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[[image:Bancroft_Senlin2.jpg{{Frontpage|author=A G Slatter|title=The Briar Book of the Dead|rating=5|leftgenre=Fantasy|linksummary=https://www'' There's a part of me that wants to keep this just to myself for however long I can.amazonThis secret magic of my own, all mine, at last.coI just want to enjoy it for a while.uk/gp/product/0356510816?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0356510816]]''

Within a remote mountain pass, far away from the world, lies Silverton; a town under the protection of the Briar's, a family of witches who protect the town and the wider world from the Darklands. Though she has always wished for magic, Ellie Briar is the first non-witch to be born 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. When her grandmother suddenly dies, Ellie's cousin Audra becomes the Briar Witch, the town's leader, and Ellie takes her place beside her. As challenges come her way left, right and centre, Ellie uncovers the rare ability to communicate with the dead, putting her at the heart of a maelstrom of chaos. Reeling from one family secret to another, Ellie must decide who to trust and determine what to do as the Briar witches' legacy, everything they have sacrificed to survive, is under threat.|isbn=1803364548}}{{Frontpage|author=Rachel Greenlaw|title=[[Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft]]Compass and Blade|rating=3.5|genre=Teens|summary=''I can hear the song of the sea. The call of the deep, the answering beat in my heart.''

[[image:4Rosevear, a remote and partially forgotten island, survives on luring ships into the rocks and plundering the wrecks.5starMira, like her mother before her, is one of the seven who swim out to survey the ruins – rescuing any survivors and any treasure that lies within.jpgBut when the Council Watch lays a trap to end the wrecking, they capture the island's leader and Mira's father. Desperate to save him from death, Mira makes a bargain with a wreck survivor who is as charming as he is secretive and with only coordinates to guide her, she sets off in search of a family secret that lies buried deep in the sea. With only nine days to unearth what might save her father, as her journey takes her from the watched streets of foreign islands to the heart of the smuggler's territory, Mira must be determined to stop at nothing to save the future of her home and the ones she holds most dear.|linkisbn=Category:{0008664730}}{{Frontpage|author=T Kingfisher|title=Thornhedge|rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:=5|genre=Fantasy|Fantasy]]summary=''You had a right to retake your place.''

Thomas Senlin embarks on his honeymoon with high hopesT Kingfisher's latest novella is a lovely reimagining of a fairytale that is well known and well beloved. He and his young wife Marya are travelling on But whilst there is a princess trapped in a sleeper train across Ur to that engineering marveltower, that fabled centre of culturesleeping under an eternal enchantment, the Tower of BabelThornhedge is not her story. It's a place he's read books aboutInstead, taught his pupils aboutour protagonist is Toadling, who was stolen away by fairies when she was a new-born baby and longed secreted away to visit, but the bustling and chaotic surroundings land of the Tower in the desert are a long way fairie where her childhood was spent being taught how to draw magic from the quiet fishing village in which Senlin teaches. When he loses sight of Marya shortly after their arrival, he has no option but to look for her in this strange veins and overwhelming placecast spells. For all his background reading before the trip, he is ill-prepared for what he finds |isbn=1803364238}}{{Frontpage|author=Nicole Jarvis|title=A Portrait in the Tower, both its marvels and its horrors, and thus begins Thomas Senlin's arduous quest to recover his wifeShadow|rating=4. [[Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft5|Full Review]]genre=Historical Fiction<br>|summary=''I want all of Florence to know my name''

{{newreview|author= Joe Hill|title= Strange Weather|rating= 5|genre= Horror |summary= Strange Weather is a collection of four short novels all linked byCast out from Rome, unsurprisingly, strange and cataclysmic weather. Each novel is distinct and showcases Hill's restrained yet vivid style Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in which takes everyday events her art can find a home and makes them bitingly, acerbically macabre or blindingly beautiful, often switching from one sentence to the next. As Hill himself says ''the beauty of the world and the horror of the world were twined together'', never is this truer where her future can thrive rather than in Strange Weather where moments of abject horror are coupled with raw beautystagnate.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>147322117X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= David Jester|title= Forever After: a dark comedy|rating= 4|genre= Paranormal|summary= Michael Holland is a cocky and brash young man who dies and gets made But as some as she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the offer of his lifetime; immortality. We follow Michaelpowerful Accademia, a grim reaper and his friends Chip (a stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (a stoner in the records department) as they grapple with their long lives and finding a clean surface to sit on in their flat.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1510704361</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= K J Parker|title= The Two self-proclaimed guardians of Swords|rating= 3.5|genre= Fantasy|summary=This is a difficult book to review, to be honest, because I am still not sure if I liked it. It is the first book of a trilogy so I expected healing magics that a lot of it would be through paintings have the power to set protect the scene city and the characters but this doesn't really happenits citizens from plagues and curses. The novel is set during a long standing war between east all-male Accademia has hoarded power over art and west that has been going on architecture for so long no-one is really sure why they are fightingcenturies and guard it above all else. Currently in command are the Belot brothersTo them, each one a military genius Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who promises trouble and each one fighting for the opposing side, there is also the guild of craftsmen whose purpose we never fully know change – has no place amongst them and their role is to manipulate and interfere to serve their own interestssociety. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356506762</amazonuk>1803362340

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Stephen AryanThomas D Lee|title= Mageborn (Age of Dread)Perilous Times|rating= 43

|summary=''Magic will destroy us allHate is the path of least resistance''

Ten years after Set in the devastating battlemage war when mages used their immense power to tear each other apart and sundered near-distant future, in a world on the world itselfverge of climate collapse, suspicion of those who wield magic Britain is at an all-time highin great peril. With The British Isles desperately needs a hero (or several) to save the recent resurrection of the Red Tower, an institution for students to learn to control day and expand their magic, Seekers visit villages each month to test children for magical abilitiesrescue what little remains. But for those children and their families it is not a gift, it is a cursed For Habreel, who will never forget the destruction during the war, What no-one expected was that one of the elimination Knights of all magic will save countless lives and is the only solution to long lasting stability. He will stop at nothing to achieve his aim; he will deal with Round Table would answer the devil, crush villages and kill anyone in his waycall.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356508471</amazonuk>0356518523

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Alice HoffmanAmelia Estelle Dellos|title= The Rules of MagicDelilah Recovered|rating= 54|genre= General Fiction Fantasy|summary= IWe meet Dee at a point when her life isn've read several t going as planned but things might, just might, be about to look up. Out of Alice Hoffman's novelswork, although strangelyabout to lose her flat, not the one sheDee is up for an accountant's most famous for job. But it''Practical Magic'', which went on s not to be made into a film. ''The Rules of Magic'' Dee is attacked by two men calling themselves witch hunters. She survives the long-awaited prequel attack but not unscathed. Witch hunters? What on earth has that to that bookdo with Dee? She's just an ordinary woman, and tells the story living an ordinary life. Slivers of three siblings memory of things that are not ordinary at all return to her and things will never be the Owens family; Franny, Jet and Vincentsame... The two sisters, Franny and Jet, go on to become the two aunts in the ''Practical Magic'' story.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1471157679</amazonuk>B0BKYFDLLV

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Jason Segel and Kirsten MillerHadeer Elsbai|title= OtherworldThe Daughters of Izdihar|rating= 54

|summary=imon would not have considered himself a hero. In factDrawing inspiration from Egypt, by all accounts, particularly that ''The Daughters of his parents, Simon is an epic failure. HeIzdihar's large, he's hairyexplores the lives of two women who could not be more different, he has a ridiculously oversized nose and he's been kicked out yet find themselves fighting for the rights of boarding school women and kept on weavers – those with magical abilities - in a federal watch listsociety pitted against them. But Simon Nehal, born into the upper class, wishes to attend the Weaving Academy to learn to control her abilities and then join the military, but instead she is sure something is up forced into an arranged marriage with his friend KatNico. She won't speak Giorgina on the other hand did not have a privileged upbringing like Nehal and feels great pressure to him. So he resorts to buying an incredibly expensive new virtual reality video game provide for them both - Otherworld. Otherworld engages your senses with graphics so goodher family and maintain their reputation, you'll swear they are real, and itwhilst secretly attending meetings of the Daughters of Izdihar – a group campaigning for women's here that Simon really wants rights. Giorgina also happens to talk to Katbe in love with Nico. But it isn't real, it's What follows is a game… until a turn story of events lands Simon in Otherworld in an all together different way. This timeunjust society, whatever harm his avatar suffers has real consequences. And if it dies? Simon would rather not think about that. If he wants to save Katfilled with hypocrisy and cruelty, he has to keep pressing on. Simon is the chosen one, this is not from which blossoms a gamegroup of admirable women fighting for their rights and overcoming their personal obstacles. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1786073692</amazonuk>0356520471

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Melissa CarusoHeather Fawcett|title= The Tethered MageEmily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries|rating= 4.5|genre= FantasyGeneral Fiction|summary= The Raverran Empire Emily Wilde is run by a doge an expert academic scholar on faerie lore, and she has travelled extensively, and researched meticulously, to write her life's work, the council very first encyclopaedia of sevenfaeries. Whilst she is brilliant at research and speaking to faeries, she is not so good with people. So when she finds herself far, far North in the governing group formed by small village of Hrafvsnik, having somehow offended the aristocratic families village matriarch, she is not sure what she has done, nor how to redeem herself and put her final investigations for her book back on the right track. Enter Wendell Bambleby, her dashingly handsome and insufferable rival who arrives unexpectedly, all charm and delight, much to Emily's frustration. But why is he here? What does he want? And what exactly is going on with the faerie folk around Hravsnik?|isbn=0356519120}}{{Frontpage|author=Christopher Golden|title=Road of EruviaBones|rating=3. 5|genre=Horror|summary=The Empire thrives from tradeKolyma Highway… the 'Road of Bones'… the R504. Stretching for over a thousand miles across Siberia, culture and the obedience it's one of the cities surrounding Raverraworld's most notorious routes. The Empire has obtained this power and dominance by harnessing and controlling For months of the magic year it's a spread of Eruvia and all sheet ice suspended above the permafrost surrounding it, while its 'spring'magesees it turn into a huge blodge of unremitting, apocalyptic-markedlevel mud, which dries into rutted, puddly dust. I don'' that possess t think google streetview updates it very often. Built because Stalin wanted so much uranium and other Siberian minerals, and because he wanted to give too many people a lesson, it legendarily cost a life every metre itcovers. For years the Raverran empire has known peace You can easily find documentaries about it online, but with whispers that's a bit rich, for one of our main characters, Felix 'Teig' Teigland, is a rebellionfilm-maker, doing a recce with his cameraman buddy, John Prentiss – who's mostly there to encourage the discovery project to fruition to claw back some of a firethe funds he'd invested in the pair's prior TV projects. They pick up their oh-so-warlock and chatty local guide, gain the disappearance company of childrena local beauty, and fetch up at the Empireguide's authority over Eruvia is in danger and war is looming on the horizonchildhood village. And that's where things start to go awry…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356510611</amazonuk>1803361476

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Stephen Donaldson Andrew Givler|title= Seventh Decimate Soul Fraud (The Debt Collection Book 1)|rating= 24|genre= Fantasy|summary= The Seventh Decimate is not ''Matt has a book with compelling characters or buzzing personalities; it terrible life. Seriously—it's awful. It is not a book so bad that allowed me to invest in Dan the struggles Demon is shocked when Matt turns down his infernal offer: 10 years of its protagonista blissful life in exchange for his soul.'' Poor Dan! I know, Prince BifaltI know, with any particular easewe shouldn't feel sorry for soul-catching demons. Though it But he really is a book about war 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 extremes a nation will go to ensure absolute victory against its greatest foethat he simply forges Matt's signature.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1473221668</amazonuk>1958204021

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John Hornor JacobsOlivie Blake|title=Infernal MachinesThe Atlas Six|rating=4.5

|summary=Having discovered the evil intent of the Autumn LordsDark, sharp, and highly inquisitive, Livia Cornelius is trying to beat the inferno that the ensuing war is creating in order to get back to her husband Fisk. That's not as easy as it sounds though as she and her entourage including (her sister Carnelia and Livia's baby) will be caught up in the conflict more than theyThe Atlas Six'd like to be. Meanwhile Fisk along with fellow mercenary Shoe, doesn't have it any easier… and the world is burningmakes its publishing debut after becoming a Tik-Tok sensation.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>057512413X</amazonuk>1529095239

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Kristen CiccarelliDaniel Abraham|title=The Last NamsaraAge of Ash

|summary=We meet Alys under the most northerly of Oldgate''Once there was a girl who was drawn to wicked things'' ''The Last Namsara'' revolves around Ashas four bridges, she has a fierce young woman who has whispered stories to dragons all knife in her lifehand and a meeting that she dreads. But where once she told them Meanwhile the City of Kithamar is at a point in friendship, now she uses stories to hunt the turning of years when the worlds are at their thinnest and all those that still plague her father's fracturing kingdomthings are possible. It is the night between the funeral of a Prince and the coronation of his successor. For a night the Kithamar is un-ruled.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1473222850</amazonuk>0356515427

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Mark AlderAnn Sei Lin|title= Son of the NightRebel Skies|rating= 45|genre= FantasyTeens|summary=In [[Son of Kurara has spent her entire life as a servant on the Midori, a massive dining hall floating in the Morning by Mark Alder|Son sky where soldiers of the Morning]]Empire come to drink and make merry between their conquests. However, author Mark Alder plunges when a man named Himura arrives to tell her that she is a Crafter like him, someone with the reader power to form paper into whatever she desires – a chaoticpower sought after all across the Empire. He asks her to come with him, dangerous world, taking them back to leave the turbulent reign life of Edward III and dreary servitude that is all she has known. Well, soon Kurara won't have any say in the dangers of matter, because the Hundred Years War. Adding elements of fantasy Midori is destroyed by a monstrous paper spirit known as a shikigami, and theology she is forced to flee out into the mixworld. She joins Himura aboard the Orihime, Alder created an intriguing read which a sky-ship whose express purpose is continued in ''Son of the Night''. With Lucifer, Satan, Godto hunt down shikigami, Devils and Angels interacting with a cast of real and well researched characters, Alder continues his exploration whole world of the Hundred Years war whilst rather incredibly keeping his readers as educated as they are entertained.adventure awaits her…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0575115203</amazonuk>1406399590

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Keith DevineB09Q3P283Y|title=Wilderness of IceShadebringer|author=Grayson W Hooper

|summary=Hans Schröder was Clyde Robbins signs up for the US Army during the Vietnam War. He's not best pleased to be going to really that invested in the Nazi party headquarters fight against Communism, nor is he particularly interested in Alexanderplatz, Berlin. It was a snowy night career in December 1937 and even then Heinrich Himmler of the SS Protection Squadron had something of a reputationmilitary. Schröder know that his beliefs were not completely in tune If he's honest - which Clyde usually is, with those of the party hierarchyhimself at least - he hasn't got many choices and this one, at least, but on this occasion it was an order which would find gets him leading an expedition to Tibet in search out of the yeti: Hitler and Josef Mengele were keen to see if improvements could be made to the master race rut he's in. He's good in training and the thought of is quickly put onto a humanoid non commissioned officer training course. He's chuffed with amazing capabilities was too tempting to dismiss. In January 1938 the expedition was on its way via Transylvaniahimself.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1524681857</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Tom LloydJennifer Saint|title= Princess of BloodElektra|rating= 4.5|genre= FantasyLiterary Fiction|summary= Toil – unpredictable and dangerous even for an assassin, now wears 'Elektra' by Jennifer Saint tells the Princess story of Blood on her jacket. Mercanery Lynx still has his doubts about her – but a new mission to escort a dignitary soon throws three women who live in the old team back togetherheavily male dominated world of Ancient Greece. Travelling to an ancient city that conceals a mysterious labyrinthCassandra, the situations go from bad to worseClytemnestra, with new threats and worse horrors on every cornerElektra are all bit players in the story of the Trojan War. The group argue Yet Jennifer Saint shows us that often the silent women have the most compelling stories and bicker as they go along – but will they be too concerned with their own disputes to see the far blacker evil that threatens to surround them?most extreme furies.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1473213207</amazonuk>1472273915

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Tim AkersDean Koontz|title= The Iron HoundQuicksilver|rating= 42.5|genre= FantasyThrillers|summary=Ruling with an iron handMeet Quinn Quicksilver. He's not had the chance to get to be a mercurial character yet, the Church has eliminated the ancient pagan waysfor he's lived in a nun-run orphanage since he was a three-day old foundling, and now is starting a career on a needless magazine's staff. Yet demonic gheists terrorise the landBut when this book starts he IS now ''subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind'', hunted by the Inquisitionfor something – call it unearthly intuition, while agecall it mind-old hatreds rage between control, call it a supernatural urge – has demanded of him that he go to a derelict diner, find a gold coin worth a fortune, cash the north value of it out of his bank and prepare for going on the southlam. Three heroes Malcolm And all this is just in time for two of those typical Men in Black types to turn up and Ian Blakeley and Gwendolyn Adair must end 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 bloodshed before chaos discovery that he is unleashednot unique in having some kind of burgeoning power – and a whole lot more besides.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1783299509</amazonuk>1542019885

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Jess RichardsTasha Suri|title= City of CirclesThe Jasmine Throne|rating= 4|genre= Fantasy|summary= Danu is a tightrope walker who is mourning On the night of her parentssacred burning, after a disease has ravaged Princess Malini defies her brother and refuses to step on to the circus where she grew uppyre. Her mother has entrusted her with a locket She is immediately sent to be imprisoned on the Hirana: an ancient temple that hides a secret. Over the years, Danu pushes away her grief and develops elaborate and successful high-wire acts was once filled with Morrie, a charismatic hunchback community of people who wants to marry hergot powers from the mysterious deathless waters. When But now the circus returns to Danu's birthplace, Matryoshka, Danu temple is enchanted by the templesnothing more than an overgrown, spice mistsdecaying ruin. One day, and pleasure seekers within the intoxicating outer circle districtMalini witnesses a girl kill someone with magic. HereInstead of reporting her for such a gruesome crime, she finally gains Malini claims that the courage to open girl saved her mother's locket, from an attacker and discovers begs for the name of a stranger who lives behind the locked gate of the Inner Circle. Fated girl to remain in Matryoshka, Danu attempts to resolve this mysterybecome her own personal maidservant. Will she and Morrie ever be reunited, or will something far more unexpected be waiting for her in the mysterious heart of the city?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1473656680</amazonuk>0356515648

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ian LivingstoneGenevieve Gornichec|title=Fighting Fantasy: The Port of PerilWitch's Heart|rating=4.5|genre=Fantasy |summary=As I promised I would when I looked back A modern and approachable reimagining of the Norse myths that centres around a witch named Angrboda. She hides in a forest at the beginning edge of the 35 year history nine worlds, remembering nothing of her past life but that fact that she was survived burnt at the stake three times because of Odin''Fighting Fantasy'' gamebooks [[Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock s wrath. Her attempts to live in 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 the stake—and refuses to leave her alone. After an initial period of Firetop Mountain by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone|(here)]]mistrust, I took Angrboda begins to the brand-new-fall for-2017 volume with my pen, mapping paperLoki's charms, and most importantly, dice. For the first time in two start an unusual family made of up a longhalf-dead daughter, long time, I would not read a book for review. I would play it. And soson that's a wolf, armed with healthy stamina, reasonable luck but frankly embarrassing skill, I set off. This is the report of and another son that journey – as well as hopefully being the usual useful book review's a snake.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1407181297</amazonuk>1789097061

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Anthony RyanHannah Whitten|title=The Legion of Flame: Book Two of For the Draconis MemoriaWolf

|summary=WARNING: There are spoilers for [[The Waking Fire: Book One of Draconis Memoria by Anthony Ryan|Book 1]] from In Red's family, the beginning.Lizanne Lethridgefirst daughter becomes queen, Blood-Blessed and secret agent of the Exceptional Initiatives Division has survived another mission, only to be forced to go out again. This time it entails second daughter becomes a man-hunt in a place from which no one has emerged alivesacrifice. Talking about aliveTo Red's misfortune, Claydon Torcreek, having escaped several types of death in she is the jungles now goes to second daughter. Sent alone into the southern ice woods with Hilemore in their current attempt nothing but the cape on her back, Red knows what to defeat expect: within the dragons woods is a wolf, and put he is the world on a safe footingone who will decide the fate of their kingdom. What if all that waits for them If she is more dragons not a worthy sacrifice, the monsters he keeps contained to the 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 inventive ways than to die? That's a thought be killed within the hour, she finds that's soon banished from his mindthe legends are lies. 'This The wolf is where we save the world' says Clay… but henot a monster—he's been wrong before!a man.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356506401</amazonuk>0356516369

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ritchie Valentine SmithJohn Gwynne|title=Words of Fury: Volume 2 (Words of Power)The Shadow Of The Gods|rating=45

|summary=Warning: Spoilers ahead…Emmanuel (Man) Kinross, Yoshi, Joah, The Shadow Of The Gods is the Voice and Dirk Faslane are all fleeing the Lord first installment of the North Bloodsworn Saga, set in a giant floating bubble. This is a delicate conveyance when you consider that the stakes are high and, if caught by the evil Lord era of the North, the world as they know it will end. They just need to get to Vikings in the Waning shadow of the MoonRagnarok, a psychic fortress that spells safety but there's still a long way to go and when the odds are very much against them. The Lord of the North has more power than they've seen yet Gods have battled and more devastating ways their bones lie scattered for all to use itsee.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1544214839</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Vivian Shaw|title= Strange Practice: A Dr Greta Helsing Novel|rating= 4|genre= This story is the ultimate in High Fantasy|summary=''I don't suppose it's worth trying , and John Gwynne certainly does justice to convince you it's too dangerous?'' <br>''Not in the least.'' <br>Meet Dr Greta Helsinggenre, a highly talented, well respected physician with her own specialised medical practicemythical creatures, known archaic language and adored throughout London for her great work… well, at least amongst the supernatural communitybattles galore. Greta This is in fact a descendent of the vampire hunter Professor Abraham Van Helsingthick book, but relations have improved since then with an intricate plot and she now spends her days carrying on her father's legacy treating vampires, werewolves, mummies, ghouls and the like. So early morning emergency calls fascinating characters that are not uncommon; what is uncommon however, is woven together to create a vampire's stab wound that won't healwonderfully realistic and gritty world in which our heroes must do battle.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356508870</amazonuk>0356514218