Historical fantasy
Little, Brown Book Group The Historian
Book SynopsisTHE SUMPTUOUS INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER. ''A smart retelling of the Dracula story'' New Yorker''Quite extraordinary....Kostova is a natural storyteller....She has refashioned the vampire myth into a compelling contemporary novel, a late-night page-turner'' - San Francisco ChronicleBreathtakingly suspenseful and beautifully written, The Historian is the story of a young woman plunged into a labyrinth where the secrets of her family''s past connect to an inconceivable evil: the dark fifteenth-century reign of Vlad the Impaler and a time-defying pact that may have kept his awful work alive through the ages. The search for the truth becomes an adventure of monumental proportions, taking us from monasteries and dusty libraries to the capitals of Eastern Europe-in a feat of storytelling so rich, so hypnotic, so exciting that it has enthralled readers around the world.''Filled with fascinating details of archaic vampire lore, the splendours of the Ottoman Empire and the beauty of the Romanian countryside'' - Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewThis literary thriller is a page-turner with brains * DAILY MAIL *THE HISTORIAN amounts to something profound. . . and wondrously mathematical at times, a genre novel by Bach . . . We encounter obsession, possession, and the struggle against the brevity of life. It is an exploration of the eternal desire for intimacy. * THE TIMES *The Historian is great fun. . . told with a compelling intensity which will keep the reader hooked until the last Undead tomb door swings shut * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *A gasp-inducing, breathtakingly dark mystery set in the present but wrapped around the folklore and history of Dracula...written in an exquisitely delicate and reserved style' * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *Filled with fascinating details of archaic vampire lore, the splendours of the Ottoman Empire and the beauty of the Romanian countryside * TLS *
£11.24
HarperCollins Publishers Jimmy the Hand
Book SynopsisThe third and last novel of Feist's successful collaborative series.From the endlessly inventive mind of one of fantasy's all time greats comes a spellbinding new adventure of high magic, treachery and bloody war.This time in conjunction with master of alternative history, Steve Stirling, Feist returns to tell the full tale of one of his fans' favourite most colourful Riftwar characters, pickpocket, mountebank and confidence trickster Jimmy the Hand.Trade ReviewPraise for Raymond E. Feist: 'Epic scope…vivid imagination…a significant contribution to the field of fantasy'Washington Post.
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Lost Plot
Book SynopsisAn action-packed bookish adventure, The Lost Plot is the fourth title in Genevieve Cogman's witty and wonderful The Invisible Library series.A covert mission.A royal demand.And a race against time.In a 1920s-esque America, Prohibition is in force, fedoras, flapper dresses and tommy guns are in fashion, and intrigue is afoot. Intrepid Librarians Irene and Kai find themselves caught in the middle of a dragon vs dragon contest. It seems a young librarian has become tangled in this conflict, and if they can't extricate him there could be serious political repercussions for the mysterious Library. And, as the balance of power across mighty factions hangs in the balance, this could even trigger war.Irene and Kai find themselves trapped in a race against time (and dragons) to procure a rare book. They'll face gangsters, blackmail and fiendish security systems. And if this doesn't end well, it could have dire consequences for Irene's job. And, incidentally, for her life . . .Continue the literary magic with The Mortal Word. Genevieve is also the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Scarlet - which reimagines the tale of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but with vampires, mages and magic. . .Trade ReviewI absolutely loved this . . . flavoured with truly unique mythology and a dash of the eldritch -- N. K. Jemisin on The Invisible LibraryReminiscent of the works of Diana Wynne Jones and Neil Gaiman, Cogman’s novel is a true treat -- Publishers Weekly on The Invisible LibraryVery much in the humorous and satirical tradition of Discworld -- The Guardian on The Masked CityPart spy mystery, part steampunk fantasy, The Masked City is a joy to read and Cogman makes it look effortless -- SciFiNow on The Masked CityBrilliant and so much fun. Skulduggery, Librarians, and Dragons - Cogman keeps upping the ante on this delightful series! -- Charles Stross on The Burning PageA fun, adventure-filled romp . . . magic, adventure, Sherlock Holmes -- SFF World on The Burning Page
£7.99
Rebellion Publishing Ltd. Fevered Star
Book SynopsisThere are no tides more treacherous than those of the heart. —Teek sayingThe great city of Tova is shattered. The sun is held within the smothering grip of the Crow God’s eclipse, but a comet that marks the death of a ruler and heralds the rise of a new order is imminent.The Meridian: a land where magic has been codified and the worship of gods suppressed. How do you live when legends come to life, and the faith you had is rewarded?As sea captain Xiala is swept up in the chaos and currents of change, she finds an unexpected ally in the former Priest of Knives. For the Clan Matriarchs of Tova, tense alliances form as far-flung enemies gather and the war in the heavens is reflected upon the earth.And for Serapio and Naranpa, both now living avatars, the struggle for free will and personhood in the face of destiny rages. How will Serapio stay human when he is steeped in prophecy and surrounded by those who desire only his power? Is there a future for Naranpa in a transformed Tova without her total destruction?Trade Review“A brilliant follow-up” -- Buzzfeed * Buzzfeed *
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Desert Prince
Book SynopsisPeter V. Brett, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Demon Cycle,begins a brand new epic fantasy adventure set in his beloved world, following a new generation of heroes.Fifteen years have passed since the demons were destroyed. Heroes have become legend, and those that remain live in their shadows. Olive, Princess of Hollow, has her entire life planned outa steady march toward succession. But the more her mother writes the script, the more Olive rails against playing the parts she is assigned.Darin is the son of the man people say saved the world. Everyone expects greatness from Darin, but the only thing he's ever been great at is hiding.But now it's time to fight the darkness.When Olive and Darin step across the wards one night, they learn that the demons are not all gone, and those that remain hunger for revenge.Are Darin and Olive ready to be heroes?Trade Review‘Peter Brett takes the reader with him and his characters on an electric and unrelenting charge through the demon-haunted depths of the Warded universe, full of love and death’Naomi Novik, Sunday Times bestselling author of UPROOTED ‘An intricately crafted tale of intrigue and courage where one’s station and lineage determines everything, good and bad. An exciting read. Peter Brett has outdone himself with this first book in a new series.’#1 New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks ‘The Desert Prince is a class act. Wonderful storytelling, flawed and believable characters and a ratcheting of tension that has you reading well into the dark hours. This is a must read’John Gwynne, author of Malice ‘The Desert Prince is a deeply intimate, yet epic adventure. Heart-wrenching, smart, and modern, this book kept me wide-eyed and wide awake for many-a-nights as I struggled step-for-step alongside Olive and Darin from the green lands to the desert pits to the darkest recesses of the demon minds. The Desert Prince has set a new standard for fantasy.’Wesley Chu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the War Arts Saga ‘Full of action and drama. With fresh protagonists coming into a deeply realised world full of ancient foes, THE DESERT PRINCE appeals to new fans and old alike’Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant ‘THE DESERT PRINCE is the work of a master at the top of his game. The new cast of would-be heroes instantly draw you into a world full of old dangers as Brett cranks up the tension to unbearable levels. If you’re going to read this book, cancel all your plans because there’s no way you’ll be able to put it down once you start. This is the best Peter V Brett book so far.’Mike Shackle, author of WE ARE THE DEAD
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers A Game of Thrones. 20th Anniversary Illustrated
Book SynopsisPublished in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of George R. R. Martin's landmark series, this lavishly illustrated special edition of A Game of Throneswith gorgeous full-page illustrations in every chapterrevitalizes the fantasy masterpiece that became a cultural phenomenon.In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall.At the centre of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a region of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavours to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.Trade Review'In the grand epic fantasy tradition, Martin is by far the best … tense, surging, insomnia-inflicting' Time Magazine ‘The sheer mind-boggling scope of this epic has sent other fantasy writers away shaking their heads …Its ambition: to construct the Twelve Caesars of fantasy fiction, with characters so venomous they could eat the Borgias’Guardian ‘Colossal, staggering … Martin captures all the intoxicating complexity of the Wars of the Roses or Imperial Rome in his imaginary world … The writing is always powerful …' SFX ‘Truly epic … with its magnificent action-filled climax, it provides a banquet for fantasy lovers with large appetites.’Publishers Weekly
£32.00
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC Remnants of Filth: Yuwu (Novel) Vol. 1
Book SynopsisThe wildly popular danmei/Boys' Love novel series from China set in the universe of The Husky and His White Cat Shizun!A historical fantasy epic about two war generals who were once close...until dark circumstances ripped them apart.Noble-born Mo Xi is the foremost general of Chonghua, known for his ruthless temper and ascetic air. Once he was one of two promising young commanders, twin stars of the empire. His comrade, the lowborn Gu Mang, was Mo Xi’s brother-in-arms, best friend, and—secretly—his lover, until the day Gu Mang turned traitor and joined the ranks of their nation’s greatest enemy.Now Gu Mang has been returned to the empire a ruined man, a shadow of the military genius he once was. The public clamors for his death, and no one yearns for vengeance more than Mo Xi. Or so he thought—for faced once more with his bitterest enemy, Mo Xi is left with more questions than answers. Why did the man he loved betray him? And what secrets hide behind Gu Mang’s tortured eyes?
£15.19
Little, Brown & Company Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 8 (light novel)
Book SynopsisIt’s been roughly one year since Chuya Nakahara joined the Port Mafia, and he’s got his sights set on an executive position. But as he makes plans to move up, a man by the name of Paul Verlaine—claiming to be his younger brother—appears and vows to assassinate everyone he cares about! Now, Chuya must team up with Adam, a European A.I. investigator, to stop this lunatic before the storm swallows Yokohama once again...
£12.34
Pan Macmillan The Secret Chapter
Book SynopsisIn this bookish fantasy adventure, a Librarian spy must fall in with a villainous group to achieve her goals. Imagine Ocean’s Eleven meets James Bond with a pinch of magic. The Secret Chapter is the sixth novel in Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible Library series.Irene and Kai have to team up with an unlikely band of misfits to pull off an amazing art heist. Or they must risk the wrath of a dangerous villain, in his secret island lair. . .As Irene tries to manage a fraught Fae–dragon truce and her overbearing parents, she’s given a hot new mission. The world where she grew up is in danger and only one book can save it.This is held by Mr Nemo, secretive Fae villain and antique dealer, so Irene and Kai travel to his Caribbean retreat to strike a deal. But in return for the book, they must steal a painting from twenty-first-century Vienna. They’ll join a team of dragons, Fae gamblers and thieves, so their greatest challenge may be one another. And some will kill to protect this painting, which hides an extraordinary secret from a past age.Genevieve is also the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Scarlet - which reimagines the tale of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but with vampires, mages and magic. . .Trade ReviewThe ensuing shenanigans are wittily told, with some great one-liners and comic set pieces, and the resourceful Irene is a delightful protagonist. This is light-hearted fantasy at its page-turning best -- GuardianI absolutely loved this . . . flavoured with truly unique mythology and a dash of the eldritch. Such clever, creepy, elaborate worldbuilding and snarky, sexy-smart characters! -- N. K. Jemisin on The Invisible Library (Book One)Irene is a great heroine: fiery, resourceful and no one’s fool, she has a wonderfully droll sense of humour – much like the novel itself -- Guardian on The Masked City (Book Two)Brilliant and so much fun. Skullduggery, Librarians, and dragons – Cogman keeps upping the ante on this delightful series! -- Charles Stross on The Burning Page (Book Three)Reminiscent of the works of Diana Wynne Jones and Neil Gaiman . . a true treat to read -- Publishers Weekly on The Invisible Library (Book One)Cogman fills a captivating story with animated characters and propels the narrative at a cracking pace, planting perfectly timed plot twists and reversals of fortune along the way -- Guardian on The Mortal Word (Book Five)
£7.99
Pan Macmillan Perdido Street Station
Book SynopsisChina Miéville lives and works in London. He is three-time winner of the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award (Perdido Street Station, Iron Council and The City & The City) and has also won the British Fantasy Award twice (Perdido Street Station and The Scar). The City & The City, an existential thriller, was published to dazzling critical acclaim and drew comparison with the works of Kafka and Orwell (The Times) and Philip K. Dick (Guardian). The richly imagined Bas-Lag world is the setting for the novels Perdido Street Station, The Scar and Iron Council.Trade ReviewA well-written, authentically engrossing adventure story, exuberantly full of hocus-pocus . . . Miéville does not disappoint. * Daily Telegraph *A work of exhaustive inventiveness . . . superlative fantasy. * Time Out *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Gild
Book SynopsisTHE DARK ROMANTASY TIKTOK SENSATION AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER THAT''S SOLD OVER A MILLION COPIES**PERFECT FOR FANS OF SARAH J. MAAS AND JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT**''Read this series NOW! I felt like I was in the story watching and holding my breath the entire time'' 5***** Reader Review''I literally devoured this book in one sitting'' 5***** Reader Review_______''It''s the arrogance of men to think so little of women. And it''ll be their downfall too''Locked away in a castle on the snowy mountains in the Sixth Kingdom of Orea, I have never known freedom.No one can get in or out. Apart from him.King Midas, who rescued me from the streets. Who gave me food, shelter, and his heart. Who I promised to love forever.But when political upheaval sees me sent across kingdoms to a future I no longer understand, everything I thought I knew about King Midas is shattered . . .The world has only ever heard his story.Now it''s time to hear mine.Tropes/themes:1. Dark and angsty2. Dark King Midas retelling3. Politics and scheming4. World-building5. Spicy_______''A spectacularly written, engaging, imaginative retelling of the ancient myth of King Midas'' 5***** Reader Review''Sexy and touching all at the same time . . . and that plot twist, OMG'' 5***** Reader Review**Content warning: sexual violence**Gild, Glint and Gleam, Sunday Times bestsellers, April 2023Trade ReviewPraise for The Plated Prisoner Series * : *Gild is a heart-pounding fantasy romance, and this outstanding book will keep you gripped until the very last word. It’s beautifully written and is a truly riveting story. If you love Sarah J Maas and Jennifer L Armentrout this book is for you! This series is gripping, enticing and darkly romantic. Don’t miss out on this un-putdownable read! * Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti, Wall Street Journal Bestselling authors *This series has stolen my heart, my breath, my regard for anything else. I've never been so immersed in a story before-never read characters that have felt so real. I've cried, laughed, screamed, thrown my kindle across the room, picked it up again, swooned . . . These characters, this WORLD . . . it's everything. Raven has written a story for the ages, destined to go down as one of the epics * Sarah A Parker, author of To Bleed a Crystal Bloom *Raven writes with a magic that comes to life on the page. Every single word gleams like gold * Beck Michaels, author of Divine Blood *This is one of those series that started off phenomenal, and only gets better with every subsequent book. * Laura Thalassa, author of The Bargainer Series *Get ready to be enthralled from the first word, and begging for more by the last. Raven Kennedy crafts an astonishing world that's filled with captivating characters and a story you won't be able to put down * Ivy Asher, bestselling author of The Osseous Chronicles and The Lost Sentinel Series *This series is amazing and I can't recommend it enough. It is one of the best New Adult Fantasy books out there. * Kay Thatcher, author of Prince of Blades *TEN GILDED STARS! Remarkably original . . .and the prose, people . . . gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous * Olivia Wildenstein, USA Today Bestselling Author *An emotional rollercoaster * Elizabeth Brown, author of Blood Crown *What I've enjoyed so far about this series is how it's a metaphor about real, emotional issues * Day Leitao, author of Kingdom of Curses and Shadows Series *I devoured [the] first book and it ended on such a nice cliff-hanger that I am thirsting for the next one * Emmie Hamilton, author of Chosen to Fall *
£10.44
Pan Macmillan Stone Blind: Longlisted for the Women's Prize for
Book Synopsis** Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 **In Stone Blind, the instant Sunday Times bestseller, Natalie Haynes brings the infamous Medusa to life as you have never seen her before.'Witty, gripping, ruthless' - Margaret Atwood via Twitter'Beautiful and moving' - Neil Gaiman via Twitter'So to mortal men, we are monsters. Because of our flight, our strength. They fear us, so they call us monsters.’Medusa is the sole mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her Gorgon sisters, she begins to realize that she is the only one who experiences change, the only one who can be hurt. And her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.When the sea god Poseidon commits an unforgivable act in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can – and Medusa is changed forever. Writhing snakes replace her hair, and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone. The power cannot be controlled: Medusa can look at nothing without destroying it. She is condemned to a life of shadows and darkness.Until Perseus embarks upon a quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .Praise for Natalie Haynes, the Women’s Prize-shortlisted author of A Thousand Ships:‘With her trademark passion, wit, and fierce feminism… her thoughtful portraits will linger with you long after the book is finished’ - Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe‘Haynes combines a wide-ranging knowledge of the original myths with a gift for compelling narrative’ - The Times‘Natalie Haynes is both a witty and an erudite guide. She wears her extensive learning lightly and deftly drags the Classics into the modern world’ - Kate Atkinson, author of Life After Life‘Haynes is master of her trade . . . She succeeds in breathing warm life into some of our oldest stories’ - Telegraph‘Haynes is the nation’s greatest muse’ - Adam RutherfordTrade ReviewWitty, gripping, ruthless -- Margaret Atwood via TwitterBeautiful and moving -- Neil Gaiman via TwitterThe rollicking narrative voice that energises Stone Blind . . . is a voice that feels at once bitingly (post)modern and filled with old wisdom . . . The Gorgon’s head will take on a new and powerful resonance as a symbol of the way stories can be warped by time. Stone Blind acts as a brilliant and compellingly readable corrective. * The Observer *Stone Blind is an exceptionally powerful retelling of Medusa's story, an emotional gut punch of a novel. Haynes brilliantly pulls off the feat of seamlessly alternating humour and heartbreak, creating characters that stay with you long after the novel's end. It is a dazzling achievement -- Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den trilogyWith this, her third novel based on ancient myth, [Haynes] has found a way of using all her classical erudition and her vivid sense of the ambiguous potency of the ancient stories, while being simultaneously very, very funny * Guardian *A fierce feminist exploration of female rage, written with wit and empathy. Haynes makes the classics brutally relevant, and we reckon this one is going to be huge * Glamour *It is no exaggeration to say that Haynes is the modern embodiment of the best of Homer. She is a proper, classic storyteller, whose linguistic skills and wit will have you hanging on every word * Radio Times *Stone Blind is inventive and playful . . . [and] very funny -- Antonia Senior * The Times *Pat Barker, Margaret Atwood and Madeline Miller have all successfully picked at the seams of the traditionally male take on these fantastic tales. But Natalie Haynes’s genius, this time with Stone Blind, her third Greek myth novel, is to not just focus on the female experience of Greek myth but also to add zest, humour and more than a little mischief . . . The ride is gripping, funny and heartbreaking. Love, sorrow, adventure and humour - Stone Blind has it all * Metro *What makes a monster is the central question in Natalie Haynes’ wry, spry feminist take on the Medusa myth . . . an earthy, playful yet rage-filled upending of the Greek hero trope * Mail Online *With wit, humanity and extraordinary imagination, Haynes breathes life and meaning into myths as she has done so brilliantly before (most famously with A Thousand Ships). She also shows that monsters can be divine or mortal. Not all heroes wear capes – and not all villains have snakes * The i *Haynes’ clever, empathetic writing transforms Medusa from Gorgon into a girl, who’s a victim of the cruel machinations of the gods and of circumstance -- Sarra Manning * Red Magazine *Natalie Haynes has made a contemporary classic out of a classic . . . and it should win prizes -- Monique Roffey, author of The Mermaid of Black ConchThere’s real tenderness in Haynes’s portrait of Medusa, a mortal abomination born into a family of divinities, and the efforts of her immortal Gorgon sisters to protect her from herself -- Daisy Dunn * The Spectator *Haynes is [a] master of her trade . . . She succeeds in breathing warm life into some of our oldest stories * Telegraph *Haynes is the nation’s great muse -- Adam Rutherford * The Week *Natalie Haynes is swiftly becoming this generation’s Mary Renault * Observer *With her trademark passion, wit and fierce feminism, Haynes gives much-needed voice to the silenced women of the Trojan War. Her thoughtful portraits will linger with you long after the book is finished -- Madeline Miller on A Thousand ShipsHaynes is a rock-star mythologist -- Washington Post on A Thousand Ships
£17.09
HarperCollins Publishers A Storm of Swords Part 2 Blood and Gold
Book SynopsisThe third volume, part two of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. GAME OF THRONES is now a major TV series from HBO, featuring a stellar cast.Trade Review‘Of those who work in the grand epic fantasy tradition, George R.R. Martin is by far the best’Time magazine ‘Colossal, staggering… all the intoxicating complexity of the Wars of the Roses or Imperial Rome’SFX ‘The sheer mind-boggling scope of this epic has sent other fantasy writers away shaking their heads… Its ambition: to construct the Twelve Caesars of fantasy fiction, with characters so venomous they could eat the Borgias’Guardian
£8.09
Pan Macmillan A Marvellous Light: a dazzling, queer romantic
Book SynopsisSet in an alternative Edwardian England, this is a comedy of manners, manor houses, and hedge mazes – including a magic-infused murder mystery and a delightful queer romance.‘Lush historical fantasy . . . A delightful book, with richly developed characters’ – New York Times‘Mystery! Magic! Murder! . . . This book is a confection, both marvellous and light’ – Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of JanuaryFor fans of Georgette Heyer or Julia Quinn's Bridgerton, who'd like to welcome magic into their lives . . .Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he's actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. If it weren’t for this administrative error, he’d never have discovered the incredible magic underlying his world.Cursed by mysterious attackers and plagued by visions, Robin becomes determined to drag answers from his missing predecessor – but he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his hostile magical-society counterpart. Unwillingly thrown together, Robin and Edwin will discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles.The Binding meets Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in debut author Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light. Continue the thrilling series with A Restless Truth.‘A dazzling debut’ – Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun‘Prepare to fall in love with the gorgeous Edwardian setting, the sizzling character dynamics, and the murderous enchanted hedge maze’ – Emily Tesh, author of Silver in the Wood‘An absolute delight . . . If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you’ – Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of MagiciansTrade ReviewMystery! Magic! Murder! Long looks full of yearning! This book is a confection, both marvellous and light -- Alix E. HarrowThat sublime prose! Her astonishing gift for imagery! And, of course, her bountiful and endless talent for writing some extremely sexy scenes. A Marvellous Light is all that and more. Perfect -- Jenn LyonsA magical world of exquisite refinement, where peril skims beneath manners, interiors bespeak both faultless taste and deadly secrets, and the sexual tension crescendos until it literally makes sparks fly. A dazzling debut -- Shelley Parker-ChanRomantic in the best way, funny, sharp, sexy, fantastical. Prepare to fall in love with the gorgeous Edwardian setting, the sizzling character dynamics, and the murderous enchanted hedge maze -- Emily TeshFreya Marske's A Marvellous Light is an absolute delight. I was caught from the very beginning by the compellingly realized characters, the gorgeous and deadly magical world, and the fascinating mystery. If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you -- Kat HowardFreya's prose is so splendid that merely reading it makes me feel like I've been filled to the brim with champagne bubbles. A Marvellous Light has everything you could ever want from a book – beautiful descriptions, expertly woven world-building, queer kissing, sexual tension in a library, quite a lot of William Morris wallpaper . . . This book is brilliant on every level. It is wondrous. It is, if you will excuse a small joke, marvellous -- Alexandra RowlandA charming, lovingly crafted adventure full of peril, romance and wit, illuminated by sparkling turns of phrase and a pervasive sense of humour -- A. K. LarkwoodEqual parts fantasy, mystery and romance – with bonus murderous garden features – A Marvellous Light heralds a strong new voice in science fiction and fantasy -- Sam HawkeThis romantic fantasy is full of fascinating world-building, layers upon layers of delicious magic, and characters I adored. I want to spend so much more time in this alternate England's enchanted libraries and sinister hedge mazes! The whole experience was a delight -- Stephanie BurgisA gripping story, told in precise and sensual language, with the kind of characters that make you want a spin-off book for even the ones you've barely met. Magic, romance and mayhem in a beautifully decorated – and occasionally actively dangerous – Edwardian setting -- Malka OlderA completely enchanting story that sweeps you into a world of art and romance. Marske is an extraordinary talent who writes compelling characters, entertainingly awful families, and love stories like nobody else -- Everina MaxwellA breathtaking queer romantic fantasy . . . Sensual erotic scenes, an intriguing magic system, and a puzzling mystery combine to make this novel a wonder -- Publishers Weekly, starred reviewAn enchanting, gripping and dazzling debut -- Daily MailCompelling, sumptuously written, clever and brimming with intrigue and sexual tension (and its release) . . . The definition of reading for pure pleasure; we are ready for the next instalment, immediately -- Attitude MagazineLush historical fantasy . . . a delightful book, with richly developed characters -- New York Times
£9.49
Rebellion Publishing Ltd. The Grief of Stones: The Cemeteries of Amalo Book
Book SynopsisCelehar’s life as the Witness for the Dead of Amalo grows less isolated as his circle of friends grows larger. He has been given an apprentice to teach, and he has stumbled over a scandal of the city—the foundling girls. Orphans with no family to claim them and no funds to buy an apprenticeship. Foundling boys go to the Prelacies; foundling girls are sold into service, or worse.At once touching and shattering, Celehar’s witnessing for one of these girls will lead him into the depths of his own losses.The love of his friends will lead him out again.Trade Review"I've been wanting to return to the world of The Goblin Emperor from the moment I finished that book, and The Witness For the Dead does not disappoint. At once intimate and literally operatic, it's everything I love about Katherine Addison's writing, in ways I didn't know to expect. I loved it." ? John Scalzi"The follow-up to the acclaimed The Goblin Emperor brings back a favorite character and expands the elaborate world Addison has created. Fans of the first book?and new readers?will find this novel delightful and immersive" ? Library Journal“I liked it. It’s a fantasy, a novel of court intrigue. Those of you who like that aspect of my own work will probably likeThe Goblin Emperor as well.” -- George R. R. Martin, Not a Blog“The Angel of the Crows is an entertaining ride – a compelling fantasy mystery set in an alternate but startlingly familiar Victorian London. You’ve been here before–not.” -- Tim Powers“The Goblin Emperor is the best fantasy I’ve read in quite some time. It’s certainly my favourite of the last great while, and though it’s early days yet, I suspect it may be the best single novel I read this year.” – Liz Bourke, Tor.com“Impressively elaborate worldbuilding underpins this lovely fantasy novel, but I couldn't put it down because of the heart-grippingly sympathetic main character.” ? Kate Elliott, bestselling author of the Crossroads series “I enjoyed The Goblin Emperor a great deal. I was sucked right into her world of goblins, elves, and airships, and was anxious to the very end to find out how Maia, the unwanted halfblood son of the Emperor, who finds himself unexpectedly on the throne, learns to navigate the intrigues and danger of the imperial court. An engrossing read!” ? Kristen Britain, New York Times bestselling author of Blackveil“Challenging, invigorating, and unique. If courtly intrigue is your wine of choice, The Goblin Emperor is the headiest vintage I've come across in years.” ? Scott Lynch, bestselling author of The Lies of Locke Lamora“With its subtle, intricate, fascinating worldbuilding and a hero who succeeds through empathy and patience rather than brawn, The Goblin Emperor is absolutely unique among recent fantasy novels, and it delighted me from beginning to end. I wish I could read a dozen more books set in the Elflands.” — Katherine Arden, bestselling author of The Bear And The Nightingale"I think even people who haven’t read The Goblin Emperor, or people who read Addison’s foray into Sherlockian Angelology in The Angel of the Crows, will find plenty of entry points to the Elflands in The Witness for the Dead." -- Tor.com "The Witness for the Dead is a socially realistic fantasy underpinned by superb creative power, as emotionally satisfying as it is skillfully written." -- Kate MacDonald, strangehorizons.com
£8.54
Titan Books Ltd Dark Water Daughter
Book SynopsisA fearsome young woman stormsinger and pirate hunter join forces against a deathless pirate lord in this swashbuckling Jacobean adventure on the high-seas. Launching the Winter Sea series, full of magic, betrayal and redemption, for readers of Adrienne Young, R. J. Barker and Naomi Novik Mary Firth is a Stormsinger: a woman whose voice can still hurricanes and shatter armadas. Faced with servitude to pirate lord Silvanus Lirr, Mary offers her skills to his arch-rival in exchange for protection - and, more importantly, his help sending Lirr to a watery grave. But her new ally has a vendetta of his own, and Mary's dreams are dark and full of ghistings, spectral creatures who inhabit the ancient forests of her homeland and the figureheads of ships. Samuel Rosser is a disgraced naval officer serving aboard The Hart, an infamous privateer commissioned to bring Lirr to justice. He will stop at nothing to capture Lirr, restore his good name and reclaim the only thing that stands between himself and madness: a talisman stolen by Mary. Finally, driven into the eternal ice at the limits of their world, Mary and Samuel must choose their loyalties and battle forces older and more powerful than the pirates who would make them slaves. Come sail the Winter Sea, for action-packed, high-stakes adventures, rich characterisation and epic plots full of intrigue and betrayal.Trade Review"A wonderful adventure! Dark Water Daughter swept me to the high seas with its captivating story, rich original lore, fascinating characters, and slow-burn romance. Immersive from start till end, this is a hard one to put down." Sue Lynn Tan, Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess "Intricately crafted, stunningly unique, and so vivid you can almost taste the frigid air of the Winter Sea, Dark Water Daughter is my favorite H.M. Long book yet." Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart "Dark Water Daughter is a unique and breath-taking slice of high seas fantasy - H. M. Long gives us deliciously complex characters to root for and a world full of surprises. I didn't know I needed these fantasy pirates and their freezing ocean until they sailed into my life. Enormous fun!" Jen Williams, award-winning author of The Winnowing Flame trilogy "Dark Water Daughter is a compelling, propulsive adventure that serves as a spectacular start to Long's new series. The vast world and intriguing lore are complex in a way that feels effortless; it might just be Long's best work yet. I was utterly engrossed." M.K. Lobb, author of Seven Faceless Saints "Long opens up a gripping, wildly original universe packed to the brim with wonder: sentient figureheads, songs that harness the wind, and a cast of rogues, villains, and exiles in pursuit of freedom-sometimes with terrible cost. Every twist left me surprised and enthralled. Fantasy readers, come aboard and enjoy the ride." Allison Epstein, author of A Tip for the Hangman "Dark Water Daughter is excellent. Fresh fantasy grounded in seafaring lore and the golden age of piracy - a fantastical 17th century-esque epic adventure. I can't wait for more." Christopher Irvin, author of Ragged "Outstanding naval fantasy; Robin Hobb meets Master and Commander." Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones "Dark Water Daughter is a ripsnorting, swashbuckling storm of a book. I adored the salty, wintery world (the Age of Sail with a magical twist!) and its folklore: shipboard weather witches, mysterious mages and sentient, ghostly figureheads. I plunged head first into this story and didn't come up for air until the very end." Kell Woods, author of After the Forest "Flintlock fantasy at its best! If you're a Pirates of the Caribbean fan looking for a fresh take that still scratches the itch, Dark Water Daughter is for you. This incredible tale blends elements of classic pirate fantasy with Long's unique, wintry touch and lively voice to create an entirely new world and a fascinating lore-based magic system. Fast-paced action and eye-popping twists and turns will have you glued to this book until the very last page." M.J. Kuhn, author of Among Thieves PRAISE FOR TEMPLE OF NO GOD "I am obsessed with what H. M. Long has created-the clear, vivid prose, the captivating mythology, and the absolute force of nature that is Hessa. Utterly enthralling, and a world I loved getting lost in. I can't wait for the next book." Claire Legrand, New York Times-bestselling author of Furyborn "H.M. Long takes us on another epic, fast-paced adventure in Temple of No God. As exciting and gripping as its predecessor, this standalone in the same world starts with a bang and doesn't let up, full of intrigue, betrayal, and action sequences that don't disappoint. Hessa is a heroine to be reckoned with." Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart "Once again, H. M. Long pulls us effortlessly into a landscape of warring gods, tribes and impulses. What a joy to return to Hessa's side as, having battled herself and won, she draws her axes again - this time to build a better world. Sure, there's a fantastic fight scene for everyone and the pace never falters, but where this book really shines is in its emotionally nuanced depiction of character. I can't wait to see what she does next." Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong "Long certainly made her entrance known with Hall of Smoke, but with Temple of No God, she solidifies herself as one of the great new voices in epic fantasy. Temple of No God is a story about adventure, war, and godly strife, but at its heart, it is also a poetic yet action-packed exploration of grief, longing, and obligation. Bold characters, shocking twists, and heart-pounding action will keep you turning pages long after lights out." M. J. Kuhn, author of Among Thieves "This book is a bonfire on a bleak winter night. Exciting and dangerous, brilliantly plotted and paced, this is the perfect followup to Hall of Smoke. Come for the axe-smash battles, the crumbling empire, the dangerous cults, and the perfect puppy companion, and then stay for all of that stuff, because it rules." Joshua Johnson, author of The Forever Sea "While knowledge and responsibility weigh on Hessa in a manner reminiscent of many warrior-legends of popular European mythology and heroic fantasy, Temple of No God does not succumb to the dreary moroseness of the aftermath of conquest. Instead, we get to witness Hessa relish her role as victor while contending with her status as a vanquisher. Fantasy readers who like their heroes battle-hardened yet thoughtful and tender-not in spite of war but because of it-will enjoy Temple of No God." Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author of Son of the Storm PRAISE FOR HALL OF SMOKE: Hall of Smoke is the kind of fantasy I love, filled with both high stakes and tender, nuanced human emotion. Add to that lyrical writing and intriguing world building, and you have a truly special debut. Not to be missed. - Jessica Cluess, author of the Kingdom on Fire series and House of Dragons Long gives us a flawed hero, a woman battling grief, rage and - perhaps most poignant of all - doubt. It is thrilling to stand beside Hessa as she stares into the abyss and begins to reassemble herself there. Long's writing is elegantly understated, filling out Hessa's complex world without ever stranding us - we are with her through every stumble and triumph. Hall of Smoke is ultimately a book about what it means to have your deepest illusions shattered and still scrape together the courage to begin again. A vivid and compelling debut. - Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong Hall of Smoke is a breath of fresh air. The world is unique, the fights are top-notch, and the cast is unforgettable. A dazzling, fast-paced story with clashing civilizations, squabbling gods, and an indomitable heroine caught in the center of it all, Hessa's is a tale that will grab you from the very first line and won't let you go. I can't wait to see what Long comes up with next. - Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart Hessa is a brilliantly written heroine, and I could easily have spent another 400 pages with her. The book's world-building is intricate and refreshingly original, and it all ramps up to a finale that is the dictionary definition of epic. - Allison Epstein, author of A Tip for the Hangman The story world was rich and real, and I have rarely read a fantasy novel that transported me like Hall of Smoke did. If you are a fan of myths and legends where gods and goddesses roam the earth and meddle with the poor mortals that serve them, you are in for an absolute treat with this book. - M. J. Kuhn, author of Among Thieves
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Final Strife
Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Epic in scope, its worldbuilding as intricate as filigree,THE FINAL STRIFE sings of rebellion, love, and the courage it takes to stand up to tyranny''Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREEThe empire is ruled by blood: red-blooded Embers, blue-blooded Dusters and clear-blooded Ghostings. All will be shed in the coming battle for power. The Aktibar a set of trials held every ten years to find the next Ember rulers of the Empire is about to begin.All Embers can join but it requires great skill to win.Sylah was destined to become Warden of Strength, forged as a weapon to change the Empire from within. Those dreams of a better future turned to dust when her family were brutally murdered.But Sylah wasn't made to sparkle, she was born to burn. And as the trials draw near it's time for her to decidewill she rule the Empire or destroy it?Trade Review‘Featuring a love triangle, an enemies to lovers arc, and plenty of intrigue, this read will have you running the full gamut of emotions’ Huffington Post UK ‘El-Arifi is a game-changing new voice in epic fantasy, and The Final Strife is a triumph of book, full of rage, charm, and a cast of misfits you can't help but root for. There are no Chosen Ones here. Only bad choices and blood’Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne ‘Epic, gripping and searing, The Final Strife weaves a fascinating tale of destiny, magic and love set in a richly imagined yet brutally divided world. Its unexpected, gritty heroine is one you cannot help but root for, and the story will stay with you long after the last page’Sue Lynn Tan, author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess ‘El-Arifi tells a tale that is as fierce as its characters, plunging you into a sandy, stratified world until you can feel the grit between your teeth. Heart-wrenching and heart-pounding, The Final Strife is an unmissable debut’Andrea Stewart, author of Bone Shard Daughter ‘Full of rich, vivid world-building with political intrigue and characters you can’t help but root for. I loved it’Christina Sweeney-Baird, author of The End of Men ‘Epic fantasy turned on its head in the most compelling way imaginable. A heroine with bite, a supporting cast of flawed but deeply human characters, and world building that is raw, unforgiving and richly textured, The Final Strife is the real deal. El-Arifi is a bold new voice in epic fantasy and I cannot wait to read more of her work’Kalynn Bayron, bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead and This Poison Heart ‘A rip-roaring read!’Taran Matharu, NYT bestselling author of the Summoner and Contender series
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Sailing to Sarantium
Book SynopsisThe first part of The Sarantine Mosaic, Kay's sweeping tale of politics, intrigue and adventure inspired by ancient Byzantium.Rumored to be responsible for the ascension of the previous Emperor, his uncle, amid fire and blood, Valerius the Trakesian has himself now risen to the Golden Throne of the vast empire ruled by the fabled city, Sarantium.Valerius has a vision to match his ambition: a glittering dome that will proclaim his magnificence down through the ages. And so, in a ruined western city on the far distant edge of civilization, a not-so-humble artisan receives a call that will change his life forever.Crispin is a mosaicist, a layer of bright tiles. Still grieving for the family he lost to the plague, he lives only for his arcane craft, and cares little for ambition, less for money, and for intrigue not at all. But an imperial summons to the most magnificent city in the world is a difficult call to resist.In this world still half-wild and tangled with magic, no journey is simpTrade ReviewPraise for SAILING TO SARANTIUM: 'Kay at his finest. Sarantium itself is vast, sumptuous, and dangerous … Beneath the shining authorial handiwork lies something closer to Yeatsian miracle…' Locus Praise for Guy Gavriel Kay: ‘A fine, intelligent series. Probably the best of its kind’ British Fantasy Society ‘A remarkable achievement. The essence of high fantasy’ Locus ‘Kay has delivered such a magnificent conclusion – I can’t praise it enough. THE FIONAVAR TAPESTRY will be read and reread for many years to come’ Fantasy Review ‘Packed with action…’ The Times ‘A boldly complex and intelligently articulated romance’ USA Today ‘A brilliant and complex portrayal of good and evil’ Publishers Weekly.
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co The Last Unicorn
Book SynopsisIf men no longer know what they are looking at, there may well be unicorns in the world yet, unknown and glad of it. Living in peace in her lilac wood, the Unicorn didn''t know the world had changed, or that anything had happened to the rest of her kind. Overhearing a chance conversation, she resolves to venture out and discover the truth. The road is dangerous, and the risks are great. If she fails, then unicorns will be lost. Forever.A modern fairy tale, The Last Unicorn is a beloved classic, voted by TIME as one of the 100 greatest fantasy novels of all time. It is fantastical, poignant, wistful and wonderous, showing us the humanity of magic, and the magic of humanity. Available in the UK for the first time in decades, this edition features an introduction by Patrick Rothfuss.
£9.49
WW Norton & Co Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Almost lost to the ages, now surviving in but one faded, precious, manuscript, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight calls forth with exceptional brilliance and mordant precision a chthonic force rarely investigated in other works of the later Middle Ages. Unquestionably, this poem would have been challenging even to its first readers in the turbulent fourteenth century, and so the present volume brings to bear all the advantages of the Norton Critical Edition format—superlative translations, comparative source and background texts, and landmark critical studies—to facilitate an access made even more challenging (but no less enticing) by the passage of centuries." -- Stephen H. A. Shepherd, Loyola Marymount University
£12.99
HarperCollins Publishers The War of the Jewels V.11 The History of
Book SynopsisThe second of two companion volumes which documents the later writing of The Silmarillion, Tolkien's epic tale of war.In The War of the Jewels Christopher Tolkien takes up his account of the later history of The Silmarillion from the point where it was left in Morgoth's Ring. The story now returns to Middle-earth, and the ruinous conflict of the High Elves and the Men who were their allies with the power of the Dark Lord. With the publication in this book all of J.R.R. Tolkien's later narrative writing concerned with the last centuries of the First Age, the long history of The Silmarillion, from its beginning in The Book of Lost Tales, is completed; and the enigmatic state of the work at his death can be understood.This book contains the full text of the Grey Annals, the primary record of The War of the Jewels, and a major story of Middle-earth now published for the first time: the tale of the disaster that overtook the forest people of Brethil when Hurin the Steadfast came among them Trade Review‘Christopher Tolkien shows himself to be his father’s son… Tolkien devotees will rejoice’ The New York Times Book Review ‘Illustrates the development, depth and richness of J R R Tolkien’s personal mythology’ Vector
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Hidden Palace
Book SynopsisTrade Review“A layered novel of many complex characters, including even richer developments of the golem Chava and the jinni Ahmad…To keep their worlds safe, Chava and Ahmad must access both their greatest supernatural powers and their deepest human impulses.” — Historical Novels Review “A blend of romance, Mary Shelley-esque horror, and folklore. . . . Wecker skillfully combines the storylines of Chava the Golem and Ahmad the Jinni and numerous other players, good and evil, in an enchanting tale that pleases on every page.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Impressive…storytelling à la Dickens…A satisfying, mature sequel to The Golem and the Jinni, continuing the magical story of two immigrant mythological characters from the turn of the 20th century to the outbreak of WWI.” — Publishers Weekly "Richly nuanced and beautiful. . . . Wecker skillfully draws together these disparate lives and characters in an immersive and magical tale of loneliness, love, and finding hope.” — Buzzfeed “In Wecker’s novel, real-life events—the sinking of the Titanic, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire or the Great War—have an inexorable impact on mortal and supernatural characters alike. From one crisis to the next, a strange and unbreakable alliance develops among many persons and elemental creatures, burgeoning into something even more marvelous. . . . Fans of The Golem and the Jinni have waited eight years for this sequel. It has been worth the wait.” — BookPage (starred review) "A measured, gorgeous, character-driven fantasy." — Tor.com “The Hidden Palace recaptures the assured voice, the delicate magic, the solid historical verisimilitude, and engaging interplay of personalities of The Golem and the Jinni…But Wecker deepens, extends, and culminates all the story arcs, leaving the reader very satisfied.” — Locus “A rich literary novel that digs into what it means to be human, by setting up a series of meaningful contrasts from characters who aren’t." — Polygon Best Fantasy & Science Fiction Novel of the Year “One of the delights of The Hidden Palace is that it traverses many genres as it continues the tale of the unlikely friendship between Chava Levy, a golem, and Ahmad al-Hadid, a jinni…A work of fantasy, historical fiction, modern-day mythology or even romance…A gem deserving a wide readership.” — Hadassah Magazine
£12.53
HarperCollins Publishers The Shaping of Middleearth The History of
Book SynopsisThe fourth volume that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.In this fourth volume of The History of Middle-earth, the shaping of the chronological and geographical structure of the legends of Middle-earth and Valinor is spread before us.We are introduced to the hitherto unknown Ambarkanta or Shape of the World, the only account ever given of the nature of the imagined Universe, ccompanied by maps and diagrams of the world before and after the cataclyusms of The War of the Gods and the Downfall of Numenor. The first map of Beleriend is also reproduced and discussed.In The Annals of Valinor and The Annals of Beleriend we are shown how the chronology of the First Age was moulded: and the tale is told of Aelfwine, the Englishman who voyaged into the True West and came to Tol Eressea, Lonely Isle, where he learned the ancient history of Elves and Men.Also included are the original Silmarillion' of 1926, and the Quenta Trade Review‘Illustrates the development, depth and richness of J R R Tolkien’s personal mythology’ Vector
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Kings Wrath
Book SynopsisThe third, and last, instalment of Fiona McIntosh’s gripping epic fantasy, set in a world torn by revenge, love and ancient magicTrade ReviewPraise for Fiona McIntosh: ‘It’s a “just one more chapter” sort of book. Don’t start reading in the evening if you have to get up early the next morning’Robin Hobb
£12.34
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Poor Things
Book SynopsisWINNER OF TWO GOLDEN GLOBES, STARRING EMMA STONE, FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE FAVOURITEWinner of the Whitbread Novel Award and the Guardian Fiction PrizeA life without freedom to choose is not worth having.Godwin Baxter''s scientific ambition to create the perfect companion is realised when he finds the drowned body of the beautiful Bella, who he brings back to life in a Frankenstein-esque feat. But his dream is thwarted by Dr. Archibald McCandless''s jealous love for his creation . . .But what does Bella think?This story of true love and scientific daring whirls the reader from the private operating-theatres of late-Victorian Glasgow through aristocratic casinos, low-life Alexandria and a Parisian bordello, reaching an interrupted climax in a Scottish church.________________________''A magnificently brisk, funny, dirty, brainy book'' London Review of Books''Visionary, ornate and outrageous'' The Independent''Witty and delightfully w
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Stormdancer
Book SynopsisJay Kristoff grew up in the most isolated capital city on earth and fled at his earliest convenience. He worked in 'creative advertising' for eleven years and has won several awards that nobody outside the advertising industry gives a tinker's cuss about. He is 6'7", has approximately 13,870 days to live, and can demand whiskey in almost a dozen European languages. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and the world's laziest Jack Russell. Stormdancer is the first novel in the Lotus War series.Trade ReviewRocketing action, eccentric and convincing characters . . . I'll be waiting for more from Mr Kristoff. -- K.W. JeterMythic creatures, civil unrest, and a strong female protagonist? I'm afraid I missed everything you said after "Japanese Steampunk." That's all I really needed to hear. -- Patrick Rothfuss
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers King of Ashes First book in the extraordinary new
Book SynopsisThe first volume in legendary master and New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist's epic heroic fantasy series, The Firemane Saga an electrifying tale of two young men whose choices will determine a world's destiny.The world of Garn once boasted five great kingdoms, until the King of Ithrace was defeated and every member of his family executed by Lodavico, the ruthless King of Sandura, a man with ambitions to rule the world.Ithrace''s ruling family were the legendary Firemanes, and represented a great danger to the other kings. Now four great kingdoms remain, on the brink of war. But rumour has it that the newborn son of the last king of Ithrace survived, carried off during battle and sequestered by the Quelli Nacosti, a secret society whose members are trained to infiltrate and spy upon the rich and powerful throughout Garn. Terrified that this may be true, and that the child will grow to maturity with bloody revenge in his heart, the four kings have placed a huge bounty onTrade Review‘This is a knockout.’Publisher’s Weekly (praise for Queen of Storms) PRAISE FOR KING OF ASHES ‘File under guilty pleasure’Guardian ‘Get in at the start of a master’s new series’Daily Sport ‘Epic scope…vivid imagination…a significant contribution to the growth of the field of fantasy’Washington Post
£9.49
HarperCollins India The Immortals Of Meluha (Shiva Trilogy Book 1)
Book Synopsis
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Adventures of Amina AlSirafi
Book Synopsis
£24.00
Pan Macmillan The House of Always
Book SynopsisThe House of Always is the fourth book in Jenn Lyons’s epic fantasy series A Chorus of Dragons, which starts with The Ruin of Kings.What if you were imprisoned for all eternity?In the aftermath of the Ritual of Night, everything has changed.The Eight Immortals have catastrophically failed to stop Kihrin’s enemies, who are moving forward with their plans to free Vol Karoth, the King of Demons. Kihrin has his own ideas about how to fight back, but even if he’s willing to sacrifice everything for victory, the cost may prove too high for his allies.Now they face a choice: can they save the world while saving Kihrin too? Or will they be forced to watch as he becomes the very evil they had all sworn to destroy?Praise for A Chorus of Dragons:‘I loved it’ – Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians‘A larger-than-life adventure story about thieves, wizards, assassins and kings’ – New York TimesTrade ReviewWhat an extraordinary book. The Ruin of Kings is everything epic fantasy should be: rich, cruel, gorgeous, brilliant, enthralling and deeply deeply satisfying. I loved it -- Lev Grossman on The Ruin of KingsA fantastic page-turner with a heady blend of great characters, fast-moving action and a fabulously inventive magic system . . . I loved it -- John Gwynne on The Ruin of KingsIt’s impossible not to be impressed with the ambition of it all, the sheer, effervescent joy Lyons takes in the scope of her project. Sometimes you just want a larger-than-life adventure story about thieves, wizards, assassins and kings -- New York Times on The Ruin of KingsLyons proves she is worthy of comparison to other masters of epic fantasy, such as Patrick Rothfuss, Stephen R. Donaldson and Melanie Rawn -- Booklist starred review of The Name of All ThingsSimply put: this is top-notch adventure fantasy written for a twenty-first-century audience – highly recommended -- Kirkus starred review of The Name of All ThingsLyons is creating a complex and wonderful series that will immerse and delight -- Library Journal on The Name of All Things
£9.49
Pan Macmillan A Taste of Gold and Iron: A Breathtaking
Book SynopsisA sweeping fantasy romance inspired by the Ottoman Empire, A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland is perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light and The Goblin Emperor.‘A delicious tangle of romance, fealty and dangerous politics’ – Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine ThroneOne false coin could topple an empire.Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, has no intention of wrestling for imperial control with his sister, the queen. Yet he remains at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court – the father of the queen’s new child. Then a hunting party goes terribly awry, and Kadou finds himself under suspicion of attempted murder.To prove his loyalty to his sister and salvage his reputation, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds. He enlists the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. But what appears to be a straightforward crime spirals into a complex counterfeiting operation, with a powerful enemy at its heart.In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy. The conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing – and bring about its ruin.‘As indulgent and satisfying as your favourite fanfiction’ – Tessa Gratton, author of The Queens of Innis LearTrade ReviewA delicious tangle of romance, fealty and dangerous politics -- Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine ThroneA Taste of Gold and Iron is a slow-burn romance flush with sexy, complicated relationships, founded on the ethics of duty and love. As indulgent and satisfying as your favourite fan fiction -- Tessa Gratton, author of The Queen of Innis LearWitty, clever, and often extremely funny, Rowland's tale of a prince who doesn't want power but has it anyway – and must survive all the risks that brings with it – somehow manages to be both soft and hard-edged, clever and kind. And sexy! Very much that too -- Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of KingsThis book gleams and sparkles with emotion and sensory detail, showcasing the richness of Rowland's created world. It's a hugely satisfying blend of economic intrigue, vivid characters, and slow-burn romance – and it's also, frequently, funny as hell -- Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous LightAlexandra Rowland delivers again – an engaging story in a complex, intricately rendered world full of deeply human, sensitively drawn characters -- Rowenna Miller, author of TornIn exploring what monarchs owe their people, and what individuals owe each other, this achingly tender fantasy wows -- Publishers Weekly starred reviewRowland's latest continues to showcase their captivating prose, immersive details, and complicated characters -- Library Journal starred reviewAn engaging fantasy/romance set in a large, lush, and inclusive world -- Kirkus starred reviewThe slow-burn romance between them is beautifully done and adds a thrilling element to the story that readers will savor -- Booklist[F]or readers who enjoy forced proximity and bodyguard romances, A Taste of Gold and Iron offers both, wrapped in a delightful package of espionage and royal duty . . . Rowland also impresses in their nuanced depiction of anxiety -- BookpageThis slow-burn romantic fantasy with a heavy dose of political intrigue is rich in world-building and emotional angst . . . A queernormative fantasy world -- Buzzfeed
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Guns of the Dawn
Book SynopsisGuns of the Dawn is a pacey, gripping fantasy of war and magic, from Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author, Adrian Tchaikovsky.‘One of the best books I've ever read’ – Peter Newman, author of The VagrantThe first casualty of war is truth . . .First, Denland’s revolutionaries assassinated their king, launching a wave of bloodshed after generations of peace. Next they clashed with Lascanne, their royalist neighbour, pitching war-machines against warlocks in a fiercely fought conflict.Genteel Emily Marshwic watched as the hostilities stole her family’s young men. But then came the call for yet more Lascanne soldiers in a ravaged kingdom with none left to give. Emily must join the ranks of conscripted women and march toward the front lines.With barely enough training to hold a musket, Emily braves the savage reality of warfare. But she begins to doubt her country's cause, and those doubts become critical. For her choices will determine her own future and that of two nations locked in battle.‘An engrossing story, beautifully told’ – SFX‘Moving, gripping and wonderfully paced’ – The BookbagTrade ReviewI loved it. One of the best books I've ever read. Imagine Sharpe with a female lead and warlocks – need I say more? -- Peter NewmanI loved that book so much I read it in two sittings (and it's not short!). It has elements of Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels, mixed with Jane Austenesque characters, against the backdrop of war, with a side order of fireball-wielding sorcerers. The lead character is simply wonderful -- Emma NewmanTchaikovsky weaves together a story that keeps you hooked with breathless battle scenes, well-drawn characters and an uneasy feeling in your gut that while Marshwic and her red-coated comrades are winning battles they’re slowly losing the war . . . An engrossing story, beautifully told * SFX *This is a fantasy novel with muskets, magic, war machines and social hierarchies . . . It’s a credit to the skill of the author that both the world and the characters contain plenty of surprises * Starburst Magazine *Moving, gripping and wonderfully paced, Tchaikovsky has produced a strong standalone book about a remarkable heroine * The Bookbag *A story of gravitas, that uses its fantasy premise to hold a mirror to our past . . . Definitely a thought-provoking read -- SFBook * SFBook *Guns of the Dawn has a lot to say about the nature of war and the real reasons as to why such conflicts happen. At the same time, it is also an involving, entertaining read that flows very fluidly and keeps the reader turning the pages well into the night * GingernutsofHorror *My favorite fantasy that I’ve read this year . . . Adrian Tchaikovsky has assembled an engrossing, enchanting novel. This is one stand-alone novel that makes me deeply hope for a sequel * FantasyLiterature *
£10.44
Rebellion Publishing Ltd. Slaughtered Gods
Book SynopsisThe Concluding Part of the Epic Viking Fantasy TrilogyALL SHALL PERISH The great wolf howls for Ragnarok to begin. The half-giant Einer leads an army of the dead to clash with the golden shields of Asgard. The nornir tie and retie their threads, as Loki’s and Odin’s schemes unfold… and unravel. For not even cunning gods and giants see every part of the web.As the survivors of the burned village of Ash-hill converge on the final battle on Ida’s Plain, only two are truly free to choose their paths and prevent the annihilation of the nine worlds: a storyteller who holds all destinies in his hands, and a shieldmaiden with no destiny at all.Trade Review“Lush prose and epic battles only enhance this well-crafted series finale from a rising genre talent.” -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * Publishers Weekly *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Children of Gods and Fighting Men
Book SynopsisThe first in a gripping new historical fantasy series that intertwines Irish mythology with real-life history, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is the thrilling debut novel by Shauna Lawless. They think they've killed the last of us... 981 AD. The Viking King of Dublin is dead. His young widow, Gormflaith, has ambitions for her son – and herself – but Ireland is a dangerous place and kings tend not to stay kings for long. Gormflaith also has a secret. She is one of the Fomorians, an immortal race who can do fire-magic. She has kept her powers hidden at all costs, for there are other immortals in this world – like the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of warriors who are sworn to kill Fomorians. Fódla is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann with the gift of healing. Her kind dwell hidden in a fortress, forbidden to live amongst the mortals. Fódla agrees to help her kin by going to spy on Brian Boru, a powerful man who aims to be High King of Ireland. She finds a land on the brink of war – a war she is desperate to stop. However, preventing the loss of mortal lives is not easy with Ireland in turmoil and the Fomorians now on the rise... Reviews for The Children of Gods and Fighting Men 'Lawless blends fantasy with historical fiction to great effect.' SFX 'A novel that celebrates the extraordinary history of Ireland while giving voice to the women who helped shape it. Highly recommended.' Lucy Holland 'An excellent read.' Mark Lawrence 'Highlander meets The Last Kingdom... I was hooked from page one.' Anthony Ryan 'Gripping and beautiful. A Celtic Last Kingdom with wild magic and fierce heroines.' Anna Smith Spark 'A beguiling blend of fantasy, history, and politics.' D.K. Fields 'A vividly written story that makes the ancient past feel contemporary.' Joseph O'Connor 'Rife with atmosphere and armies, magic and compelling characters, it swept me along and refused to be put down.' H.M. Long 'An epic historical fantasy that weaves myth and history into a sprawling tale of magic, intrigue, and war. Absorbing and richly detailed.' Ian Green 'With all the complex political machinations of A Song of Ice and Fire and the bloody battles of The Warlord Chronicles, it's ideal for fans of both.' Stephen Aryan 'An atmospheric journey into a thrilling historical fantasy world.' R.J. BarkerTrade ReviewHighlander meets The Last Kingdom as feuding clans of magical undying vie for control of tenth-century Ireland in this assured and captivating debut. Themes of motherhood and conflicted obligation lie at the heart of Shauna Lawless's historical fantasy, explored through the eyes of two powerful women compelled to navigate a land where men hold sway, or think they do. I was hooked from page one -- Anthony RyanAbsolutely luminous... It's a huge, epic, admirable sweep of a novel * Sunday Independent *A compelling and fascinating tale, written with great skill, that draws the reader into a world full of magic, betrayal, warring kings and mythology. With all the complex political machinations of A Song of Ice and Fire and the bloody battles of The Warlord Chronicles, it's ideal for fans of both -- Stephen AryanGripping and beautiful. A Celtic Last Kingdom with wild magic and fierce heroines -- Anna Smith SparkLawless writes historical fiction steeped in fantasy and mythology like Bernard Cornwell, Mary Stewart, and Stephen Lawhead at the top of their games. I don't say this lightly either, I'm aware of the track record and accomplishments of these authors. But I have to say that Lawless more than holds her own among that lofty company. If you are an admirer of those books, you will absolutely love this... Shauna Lawless has loudly and triumphantly announced her presence to the world with this unforgettable debut and first book in the Gael Song series * Out Of This World SFF *Lawless blends fantasy with historical fiction to great effect * SFX *A vividly written story that makes the ancient past feel contemporary -- Joseph O'Connor, author of Star of the Sea and ShadowplayI really enjoyed the book. It's an excellent read -- Mark LawrenceA beguiling blend of fantasy, history, and politics... Every turn of the page ratchets up the tension. To read this novel is to fall into a richly imagined web of lives. A gripping start to this series -- D.K. FieldsAn atmospheric journey into a thrilling historical fantasy world that feels like it should be real -- R.J. BarkerAn epic historical fantasy that weaves myth and history into an sprawling tale of magic, intrigue, and war. Through the perspectives of Gormflaith and Fódla we pass through the years at a breakneck speed... Lawless weaves a complex and enticing narrative: there are plots and counterplots, and we move through the years swiftly as these slow plans grow to fruition. The intricacies of life in tenth-century Ireland are lovingly portrayed, from the cultural mix of Vikings, Irish, and English, to the merchant markets full of traders from far off lands. A must-read for those who love Irish mythology and history. An absorbing and richly detailed historical fantasy -- Ian GreenA great debut and an enjoyable read for any fantasy fan * SF Crowsnest *Delivers an intriguing blend of Irish history and folklore fantasy... Quietly excellent * Geek Dad *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Index Book 13 The History of Middleearth
Book SynopsisComplete integrated indices of History of Middle-earth volumes to complement new series.For the first time every index from each of the twelve volumes of The History Of Middle-earth has been published together in a single volume to create a supreme index charting the writing of Tolkien's masterpieces The Lord of The Rings and The Silmarillion.This stunning work of reference complements the fascinating History of Middle-earth series, now repackaged to complement the distinctive and classic style of the black cover' A-format paperbacks of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.
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Little, Brown Book Group Priestess Of The White: Book 1 of the Age of the
Book SynopsisWhen Auraya was chosen to become a priestess, she could never have believed that a mere ten years later she would be one of the White, the gods' most powerful servants. Sadly, Auraya has little time to adapt to the exceptional powers gifted her by the gods. Mysterious black-clad sorcerers from the south plague the land, and rumours reach the White of an army being raised. Auraya and her new colleagues work tirelessly to seal alliances and unite the northern continent under their banner, but time is running out. War is coming to the lands of the White, and unless Auraya can master her new abilities, even the favour of the gods may not be enough to save them . . .
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Pan Macmillan A Restless Truth: A Magical, Locked-room Murder
Book SynopsisKnives Out meets The Binding in this historical romp full of magic, queer romance and adventure. A Restless Truth by Freya Marske is the thrilling follow-up to A Marvellous Light.'It's the lesbian locked-room murder mystery of my dreams. Beyond delightful!' - Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of JanuaryMaud Blyth has always longed for adventure. She’d hoped for plenty of it when she agreed to help her beloved older brother unravel a magical conspiracy. She even volunteered to serve as an old lady's companion on an ocean liner. But Maud didn't expect the old lady to turn up dead on the very first day of the voyage.Now she has to deal with a dead body, a disrespectful parrot, and the lovely, dangerously outrageous Violet Debenham. Violet is everything Maud has been trained to distrust, yet can’t help but desire: a magician, an actress and a magnet for scandal.Surrounded by open sea and a ship full of suspects, Maud and Violet must learn to drop the masks they’ve learned to wear. Only then might they work together to locate a magical object worth killing for – and unmask a murderer. All without becoming dead in the water themselves.Set in an alternative Edwardian England filled with magic, murder and romance, A Restless Truth is the spellbinding second book in The Last Binding trilogy by Freya Marske. Continue the series with A Power Unbound.Trade ReviewA Restless Truth is a delectable sapphic fantasy-adventure on the high seas. Maud and Violet stole my heart from page one. Never has the term 'to ship' been more appropriate -- Megan Bannen, author of The Undertaking of Hart and MercyJaw-droppingly fantastic. Anyone who's ever hoped that the Miss Phryne Fisher Mysteries had a bit more magic and a lot more sex is going to adore this book, which doesn't skimp on either. Add to that fantastic, thoroughly captivating characters, a deeply engaging story and divinely lyrical prose. In a word: delightful -- Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of KingsThe perfect book if you're looking for oceanbound queer shenanigans, suspense in a coherently magical world, or opulent historical fiction! -- Malka Older, author of The Mimicking of Known SuccessesA magical world of exquisite refinement, where peril skims beneath manners, interiors bespeak both faultless taste and deadly secrets, and the sexual tension crescendos until it literally makes sparks fly. A dazzling debut -- Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun,on A Marvellous LightA breathtaking queer romantic fantasy . . . Sensual erotic scenes, an intriguing magic system, and a puzzling mystery combine to make this novel a wonder -- Publishers Weekly starred review on A Marvellous LightMystery! Magic! Murder! . . . This book is a confection, both marvellous and light -- Alix E. Harrow, author of Starling House on A Marvellous Light
£9.49
Little, Brown & Company Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 7 (light novel)
Book SynopsisNot long after Ougai Mori takes the reins of the Port Mafia, his accomplice Osamu Dazaihas a dreadful run in with Chuuya Nakahara, a boy known as the Sheep King who iscapable of manipulating gravity. But when strange rumors about the mysterious beingArahabaki start spreading throughout Yokohoma, the duo must put aside theirdifferences and get to the bottom of things.Before they achieved infamy as the fearsome pairing Twin Dark, Dazai and Chuuyawere just boys. Was their first encounter a harbinger of hope, or an ill omen of thingsto come...?
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Pan Macmillan The Memory of Souls
Book SynopsisGods, demons, and even more dragons . . . Jenn Lyons' powerful epic fantasy continues in The Memory of Souls.The longer he lives, the more dangerous he becomes . . . The city of Atrine lies in ruins. And now Relos Var has revealed his plan to free the monstrous god, Vol Karoth, the end of the world is closer than ever.To buy time for humanity, Kihrin and his friends need to convince a king to perform an ancient ritual. The power released would imprison the god for an age to come. But this may come at too high a price for the King of the Vane, as the ritual would strip his people of their immortality. As a result, some will do anything to prevent this ritual – including assassinating those championing this solution. Worse, Kihrin must come to terms with a horrifying possibility. It seems his connection to Vol Karoth is growing in strength . . . but what does it mean? And how can Kihrin hope to save his world, when he might be the greatest threat of all?The Memory of Souls is the third book in the thrilling series, A Chorus of Dragons, which begins with The Ruin of Kings. Continue the action with The House of Always.'What an extraordinary book . . . everything epic fantasy should be: rich, cruel, gorgeous, brilliant, enthralling and deeply deeply satisfying. I loved it' – Lev Grossman on The Ruin of Kings'Delightful and entertaining . . . it’s a fast, pacey read' - Locus Magazine‘Lyons raises stakes to a fever pitch' - Publishers WeeklyTrade ReviewLyons braids multiple points of view, tenses, and time lines into a richly detailed and elaborate story with increasing tension and stakes -- Library Journal starred reviewWhat an extraordinary book. The Ruin of Kings is everything epic fantasy should be: rich, cruel, gorgeous, brilliant, enthralling and deeply deeply satisfying. I loved it -- Lev Grossman on The Ruin of KingsA fantastic page-turner with a heady blend of great characters, fast-moving action and a fabulously inventive magic system . . . I loved it -- John Gwynne on The Ruin of KingsIt’s impossible not to be impressed with the ambition of it all, the sheer, effervescent joy Lyons takes in the scope of her project. Sometimes you just want a larger-than-life adventure story about thieves, wizards, assassins and kings -- New York Times on The Ruin of KingsThis follow up to Lyon's brilliant debut takes a similar, assured (and sassy) narrative approach as The Ruin of Kings . . . Lyons proves she is worthy of comparison to other masters of epic fantasy, such as Patrick Rothfuss, Stephen R. Donaldson (particularly in GrandGuignol action), and Melanie Rawn -- Booklist starred review on The Name of All ThingsSimply put: This is top-notch adventure fantasy written for a 21st-century audience - highly recommended -- Kirkus starred review on The Name of All ThingsLyons is creating a complex and wonderful series that will immerse and delight -- Library Journal on The Name of All Things
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Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Grace of Kings
Book SynopsisA TIME MAGAZINE BEST FANTASY BOOK OF ALL TIME Emperor Mapidéré was the first to unite the island kingdoms of Dara under a single banner. But now the emperor is on his deathbed, his people are exhausted by his vast, conscriptive engineering projects and his counsellors conspire only for their own gain. Even the gods themselves are restless. A wily, charismatic bandit and the vengeance-sworn son of a deposed duke cross paths as they each lead their own rebellion against the emperor's brutal regime. Together, they will journey to the heart of the empire; witnessing the clash of armies, fleets of silk-draped airships, magical books and shapeshifting gods. Their unlikely friendship will drastically change the balance of power in Dara... but at what price? The Grace of Kings is the first novel by Hugo-, Nebula- and World Fantasy Award-winner Ken Liu and the first in a monumental epic fantasy series.Trade ReviewEpic fantasy fans will enjoy this large-scale story of political strategy and skullduggery * Publishers Weekly *An instant classic. This is a novel to be reckoned with. Poetry on every page -- Hugh HoweyLiu's ambitious work expertly blends mythology, history, military tactics, and technological innovation * Kirkus Reviews *Ken Liu is a genius -- Elizabeth BearDreamlike and hypnotic, evocative and inspiring * The Book Bag *
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HarperCollins Publishers The Thorns Remain
Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling historical fantasy author of THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS comes a tour-de-force of faerie bargains, perfect for fans of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LA RUE, MEXICAN GOTHIC, and TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARYA dance with the fae will change everything1919. In a Highland village forgotten by the world, the young people who remain after war and flu will soon head south to make something of themselves.Moira Jean and her friends venture to the forest for a last nightof laughter before parting ways. Moira Jean is being left behind. She too planned to leave once but her lover died in France and, with him, her future. The friends light a fire and dance. But, with every twirl about the flames, strange new dancers thread between them, music streaming from the trees.The Fae have joined the dance.Suddenly Moira Jean finds herself all alone, her friends spirited away.For the Fae feel left behind and forgotten too. Led by the darkly handsome Lord of the Fae, they are out Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR HARWOOD ‘An un-put-downable historical fantasy drawn from border ballads and myths of the fae… The author has a knack for building tension, keeping the pages flying throughout. This is not to be missed.’PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred review ‘Deliciously dark’WOMAN MAGAZINE ‘A gothic twist on Cinderella that is truly exquisite. Chilling and beautiful – I devoured it in one sitting’Katie Lowe, bestselling author of THE FURIES ‘A thought-provoking take on a classic’SFX ‘An impresive debut’DUNDEE COURIER
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HarperCollins Publishers Ruthless Vows
Book Synopsis TORN APART BY WAR. REUNITED BY LOVE? Trade Review‘Divine Rivals was a genuine word of mouth hit that grew into an international bestseller, capturing the hearts of readers all over the world. Ruthless Vows is the epic conclusion of this story, that is just as tender and beautiful. Honestly, it crept up on us – there's a vulnerability and poignancy to the writing that made this exceptionally readable. We pick up two weeks after Iris returns home, her love Roman is lost behind enemy lines with no memory of his past. Hope arrives in a form we might remember, through a mysterious letter from an unknown pen pal that may just have all the answers.’ Glamour
£12.59
Little, Brown Book Group The Stardust Thief
Book Synopsis''The Stardust Thief will transport you, enchant you, and revive your belief in the magic of storytelling'' Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the SunInspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief weaves the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a magical lamp.Neither here nor there, but long ago...Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp.With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan''s oldest son to find the artefact. Aided by her bodyguard, who has secrets of his own, they must survive ghoul attacks, outwit a vengeful jinn queen and confront Trade ReviewYou'll be charmed immediately by the characters and pulled in by this exploration of how the stories we hear and the stories we tell ourselves - beautiful and heartbreaking alike - shape us. Perfect for fans of S.A. Chakraborty's City of Brass -- C.L. Clark, author of THE UNBROKENA thrilling adventure about found families, ancient magic and stories that linger -- S. A. Chakraborty, author of THE CITY OF BRASSThe Stardust Thief is a dream written upon a page - absorbing, lingering and poignantly told. Abdullah weaves a sweeping adventure of tales within tales, while laying bare the ways those we love can both uplift us and break our hearts -- Andrea Stewart, author of THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTERAbdullah has created a sumptuous feast of richly layered classic tales, and characters who will have you hungering to unravel their mysteries. The Stardust Thief will transport you, enchant you, and revive your belief in the magic of storytelling. -- Shelley Parker-Chan, author of SHE WHO BECAME THE SUNSizzling with action and secrets, The Stardust Thief is a grand adventure with unforgettable characters, enchanting magic, and plenty of heart -- Melissa Caruso, author of THE TETHERED MAGEThe sun-baked sands of Abdullah's imagination teem with colour, danger and excitement -- SFXAbdullah is a gifted storyteller. . . [bringing] to life a rich world, rife with magic, where anything that can be dreamed up can happen -- BOOKLISTThis powerful, intriguing adventure will leave readers eager for more -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLYA marvellous plunge into a beautifully crafted adventure -- KIRKUSAbdullah transports readers into this rich world and literary heritage -- LIBRARY JOURNAL
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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
HarperCollins Publishers Daggerspell
Book SynopsisBOOK ONE IN THE MAGICAL DEVERRY CYCLEPrepare to be spellbound by a sparkling fantasy classic: a tale of adventure and timelesslove, perilous battle and pure magic.I was hooked and my enthusiasm for this series carried me through to the very last and then moved me to tears' Fantasy Book ReviewA cracking read' SFXA broken promise, a curse and a magic beyond imaginingThe powerful sorcerer Nevyn broke a promise long ago and a curse has trapped him ever since. He waits for the one who might break him free of his prison. A wait that may soon finally come to an end.Jill is the daughter of a Silver Dagger, a band of wandering swordsmen who fight for money, not honour.After her mother died when she was young, father and girl took to the road, living from town to town, never settling.Jill's only friends are the mysterious spirits known as Wildfolk: gnomes, sylphs, sprites and undines. Their magical presence in her life marks her out as different; special. but young Jill has no idea what the deTrade ReviewPraise for Katharine Kerr and the Deverry novels: ‘Kerr is an excellent writer, her stories live and breathe – exciting, unpredictable, and engaging in equal measure.’Mark Lawrence ‘A fantastic plot which turns a simple story into something far more original … a cracking read … engrossing’ SFX ‘A criminally under-rated and overlooked epic fantasy sequence [with] a keen sense of history, well drawn characters, and a complex plot’ Kate Elliott, author of the Spiritwalker Trilogy ‘An unusually scholarly writer of fantasy’ TELEGRAPH ‘Much as I dislike comparing anything to The Lord of the Rings, I have to admit that on this occasion it’s justified’ INTERZONE ‘Kerr is a master of her trade…She has created a world that might very well go on for ever, and this one reader sincerely hopes it does’ VECTOR ‘An extensive and complete world, whose endlessly fascinating details grow book by book’ STARLOG
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HarperCollins Publishers A Time of Exile Book 1 The Westlands
Book SynopsisA Time Of Exile is the first book in The Westlands series a new entry point into Kerr's magical world, and a continuation of the tale begun in The Deverry series.A hidden history, a destiny fulfilled and a heritage rich in joy and sadnessMany decades have passed since the half-elven Lord Rhodry took the throne of Aberwyn, but he appears to have hardly aged a year. His suspicious subjects mutter that there must be magic about him and increasingly the king wonders to himself if perhaps his time in power is drawing to a close. Ever a chancer, Rhodry conspires to stage his own death and slip away to a simpler life.But you can never outrun your past.When Rhodry meets his lost lover, Jill now a powerful wizard she urges that he finally accept his elven heritage. Torn by duty and a love long-lost, Aberwyn's ruler must face his past to forge his future.A Time Of Exile is the first book in The Westlands series a new entry point into Kerr's magical world, and a continuation of the tale begunTrade ReviewPraise for Katharine Kerr and the Deverry novels: ‘Kerr is an excellent writer, her stories live and breathe – exciting, unpredictable, and engaging in equal measure.’Mark Lawrence ‘A fantastic plot which turns a simple story into something far more original … a cracking read … engrossing’ SFX ‘A criminally under-rated and overlooked epic fantasy sequence [with] a keen sense of history, well drawn characters, and a complex plot’ Kate Elliott, author of the Spiritwalker Trilogy ‘An unusually scholarly writer of fantasy’ TELEGRAPH ‘Much as I dislike comparing anything to The Lord of the Rings, I have to admit that on this occasion it’s justified’ INTERZONE ‘Kerr is a master of her trade…She has created a world that might very well go on for ever, and this one reader sincerely hopes it does’ VECTOR ‘An extensive and complete world, whose endlessly fascinating details grow book by book’ STARLOG
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HarperCollins Publishers A Time of Omens Book 2 The Westlands
Book SynopsisA Time Of Omens is booktwo in The Westlands series a brilliant quartet set in the magical lands of Deverry.The prophecy of the dashing young king who must journey in disguise and the ruler in exile who must take up a swordThe former Lord Rhodry has taken to the road as a silver dagger once more, forced to take up the mercenary life to escape court lest his former subjects discover his elven blood.Life on the road soon turns bitter as it brings him face to face with the history of his people entwined as it is with his own past but he cannot stop. While Jill travels to distant lands to seek answers to the riddles of their shared destiny, Rhodry roams far from the lands he once ruled.Selling his sword in the hills and towns of Deverry, he finds dark forces are gathering, evils that only the magics of Light can defeat.From the shadowy land of the Guardians come omens, of gods and legend, that seem to point the way toward cataclysmic warHistory and destiny collide in The Westlands seriesTrade ReviewPraise for Katharine Kerr and the Deverry novels: ‘Kerr is an excellent writer, her stories live and breathe – exciting, unpredictable, and engaging in equal measure.’Mark Lawrence ‘A fantastic plot which turns a simple story into something far more original … a cracking read … engrossing’ SFX ‘A criminally under-rated and overlooked epic fantasy sequence [with] a keen sense of history, well drawn characters, and a complex plot’ Kate Elliott, author of the Spiritwalker Trilogy ‘An unusually scholarly writer of fantasy’ TELEGRAPH ‘Much as I dislike comparing anything to The Lord of the Rings, I have to admit that on this occasion it’s justified’ INTERZONE ‘Kerr is a master of her trade…She has created a world that might very well go on for ever, and this one reader sincerely hopes it does’ VECTOR ‘An extensive and complete world, whose endlessly fascinating details grow book by book’ STARLOG
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Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press The Bird King
Book SynopsisFrom award-winning author G. Willow Wilson, The Bird King is an epic journey set during the reign of the last sultan in the Iberian peninsula at the height of the Spanish Inquisition.G. Willow Wilson's debut novel Alif the Unseen established her as a vital American Muslim literary voice. The Bird King tells the story of Fatima, a concubine in the royal court of Granada, the last emirate of Muslim Spain, and her dearest friend Hassan, the palace mapmaker. Hassan has a secret - he can draw maps of places he's never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the newly formed Spanish monarchy arrive to negotiate the sultan's surrender, Fatima befriends one of the women, not realising that she will see Hassan's gift as sorcery and a threat to Christian Spanish rule. With their freedoms at stake, what will Fatima risk to save Hassan and escape the palace walls? As Fatima and Hassan traverse Spain to find safety, The Bird King asks us to consider what love is and the price of freedom at a time when the West and the Muslim world were not yet separate.Trade ReviewBrilliantly imagines the fall of Muslim Granada....A warm, generous spirit underlies the entire novel. * New York Times Book Review *The Bird King is marvelous in the deepest sense - a treasure-house of a novel, thrilling, tender, funny and achingly gorgeous. I loved it. -- Lev Grossman, author of THE MAGICIANS trilogyG. Willow Wilson has a deft hand with myth and with magic, and the kind of smart, honest writing mind that knits together and bridges cultures and people. You should read what she writes. -- Neil GaimanThe Bird King takes a time period that's passed into cliché and makes it new and strange again. In this novel, the real runs alongside the fantastic, one informing the other, G. Willow Wilson's eye for detail and her titanic imagination pumping together like pistons. She's incredible. The Bird King has big things to say about states and souls, and it's going to take you on a rollicking ride while it says them. I was fascinated and riveted and, by the end, deeply moved. -- Robin Sloan, author of SOURDOUGHSteeped in magical realism . . . [and] enchanting otherworldly trappings, it is primarily a novel of ideas. [The Bird King] grapples with who we are, how we love, [and] why we worship . . . [with] prose so vivid and original that one can only read it with envy. * Tor.com *A gorgeous, ambitious meditation on faith, platonic love, magic and even storytelling itself, with a trio of unforgettable personalities serving as its beating, endlessly vital heart. The Bird King is a triumph . . . Wilson has once again proven that she's one of the best fantasy writers working today, with a book that's just waiting for readers to get happily lost in its pages. * BookPage *
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