James Nicoll Reviews

Magic has a price — if you’re willing to pay. The lush world building of * Children of Blood and Bone *meets the sweeping scale of * Strange the Dreamer *in this captivating epic YA fantasy debut. Born into a family of powerful witchdoctors, Arrah yearns for magic of her own. But each year she fails to call forth her ancestral powers, while her ambitious mother watches with growing disapproval. There’s only one thing Arrah hasn’t tried, a deadly last resort: trading years of her own life for scraps of magic. Until the Kingdom’s children begin to disappear, and Arrah is desperate to find the culprit. She uncovers something worse. The long-imprisoned Demon King is stirring. And if he rises, his hunger for souls will bring the world to its knees… unless Arrah pays the price for the magic to stop him.

*In the tradition of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett, we present the surreal adventures of the revered members of the Society for the Preservation of Preposterous Absurdity. The preposterous will live while there is breath in their bodies, living or dead*.

In this volume, you will find ten tales taken from the archives of the Society for the Preservation of Preposterous Absurdity, whose worthy aim speaks for itself. Each tale recounts a preposterous, and highly dangerous, adventure of the Society’s main heroes Dr Martin Smotheringale, Morkleberry and Sir Snedley Sniverington in their ceaseless endeavors to save the world for absurdity. Always loyal to their motto (“Here to help, hope to hinder”), our heroes battle a negative probability generator, a bevy of quantum kittens, a black hole, and search for the missing Gap. All while dealing with the Perpetual Irritation Machine. 

For the reader who loves science fact and fiction, these tales will take you to a world where reality is rarely quite what it seems. ** 

From the author of the beloved Society of Sword and Wolf of the North trilogies, Duncan M. Hamilton’s Knight of the Silver Circle — the sequel adventure-packed fantasy to Dragonslayerin The Last Dragonslayer trilogy — is perfect for fans of magical beasts and unexpected heroesThree dragons wreak havoc throughout Mirabay — eating livestock, killing humans, and burning entire villages to ash. It was nearly impossible to kill one, using a legendary sword and the magic of the mysterious Cup; to tackle three, Guillot dal Villerauvais will need help. The mage Solène fears having to kill again; she leaves Gill to gain greater control over her magic. The Prince Bishop still wants Gill dead, but more than that, he wants the Cup, and he’ll do whatever he has to to get it, even sending his own daughter — a talented thief and assassin — into the dragons’ path. As secrets mount on secrets and betrayals on betrayals, both Guillot and Solène face critical decisions that will settle not only their own fate but that of all Mirabaya. The Dragonslayer Trilogy:

1. Dragonslayer

2. Knight of the Silver Circle

3. Servant of the Crown

The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense. Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy. Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service. Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die. Of course, some things are better left dead.