After my last fairly downbeat blog I thought I’d lift the spirits of us all by announcing a number of the books I’ll be reading in 2017. I assume you all care what I read and my rambling musings regarding those books because I have a giant ego and assume everyone wants to know all about me! Random fact: I dislike the taste of ginger unless it is in lemon and ginger tea. And now you know.
So without any further ado or the like. Here are just some of the books I intend to wade into this year.
The Red Queens War by Mark Lawrence
The Red Queen is old but the kings of the Broken Empire dread her like no other. For all her reign she has fought the long war, contested in secret, against the powers that stand behind nations, for higher stakes than land or gold. Her greatest weapon is The Silent Sister unseen by most and unspoken of by all.
The Red Queen s grandson, Prince Jalan Kendeth drinker, gambler, seducer of women is one who can see The Silent Sister. Tenth in line for the throne and content with his role as a minor royal, he pretends that the hideous crone is not there. But war is coming. Witnesses claim an undead army is on the march, and the Red Queen has called on her family to defend the realm. Jal thinks it s all a rumor nothing that will affect him.
But he is wrong
It was actually about this time last year I was reading Mark’s Broken Empire trilogy and as a series they quickly became my favourite read of 2016. I’m a good half way through Prince of Fools and, though I don’t think it’s as strong a start as Prince of Thorns was, it’s definitely an engaging read. It’s always good to start the year with a well-written book and it is that. Now if only Jalan would stop being such an annoying arse.
And if anyone else wants to support Mark’s bid to take over the world, Prince of Fools is available on Kindle for just £1.99 at the moment.
Galefire 1 – Fade Rippers by Kenny Soward
Lonnie is just your average runner for the infamous Eighth Street Gang when he gets an urgent phone call to back up his crew after trouble follows them home from a drug deal gone bad.
During the ensuing firefight, Lonnie sees some things he wishes he hadn’t, including the gang’s leader, Selix, channeling her powers from a place called the Fade by getting high…and dancing. Memories begin unraveling inside Lonnie’s darkened mind. Memories of dragons and fiends and fire-swept otherworlds. Memories Selix controls with a simple touch.
But what is real and what is not?
In the strange and violent world of Galefire, Lonnie comes to realize not everything is as it seems, including his own identity. But will Lonnie and Selix reconcile the past before they are caught by those who seek to drag them home in chains?
I bumped the priority of this one up because it’s actually a re-release by Kenny and I was supposed to read it the first time around but I’m useless and slow and didn’t… it’s all my bad. Anyways, I’ve been a fan of Kenny since reading his Gnomesaga books and this one has a very Shadowrun vibe about it… And I love Shadowrun. I’ll be jumping on it just as soon as I can and I expect it to be a hell of ride.
You can pick up Galefire on Kindle for FREE!!! If you do that horrible Kindle Unlimited thing. Or you can just support authors instead of Amazon and pick it up for £2.42. Make the right choice, people.
Malice by John Gwynne
Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage.
The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant-clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land. But now giants stir anew, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of giant wyrms. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. Sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield. Then there will be a war to end all wars.
High King Aquilus summons his fellow kings to council, seeking an alliance in this time of need. Prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust.
I have been hearing good things about this book and the Faithful and the Fallen series in general. That being said all I’ve really heard is good things. I know nothing about the story or plot. I haven’t even read the blurb, just copy-pasted it. I’m going into this series 100% virgin. I’ve only added Malice, the first in the 4 book series, onto my list so far but if it’s as good as people say it may well be a binge read this year.
Here’s a link to Malice on Amazon.
The Guns of Ivrea by Clifford Beal
Acquel Galenus, former thief and now monk, uncovers a terrible secret under the Great Temple at Livorna, one that could shake the faith to its core. A secret that could get him killed. A secret that could enable an older, more sinister form of worship to be reborn.
Pirate princeling Nicolo Danamis, mercenary to the King and captain of the largest fleet in Valdur, has made one deal too many, and enemies are now closing in to destroy him.
Citala, fair-haired and grey-skinned, the daughter of the chieftain of the merfolk, finds herself implacably drawn to the affairs of men. She puts events in motion that will end her people’s years of isolation but that could imperil their very existence.
All their fates will intertwine as they journey across the land, through duchies and free cities riven by political intrigue, religious fervour, and ancient hatreds. Alliances are being forged anew and after decades of wary peace, war is on the wind once again…
Well I’m a bit of a sucker for a good pirate story. Hells, I wrote one… which might actually get published sometime this year (maybe, hopefully, fingers crossed). Also, LOOK AT THE PRETTY COVER! It seems strange to me that this one has a big publisher behind it and yet seemed to slip under the radar. Even stranger because I’ve only heard good things about it. Well I’m looking forward to diving in ;-).
You can loot Guns of Ivrea on Amazon here.
The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend by David Gemmell
Druss. The Legend. Saviour of Skeln Pass. Protector of Dros Delnoch. The most famous – and dreaded – of Drenai’s heroes.
OK, so I know nothing about this book or Druss or David Gemmell. This is entirely the fault of Fantasy Book Critic’s Mihir Wanchoo who has decided I am a heretic for never having read any Gemmell (ever) and he says this is the book to start on. Something about the timeline and continuity and oooohhh, look at the axe on the cover.
Here’s the Amazon link for The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend.
The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble’s Braids by Michael McClung
Amra Thetys lives by two simple rules: take care of business, and never let it get personal.
Thieves don’t last long in Lucernis. When a fellow rogue is butchered on the streets in a deal gone bad, Amra turns her back on burglary and goes after something more precious than treasure: revenge. Revenge, however, might be hard to come by. A nightmare assortment of enemies including an immortal assassin and a mad sorcerer believe Amra is in possession of The Blade That Whispers Hate, the legendary, powerful artifact her friend was murdered for. And Amra s enemies will do anything to take it.Trouble is, Amra hasn’t a clue where the Blade actually is. She needs to find it, and soon, or she’ll be joining her colleague in a cold grave, rather than avenging his death.
This one has been on my radar for a while now because my sister raves about the series and we tend to have quite similar taste in fantasy tales. Now Michael has just announced that he is pulling out of Ragnarok Publications and that means this series won’t be available for a while, but he is intending to self publish them again once he has his rights back and I’ll be jumping on this series as soon as he does.
The Fitz and the Fool series by Robin Hobb
Tom Badgerlock has been living peaceably in the manor house at Withywoods with his beloved wife Molly these many years, the estate a reward to his family for loyal service to the crown.
But behind the facade of respectable middle-age lies a turbulent and violent past. For Tom Badgerlock is actually FitzChivalry Farseer, bastard scion of the Farseer line, convicted user of Beast-magic, and assassin. A man who has risked much for his king and lost more…
On a shelf in his den sits a triptych carved in memory stone of a man, a wolf and a fool. Once, these three were inseparable friends: Fitz, Nighteyes and the Fool. But one is long dead, and one long-missing.
Then one Winterfest night a messenger arrives to seek out Fitz, but mysteriously disappears, leaving nothing but a blood-trail. What was the message? Who was the sender? And what has happened to the messenger?
Suddenly Fitz’s violent old life erupts into the peace of his new world, and nothing and no one is safe.
This is going to be my end of year treat. Robin Hobb’s Farseer and Tawny Man series hold a special place in my heart and head. She is a master of putting both her characters and the audience through the emotional ringer and I have rarely found myself invested in a character quite like I did with Fitz. I’ve been purposefully waiting on starting this series because I know I’m going to want to binge it. This year! SOON! I’m quite excited.
You can find Fool’s Assassin on Amazon here and if you haven’t tried any of Robin Hobb’s books yet I REALLY cannot recommend them enough.
So this is in no way a complete list of everything I will read this year, but it’s a taster. I will be posting reviews as and when I finish them.
