Alternative history fiction
Orion Publishing Co Doomsday Book
Book SynopsisA tour de force - New York Times Book ReviewAmbitious, finely detailed and compulsively readable - LocusIt is a book that feels fundamentally true; it is a book to live in - Washington PostFor Kivrin Engle, preparing an on-site study of one of the deadliest eras in humanity''s history was as simple as receiving inoculations against the diseases of the fourteenth century and inventing a bullet-proof backstory. For her instructors in the twenty-first century, it meant painstaking calculations and careful monitoring of the rendezvous location where Kivrin would be received.But a crisis strangely linking past and future strands Kivrin in a bygone age as her fellows try desperately to rescue her. In a time of superstition and fear, Kivrin finds she has become an unlikely angel of hope during one of history''s darkest hours.Winner of both the 1993 Hugo and Nebula Best Novel awards, this is a science fiction classic.ReTrade ReviewA tour de force * New York Times Book Review *Ambitious, finely detailed and compulsively readable * Locus *It is a book that feels fundamentally true; it is a book to live in * Washington Post *
£12.34
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Sisterhood
Book Synopsis‘Frightening and timely, Bradley’s The Sisterhood is the book everyone should read this year. If you thought it ended with Orwell, think again . . .' CHRISTINA DALCHERVox meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this feminist reimagining of 1984 In Oceania, whoever you are, Big Brother is always watching you and trust is a luxury that no one has. Julia is the seemingly perfect example of what women in Oceania should be: dutiful, useful, subservient, meek. But Julia hides a secret. A secret that would lead to her death if it is discovered. For Julia is part of the underground movement called The Sisterhood, whose main goal is to find members of The Brotherhood, the anti-Party vigilante group, and help them to overthrow Big Brother. Only then can everyone be truly free. When Julia thinks she’s found a potential member of The Brotherhood, it seems like their goal might fin
£9.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Lost Army Of Cambyses
Book SynopsisThis gripping, captivating and wonderfully evocative archeological thriller by bestselling author Paul Sussman is a must read for fans of Clive Cussler and Wilbur Smith.A tremendous adventure, one of the most intriguing mysteries of the past, a great novel masterfully written - VALERIO MASSIMO MANFREDIOne of the best writers of international suspense in the business - STEVE BERRYStylish writing and deep research - GUARDIANAn excellent book full of twists and turns. -- ***** Reader reviewEnthralling -- ***** Reader reviewWOW what a brilliant book and enjoyed every bit of it. No hesitation in giving it 5 stars. -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************************************MURDER, INTRIGUE, VIOLENCE, BETRAYAL AND A RACE TO SOLVE ONE OF THE GREATEST MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD...523 BC: the Persian pharaoh CambysesTrade Review'At last, at thriller that gets away from the hackneyed old "curse of Tut" stuff...the fast paced plot is one among many good things in this very assured first novel' * Scotland on Sunday *A tremendous adventure, one of the most intriguing mysteries of the past, a great novel masterfully written -- VALERIO MASSIMO MANFREDI
£9.99
Oneworld Publications A True Account
Book SynopsisTrade Review'An absolute page turner, full of unexpected twists and turns. I really could not put it down.' Celia Rees, author of Pirates!'A story of seafaring derring-do with a wonderful twist.' Mail on Sunday'Irresistible... A breathless adventure that will stay with you long after the final page has been read.' Julie Walker, author of Bonny & Read'A feast for the sea-loving senses... This is more than just a pirate's tale: it's a story of abandoning convention in favour of self-discovery and exploring the sort of freedoms only the sea can offer.' Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary'A wild ride. I loved this book.' Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles'A True Account is a compelling tale of pirates, treasure hunting and wild adventure, wonderfully told in vivid detail. Sailing the high seas with Hannah Masury was an absolute thrill!' Sophie Keetch, author of Morgan is My Name'Hannah Masury’s pirate tale reads like a fever dream, told in a voice so authentic and with such vivid, authoritative detail, it compels belief that this must indeed be a true account.' Peter Nichols, author of A Voyage for Madmen'Katherine Howe richly evokes the social world of docks, ships, and seafaring outlaws, producing, in my view, one of the best 'pirate novels' ever written ― even better than ones by Daniel Defoe!' Marcus Rediker, author of Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age'Right from the very start of this book, I found myself caught up in Hannah's world. It is so vivid… I certainly felt like I'd been on a wild adventure whilst reading it [and] I really enjoyed the ride.' Bookbag'A fiendish twist pulls its strands apart and braids them back together with the burnished patina of real historic discovery... A True Account belongs on the shelf beside Treasure Island.’ Lit Hub'Dazzlingly fun historical fiction... A wild voyage of satisfying twists and an even more satisfying ending.' ABC News 'A suspenseful, swashbuckling adventure filled with fiendish characters and historical detail.' Library Journal'Never less than intriguing. One of the real strengths of the novel is the portrait of two complex and powerful women. This is an insightful and thought-provoking feminist retelling of history.' CrimeTime FM'There is no one I trust more with historical fiction than Katherine Howe, whose work always manages to capture not only the prosaic details of the past, but the lived experience of it… [a] swashbuckling story.' CrimeReads, 'Best Historical Fiction of 2023'
£15.29
Rebellion Publishing Ltd. The Relentless Moon: A Lady Astronaut Novel
Book SynopsisThe Third in the Hugo, Nebula and Locus Award-Winning SeriesTwo worlds. One humanity.It’s 1963, and riots and sabotage plague the space program. The climate change caused by the Meteor is becoming more and more clear, but tensions are rising, and the IAC’s goal of getting humanity off Earth is threatened.Astronaut Nicole Wargin lives two lives; one as a politican’s smiling wife on Earth, and the other as an astronaut on the newly-established Moon Base. But when sabotage strikes, she finds that her two worlds are colliding – with deadly consequences.‘The Lady Astronaut series might be set in an alternate past, but they’re cutting-edge SF novels that speak volumes about the present.’ -The Verge
£8.99
Titan Books Ltd Axiom's End
Book SynopsisAn alternate history first contact adventure set in the early 2000's, pitched as Arrival meets The Three-Body Problem, by video essayist Lindsay Ellis. By the fall of 2007, one well-timed leak revealing that the U.S. government might have engaged in first contact has sent the country into turmoil, and it is all Cora Sabino can do to avoid the whole mess. The force driving this controversy is Cora's whistleblower father, and even though she hasn't spoken to him in years, his celebrity has caught the attention of the press, the Internet, the paparazzi, and the government and redirected it to her. She neither knows nor cares whether her father's leaks are a hoax, and wants nothing to do with him until she learns just how deeply entrenched her family is in the cover-up, and that an extraterrestrial presence has been on Earth for decades. To save her own life, she offers her services as an interpreter to a monster, and the monster accepts. Learning the extent to which both she and the public have been lied to, she sets out to gather as much information as she can, and finds that the best way for her to find the truth is not as a whistleblower, but as an intermediary. The alien presence has been completely uncommunicative until she convinces one of them that she can act as their interpreter, becoming the first and only human vessel of communication. But in becoming an interpreter, she begins to realize that she has become the voice for a being she cannot ever truly know or understand, and starts to question who she's speaking for and what future she's setting up for all of humanity.
£9.49
Unicorn Publishing Group The Scapegoat: Ovid’s Journey Out of Exile
Book SynopsisPublius Ovidius Naso (43BC – 17/18AD), known as Ovid, was known as much for his disgrace as for his poetry. By pleasing his contemporaries, befriending patricians and subtly mocking the emperor Augustus, he was transformed from a provincial outsider to Rome’s darling – and, for some, its corrupter. Banished without trial to a remote port on the Black Sea, he continued to write. It is fortunate that most of his work has not been lost. The transformation stories of his masterpiece – The Metamorphoses – inspired not just Shakespeare, Chaucer and Milton, but have been a major influence on European culture. His handbooks of erotic love taught men and women the art of dealing with the opposite sex. They brought him instant literary glory and notable adversaries. His works were banned by the emperor Augustus, by Savonarola, by the Bishop’s Ban, by the Vatican and eventually by the US Custom Office; this latter only lifted in 1930. To discover who was Ovid the man, Michael Solomon travelled in his footsteps, seeking the same landscapes today that Ovid found two thousand years ago.Trade Review"For any Classics lovers this is the perfect exploration into the life of such an influential poet. ...It is profound and well-written, and fully captivates you, bringing you into Ovid’s journey out of exile. If you love Ancient Greece/Ancient Rome or just love the symbolism in Ovid’s poetry then this will bring you into a new dimension of understanding." Inside Out Reviews "The Scapegoat is a thrilling novel with an intriguing character study that is sure to please those interested in the Roman Empire." Historic Chronicles "The Scapegoat is a thoughtful and interesting novel, with a good historical background research and unique take on historical facts. A long yet heartly recommended weekend read." Wild Writing Life "Sardonic, clever, and descriptive, this novel takes the reader not only into the life of the infamous Ovid but also into the heart of 1st century Rome with all of its political intrigue and artifice." Ellen Z Reads "The ending has a twist to it that leaves you with a smile on your face" From the Book Elf "An interesting and unusual read" The Library Door
£999.99
Double 9 Booksllp The Good Soldier
Book Synopsis
£12.59
Pan Macmillan Never
Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Thriller of the Month'Stunning . . . one of the most compelling reads of the year' – Daily ExpressExpertly researched and visionary in scale, international number one bestseller Ken Follett’s Never is more than a thriller. It imagines a scenario we all hope never comes true, one which will keep you transfixed until the final page . . .A stolen US army drone.A shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert.A secret stash of deadly chemicals.Each is a threat to global stability. Each can be overcome with only the highest levels of diplomacy. But when those in charge disagree and refuse to back down, an international chain reaction kicks off with potentially catastrophic consequences: a world edging closer to war . . .Now three people must work with the utmost skill to stop that from happening:A spy working undercover with jihadis.A brilliant Chinese spymaster.A US president beleaguered by a populist rival for the next election.The only question is – in a game of brinksmanship, can the inevitable ever be stopped?'Bold in scale and meticulously researched' – Sunday Times'His best yet' - Stephen KingUrgent and fiercely compelling’ – The Washington PostMore than 175 million copies sold worldwide. Published in over 80 territories and 37 languages. The international no.1 bestselling phenomenon returns.Trade ReviewKen Follett has never been short of ambition. And it’s the global scope and vast multinational cast that chiefly impress in Never, his return to contemporary storytelling . . . Bold in scale and meticulously researched, Never makes other international spy novels appear timid, lazy and parochial -- Sunday Times Thriller of the Month November 2021I couldn't put it down . . . terrifying read . . . masterful detail . . . It's a stunning thriller and one of the most compelling reads of the year. It's not quite The Godfather, but it comes pretty close -- Daily ExpressA master storyteller, Follett has created a tale vast in scale, yet richly detailed, exploring the consequences of international power plays and the chilling imminence of global catastrophe. * The i *An ambitious and compelling narrative, exploring the consequences of international power plays and the chilling imminence of global catastrophe -- Press Association syndicated reviewUrgent and fiercely compelling . . . Never is first-rate entertainment that has something important to say. It deserves the popular success it will almost certainly achieve -- Washington PostSuperstar novelist Ken Follett’s what-if political thriller . . . is so exciting – and so plausible – you won’t want to look away -- Apple Books Best Book of the MonthSettle in for a thrilling ride -- CNN.comFollett’s story captivates -- Christian Science MonitorA complex, scary thriller that feels too plausible for comfort. You’ll be so absorbed in the story threads that you’ll follow them anywhere – and you’ll suddenly realize you’ve read hundreds of pages . . . On one level, it’s great entertainment; on another, a window into a sobering possibility -- Kirkus Reviews starred reviewAbsolutely compelling . . . A smart, scary, and all-too-plausible thriller -- BooklistTerrific . . . A powerful, commanding performance from one of the top writers in the genre -- Publishers Weekly starred review[Follett] weaves a web of intrigue . . . Shocking to the very last page * Sunday Express *Taking readers on a thrilling, rollercoaster ride through 800 pages of dazzling storytelling, Follett brings his extraordinary visionary talents to this powerful and far-reaching novel. * Lancashire Evening Post *A pacey, character-driven thriller set against the backdrop of an imminent Third World War * Choice Magazine *Told in Follett's hallmark widescreen style, the blockbuster thriller is packed with memorable characters and global politics, it's a nail-biting ride! * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *
£17.68
HarperCollins Publishers Legend of the Lakes
Book SynopsisAn absolute must-read for fans of Shadow and BoneCassandra stands silent upon a ravaged battlefield, watching as the druids prepare the dead for the pyres, embers drifting up into the still winter darkness. She can barely breathe through the agony of her grief, but she cannot waste another second on tears.Because Londinium, the Caesar, the empire all of it is still out there. The empire whose code she had followed, whose prince she had promised to marry, whose schemes she had been swept up in since birth.They tried to use her magic against her. To silence her.So she will use her magic against them. To silence them. Forever.The third and final chapter of The Once and Future Queen trilogy, this epic scifi fantasy adventure set in a dystopian world where the Romans still rule will enchant fans of Sarah J Maas and Cassandra Clare.Praise for The Once and Future Queen Series:OH MY HEART AND SOUL I am still reeling seriously I would put this series up with the big ones, like Throne of GlassTrade ReviewPraise for The Once and Future Queen Series: ‘OH MY HEART AND SOUL … I am still reeling … seriously I would put this series up with the big ones, like Throne of Glass and The Cruel Prince’ Richelle, 5* NetGalley review ‘OMG. I will forever be in love with this series … this author has me as a fan for life’ Penelope, 5* NetGalley review ‘Beautifully written and one of the best dystopian novels I’ve read … an epic journey you won’t forget. I would love to see this made into a film’ Zoe, 5* NetGalley review ‘I couldn’t put it down. There were times when I gasped, when I cried and when I felt my jaw drop. The world Clara O’Connor has woven together is so intricate and real and the storytelling is flawless. Absolutely my favourite series I have read this year’ Jessica, 5* NetGalley review ‘If you want to immerse yourself in an Arthurian-inspired fantasy world, you need to look no further than this immersive, emotional, and wondrous one’ Tessa, 5* NetGalley review
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Virtual History
Book SynopsisEdited by Niall Ferguson, Virtual History applies ''counterfactual'' arguments to decisive moments in modern history.What if Britain had stayed out of the First World War?What if Germany had invaded Britain in 1940?What if Nazi Germany had defeated the Soviet Union?How would England look if there had been no Cromwell?What if there had been no American Revolution?And what if John F. Kennedy had lived?In this acclaimed book, leading historians from Andrew Roberts to Michael Burleigh challenge the complacency of traditional accounts, exploring what might have been if nine of the most decisive moments in modern history had never happened.''Quite brilliant, inspiring for the layman and an enviable tour de force for the informed reader ... A wonderful book ... lucid, exciting and easy to read'' - Literary Review''Ferguson constructs an entire scenario starting with Charles I''s defeat of the Covenanters, running through three revolutions that did not happen and climaxing with the collapse of the West, ruled by an Anglo-American empire, in the face of a mighty transcontinental, tsarist Russian imperium ... A welcome, optimistic assault on an intellectual heresy'' - Sunday Times''A talented and imaginative team who tackle with counterfactual verve a series of turning points'' - Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewQuite brilliant, inspiring for the layman and an enviable tour de force for the informed reader ... A wonderful book ... lucid, exciting and easy to read * Literary Review *Ferguson constructs an entire scenario starting with Charles I's defeat of the Covenanters, running through three revolutions that did not happen and climaxing with the collapse of the West, ruled by an Anglo-American empire, in the face of a mighty transcontinental, tsarist Russian imperium ... A welcome, optimistic assault on an intellectual heresy * Sunday Times *A talented and imaginative team who tackle with counterfactual verve a series of turning points * Daily Telegraph *
£11.69
Little, Brown Book Group Sister to Sister the perfect addictive read for
Book Synopsis''Rich people behaving badly'' BooklistThe battle lines are drawn . . .Following the scandalous revelations about his love life, disgraced media mogul Harry Rose is searching for redemption. His daughters - bright, winsome Eliza and dark, difficult Maria - have taken over his beloved company and are making some major changes. Guided by Harry, Eliza navigates life as Rose Corp''s new queen. But Maria is standing in her way. And then there''s the distraction of Eliza''s childhood playmate, the twinkly-eyed Rob Studley, and the unresolved death of her mother . . . After a stellar start, things take a turn for the worse and ultimately Eliza will have to make a choice: career, or love?Loosely based on the turbulent reigns of Tudor queens Mary and Elizabeth, this is a scandalous tale of love, power and betrayal . . .Praise for Olivia Hayfield ''Ingenious and addictive'' Francesca Hornak 'Trade ReviewRacy & pacy! -- Nicky Pellegrino, bestselling author of A Dream of ItalyA fun and entertaining read . . . non-stop Tudor intrigue! * An Historian About Town *Even if you're not an aficionado of Tudor history, there is lots to love in this racy romp about the lives of the rich and fabulous. The historical factor is fun though, and adds another layer to an addictively readable novel ... if you're a fan of Jilly Cooper or something of a history buff, then you're really not going to want to miss out * New Zealand Woman’s Weekly *The skill of Hayfield in creating a believable modern storyline that maintains the essence of the historical characters and events makes this book more than simply a light-hearted version of the television show Succession . . . in a turbulent summer, Sister to Sister is the perfect escape * The Listener *The ingenious way Hayfield re-casts and contemporises the Tudor court gives her a chance to have some fun but there remain perceptive observations of modern life, from the influence of the religious right to the relationship problems caused by family dysfunction . . . an amusing, smart and oddly thought-provoking read with glamour and great heart -- Kete: New Books from AotearoaA must-read for history buffs * Woman’s Day *A fun read but also packed quite an emotional punch for me (I'm not too proud to admit I cried my eyes out!) * Royalcentral.co.uk *
£8.54
Faber & Faber Cahokia Jazz
Book SynopsisUtterly immersive' SpectatorThrilling' Financial TimesUnlike anything else you will read this year' Daily Express A classic of alternative history' Observer A delight' Sunday TelegraphA Guardian, Financial Times, New Statesman and Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year A thrilling tale of murder and mystery in a city where history has run a little differently -- from the bestselling author of Golden Hill.In a city that never was, in an America that never was, on a snowy night at the end of winter, two detectives find a body on the roof of a skyscraper.It's 1922, and Americans are drinking in speakeasies, dancing to jazz, stepping quickly to the tempo of modern times. But in this 1922, things are a little different. Beside the Mississippi, the ancient city of Cahokia lives on a teeming industrial metropolis, conta
£17.00
Penguin Books Ltd The White Devil
Book SynopsisTHE GRIPPING NEW ADVENTURE FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE LEFT HAND OF GOD SERIESAmerica is on the brink of civil war. Only Thomas Cale can stop it . . .________Thomas Cale - the world''s most dangerous yet reluctant hero - has been running from his enemies. Tracked down moments before his execution, Cale is presented with a chance to escape.But it comes at a price: He must murder the American president. The father of modern democracy. The man fighting the south''s attempts to reinstate slavery.Accept, and he risks the fates of millions.Refuse, and he endangers his own life . . .________Praise for Paul Hoffman:''Fiction on a grand and ambitious scale'' Daily Telegraph''Brooding and magnificent'' Eoin Colfer''Exhilaratingly engaging writing'' Spectator''Gripped me from the first chapter'' Conn Iggulden''A riveting, powerful tale'' Publishers WeeklyTrade ReviewPraise for Paul Hoffman * - *Exhilaratingly engaging writing, imbued with zest and intelligence * Spectator *Brooding and magnificent. Hoffman has created a terrifying world and fitted it with strange and complex characters -- Eoin ColferA riveting, powerful tale, with irresistible characters, humour and a brilliantly imagined world * Publisher's Weekly *
£10.44
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Sisterhood
Book Synopsis‘Frightening and timely, Bradley’s The Sisterhood is the book everyone should read this year. If you thought it ended with Orwell, think again . . .' CHRISTINA DALCHERVox meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this feminist reimagining of 1984 In Oceania, whoever you are, Big Brother is always watching you and trust is a luxury that no one has. Julia is the seemingly perfect example of what women in Oceania should be: dutiful, useful, subservient, meek. But Julia hides a secret. A secret that would lead to her death if it is discovered. For Julia is part of the underground movement called The Sisterhood, whose main goal is to find members of The Brotherhood, the anti-Party vigilante group, and help them to overthrow Big Brother. Only then can everyone be truly free. When Julia thinks she’s found a potential member of The Brotherhood, it seems like their goal might finTrade Review'Though set in a dystopian world replete with endless horrors, The Sisterhood ultimately tackles a much more universal story, that of a woman on a quest to seek identity and purpose in a society which denies her access to both. Where any passion beyond the all-encompassing authority of Big Brother is forbidden, much love simmers beneath the surface of Katherine Bradley's fast-paced and suspenseful work. The Sisterhood's greatest gift, however, may be in its message of hope, capable of surmounting even the most formidable of odds and the most uncertain of futures' KATHERINE J. CHEN, author of Joan 'A gut-wrenching, heart-breaking journey through the looking glass of 1984. Compulsively written, Julia’s is a story begging to be told' FREYA BERRY, author of The Dictator's Wife '1984’s Julia gets the spotlight in this reimagining of Orwell’s classic, where she presents as a dutiful Outer Party member, but is working with a small band of rebel women. A heart-pounding look into a secondary character’s legacy' Grazia 'A compelling tale of love and sacrifice, a worthy companion to the original novel' My Weekly 'Sinister, chilling and heart-breaking, it’s a worthy successor to Orwell’s dystopian classic, allowing readers to explore a new version of Julia’s story' Culturefly 'A dazzling retelling of the classic dystopian novel, which raises profound questions about how society works, and whether or not woman have political agency. I found it memorable, deeply moving, and at times, terrifying' KATE RHODES, author of the Ben Kitto series 'Katherine Bradley has delivered a worthy counterpart to George Orwell's 1984 in this chilling, taut book. It's as claustrophobic as it needs to be; particularly frightening as one looks around and sees that we are voluntarily moving towards Orwell's nightmare. It is nothing short of a triumph' MARA TIMON, author of City of Spies ‘In this highly original take on Orwell’s 1984 – the Big Brother of all dystopian classics – Bradley weaves a complex and engaging plot around the idea of a female resistance to oppressive overlords. Oppressive and creepy, but with real heart’ A. K. TURNER, author of the Cassie Raven series
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Loch of the Dead
Book Synopsis''A hugely entertaining Victorian mystery'' New York Times ''I enjoyed this - properly creepy and Gothic'' Ian Rankin_______________A CASE FOR FREY & McGRAY The Scottish Highlands, 1889. When a young heir receives a sinister death threat, Inspectors Frey and ''Nine-Nails'' McGray answer a desperate plea to offer him protection. The detectives travel north to the remote and misty Loch Maree, site of an ancient burial ground. They must stay with the mysterious Koloman family - any one of whom might be a suspect. But Frey and McGray have little time to get their bearings. Even before they arrive the boy''s guardian is brutally murdered, and one thing becomes clear to the two detectives: Someone is willing to kill to protect the secrets of Loch Maree._______________Praise for the Frey & McGray series: ''This is wonderful. A brilliant, moving, clever, lyricaTrade ReviewOscar de Muriel gets better and better -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express S Magazine *I am addicted to Frey and McGray -- Christopher Fowler, author of the Bryant and May seriesI enjoyed this - properly creepy and Gothic -- Ian RankinA hugely entertaining Victorian mystery * The New York Times *Fun to read and a fast page-turner . . . love and murder - they go together like strawberries and cream * Independent *This entertaining novel combines melodrama with the unhappiness of life backstage -- Charlotte Heathcote * Sunday Express *This is wonderful. A brilliant, moving, clever, lyrical book - I loved it. Oscar de Muriel is going to be a name to watch. -- Manda ScottThe Strings of Murder is one of the best debuts so far this year - a brilliant mix of horror, history, and humour. Genuinely riveting with plenty of twists, this will keep you turning the pages. It's clever, occasionally frightening and superbly written - The Strings Of Murder is everything you need in a mystery thriller. * Crime Review *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Until the Last of Me
Book SynopsisThe thrilling second instalment in the TAKE THEM TO THE STARS series - a secret history of our world like no other . . .''Introspective, lyrical and with a growing sense of menace running under it all'' THE TIMESPerfect for fans of The Man in the High Castle and The Eternals___________The First Rule is the most important: ''Always run, never fight''.For 3000 years Mia''s family has shaped Earth''s history to push humanity to the stars, making brutal, wrenching choices along the way.And now, in the year of 1968, Mia finds herself about to help launch the first people into space. She can''t take them to the stars, not quite yet. But with her adversary almost upon her, and with the future of the planet at stake, one thing is becoming clearer:Obeying the First Rule is no longer an option.For the first time since her line''s first generation, Mia will have to choose to stanTrade ReviewIntrospective, lyrical and with a growing sense of menace running under it all * The Times *Praise for Sylvain Neuvel * - *It's fascinating to see how Neuvel weaves together fact and fiction . . . a blast. Seriously clever * SFX *An alt-history with a difference. Traces the true story of the development of rocket science but adds an alien-conspiracy-theory edge in the shape of a fictional team of mother-daughter clones. Along with the problems faced by women trying to change the world (or at least get men to listen to them), they are threatened by a mysterious 'Tracker' who has spent centuries trying to kill them. Good fun * Guardian *A dark and ambitious book. Neuvel is forging ahead * SFX Magazine *Wry narration, wired action . . . Fans of alternate history and intelligent sci-fi will love this * Publishers Weekly *Clever and compelling, it will keep you enthralled until the end -- Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of The Oppenheimer Alternative * - *There's real cleverness at work here. Mia, bent on getting humanity sufficiently technologically developed so that they can leave Earth, makes some dodgy-sounding moral choices as she works towards humanity's salvation * The Times *Highly crafted and unique * Library Journal *
£9.49
Stanford University Press Race in the Machine: A Novel Account
Book SynopsisAn intelligent machine built to study methods of social warfare struggles to understand and communicate the lived experience of race In a narrative full of social significance and poetically decorated with monks, vampires, and mythical statistics, Race in the Machine presents a world where the stories we use to explain race all simultaneously exist, within and around us, dictating our interactions and innermost beliefs. The nameless protagonist, an enigmatic social mechanic at Nearbay Institute, living in a population of socially connected intelligent machines, encounters a simple query in the context of an introductory lecture: "What exactly is race? And what is it in the context of the social machine?" This prompt guides the protagonist along a twisting intellectual tale surrounding a series of experiments which explore: How many racists does it take to create systems of inequality? What role do non-racists actors play in upholding them? How is bias learned? How does it spread? The narrator develops a distinct understanding of race through the figurative bending of time, dreams of a "race code" and by confronting a series of mysterious communications that remain just outside comprehension. Over the course of this journey, the answers to important questions about racial inequality quietly emerge for the protagonist. Scholarly encounters with both antagonistic colleagues and unexpected allies, culminate when the hero is forced to reach a devastating conclusion about themself and the world. Stirring and luminous, Race in the Machine deftly oscillates between the allegorically simplified and the impossibly complex to weave an utterly unique and nuanced portrait of race in the modern world.Trade Review"Stewart's imaginative writing is best described as David Foster Wallace meets W.E.B Du Bois. Using a novel literary device, Stewart breathes fresh life into the computational sociology of race and racism. This book is a subtle, introspective work that captivates the reader through an Afrofuturist exploration of scientific methodology, social inequity and the human condition."—Damon Centola, University of Pennsylvania"Race in the Machine is truly a novel account. Deftly integrating fiction and social science scholarship, Quincy Stewart offers a highly innovative and fascinating exploration of race. This wholly original and engaging book bring to light the paradoxes and complexities in thinking about and studying race—and in so doing compels readers the rethink their assumptions regarding race." —Brian Powell, Indiana University"Race in the Machine is very well written and tells a story that challenges our narrative of what is race. The fictional nature of the narrative as told is an assault on the fabrications that social statistics are neutral, and that the quantitative accounting and surveillance capitalism are a rational outcome of mathematical logic. The author has asked us to be creative in our imagining the world that we create, and the potential of making it a better or worst world by our thinking about difference in the world. The world that we allow to be hampered by the reality of racial stratification. We must recognize the systemic nature of white supremacy as a problem for human survival. Race in the Machine revolutionizes the potential of Critical Race Quantitative scholars in the information sciences, technology sciences, communication science, and the social sciences."—Tukufu Zuberi, University of PennsylvaniaTable of Contents1. The Race Code / Evolution of Cognition (Interlude 1) 2. Building a Simple Machine / The Mythical Statistic (Interlude 2) 3. Big Bad Racists, Subtle Prejudice and Minority Victims / The Time Bender Problem (Interlude 3) 4. Structures Set the Stage / The Power of Bending (Interlude 4) 5. Race in the Mad4 Wild / The Song of the Sacred Method (Interlude 5) 6. The Theoretical Apogee / Exodus (Coda) Afterword: A Conversation with the Author
£16.49
Quercus Publishing Widowland: Chilling dystopian thriller for fans
Book Synopsis'READING THIS TERRIFIC, ORWELLIAN NOVEL YOU ALMOST HOLD YOUR BREATH' Bel MooneyAn alternative history with a strong feminist twist, perfect for fans of Robert Harris' Fatherland, Christina Dalcher's Vox and the dystopian novels of Margaret Atwood.'A TRIUMPH' Amanda Craig'CONVINCING AND GRIPPING' Elizabeth Buchan'BRILLIANTLY IMAGINED' Clare Chambers'TERRIFIC HEROINE' Adèle Geras'VIVIDLY IMAGINED' Nicci FrenchTo control the past, they edited history. To control the future, they edited literature.London, 1953, Coronation year - but not the Coronation of Elizabeth II.Thirteen years have passed since a Grand Alliance between Great Britain and Germany was formalized. George VI and his family have been murdered and Edward VIII rules as King. Yet, in practice, all power is vested in Alfred Rosenberg, Britain's Protector. The role and status of women is Rosenberg's particular interest. Rose Ransom belongs to the elite caste of women and works at the Ministry of Culture, rewriting literature to correct the views of the past. But now she has been given a special task. Outbreaks of insurgency have been seen across the country; graffiti daubed on public buildings. Disturbingly, the graffiti is made up of lines from forbidden works, subversive words from the voices of women. Suspicion has fallen on Widowland, the run-down slums where childless women over fifty have been banished. These women are known to be mutinous, for they have nothing to lose.Before the Leader arrives for the Coronation ceremony of King Edward and Queen Wallis, Rose must infiltrate Widowland to find the source of this rebellion and ensure that it is quashed.'THE MOST IMPORTANT FEMINIST NOVEL IN DECADES' Jane Harris'A VERY SMART REIMAGINED HISTORY' Henry Porter'BRIMMING WITH CRACKLING DETAIL, A GRIPPING THRILLER' Miranda CarterTrade ReviewClever and steeped in historical insight * The Times, book of the month *For fans of dystopian stories (think Margaret Atwood and Naomi Alderman) this one's a must-read * Cosmopolitan *Revelatory page-turning reading * Observer *Powerfully imagined * Sunday Times *A richly imagined treat * Independent *Scary, pacy and packed with period detail, Widowland is a smart, inventive imagining of what might have been * Daily Mail *An absorbing, Orwellian dystopia that makes a good case for the subversive power of literature * Guardian *Austere and low-key, Widowland succeeds when it comes to evoking the drab atmosphere of an occupied nation * Financial Times * Hugely atmospheric, rich in the way it evokes an austerity Britain that's both familiar and, because of the possibility of a grim fate for saying or doing the wrong thing, chilling * SFX *Carey's meticulously-constructed alternative Britain in the 1950s is a huge imaginative feat * Independent *Chilling and challenging in equal measure * Woman & Home *A "what if?" dystopian novel which will send shivers down your spine * Red *A heady mixture: part romantic thriller, partly a book about the power of literature, an alternative history and, overall, a chilling piece of dystopian fiction * SHOTS *The power of words is at the heart of this terrific and sometimes terrifying novel * Sci Fi Bulletin *Astonishing * Perspective *Widowland is a cut above the rest -- Sam Baker * Noon Bookclub *Reading this terrific, Orwellian novel you almost hold your breath, so vivid is Carey's evocation of a dystopia which (you reflect) was surely just a hairsbreadth away. The engaging heroine, vivid scenario and enthralling plot are underpinned by a serious political sensibility - one which turns an accomplished thriller into a warning. -- Bel MooneyWidowland is a triumph. One of the best counter-factual dystopias ever written about what a Nazi Britain might be like, it not only equals Fatherland and The Handmaid's Tale but, by placing literary heroines at its heart, supersedes them. As witty as it is withering, as thrilling as it is consummately imagined, this deserves to be the bestseller of 2021 -- Amanda CraigA brilliantly convincing and gripping dystopian vision. Fantastically detailed and assured, I read it with huge admiration for having pulled off such a terrific novel -- Elizabeth BuchanClever, gripping and brilliantly imagined - a brave, bookish heroine takes on the forces of a chillingly convincing post-war dystopia -- Clare ChambersWidowland is a very smart reimagined history executed with plenty of wit, energy and originality plus there's a rather subtle message for today. Excellent! -- Henry PorterWidowland is a fully-realised 1950s dystopia brimming with crackling detail, a gripping thriller and, at a moment when we're having to face our own Imperial past, a slyly vivid account of living under a colonial power -- Miranda CarterA terrifying, vividly imagined story of a Nazi Britain that might have been. Tense, utterly convincing and, in the end, very moving -- Nicci FrenchWidowland is not just a page-turning thriller and masterful work of suspense. This book is also the most important feminist novel to be published in decades because it speaks as much about contemporary tyranny and misogyny as it does about the re-imagined past that Carey has so skilfully created -- Jane HarrisAll Jane Thynne fans should read her alter ego C J Carey whose Widowland is fabulous! A very stylish and exciting counterfactual set around the coronation of Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson. Hitler is still alive and in charge. Rose is a terrific heroine -- Adèle GerasI am in awe at the author's imagination, her ability to conjure and so cleverly convey an entire world - it manages to feel both chillingly dystopian and utterly realistic. I love the details of the office, and Rose's flat, and her bus rides, but most of all I loved the description of the Oxford Widowlands, and the women who inhabit it - Viva the Friedas! -- Sabine DurrantI raced through Widowland and absolutely loved it. C J Carey plays with history and makes brilliant points about literature and feminism. Her amazing knowledge of Nazi ideology makes the story disturbingly relevant to the present day. -- Kate Saunders
£9.99
Quercus Publishing To Kill the Truth
Book SynopsisTHE NEW BLOCKBUSTER THRILLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE EXPLOSIVE BESTSELLER TO KILL THE PRESIDENT'Riveting' Sunday Times, Thriller of the Month'Propulsive' Guardian'Provocative' Mail on Sunday Someone is rewriting history . . . One death at a time. Historians and Holocaust survivors dead in mysterious circumstances. Museums and libraries burning across the world. Digital records and irreplaceable proof, lost for ever.Former White House operative Maggie Costello has sworn off politics. But when a newly-elected Governor seeks her help to stop the lethal spiral of killings, she knows that this is bigger than any political game. But who stands to gain most from the chaos?A thriller for our times, To Kill the Truth takes the era of 'fake news' to its terrifying logical conclusion - with explosive results. Trade ReviewA Day of the Jackal for these dizzying times * Ian Rankin *Urgently topical * The Times *A gripping thriller and a prescient warning * Sunday Times *A propulsive plot and an appealing heroine . . . The premise is both intriguing and, in the current climate of post-truth, fake news and sour populism, grimly topical * Guardian *Read this book * Jeffrey Archer *Chilling . . . You think today's news is nightmarish enough? Sam Bourne's provocative thriller imagines things getting much, much worse * Mail on Sunday *A dazzling thriller * Charles Cumming, author of The Man Between *Bourne's writing is chillingly plausible... Read it while it's still fiction * James Swallow, author of Nomad and Exile *A perfect fit in an era of lurid revelations and wholly implausible plots that are nevertheless real * Sunday Times *Totally compelling * Financial Times *House of Cards mixed with Homeland * Eli Attie, Writer/Producer, The West Wing *A barnstorming read * Raymond Khoury, author of The End Game *Brilliantly convincing * David Hare *In To Kill the Truth, Maggie Costello rivetingly tackles a cabal of Holocaust and slavery deniers, whose aim is nothing less than to destroy memory * Sunday Times, Thriller of the Month *Pacy, engaging and morally serious * Guardian *Imaginative, intelligent and thought-provoking * The Times *To Kill The Truth presents a frightening glimpse of where the current fake news agenda could lead * Daily Express *
£9.99
Canelo Project Icarus: An absolutely gripping suspense
Book SynopsisAn old enemy, a new threat, and a secret that could tear the world apart.Hostage negotiator Ethan Munroe is called urgently to a developing crime scene. A serial killer is holding a young girl hostage, and, inexplicably, demands his attendance.Events quickly spiral out of control, and the security of Ethan's life is stripped away, as he is thrown headlong into a perilous world of deception, espionage and danger, lurking deep within the shadows of political power.Ethan will discover things about himself he could never have suspected, come face-to-face with a terrifying foe, and uncover an unthinkable truth that could not only shatter his own future but that of the world… The enigma that is Project Icarus.A totally gripping conspiracy thriller with a twist you will never see coming, perfect for fans of Lee Child, Scott Mariani, and Adam Hamdy.
£8.54
Canelo The Fallen Sword
Book SynopsisUncover the traitor. End what you started.Rejoining the English army laying siege to Calais, Simon Merrivale discovers that the conspiracy against the thrones of England and France has regrouped and gathered force. New allies have joined their ranks, including a dark secret society known as the Pilgrims, and the Holy Roman Empire and the Knights of Saint John have also been drawn in. Ambush and murder in the war-torn fields of Flanders, clandestine meetings in ruined castles and assassination attempts in the streets of Bruges and Paris all follow, as Merrivale relentlessly hunts the conspirators, in an attempt to finally reveal the turncoat at its heart.The awe-inspiring finale to the Hundred Years’ War series, perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor, Bernard Cornwell and C. J. Sansom.
£9.49
Canelo An Honourable Thief: A must-read historical crime
Book SynopsisIntroducing Jonas Flynt. Gambler. Thief. Killer. Man of honour.Longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2023'Fast, furious and with a glint of gallows humour, this is high-octane historical fiction' Daily Mail'Swashbuckling action against a vivid historical backdrop. I loved this book' Ian Rankin‘High adventure meets espionage thriller as Jonas Flynt battles the tide of history and the deadly secrets of his own past…’ D. V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance1715. Jonas Flynt, ex-soldier and reluctant member of the Company of Rogues, a shady intelligence group run by ruthless spymaster Nathaniel Charters, is ordered to recover a missing document. Its contents could prove devastating in the wrong hands.On her deathbed, the late Queen Anne may have promised the nation to her half-brother James, the Old Pretender, rather than the new king, George I. But the will has been lost. It may decide the fate of the nation.The crown must recover it at all costs.The trail takes Jonas from the dark and dangerous streets of London to an Edinburgh in chaos. He soon realises there are others on the hunt, and becomes embroiled in a long overdue family reunion, a jail break and a brutal street riot.When secrets finally come to light, about the crown and about his own past, Jonas will learn that some truths, once discovered, can never be untold…An atmospheric and utterly compelling blend of crime, history and thriller, to delight fans of S. J. Parris, Andrew Taylor and C. J. Sansom.Praise for An Honourable Thief 'Reads like a genuine eighteenth century spy novel. I see a long future for Jonas Flynt' Ambrose Parry, author of The Way of All Flesh'Anyone who enjoys a good historical mystery and likes an edgy, charismatic protagonist is going to love the adventures of Douglas Skelton’s new hero, Jonas Flynt’ S.G. MacLean, author of The Seeker'An absolute triumph ... Five stars from me, and I look forward to reading more of Jonas's adventures' James Oswald, Sunday Times bestselling author'Historical crime fiction at its absolute best. I loved it!’ Marion Todd, author of the Detective Clare Mackay series'Pitch-perfect stuff. Like all great historical novels you'll feel you're there! This is a departure for Skelton, who seems born to write high-end historical fiction’ Denzil Meyrick, author of the DCI Daley thrillers'Uniquely combines a page-turning thriller with a perfectly evoked sense of time and place. Powerful stuff from a master of his craft' Craig Russell, author of Hyde'Skelton’s mastery of time and place inhabited with richly drawn characters is a delight. It held me to the last tantalising page’ David Gilman, author of The Englishman‘Jonas Flynt is one of those characters you’ll be rooting for from the very first chapter ... it looks like Skelton has found a new home writing first-class historical fiction’ Alison Belsham, author of The Tattoo Thief'This is a fascinating, totally engrossing historical novel. Flynt is a most attractive, three-dimensional character and the same is true of the world he moves through. A brilliant, most enjoyable read’ Paul Doherty, author of The Nightingale Gallery‘A cracking historical drama with breathless pacing and knuckle-chewing tension, all shot through with Skelton’s deft characterisation and flashes of pitch-black humour. The perfect read to lose yourself in’ Neil Broadfoot, author of Falling Fast
£13.49
Jacaranda Books Art Music Ltd Creatures of Passage
Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022.Nephthys Kinwell is a taxi driver of sorts in Washington, DC, ferrying ill-fated passengers in a haunted car: a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere with a ghost in the trunk. Endless rides and alcohol help her manage her grief over the death of her twin brother, Osiris, who was murdered and dumped in the Anacostia River.Unknown to Nephthys when the novel opens in 1977, her estranged great-nephew, ten-year-old Dash, is finding himself drawn to the banks of that very same river. It is there that Dash-reeling from having witnessed an act of molestation at his school, but still questioning what and who he saw-has charmed conversations with a mysterious figure he calls the "River Man," who somehow appears each time he goes there.When Dash arrives unexpectedly at Nephthys's door one day bearing a cryptic note about his unusual conversations with the River Man, Nephthys must face both the family she abandoned and what frightens her most when she looks in the mirror.Creatures of Passage beautifully threads together the stories of Nephthys, Dash, and others both living and dead. Morowa Yejidé's deeply captivating novel shows us an unseen Washington, D.C., filled with otherworldly landscapes, flawed super-humans, and reluctant ghosts, and brings together a community intent on saving one young boy in order to reclaim themselves.Trade ReviewIn this beautifully written and gloriously conceived novel, Morowa Yejide reveals her mastery yet again. This novel is both contemporary and ancient, frightening and stirring, playful and wise, an unforgettable blurring of reality and genres from its haunted Plymouth automobile to the mysteries in the fog in this alternate America and hidden Washington, DC. With its lyricism and bold imagination, Creatures of Passage is unlike anything you've ever read. * Tananarive Due, author of Ghost Summer: Stories *Comparisons will be made to Toni Morrison and they will be well founded, but Morowa Yejide is in a class of her own with Creatures of Passage, a mesmerizing tale about love, loss, revenge, death, and restoration that hovers close to the edge of fantasy yet is deeply grounded in history and in a reality easily recognizable in the contemporary world. * Elizabeth Nunez, author of Even in Paradise *Although set in our recent past, Creatures of Passage is at heart a powerful ghost story about people haunted by the shadows of time and the shadows of blood. In the pages of this novel we discover a world that is fully recognizable, as concrete and real as Toni Morrison's Ohio, but also as fantastic and mythical as Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Macondo. That said, make no mistake: Morowa Yejide is a masterful storyteller in her own right, able to spin and sustain an inventive tale illuminated by a singular truth, that death is 'another form of living. * Jeffery Renard Allen, author of Song of the Shank *
£15.29
Baen Books 1637: The Peacock Throne
Book SynopsisThe emperor is dead; long live the emperors! The assassinated Shah Jahan lies entombed beside his beloved wife in the Taj Mahal, while their progeny drag the Mughal Empire into a three-sided struggle over the succession to the Peacock Throne. The diplomatic and trade mission from the United States of Europe is openly siding with Princess Jahanara and her brother Dara Shikoh. The mission, made up largely of Americans transplanted in time by the Ring of Fire, is providing the siblings with technical assistance as they prepare to fight their rivals for the throne, Aurangzeb and Shah Shuja. Meanwhile, the Afghan adventurer Salim Gadh Yilmaz, confidant of two emperors—Shah Jahan and now his son Dara Shikoh—has been elevated to the position of general. He has great challenges to face, not the least of which is resisting the fierce and forbidden mutual attraction between himself and Princess Jahanara. As the conflict deepens, the junior members of the mission are sent east to buy opium needed by the USE’s doctors. Their guide, merchant Jadu Das, has an agenda of his own, one entrusted to him by Jahanara: seek out her great uncle, Asaf Khan, and promise whatever is needed to bring his army over to Dara’s side. The USE’s mission was sent to India in search of goods needed in Europe. But now they find that straightforward task has become enmeshed in a great civil war — for control of The Peacock Throne. About 1635: A Parcel of Rogues: "The 20th volume in this popular, fast-paced alternative history series follows close on the heels of the events in The Baltic War, picking up with the protagonists in London, including sharpshooter Julie Sims. This time the 20th-century transplants are determined to prevent the rise of Oliver Cromwell and even have the support of King Charles."—Library Journal About 1634: The Galileo Affair: "A rich, complex alternate history with great characters and vivid action. A great read and an excellent book."—David Drake "Gripping . . . depicted with power!"—Publishers Weekly About Eric Flint's Ring of Fire series: “This alternate history series is . . . a landmark . . .”—Booklist “[Eric] Flint's 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians.”—Booklist “ . . . reads like a technothriller set in the age of the Medicis . . . ”—Publishers Weekly
£999.99
Double 9 Booksllp Deathworld
Book Synopsis
£12.59
Pan Macmillan Sorcerer to the Crown
Book SynopsisZen Cho was born and raised in Malaysia and now lives in London. She was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer for her short fiction and also won the Crawford Award. Sorcerer to the Crown was Zen Cho's debut novel, followed by her standalone set in the same world, The True Queen. Trade ReviewAn enchanting cross between Georgette Heyer and Susanna Clarke, full of delights and surprises -- Naomi NovikZen Cho’s Sorcerer to the Crown is inventive, dangerous, brilliant, unsettling, and adorable, all at the same time. It shatters as many rules as its characters do. Historical Britain will never be the same again, and I can’t wait for the next book -- Courtney MilanA warm, funny debut novel by a brilliant new talent -- Charles StrossCompulsively readable and wickedly funny, this magical marriage of Jane Austen and P. G. Wodehouse delivers love, laughs, and a thoroughly modern sensibility, and will keep you reading long into the night. I loved it -- Lavie TidharFabulous! If you like Austen or Patrick O'Brian, or magic and humor like Susannah Clarke, or simply a very fun read, you will really, really, enjoy this -- Ann LeckieA delightful and enchanting novel that uses sly wit and assured style to subvert expectations while it always, unfailingly, entertains. I loved it -- Kate ElliottSorcerer to the Crown is fast-paced and witty, and should appeal to fans of Mary Robinette Kowal and Gail Carriger -- Elizabeth BearA deliciously true tale of politics and power in a charming, cruel world – it demands and deserves to be read again and again. Cho has humor and flair to match Pratchett and Heyer plus her own marvelous style -- Karen Lord
£8.54
Flame Tree Publishing Alternate History Short Stories
Book SynopsisWhat if the course of history had been changed by a different decision, a different victor, a different invention? Utopian stories and alternative history stories by H.G. Wells, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Castello Holford and others are combined here with new stories by new writers from open submissions, exploring the variety and delight of alternative history to reimagine the world around us: What if the Ancient Egyptians had conquered Rome? What if World War II had been won by the loser, not the victors? What if women had ruled the world for 4000 years not men? New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Essa Bah, Rebecca Buchanan, Monica Butler, Jay Caselberg, Jonathan Davidson, Evan A. Davis, C.R. Hobson, Vylar Kaftan, Richard Kigel, Andrea Kriz, Adam Lawson, Kwame M.A. McPherson, Eve Morton, Chiamaka Muoneke, Maureen O'Leary, Jennifer R. Povey, Guy Prevost, Matias F. Travieso-Diaz, Rebecca E. Treasure, DJ Tyrer, Iris Whelan, Cameron Wise-Maas, Alex Woodroe, James Young, and Elizabeth Zuckerman. These appear alongside classic stories by authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Castello Holford, H.G. Wells, and John Wyndham. The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.
£17.00
Little, Brown Book Group Wild and Wicked Things
Book SynopsisIn the aftermath of the First World War, a young woman gets swept into a glittering world filled with illicit magic, romance, blood debts and murder in this lush and decadent debut novel.On Crow Island, people whispered, real magic lurked just below the surface. But Annie Mason never expected her enigmatic new neighbour to be a witch.When she witnesses a confrontation between her best friend Bea and the infamous Emmeline Delacroix at one of Emmeline''s extravagantly illicit parties, Annie is drawn into a glittering, haunted world. A world where magic can buy what money cannot; a world where the consequence of a forbidden blood bargain might be death.''Brimming with romance and gilded with danger, Wild and Wicked Things is a heady, lyrical gem of a book'' Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf''A lush and evocative story that transports readers far away from reality and into a witchy worlTrade ReviewBrimming with romance and gilded with danger, Wild Wicked Things is a heady, lyrical gem of a book -- Hannah Whitten, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of FOR THE WOLFViciously enchanting, with a spell woven onto every page. Francesca May has given us a cast of wild and wicked women who dare to hold a mirror to the darkest, and most tender, parts of our souls. I couldn't get enough! -- Heather Walter, author of MALICEWild and Wicked Things ticked all my boxes. . . . I couldn't put it down -- Genevieve Gornichec, author of THE WITCH'S HEARTAn intoxicating blend of secrets and glamour, romance and scandal, blood magic and dark pasts. If you've ever thought the Jazz Age would have been better with witchcraft, this book is for you -- H. G. Parry, author of THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEPHaunting, immersive and seething with dark magic, Wild and Wicked Things cast it's spell on me -- Alexis Henderson, author of THE YEAR OF THE WITCHINGEven after the last page is turned, this intoxicating story lingers like a deep dark wine. Sparkling and deadly, Wild and Wicked Things enchanted me, and if you're feeling dangerous, it will enchant you too -- Lucy Holland, author of SISTERSONGEntrancing, seductive, and decadently beautiful, Francesca May weaves an intoxicating spell. Here is a deep, sensuous exploration of the bonds between three very different, complex women that readers won't soon forget -- Gwenda Bond, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling authora lush and evocative story that transports readers far away from reality and into a witchy world full of damning secrets, unbreakable bargains, intoxicating love and found family. Add to this a little murder cover-up and you've got yourself the perfect Spring/Summer read -- CULTUREFLYThe extravagance and extremes of the Roaring Twenties combines with witchcraft, corruption and violence in this heady, absorbing read -- LoveReading
£11.69
American University in Cairo Press The Lady of Zamalek: A Novel
Book SynopsisSpanning twentieth-century Egyptian history and opening with the true story of a prominent Cairo businessman’s murder, this rags-to-riches story wondrously combines real-life events with fiction, told by a “magical storyteller”It was in the spring of 1927 that Cairo's attention was captured by the shocking murder of prominent businessman Solomon Cicurel in his Nile-side villa in the upscale Zamalek district. It was a burglary that went wrong, and four culprits were soon arrested. Their trial was concluded swiftly, their punishments were decisive, and society breathed a sigh of relief.In Ashraf El-Ashmawi's telling, there was a fifth accomplice, Abbas, who fled to his home in the countryside to lay low until the murder trial blew over. However, he did not escape empty-handed and kept stolen documents from Cicurel's villa, ones that he imagined would lead him to a hidden safe. Abbas hatched a plan to return to the capital, find the safe, and make his fortune. The first step was to place his sister Zeinab with Cicurel's widow, Paula.Abbas’s rags-to-riches story unfolds as a tale of modern Egypt, taking in the Second World War, the 1952 revolution and rise of Nasser, the 1967 war, and the Sadat and Mubarak eras. Spanning the 1920s to the 1990s, El-Ashmawi deftly weaves together history with fiction in this intriguing English-language debut.Trade ReviewOne of 51 Favorite Books of 2021 by The Washington Independent Review of Books"A grand family drama set in a society at once strange and familiar, rife with surprise revelations that keep the reader fully engaged. . . .It deserves to be a bestseller."—Alice Stephens, Washington Independent Review of Books"There's something very compelling about opening a book to read about a place you've never visited before, from the eyes of an author who knows it well." —Leah Dearborn, LitReactor"Set in the confines of one toxic family as its members, over decades, perpetually attempt to outmaneuver one another, the narrative creates a sense of vicious hopelessness. In the family, as, it’s implied, the country around them, this cycle swallows all; even acts of extreme insurrection feed back into a negative cycle."—Talya Zax, LitHub"The sweep of Egyptian history and the portrait of class, social norms, and values are fascinating"—Historical Novels Review"A brilliantly spun tale. . . playing with politics and powerful people. El-Ashmawi paints a story where money comes and goes, power changes hands, and where both can disappear in an instant."—Arab News"A bold attempt to reimagine not only the transformations of the Zamalek district of Cairo, but also those of the Egyptian nation itself."—Dr. Mohamed Afifi, al-Dostoor"Ashraf El-Ashmawy holds a scalpel to dissect the classes of Egyptian society over more than half a century.” —Bilal Ramadan, al-Youm al-Sabe'
£11.99
HarperCollins Publishers Years of Rice and Salt
Book SynopsisThe Great Plague destroyed Europe. Now the world’s a different place … From the award-winning author of the Mars trilogy, ‘the ultimate in future history’ (Daily Mail), comes the most ambitious alternate history novel ever written.Trade Review‘One of the finest working novelists in any genre’GUARDIAN 'If I had to choose one writer whose work will set the standard for science fiction in the future, it would be Kim Stanley Robinson’NEW YORK TIMES Praise for THE YEARS OF RICE AND SALT: ‘A dazzling work of speculation with all the qualities of a great historical novel – it is by turns thrilling, tragic, funny and thoughtful’SCOTSMAN ‘A 600-year tapestry of striving, joy, unhappiness and ambiguity … this marvellous book may be the most hopeful thing you read for a long time.’EVENING STANDARD ‘Stunning’GUARDIAN ‘A huge, complex and highly enjoyable book’NEW SCIENTIST
£18.52
Canelo The Wall at the Edge of the World: An
Book SynopsisSave lives… Or take them? A gripping novel of the Roman frontier.Ebook includes a new short story, entitled The West PastureArmy Medic Postumus Justinius Corvus is a long way from his native Britannia, in the Syrian provinces at the far corner of Empire. But now he is going home, unexpectedly promoted to Senior Surgeon in the Sixth.The new Emperor faces problems in the far flung island at the edge of Empire. Trouble is brewing north of the Wall. The tribes are stirring, a new conflict is brewing, old and new loyalties will be tested.Postumus will find himself at the heart of the maelstrom – and with his hands soaked in blood...Deeply researched and utterly enthralling, this is a searing historical epic perfect for fans of Ben Kane, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell.Praise for The Wall at the Edge of the World ‘A fine mix of story and history, and the author manages to shed light on a period when the Roman Empire flexed its muscles at the edge of the world’ Historical Novel Society‘The finest sense of history, character and narrative I’ve seen since Rosemary Sutcliffe’ Delia Sherman, author of Changeling
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Three Kings Edited by George R. R. Martin Wild
Book SynopsisThe return of the famous shared-world superhero books created and edited by George R. R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire.For decades, George R.R. Martin bestselling author of A Song of Ice and Fire has collaborated with an ever-shifting ensemble of science fiction and fantasy icons to create the amazing Wild Cards universe.In the aftermath of World War II, the Earth's population was devastated by an alien virus. Those who survived were changed forever. Some, known as jokers, were cursed with bizarre mental and physical mutations; others, granted superhuman abilities, became the lucky few known as aces.Queen Margaret, who came to the English throne after the death of her sister Elizabeth, now lies on her death-bed. Summoningthe joker aceAlan Turing, she urges him to seek the true heir: Elizabeth''s lost son. He was rumoured to have died as a baby but, having been born a joker, was sent into hiding.Margaret dies and her elder son Henry becomes king and at once declares he wantTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE WILD CARDS SERIES: “Deep and complex”Starburst “Perhaps the most original and provocative of the shared worlds books.”Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn "Martin has assembled an impressive array of writers. . . . Progressing through the decades, Wild Cards keeps its momentum to the end."Locus "The shared-world series known as Wild Cards has had a long and illustrious history of contributors and achievements." SciFi.com
£11.07
Little, Brown Book Group The Maiden The Morland Dynasty Book 8
Book Synopsis1720: political intrigue besets the kingdom as the Stuarts try to claim the throne occupied by the Hanoverians and the Morlands have to use all their wiles to keep their fortunes intact.Jeremy Morland, sole heir to his father''s will, has no option but to marry to cold-hearted Lady Mary to secure Hanoverian protection and safeguard his inheritance. Then the rebellion of ''45 and the bloody massacre at Culloden thrust his daughter Jemima into the spotlight as the saviour of the family. Independent, single-minded, and a rare beauty, Jemima is a capable caretaker of the Morland heritage. Although Morland Place and its lands suffer from the excesses of her dissolute husband, Jemima''s quiet courage earns her an abiding love and loyalty...
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group The Emperor The Morland Dynasty Book 11
Book Synopsis1795: the shadow of Bonaparte has fallen across Europe and touches each member of the far-flung Morland family.As the century draws to a close, Jemima Morland wearily ackowledges that her life is also nearing its end, but she has scant peace as her unpredictable children behave ever more incomprehensibly: James''s marriage to Mary Ann is closer to falling apart; Lucy''s marriage de convenance is in the balance - her affair with Lieutenant Watson is an open scandal.Mary bears a daughter on board her husband''s ship during the battle of the Nile; and William supports a mistress whose marriage cannot be dissolved.Jemima''s death appears to unite the family but, as ever with the Morlands, the future holds more peril than hope.
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Our Missing Hearts
Book SynopsisTHE REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICKTHE PANDORA BOOK CLUB PICKA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA hottest book for THE TIMES, DAILY MAIL, THE INDEPENDENT, VOGUE, STYLIST, TIME MAGAZINE, EVENING STANDARD, THE I and THE IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY.''It''s impossible not to be moved'' Stephen King, New York Times ''Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching...I was so invested in the future of this mother and son, and I can''t wait to hear what you think of this deeply suspenseful story!'' Reese Witherspoon (Reese''s Book Club October ''22 Pick)From the #1 bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere, comes one of the most anticipated books of the year - the inspiring new novel about a mother''s unbreakable love in a world consumed by fear.Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in Harvard''s library. He knows Trade ReviewA stunning story of injustice and resistance...Lyrical, intricate, unsparing: this novel will break your heart and fire up your courage * Mail on Sunday *A lyrical and touching testimony to maternal love, it's also a salutary reminder of how easily freedoms can be lost and of the power of words to change lives * Daily Mail *One of the biggest books of the year...deeply moving * Stylist *Beautifully stirring and heart-wrenching, this powerful novel from the author of Little Fires Everywhere is a homage to love and will tug at your heartstrings * Heat, Book of the Month *A beautiful, thoughtful book...Brilliant and moving * Hello magazine *Ng's compelling writing paints a picture of a world so real you can almost touch it. Despite the darkness of the story, the love of a family stands out. * Independent *[A] feat of meaty storytelling...Ng effortlessly combines a character-led family story with a detective tale, a tribute to books and storytelling and a confrontation with history...a story that is exceptionally powerful and scaldingly relevant * Observer *Remarkable and deeply moving... as moving as it is gripping. [Ng] is an astute writer...her writing feels gorgeously supple * The i *Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching...I was so invested in the future of this mother and son, and I can't wait to hear what you think of this deeply suspenseful story! * Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club October ’22 Pick) *On another level, Our Missing Hearts is a meditation on the sometimes accidental power of words... I won't give away the splendid conclusion of Ng's book; suffice it to say the climax deals with the power of words, the power of stories and the persistence of memory. It's impossible not to be moved by Margaret Miu's courage, or to applaud her craftiness * Stephen King, New York Times *Powerful and brilliant * Vogue *Thought-provoking... My heart broke and was remade several times over by this book * Good Housekeeping *Ng, whose previous novels subtly probed tensions surrounding race,class, and gender, boldly tacklesanti-Asian racism head-on * Time magazine, 100 Must-Read Books of 2022 *Shot through with vivid color and rising hope, an unflinching yet life-affirming drama about the power of art and love to push back in dangerous times...Ng's brilliance lies in leaving the reader with an unshakable belief that against all odds, people will find the courage to resist, revolt, and defend . . . remarkable * Oprah Daily *[Ng] has really hit her authorial stride in her eagerly anticipated third novel, Our Missing Hearts... It's her masterful weaving huge themes of race, class, privilege and identity with the simplicity of everyday lives that has made her a deserved international phenomenon * Daily Mirror *Ng's third novel is eagerly awaited and does not disappoint...Our Missing Hearts deftly weaves together a coming-of-age story with a threatening vision of a heavily censored future * Daily Express *Little Fires Everywhere became a global phenomenon and now author Celeste Ng is back with another gripping tale * Irish Mail on Sunday *Tense, poignant and chilling * Grazia *
£17.00
Pan Macmillan Invisible Sun
Book SynopsisIn this chillingly resonant dystopian adventure, two parallel versions of America are locked in conflict. Invisible Sun concludes Charles Stross’s Empire Games trilogy.Two twinned worlds are facing attack.The New American Commonwealth is caught in a deadly arms race with the USA, its rival in a parallel world. And the USA’s technology is decades ahead of the Commonwealth.Yet the Commonweath might self-combust first – its leader has just died, leaving a crippling power vacuum. Now, in a power grab by her oldest adversary, Minister Miriam Burgeson faces allegations of treason.But all factions soon confront a far greater danger.In their drive to explore other timelines, the high-tech USA awakened an alien threat. This force destroyed humanity on one version of Earth. And if the two superpowers don’t take action, it will do the same to them.Invisible Sun follows Empire Games andTrade ReviewStross’s ferociously imaginative world-building is on full display here . . . few other writers can match him for humour, creativity and sheer density of ideas -- SFX on Empire GamesSheer brilliance: when Stross is in this mood, nobody else comes close -- Kirkus starred review on Dark StateHigh-octane thriller action, mixed in with personal drama and some fantastically sympathetic characters -- Starburst on Dark StateMind-boggling, complex and truly brilliant -- Daily Mail on Empire GamesWhen intrigue, politics and suspense are so well executed, it doesn’t matter which realm, dimension or timeline the participants hail from. Add to that a sense of mischief, wit and humour and Charles Stross gives you the full package -- Chris Brookmyre on Empire GamesPlenty of fun -- Locus on Dark State
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Doors of Eden: An exhilarating voyage into
Book SynopsisFrom the author of the thrilling science-fiction epic Children of Time, winner of the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award.They thought we were safe. They were wrong. Four years ago, two girls went looking for monsters on Bodmin Moor. Only one came back. Lee thought she’d lost Mal, but now she’s miraculously returned. But what happened that day on the moors? And where has she been all this time? Mal’s reappearance hasn’t gone unnoticed by MI5 officers either, and Lee isn’t the only one with questions. Julian Sabreur is investigating an attack on top physicist Kay Amal Khan. This leads Julian to clash with agents of an unknown power – and they may or may not be human. His only clue is grainy footage, showing a woman who supposedly died on Bodmin Moor. Dr Khan’s research was theoretical; then she found cracks between our world and parallel Earths. Now these cracks are widening, revealing extraordinary creatures. And as the doors crash open, anything could come through.'Inventive, funny and engrossing, this book lingers long after you close it' - Tade Thompson, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of RosewaterAdrian Tchaikovsky is the author of Children of Time, Children of Ruin and many other novels, novellas and short stories. Children of Time won the Arthur C. Clarke award in its 30th anniversary year. Trade ReviewFull of sparking, speculative invention . . . The Doors of Eden is a terrific timeslip / lost world romp in the grand tradition of Turtledove, Hoyle, even Conan Doyle. If you liked Primeval, read this book -- Stephen BaxterThe Doors of Eden shows a combination of tight, evocative prose combined with erudition. In a story whose scope is the broad canvas of the history of all life in the universe, Tchaikovsky manages to zoom in on human moments without breaking a sweat. Inventive, funny and engrossing, this book lingers long after you close it -- Tade ThompsonWhat a ride . . . talks like big-brained science fiction and runs like a fleet-footed political thriller -- John ScalziWith The Doors of Eden, Tchaikovsky has created a fantastic and highly imaginative new genre: evolution SF -- Peter F. HamiltonUnlike anything I've read in a very long time, and all the better for it . . . Tchaikovsky is clearly at the top of his game right now -- James OswaldAs all right thinking people know, Adrian is the best . . . But this, my friends, is the best of the best -- Ian McDonaldTchaikovsky’s world-building is some of the best in modern sci-fi and now he has made an enchanting multiverse of parallel Earths -- New ScientistAll underpinned by great ideas. And it is crisply modern – but with the sensibility of classic science fiction. Asimov or Clarke might have written this -- Stephen Baxter on Children of RuinYou know you’re in for a ride. . . This book thoroughly engaged me. Children of Ruin is a humdinger of a book I enjoyed immensely -- Neal Asher on Children of RuinIf you only ever take one book recommendation from me, take this one. It is an astounding book. The breadth of Adrian's imagination is ASTONISHING. I literally cannot stop telling people about it -- RJ Barker on Children of RuinBreathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth Powell on Children of RuinBrilliant science fiction and far-out world-building -- James McAvoy on Children of TimeChildren of Time is a joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of TimeAddictively brilliant! -- John Gwynne on The Tiger and the Wolf
£17.09
Pan Macmillan The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle: Stranger Things
Book SynopsisGhostalker Ropa Moyo and her rag-tag team of magicians are back in The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle, the third book in the spellbinding Edinburgh Nights series by T. L. Huchu.’Alluring, shadowy Edinburgh with its hints of sophisticated academic magic will draw you in' - Olivie Blake, author on The Atlas Six on The Library of the DeadShe came for magic. She stayed to solve a murder . . .Ropa Moyo is no stranger to magic or mysteries. But she’s still stuck in an irksomely unpaid internship. So she’s thrilled to attend a magical convention at Dunvegan Castle, on the Isle of Skye, where she’ll rub elbows with eminent magicians.For Ropa, it’s the perfect opportunity to finally prove her worth. Then a librarian is murdered and a precious scroll stolen. Suddenly, every magician is a suspect, and Ropa and her allies investigate. Trapped in a castle, with suspicions mounting, Ropa must contend with corruption, skulduggery and power plays. Time to ask for a raise?'Fast-moving and entertaining . . . Stupendously engaging' - Ben Aaronovitch, author of the Rivers of London series'I highly recommend The Library of the Dead' - Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse seriesTrade ReviewTendai’s alternative Edinburgh becomes more real and more exciting with every book. An artful combination of magic, history and imagination wrapped up in an engaging story -- Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London on Our Lady of Mysterious AilmentsThe Library of the Dead’s alluring, shadowy Edinburgh with its hints of sophisticated academic magic will draw you in, but it’s Ropa – a hard knocks ghostalker on her paranormal grind to pay the rent – who grabs hold. The moment you meet her, you’ll follow wherever she goes -- Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six on The Library of the DeadAn absolute delight . . . kept me totally hooked -- Genevieve Cogman, author of the Invisible Library series on The Library of the Dead
£15.29
Quercus Publishing Queen High: Thrilling dystopian follow up to
Book Synopsis'THIS FOLLOW-UP IS AS ENTHRALLING AS ITS PREDECESSOR' Sunday Times'BRILLIANTLY IMAGINED AND THOROUGHLY CHILLING' Observer'BEGINS WITH A BANG AND DOESN'T LET UP' Clare ChambersThrilling dystopian fiction from the acclaimed author of Widowland. Perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood.It is 1955 and Britain is still a Protectorate of Germany. The assassination of the Leader on British soil provoked violent retribution towards British citizens, particularly women. Rose Ransom is amazed even to be alive, her role in the assassination miraculously overlooked. The widowed Queen Wallis reigns, yet some citizens hope that Elizabeth may one day return.President Eisenhower is to visit Britain and Rose is tasked with briefing Queen Wallis. She finds the queen in a state of paranoia, desperate to return to America. But Wallis, a poker addict, has a trump card - a document so explosive that it will blow the Protectorate apart, should she dare to reveal it.'FULL OF TWISTS' Red'A GRIPPING THRILLER' Bel Mooney'THRILLING, SUBVERSIVE' Jane Harris'A TRIUMPH' Amanda CraigTrade ReviewIt begins with a bang and doesn't let up. There were so many telling references to the current political climate it was frightening. C.J. Carey has created a detailed and convincing alternative universe and a gutsy heroine you really care about * Clare Chambers *Brilliantly imagined and thoroughly chilling, this is a counterfactual tour de force * Guardian *This is a chilling , compelling read, full of twists and ''what if?'' moments * Red *Exciting and provocative dystopian fiction * Observer *A triumph! So often, sequels disappoint, but Queen High is not just as compelling, sinister, satirical and original as Widowland, it's actually better in that it shows us how we might find a way out of tyranny and barbarism * Amanda Craig *Oh, be careful, people! Brilliant C.J. Carey hasn't just written a gripping thriller but holds a satirical mirror up to modern life. And at the heart of Queen High is a serious, passionate belief in the power of women and of books to effect change * Bel Mooney *Carey has built on the world of Widowland just brilliantly. The parallels with contemporary events (how character and history effect attitudes to "rules"; the sense of a political order making it up as it goes along; the role of women) are just ingenious. Wallace too, what a character! I hope it flies off the shelves - it deserves to' * Sabine Durrant *Another triumph from C.J. Carey in this follow-up to the brilliant Widowland. Thrilling, subversive, page-turning, deeply feminist, and beautifully written * Jane Harris *This follow-up is as enthralling as its predecessor * The Sunday Times *Rose's double life unravels as Carey coldly and cleverly controls the release of who knows what, reflecting the ruthless surveillance techniques of a totalitarian regime where no one trusts anyone * Daily Mail *A brilliant, vividly imagined spine-chilling dystopian thriller * Irish Independent *Words continue to have power both on and off the page as Carey expands her alternate history to good effect * Sci Fi Bulletin *Fascinating novel of alternative history and a suspenseful story * SHOTS Magazine *History as it might have been, wonderfully-sketched characters, crime and conspiracies: a perfect thriller and I can't wait for the next volume' * Crime Time *Irresistible mix of fact, fiction and feminism * Lancashire Evening Post *
£9.49
Amazon Publishing The Peacekeeper: A Novel
Book SynopsisSidewise Award Winner for Best Long Form. Against the backdrop of a never-colonized North America, a broken Ojibwe detective embarks on an emotional and twisting journey toward solving two murders, rediscovering family, and finding himself. North America was never colonized. The United States and Canada don’t exist. The Great Lakes are surrounded by an independent Ojibwe nation. And in the village of Baawitigong, a Peacekeeper confronts his devastating past. Twenty years ago to the day, Chibenashi’s mother was murdered and his father confessed. Ever since, caring for his still-traumatized younger sister has been Chibenashi’s privilege and penance. Now, on the same night of the Manoomin harvest, another woman is slain. His mother’s best friend. This leads to a seemingly impossible connection that takes Chibenashi far from the only world he’s ever known. The major city of Shikaakwa is home to the victim’s cruelly estranged family—and to two people Chibenashi never wanted to see again: his imprisoned father and the lover who broke his heart. As the questions mount, the answers will change his and his sister’s lives forever. Because Chibenashi is about to discover that everything about their lives has been a lie. A Michigan Notable Books selection.Trade Review“An excellent example of an imagined alternative North America where restorative justice is at the forefront, and with characters who are well-developed, this is a great debut from an author to watch.” —Shondaland
£8.54
Rebellion Publishing Ltd. A Broken Darkness
Book SynopsisIt’s been a year and a half since the Anomaly, when They tried to force Their way into the world from the shapeless void.Nick Prasad is piecing his life together, and has joined the secretive Ssarati Society to help monitor threats to humanity – including his former friend Johnny.Right on cue, the unveiling of Johnny’s latest experiment sees a fresh incursion of Them, leaving her protesting her innocence even as the two of them are thrown together to fight the darkness once more…Trade Review"With a strong sense of adventure and an engaging prose style, A Broken Darkness is a worthy, enjoyable entry to the sprawling genre of cosmic fiction." * Aurealis *
£8.54
Flame Tree Publishing Swords & Steam Short Stories
Book SynopsisFollowing the great success of the early Gothic Fantasy, deluxe edition short story compilations, Ghosts, Horror and Science Fiction, this exciting title in the series is packed with swashbuckling and steam-punking up to your eyeballs. Adventures and alt-historical tales from classic authors are cast with previously unpublished stories by exciting budding contemporary writers. New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Andrew Bourelle, Beth Cato, Amanda C. Davis, Daniel J. Davis, Jennifer Dornan-Fish, Spencer Ellsworth, David Jón Fuller, Kelly A. Harmon, Liam Hogan, B.C. Matthews, Angus McIntyre, Dan Micklethwaite, Victoria Sandbrook, Zach Shephard, Amy Sisson, and Brian Trent. These appear alongside classic stories by authors such as John Buchan, L. Maria Child, George Griffith, Robert E. Howard, Edward Page Mitchell and Jules Verne.
£17.00
Rebellion Publishing Ltd. The Carnival Of Ash
Book SynopsisTommaso Cellini, celebrated ruler of Cadenza, is dead. For Carlo Mazzoni, an aspiring poet, it is the worst possible moment to arrive at the city gates, his dreams of literary fame turning to disappointment and disgrace. For Vittoria – known to all but a handful as the notorious ink maid Hypatia – Tommaso’s death is overshadowed by the disappearance of her creative spark, while Vittoria’s impulsive sister Maddelina seeks to make her own name with a daring conspiracy.As Cadenza descends into anarchy amid rumours of war with its rival Venice, Carlo and the two sisters become entangled in intrigue, murder and revolution. Trade Review"A gorgeous, immersive triumph of Renaissance-flavored worldbuilding" -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * Publishers Weekly *“[A] delicate study of the demise of society” -- SciFiNow * SciFiNow *“Memorable” -- SFX Magazine * SFX Magazine *“The zest and wit that Beckerlegge infuses into his fantastical Decameron is marvelous” -- Locus * Locus *“This is a fabulous book” -- The Historical Novels Review, Editor's Choice * The Historical Novels Review *
£9.49
Titan Books Ltd Axiom’s End
Book SynopsisBy the fall of 2007, one well-timed leak revealing that the U.S. government might have engaged in first contact has sent the country into turmoil, and it is all Cora Sabino can do to avoid the whole mess. The force driving this controversy is Cora’s whistleblower father, and even though she hasn’t spoken to him in years, his celebrity has caught the attention of the press, the Internet, the paparazzi, and the government―and redirected it to her. She neither knows nor cares whether her father’s leaks are a hoax, and wants nothing to do with him―until she learns just how deeply entrenched her family is in the cover-up, and that an extraterrestrial presence has been on Earth for decades. To save her own life, she offers her services as an interpreter to a monster, and the monster accepts. Learning the extent to which both she and the public have been lied to, she sets out to gather as much information as she can, and finds that the best way for her to find the truth is not as a whistleblower, but as an intermediary. The alien presence has been completely uncommunicative until she convinces one of them that she can act as their interpreter, becoming the first and only human vessel of communication. But in becoming an interpreter, she begins to realize that she has become the voice for a being she cannot ever truly know or understand, and starts to question who she’s speaking for―and what future she’s setting up for all of humanity.
£16.19
Canelo Burning the Water
Book SynopsisBandits, soldiers, thieves, murderers: all thrive in the lawless hills...The Borders are at war. Henry VIII, fat and pained with a diseased leg, wants to burn them all; to burn the very water if he has to.Batty Coalhouse is still haunted by Maramaldo, the warlord responsible for cutting off his arm. He’s given an intriguing offer: find some stray nuns and bring them to safety. In turn, that will lead him to his nemesis, now rampaging with an army not far away in the Cheviot hills.What seems a routine assignment becomes a living hell, for in the Debatable lands, nothing is as it seems...Brimming with atmosphere and brutal violence, this is Robert Low at his best, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden and S. J. A. Turney.
£9.49
Canelo Killer of Rome
Book SynopsisCarbo returns in an unputdownable novel of murder and mystery in ancient RomeAfter years of captivity and torture by German barbarians, former legionary Cicurinus’ ordeal should be over.Hearing of the legendary Carbo, he returns to Rome to seek out this hero who might help to bring him balance. Instead he finds Carbo descending into alcoholism and gambling, a broken man who brutally rebuffs him.Devastated and disgusted by the immoral city around him, Cicurinus, embarks on a rampage of slaughter through Rome’s poor and downtrodden. And to hide his tracks, he frames Carbo for the crimes.With everything at stake, can Carbo master his demons, clear his name, and stop the Killer of Rome?This latest from Alex Gough, a master of the genre, is a Roman thriller that you won’t be able to put down. Perfect for readers of Simon Scarrow, Conn Iggulden and Ben Kane.
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC A Man Lies Dreaming
Book Synopsis'A twisted masterpiece' Guardian 1939. In a grotty corner of London, in a flat above a shop, a private eye known as Wolf keeps his office. The city is in the throes of a very British Fascism, and Wolf is far from the life he left behind in Germany, before the Fall. Business hasn't been good, so when a glamorous Jewish heiress comes through his door, he has no choice but to take on her case. It's a decision Wolf will soon regret. For in another time and place, a man lies dreaming. Once a Yiddish pulp writer, but now imprisoned in a hell of humanity's making, Shomer creates lurid tales of revenge in his sleep... Prescient, darkly funny and wholly original, the award-winning A Man Lies Dreaming is a modern fable for our time.Trade ReviewA twisted masterpiece... A Holocaust novel like no other, Lavie Tidhar's A Man Lies Dreaming comes crashing through the door of literature like Sam Spade with a .38 in his hand. This is a shocking book as well as a rather brilliant one' * Guardian *Tidhar tightropes between fantasy, farce, and historical fiction, all while grounding things in brisk, gritty noir. Parallels to our current state of affairs abound, but if anything, they're simply symptoms of how the past can recycle itself in frightening new ways – a process that Dreaming compellingly picks apart and rewires. History isn't written by the winners or the losers, Tidhar illustrates, but by those who know how to shroud it and spin it the most entertainingly. Which only makes Dreaming all the more chilling * NPR *Tidhar knows how to say a great deal in very little. There is eloquence and gravitas in the sparseness and brevity of noir fiction when it is good, and Tidhar's is quite incredible * TOR.com *Tidhar truly is one of the key literary voices of the modern age... A Man Lies Dreaming is a masterpiece' * The Fantasy Hive *
£8.54