Here’s a rundown of the books we think you should look out for in coming in the week. See any that you are really looking forward to? Find any you had not heard of yet? Know of books we missed? We know we don’t have everything and would love to hear what you feel we may have overlooked.   FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   FANTASY           URBAN FANTASY     SCIENCE FICTION       HORROR         FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR     All Your Wishes Adams, Cat 10/4/2016 Tor Books Break the Chains O’Keefe, Megan E. 10/4/2016 Angry Robot Closer to the Chest Lackey, Mercedes 10/4/2016 DAW Feedback Grant, Mira 10/4/2016 Orbit Impersonations Williams, Walter Jon 10/4/2016 Tor.com Into the Guns Dietz, William C. 10/4/2016 Ace Level Grind Bellet, Annie 10/4/2016 Saga Press Stranded MacLeod, Bracken 10/4/2016 Tor Books The Rise of Io Chu, Wesley 10/4/2016 Angry Robot The Wall of Storms Liu, Ken 10/4/2016 Saga Press The White Spell Kurland, Lynn 10/4/2016 Berkley

I have to admit, I’m of two minds regarding Twilight of the Dragons. Yes, it’s a fun, foul-mouthed, frantic sequel to both The Dragon Engine and The White Towers, but its narrative quality is all over the place. Much of it reads like a first draft manuscript, awkward and juvenile in places, that somehow sneaked past the editor. Structurally, it feels like it’s one step removed from being polished as well, jumping between storylines, with random flashback chapters interspersed, and some definite pacing issues. It made for a frustrating read, which (unfortunately) took something away from the enjoyment. Having said all that, this is a bold, brash, bloody story in which Andy Remic returns to the world of grimdark fantasy. One story thread catches up with the survivors of the The Dragon Engine, following their war-weary, emotionally exhausted descent into the bowels of Wyrmblood. These are adventurers who suffered greatly in the last book – beatings, torture, and even rape – and it weighs heavily upon them. As depressing as it made those scenes, I admired Remic for not just shrugging off the pain and going all gung-ho with the heroics. The other story thread catches up with the survivors…

Fix is the final instalment of Ferrett Steinmetz’s Mancer series and brings to a conclusion a story that I’ve found totally absorbing and unique. I think for this particular review I’m not really going to delve too much into the story.  I don’t want to give anything away and I’m going to make the assumption that you’ve read the previous two books in the series.  If not, well then, I strongly suggest, nay implore, you to do so.   I also recommend not reading further in case there are spoilers for the first two books lurking below. This is a very entertaining series that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.  If you love gaming and movies and all sorts of culture references, huge splashes of fun and a world that brings to you a new form of magic with oodles of action then I think you’re going to love this series. At the end of the last book I remember wondering how this family unit, that I’d come to enjoy reading about so much, would actually get on or even survive.  Let me say from the outset that this book puts you through the wringer a little bit in that respect and in fact…

Here’s a rundown of the books we think you should look out for in coming in the week. See any that you are really looking forward to? Find any you had not heard of yet? Know of books we missed? We know we don’t have everything and would love to hear what you feel we may have overlooked.   FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   FANTASY             URBAN FANTASY   SCIENCE FICTION     HORROR         FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   The Swarm Card, Orson Scott 8/2/2016 Tor Books Behind the Throne K.B. Wagers 8/2/2016 Orbit Spiderlight Adrian Tchaikovsky 8/2/2016 Tor.com An Accident of Stars Foz Meadows 8/2/2016 Angry Robot The Hike Drew Magary 8/2/2016 Viking Bone War Steven Harper 8/2/2016 Roc Blood of the Earth : A Soulwood Novel Faith Hunter 8/2/2016 Roc The Twice and Future Caesar R. M. Meluch 8/2/2016 DAW Thunderlord : A Darkover Novel Marion Zimmer Bradley, Deborah J. Ross 8/2/2016 DAW Highway to Hell Max Brallier 8/2/2016 Gallery I…

Here’s a rundown of the books we think you should look out for in coming in the week. See any that you are really looking forward to? Find any you had not heard of yet? Know of books we missed? We know we don’t have everything and would love to hear what you feel we may have overlooked.   FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   FANTASY                   URBAN FANTASY         SCIENCE FICTION             HORROR         FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   A Conclave of Shadows Alyc Helms 7/5/2016 Angry Robot Beyond the Woods : Fairy Tales Retold Paula Guran 7/5/2016 Night Shade Books Deserts of Fire : Speculative Fiction and the Modern War Douglas Lain 7/5/2016 Night Shade Books Flameout Keri Arthur 7/5/2016 Signet Heroine Complex Sarah Kuhn 7/5/2016 DAW Paper and Fire Rachel Caine 7/5/2016 NAL Sacrifices Jamie Schultz 7/5/2016 Roc The Copper Promise Jen Williams 7/5/2016 Angry Robot The Dinosaur Knights Milán, Victor…

Today we welcome Anna Kashina, whose latest book Assassin Queen is out today.  She’s here to talk about her experience with worldbuiling! ______________________________________________________________ Worldbuilding for a fantasy series. My just-released novel, “Assassin Queen”, the concluding book 3 of the “Majat Code” series, is a historical adventure fantasy featuring political intrigue, swordplay, and elements of romance. I had lots of fun creating these series. Much of this creative work went into worldbuilding, which seemed so natural at the time, but also ended up being fairly systematic. Today, I wanted to share the key steps of this process, which has become both my enjoyment and my routine and taught me so much building new fantasy worlds. I planned out the “Majat Code” world as the blend of East and West, which reflects my own origin from Russia, a true melting pot for eastern and western cultures. The setting in the “Majat Code” resembles medieval Europe, but with a lot of Asian elements – such as the ninja-like fighting style of the Majat warriors. This concept became my starting point, on which I built the rest. After writing a few opening scenes I quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to get any…

Here’s a rundown of the books we think you should look out for in coming in the week. See any that you are really looking forward to? Find any you had not heard of yet? Know of books we missed? We know we don’t have everything and would love to hear what you feel we may have overlooked.   FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   FANTASY               URBAN FANTASY         SCIENCE FICTION         HORROR       FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   Saint’s Blood (US) Sebastien de Castell 6/7/2016 Jo Fletcher The Root Na’amen Gobert Tilahun 6/7/2016 Night Shade Books Pathfinder Tales: Liar’s Bargain Pratt, Tim 6/7/2016 Tor Books Infomocracy Older, Malka 6/7/2016 Tor.com The Wheel of Osheim Lawrence, Mark 6/7/2016 Ace Last Call at the Night Shade Lounge Paul Krueger 6/7/2016 Quirk An Affinity for Steel Sam Sykes 6/7/2016 Orbit Spear of Light Brenda Cooper 6/7/2016 Pyr A Green and Ancient Light Frederic S. Durbin 6/7/2016 Saga Dr. DOA Simon…

Today we’re pleased to welcome Danielle Jensen. Her most recent novel, Warrior Witch was released May 3rd and completed the Malediction trilogy. She stopped by to chat about the relationship between the series protagonist, Cécile, and her mother. Family relationships can always be quite intriguing and this one is no exception!     This post will have Stolen Songbird and Hidden Huntress spoilers, so don’t proceed if you haven’t read the novels!     Quite early in Hidden Huntress, I heavily hint that Cécile’s mother, Genevieve, is actually Anushka. The reason for this early reveal was that I believed the central mystery was not Anushka’s identity, but rather the answer to the riddle of the prophecy that brought Tristan and Cécile together. I was also interested in creating a circumstance where the reader knew or suspected the villain’s identity before the protagonist did. It has always fascinated me how the family members of serial killers are always so shocked to discover that their spouse/parent/sibling has been carrying on such horrible activities. How the idea that said spouse/parent/sibling might be a murderer never once having crossed their minds, despite it being obvious to an outsider presented with the facts. How having an emotional…

Warrior Witch by Danielle L Jensen is the final instalment from The Malediction Trilogy that brought to us Stolen Songbird and Hidden Huntress.  If you haven’t picked up these books yet please be aware that the following review will contain spoilers. I must confess from the outset that I had mixed feelings about Warrior Witch and I’ve taken a little longer than normal to reflect before writing this review.  Now, let me be clear by saying that I didn’t dislike this book but by the same token I didn’t love it either, I am however pleased that I finished the series.  I think this was always going to be a story that would be difficult to conclude.  Sometimes you’re so caught up in a story that you can’t see the wood for the trees even though deep down, at the back of your mind, you have concerns about how it could possibly conclude satisfactorily.  I think the Malediction Trilogy is one of those series.  That probably sounds like a massive spoiler but please trust me when I say it really isn’t! To give a recap.   The Malediction Trilogy brings to us a world of magic, fae and trolls.  The…

Here’s a rundown of the books we think you should look out for in coming in the week. See any that you are really looking forward to? Find any you had not heard of yet? Know of books we missed? We know we don’t have everything and would love to hear what you feel we may have overlooked.   FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR FANTASY                   URBAN FANTASY     SCIENCE FICTION                 HORROR         FANTASY          URBAN FANTASY           SCIENCE FICTION           HORROR   The Chimes Anna Smaill 5/3/2016 Quercus To Kill a Kettle Witch : A Novel of the Mist-Torn Witches Barb Hendee 5/3/2016 Roc The Lost Stars: Shattered Spear Campbell, Jack 5/3/2016 Ace Night Shift Charlaine Harris 5/3/2016 Ace Star Wars: Bloodline Claudia Grey 5/3/2016 Del Rey Warrior Witch Danielle L. Jensen 5/3/2016 Angry Robot Admiral Danker, Sean 5/3/2016 Roc The Jewel and Her Lapidary Fran Wilde 5/3/2016 Tor.com The Map of Bones Francesca Haig 5/3/2016 Gallery…