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[[Category:New Reviews|Fantasy]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Mark AlderA G Slatter|title=Son The Briar Book of the MorningDead

|summary=The fourteenth century - Edward III sits upon '' There's a part of me that wants to keep this just to myself for however long I can. This secret magic of my own, all mine, at last. I just want to enjoy it for a while.'' Within a remote mountain pass, far away from the throneworld, trying to rebuild lies Silverton; a country bought to its kneestown under the protection of the Briar's, a family of witches who protect the town and conquer France the wider world from the Darklands. Though she has always wished for magic, Ellie Briar is the first non- a land thought witch to be rightfully hisborn into her family for generations and as such since she was young, her training as a steward revolved around letters and administration rather than spells and potions. However Edward has a major problem - it is said that When her grandmother suddenly dies, Ellie's cousin Audra becomes the Briar Witch, the Angels will only fight for Francetown's leader, and Ellie takes her place beside her. Edward has little choice - fail As challenges come her way left, right and fall in battlecentre, convince Ellie uncovers the Angels rare ability to switch sidescommunicate with the dead, or open putting her at the gates heart of a maelstrom of chaos. Reeling from one family secret to another, Ellie must decide who to hell trust and begin a holy war..determine what to do as the Briar witches' legacy, everything they have sacrificed to survive, is under threat.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0575115165</amazonuk>1803364548

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=The Darkest Part of the ForestRachel Greenlaw|authortitle=Holly BlackCompass and Blade|rating=43.5

|summary=The people of Fairfold know not to meddle with ''I can hear the faerie folk, they wear their socks inside out, fill their pockets with oatmeal and they stay out song of the forest on the full moonsea. Tourists don’t know these things. People travel far and wide to see The call of the faerie town and deep, the sleeping boy answering beat in the glass coffin but one or two always go missing, never to be seen again. Tourists, the locals say, the folk don’t interfere with locals, if they do, you must be acting like a touristmy heart.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780621736</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Chris Evans|title=Of Bone Rosevear, a remote and partially forgotten island, survives on luring ships into the rocks and Thunder|rating=4plundering the wrecks.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=The conscripted men and women Mira, like her mother before her, is one of the Kingdom's military forces are battling seven who swim out to survey the Slyts in Luitoxruins – rescuing any survivors and any treasure that lies within. The Kingdom's might may include But when the latest weaponry and Council Watch lays a trap to end the ability to thaum but wrecking, they capture the Slyts are elusive island's leader and have their own waysMira's father. The jungle Desperate to save him from death, Mira makes a bargain with a wreck survivor who is as hot charming as hell which he is apt as they will all face their own hells secretive and some may even survivewith only coordinates to guide her, she sets off in search of a family secret that lies buried deep in the sea. The odds aren’t good though; if With only nine days to unearth what might save her father, as her journey takes her from the enemy doesnwatched streets of foreign islands to the heart of the smuggler't get thems territory, their own flying craft may. Nobody wants Mira must be determined to stop at nothing to be on save the back future of an overheated rag!her home and the ones she holds most dear.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1783297557</amazonuk>0008664730

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Den PatrickT Kingfisher|title=The Boy Who Wept Blood (Erebus Sequence 2)Thornhedge

|summary=Anea ''You had a right to retake your place.'' T Kingfisher's latest novella is now the ruler a lovely reimagining of Demesne but, rather than retain the current aristocratic system of ruling houses, she works towards a republicfairytale that is well known and well beloved. But whilst there is a princess trapped in a tower, empowering the plentiful but poor peasants. As no turkey votes for Christmassleeping under an eternal enchantment, Thornhedge is not all ruling houses align with her ideas, making life treacherous – fatally so for somestory. DinoInstead, her half-brother our protagonist is doing all he can to protect her butToadling, Anea's desire who was stolen away by fairies when she was a new-born baby and secreted away to spend most the land of fairie where her time with her scientific machines isn't doing childhood was spent being taught how to draw magic from her any favours in the popularity stakes. For Dino hiding away is not an option; he's got questions veins and he wants to live long enough to answer themcast spells.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1473211522</amazonuk>1803364238

{{newreview|author=R D Shanks|title=A Reverie of Brothers|rating=3.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=The castle of Delzean's walls have always protected Emperor EliCast out from Rome, his sons, sister, niece Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in which her art can find a home and nephew where her future can thrive rather than stagnate. But as some as she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the ravages and poverty powerful Accademia, the self-proclaimed guardians of the people in healing magics that through paintings have the power to protect the city beyondand its citizens from plagues and curses. However the days may be numbered as a burgeoning revolution The all-male Accademia has infiltrated its walls thanks to the rebel movement known as The Eyeshoarded power over art and architecture for centuries and guard it above all else. Their plan necessitates the unwitting involvement of the spoiltTo them, egotistical aforementioned niece, Princess Ava. Unfortunately there will be collateral damage with tragic effectsArtemisia – an ambitious young woman who promises trouble and change – has no place amongst them and their society.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1505631394</amazonuk>1803362340

{{newreview|author=Jo Walton|title=What Makes This Book So Great: ReSet in the near-Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And Fantasy|rating=5|genre=Anthologies|summary=Jo Walton has published over ten booksdistant future, several of which have been award winning. On top of that, she has in a voracious appetite for books - both as a well respected writer world on the verge of original fictionclimate collapse, but as Britain is in great peril. The British Isles desperately needs a well respected reviewer too. Not only does she have time hero (or several) to do all that, but she also writes a regular column for Torsave the day and rescue what little remains.com, on Science Fiction and Fantasy books, and it is these columns What no-one expected was that a selection one of the Knights of which are collected herethe Round Table would answer the call.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1472111613</amazonuk>0356518523

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Richard HarlandAmelia Estelle Dellos|title=Song of the SlumsDelilah Recovered

|summary=We meet Dee at a point when her life isn't going as planned but things might, just might, be about to look up. Out of work, about to lose her flat, Dee is up for an accountant's job. But it'Song of s not to be. Dee is attacked by two men calling themselves witch hunters. She survives the Slumsattack but not unscathed. Witch hunters? What on earth has that to do with Dee? She'' fuses politicss just an ordinary woman, music, social injustice and gaslight fantasyliving an ordinary life. Set in 1846 during the age Slivers of steam it tells the story memory of Astor Vance things that are not ordinary at all return to her and her mysterious servant/companion Verrol who are caught up in things will never be the machinations of the plutocratic Swale family and must fight for survival in a world of intriguesame....|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1743310056</amazonuk>B0BKYFDLLV

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Victoria AveyardHadeer Elsbai|title=Red QueenThe Daughters of Izdihar

|summary=London 1913: Drawing inspiration from Egypt, ''The Sixth Earl Daughters of Izdihar'' explores the lives of Radnor diestwo women who could not be more different, passing his mantle on to his daughter Lady Lilith Montgomeryyet find themselves fighting for the rights of women and weavers – those with magical abilities - in a society pitted against them. NoNehal, born into the upper class, it’s not wishes to attend the earldom he passes on (that goes Weaving Academy to learn to control her brother Freddie) abilities and then join the military, but instead she is forced into an arranged marriage with Nico. Giorgina on the position other hand did not have a privileged upbringing like Nehal and feels great pressure to provide for her family and maintain their reputation, whilst secretly attending meetings of Head Witch the Daughters of the Lazarus CovenIzdihar – a group campaigning for women's rights. Giorgina also happens to be in love with Nico. With the position comes responsibilities What follows is a story of an unjust society, filled with hypocrisy and secrets that have been kept cruelty, from which blossoms a group of admirable women fighting for generations. Divulging the secrets would break the coven code but there are dark entities abroad that want them, no matter what… or who… it coststheir rights and overcoming their personal obstacles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1472116402</amazonuk>0356520471

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Anne RiceHeather Fawcett|title=The Wolves Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of MidwinterFaeries|rating=2.54|genre=FantasyGeneral Fiction|summary=Things have certainly changed for Reuben Golding now that he Emily Wilde is a werewolf. He's living with hardly a care for his journalism career in a huge, rich mansion in the woods in rural west coast USan expert academic scholar on faerie lore, with some exotic European retainers and servantsshe has travelled extensively, and several fellow werewolvesresearched meticulously, who are doing their best at times to help him in the transitionwrite her life's work, and guiding him in the ways very first encyclopaedia of the immortalfaeries. He's using his new-found powers Whilst she is brilliant at research and speaking to be a sort of vigilantefaeries, she is not so good with people. So when she finds herself far, ridding far North in the world small village of evil people and rescuing their victimsHrafvsnik, but it's much closer to home that having somehow offended the change in his life really manifests itself. Just because he village matriarch, she is not sure what she has cut ties to his pastdone, it doesn't mean they cannot return nor how to haunt himredeem herself and put her final investigations for her book back on the right track. The transaction that left him the mansion might not have been completely smooth after Enter Wendell Bambleby, her dashingly handsome and insufferable rival who arrives unexpectedly, all. And even if he might have an endless futurecharm and delight, it's not much to say heEmily's going to get the one frustration. But why is he thinks here? What does he wants and deserves, especially where his lover Laura want? And what exactly is concerned…going on with the faerie folk around Hravsnik?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>009958493X</amazonuk>0356519120

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lynne TrussChristopher Golden|title=Cat out Road of HellBones|rating=3.5

|summary=Meet Alec CharlesworthThe Kolyma Highway… the 'Road of Bones'… the R504. HeStretching for over a thousand miles across Siberia, it's retired and decamped to an isolated coastal cottage with just his dog and loving memories one of his colleague wife, now that she has died before her timethe world's most notorious routes. But For months of the fusty librarian cannot rest too long before engaging in exploring some unusual computer files that were pinged across by someone at year it's a spread of sheet ice suspended above the college he worked atpermafrost surrounding it, while its 'spring' sees it turn into a huge blodge of unremitting, apocalyptic-level mud, which dries into rutted, just before he leftpuddly dust. I don't think google streetview updates it very often. Bizarrely they show photographic Built because Stalin wanted so much uranium and audio evidence of other Siberian minerals, and because he wanted to give too many people a talking cat called Rogerlesson, replete with Vincent Price voice – although they are also damaged by being included alongside some bad screenplay attempts it legendarily cost a life every metre it covers. You can easily find documentaries about said cat. Worryinglyit online, we soon see what at the most only but that's a few bit rich, for one of the our main characters can, that this cat Felix 'Teig' Teigland, is being accompanied by unusual and unexpected death a film-maker, doing a recce with his cameraman buddy, John Prentiss – much like Alecwho's mostly there to encourage the project to fruition to claw back some of the funds he'd invested in the pair's wifeprior TV projects. It's only when Roger testifies to having been pushed through They pick up their oh-so-chatty local guide, gain the ends company of endurance a local beauty, and out fetch up at the other side guide's childhood village. And that we begin 's where things start to doubt where the true evil in this story lies…go awry…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099585340</amazonuk>1803361476

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Patrick RothfussAndrew Givler|title=Soul Fraud (The Slow Regard of Silent ThingsDebt Collection Book 1)|rating=4.5

|summary=Deep below the University, the ancient home of magic and learning, ''Matt has a young girl lives amongst the caves, tunnels, and abandoned rooms. In Seven days, her friend will be visiting - one of her few friends, and someone who Auri cannot wait to seeterrible life. Those seven days are filled with AuriSeriously—it's preparations - her hunt amongst awful. It is so bad that Dan the tunnels and caves Demon is shocked when Matt turns down his infernal offer: 10 years of a blissful life in exchange for a proper gift, and her thoughts as she goes about her businesshis soul. ''

Poor Dan! I know, I know, we shouldn't feel sorry for soul-catching demons. But he really is a terrible salesman. He never hits his targets and, when he fails to get even Matt to sign on the dotted line, he's so desperate that he simply forges Matt's signature.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1473209323</amazonuk>1958204021

 {{newreview|title=The Murdstone TrilogyFrontpage|author=Mal PeetOlivie Blake|rating=5|genre=Teens|summarytitle=Philip Murdstone is becoming a bit of a has-been. The once-acclaimed children's author has won ''literary'' awards, dontchaknow. Literary. Got that? But these are past glories. His novels about young outsiders are no longer anything new. In fact, his agent can't even sell his latest. And Minerva Finch, said agent, is all about what she can sell. There's nothing for it, she tells Philip, but a foray into fantasy. He's going to have to write a sword-and-sorcery epic. She's even got an A4 blueprint of what's required: realms, minions, dark lords, dwarves, elves, swords, and all the rest of it. Fantasy, you see, is selling by the ''bucketloads, containerloads, downloads''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910200158</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=An English Ghost Story|author=Kim NewmanAtlas Six|rating=4.5

|summary=The NaremoresDark, sharp, a family with a troubled pastand highly inquisitive, leave London in search of peace in the quiet Somerset countryside. Finding the perfect home – ''The HollowAtlas Six'' – appears to symbolise a turning point and the end of all their problems. The Hollow seems possessed of makes its publishing debut after becoming a healing magic which can restore health and relationships as well as hopes and dreamsTik-Tok sensation. Unfortunately, the positive power of the Hollow is suddenly challenged and the family are plunged into horrors that perhaps they should have foreseen…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1781165580</amazonuk>1529095239

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Shifting Shadows: Stories From the World of Mercy ThompsonDaniel Abraham|authortitle=Patricia BriggsAge of Ash

|summary=To recap, then – We meet Patricia Briggs. Besides one standalone book [[Aralorn: Masques and Wolfbsane by Patricia Briggs|Aralorn]] her many novels have been set in one universe – a world in Alys under the NW USA where all kinds most northerly of fantasy creatures live in amongst humansOldgate's four bridges, whether officially or otherwise. Car mechanic Mercy Thompson is part-coyote, and therefore can shapeshift, but we've also seen how she has other minor talents a knife in solving problems her hand and identifying threats a meeting that other aspects of the fantasy world can delivershe dreads. Her colleagues have been fae, her best friends (and worst enemies) vampires, and she's now Meanwhile the partner City of the region's alpha werewolf – who employs Kithamar is at a witch as fixer; everywhere you look there is lore as to how all these species interrelate and point in the books drip with rules about every aspect turning of living beyond years when the mundaneworlds are at their thinnest and all things are possible. So far there It is the night between the funeral of a minor trilogy set on Prince and the edges coronation of Mercy's world, but eight major – and majorly successful – books fully focussed on herhis successor. But Patty Briggs must clearly have a very restless imagination, and For a will to narrate strong stories, and night the results have also led us to this fat volume of short stories, that come from instances, characters and times scattered throughout her mythologyKithamar is un-ruled.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356505278</amazonuk>0356515427

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Mark MorrisAnn Sei Lin|title=The Wolves of London - The Obsidian Heart Trilogy (Book 1)Rebel Skies|rating=5|genre=FantasyTeens|summary=Alex Locke Kurara has grown from spent her entire life as a servant on the young petty criminal he once wasMidori, a massive dining hall floating in the sky where soldiers of the Empire come to drink and make merry between their conquests. Now However, when a psychology lecturer man named Himura arrives to tell her that she is a Crafter like him, someone with the power to form paper into whatever she desires – a beautiful 5-year-old daughter he has every incentive he needs to stay straightpower sought after all across the Empire. It would take something devastating He asks her to make come with him return , to his former leave the life but devastation happensof dreary servitude that is all she has known. Alex Well, soon Kurara won't have any say in the matter, because the Midori is coerced into doing on last job: stealing destroyed by a monstrous paper spirit known as a piece of heart shaped obsidian from someone it didn’t belong shikigami, and she is forced to in flee out into the first placeworld. What are She joins Himura aboard the consequences? What's so special about this piece of rock? As all hell breaks looseOrihime, Alex a sky-ship whose express purpose is about to find out.hunt down shikigami, and a whole world of adventure awaits her…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1781168660</amazonuk>1406399590

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Chrysler Szarlan B09Q3P283Y|title=The Hawley Book of the DeadShadebringer|author=Grayson W Hooper

|summary= Revelation (Reve) Maskelyne Clyde Robbins signs up for the US Army during the Vietnam War. He's not really that invested in the fight against Communism, nor is the latest of he particularly interested in a long line of girls named Revelations career in the Sears familymilitary. This has a significance sheIf he's unaware of as she divides her time between a happy marriagehonest - which Clyde usually is, parenthood and sharing the limelight with her husband Jeremy as illusionist team The Amazing Maskelynes. Until the day she kills Jeremy… The tragic event triggers the realisation that someone has been stalking Reve for most of her life. For the protection of her 15himself at least -year-old twins he hasn't got many choices and 10-year-old daughterthis one, Reve runs to Hawley Five Cornersat least, a large New England estate thatgets him out of the rut he's been in the family for centuries. Reve has always known that not all magic He's good in training and is illusion but now she has to rely on thatquickly put onto a non commissioned officer training course. He's chuffed with himself.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780891466</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=The FreeJennifer Saint|authortitle=Brian RuckleyElektra

|genre=FantasyLiterary Fiction|summary=The Free are a band 'Elektra' by Jennifer Saint tells the story of mercenaries - magical warriors three women who have travelled live in the heavily male dominated world of Ancient Greece. Cassandra, Clytemnestra, and Elektra are renowned for their skills all bit players in battlethe story of the Trojan War. Finally reaching a point where they can retire from war, their leader Yulan is offered one final contract - one he cannot refuseYet Jennifer Saint shows us that often the silent women have the most compelling stories and the most extreme furies.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356501957</amazonuk>1472273915

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=ErenDean Koontz|authortitle=Simon P ClarkQuicksilver|rating=42.5|genre=Confident ReadersThrillers|summary=People - Mum, mostly - are keeping secrets from OliMeet Quinn Quicksilver. Why have they He's not had the chance to leave London and come get to live be a mercurial character yet, for he's lived in the country with Uncle Rob? Why hasn't Dad come too? Why does everyone keep turning off the TV news every time it comes a nun-run orphanage since he was a three-day old foundling, and now is starting a career on? Why does Ema needless magazine's dad dislike Oli staff. But when this book starts he doesnIS now 't even know 'subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind'', for something – call it unearthly intuition, call it mind-control, call it a supernatural urge – has demanded of him? When will Dad come? When will life that he go back to normal? a derelict diner, find a gold coin worth a fortune, cash the value of it out of his bank and prepare for going on the lam. And all this is just in time for two of those typical Men in Black types to turn up and suggest he's of interest to them. Helped to escape, he finds his flight is interrupted by other instances of him acting without being in control, the discovery that he is not unique in having some kind of burgeoning power – and a whole lot more besides.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1472110978</amazonuk>1542019885

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Edward CoxTasha Suri|title=The Relic GuildJasmine Throne|rating=4.5

|summary=The Genii War was so devastating that now, 40 years laterOn the night of her sacred burning, Princess Malini defies her brother and refuses to step on to the world pyre. She is a dismally different place. The Labyrinth, immediately sent to be imprisoned on the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once filled with a hub permitting access to unlimited locations is now a prison. The police, under the control community of people who got powers from the Resident and his especially enabled Relic Guild, maintain ordermysterious deathless waters. The war may have left lasting reverberations but at least But now the Genii have been destroyedtemple is nothing more than an overgrown, decaying ruin. If they hadn't beenOne day, combine their malevolent presence Malini witnesses a girl kill someone with the fact magic. Instead of reporting her for such a gruesome crime, Malini claims that the Relic Guild is not as strong in numbers as they once were girl saved her from an attacker and things could worsen considerablybegs for the girl to become her own personal maidservant. Errrr… Labrys, we have a problem!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1473200296</amazonuk>0356515648

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=The Broken Eye (Lightbringer 3)Genevieve Gornichec|authortitle=Brent WeeksThe Witch's Heart|rating=3.54

|summary=War is coming to A modern and approachable reimagining of the Seven Satrapies - not Norse myths that most centres around a witch named Angrboda. She hides in a forest at the edge of the nine worlds, remembering nothing of her past life but that fact that she was survived burnt at the people stake three times because of Odin's wrath. Her attempts to live in power want peace, however, are quickly thwarted when Loki shows up with her literal heart—the one that was cut from her chest before she was tied to admit itthe stake—and refuses to leave her alone. The Color Prince may not have succeeded in keeping hold After an initial period of his super powerful Banes yetmistrust, but heAngrboda begins to fall for Loki's steadily moving through charms, and the Satrapiestwo start an unusual family made of up a half-dead daughter, a son that's a wolf, burning and killing everything in his path all the sameanother son that's a snake.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1841499099</amazonuk>1789097061

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Benedict JackaHannah Whitten|title=Hidden: An Alex Verus novel For the Wolf|rating=4.5

|summary=Anne WalkerIn Red's family, the first daughter becomes queen, life mage and former good friend of Camden magic shop owner/future diviner Alex Verus the second daughter becomes a sacrifice. To Red's misfortune, she is in troublethe second daughter. Alex would love Sent alone into the woods with nothing but the cape on her back, Red knows what to help her but first expect: within the woods is a wolf, and he has to find heris the one who will decide the fate of their kingdom. Meanwhile his guilty past as If she is not a dark mage apprenticed worthy sacrifice, the monsters he keeps contained to the less-woods will be released, and the fabled kings he keeps hostage will never be returned—or so the stories go. But when Red enters the woods, expecting nothing more than-nice Richard Drakh has come back to haunt himbe killed within the hour, she finds that the legends are lies. In fact there are rumours that Richard himself The wolf is coming back to haunt Alex personally as Richardnot a monster—he's more than mildly miffed about Alex's betrayala man. Hang on Alex – it's going to be a bumpy ride!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356502317</amazonuk>0356516369

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Angus WatsonJohn Gwynne|title=Age of Iron (The Iron Age Trilogy)|rating=4.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=Location: Here or hereabouts Date: 67BC. The Romans are coming but, before they turn up, the collection of disparate tribes they're destined to call Britannia has other problems. There is much infighting among these mini-kingdoms and currently Dug the Warrior's region is subjected to a massive killing machine – the army of King Zadar. Everything's fine though; Dug is just one of the people who want to kill him. Yes, there's Dug, Lowa the talented archer-ess who used to work for Zadar and Spring, a little girl. Some would say that they can't get through the army of thousands that surround the King but they're going to try anyway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0356502619</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Deborah Harkness|title=Shadow Of The Book of LifeGods

|summary=Historian witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont are back home The Shadow Of The Gods is the first installment of the Bloodsworn Saga, set in the 21st century but now face era of the Vikings in the tragic news shadow of Aunt Sarah's partnerRagnarok, Em's death. Hard-to-get-along-with Baldwin has taken over as head of when the de Clairmont clan Gods have battled and their bones lie scattered for all to see. This story is making life dangerously difficult for Dianathe ultimate in High Fantasy, Matthew and their unborn twins. If this isn't enough, they still need John Gwynne certainly does justice to find and remove the secret manuscriptgenre, Ashmole 782 – the Book of Lifewith mythical creatures, archaic language and battles galore. HoweverThis is a thick book, they have very dangerous competitionwith an intricate plot and fascinating characters that are woven together to create a wonderfully realistic and gritty world in which our heroes must do battle.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755384776</amazonuk>0356514218

{{newreview|title=The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic|author=Emily Croy Barker|rating=3|genre=Fantasy|summary=Feeling the need for a little escapism and fantasy reading, I chose this debut novel by Emily Croy Barker, expecting an enchanted but modern fairy tale for grown ups. However, I have to say, I was a little disappointed. The book starts out brilliantly, introducing us to Nora in her mundane life as she struggles to write her university thesis whilst dealing with a relationship breakdown, then by chapter two, suddenly transports the reader to a magical other-world, rather like ''Alice in Wonderland'' or ''Harry Potter''. We then follow Nora as she meets the enchanting, beautiful, Ilissa in a land where everything turns out to be too good to be true and looks are very much deceiving. Nora is literally locked into marriage with Ilissa's son Raclin and we learn that her only way out of this entrapment is through the help of magician Aruendiel, an enemy of Ilissa and from another land named Uland. A promising start, suggesting unexpected events, conflicts, a fast paced story and twists Move on to come. Unfortunately, for me, the intrigue soon faded and the exciting plot beyond this never really materialised.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405913096</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Codex Born|author=Jim C Hines|rating=4|genre=Fantasy|summary=Bands are famed for having that tricky second album syndrome, but the same can be said for authors when writing the second book in a series. [[Libriomancer by Jim C Hines|LibriomancerNewest For Sharing Reviews]] was the first in a series that blasted onto the scene with an infectious enthusiasm that allowed you to forgive its one or two minor flaws. Could the follow up continue the momentum, or will it stagnate?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091953472</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=The Ripper Affair|author=Lilith Saintcrow|rating=4.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=Emma Bannon, Sorcerer Prime and servant to the crown, has been locked away in her house for some time now, trying to avoid being drawn into affairs of treason and murder, thank you very much. But when Archibald Clare discovers the secret Emma has been keeping from him - in a violent incident at a court that takes the life of Clare's manservant, Valentinelli - Emma finds herself unable to avoid being thrown back into the fray. For someone sorcerous is murdering frails in the darker corners of Londinium, and though Emma would rather Clare spend time resting and recovering his faculties, she soon starts to realise that they may be the only ones capable of stopping whatever danger is blooming in the night.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0356500942</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ben Peek|title=The Godless|rating=4.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=These are strange times in Mieera, the land made from the bodies of dead gods. The Leeran army is closing in on a Mieera defended only by a scratch army of citizens and The Dark, a band of mercenary saboteurs led by cynically tough Bueralan. Ayae the cartographer's apprentice has a more personal crisis. She's pulled from a burnt out building alive and totally unscathed. This can only mean one thing: she's one of the cursed. As the effects of this newly endowed immortality hit her she must decide what to do. Zaifyr, the mysterious charmed man, has some ideas but then so do the sinister Keepers which doesn't help much. Meanwhile that army is getting closer…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447251245</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=John Hornor Jacobs|title=The Incorruptibles|rating=3.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=Fisk and Shoestring are a couple of the mercenaries paid to guard Ruman high born Cornelius and his family of spoilt, back-biting in-fighters on board their steamer, The Cornelian. The exception to the continuous badly-mooded is Cornelius' daughter, the healer, Livia. She seems to have struck up a rapport with Fisk; the reason why they get on so well seems hidden in a dark secret that Shoe hopes to crack if they live that long. The truth is that life is cheap – the Stretchers roam the land, bloodthirsty and dangerous ensuring that Fisk and Shoe earn every penny Cornelius allows them.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>057513366X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Karen Maitland|title=The Vanishing Witch|rating=4.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=More and higher taxes are being levied on the English by teenage King Richard II and his uncle/advisor John of Gaunt to pay for the wars against France. They may cause annoyance to the rich but they're breaking the poor, people like Lincolnshire river boat man Gunter and his family. Meanwhile some of the better off are facing problems from other quarters. Cloth merchant Robert of Bassingham is losing his stock before it arrives due to theft and unrest among the weavers in Flanders. It's not a good time to be English and eventually something will snap; we're heading towards 1831 and the peasants will be revolting.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>147221501X</amazonuk>}}