URBAN FANTASY CRIME REVIEW: Witchmark - CL Polk

RELEASE DATE:  19/06/18

PUBLISHER:  Tor/Forge

SYNOPSIS:

C. L. Polk arrives on the scene with Witchmark, a stunning, addictive fantasy that combines intrigue, magic, betrayal, and romance.

One of Publishers Weekly's Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2018!
In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own.
Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn't leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after faking his own death and reinventing himself as a doctor at a cash-strapped veterans' hospital, Miles can't hide what he truly is.
When a fatally poisoned patient exposes Miles' healing gift and his witchmark, he must put his anonymity and freedom at risk to investigate his patient's murder. To find the truth he'll need to rely on the family he despises, and on the kindness of the most gorgeous man he's ever seen.

REVIEW:
I love a book that's a bit different to a lot of whats out there and whilst its starting to become a bit of a trend to have a crime novel in a fantasy setting, this title from CL  brings cracking world building to the fore alongside characters that are fully rounded whom you'd love to spend time with, so much so that putting the book down will be a real hardship.

Add to this great prose, some top notch twists alongside some political machinations to help muddy the waters alongside the characters trying to fight for their own beliefs and desires which colours the story and all round you have a cracking novel that leaves you desiring more.  A cracking example of a story done well and with the building that has gone into the piece, plenty of scope for future outings.  A real joy to read.

URBAN FANTASY ROMANCE REVIEW: The Psy Changling Series: Ocean Light - Nalini Singh

RELEASE DATE:  14/06/18
PUBLISHER:  Gollancz

SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh dives beneath the surface of her Psy-Changeling world into a story of passionate devotion and selfless love . . .

Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment - taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling . . .
Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret that Bo could never imagine . . .
But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back - even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy.


REVIEW:
It's no secret that I've not been the biggest fan of some of Nalini's previous titles but this one seems to be back on the money giving the readers what they want as well as exploring some new area's that have been teased at in previous outings.

As you'd expect the characters are what really sells the books and lets face it a bit or romance with a person who is not completely of this world is a dream for many.  The story is engaging, the plotline wonderful and whilst some typical Urban Fantasy alagories do make appearances, the dialogue and bonding of the principle players is what sells it.

All round a welcome return to form for me and I really look forward to seeing what will occur in future outings especially if we get to delve more into the unknown cultures within her world.

HISTORICAL FANTASY REVIEW: Golden Apple 3/3: For the Immortal - Emily Hauser

RELEASE DATE:  14/06/18
PUBLISHER:  Doubleday

SYNOPSIS:
Thousands of years ago, in an ancient world where the gods control all and heroes fight to have their names remembered down the ages, two extraordinary women become entangled in one of the greatest heroic tales of all time . . . and must face how much they are willing to risk for immortality.

Desperate to save her dying brother, Admete persuades her father, the king of Tiryns, to let her join Hercules on one of his legendary twelve labours. Travelling to the renowned female warrior Amazons in search of a cure, Admete soon discovers that both Hercules and the fearsome Amazons are not as they first seemed.

The Amazons greet the arrival of the Greeks with mixed feelings – and none more so than Hippolyta, the revered queen of the tribe. For Hercules and his band of fighters pose a threat to her way of life – but also stir up painful memories that threaten to expose her deepest secret.

As battle lines are drawn between the Greeks and the Amazons, both women soon learn the inevitable truth – in war, sacrifices must be made; especially if they are to protect the ones they love most . . .


REVIEW:
To be honest I'm new to Emily Hauser and when I saw the premise I was more than intrigued as I remembered a part of it being used as back story in the recent Wonder Woman film.  However upon receiving it and learning that it was the third part in a trilogy I was a little upset as I hadn't read the other two and worried that I wouldn't get everything out of it that I should do.

What occurred within was, for me, a book that can be read as a standalone without leaving you feeling that you're missing anything from the previous two.  The characters are rounded and whilst the males are all detestable (which to be honest I suspect that they probably were in that time period) the female protagonists came across very well.  I liked the dialogue, loved the way that thEIr interactions spoke volumes as to their goals and drive alongside admiring the way that the story was very organic despite falling back into mythology.

All round, it was a book that I really enjoyed spending time with and I will be picking up the earlier two novels to get the full flavour and have already added Emily to my TBR list for future endeavours.  Magic

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Wild Cards: Low Chicago - George RR Martin

RELEASE DATE:  12/06/18
PUBLISHER:  HarperVoyager, Tor/Forge

SYNOPSIS:

The return of the famous shared-world superhero books created and edited by George R.R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire
For decades, George R.R. Martin – bestselling author of A Song of Ice and Fire – has collaborated with an ever-shifting ensemble of science fiction and fantasy icons to create the amazing Wild Cards universe.
In the aftermath of World War II, the Earth’s population was devastated by a terrifying alien virus. Those who survived were changed for ever. Some, known as Jokers, were cursed with bizarre mental and physical deformities; others, granted superhuman abilities, are known as Aces.
Wild Cards tells the stories of this world.

REVIEW:
A new Wild Card multi author story broken into easy to manage chapters so that you can read it during your lunch breaks or even whilst travelling.  Its definitely something quirky and when you get to see so many what if's within an overall arc, it really makes you wonder what would have happened within our own history if some of the events had been changed.

Its a book to dive into if you want something different, want a change from what you normally read and to be honest is a title you can dive into without having read any other wild card stories.  Its fun, the prose is solid and whilst it is a multi author story, it doesn't feel that its been broken down by so many people having a more connected feel.  All round a cracking story and one that I had a hell of a lot of fun with.

HISTORICAL FICTION SHORT STORY COMPENDIUM REVIEW: Seven Stones to Stand or Fall - Diana Gabaldon

RELEASE DATE:  14/06/18

PUBLISHER:  Arrow

SYNOPSIS:
Previously published as A Trail of Fire. Includes two never-published-before short stories from the bestselling author of the Outlander series.

Featuring all the characters you’ve come to love from the Outlander series, this brilliant collection of short stories throws you into the magical world of Outlander. Includes previously published Virgins, The Space Between, Plague of Zombies, A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows and The Custom of the Army, plus two never seen before works – Besieged and A Fugitive Green.


REVIEW:
A selection of short stories from the Outlander universe and whilst this review is for the paperback, I'd advise, if you can, purchasing the hardback copy as it like me you love the series, you'll be wanting to reread every so often and as such this makes much more financial sense.

The stories really take you back to the outlander world giving them short stories with favoured characters as well as allowing you to enjoy something that can easily be dipped into during journeys or lunch breaks to give yourself a little historical romance to escape the real world.  As with Diana's other books it will hook you with top notch storytelling, give you characters that you'll love to spend time around and above all else give you a magical reading experience.  Cracking

FANTASY REVIEW: The Fall of Shannara 2: The Skaar Invasion - Terry Brooks

RELEASE DATE:  21/06/18
PUBLISHER:  Orbit

SYNOPSIS:
Following The Black Elfstone comes the second book in The Fall of Shannara - the epic four-part conclusion to the Shannara series from one of the all-time masters of the fantasy genre.
Tensions in the Four Lands are high. The mysterious force that laid waste to Paranor has revealed a more human face. While some gain a new understanding of the invaders and what they are after, others continue their existing quests even as the peril rises. For what looked to be a formidable invading force proves only the forerunner of a much vaster army - one that is now marching against the Four Lands in all its fury.


REVIEW:
The second book in the Fall of Shanarra series and muddies the waters wonderfully so that the reader isn't quite sure whether the Ohmsford is what the worlds needs or fears.  Its quirky, its a tale that works wonderfully well for me and whilst there are some problems with pacing in the story, the way that it develops feels organic generating a story that was a huge amount of fun to read.

Add to this, solid prose, dlalogue that works well and all round I was a more than happy reader, here's hoping that book three doesn't feel like a filler for the conclusion in book four and continues to develop the overall arc with the characters.  Top notch.

FANTASY REVIEW: The Traitor God - Cameron Johnston

RELEASE DATE:  07/06/18
PUBLISHER:  Angry Robot

SYNOPSIS:
A city threatened by unimaginable horrors must trust their most hated outcast, or lose everything, in this crushing epic fantasy debut. After ten years on the run, dodging daemons and debt, reviled magician Edrin Walker returns home to avenge the brutal murder of his friend. Lynas had uncovered a terrible secret, something that threatened to devour the entire city. He tried to warn the Arcanum, the sorcerers who rule the city. He failed. Lynas was skinned alive and Walker felt every cut. Now nothing will stop him from finding the murderer. Magi, mortals, daemons, and even the gods - Walker will burn them all if he has to. After all, it wouldn't be the first time he's killed a god...


REVIEW:
Fantasy is a genre that many people think of as quite simplistic falling into the "there's a hero, he goes out, kicks some butt and that's about it" camp or "Its Elves, fairies and shit isn't it?"  Well sorry to disappoint but we've evolved as a genre, yes we do still have that sort of stuff but then you get kickass titles like this debut from Cameron Johnston who gives the reader a book of vengeance, high octane action, political double dealing and overall characters that really help to drive not only the story but the world involved forward.

The pose is solid enough and the world is definitely one of interest but for me, its the characters that stand out.  I loved the principle hero who whilst dislikeable at the beginning demonstrated the complexities of his situation who whilst seperated from a lot of others within due to his abilities, also has a caring side alongside being distanced.  Its well done, brings a lot of differing aspects to the fore and for me, I loved every minute of it.

All round a cracking debut and with a few twists and turns is a book that I hope will lead on to others for the author as I really did get a lot from it.  Magic.