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[[Category:New Reviews|Fantasy]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Guy AdamsA G Slatter|title=The Rain-Soaked BrideBriar Book of the Dead
|rating=5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=The last thing that the afflicted people see before their death is a wet woman in white. The last thing they feel is their own personal rain cloud soaking them while everywhere else remains dry. All also happen to be in top government jobs. What'' There's happening? British Intelligence Department 37 (in the form a part of August Shining and Toby Greene) is there me that wants to find outkeep this just to myself for however long I can. This may not be the full extent secret magic of the problems facing them though; not with a South Korean delegation coming my own, all mine, at last. I just want to the UK enjoy it for talks and Augusta while.''s sister April wanting to get in on the act.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091953162</amazonuk>}}
{{newreview|author=Andrez Bergen|title=Depth Charging Ice Planet Goth|rating=4|genre=Fantasy|summary=16 year old Mina lives in Nede (thatWithin a remote mountain pass, far away from the world, lies Silverton; a town under the protection of the Briar's 'Needy' out loud), a suburb family of witches who protect the town and the Australian state of Victoria where she's in wider world from the final throes of schoolDarklands. However Though she feels very much an outsiderhas always wished for magic, especially after Ellie Briar is the recent death of first non-witch to be born into her mother. Mina's alienated further by family for generations and as such since she was young, her bullying elder brother training as a steward revolved around letters and administration rather than spells and potions. When her fathergrandmother suddenly dies, Ellie's attempts to move on with his life before Mina is ready. She has friends that she spends time with in a disinterested Goth waycousin Audra becomes the Briar Witch, the friend who understands town's leader, and Ellie takes her place beside her most being Animeid. Animeid is even more different than MinaAs challenges come her way left, being half-girlright and centre, half-birdEllie uncovers the rare ability to communicate with the dead, but neither putting her at the heart of a maelstrom of them seems chaos. Reeling from one family secret to another, Ellie must decide who to trust and determine what to mind. It doesndo as the Briar witches't affect anyone else after all – Mina's the only person who can see herlegacy, everything they have sacrificed to survive, is under threat.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1782796495</amazonuk>1803364548
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Rachel Greenlaw
|title=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.''
{{newreview|author=Anthony Ryan|title=Tower Lord: Book 2 Rosevear, a remote and partially forgotten island, survives on luring ships into the rocks and plundering the wrecks. Mira, like her mother before her, is one of Raventhe seven who swim out to survey the ruins – rescuing any survivors and any treasure that lies within. But when the Council Watch lays a trap to end the wrecking, they capture the island's Shadow|rating=4leader and Mira's father.5|genre=Fantasy|summary= RevaDesperate to save him from death, young adherent Mira makes a bargain with a wreck survivor who is as charming as he is secretive and with only coordinates to the True World Faithguide her, has she sets off in search of a mission: murdering Lord Vaelin Al Sornafamily secret that lies buried deep in the sea. Frentis (one time Sixth Order Brother With only nine days to Vaelin) also has murder on his mind but can't help it unearth what might save her father, as he works through her journey takes her from the deathly wish-list watched streets of foreign islands to the mysterious woman who binds his will. Lyrna's brother Malcius now rules as King heart of the Unified Realm and shesmuggler's happy territory, Mira must be determined to remain princess. However someone else thinks differently; she's summoned stop at nothing to a meeting that will prepare save the future of her for an uncertain future. Meanwhile home and the greatest threat the Realm has ever known advances. Friend or foe? The difference may be indiscernible but differentiating means survivalones she holds most dear.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356502449</amazonuk>0008664730
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Guy AdamsT Kingfisher|title=The Clown ServiceThornhedge|rating=4.5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=If British Secret Intelligence Service operative Toby Greene worked for MacDonald's he'd be sacked for ineptitude. Unfortunately for the nation he cost thousands of pounds more You had a right to train than retake your average burger-flipper so he's off to Section 37 insteadplace. The Section's label mentions anti-terrorism but, as his former boss told Toby ''If the security service is the circus, then Section 37 us where we keep the clowns.'' Meanwhile an old school Russian spy is coming to the UK with enough power to destroy London. This may only be Toby's first job for 37 and will include a touch of astral projection but what could possibly go wrong?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091953154</amazonuk>}}
{{newreview|author=Mark Lingane|title=Decay: 2 (Tesla)|rating=5|genre=Teens|summary=The city has been rebuilt for war. The waves T Kingfisher's latest novella is a lovely reimagining of cyborg attacks are just the beginning – what follows a fairytale that is more devastatingwell known and well beloved. Not only that but also the flood of refugees surging in daily But whilst there is as much of a problem as princess trapped in a resourcetower, sleeping under an eternal enchantment, Thornhedge is not her story. Actually in one or two cases the word 'problem' Instead, our protagonist is Toadling, who was stolen away by fairies when she was a bit of an understatement. In new-born baby and secreted away to the middle land of this hell Seb and Melanie are doing their best to fight and survive, although survival doesn't look like an option once they realise they have fairie where her childhood was spent being taught how to go into the enemy's hive draw magic from her veins and bring the battle to the cyborgscast spells.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0992377986</amazonuk>1803364238
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Nicole Jarvis
|title=A Portrait in Shadow
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=''I want all of Florence to know my name''
{{newreview|title=Landline|author=Rainbow Rowell|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Georgie McCool has always known what Cast out from Rome, Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in which her art can find a home and where her future can thrive rather than stagnate. But as some as she enters Florentine society she's wanted faces great opposition from the powerful Accademia, the self-proclaimed guardians of the healing magics that through paintings have the power to protect the city and pursued it until she its citizens from plagues and curses. The all-male Accademia has hoarded power over art and architecture for centuries and guard itabove all else. She got her dream job writing comedy, she's about to get her own showTo them, Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who promises trouble and she got her dream guy, Neal. Only, she's not so sure she change – has him anymoreno place amongst them and their society.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1409154912</amazonuk>1803362340
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Thomas D Lee
|title=Perilous Times
|rating=3
|genre= Fantasy
|summary= ''Hate is the path of least resistance''
{{newreview|title=The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy)|author=Marie Rutkoski|rating=4.5|genre=Teens|summary=Kestrel has two alternative futures ahead of her. As Set in the daughter of near-distant future, in a general world on the verge of a vastclimate collapse, expansionist empire, she can make Britain is in great peril. The British Isles desperately needs a politically advantageous marriage hero (or she can enlist in several) to save the militaryday and rescue what little remains. Kestrel doesn't want either and her life is spent in a delicate game What no-one expected was that one of the Knights of manoeuvres with her father as she tries to put off the decisionRound Table would answer the call.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408858207</amazonuk>0356518523
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Tim HallAmelia Estelle Dellos|title=Shadow of the WolfDelilah Recovered
|rating=4
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=The child Robin Loxley is mysteriously separated from his father during what had been We meet Dee at a routine foray into the forestpoint when her life isn't going as planned but things might, just might, be about to look up. In grief and bewilderment Robin becomes a lonerOut of work, choosing about to raise himselflose her flat, Dee is up for an accountant's job. HeBut it's more than happy with the solitary lifestyle until he meets Marian Delbosque, spoilt daughter of local gentrynot to be. Their friendship Dee is cemented as they play together attacked by two men calling themselves witch hunters. She survives the attack but their future won't all be childish gamesnot unscathed. They have a quest and Robin, as a winter-born, Witch hunters? What on earth has a destiny that he canto do with Dee? She't begin s just an ordinary woman, living an ordinary life. Slivers of memory of things that are not ordinary at all return to guessher and things will never be the same. The clue is in the mysterious words he heard whispered in the forest after his father's disappearance: ''Not yet. Too soon. He must suffer the wounds.''|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>191020000X</amazonuk>B0BKYFDLLV
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Stella GemmellHadeer Elsbai|title=The CityDaughters of Izdihar|rating=4.5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=Drawing inspiration from Egypt, ''The City has been Daughters of Izdihar'' explores the lives of two women who could not be more different, yet find themselves fighting for centuries, be it the recognised war rights of Red versus Blue fuelled by women and weavers – those with magical abilities - in a society pitted against them. Nehal, born into the mysterious Emperor or upper class, wishes to attend the daily fight of Weaving Academy to learn to control her abilities and then join the Dwellers struggling for existence in military, but instead she is forced into an arranged marriage with Nico. Giorgina on the sewer settlements. Such oppression breeds unlikely heroes. A former general, now other hand did not have a fugitive from a questionable justiceprivileged upbringing like Nehal and feels great pressure to provide for her family and maintain their reputation, whilst secretly attending meetings of the Daughters of Izdihar – a 16 year old soldier trying to out-run her fathergroup campaigning for women's reputationrights. Giorgina also happens to be in love with Nico. What follows is a story of an unjust society, a famed Red army leader filled with hypocrisy and cruelty, from which blossoms a little girl who believes in someone whom others hardly notice any more; these carry hope group of admirable women fighting for the City, whether the City realises it or nottheir rights and overcoming their personal obstacles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0552168955</amazonuk>0356520471
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=The Tropic of Serpents (A Memoir by Lady Trent)Heather Fawcett|authortitle=Marie BrennanEmily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
|rating=4
|genre=FantasyGeneral Fiction|summary=We are in sequel territoryEmily Wilde is an expert academic scholar on faerie lore, so we must hope that things have escalated for Lady Trentand she has travelled extensively, and that she is finding researched meticulously, to write her life even harder than before's work, the very first encyclopaedia of faeries. And it Whilst she is – as much as brilliant at research and speaking to faeries, she would like to go dragon hunting is not so good with her husband people. So when she cannot. (And by dragon hunting I don't mean killing themfinds herself far, I mean being a natural historian for far North in the species in a world that would rather massacre them for industrial purposes). Heresmall village of Hrafvsnik, repressed by having somehow offended the Victorian society village matriarch, she lives in, is not sure what she can just about raise another exhibition togetherhas done, nor how to a different corner of redeem herself and put her final investigations for her book back on the worldright track. Enter Wendell Bambleby, her dashingly handsome and insufferable rival who arrives unexpectedly, all charm and delight, but she wonmuch to Emily't find herself with the possibility of observing dragons – she s frustration. But why is he here? What does he want? And what exactly is instead faced going on with the demand that she MUST hunt dragons…faerie folk around Hravsnik?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1783292415</amazonuk>0356519120
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Queen of the Dark ThingsChristopher Golden|authortitle=C Robert CargillRoad of Bones|rating=43.5|genre=FantasyHorror|summary=Colby Stevens lost his best friend to an army The Kolyma Highway… the 'Road of Bones'… the R504. Stretching for over a thousand miles across Siberia, it's one of fairies six the world's most notorious routes. For months agoof the year it's a spread of sheet ice suspended above the permafrost surrounding it, while its 'spring' sees it turn into a huge blodge of unremitting, apocalyptic-level mud, which dries into rutted, puddly dust. And things haven I don't got think google streetview updates it very often. Built because Stalin wanted so much better sinceuranium and other Siberian minerals, and because he wanted to give too many people a lesson, it legendarily cost a life every metre it covers. The Seventy You can easily find documentaries about it online, but that's a bit rich, for one of our main characters, Felix 'Teig' Teigland, is a film-Twomaker, doing a powerful and angry bunch of demons want Colby recce with his cameraman buddy, John Prentiss – who's mostly there to deal with encourage the Queen project to fruition to claw back some of the Dark Thingsfunds he'd invested in the pair's prior TV projects. But Colby knows They pick up their oh-so-chatty local guide, whatever gain the demons have planned for himcompany of a local beauty, it isnand fetch up at the guide't good. Whatever he does is playing into their plans in some way or anothers childhood village. And that's where things start to go awry…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0575130148</amazonuk>1803361476
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Dead Man's HandAndrew Givler|authortitle=John Joseph Adams Soul Fraud (editor)|rating=5|genre=Short Stories|summary=''Dead Man's Hand'' features short stories with themes ranging from time travel and vampires to theology; at first glance it definitely appears to be an eclectic mix. These stories are linked by the genre of the weird west, which is defined by its elasticity. John Joseph Adams' helpful introduction outlines the main features of the weird west and provides a clear, insightful guide to this little-known genre. Far from being mismatched, the eclectic nature of this collection is in fact the greatest strength of the weird west genre. Unconstrained by narrow generic conventions, the authors in this collection have plundered the deepest depths of their imaginations. The result? A colourful, memorable and, above all, ''imaginative'' collection of fiction.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783295465</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ian Irvine|title=Justice: Tainted Realm: Debt Collection Book 3|rating=5|genre=Fantasy|summary=''The final battle. The ultimate price.'' The dead, regenerated King Lyf and his Cythonian army are poised to attack as is the army of Axil Grandys, complete with the other four of the five legendary Heroes. Rix has to stop them all with the help of Tali (the escaped Pale slave), Glynnie (the ex-maid), and an army of Rix's own who would rather fight him than fight for him. As Lyf and Axil both hunger for the final master pearl that sits beneath Tali's skull, the endgame approaches. Meanwhile Tobry, former best friend of Rix and now an unpredictably dangerous Caithe shape-shifter, is still alive and without hope. Although the 10 year old Rannilt would argue with that last bit.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841498300</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jim Butcher|title=Skin Game (Dresden Files1)|rating=54
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=Harry Dresden is and ''Matt has been a lot of things: the only wizard in the Chicago phone book, PI, reluctant Knight of the Winter Court, even apparently deadterrible life. Now it looks as though heSeriously—it's about to relive the death bit but a bit more permanentlyawful. The parasite in his brain It is still killing him while he's stranded as warden on so bad that Dan the island penal colony of Demonreach. Hold tight though – the good news Demon is that he's about to be liberated. The bad? The liberator is Queen Mab who wants Harry to do a bit shocked when Matt turns down his infernal offer: 10 years of robbery beside a former arch enemy of blissful life in exchange for hissoul. If he refuses, the parasite will kill him and then slope off to kill everyone he knows and cares about, including his little daughter Maggie. However, nothing is simple, even this. There are catches, hell's bells there are!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>035650090X</amazonuk>}}'
{{newreview|title=Manifest Destiny Volume 1|author=Chris DingessPoor Dan! I know, I know, Matthew Roberts and Owen Gieni|rating=4|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=Itwe shouldn's 1804 t feel sorry for soul-catching demons. But he really is a terrible salesman. He never hits his targets and some newly-American soldiers are expanding the territory , when he fails to the west, at the orders of President Jefferson – orders which allude get even Matt to sign on the pioneering party encountering some very unusual things. And they do – first a huge arc of greenerydotted line, putting the modern reader in mind of the Missouri landmark arch as bastardised by something along the lines of the Statue of Liberty in the original he'Planet of the Apess so desperate that he simply forges Matt's signature. But when that site gets attacked the weirdness certainly starts to show itself…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1607069822</amazonuk>1958204021
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Melanie RawnOlivie Blake|title=Glass Thorns - ThornlostThe Atlas Six
|rating=4
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=The Touchstone Players are back Dark, sharp, and now mostly married but the show must go on. Talking of whichhighly inquisitive, it's their playwright Cayden's 21st naming day. HeThe Atlas Six''s come of age but his aristocratic mother would still rather he went to court as makes its publishing debut after becoming a courtier than the entertainer that his wizard/elven/fae heritage equips him for. However Cade has other concerns. He, the dwarf glister, Mieka who wields Cade's magic, Rafe (who manipulates it) and Jeska the masker (who can literally become anyone) are no longer the court favourites. Also, you remember the danger that Cade foresaw for Mieka from Mieka's wife in his elsewhen premonitions? Well, there's more! (There follows some spoilers for the previous novels so read them first before reading onTik-Tok sensation.)|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1781166641</amazonuk>1529095239
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rebecca AlexanderDaniel Abraham|title=The Secrets Age of Life and DeathAsh
|rating=4.5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=A girl covered We meet Alys under the most northerly of Oldgate's four bridges, she has a knife in magic sigils dies in London watched by Jackdaw (Jack) Hammond. Jack had tried to cure her but the girl escapedhand and a meeting that she dreads. Now Jack has another chance to provide Meanwhile the treatment linking them with Elizabethan alchemist/mathematician/royal advisor John Dee. Indeed some would even call Dee City of Kithamar is at a sorcererpoint in the turning of years when the worlds are at their thinnest and all things are possible. Jack could achieve so much if she does it better It is the night between the next time but funeral of a Prince and the fight won't be easycoronation of his successor. She's not the only one who wants her new subject, although she may be For a night the only one who knows how to save herKithamar is un-ruled.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0091953243</amazonuk>0356515427
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Hilda and the Black HoundAnn Sei Lin|authortitle=Luke PearsonRebel Skies|rating=4.5|genre=Graphic NovelsTeens|summary=Hilda Kurara has spent her entire life as a servant on the Midori, a massive dining hall floating in the sky where soldiers of the Empire come to drink and make merry between their conquests. However, when a 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 power sought after all across the Black Hound Empire. He asks her to come with him, to leave the life of dreary servitude that is the fourth book all she has known. Well, soon Kurara won't have any say in the “Hildafolk” seriesmatter, each of which because the Midori is destroyed by a self-contained tale about monstrous paper spirit known as a highly inquisitive little girl shikigami, and her adventuresshe is forced to flee out into the world. This time Hilda She joins Himura aboard the Sparrow Scouts Orihime, a sky-ship whose express purpose is to hunt down shikigami, and befriends a house spirit whilst in the meantime a mysterious beast stalks the town whole world of Trolberg.adventure awaits her…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1909263184</amazonuk>1406399590
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tanya HuffB09Q3P283Y|title=The Wild Ways: An Enchantment Emporium Novel (Enchantment Emporium 2)Shadebringer|author=Grayson W Hooper|rating=4.5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=Charlie Gale, the lass who has magic in her music (literally!), leaves Clyde Robbins signs up for the rest of the family behind to play at a Celtic festival on US Army during the Canadian coastVietnam War. You can never leave He's not really that invested in the Gale family behind though even when the problem fight against Communism, nor is an oil company drilling offshore he particularly interested in a seal sanctuary area. This may not be a popular occupation but the oil company has the clout to use a little leverage. Charlie pits herself against them with the help of a Selkie family but career in the process (family link incoming) also pits herself against the formidable Aunt Catherinemilitary. Back home Allie If he's honest - which Clyde usually is having trouble , with Jackhimself at least - he hasn't got many choices and this one, at least, gets him out of the young sorcerer dragon they rescued from the underworld last timerut he's in. Indeed, He's good in the Gale households theretraining and is quickly put onto a non commissioned officer training course. He's no such thing as peace and quiet anymore!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781169624</amazonuk>chuffed with himself.
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart and Jack CohenJennifer Saint|title=The Science of Discworld IV: Judgement Day (Science of Discworld 4)Elektra|rating=4.5|genre=FantasyLiterary Fiction|summary=The wizards 'Elektra' by Jennifer Saint tells the story of three women who live in the Unseen University are custodians heavily male dominated world of RoundworldAncient Greece. It may be different from their own turtle-carried Discworld (it's round for a start!) but they're still rather fond of it. HoweverCassandra, Clytemnestra, there's a problem: and Elektra are all bit players in the Church story of the Latter Day Omnians have taken a shine to it too and would like to claim itTrojan War. A court case will decide Yet Jennifer Saint shows us that often the winner, a court case that will silent women have a guest spectator. For Marjorie Daw (yes, like the nursery rhyme) has arrived from Roundworld just in timemost compelling stories and the most extreme furies. What on Earth will happen next?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0091949807</amazonuk>1472273915
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Octavia E ButlerDean Koontz|title=KindredQuicksilver|rating=2.5|genre=FantasyThrillers|summary=Life is Meet Quinn Quicksilver. He's not had the chance to get to be a nightmare mercurial character yet, for black women (he's lived in a nun-run orphanage since he was a three-day old foundling, and indeed men) back in the southern USA in 1815. For Dana thatnow is starting a career on a needless magazine's just history as she lives over a century away with her husband in their new LA apartmentstaff. However one day everything But when this book starts he IS now ''subject to sudden or unpredictable changes: Dana starts of mood or mind'', for something – call it unearthly intuition, call it mind-control, call it a supernatural urge – has demanded of him that he go to feel fainta derelict diner, find a gold coin worth a fortune, cash the edges value of her modern life blur it out of his bank and she's back in prepare for going on the era that can take more than her libertylam. She knows her And all this is just in time travel is somehow linked for two of those typical Men in Black types to plantation ownerturn up and suggest he's son Rufus but that doesn't helpof interest to them. In fact its knowledge Helped to escape, he finds his flight is interrupted by other instances of him acting without being in control, the discovery that could make matters worsehe is not unique in having some kind of burgeoning power – and a whole lot more besides.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1472214811</amazonuk>1542019885
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Den PatrickTasha Suri|title=The Boy with the Porcelain BladeJasmine Throne
|rating=4
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=Lucien has reached his 18th birthday On the night of her sacred burning, Princess Malini defies her brother and final testingrefuses to step on to the pyre. This She is immediately sent to be imprisoned on the important one for Lucien is Orfano and as such lives for the day when he passes and can be adopted by one Hirana: an ancient temple that was once filled with a community of people who got powers from the four housesmysterious deathless waters. He hopes for But now the Fonteinitemple is nothing more than an overgrown, the house of fighters and decaying ruin. One day, Malini witnesses a girl kill someone with it will come an understanding magic. Instead of all reporting her for such a gruesome crime, Malini claims that the mysteries of Landfall. However there are some mysteries that are secrets even girl saved her from the Orfani an attacker and begs for a very good reasonthe girl to become her own personal maidservant.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>057513383X</amazonuk>0356515648
}}
 {{newreview|author=Louise Welsh|title=A Lovely Way to Burn (Plague Times Trilogy 1)|rating=4.5|genre=Crime|summary=The summer of the great heat wave is also the summer of death. Stevie thought nothing of the three establishment pillars turned snipers; the news just didn't register. Then the illness came: plague-like symptoms sweeping across the world. When Stevie's boyfriend dies it's easy to put it down to the pandemic but Stevie has a hunch and she won't stop till she's followed it, no matter what happens or who tries to stop her.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848546513</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Night Broken (Mercy Thompson)|author=Patricia Briggs|rating=4.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=Phew. That's the sound of relief I gave when I found this book, the eighth in this lengthy genre series, was on form. As the quality had hardly ever dipped in the past you might be wondering why I sounded particularly anxious this time. Well, book seven was that dip, and this time round things have changed – for the first time the British market gets a hardback. But we've not jumped the shark. If anything, the fantasy side of this series is following on from [[Mercy Thompson: River Marked by Patricia Briggs|book six – River Marked]] and the fae implement that was so much a feature of that book is being requested by a dangerously powerful character. But the urban fantasy side of this series is not without its dangerous characters – as Mercy is forced to bring the worried, frantic yet exceedingly manipulative figure of her husband's first wife into the shelter of their household…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>035650154X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Richard FordGenevieve Gornichec|title=The Shattered Crown (Steelhaven: Book Two)|rating=4.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=''The king is dead… his city is next'' shouts the strapline, and it's not wrong!Following on from [[Herald of the Storm by Richard Ford|Herald of the Storm]], Janessa is the new queen and is quaking; she's young, inexperienced and watching the massed hordes of Amon Tugha approach to rout the kingdom of Steelhaven. This isn't the only problem her fatherWitch's untimely death has left her with; there's a whole heap of trouble (internal as much as external) and hardly anyone Janessa can trust. Little Rag is now in the Guild but it's not all she dreamt it would be or as safe as she'd hoped. Meanwhile Merrick the ex-mercenary and Kaira, the former spear maiden are settling into their new job as bodyguards to the Queen. Merrick, though, has other things to think about as his past comes back to haunt him. Waylian the witch's assistant is still alive, which is good. And Regulus? He just wants to offer his men's swords in defence of Steelhaven but just didn't realise how difficult that would be, even before the fighting officially starts.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755394062</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=The Islands of Chaldea|author=Diana Wynne Jones and Ursula Jones|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Imagine a story – a good old-fashioned adventure with journeys and magic and villains and young people finding their strengths despite the odds, and coming at last to the place they belong. Then imagine another story, a heart-touching one this time, about the writing of that story, and you have the whole of this charming book.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007542232</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Libriomancer|author=Jim C Hines|rating=4.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=Pulp fantasy may be frowned upon by some who believe that novels should be about emotions, inner journeys and despair. Fantasy and science fiction can have all these things as well, but they can also be fun, entertaining and laser pistols. ‘Libriomancer’ by Jim C Hines is a great example. It is a book that follows Isaac Vainio, a Libriomancer who has the power to draw magic from books. He must use this gift to good effect when one day, whilst sitting comfortably cataloguing, he is attacked by three vampires. Does that sound fun to you? If so, read on; if not, this may not be the book for you.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091953456</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Mur Lafferty|title=Ghost Train to New Orleans: Book 2 of the Shambling GuidesHeart
|rating=4
|genre=Fantasy
|summary= After delivering [[The Shambling Guide to New York City (The Shambling Guides) by Mur Lafferty|The Shambling Guide to New York]], A modern and approachable reimagining of the Norse myths that centres around a witch named Angrboda. She hides in a travel guide for forest at the coterie edge of the undeadnine worlds, Zoe remembering nothing of her past life but that fact that she was survived burnt at the inadvertent citytalker goes stake three times because of Odin's wrath. Her attempts to New Orleans 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 research the next onestake—and refuses to leave her alone. She sets off with a feeling After an initial period of forebodingmistrust, but perhaps sheAngrboda begins to fall for Loki's being overly pessimistic? I meancharms, she's travelling with and the two gods, (one start an unusual family made of whom is up a rather strident exhalf-Valkyrie)dead daughter, a baby dragonson that's a wolf, two vampires (one of whom hates her) and Arthur, her boyfriend the Public Works employee. (Yes, Public Works as in the body another son that polices and, where necessary, clears away the coterie.) Oh and by the way, Arthur may be turning into 's a zombie soonsnake. The trip will be fine; what could possibly go wrong?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0356501914</amazonuk>1789097061
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Anne LeonardHannah Whitten|title=Moth and SparkFor the Wolf|rating=3.5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=Prince Corin has been bewitched by In Red's family, the dragonsfirst daughter becomes queen, something he'll forget until and the time is right for him to free the fire breathers from enslavement to Emperor Hadon of Mycenesecond daughter becomes a sacrifice. It doesn't stop there though - thatTo Red's not all he's been bewitched bymisfortune, she is the second daughter. The commoner Tam happens Sent alone into the woods with nothing but the cape on her back, Red knows what to be attending expect: within the summer court at his palace; woods is a house party for unmarried debs to find wolf, and he is the one who will decide the husband fate of their parents' dreamskingdom. Tam isn't actually looking but Corin finds her anyway. However their world doesn't run as smoothly as their hearts: war If she is about not a worthy sacrifice, the monsters he keeps contained to startthe woods will be released, murderous treachery stalks 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 to be killed within the palace and Tam has visions hour, she can't explainfinds that the legends are lies. Although as time goes on their purpose becomes clearer. Tam and Corin realise that their reason for being together extends beyond love – theyThe wolf is not a monster—he've been brought together to save the worlds a man.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0670015709</amazonuk>0356516369
}}
 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joanne M HarrisJohn Gwynne|title=The Gospel of LokiShadow Of The Gods
|rating=5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=Loki The Shadow Of The Gods is a shape shifter and the most recent addition to first installment of the Norse gods Bloodsworn Saga, set in the halls era of Asgard. He’s there to help the likes Vikings in the shadow of Odin Ragnarok, when the Gods have battled and Thor but sometimes things go wrong or his actions are misunderstood. Loki definitely doesn’t deserve his ‘Trickster’ nickname and will explain why their bones lie scattered for all to anyone who will listensee. This story is Loki's gospelthe ultimate in High Fantasy, his long-overdue side of the story and it’s all here: how he arranged a mason John Gwynne certainly does justice to rebuild Asgard (shame about the horse)genre, his marriage to Sygniwith mythical creatures, the problems fathering a werewolf archaic language and giving birth to battles galore. This is a foalthick book, what Freyja’s gold necklace cost mankind with an intricate plot and, of course, fascinating characters that day Thor became are woven together to create a beautiful bridewonderfully realistic and gritty world in which our heroes must do battle. (An occasion Thor has never spoken of since for some reason!) Indeed, Loki is there to help and facilitate - if anyone tells you differently, don’t believe them!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1473202353</amazonuk>0356514218
}}
 
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