Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem

Jonathan Lethem’s Chronic City has lots to admire: great lines, witty jokes and good insights. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more to admire here than to enjoy. The sum ended up being less than its parts, to me. This may have been part of the point, and certainly the sense of disconnectedness is as well, but one of the dangers of a novel about disconnectedness is that it can feel, well, disconnected. The trick is to avoid this somehow, and I can’t say Lethem succeeds here… Read the rest.

Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon

… Oath of Fealty has a bit of FBITTSSAT syndrome — First Book In a Trilogy That Serves as a Sequel to Another Trilogy…  however, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed reading an introduction this much. This is the work of an artist and storyteller. Moon sets up the action and intrigue to sustain an epic trilogy while still having a complete story arc within this volume. If you have not read The Deed of Paksennarion, I would recommend starting there. If you have read it, you will find yourselves happily slipping back into this world with no problems… Read the rest.

The Midnight Mayor by Kate Griffin

… If you liked A Madness of Angels, you’ll enjoy The Midnight Mayor. Kate Griffin employs the same writing style, imbues the pages with the character of London, and builds on many of the concepts introduced in her first novel about Matthew Swift… The Midnight Mayor was very similar, and that comprises one of my complaints about it. There were so many echoes of the first novel that it felt as though I was still reading A Madness of Angels… One way in which The Midnight Mayor departed in a grand fashion from A Madness of Angels was in the development of Matthew Swift’s character. In this novel he truly came alive… Read the rest.

By the Mountain Bound by Elizabeth Bear

… I’ve always had a place in my heart for the “few stood against many/ no hope of winning” stories, but to make that that theme to work, the reader really has to be able to empathize with the characters. I found that my admiration for the courage of Einherjar, the Waelcyrge, and the Valraven — the Waelcyrges’ war-mounts — was equaled by my regret for those that dishonored themselves to become “tarnished.” Even when one of my favorite characters commits a horrific act, my remorse for him outweighed the outrage that demanded justice… Read the rest.

By Ruth Arnell

Some cover art does a remarkably good job of describing the story. For example, take a look at the cover for A. Lee Martinez’s Divine Misfortune. You take one look at that cover, and what do you think?  This is a story about a poor mortal getting punched by a god. Judging from the synopsis, that sounds like it is exactly what happens in the story. I also think I am going to have to read this book, because any story featuring a raccoon god of prosperity who enjoys couch surfing sounds like an interesting premise to me.

Other cover art doesn’t do nearly as good of a job at conveying important information. Lilith Saintcrow’s Steelflower has a cover which makes you think it’s another entry in the urban fantasy parade of butt-kicking females. Wrong. It is classic sword and sorcery fun, with elves and barbarians. This is a book that I wouldn’t have picked up on my own, because I typically don’t read urban fantasy. I would have missed a great fun read if I hadn’t volunteered to read it to help out one of the other reviewers.

And then you have the covers that are so bizarre or bad that we have contests to rename them. Like this lovely cover for Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson’s The Gathering Storm. (Warning, put down your drink before you click on that link or you may snort beverage out your nose and all over your keyboard when you read the suggested titles.)

So, dear readers, the challenge I put to you is threefold: Link to the best cover art for describing a story, the worst cover art for describing the story, or the most bizarre cover art you would like to see us re-title in a future post. Those first two you may have to describe why it is particularly good or bad. The third option should speak for itself.  And feel free to do all three if the mood moves you.

You have a week to make your suggestions, and then we’ll pick a winner who will receive a copy of Misty Massey’s Mad Kestrel, a fun piratical fantasy with cover art to match. Or, if that doesn’t float your boat, we’ll let you pick one out of our stacks.

The Dying Earth (on audio) by Jack Vance

… it’s easy to forget that a failing planet is the setting for the Dying Earth stories, for they are neither depressing nor bleak, and they’re not really about the doom of the Earth. These stories are whimsical and weird and they focus more on the strange people who remain and the strange things they do… Jack Vance is my favorite fantasy author. His work probably won’t appeal to the Twilighters, but for those who enjoy Pythonesque surreal humor written in high style, or for fans of Lewis Carroll, Fritz Leiber, and L. Frank Baum, I suggest giving Jack Vance a try. If you listen to audiobooks, definitely try Brilliance Audio’s version! Read the rest.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

This is a difficult review for me to write. Nancy Werlin makes several plotting decisions that don’t quite work for me, even though I can see the ways these decisions serve the narrative. Impossible is a book I should have loved. I adore plots that hinge on the exact wording of curses and prophecies: “none of woman born,” “when two Mondays come together,” that sort of thing. Here is a whole novel based on that concept. Our heroine, Lucy Scarborough, must complete three seemingly impossible tasks in order to save herself and her unborn daughter…. Read the rest.

Bite Me by Christopher Moore

Tired of reading about sexy vampires having sword fights… or orgiastic love fests? What about tragically misunderstood yet sensitive and compassionate vampires? Much as MaryJanice Davidson is the godmother of vampire chick lit, Christopher Moore owns the market of the stoner-loser vampire. In Bite Me, the sequel to You Suck (which was in turn the sequel to Bloodsucking Fiends), Moore once again puts the fun in dysfunctional and demonstrates why he is the king of crass… Read the rest.

By Magemanda

Welcome y’all to a new (and, we hope, regular) feature at Fantasy Literature! I’ll be scanning the blogosphere on a weekly basis and providing you with some handy links to the very best of the articles, interviews, and miscellaneous goings-on provided by FanLit’s friends. I’m testing this out in a handy Top 10 format. If you’d like to see any changes to this feature, or you have suggestions for ways to make it better, or if you think I missed something important, please leave a comment!

Without further ado…

1) (A new cover for) The Black Prism by Brent Weeks

This one can be found over on A Dribble of Ink run by Aidan Moher. Aidan is the acknowledged king of cover art, and he has a great deal to say on the subject. In fact, recently there have been a number of discussions around the subject of cover art prompted by Aidan, including one conducted by Mark Charan Newton which can be found here.

Here is the new artwork – are you a fan? The Black Prism is being released by Orbit Books in August 2010.

2) Where Stories Are Made: Tim Waggoner

This is a regular feature found over on the site run by Carolyn, Book Chick City. The whole site is worth a read, since she deals very much in urban fantasy and horror (which are sometimes under-represented on this site – reasonable, really, considering we are FANTASY literature ). Carolyn is spending some time asking various authors how they go about producing the novels we love to read and the answers are very often illuminating. Her most recent victim has been Tim Waggoner. He is out of the  Angry Robot Books stable and has a new novel – Dead Streets – out now.

3) A seriously interesting article with a seriously long title!

Next on the agenda are three interlinked articles by Justin Allen, under the snappy title:

For the Love of Pete, Don’t Mix Your Genres;
Or. The New York Times Book Review Hates YOU, but I Don’t;
Or. Why Where Your Book Gets Shelved Determines Your Intelligence,
Work-Ethic and Value to Society

You can find the first part over at SF Signal, the second at Debuts and Reviews and the third at Grasping for the Wind. You should definitely take a read of these and then leave your comments at Grasping for the Wind!

4) Whitewashing – looking at White Cat by Holly Black

The Book Smugglers are definitely the champions against whitewashing (the reprehensible activity of using a white character on a front cover to represent a character who is not white) – well, I’ll let them speak about it for themselves in an article posted last month. Recently they were alerted to the possibility of whitewashing with Holly Black’s latest book The White Cat, and did a sensitive and in-depth analysis to see whether they agreed. I urge you to read up on this subject – it is something The Book Smugglers are extremely passionate about.

5) Horror Round-up

Yes, yes, we’ve covered the fact that this is FANTASY literature – I don’t need to go into it all again – but Jason over at Kamvision has been exploring some horror titles that are either out now or forthcoming. I wanted to bring this one to your attention because some of the titles (such as Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan and Thirteen Years Later by Jasper Kent) will or have already found their way to the review pages of Fantasy Literature. The barriers between the various genres are being beaten down in all sorts of ways right now, and I think we definitely lose out if we don’t even consider dabbling our toes outside of straight-up fantasy! Ooh, I’ll slip off my soapbox there and give you the links to Kamvision’s handy guides: here is Part One and here is Part Two!

6) Story Remix!

Now this is an interesting little project! I’ll allow Mark Charan Newton (he of Nights of Villjamur fame) to explain what is going on. I love this idea – although I wasn’t brave enough to enter my own entry – and I have found the results posted so far to be incredibly entertaining. The first entry is here and the second is here. I would urge you to check back periodically to Mr. Newton’s website – his blog entries are often incredibly thoughtful.

7) Nextread’s Writing Magazine open for entries!

Gav over at Next Read has bravely decided to start a new online magazine for speculative fiction, so, for all those who were dismayed at the fact that MCN’s project above is closed to entries, get scribbling and write something for Gav! All the details for submission can be found here – the first issue is inviting work with the theme Science Fiction combined with Myth. What are you waiting for?! As an aside, Gav also celebrated World Book Day by inviting readers of his blog to give the one book they feel everyone should read – the results are illuminating.

8) Blogosphere Interviews by Sam Sykes

Sam Sykes is being published this year by Gollancz – a review of his debut novel (Tome of the Undergates) and an interview with the man himself will be forthcoming from FantasyLiterature in the next few weeks. In the meanwhile I want to bring to your attention a feature he has been running just lately on his blog – Tales of the Blogosphere – in which he interrogates the people behind some of the big blogs and brings to your attention newer blogs you might have missed up til now. So far he has tackled: The Book Smugglers, Speculative Horizons, Floor to Ceiling Books and A Dribble of Ink.

9) 25 Authors Worth Watching in 2010 and Beyond

Stomping on Yeti is a speculative fiction blog well worth clicking your mouse towards. He recently decided to turn the spotlight on 25 authors he feels are worth watching in 2010 and for the future. So far he has produced three in-depth posts, dealing with information concerning these new authors, what work they might already have published and what we can expect to see from them in 2010. I will just give one warning: my wishlist grew exponentially with each post he put up! Here are Part One, Part Two and Part Three – how about letting us know which of these authors you are most interested in?

10) HBO has picked up A Game of Thrones

Finally, I leave you with the happy news (and news which you have probably already seen – the Internet was abuzz with this last week) that HBO have commissioned a full series of A Game of Thrones. I don’t think anyone provided as good coverage on this as Adam Whitehead over at The Wertzone, so here is your link!

And that’s a wrap, people! I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick canter around the Internet – because this is such a fledgeling feature, I would be grateful for any feedback as to what you would like to see in the future and anything you think I should avoid.

Have a great week – good reading!
~Amanda

Unperfect Souls by Mark Del Franco

… Mark Del Franco is rapidly staking a claim as one of my favorite non-comic urban fantasy authors. What’s not to like? Well, urban fantasy is filled now with gumshoe protagonists — underdogs with evolving and mysterious powers who must save mankind from destruction caused by faerie wars. So, from that perspective, the novel’s premise is not particularly original. I also found the ending a tad confusing and, in a few scenes, the dialogue seemed forced, especially when the characters tried to be funny. Overall, though, Unperfect Souls is strong, and the characters, the setting, and the specific plot are quite creative… Read the rest.

Vintage Soul by David Niall Wilson

Vintage Soul is a well-written short novel billed as the first in the DeChance Chronicles. Wilson is the winner of the Bram Stoker award for his horror stories, and it’s clear from the start that Vintage Soul was written by a master wordsmith. I particularly enjoyed reading the indulgent setting of the opening party scene in which a powerful vampire is kidnapped right in front of her guests. The vampires call upon mage and investigator DeChance, an excellent gumshoe character who — through a series of adventures and with help from a small cast of interesting friends — solves the crime… Read the rest.

The Black Raven by Katharine Kerr

… Kerr writes the past so beautifully. In fact, barring the few outright mentions of dweomer or Wildfolk, The Black Raven could be a strong historical novel about Celtic times. Kerr brings to life the politics, the in-fighting, the heraldry, the weaponry. It is very easy to enjoy all of the little details that she adds. One I would mention is the fact that the characters’ knowledge of medicine and surgery is limited to what was actually known at that time. So, when the princess Bellyra is suffering from postnatal depression, Nevyn talks about her humours being out of balance… Read the rest.

The Master of Whitestorm by Janny Wurts

… This standalone novel is another excellent example of Janny Wurts‘ gorgeous prose style and entrancing story-telling. Initially an episodic story, consisting of a number of separate “missions” Korendir undertakes, the book gradually reveals an underlying thread that explains Korendir’s distinctive personality (think Lethal Weapon in a complex fantasy setting) and builds up to an impressive climax and a moving conclusion. The novel has several other aspects to admire, including a large, varied, and original fantasy world (which could easily contain more novels), a unique magic concept, and a beautiful romance… Read the rest.

by Amanda

It occurs to me that there are very many interviews with fantasy authors to be found on the Internet – this very site conducts many of them, and I’ve enjoyed every one! However, few people bother to talk to the long-suffering partners behind those who create the books we know and love. It is fun for us to dip into the fantasy worlds created by these authors – but how must it feel to the people who dwell in them full-time? With this in mind, I decided to create a feature called Living With The Writer, where we talk to those significant others.

First up is Michaela Deas, wife of Stephen Deas who wrote The Adamantine Palace, one of the  great debuts in 2009 (John’s and Robert T.’s review of this book can be found here). Let me know how you like this new interview series, or comment on the interview below for a chance to win a book from FanLit!

Amanda: Hi Michaela, welcome to FanLit! To start, how about introducing yourself and giving us an insight into your situation while ‘Living With the Writer’? I can quite believe that looking after an author becomes a full-time occupation, but I’m guessing that this is not all you do!

Michaela: Hmm… Glamorous wife of a successful writer who is planning world domination?! No… wait… damn, now I’ve given our plans away! How about: German wife, part-time muse and PA of a fantasy author, domestic slave to our two small boys and can opener for three mad cats? Trust me, being married to a writer who indulges in a day job on the side is not as exciting as it sounds!

Amanda: To be honest, it sounds frenetic! Tell me a little about being a part-time muse to a writer – what are the perks and what are the lowlights?

Michaela: It is seriously cool getting to meet loads of authors. And let’s not forget all the lovely folks at Gollancz! They have been so very welcoming and nothing short of awesome since Day 1 and they really didn’t have to: after all, I am not one of their writers, Steve is. They have very generously included me in everything and have happily put up with me being part of “Team Deas” from the start. Also, there is the ever-increasing stream of ARCs that I get to enjoy thanks to Steve being published by them. It means that, although one day we might have to move to a substantially larger house in order not to be swamped by books, I get to enjoy some novels way before release (I mean, how great are Horns and Wolfsangel?!) Obvious lowlights? None detected so far!

Amanda: You seem to have a great relationship with the people working to get Stephen published. Would you say that extends to other authors as well? Do you regularly meet up with them?

Michaela: Not regularly, no, but there are an increasing number of book launches and pub get-togethers that we get invited to. These are usually great fun and a very welcome way of meeting new authors, making new friends and catching up with some old ones. It doesn’t feel as though we’ve become “real” friends with other authors yet, but we haven’t been on the circuit for long enough for something like that to truly establish itself. We have met some wonderful people along the way so far! I mean, I had dinner with Pat Rothfuss, an evening out with Robert V.S. Redick (who is probably one of the nicest people one could hope to meet), shared takeaways with Richard Morgan and Joe Abercrombie. C’mon, what’s not to like?    By the way, Steve reckons I’ll get more attention at Eastercon for all the name-dropping on here than he will from writing books!

Amanda: Let’s backtrack slightly and pick up on something interesting you mentioned: German wife. Are you German by birth? Did you live there until meeting Stephen? Do you miss it?

Michaela: Yes, born in Hamburg – never lived anywhere else prior to coming to the UK. These days I don’t miss Germany as such (and wouldn’t go back to live there again now), but I do miss my big circle of friends. There is a history there with some of them that cannot be replaced. A few of the friendships go back over 25 years and that level of intimacy would probably take a similar amount of time to achieve over here with newly-acquired friends.

Amanda: Okay, I’ve had a read of Stephen’s website www.stephendeas.com , and he very sweetly mentions meeting you as one of his life highlights. I’m intrigued to find out how you met – especially taking into account the fact that you’re German by birth!

Michaela: There is a persistent rumour that I am actually Steve’s continental mail order bride that he had shipped over to henceforth do his bidding! Well, there is a grain of distorted truth in that, apart from the fact that we met as friends on-line and I boarded a plane rather than walked the plank! And, between you and me, I am obviously in charge now!

Amanda: Well, obviously! That is a lovely story: did you have a common interest that enabled you to meet on-line or was it just kismet? How long have you been together now?

Michaela: It’s nine years this year – and I’d do it all again tomorrow! Steve’s profile page stated that he could legitimately call himself a rocket scientist, had set fire to Wales (twice!), and believed in fairytales and myths. That was me sold! Plus, his taste in music identified him as an old rocker and aging Goth – just like myself. I had to get in touch!

Amanda: So, were you aware of his writerly ambitions right from the get-go, or was this something he revealed gradually? What were your thoughts when he told you: positive? Or skeptical that someone could make a success of writing fantasy fiction?

Michaela: I was very much aware of his writing from the word go, and I remember being really quite impressed by it. Not just the quality of what he was producing, but the fact that he had this amazing imagination and the tenacity to continue writing and chasing his dream to one day be a published author. Humour and intelligence are something I find very attractive in people. Make me laugh and I’m yours! Well, almost…

Amanda: Now you’re giving away secrets! Let’s move on to some questions dealing with the creative process of Stephen’s books… There have been some well-known husband/wife creative teams in the fantasy field. Have you been greatly involved in Stephen’s creative process? Does he bounce ideas off you? Are you one of his test readers?

Michaela: Erm, pretty much yes to all of the above. More with some books than with others. For example, we spent a weekend drinking tea in the kitchen and going for walks in the countryside while plotting the initial ideas/outlines for The Adamantine Palace. He asks my advice on most things and frequently suffers my scathing remarks when something isn’t quite right with what he’s written. More often than not, his editor agrees with me!

Amanda: During the writing process, how much support does Stephen require? Does this differ depending on whether he is just starting out with a first draft or whether he is at the “business end” of the book?

Michaela: We do bat ideas for new synopses about a lot. Also, the closer deadlines get, the more he will ask for evenings off and nag me to get on with proof reading his drafts so that I can give him my views on them. So, I guess it gets more work intensive at the start and towards the very end for me. In the middle he quite happily shuts himself away somewhere and all I hear is the relentless clacking of keys interrupted by occasional demands for tea and tubs of ice cream!

Amanda: When Stephen is deep in a novel, do you feel as though you have to make sacrifices for his art?

Michaela: Writing books is essentially a lonely art form as is all the paraphernalia that comes with being published, and so it does eat away at the time we have as a family. To be honest, it doesn’t impact on us that much because he simply isn’t successful enough for it to take up too much time – yet, anyway!  [AR: Michaela remains confident that this will change soon!] And, to be perfectly frank, I do enjoy evenings on my own when I can watch my way through episodes of “Dexter” without having to feel guilty about abandoning him! One thing I have to say, though: it does get a bit irritating sometimes when you’re trying to have a “normal” conversation with him and his mind is constantly occupied with nothing but plotlines, character descriptions and guesstimating the next advance payments!

Amanda: You have a strong Internet presence and have commented on blogs that reviewed Stephen’s debut novel: how do you feel about the reviews he has received? How do you personally cope when there are less than brilliant reviews?

Michaela: It’s tricky. On the whole I agree with the criticisms that have been made and I obviously love it when someone has really enjoyed the book (especially when they’re not friends or family!) And I try not to take bad reviews too personally but I don’t always succeed. Maybe because the whole thing still feels kind of unreal. I’m still waiting for the day when Simon Spanton (his lovely editor) rings up and cackles down the phone, telling us “you didn’t really think we were serious, right?!”

Amanda: From chatting to some other authors, I don’t believe you’re alone in that last sentiment! Finally, let’s finish off with Michaela Deas, rather than wife of Stephen. What are your current ambitions, hopes, dreams? Do you have any latent burning desire to be a novelist?

Michaela: My current dreams and ambitions are very simple and basic ones, I reckon. For all of my family to stay in good health, for Steve to be able to continue doing what he loves and hopefully be able to write full time in the future. I can’t wait to take the kids traveling, which is something that both Steve and I really enjoy. And I would love to go back to work at some point – but the right kind of job that fits around everything just hasn’t come my way yet. Something with people and books would be great – Gollancz, I’m looking at you here!

Do I have aspirations of tormenting the world with my own literary exploits? No, not at this point. People have been nudging me about this for some time now. Simon Spanton, for example, told me at the recent SFX Weekender that he wouldn’t be surprised at all if I submitted my own manuscript within the year. Let’s just say that right now there is no story burning to be told but one should never say never…

Amanda: Thanks so much, Michaela, for taking the time to respond to these questions! I know you were somewhat bemused at the request, initially, but I think it’s deeply interesting to hear about “living with the writer.” You’ve certainly given us some insights! For those interested, Michaela has indicated that she would be happy to answer any follow-up questions people might have via Twitter – her username is @adamantine_lady

And thanks to everyone for reading – I hope that this feature was of interest! How about letting me know your thoughts and suggesting possible other candidates that I can harass… ah, contact?    Comment below for a chance to win Adrian Phoenix’s Beneath the Skin, or some other book from our stacks.

The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes edited by John Joseph Adams

In this collection of stories, compiled by John Joseph Adams, a variety of authors invent cases that Sherlock Holmes might encounter if our world were just a bit different. These are cases in which the “improbable” occurs. Most of the stories involve some sort of fantastical situation in which Holmes is required to go outside of his normal logic-based abilities and enter the realm of fantasy… I had a lot of fun listening to this anthology, and the production quality was flawless. My hour-long commute to work went by much more quickly, and for that I’m grateful… Read the rest.

The Chick and the Dead by Casey Daniels

… there’s very little mystery in this mystery. It’s too easy to armchair-solve. Pepper valiantly chases down several red herrings, but they’re never quite convincing to the reader… The Chick and the Dead is at its best when poking gentle fun at obsessive book fandom… The Chick and the Dead is a funny, quick read that can be enjoyable if you read it with accurate expectations. Think of it as chick lit with a paranormal twist, and don’t expect too much from the mystery plotting… Read the rest.

All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear

… I needed something really different and All the Windwracked Stars was just what the doctor ordered and more. I was once a big fan of Apocalyptic Sci-fi, so it was a refreshing thrill to lose myself in Elizabeth Bear’s dying world. The outcome of doomsday comes down to a handful of unique misfits in a truly original story. I especially liked the conclusion and I was so gloomily fascinated that I immediately downloaded the Kindle version of the next book, By the Mountain Bound. I just had to know the answers to some of the wonderfully tantalizing mysteries left unexplained… Read the rest.

This the fifth installment in our Heroes series, written by our own Robert Rhodes. The art is courtesy of Ida Mary Walker Larsen.

He is free.

He simply stands as the wide gates of the mining barracks thud shut and a wave of cold air hits his nape. He lingers under the gatehouse arch, his boots uneasy on the icy muck, and lifts his eyes. Before the jagged white mountains, under the leaden sky, it remains.

The Spire.

He wishes, for a time beyond counting, he had never seen it. A fool’s wish, of course, but he has another — not foolish but chained like a wolf and goaded with spears, fed at nightfall with bloody morsels. Primed for slaughter.

The Spire is dull now, nothing more than a massive metal spike atop the Lord’s Citadel, for the sun can hide for weeks in the accursed North. It is, nonetheless, his guide. He dons the dirty hood of the cloak the guards have given him as one of his freedom gifts. He gathers the thin wool around himself and walks.

As every morning, his body aches as if it were more than twice its thirty years. The narrow streets of Goldspire, paved only with ice and stone-hard mud, seem to quiver beneath him. The numbing air should reek of smoke and dung, but it’s been months since he could breathe through his nose or taste the barracks’s black bread and salted meat. Weeks since his right ear lacked lancing pain. His eyes water from a shriek of wind, and the world blurs to a faded tapestry of ash-white, brown, black and — in an alley mouth — a crimson stain. He bows his head and walks on.

He finds an inn behind the Butchers’ Market. Before opening the door, he turns to see, closer now, the towers of the Citadel and the wide, sloping roof of the Arena. He coughs and spits at each, then goes inside.

The innkeeper is a woman, the sixth he has seen in the past ten years. He asks for a room, a bucket of hot water and wash rag, and a kettle of stonerot tea. He no longer shakes his head at the northern necessity of boiling lichen and moss. He pinches two coins from a pouch of five, the other of the guards’ gifts, and drops them on the innkeeper’s calloused palm.

Upstairs, he latches the crooked door of his room. It’s windowless, dark but for the orange glow of a small lamp, burning the fat of animals from Icebar Bay. An old copper plate hangs on the wall beside a rickety chair, intended as a mirror. He closes his eyes and lifts the plate from the wall, drops it facedown on the floor.

By now, his stomach is aching. He drinks the tea as quickly as he can, then waits. Minutes pass before he slides the chamber pot, a blackened wooden bowl, away from the narrow bed. An hour later, he sits beside it on the floor, staring at the small nuggets of raw gold he swallowed last night. He stares at his hands — calloused and scarred, split knuckles crusted with blood, the ragged nails filthy — the hands of a creature clawing open a grave. He rakes them through his hair and weeps.

He spends the remainder of the day in preparation. He tosses the soiled cloak into the inn’s gaping firepit. Finds a one-eyed merchant who trades the nuggets for useable coins, more than he’d hoped. Spends them on a barber, a bearskin cloak, a hot meal. And at the last, a sword.

A common broadsword, passably sharp and balanced — nothing resembling the first blades he wore in Goldspire, eleven years past. Of course, he notes darkly, even less does he resemble the man he was.

*   *   *

Eleven years ago, he arrived with a summer caravan, riding toward the city on a day of infinite light, and let the Spire dissolve his breath. He came, ignoring the understated advice of Master val Rassina, because he was — by Rassina’s own wine-hastened admission — the master’s finest pupil in twenty-odd years. Invincible, fearless, armed with a rapier and dagger of Sistaré’s matchless watermarked steel. How could he resist the challenge of the world’s most distant and deadly arena? The most gifted young swordsman in the City of Dancing Blades, he could fail only by failing to go.

He never failed. He fought guardsmen and shield-bashing soldiers, brawlers with spiked gauntlets and clubs, axemen. He fought a mute woman, tattooed and dreadlocked, green eyes smoldering behind her scimitars. He fought a giant whose hammer chipped the stones on which he’d stood. He fought all challengers, dozens to first blood or surrender, five to the death.

He worked the crowds to the cusp of riots. They called him Brightsteel and the Southern Star, the Cat of Sistaré, the Ghost Fox, the Prince of Death. The giant called him Snowflake, those who wagered against him ‘eunuch’ and ‘boy-whore’. He gained a coffer of ever-increasing coins, a private suite in the Lord’s Citadel, and the skilled attentions of a merchant’s flame-haired widow. The savage city, the primary source of the kingdom’s wealth, became a chalice in his hand.

How then could Rohn Uthorin, the city’s newly appointed lord, a patron and apparent friend, instruct him, before his long-negotiated duel against the champion of House Medorio, to lose? And, despite the roaring crowd, how could a pupil of Cosmo val Rassina be so foolish as to salute the lord with a bloodied rapier and defiant grin?

Within a fortnight, he stood accused of treason, slander, and theft. The statements of various guardsmen, elder merchants and his flame-haired lover were, Uthorin regretfully concluded, persuasive and damning, particularly in concert with the items recovered from his suite. The penalty for such crimes was beheading, but Uthorin, in a great show of mercy for his champion, instead ordered a decade of service in the mines.

“You’ll wish I’d simply killed you,” the lord whispered as Andreas was dragged from the hall in chains.

*   *   *

“So will you,” he whispers now, as snow and darkness fall upon the roofs of Goldspire. In an alley, he cinches the swordbelt around his waist and covers it with his cloak. Breath steaming, he begins a circuit of the Citadel’s walls.

Beyond the city, in the forest below the mountains, the first wolf howls.

Author’s note: The image above is reminiscent of Andreas shortly after his arrival in Goldspire. He is not so handsome now.

Andreas val Dhari © Robert Rhodes, 2010. All rights reserved.
art used with permission: “Snowfall” by Ida Mary Walker Larsen

Cat’s Claw by Amber Benson

In Cat’s Claw, Amber Benson picks up right where she left off in the tumultuous life of Calliope Reaper-Jones: office drone, wannabe fashionista, and daughter of Death himself. As the novel begins, Calliope learns that her maybe-boyfriend Daniel may not be as dead as he seems, Cerberus wants a favor in return for the hellhound puppy Calliope stole, and her parents have enlisted an eccentric “aura specialist” to train her in magic…  it’s fun, and has some heart-tugging moments as well. The characters are great. With its breezy tone and humor, Cat’s Claw — like its predecessor, Death’s Daughter — can be a delightful break from heavier, gloomier books. Read the rest.

Once Bitten & Twice Dead by Kalayna Price

One of the great joys of book blogging is the discovery of a new authorial talent. I recently had the distinct pleasure of reading two books — Once Bitten and Twice Dead — by new author Kalayna Price. Both novels had edge-of-your seat plots as well as a surprisingly vulnerable heroine surrounded by a strong supporting cast. Once Bitten and Twice Dead were so well balanced and finely crafted that I am bereft of weaknesses to carp on… Read the rest.

A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire

I was a little disappointed in Rosemary and Rue, the first OCTOBER DAYE novel, but I could see tons of potential there and looked forward to the rest of the series. A Local Habitation blows it out of the water, and blows most of the urban fantasy on the shelves out of the water while it’s at it… Toby is stronger here than she was in Rosemary and Rue, more dynamic, and more resourceful… The suspense, the world-building, the characterization, and the writing combine to make A Local Habitation a standout. I can’t wait for An Artificial Night; I want more Toby, and definitely more Tybalt! Read the rest.

The Story of Cirrus Flux by Matthew Skelton

… at times Skelton does a wonderful job of conveying the sights, sounds, and smells of 18th century London, while at other times the background is less vivid. Younger readers probably won’t care much, but older-younger readers might wish for a bit more depth to the setting, and a fuller sense of a wholly different time and place. In the end, The Story of Cirrus Flux is a bit disappointing, especially the close. It’s a paler cousin, perhaps, of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, with its mix of youth and science and a sinister group chasing after a strange substance. Very young readers will find it entertaining enough, though I doubt they’ll be clamoring for a sequel… Read the rest.

The Red Wyvern by Katharine Kerr

The Red Wyvern is the first book in a new cycle of novels set in Deverry by Katharine Kerr, and as such new readers can start out at this point. I would recommend vehemently, though, that they do not since a number of storylines from prior novels come together or are referenced in this novel… The Red Wyvern is a great return to form for Kerr. I was somewhat disappointed in the last few DEVERRY novels — Kerr seemed very much to be writing by the numbers. Here her writing comes alive again — with intrigue, scheming, battle, fair maidens, dweomer mysteries, and high adventure… Read the rest.

Thirteen Years Later by Jasper Kent

… Thirteen Years Later features another engrossing story by Jasper Kent, brilliantly weaving together history and family drama with supernatural horror, political intrigue, espionage and suspense… as much as I loved Twelve, I enjoyed Thirteen Years Later just as much, if not more, and if Jasper Kent can continue this high level of excellence in the remaining sequels, then I strongly believe that THE DANILOV QUINTET will end up being one of the best vampire series I have ever read. Read the rest.

The Seventh Witch by Shirley Damsgaard

… I enjoyed The Seventh Witch. It has the kind of tangled-family-history plotline that I just love, and the setting is beautiful. Damsgaard does a great job of describing Ophelia and Abby’s ancestral home. The clearing with the stone circle sounds just as gorgeous as it looks on the cover. And I especially loved the climactic scene involving the seven witches, though it could have been longer… I don’t recommend starting with this one — you’ll be lost — but if you’ve missed some books along the way, like I have, you won’t have much trouble catching up… Read the rest.