Fantasy Books

Book SynopsisRecruit new soldiers, face new foes, and explore the mysteries of the Carpathian Mountains in two new campaigns, one competitive and one for solo or cooperative play.High in the Carpathian Mountains stands the crumbling Castle Fier. Once home to a powerful warlord, the castle cast a dark shadow across the nearby villages, until crusaders attacked with sword and flame to put an end to its menace. Though history passed into folklore, the ruins of Castle Fier remained shunned by all as a cursed site. Now, horrors have been seen moving at night. An army gathers. Something has awoken in the ruins. With the political situation in the surrounding region becoming increasingly unstable, France, Prussia, Britain, and the other powers have dispatched their best agents to investigate the ruins, eliminate any threats, and acquire any treasures that could prove useful in the ongoing fight against the harvestmen and each other.The Carpathians: Castle Fier is a supplemTrade ReviewWelcome and game-improving addition to the horror-soaked world of The Silver Bayonet. -- Wargames Illustrated * Wargames Illustrated *The combat system is really intuitive. -- Ash Barker * Guerrilla Miniatures Games *

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Book SynopsisTHE TIME HAS COME.SEKINOWARI - THE LAST WAR - HAS ARRIVED.The breakneck conclusion to the trilogy that started with We Are the Dead. To beat the ultimate evil, sometimes the price is more than you can pay . . . The war with the Egril has changed Tinnstra forever. A coward no more, she''ll go to any length to defeat every last one of her enemies.Zorique has grown into her powers. It''s time for her to lead her army into Jia and spearhead the fight for her homeland.But at what cost? The Egril emperor Raaku - the Son of Kage himself - is waiting for them. And he intends to destroy Zorique, Tinnstra and all their allies.They will need to put everything on the line if Jia hopes to see the dawn.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *PRAISE FOR THE LAST WAR:''Like Tarantino crossed with David Gemmell'' Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones''Dark, brutal, wonderful'' Nick Martell,Trade ReviewThere are moments of great prose, great action, and scenes that come alive and fill you with shock and awe, horror, and emotional arcs . . . A great conclusion to the Last War series * Al Al Hambra Book Reviews *One of my favorite fantasy series ever * Out of This World Reviews *A great conclusion to the Last War series * FanFiAddict *An action-packed and thrilling concluding volume from the beginning to the end * Novel Notions *This is fantasy at its best * Fantasy Book Nerd *A stunningly amazing series * Queen's Book Asylum *

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Book SynopsisTwo girls reluctantly bound by fate must weather a dangerous courtship as a prophesied war grows ever closer in Jasmine Skye''s high-stakes, queernormative dark fantasy debut, Daughter of the Bone Forest.Rosy is a bone familiar, gifted with the power to shift into animals marked with exposed bone. She spends most of her days in the magical Bone Forest, caring for her feral grandmother and hiding her powers to avoid conscription by the Witch King's army. Until the day that Princess Shaw, a witch known as Death's Heir, visits the Forest. When Rosy saves Shaw's life, the princess offers her the chance to attend the prestigious school, Witch Hall, as payment. Though Rosy is wary of Shaw's intentions, she cannot pass up the opportunity to find the cure for her grandmother's affliction. But at Witch Hall, Rosy finds herself embroiled in political games she doesn''t understand. Shaw wants Rosy for her entourage, a partner to help lead the coming war

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Book SynopsisI'm still here. Still immortal. The eagerly anticipated sequel to Immortal Beloved, the deeply alluring gothic romance.Trade Review'Darkness Falls has an exciting, pulse-pounding climax and is so good that you won't be able to put it down. Cate Tiernan is a master storyteller and I like the way she combines so many different elements into her books - magick, romance, danger, excitement, history and a character on an incredible journey towards a life of new promise. If you haven't read this book yet then I would recommend grabbing yourself a copy immediately'. * www.adreamofbooks.blogspot.co.uk on DARKNESS FALLS *'Tiernan gives Nastasya a strong, distinctive voice and wonderfully realized perspective on the joys and horrors of history.' * Publisher's Weekly on IMMORTAL BELOVED *Tiernan's writing is captivating and her characters endearing. She knows how to create a world a reader can get lost in, without your knowing, and I can't wait to get lost in book three! * themidnightreaders.blogspot.com *From the moment I started DARKNESS FALLS I couldn't put it down. Once again Cate has written a great book with enough action to keep you engrossed and wanting to find out more. I really can't wait to read the third instalment for this series. * muchlovedbooks.blogspot.com *I really enjoyed DARKNESS FALLS and would definitely recommend it to those who enjoyed the first book (and to those who haven't read the first book yet - read it!) * planet-print.blogspot.com *Cate Tiernan has written something very special with this series. * Novelsontherun.blogspot.com *'I really was swept away by DARKNESS FALLS, the tense build up had me gripping my book tighter and although Nastasya has loads of sarcastic and funny moments her overwhelming and crippling self-doubt had me really rooting for her. I'm now beyond excited about what the final instalment in the trilogy will bring'. * Mykeepershelf.blogspot.com *There is just something about it that keeps me reading, keeps my interest and makes me want the sequel again. So, I look forward to the final book in the Immortal Beloved series, hoping for that happy ever after. * Bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com *DARKNESS FALLS is everything I loved about IMMORTAL BELOVED and morE . . . I really love this series; it was such an addictive read. * Flutteringbutterflies.com *DARKNESS FALLS is an enjoyable sequel to Immortal Beloved with a dramatic ending, and I'm looking forward to seeing what journey we're taken on in [the next book]. * Theprettybooks.wordpress.com *'Cate Tiernan interlaces humour, romance and a dark story line. With her witty protagonist, she creates a book both entertaining and full of depth.' * www.realmoffiction.blogspot.co.uk *'Desire, death and painful secrets are revealed in this compulsively addictive sequel to Immortal Beloved . . . Darkness Falls contains all of the wittiness, punch and compelling dialogue of Immortal Beloved and more . . . with its twists and turns, a darkening storyline and plenty more romance and sexual tension, Darkness Falls knocks its predecessor for six.' * keepcalmandreadabook.wordpress.com *

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Book SynopsisNow with a stunning new cover look comes WIZARD AND GLASS, the fourth captivating volume in King''s epic fantasy series THE DARK TOWER.In the fourth novel in Stephen King''s bestselling fantasy quest, the Dark Tower beckons Roland, the Last Gunslinger, and the four companions he has gathered along the road.In a terrifying journey where hidden dangers lurk at every junction, the pilgrims find themselves stranded in an alternate version of Topeka, Kansas, that has been ravaged by a superflu virus.While following the deserted highway toward a distant glass palace, Roland recounts his tragic story about a seaside town called Hambry, where he fell in love with a girl named Susan Delgado and where he and his old tet-mates Alain and Cuthbert battled the forces of an evil harrier who ignited Mid-World''s final war.JOIN THE QUEST FOR THE DARK TOWER... ''Superbly energetic, it''s King at his best'' MAIL ON SUNDAY''Strange, scaryTrade ReviewKing's magnificent uberstory is finally complete... King's achievement is startling; his characters fresh... his plot sharply drawn... It is magic. * Daily Express on THE DARK TOWER *Join the quest before it's too late * Independent on Sunday on THE SONG OF SUSANNAH *

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Book SynopsisNow with a stunning new cover look comes WOLVES OF THE CALLA, the fifth captivating volume in King's epic fantasy series THE DARK TOWER.Trade ReviewKing's magnificent uberstory is finally complete... King's achievement is startling; his characters fresh... his plot sharply drawn... It is magic. * Daily Express on THE DARK TOWER *Join the quest before it's too late * Independent on Sunday on THE SONG OF SUSANNAH *

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Book SynopsisStephen King's epic fantasy series, The Dark Tower, is being made into a major motion picture starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. Due in cinemas August 18, 2017.Trade Review[A] phantasmagorical folk tale . . . King's ability to entertain and unsettle cannot be denied. The skill with which he delivers a shock or sense of gothic terror is simply unmatched * Independent on Sunday *Perfectly balanced: another excellent example of King's sheer skill as a storyteller. * Daily Express *Like John Steinbeck, he's an unfussy writer whose voice is rooted equally in the rhythms of everyday speech and the mythic made manifest in everyday life. Indeed, reading King, you often sense the presence of the dustbowl America of The Grapes of Wrath . . . a King novel has a sparse elegance that most novelists never achieve in a whole career. Put it down to the insistent, economical and wholly distinctive authorial voice. * SFX Magazine *A frantic-paced puzzle-box adventure that encompasses gunslinger Roland Deschain's early years, werewolves and powerful storytelling. * Shortlist *King is one of the great popular artists of our time. * Independent *Classic King, fine characters, compellingly written in a gripping, well-honed plot * Daily Express on WOLVES OF THE CALLA *Superbly energetic, it's King at his best. * Mail on Sunday on WIZARD AND GLASS *

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Book SynopsisThe complete Cthulhu Mythos by master horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, now with a creatively embroidered cover.The Cthulhu Mythos is a collection of 23 loosely connected short stories by H. P. Lovecraft, one of the earliest masters of dark fantasy and horror. From “Dagon” to “The Call of Cthulhu” to “The Haunter of the Dark,” each story connects to the ancient cosmic entities known as the Great Old Ones, buried in a deep sleep beneath the earth and incomprehensible to mankind. For the few mortals who dare to glimpse this unknowable world, the result is a complete disconnection from what was once considered reality. Lovecraft’s stories are grim, fantastical, dark, horrifying—and yet endlessly fascinating. This Crafted Classics edition is a keepsake to be treasured, featuring a decorative embroidered cover that gives the book a unique, handcrafted appearance.

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Book SynopsisPart of the all-new Seven Seas imprint dedicated to sexy romance for women: Steamship! A reverse harem isekai romance of supernatural suitors and seduction.In this isekai romance, a young woman named Mashiro is reborn in a fantasy world inhabited only by men–and suddenly finds herself with four supernatural suitors! These handsome men with fur, feathers, and horns call themselves gods. She’s now the sole human female in their world, so they all want her to bear their children. As if that’s not enough, the air of this new realm is permeated with a poison that only a god can suppress…with a kiss.

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Book SynopsisPRESENT. PAST. SPELLBOUND. Sybil and Blake Gregory live a well-ordered, predictable Manhattan life — she as a cutting-edge design authority and museum consultant, he in high-tech investments — raising their teenagers Andrew and Caroline and six-year-old Charlie. But when Blake is offered a dream job as CEO of a start-up in San Francisco, he accepts it, without consulting his wife, and buys a magnificent, historic mansion as their new home in Pacific Heights.Past and present collide at their elegant mansion, when they meet the large and lively family who lived there a century ago. All long dead but very much alive in spirit—visible to the Gregorys and no one else. Within these enchanted rooms, it is at once 1917 and a century later. Have the Gregorys been given a perfect gift; beloved friends, a chance to relive the past and the wisdom and grace to shape the future?

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Book SynopsisAn ambitious warlord leaves his nephew for dead and seizes his lands.A stubborn father forces his younger son to surrender his wife to his older brother.A mysterious woman seeks five fathers for her children.A powerful priest meddles in the succession to the Lotus Throne.These are the threads of an intricate tapestry in which the laws of destiny play out against a backdrop of wild forest, elegant court, and savage battlefield. Set in a mythical medieval Japan inhabited by warriors and assassins, ghosts and guardian spirits, Emperor of the Eight Islands by Lian Hearn is a brilliantly imagined novel, full of drama and intrigue – the beginning of an enthralling, epic adventure: The Tale of Shikanoko.Trade ReviewA work as densely populated as a Russian novel [which] moves onwards with the narrative force of a flood. It is easy to let the book sweep the reader away, to engage with strange events, but very compelling characters [and] huge imaginative vitality. * Sydney Morning Herald *The Otori world is feudal Japan with imaginary place names, written in the spirit of The Tale of Genji and other classics. As with Genji, two warring clans seek to control the Emperor, and the country itself. The books are carefully researched, being surely the most wildly successful product of an Asialink grant. They convince as if being read in translation, as if Hearn is merely the medium for some lost and ancient text. Much like 'Game of Thrones', the book can be read as political intrigue, with great strength deriving from the character studies. Nobody is black or white, rather shades of grey. * Melbourne Age *One of the great joys of genre novels is that they usually care deeply about plot, satisfying the innately human desire for story. And there is story aplenty here. The unfolding events are so fascinating, the writing so lithe and seductive. There's no need to have read Hearn's earlier Otori series, set in the same remarkable fantasy world, to enjoy this one. Indeed, her new epic seems sure to recruit a fresh legion of fans. * The Saturday Paper *Hearn once again brings . . . a breadth of scale, ideas, and adventure that rivals any other fantasy for its pure ambition and sheer pleasure . . . Lian Hearn's return to her rich, unique universe offers everything you want from the genre, but with a wholly distinct flavor and style. In short, you'll immediately want to begin reading book two. -- Barnes & Noble blogThe action comes thick and fast . . . The compelling characters and captivating worldbuilding means readers will look forward to part two. * Japan Times *Wonderfully evocative . . . intriguing. * Queensland Times *A fitting follow-up to the Otori series * The Age *Brutally thrilling historical fantasy * The Herald Sun *A must-read * Aurealis *All kinds of brilliant. Awesome storytelling. -- Max PorterThe fluid prose and morally ambiguous characters are magically seductive. * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Annihilation, now a major motion picture on Netflix.Janice Shriek, ex-society figure, narrates this tale with flamboyant intensity and under increasingly urgent conditions. We follow the adventures of her brother Duncan, an historian obsessed with a doomed love affair, and learn of a secret that may kill or transform him. We witness a war between rival publishing houses that will change Ambergris forever. And we’re introduced to the gray caps, a marginalized people armed with advanced fungal technologies, who’ve been waiting underground for their chance to mould the future of the city. Shriek: An Afterword by the Nebula Award winning author Jeff VanderMeer is an epic yet personal look at life, love and death in the vividly imagined city of Ambergris. And, through this tumultuous story of the family Shriek, the author shows his genius at capturing and displaying the bizarre. Praised by China Miéville, The Times, Guardian and many others, this tale relates the scandalous, heart-breaking and horrifying secret history of two squabbling siblings and their confidantes, protectors, and enemies.Trade ReviewUnsettling, erudite, dark, shot through with unexpected humour * China Miéville *Challenging, intelligent and downright fun * Guardian *There are touches of Borges and Nabokov as well as H. P. Lovecraft in this tale of changing fortunes and shifting relationships . . . atmospheric * The Times *Five stars . . . from an author who should be turning heads in the 'serious' literary world * BBC Focus Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'Darkness isn't the opposite of light, it is simply its absence . . . what was radiating from the book was the light that lies on the far side of darkness, the light fantastic.'The Discworld is in danger, heading towards a seemingly inevitable collision with a malevolent red star, its magic fading. It needs a hero, and fast.What it doesn't need is Rincewind, an inept and cowardly wizard who is still recovering from the trauma of falling off the edge of the world. Or Twoflower, the well-meaning tourist whose luggage has a mind (and legs) of its own.Which is a shame, because that's all there is . . .'His spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction' Mail on Sunday 'Incredibly funny, compulsively readable' The TimesThe Light Fantastic is the second book in the Wizards series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.Trade ReviewClever, engaging and laugh-out-loud funny * The Times *Pure fantastic delight * Time Out *

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Book Synopsis''As brilliant as its predecessor'' SF REVUBitter and merciless war is coming to the frozen north. It''s bloody and dangerous and the Union army, split by politics and hamstrung by incompetence, is utterly unprepared for the slaughter that''s coming. Lacking experience, training, and in some cases even weapons the army is scarcely equipped to repel Bethod''s scouts, let alone the cream of his forces.In the heat-ravaged south the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta. The city is braced for the inevitable defeat and massacre to come, preparations are made to make the Gurkish pay for every inch of land ... but a plot is festering to hand the city to its beseigers without a fight, and the previous Inquisitor of Dagoska vanished without trace. Threatened from within and without the city, Glokta needs answers, and he needs them soon.And to the east a small band of malefactors travel to the edge of the world to recTrade ReviewHighly recommended - a funny, finely-wrought, terrifically energetic work of high fantasy. Seek it out -- Joe HillBefore They Are Hanged is an excellent sequel from an author writing compelling, character-driven, adult fantasy, for readers who want to be entertained as well as challenged * SF WORLD *In my opinion, Joe Abercrombie possesses all the qualities that made David Eddings such a powerhouse during the 80s and 90s. Before They Are Hanged is a satisfying sequel which should establish Joe Abercrombie as one of the bright new voices of the genre. * FANTASY HOT LIST *Before They Are Hanged grabs you and drags you along. * SFF SITE *Dark, deeply ironic and full of character gems that will appeal to your cynical side, Before They Are Hanged is as brilliant as its predecessor. * SF REVU *We're right there in the heads of these dudes, thanks to the author's style of showcasing their thoughts. His knowing turn of phrase means that situations often appear ironic, with peripheral characters verging on the Dickensian. This follow-up is crammed with unexpected betrayals, murders and liaisons, often catching us off guard. * SFX *Before They Are Hanged is an excellent sequel from an author writing compelling, character-driven, adult fantasy, for readers who want to be entertained as well as challenged. * SFF WORLD *In my opinion, Joe Abercrombie possesses all the qualities that made David Eddings such a powerhouse during the 80s and 90s. Before They Are Hanged is a satisfying sequel which should establish Joe Abercrombie as one of the bright new voices of the genre. * FANTASY HOT LIST *Before They Are Hanged grabs you and drags you along. * SFF SITE *Dark, deeply ironic and full of character gems that will appeal to your cynical side, Before They Are Hanged is as brilliant as its predecessor. -- John Berlyne * SF REVU *We're right there in the heads of these dudes, thanks to the author's style of showcasing their thoughts. His knowing turn of phrase means that situations often appear ironic, with peripheral characters verging on the Dickensian. This follow-up is crammed with unexpected betrayals, murders and liaisons, often catching us off guard. -- Dave Bradley * SFX *

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Book SynopsisAn action-packed return to the Scorched Continent ­ and this time Detan and his band of rogues must defend their city against not one but two armies.Trade Review"A worthy conclusion to the series." - Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviews; "This is the ending that the series deserved." - Ever the Crafter; "Great chases, grand uses of magic, and great banter." – Mental Megalodon; "Read the trilogy; it is very much worthy of your attention." – Morpheus Tales; Praise and Reviews for the Scorched Earth series "Blend two lovable rogues, a magical doppelganger, and a nasty empire, and you have O'Keefe's Steal the Sky. It's like an epic steampunk Firefly." - Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger; "The storyline and world building were impeccable as were the depth of the characters that inhabited it. I am really looking forward to more from this author." - Koeur's Book Reviews; "The tension rises throughout, leading up to an action packed third act, with some characters living up to their full potential. Mysteries keep unfolding, and you never truly learn the whole story, which means that there is now yet another series that I'm eagerly anticipating the follow up to." - Fantasy Faction; "It's a buddy tale, a heist caper, a socioeconomic thriller and a steampunk-seasoned fantasia all at once. And it fires beautifully on all cylinders." – Jason Heller for NPR; "Megan O'Keefe's stories are always vivid and compelling." – Tim Powers, author of Declare and Three Days to Never; "Megan O'Keefe's prose is so full of fascinating twists and delights, you won't want to put it down. Go ahead, open it up: I dare you!" – David Farland, author of the bestselling Runelords series; "Come for the heist, stay for the inventive world building." – Kirkus Reviews; "The tension rises throughout, leading up to an action packed third act, with some characters living up to their full potential. Mysteries keep unfolding, and you never truly learn the whole story, which means that there is now yet another series that I'm eagerly anticipating the follow up to." – Fantasy Faction; "Steal the Sky is a fun secondary-world adventure with plenty of exciting action, surprising twists, and wonderful payoffs to small seeds skillfully laid throughout the story." – Lightspeed Magazine; "I must confess that I tore through this instalment, and I'm really looking forward to the next one." – Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviews; "I am so glad to say that this book lived up to my pretty high expectations perfectly. I loved it. Detan is back and just as cocky as ever." – Ever the Crafter; "Break the Chains is a fantastic follow up to Steal the Sky. This is what anticipating a new fantasy series should feel like!" – The Conversationalist; "An excellent sequel to the excellent Steal The Sky." – Reading Trance

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Book Synopsis''The Queen and the bat had been talking a good deal that afternoon...''The Victorian fascination with fairyland vivified the literature of the period, and led to some of the most imaginative fairy tales ever written. They offer the shortest path to the age''s dreams, desires, and wishes. Authors central to the nineteenth-century canon such as W. M. Thackeray, Oscar Wilde, Ford Madox Ford, and Rudyard Kipling wrote fairy tales, and authors primarily famous for their work in the genre include George MacDonald, Juliana Ewing, Mary De Morgan, and Andrew Lang. This anthology brings together fourteen of the best stories, by these and other outstanding practitioners, to show the vibrancy and variety of the form and its abilities to reflect our deepest concerns.In tales of whimsy and romance, witty satire and uncanny mystery, love, suffering, family and the travails of identity are imaginatively explored. Michael Newton''s introduction and notes provide illuminating contextual and biographical information about the authors and the development of the literary fairy tale. A selection of original illustrations is also included.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewWhimsical or romantic, sharply satirical or fogged with mystery, these powerful tales by the likes of Thackeray, Wilde and doyenne of the genre Mary De Morgan probe the deepest human concerns, while reflecting the more of the period. * JC, The Lady *This is not your average fairy tale book by any means. Witty, tongue-in-cheek references that adults will howl over while entertaining every child. A true delight. * NetGalley *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; NOTE ON THE TEXTS; SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY; A CHRONOLOGY OF THE VICTORIAN FAIRY TALE; PROLOGUE: GRIMM, 'RUMPEL-STILTS-KIN' AND HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, 'THE PRINCESS AND THE PEAS'; ROBERT SOUTHEY, 'THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS'; JOHN RUSKIN, 'THE KING OF THE GOLDEN RIVER'; WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY, 'THE ROSE AND THE RING'; GEORGE MACDONALD, 'THE GOLDEN KEY'; DINAH MULOCK CRAIK, 'THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE AND HIS TRAVELLING CLOAK'; MARY DE MORGAN, 'THE WANDERINGS OF ARASMON'; JULIANA HORATIA EWING, 'THE FIRST WIFE'S WEDDING RING'; OSCAR WILDE, 'THE SELFISH GIANT'; ANDREW LANG, 'PRINCE PRIGIO'; FORD MADOX FORD, 'THE QUEEN WHO FLEW'; LAURENCE HOUSMAN, 'THE STORY OF THE HERONS'; KENNETH GRAHAME, 'THE RELUCTANT DRAGON'; E. NESBIT, 'MELISANDE'; RUDYARD KIPLING, 'DYMCHURCH FLIT'; APPENDIX: WHAT IS A FAIRY TALE?'; EXPLANATORY NOTES

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Book SynopsisBorn in tragedy and raised in poverty, Krishanjit never aspired to be anything greater than what he was: a humble goatherd, tending his flock on the slopes of his isolated mountain home.But Krish has learned that he''s the son of the king of Ashanesland - and the moon god reborn. Now, with the aid of his allies, Krish is determined to fight his murderous father and seize control of Ashanesland. But his allies Dae Hyo, Eric and Olufemi, are dangerously unreliable and hiding secrets of their own. To take Ashanesland, Krish must travel to the forbidden Mirror Town and unlock the secrets of its powerful magic. But the price of his victory may be much greater than the consequences of his defeat... For, deep in the distant Moon Forest lives a girl called Cwen - a disciple of the god known only as the Hunter. She believes that Krish represents all that is evil in the world. And she has made it her life''s mission to seek Krish and destroy all who fight by his side.Trade ReviewFans of either Abraham or Abercrombie-fans of fantasy full stop, in fact-will find lots to like in Smiler's Fair. Its setting, its narrative, its characters-unlikeable as they are-all impress immensely, developed as they are with depth and discerning detail. In truth, the only complaint I'd make about the book is that there isn't more of it. - Tor.com on Smiler's FairThe first volume of The Hollow Gods is consistently surprising, packing in plenty of character development, fast and brutal action. - SFX on Smiler's FairWe can judge other-world fantasy by the extent we want to return to it - and I can't wait to book my ticket back to the next episode of this outstanding, multi-stranded debut. - Daily Mail on Smiler's FairLittle by little, as the narrative twists and turns, Levene reveals the depth and complexity of her created world and leaves the reader eager for the next instalment. - Guardian on Smiler's Fair

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Book SynopsisSavage giant moles, rail pirates, and explorers abound in China Miéville's thrilling young adult novel, Railsea.On board the moletrain Medes, Sham Yes ap Soorap watches in awe as he witnesses his first moldywarpe hunt. The giant mole bursting from the earth, the harpoonists targeting their prey, the battle resulting in one’s death and the other’s glory - are extraordinary. But no matter how spectacular it is, travelling the endless rails of the railsea, Sham senses that there’s more to life. Even if his captain can think only of her obsessive hunt for one savage mole. When they find a wrecked train, it's a welcome distraction. But the impossible salvage Sham finds there leads to trouble. Soon he's hunted on all sides: by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters and salvage-scrabblers. And it might not be just Sham's life that's about to change. It could be the whole of the railsea.Trade ReviewFiction of the new century. * Neil Gaiman *Miéville’s work is thrillingly imaginative . . . immensely witty & utterly unforgettable. * Scotland on Sunday *One of the most imaginative young writers around in any kind of fiction. * Guardian *Miéville’s imagined societies may be fantastic, but they are utterly coherent . . . wonderfully infectious. * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe stories collected in What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours are linked by more than the exquisitely winding prose of their creator: Helen Oyeyemi's ensemble cast of characters slip from the pages of their own stories only to surface in another.The reader is invited into a world of lost libraries and locked gardens, of marshlands where the drowned dead live and a city where all the clocks have stopped; students hone their skills at puppet school, the Homely Wench Society commits a guerrilla book-swap, and lovers exchange books and roses on St Jordi's Day. It is a collection of towering imagination, marked by baroque beauty and a deep sensuousness.Trade ReviewOyeyemi's imagination is impressive and vast . . . Her ability to conceive her stories on such a grand scale is what makes her work so magnetic, sucking the reader into any number of netherworlds. Perhaps it's this ability to consume and be consumed that keeps Oyeyemi constantly, and prolifically, at work. * Guardian *Transcendent . . . the pleasurable awareness of a story being told courses through the collection like electricity . . . Oyeyemi expertly melds the everyday, the fantastic and the eternal . . . with each story I had the delightful and rare experience of being utterly surprised . . . Oyeyemi has created a universe that dazzles and wounds * New York Times *Alluring . . . the style and peculiar authority of this exceptional young writer will carry you carefully through thelabyrinth and into a new and exciting literary landscape . . . If you are seduced by magical realism - particularly the novels of Allende and Marquez - you will savour Oyeyemi's inventive tales. * Daily Mail *Wild, luscious and startling . . . Oyeyemi glides seamlessly across time, space and genre . . . Oyeyemi's observations are as sharp as they are humorous. But she is equally at home in a more lyrical mode, her writing warm and sensuous . . . these gorgeously baroque stories are full of humour, tenderness, wisdom and strange delights -- Rebecca Abrams * Financial Times *Enchanting . . . the breadth of Oyeyemi's imagination is impressive, teetering, as ever, on the edge of magical realism. Her use of fairytales, folklore and ghost stories is distinctly reminiscent of the work ofAngela Carter . . . inviting, luscious prose. -- Lucy Scholes * Guardian *Curious, erotic, by turns dark and humorous; like the many secrets these stories reveal, Helen Oyeyemi's imagination is ripe to be unlocked, revelled in and treasured. * Literary Review *Ethereal beauty and unexpected humour * Independent on Sunday *Boasts ambitious stories written masterfully by an adventurous author, and is another example of Oyeyemi's skill at finding inspiration in the smallest and most ephemeral details. * New York Times Live *What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours illustrates the necessity and power of private, written confessions. * New Yorker *This is a truly exceptional work of fiction, by a writer we should be delirious to have as a contemporary. -- Stuart Evers * Independent *Oyeyemi's fireworks illuminate a world in which other people are always more mysterious and strange than we might think * Spectator *[Oyeyemi] has come up with something unique, keeping pace with a modern mixed-up world * Daily Telegraph *Oyeyemi takes the classic folk tale on a sometimes dark, often erotic, always fantastic, journey. The book itself is a thing of beauty, too. * Pool *Oyeyemi captures the off-kilter fairy-tale magic of her 2014 masterwork, Boy, Snow, Bird . . . [she] writes with mastery, sometimes keeping her prose sparse and declarative only to unleash a bounty of description and humor a sentence later. * Entertainment Weekly *Beautifully broken tales with wonderfully flawed characters . . . a fascinating glimpse into a world built on our fears, hopes and desires . . . articulating such disorder proves Oyeyemi as the painstakingly masterful writer that she is. * Stylist *The best teller of fairy tales we've got . . . [Oyeyemi's] first collection of short stories is obviously a bit of a treat . . . allowing for more invention, more sexiness and more beautiful sentences that lead you round the corner to something surprising . . . brilliant * Emerald Street *Witty and tender . . . simple and beautiful . . . hers is a rare talent -- Kate Clanchy * Guardian *These short stories are pure, sensuous enjoyment, packed with colour and passion * Times *A collection of short stories, which will suck the reader into Oyeyeymi's wild and surreal imagination. * Red Magazine *Occasionally gothic, sometimes fantastical, always captivating. * Radio Times *Oyeyemi has created a universe that dazzles and wounds. * Scotland on Sunday *It is Oyeyemi's boundless inventiveness which drives these stories . . . stylistically bold, fantastical, disorientating and ruthlessly defying convention. Oyeyemi, one of the Granta Best of Young British Novelists 2013, now effortlessly outpaces most of her peers. In this short fiction we can discern hints of Angela Carter and hear notes of Aimee Bender but on the whole what rings out is Oyeyemi's singular, magical voice. * National *Her arguments, about identity, about sexuality, are more fluid than [Angela] Carter's . . . Reading What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours is like settling into a rollercoaster: you must abandon yourself * New Statesman *What is Not Yours is Not Yours is like a charmed set of Russian dolls: spellbound, we are gripped by the seamlessly joined stories unfolding from-and into-one another, as we wait for Oyeyemi to reach for her next bit of magic. * Londonist *Dizzying, baffling, and beguiling . . . unruly in the best way, drawing on pre-modern modes of story-telling (fairy tales, Boccaccio, The Arabian Nights) to show they've lost none of their power in the present * Vulture *Imaginative, playful and entirely unique, this collection of short stories is magical realism at its finest * Time Out (US) *The stories in this collection are poetic and puzzling . . . get ready to tumble through the doors of this beautifully challenging and satisfying collection * NPR *

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Book SynopsisVimes is back, in all his curmudgeonly glory, in this classic, perceptive and laugh-out-loud Discworld mystery that will keep you turning the pages.''In my opinion, this is the book where Pratchett *really* hits his stride in terms of the city watch books . . . Is this book worth your time? Yes. A thousand times yes'' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the WindTHERE''S A WEREWOLF WITH PRE-LUNAR TENSION IN ANKH-MORPORK. AND A DWARF WITH ATTITUDE AND A GOLEM WHO''S BEGUN TO THINK FOR ITSELF.But for Commander Vimes, Head of Ankh-Morpork City Watch, that''s only the start...There''s treason in the air. A crime has happened.He''s not only got to find out whodunit, but howdunit too. He''s not even sure what they dun. But soon as he knows what the questions are, he''s going to want some answers.Readers love Feet of Clay:''One of the best Pratchett bo

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Book SynopsisThe funniest, most insighftul, clever and totally bonkers parody of all things Shakespeare, filled to the brim with Pratchett''s signature style.''Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own'' The Times''The Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies'' Independent''An enduring, endearing presence in comic literature'' GuardianWitches are not by nature gregarious, and they certainly don''t have leaders.Granny Weatherwax was the most highly regarded of the leaders they didn''t have.But even she found that meddling in royal politics was a lot more difficult than certain playwrights would have you believe...Readers love Wyrd Sisters:''Witty, well written, amusing anecdotes, Shakespeare/real life parody, DEATH, witches it has to be Terry Pratchett''<

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Book SynopsisOctober Toby Daye is finally doing all right. She''s settling into her new role as the Countess of Goldengreen; she''s actually dating again; she''s even agreed to take on Quentin as her official squire. Life is looking up all around-and that inevitably means it''s time for things to take a turn for the worse.Someone has kidnapped the sons of Duchess Dianda Lorden, regent of the Undersea Duchy of Saltmist. To prevent a war between land and sea, Toby must not only find the missing boys, but also prove that the Queen of the Mists was not behind their abduction. She''ll need all her tricks and the help of all her allies if she wants to make it through this in one piece.Toby''s search will take her from the streets of San Francisco to the lands beneath the waves, and her deadline is firm: she must find the boys in three days'' time, or all of the Mists will pay the price. But someone is determined to stop her-and whoever it is isn''t playing by Oberon''s Laws...As the battleTrade ReviewIn this tightly plotted adventure, McGuire mixes nonstop action with a wealth of mythology to deliver a wholly satisfying story - Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisCassie Palmer has her work cut out - her ability to see the future and talk to ghosts gets her mixed up with vampires, fae, and non-stop action.

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Book SynopsisShapeshifting skinwalker Jane Yellowrock has her hands full when a gang of European fangheads arrive in New Orleans.

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Book SynopsisThe fifth and final book in The Heir Chronicles series - another epic fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author.Trade Review'Twists and turns abound in this remarkable, nearly flawless novel that mixes a young man's coming of age with fantasy and adventure' - VOYA'An epic battle between good and evil' - SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

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Book SynopsisAnd then a mysterious figure called Bird Man guides Ava into a perilous part of the swamp called the Underworld, promising he can save both her sister and the park...Swamplandia! was longlisted for the 2011 Orange Prize and shortlisted for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize and 2013 IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.Trade ReviewMs Russell has produces a rich and humid world of spirits and dreams, buzzing mosquitoes and prehistoric reptiles, baby-green cocoplums and marsh rabbits, and musty old tomes about heroes and spells. With Ava she has created a goofy and self-conscious girl who is young enough to hope that all darkness has an answering lightness. Inevitably she must learn otherwise. Swamplandia! is ultimately about the aching beauties of youth - the way life begins with such dumb sweetness, while the lessons that give it meaning lurk around each bend like terrifying gators in a mossy fragrant swamp * The Economist *The tale of the two flyaway sisters proves lyrically powerful as it maps the enchanted but dangerous worlds that young minds can conjure to deal with grief -- Stephen Amidon * Sunday Times *It's a wonderfully extravagant, eccentric story by a brilliant young writer with an amazing imagination -- Kate Saunders * The Times *I was looking forward to Swamplandia! and I wasn't disappointed. I found this novel beautifully written and very witty, yet often extremely sad too * TheBookBag.com *The Miami-born writer renders the travails and delights of a...dreamlike world that leaves you intoxicated and slightly dishevelled * Monocle *

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Book SynopsisVampires, witchcraft and voodoo come together in this vivid, exotic and terrifying novel Louis is a vampire tortured by guilt. His status as a killer has left him conflicted for much of his immortal life, but after the murder of Claudia, his beloved child vampire, he spirals into a state of depression.Trade ReviewRice writes with a captivating elegance and a mordant wit. She can create fear in the dark but her most dangerous gift is that the shivers sent down the spine are most sensual * Literary Review *Rice knows what her readers want - scene after scene of magic and conjuring, with a liberal sprinkling of horror and eroticism * Times Literary Supplement *Rice's writing is wonderfully imaginative and as creepily splendid as a hot-house orchid * Sunday Times *Rice's witches are sensual glamorous beings, bisexual and hedonistic, whose power is a knife that cuts both ways * GQ *Sensuous... A steaming brew of vampires and witches * Los Angeles Tmes *

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Book SynopsisBorn in 1931, Julian May sold her first short story to John W. Campbell's Astounding magazine in 1951. But she didn't return to genre fiction until the 1980s. May then wrote the phenomenally successful Saga of the Exiles, followed by the Galactic Milieu series. The Many-Coloured Land won the Locus Best Novel Award and was shortlisted for numerous other high-profile genre awards.

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Book SynopsisThe Forest House tells of an era of upheaval and change. The Roman grip on their empire was slackening; the Druidic Order - far stronger that the tiny Christian sect - was itself in turmoil. Caught in the centre of the conflict is a young British girl of druidic family, chosen to be a priestess, and a roman tribune, ambitious for power but - as the son of a British mother - torn between two cultures. This is a dramatic, illuminating tale of rebellion and religion.

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Book SynopsisRob Grant and Doug Naylor were part of the gestalt entity known as Grant Naylor, which created and wrote the Emmy award-winning series Red Dwarf for BBC television. Together they were head writers for Spitting Image in the mid-eighties, and together they wrote two novels, Red Dwarf (1989) and Better Than Life (1991). Since 1994 they have been pursuing separate careers, and each has written a bestselling Red Dwarf novel; Doug's Last Human was published in 1995, Rob's Backwards was published in 1996. All these books are available in Penguin and have sold over 1.7 million copies.

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Book Synopsis2018 NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION''S 5 UNDER 35 HONOREEA fevered, lyrical debut about two young women drawn into an ever-intensifying friendship set against the stark, haunted landscape of the Sonoran desert and the ecstatic frenzy of New York City.Ahlam, the daughter of a Palestinian refugee and his Israeli wife, grows up in the arid lands of desert suburbia outside of Phoenix. In a stark landscape where coyotes prowl and mysterious lights occasionally pass through the nighttime sky, Ahlam’s imagination reigns. She battles chronic fever dreams and isolation. When she meets her tempestuous counterpart Laura, the two fall into infatuated partnership, experimenting with drugs and sex and boys, and watching helplessly as a series of mysterious deaths claim high school classmates.The girls flee their pasts for New York City, but as their emotional bond heightens, the intensity of their lives becomes unbearable. In search of love, ecstasy, oblivion, and belonging, Ahlam and Laura’s drive to outrun the ghosts of home threatens to undo them altogether.

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An io9 Can’t Miss Science Fiction and Fantasy title in March 2014. Martin Banks is just a normal guy who has made an abnormal discovery: he can manipulate reality, thanks to reality being nothing more than a computer program. With every use of this ability, though, Martin finds his little “tweaks” have not escaped notice. Rather than face prosecution, he decides instead to travel back in time to the Middle Ages and pose as a wizard. What could possibly go wrong? An American hacker in King Arthur’s court, Martin must now train to become a full-fledged master of his powers, discover the truth behind the ancient wizard Merlin…and not, y’know, die or anything.

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Book SynopsisA wondeful collection of fantasy short stories from the renowned author of the Thomas Covenant series.Trade Review‘If there is any justice in the literary world, Donaldson will earn the right to stand shoulder to shoulder with Tolkien.’Time Out ‘A writer of central significance as an author of demanding and exploratory fantasy.’JOHN CLUTE ‘The most individual of the Tolkien successors.’Guardian

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Booker Prize.In a small East Anglian town, Florence Green decides, against polite but ruthless local opposition, to open a bookshop.Hardborough becomes a battleground. Florence has tried to change the way things have always been done, and as a result, she has to take on not only the people who have made themselves important, but natural and even supernatural forces too. Her fate will strike a chord with anyone who knows that life has treated them with less than justice.Trade Review‘Reading a Penelope Fitzgerald novel is like being taken for a ride in a peculiar kind of car. Everything is of top quality – the engine, the coachwork and the interior all fill you with confidence. Then, after a mile or so, someone throws the steering-wheel out of the window.’ Sebastian Faulks ‘Wise and ironic, funny and humane, Fitzgerald is a wonderful, wonderful writer.’ David Nicholls ‘Its stylishness, and this low-voiced lack of emphasis are a pleasure throughout, its moral and human positions invariably sympathetic. But it is astringent too: no self-pity in its self-effacing heroine, who in a world of let-downs and put-downs and poltergeists, keeps her spirit bright and her book-stock miraculously dry in the damp, seeping East Anglian landscape.’ Isabel Quigley, Financial Times ‘Penelope Fitzgerald’s resources of odd people are impressively rich. Raven, the marshman, who ropes Florence in to hang on to an old horse’s tongue while he files the teeth; old Brundish, secretive as a badger, slow as a gorse bush. And this is not just a gallery of quirky still lives; these people appear in vignettes, wryly, even comically animated…On any reckoning, a marvellously piercing fiction.’ Valentine Cunningham, TLS

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Book SynopsisThe third instalment in the Darkhaven series.Trade ReviewPraise for DARKHAVEN: ‘DARKHAVEN hooked me quickly with its assured prose, nonstandard secondary world, and willingness to explore shapeshifting from another angle … The prose remains elegant and assured throughout, and the story’s charms are enough to keep the reader engaged and interested’ In the Forest of Stories ‘I really enjoyed the concept of this book, and I was looking forward to finding out more about the shifter’s abilities and whether or not there were more shifters to be discovered. Overall, I loved the writing style … whilst the blend of characters complemented each other well and helped the story to flow at a good pace’ Book Chick City ‘The reader cannot help but be drawn in by such an amazing world in which the characters wander. The city runs on symbolism and ritual. Each person has a place, and each place has a meaning. The backdrop is beautiful, the characters are engaging, and although you might see the third act twist coming, Smith still provides plenty of surprises and intrigue to leave me eagerly waiting for what’s next’ Fangirls Read it First ‘What a very enjoyable start to series … a very engaging read that I really enjoyed and it ended on a perfect set up for the next book’ Lynn’s Books

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Book SynopsisJ.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy story about the adventures of a bewitched toy dog, written before The Hobbit.While on holiday in 1925, four-year-old Michael Tolkien lost his beloved toy dog on the beach at Filey in Yorkshire. To console him, his father, J.R.R.Tolkien, improvised a story about Rover, a real dog who is magically transformed into a toy and is forced to seek out the wizard who wronged him in order to be returned to normal.This charming tale, peopled by a sand-sorcerer and a terrible dragon, by the king of the sea and the Man-in-the-Moon, was Tolkien's first full-length children's book, written before The Hobbit. Now, nearly 90 years later, the adventures of Rover or, for reasons that become clear in the story, Roverandom' are published in this delightful pocket hardback edition. Rich in wit and wordplay, Roverandom is edited and introduced by Tolkien experts Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, and includes Tolkien's own delightful illustrations.Trade Review‘This is an old-fashioned story, yet it still speaks freshly today… would leap to life when read aloud to a child’Independent ‘Lord of the Rings buffs will enjoy picking out bits of Nordic mythology and will relish Tolkien’s fabulous sense of landscape’The Times

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