A couple great covers have come out lately for some really great books, well, I can only really vouch for a couple (in terms of content), but I'm sure the others won't disappoint either.
I can vouch for this great novella, New Spring. I don't yet know if I like this cover art though. I think it could grow on me.
Here's another I can vouch for, Deadhouse Gates. Read the Malazan Book of the Fallen if you haven't already. It will blow your mind. Compared to the Gardens of the Moon Sub Press, which is really unfair, this pales. But so does EVERYTHING else. On it's own, I think it represents the book quite nicely.
This is one I can't vouch for, but it's Caine. I really need to catch up on this series:
I own the first one of these, The Adamantine Palace, but here's the third already. I really really love these covers. And that's the news...at least to me.
I think last week's update was a little unruly, so I'm trying something different this week and a bit simpler. Let me know if this works better for you if you even notice a difference (as opposed to this one).
Cover Art
This cover isn't quite finalized as alluded to by the author, Stephen Deas, but I think it's looking pretty good nonetheless. The Warlock's Shadow is the second in Deas' YA series starting with The Thief-Taker's Apprentice [US] [UK]. I guess you can't go wrong with a hooded figure and a "shadow" in the title.
Blurbs
China Mieville's next book, Embassytown [US] [UK], has a blurb. This one seems to be getting lots of push now that he won so many awards for The City and The City.
Embassytown: a city of contradictions on the outskirts of the universe.
Avice is an immerser, a traveller on the immer, the sea of space and time below the everyday, now returned to her birth planet. Here on Arieka, humans are not the only intelligent life, and Avice has a rare bond with the natives, the enigmatic Hosts - who cannot lie.
Only a tiny cadre of unique human Ambassadors can speak Language, and connect the two communities. But an unimaginable new arrival has come to Embassytown. And when this Ambassador speaks, everything changes.
Catastrophe looms. Avice knows the only hope is for her to speak directly to the alien Hosts.
Number 2 in the Aspect Emperor series, The White-Luck Warrior [US] [UK], jumped on the blurb-wagon too:
As Anasûrimbor Kellhus and his Great Ordeal march ever farther into the perilous wastes of the Ancient North, Esmenet finds herself at war with not only the Gods, but her own family as well. Achamian, meanwhile, leads his own ragtag expedition to the legendary ruins of Sauglish, and to a truth he can scarce survive, let alone comprehend. Into this tumult walks the White-Luck Warrior, assassin and messiah both, executing a mission as old as the World’s making …
The White-Luck Warrior is a story filled with heart-stopping action, devious treachery, grand passion and meticulous detail. It is both a classic quest tale and a high fantasy war story.
Blake Charlton's sequel (lots of sequels this week), Spellbound [US] [UK], has a synopsis as well:
In a world where one’s magical prowess is determined by one’s skill with words and ability to spell, Nicodemus is a wizardly apprentice afflicted by a curse that causes him to misspell magical texts. Now, the demon who cursed him has hatched a conspiracy to force Nicodemus to change language and ultimately use it to destroy all human life. As Nico tries to thwart the demon’s plan, he faces challenges from all sides. But his biggest challenge is his own disability, which causes him to create chaos wherever he goes. And the chaos surrounding Nico is affecting the world so profoundly that the kingdom to which he has fled to gather strength is on the brink of civil war, and he suspects that his closest allies—even Francesca, whom he loves more than life itself—may be subject to the demon’s vast powers. As Nico tries to forestall the apocalypse, he realizes that he doesn’t know if he can fully trust anyone, not even the woman he loves. And if he makes one wrong move, not only will his life be forfeit, he may end up destroying all mortal life as well.
Introducing new twists to the unique magical system of Spellwright, and exploring issues that will bring readers a deeper appreciation of a fascinating world, Spellbound is sure to please Blake Charlton’s fans and increase their number.
Blogs
I haven't read a ton of comics, but I've enjoyed everything I have read. Ryan, at Battle Hymns, has a great segment called Comic Quickies where he quickly overviews four or five comics - giving someone like me, who has no clue where to start, a starting point.
A new blog jumped into my line of site and it's all about audiobooks - Audiobook Jukebox. You know I have a penchant for them...plus it helps they featured one of my reviews. :)
Book Trailers
This should be good news for some. I haven't read any of the Immortals series, but here's some blurbage and a Book Trailer:
Available November 16th from St. Martin's Press is Alyson Noël's latest release in her widely loved 'Immortals' series, 'Night Star'.
"Night Star continues the epic love story that has enchanted readers across the world. In this installment, Ever and Damen face down bitter rivals, jealous friends and their own worst fears—all in the hope of being together forever. Night Star is guaranteed to mesmerize fans and leave them breathlessly awaiting the sixth and final book!"
I'm still looking to get sleep whenever I can. Even though I do menial tasks at work, I'm suddenly finding it very hard to focus. Does 2 come after or before 1?
I guess, contrary to popular opinion, sleep is important.
Cover Art
I saw this on Goodreads and it looks like things are working out for Michael J. Sullivan's 5th book (out of 6) in the Riyria Revelations, Wintertide, to be out in October this year. Awesome cover. Reminds me of the US edition of Nights of Villjamur.
It is scheduled for release in October, and just as recent as two weeks ago I wondered if it would make it.
I saw this on A Fantasy Reader and yes, it will be called The Cold Commands instead of The Dark Commands until we're told otherwise? This is the UK cover art btw, and Me Likey (signed Kanye West).
I'm probably not the only one who can't get enough of Joe Abercrombie especially when he's teamed up with the people at Subterranean Press. That's quite the combo and here's what they've got:
I like this cover, but I think I actually like the original ones the best. Those are what put me over the top on buying the series.
News
As you well know, I'm a huge Malazan fan and Steven Erikson has some great news (Woot!):
GASP! That would be me, coming up for air. How long was I down there? About twenty years, from conception to completion. The Malazan Book of the Fallen is done. Sure, editing and all that crap to follow. But ... done. I don't know who I am. Who am I again? What planet is this? Three months of butterflies ... maybe this double whiskey will fix that. Hmm. No. Delayed reaction going on here.
Stephen Deas not only has this amazing cover art for the US edition of The King of the Crags, but he's also just signed a 4 book deal with Gollancz. More info about the books here.
You may also know that I'm a bit of a Peter V. Brett fan (review) and I'm actually quite enjoying The Desert Spear at the moment. From A Dribble of Ink and other sources, Brett's sold another novella to Subterranean Press called Brayan's Gold. I didn't get my hands on The Great Bazaar (and don't quite have the hundred+ dollars to buy a used copy) so I'll have to actually be on the ball this time around.
Movies/Videos/TV
Hollywood Spy is a great new (as in "new to me") site I found, or should I say that found our blog. Run by Dezmond, who's a frequent commenter around these parts, it seems to focus on science fiction, fantasy, and other movies that attract such fans. I'll at least stick with that until he corrects me. :)
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