve tried to read over the past two weeks. I’m still reading, and have managed to get through a couple (reviews pending), but I’m finding I have zero patience for a lot of things. I’ve even tried to go with safe bets, comfort reads (Star Wars, something published by Black Library, or by authors I know I’ve really enjoyed in the past). But… nothing is hitting the mark.

This may be a case of genre-overload (I have to read this stuff for work, now, too), which could explain why I’ve been reading more real-world novels (thrillers, literary fiction, etc.). For this reason, I think we’ll be seeing a temporary shift, and I’ll be focusing more on non-SFF novels for just a little while, as I clear my brain. Then, after that, we’ll be seeing far more genre breadth on the blog – in terms or reviews, news, and hopefully interviews. I haven’t stopped liking SFF or anything of the sort. I think I just need a bit of a break. They’re starting to blur into one mass, right now…

It’s been another bumper month for intriguing titles. I sometimes wonder if there’s really any point in offering an introduction to these posts… It’s kind of obvious what they’re all about. There have been other books acquired, of course, and this doesn’t include the comics or graphic novels (would including those be of interest?), nor eBooks (of which there is an ever-growing number).

Guy Adams, The Clown Service (Del Rey)

Toby Greene has been reassigned.

The Department: Section 37 Station Office, Wood Green.

The Boss: August Shining, an ex-Cambridge, Cold War-era spy.

The Mission: Charged with protecting Great Britain and its interests from paranormal terrorism.

The Threat: An old enemy has returned, and with him Operation Black Earth, a Soviet plan to create the ultimate insurgents by re-animating the dead.

I like the cover. This sounds like it could be interesting. Could be rather like The Rook or spy-set Rivers of London, but I’m going to give it a try at some point.

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Pierce Brown, Red Rising (Hodder)

Darrow is a miner and a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he digs all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of the planet livable for future generations. Darrow has never seen the sky.

Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better future for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow and Reds like him are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow joins a resistance group in order to infiltrate the ruling class and destroy society from within. He will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies… even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

I have seen only hints and teases about this book before the ARC arrived. I’m intrigued, certainly. I’ll try to get to this one pretty soon, I think.

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M.J. Carey, The Girl With All the Gifts (Orbit)

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her “our little genius”. Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don’t like her. She jokes that she won’t bite, but they don’t laugh. Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children’s cells. She tells her favourite teacher all the things she’ll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn’t know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.

Ok, that synopsis is very tantalising. Doesn’t really give anything away, so I am going to try to get to this pretty soon.

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Steven Erikson, The Devil Delivered & Other Tales (Bantam Press)

The Devil Delivered: In the breakaway Lakota Nation, in the heart of a land blistered beneath an ozone hole the size of the Great Plains of North America, a lone anthropologist wanders the deadlands, recording observations that threaten to bring the world’s powers to their knees.

Revolvo: In the fictitious country of Canada, the arts scene is ruled by technocrats who thrive in a secret, nepotistic society of granting agencies, bursaries, and peer review boards, all designed to permit self-proclaimed artists to survive without an audience.

Fishing with Grandma Matchie: A children’s story of a boy tasked with a writing assignment becomes a stunning fantastical journey with his tale-spinning grandmother.

I have never read anything by Steven Erikson. Last year (I think) I received a review copy of one of his Malazan books, but having read none of the rest of the series, I’m afraid I didn’t feel compelled to dive in. This book seems to be a completely unrelated collection of novellas/short-stories, so I think I’ll read this as a way to try out Erikson’s work. Looking forward to it, certainly.

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Gary Gibson, Marauder (Tor)

Megan has a mission. But must she sacrifice herself to save a world? Pilot Megan Jacinth has three goals, and they all seem unattainable. She must find her friend Bash, who she’d left for dead to save her own life. Then she needs Bash’s unique skill-set to locate an ancient space-faring entity. Lastly she must use this Wanderer’s knowledge to save human-occupied worlds from an alien incursion. The odds seem impossible, but the threat is terrifyingly real. Megan finds Bash, but the person she’d known and loved is a husk of his former self. Bash is also held captive by her greatest enemy: Gregor Tarrant. Tarrant wants the Wanderer too, even more than he wants her life, with motives less pure than her own. And he’s close to finding Megan’s most closely-guarded secret. A race across space to reach the Wanderer seems Megan’s best option. But this entity is also known as the Marauder, and is far from benign. The price for its secrets may be just too high. Megan should know, as she still bears the scars from their last encounter…

Another great SF author who I’ve never read. Tor have been doing a wonderful job of re-issuing Gibson’s books with fantastic covers (Marauder is a new title, however). They all sound really interesting. And yet… I’ve never really been a big sci-fi reader, unless I’m already familiar with the setting (Black Library, Star Wars, etc.). I’m not really sure why I’ve never tried more.

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Mark Gimenez, Con Law (Sphere)

John Bookman – ‘Book’ to his friends – is a tenured professor at the University of Texas School of Law. He’s thirty-five, handsome and unmarried. He teaches Constitutional Law, reduces senators to blithering fools on political talk shows, and is often mentioned as a future Supreme Court nominee.

But Book is also famous for something more unusual. He likes to take on lost causes and win. Consequently, when he arrives at the law school each Monday morning, hundreds of letters await him, letters from desperate Americans around the country seeking his help. Every now and then, one letter captures his attention and Book feels compelled to act.

In the first of a thrilling new series from the author of international bestsellers The Colour of Law and Accused, Book investigates a murder in the corrupt world of deepest, darkest Texas.

It should come as no surprise to long-time readers of CR that I am a fan of Gimenez’s novels. I’ve read almost all of them, and each one so far has been an addictive legal thriller. I will, therefore, be reading this as soon as possible.

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Thomas Keneally, American Scoundrel (Chatto & Windus)

Hero, adulterer, bon vivant, murderer and rogue, Dan Sickles led the kind of existence that was indeed stranger than fiction. Throughout his life he exhibited the kind of exuberant charm and lack of scruple that wins friends, seduces women, and gets people killed. In American Scoundrel Thomas Keneally, the acclaimed author of Schindler’s List, creates a biography that is as lively and engrossing as its subject.

Dan Sickles was a member of Congress, led a controversial charge at Gettysburg, and had an affair with the deposed Queen of Spain—among many other women. But the most startling of his many exploits was his murder of Philip Barton Key (son of Francis Scott Key), the lover of his long-suffering and neglected wife, Teresa. The affair, the crime, and the trial contained all the ingredients of melodrama needed to ensure that it was the scandal of the age. At the trial’s end, Sickles was acquitted and hardly chastened. His life, in which outrage and accomplishment had equal force, is a compelling American tale, told with the skill of a master narrative.

I mentioned this book a little while ago, on Tumblr. I stumbled across a mention of Dan Sickles in John Taliaferro’s superb biography of John Hay, All the Great Prizes. Intrigued by the very brief description of this… character, I had a quick look for a Sickles biography, and found this one. Thomas Keneally is best known for his book Schindler’s List, so I have very high hopes that this will be excellent.

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Jay Kristoff, Kinslayer (Tor)

A SHATTERED EMPIRE

The mad Shōgun Yoritomo has been assassinated by the Stormdancer Yukiko, and the threat of civil war looms over the Shima Imperium. The Lotus Guild conspires to renew the nation’s broken dynasty and crush the growing rebellion simultaneously – by endorsing a new Shōgun who desires nothing more than to see Yukiko dead.

A DARK LEGACY

Yukiko and the mighty thunder tiger Buruu have been cast in the role of heroes by the Kagé rebellion. But Yukiko herself is blinded by rage over her father’s death, and her ability to hear the thoughts of beasts is swelling beyond her power to control. Along with Buruu, Yukiko’s anchor is Kin, the rebel Guildsman who helped her escape from Yoritomo’s clutches. But Kin has his own secrets, and is haunted by visions of a future he’d rather die than see realized.

A GATHERING STORM

Kagé assassins lurk within the Shōgun’s palace, plotting to end the new dynasty before it begins. A waif from Kigen’s gutters begins a friendship that could undo the entire empire. A new enemy gathers its strength, readying to push the fracturing Shima imperium into a war it cannot hope to survive. And across raging oceans, amongst islands of black glass, Yukiko and Buruu will face foes no katana or talon can defeat.

The ghosts of a blood-stained past.

This series really does have nice covers… I have read the first book, Stormdancer, yet. It was another of the (too many) books that suffered because of one of my frequent moves. The premise sounds interesting, and as someone with a bachelor’s degree in East Asian History (and a minor in Japanese Language), I’m certainly interested in seeing what Kristoff has done with the world-building, society, etc. I’m sad to report that I haven’t heard great things on this score, but at the same time I’ve heard many people say they enjoyed reading it. I’ll try to get to the two novels at some point, but I’d be lying if I said they were a high priority.

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Ari Marmell, Lost Covenant (Pyr)

It’s been six months since Widdershins and her own “personal god” Olgun fled the city of Davillon. During their travels, Widdershins unwittingly discovers that a noble house is preparing to move against the last surviving bastion of the Delacroix family.

Determined to help the distant relatives of her deceased adopted father, Alexandre Delacroix, she travels to a small town at the edge of the nation. There, she works at unraveling a plot involving this rival house and a local criminal organization, all while under intense suspicion from the very people she’s trying to rescue.

Along the way she’ll have to deal with a traitor inside the Delacroix family, a mad alchemist, and an infatuated young nobleman who won’t take no for an answer.

Another Widdershins Adventure? Count me in. That’s really all there is to my decision – I thoroughly enjoyed the first novel, Thief’s Covenant. While the second, False Covenant, wasn’t quite as good, it nevertheless was a great read. This has been put very high on my TBR mountain.

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Andy McNab, Red Notice (Bantam Books/ Transworld)

A train hijack in the Channel Tunnel is the starting point for the electrifying new thriller from Number One bestseller Andy McNab.

Deep beneath the English Channel, a small army of Russian terrorists has seized control of the Eurostar to Paris, taken 400 hostages at gunpoint – and declared war on a government that has more than its own fair share of secrets to keep. One man stands in their way. An off-duty SAS soldier is hiding somewhere inside the train. Alone and injured, he’s the only chance the passengers and crew have of getting out alive. Meet Andy McNab’s explosive new creation, Sergeant Tom Buckingham, as he unleashes a whirlwind of intrigue and retribution in his attempt to stop the terrorists and save everyone on board — including Delphine, the beautiful woman he loves.

Hurtling us at breakneck speed between the Regiment’s crack assault teams, Whitehall’s corridors of power and the heart of the Eurotunnel action, Red Notice is McNab at his devastatingly authentic, pulse pounding best.

Despite my overall interest and fondness for thrillers, I’ve never read anything by McNab. True, I tend to prefer US-based political thrillers (for example, Mike Lawson, Vince Flynn, et al), but Red Notice sounds pretty interesting – and, perhaps more importantly, it seems to be a stand-alone novel. I’m certainly intrigued.

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Julian Somper, Allies & Assassins (Atom)

They killed his brother. Now they’re coming for him. . .

As the second prince of Archenfield, Jared never expected to rule. But behind the walls of the castle is a dark and dangerous court where murder and intrigue are never far below the surface.

Now his older brother is dead. The kingdom is his. And the target is on his back. Can he find the assassin before the assassin finds him?

More assassins? Well, yes. But I don’t mind that at all, as I really like assassins and thieves as protagonists. I loved Brent Weeks’s Night Angel Trilogy, Jon Sprunk’s Shadow trilogy (well, the first two novels – I still need to read the third), and many others. Somper is the author of the Vampirates series of YA novels. I’ve never read those, either, but that is a pretty cool premise: vampires and pirates? I wonder why I haven’t read them, actually… Anyway, Allies & Assassins is the start of a new series. I’ll probably read this rather soon.

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Tad Williams, Happy Hour in Hell (Hodder)

Bobby Dollar has a problem or four of epic proportions. Problem one: his best friend Sam has given him an angel’s feather that also happens to be evidence of an unholy pact between Bobby’s employers and those who dwell in the infernal depths. Problem two: Eligor, Grand Duke of Hell, wants to get his claws on the feather at all costs, but particularly at all cost to Bobby. Problem three: Bobby has fallen in love with Casimira, Countess of Cold Hands, who just happens to be Eligor’s girlfriend. Problem four: Eligor, aware of Problem three, has whisked Casimira off to the Bottomless Pit itself, telling Bobby he will never see her again unless he hands over the feather.

But Bobby, long-time veteran of the endless war between above and below, is not the type of guy who finds Hell intimidating. All he has to do is toss on a demon’s body, sneak through the infernal gates, solve the mystery of the angel’s feather, and rescue the girl. Saving the day should just be a matter of an eon or two of anguish, mutilation and horror.

If only it were that easy.

Good lord, that is a great cover… In fact, so is the cover for the first book in the series, The Dirty Streets of Heaven. While I did pick up a copy of the first novel at BEA 2012, I never got around to reading it (yup, because of another move). I’m not entirely sure where it is, now… I’ll have to hunt down a copy of the UK edition, to complement this one. Sounds like it would appeal to fans of Richard Kadrey and other series in that ilk. Count me in. I’ll be inching this up my TBR pile as soon as I can locate the first book.

Over the past couple of weeks, another bumper crop of highly-anticipated and interesting-looking books has been trickling in through the mailbox. As per usual, and because it’s too hot to write a full review or article, here is a quick run-down of some books that will hopefully feature again on the blog (some of them are certainties, though). I have not included eBook ARCs that I’ve received.

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Tobias Buckell, Arctic Rising (Del Rey UK)

The Arctic Cap has all but melted, oil has run low and Anika Duncan, former mercenary turned United Nations Polar Guard pilot, patrols the region to protect against pollution and smuggling.

In a daring plan to terraform the planet, the Gaia Corporation develops a revolutionary new technology, but when they lose control, our best potential solution to global warming may become the deadliest weapon ever known.

As a lethal game of international politics and espionage begins, it will be up to Anika to decide the fate of the Earth.

Part techno-thriller, part eco-thriller, ARCTIC RISING is a fantastic dystopian science fiction adventure that will appeal to fans of everyone from Michael Crichton to James Bond.

I haven’t read much by Buckell, but I like the sound of this one, so I will hopefully get to it at some point relatively soon. What I’ve read so far by him suggests he’s very talented. I think I just keep missing his work, or it gets released at the same time as a blizzard of other titles that also happen to catch my attention.

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Caleb Carr, The Legend of Broken (Sphere)

Some years ago, a remarkable manuscript long rumoured to exist was discovered: The Legend of Broken. It tells of a prosperous fortress city, Broken, where order reigns at the point of a sword – even as scheming factions secretly vie for control of the surrounding kingdom. Meanwhile, outside the city’s granite walls, an industrious tribe of exiles known as the Bane forages for sustenance in the wilds of Davon Wood.

At every turn, the lives of Broken’s defenders and its would-be destroyers intertwine until secretly, and under pressure from their people, four leaders unite. Together, they hope to exact a ruinous revenge on Broken, ushering in a day of reckoning when the mighty walls will be breached forever in a triumph of science over superstition.

I’ve been aware of Caleb Carr ever since I found a copy of Killing Time and then The Alienist in a Cambridge book shop. He’s never seemed to get much attention in the UK. Hopefully this book, and the re-issued editions of The Alienist and its sequel The Angel of Darkness, will go some way to remedying our oversight. This is near the top of my TBR mountain.

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Lee Child, Never Go Back (Bantam Press)

After an epic and interrupted journey all the way from the snows of South Dakota, former military cop Jack Reacher has finally made it to Virginia. His destination: a sturdy stone building a short bus ride from Washington D.C., the headquarters of his old unit, the 110th MP. It was the closest thing to a home he ever had.

Why? He wants to meet the new commanding officer, Major Susan Turner. He liked her voice on the phone. But the officer sitting behind his old desk isn’t a woman. Is Susan Turner dead? In Afghanistan? Or in a car wreck?

What Reacher doesn’t expect to hear is that Turner has just been fired from her command. Nor that he himself is in big trouble, accused of a sixteen-year-old homicide. And he certainly doesn’t expect to hear these words: ‘You’re back in the army, Major. And your ass is mine.’

Will he be sorry he went back? Or – will someone else?

This is the 18th novel in the Jack Reacher series (there have also been a few short stories), and I have still never read a single one. I haven’t seen the movie, either. I have absolutely no idea why I’ve never got around to it… I really must do something about this oversight…

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Peter Clines, Ex-Heroes, Ex-Patriots & Ex-Communication (Del Rey UK)

Stealth. Gorgon. Regenerator. Cerberus. Zzzap. The Mighty Dragon. They were heroes, using their superhuman abilities to make Los Angeles a better place.

Then the plague of living death spread around the globe. Now, a year later, the heroes struggle to overcome their differences and recover from their own scars as they protect the thousands of survivors huddled in their film-studio-turned-fortress, the Mount.

But the hungry ex-humans are not the only threat the survivors face. Across the city, another group has grown and gained power.

Previously a well-received self-published series, Clines’ novels are a mash-up of the zombie apocalypse and super-hero genres. And sound really cool. So I’ll be diving in to Ex-Heroes very soon indeed.

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Paul Cornell, London Falling (Tor)

The dark is rising…

Detective Inspector James Quill is about to complete the drugs bust of his career. Then his prize suspect Rob Toshack is murdered in custody. Furious, Quill pursues the investigation, co-opting intelligence analyst Lisa Ross and undercover cops Costain and Sefton. But nothing about Toshack’s murder is normal. Toshack had struck a bargain with a vindictive entity, whose occult powers kept Toshack one step ahead of the law – until his luck ran out. Now, the team must find a ‘suspect’ who can bend space and time and alter memory itself. And they will kill again. As the group starts to see London’s sinister magic for themselves, they have two choices: panic or use their new abilities. Then they must hunt a terrifying supernatural force the only way they know how: using police methods, equipment and tactics. But they must all learn the rules of this new game – and quickly. More than their lives will depend on it.

This is the new paperback edition of Cornell’s novel, and I much prefer this cover. Not really sure why. More Thriller-esque, I think. I’m more familiar with Cornell’s comic work, but I’m intrigued by this – especially since I recently moved close to London (where I also now work). I have a feeling I’ll be reading this and Ben Aaronovitch’s Peter Grant/Rives Of London series pretty soon…

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Leigh Evans, The Thing About Wolves (Tor)

THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER

In the never-ending saga that is my love-hate relationship with Robson Trowbridge, I, half-Were Hedi Peacock, have had a change of heart. Ever since I shoved Trowbridge through the Gates of Merenwyn, I’ve been the leader of the pack—hard to believe, right? The thing is: I’m half-Fae. So even though my Were side is ready to heed the call of the wild, the other part of me is desperate to take flight. And much as it pains me to admit it, life without Trowbridge is really starting to were me down…

I AM WERE, HEAR ME ROAR.

To make matters worse, the wolves of Creemore want my blood—and the North American Council of Weres wants me dead. So I’m just counting the days until Trowbridge returns from the other realm…and comes to my brave rescue…and becomes my alpha mate. Wishful thinking? Of course it is. But given all the mess I’ve been through already, what’s the harm in doing a little bit of daisy-plucking? Besides, Trowbridge owes me bigtime. A girl can dream.

This is the second novel in Evans’ Mystwalker urban fantasy series. The first, The Trouble with Fate, is inching up the TBR mountain. It sounds interesting, but I am not champing at the bit to get caught up. We’ll see, depending on time available.

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Kate Griffin, Glass God (Orbit)

Sharon Li: apprentice shaman and community support officer for the magically inclined. It wasn’t the career Sharon had in mind, but she’s getting used to running Magicals Anonymous and learning how to Be One With The City.

When the Midnight Mayor goes missing, leaving only a suspiciously innocent-looking umbrella behind him, Sharon finds herself promoted. Her first task: find the Midnight Mayor. The only clues she has are a city dryad’s cryptic message of doom and several pairs of abandoned shoes…

Suddenly, Sharon’s job feels a whole lot harder.

This is, I believe, the sequel to Stray Souls, which is tucked neatly in the middle of my TBR pile… I’ll get to it soon, hopefully. Anyone else had a chance to read either, yet?

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Drew Karpyshyn, Annihilation (Century)

The Sith Empire is in flux. The Emperor is missing, presumed dead, and an ambitious Sith lord’s attempt to seize the throne has ended fatally. Still, Darth Karrid, commander of the fearsome Imperial battle cruiser Ascendant Spear, continues her relentless efforts to achieve total Sith domination of the galaxy.

But Karrid’s ruthless determination is more than matched in the steely resolve of Theron Shan, whose unfinished business with the Empire could change the course of the war for good. Though the son of a Jedi master, Theron does not wield the Force—but like his renowned mother, the spirit of rebellion is in his blood. As a top covert agent for the Republic, he struck a crucial blow against the Empire by exposing and destroying a Sith superweapon arsenal—which makes him the ideal operative for a daring and dangerous mission to end Ascendant Spear’s reign of terror.

Joined by hot-headed smuggler Teff’ith, with whom he has an inexplicable bond, and wise Jedi warrior Gnost-Dural, Darth Karrid’s former master, Theron must match wits and weapons with a battle-tested crew of the most cold-blooded dark side disciples. But time is brutally short. And if they don’t seize their one chance to succeed, they will surely have countless opportunities to die.

I’ve not read any of the Old Republic series of novels (this is the fourth in that series). Not really sure why. I have, usually, always stuck to the post-Episode IV novels, with a few exceptions. Anyone read any? Are they worth giving a try?

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William Napier, Blood Red Sea (Orion)

Two unlikely heroes are swept up in an epic and bloody sea battle that will change

history, in the second Clash of Empires adventure

1571. Chained to a slave galley in the heart of the Mediterranean, it seems that English adventurers Ingoldsby and Hodge might have finally run out of luck. But they’ve survived worse, and as the men around them drop dead at their oars, they’re determined to escape. By a miracle of fate, they find their way back to dry land and freedom—but are unable to return home. With the Ottoman Empire set on strangling the crusading Christian power before it can take root, hostilities between East and West—Muslim and Christian—are vicious and deadly. And as the sun rises on one day in October, five hours of bloodshed will change the course of history. Once again, the two Englishmen find themselves living on borrowed time.

Another author, like Carr above, who I’ve been aware of for a long while, and yet have never read. I want to start reading some more historical novels, too, so maybe this will be the first. Who knows?

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Anthony Ryan, Blood Song (Orbit)

Vaelin Al Sorna, Brother of the Sixth Order, has been trained from childhood to fight and kill in service to the Faith. He has earned many names and almost as many scars, acquiring an ugly dog and a bad-tempered horse in the process. Ensnared in an unjust war by a king possessed of either madness or genius, Vaelin seeks to answer the question that will decide the fate of the Realm: …who is the one who waits?

Raven’s Shadow is the first volume in a new epic fantasy of war, intrigue and tested faith.

This is the finished book of Blood Song, of which I received an ARC a little while ago. I still really want to read it, but it’s huge… My shelf is currently groaning under the weight of new Big Book fantasies (inc. Mark Lawrence’s Emperor of Thorns and Django Wexler’s The Thousand Names – both of which I also really want to get around to). Watch this space. I’ll read this hopefully relatively soon.

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Charles Stross, Neptune’s Brood (Orbit)

She was looking for her sister. She found Atlantis.

Krina Alizond is a metahuman in a universe where the last natural humans became extinct five thousand years ago. When her sister goes missing she embarks on a daring voyage across the star systems to find her, travelling to her last known location – the mysterious water-world of Shin-Tethys.

In a universe with no faster-than-light travel that’s a dangerous journey, made all the more perilous by the arrival of an assassin on Krina’s tail, by the ‘privateers’ chasing her sister’s life insurance policy and by growing signs that the disappearance is linked to one of the biggest financial scams in the known universe.

A new space opera from Charles Stross – always an event to look forward to. Not sure when I’ll be able to squeeze this into the schedule, but I do want to do so.

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James Treadwell, Anarchy (Hodder)

Corporal “Goose” Maculloch of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police isn’t expecting much from her new posting: one of those back end of nowhere places where nothing ever happens. That’s until a girl who’s been accused of murder disappears from a locked cell on Goose’s watch. On top of that, something’s going funny with the internet connection …

As the world beyond begins to fail, Goose tracks the vanished girl through the wilderness of Vancouver Island.

Meanwhile in Cornwall a desolate child leaves the home that has kept her safe all her life and strikes out into the unknown.

And a mother, half-mad with grief for her lost son, sets off to find him.

There is a place where all their journeys meet.

But someone is watching the roads …

The sequel to Advent, which I haven’t had a chance to read yet, but would really like to… Sigh. If only I could make time at will…

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Timothy Zahn, Scoundrels (Century)

To make his biggest score, Han’s ready to take even bigger risks.

But even he can’t do this job solo.

Han Solo should be basking in his moment of glory. After all, the cocky smuggler and captain of the Millennium Falcon just played a key role in the daring raid that destroyed the Death Star and landed the first serious blow to the Empire in its war against the Rebel Alliance. But after losing the reward his heroics earned him, Han’s got nothing to celebrate. Especially since he’s deep in debt to the ruthless crime lord Jabba the Hutt. There’s a bounty on Han’s head—and if he can’t cough up the credits, he’ll surely pay with his hide. The only thing that can save him is a king’s ransom. Or maybe a gangster’s fortune? That’s what a mysterious stranger is offering in exchange for Han’s less-than-legal help with a riskier-than-usual caper. The payoff will be more than enough for Han to settle up with Jabba—and ensure he never has to haggle with the Hutts again.

All he has to do is infiltrate the ultra-fortified stronghold of a Black Sun crime syndicate underboss and crack the galaxy’s most notoriously impregnable safe. It sounds like a job for miracle workers . . . or madmen. So Han assembles a gallery of rogues who are a little of both—including his indispensable sidekick Chewbacca and the cunning Lando Calrissian. If anyone can dodge, deceive, and defeat heavily armed thugs, killer droids, and Imperial agents alike—and pull off the heist of the century—it’s Solo’s scoundrels. But will their crime really pay, or will it cost them the ultimate price?

Zahn’s latest Star Wars novel, this has been very highly-anticipated. It was preceded by a eBook short story, Winner Lose All, and I am itching to get to this (and complete the Fate of the Jedi series, too…). Zahn’s the author of one of my favourite Star Wars trilogies, The Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command) – I may re-read them sometime soon.

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Which of these grab your fancy? Anything else coming out soon/imminently that you can’t wait for?

I have never read anything by Holly Black, sad to say. I have no idea why – a number of my friends have sung her praises. And, indeed, her novels all sound pretty cool. With her latest novel, to be published in September 2013, I may well finally address this oversight.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown has been described as a “story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing”. Here’s the synopsis:

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

Also? How cool is that cover? Very atmospheric and… well, chilling.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown will be published in the US by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and in the UK by Indigo (an Orion Youth imprint).