The Awakened Mage
Karen Miller
Orbit, Oct 2007, $6.99
ISBN:9780316067812
In the capital city of Dorana in the Kingdom of Lur, malevolent mage Morg has kill the Doranen royals except for pathetic Prince Gar, who is no threat as he has no magic skills. Morg has also taken possession of the body of the prime successor to the weather controlling throne Conroyd Jarralt.
Gar believes he is the last hope to prevent the catastrophe that Morg’s assent will bring, but he lacks magic. He turns to his best friend and assistant Asher the Olken, who are not supposed to be able to wield magic. Gar pleads with Asher to perform weather magic as the ancient prophesy predicted that an Olken mage will save the kingdom Doranen with weather magic.
The conclusion to the delightful THE INNOCENT MAGE is a fabulous fantasy thriller because the title hero Asher has a chance to win against a superior foe only if he can control the anger caused by being a victim of stereotyping racism. Olkens are considered inferior because they allegedly cannot perform weather magic so he has to hide his skills if he wants to survive yet now he must use his skills if his country wants to survive. He may be destiny’s darling, but will he attempt to save a kingdom that treats him at best as a second class citizen? Karen Miller provides a fabulous finish to her saga.
Harriet Klausner
Friday, August 31, 2007
You're Coffin or Mine?-Kimberly Raye
You're Coffin or Mine?
Kimberly Raye
Ballantine, Oct 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780345492180
In Manhattan professional matchmaker BV (beautiful vampiress) Countess Lilliana Arabella Guinevere du Marchette (call her Lil) is hired by a reality TV show to find a match for a famous bachelor. However, that project seems relatively tame when compared to a telepathic message she received from bounty-hunting vampire Ty for help; He vanished several months ago without a trace after a glorious one night with Lil.
As Lil tries to locate Ty in order to rescue him for a second night and who knows what else, she meets homicide detective Ash, who is not human or vampire. They work together seeking to find Ty. At the same time the human fiancé of her brother pleads with Lilliana (not quite one of her best buds yet so Lil is inappropriate) to find the right wedding dress and her mother tries to matchmake her DEAD AND DATELESS daughter with any mortal, vampire, or other ilk as long as they are male.
The latest adventures of that DED (DEAD END DATING) BV Countess Lil is, for the most part, a lighthearted romantic romp although the Ty subplot is a bit darker and much more serious in tone. Fans of the serious will appreciate Lil’s fun Manhattan frolic as few authors combine chick lit shtick with vampire bites better than Kimberly Raye does.
Harriet Klausner
Kimberly Raye
Ballantine, Oct 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780345492180
In Manhattan professional matchmaker BV (beautiful vampiress) Countess Lilliana Arabella Guinevere du Marchette (call her Lil) is hired by a reality TV show to find a match for a famous bachelor. However, that project seems relatively tame when compared to a telepathic message she received from bounty-hunting vampire Ty for help; He vanished several months ago without a trace after a glorious one night with Lil.
As Lil tries to locate Ty in order to rescue him for a second night and who knows what else, she meets homicide detective Ash, who is not human or vampire. They work together seeking to find Ty. At the same time the human fiancé of her brother pleads with Lilliana (not quite one of her best buds yet so Lil is inappropriate) to find the right wedding dress and her mother tries to matchmake her DEAD AND DATELESS daughter with any mortal, vampire, or other ilk as long as they are male.
The latest adventures of that DED (DEAD END DATING) BV Countess Lil is, for the most part, a lighthearted romantic romp although the Ty subplot is a bit darker and much more serious in tone. Fans of the serious will appreciate Lil’s fun Manhattan frolic as few authors combine chick lit shtick with vampire bites better than Kimberly Raye does.
Harriet Klausner
Night Mischief-Nina Bruhns
Night Mischief
Nina Bruhns
Silhouette Nocturne, Oct 2007, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373617722
Lady Dawn Maybank’s ancestors founded the Order of the Cadre, an organization dedicated to preventing humans from coming to harm from evil supernatural entities that most rational people deny exist. Unlike its competition P-Cell, a section of M15, they either send a demon home or capture it in a crystal for eternity. One fog filled day Dawn runs into the demon Galen McManus who is a vengeance demon that she inadvertently found masquerading as an incubus.
He offers her something that her father has been fruitlessly searching for, the Demon Star. It was stolen by the destruction demon Rofocale and Angus won it in a card game so he claims. He will give it to Dawn in return for five nights in her bed. Her desire for paternal approval is so great she accepts his offer. Their boudoir time is hot and steamy. Dawn comes to love her strange bedfellow although she knows demons only feel anger and lust. Angus’ surprised when he realizes that he cares for her as well. He is uncomfortable with these undesirable feelings preferring them to go away and is also afraid that P-Cell P-Cell is after him. He also knows one mistake with her family, and love is considered the biggest blunder to them, will have him crystallized for eternity although she is no demon-kind.
Nina Bruhns has written a diabolical paranormal romance focusing on a fascinating look at the demon mythos. They are the dark side of the universe bringing a necessary balance to the world. It is easy for readers to ignore that Angus is a demon because he oozes sex appeal that will lead readers to fall under his spell. He teaches Dawn much about herself and by mentoring her he learns about himself and his bias towards mortals. Their star-crossed romance is the stuff legends are made of.
Harriet Klausner
Nina Bruhns
Silhouette Nocturne, Oct 2007, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373617722
Lady Dawn Maybank’s ancestors founded the Order of the Cadre, an organization dedicated to preventing humans from coming to harm from evil supernatural entities that most rational people deny exist. Unlike its competition P-Cell, a section of M15, they either send a demon home or capture it in a crystal for eternity. One fog filled day Dawn runs into the demon Galen McManus who is a vengeance demon that she inadvertently found masquerading as an incubus.
He offers her something that her father has been fruitlessly searching for, the Demon Star. It was stolen by the destruction demon Rofocale and Angus won it in a card game so he claims. He will give it to Dawn in return for five nights in her bed. Her desire for paternal approval is so great she accepts his offer. Their boudoir time is hot and steamy. Dawn comes to love her strange bedfellow although she knows demons only feel anger and lust. Angus’ surprised when he realizes that he cares for her as well. He is uncomfortable with these undesirable feelings preferring them to go away and is also afraid that P-Cell P-Cell is after him. He also knows one mistake with her family, and love is considered the biggest blunder to them, will have him crystallized for eternity although she is no demon-kind.
Nina Bruhns has written a diabolical paranormal romance focusing on a fascinating look at the demon mythos. They are the dark side of the universe bringing a necessary balance to the world. It is easy for readers to ignore that Angus is a demon because he oozes sex appeal that will lead readers to fall under his spell. He teaches Dawn much about herself and by mentoring her he learns about himself and his bias towards mortals. Their star-crossed romance is the stuff legends are made of.
Harriet Klausner
Dark Lies-Vivi Anna
Dark Lies
Vivi Anna
Silhouette Nocturne, Oct 2007, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373617739
Other worldly species like vampires, lycans, and witches have a safe haven in the city Necropolis, a place where few humans reside. The Otherworld Crime Unit solves criminal cases across species lines, but those in the human world that know of other existence call them to a human city to investigate a case similar to the one that they thought they solved in Necropolis with the suspect dead. Jace Jericho, a one year resident returns to the human realm where he was caged and exhibited as a sideshow freak against his will.
When they arrive at the crime scene, Jace meets Tala Channing and sparks ignite immediately, which is shocking as the lycan hates humans. The crime scene contains the same mosaic signature as that solved in Necropolis, which puzzles the team as that indicates they did not catch the real killer as previously assumed. As the culprit works behind the scenes to get the OCU out of town, Jace and Tala are involved in their mating dance, which frightens her because she will have to tell him just who and what she is.
Vivi Anna provides quirky heroes in blue in this welcome paranormal police procedural. The investigation and romance are balanced so neither overshadows the other. The treat to this fine suspense thriller is the various species working together to assist mortals who would be frightened if they know what they are. DARK LIES is part of the Valorian Chronicles with the Puppetmaster remaining hidden pulling every person’s strings.
Harriet Klausner
Vivi Anna
Silhouette Nocturne, Oct 2007, $5.25
ISBN: 9780373617739
Other worldly species like vampires, lycans, and witches have a safe haven in the city Necropolis, a place where few humans reside. The Otherworld Crime Unit solves criminal cases across species lines, but those in the human world that know of other existence call them to a human city to investigate a case similar to the one that they thought they solved in Necropolis with the suspect dead. Jace Jericho, a one year resident returns to the human realm where he was caged and exhibited as a sideshow freak against his will.
When they arrive at the crime scene, Jace meets Tala Channing and sparks ignite immediately, which is shocking as the lycan hates humans. The crime scene contains the same mosaic signature as that solved in Necropolis, which puzzles the team as that indicates they did not catch the real killer as previously assumed. As the culprit works behind the scenes to get the OCU out of town, Jace and Tala are involved in their mating dance, which frightens her because she will have to tell him just who and what she is.
Vivi Anna provides quirky heroes in blue in this welcome paranormal police procedural. The investigation and romance are balanced so neither overshadows the other. The treat to this fine suspense thriller is the various species working together to assist mortals who would be frightened if they know what they are. DARK LIES is part of the Valorian Chronicles with the Puppetmaster remaining hidden pulling every person’s strings.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, August 30, 2007
The Huntress-Susan Carroll
The Huntress
Susan Carroll
Ballantine, Aug 2007, $13.95
ISBN: 9780345490612
By 1585 the Dark Queen Catherine de Medici knows her power is abating while Queen Elizabeth’s is growing. Thus the Silver Rose Convent has flourished and the practitioners of the dark magic fears the prophecy of the earth daughter has begun especially when the comet soars across the sky. The Dark Queen knows she must act now or lose her power for eternity.
Faire Isle huntress, Catriona O'Hanlon is sent to England to find the notorious Book of Shadows and Meg, the Lady of Faire Isle. However to bring Meg home, Catriona must battle with the young girl’s protective powerful mage Martin Le Lupe. Still Catriona is a huntress with skills beyond the norm. She finds Meg and much more as she learns of Catherine’s plot to assassinate the Virgin Queen and falls in love with her natural enemy, Martin.
The fourth Dark Queen sixteenth century romantic fantasy (see SILVER ROSE, THE COURTESAN, and THE DARK QUEEN) is a superb historical that will have the audience enthralled throughout. As with the previous tales, women are on the world stage (at least in a mystical Western Europe) as they battle for control. Fans will appreciate this terrific entry in a great saga as the heroine struggles between protecting her Lady, her queen, and her heart.
Harriet Klausner
Susan Carroll
Ballantine, Aug 2007, $13.95
ISBN: 9780345490612
By 1585 the Dark Queen Catherine de Medici knows her power is abating while Queen Elizabeth’s is growing. Thus the Silver Rose Convent has flourished and the practitioners of the dark magic fears the prophecy of the earth daughter has begun especially when the comet soars across the sky. The Dark Queen knows she must act now or lose her power for eternity.
Faire Isle huntress, Catriona O'Hanlon is sent to England to find the notorious Book of Shadows and Meg, the Lady of Faire Isle. However to bring Meg home, Catriona must battle with the young girl’s protective powerful mage Martin Le Lupe. Still Catriona is a huntress with skills beyond the norm. She finds Meg and much more as she learns of Catherine’s plot to assassinate the Virgin Queen and falls in love with her natural enemy, Martin.
The fourth Dark Queen sixteenth century romantic fantasy (see SILVER ROSE, THE COURTESAN, and THE DARK QUEEN) is a superb historical that will have the audience enthralled throughout. As with the previous tales, women are on the world stage (at least in a mystical Western Europe) as they battle for control. Fans will appreciate this terrific entry in a great saga as the heroine struggles between protecting her Lady, her queen, and her heart.
Harriet Klausner
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Star Wars: Death Star-Michael Reaves and Steve Perry
Star Wars: Death Star
Michael Reaves and Steve Perry
Del Rey, Oct 2007, $25.95
ISBN: 9780345477422
Grand Moff Tarkin for three decades lobbied for the Death Star, a war vessel the size of a large moon, to be built. His dream comes to fruition as his killing ship with its special pandemic death weaponry is constructed in outer space in the Horuz Sector by residents of the nearby prison planet Despyre.
Lieutenant Commander Vil Dance is euphoric to be a fighter pilot on the Death Star. After her cantina burned down in Imperial City Memah Roothes and her bounceRodo open another one on the Death Star . Dr. Gli Divini has not been allowed to leave the service and when he is transferred to the Death Star, it is just another undesirable assignment to him. Political prisoner Teela Kaarz jumps at the chance to get off of Despyre and use her skills as an architect on Death Star. Master Chief Petty Officer Tenn Graneet wants to be the one to use the largest laser in the known universe. Planet prisoner Ratua Dil, a Zelosiann is a con artist smuggler and who sneaks onto the Death Star and blends in with the crew. It is only after two worlds are annihilated that these crewmembers realize what they work on and want out; with the help of an archivist and a librarian they may be able to escape.
For those living on a far planet in a distant time, the Death Star is the massive starship that Luke and company destroyed in the original Star Wars movie. STAR WARS: DEATH STAR takes a look inside the humongous weapon of planetary destruction-ship at the crew and ordinary people living in something the size of a large moon. Readers will see first hand the normal everyday folks who make the Death Star work and their elation to be part of it turning to horror as worlds are destroyed by its weaponry. Cameo appearances by a who’s who of the 1977 movie adds a sense of time and place to a fascinating character study of everyday people caught up in supporting the atrocities of deliberate genocide of the innocent as a terrorist effort to defeat the opposition.
Harriet Klausner
Michael Reaves and Steve Perry
Del Rey, Oct 2007, $25.95
ISBN: 9780345477422
Grand Moff Tarkin for three decades lobbied for the Death Star, a war vessel the size of a large moon, to be built. His dream comes to fruition as his killing ship with its special pandemic death weaponry is constructed in outer space in the Horuz Sector by residents of the nearby prison planet Despyre.
Lieutenant Commander Vil Dance is euphoric to be a fighter pilot on the Death Star. After her cantina burned down in Imperial City Memah Roothes and her bounceRodo open another one on the Death Star . Dr. Gli Divini has not been allowed to leave the service and when he is transferred to the Death Star, it is just another undesirable assignment to him. Political prisoner Teela Kaarz jumps at the chance to get off of Despyre and use her skills as an architect on Death Star. Master Chief Petty Officer Tenn Graneet wants to be the one to use the largest laser in the known universe. Planet prisoner Ratua Dil, a Zelosiann is a con artist smuggler and who sneaks onto the Death Star and blends in with the crew. It is only after two worlds are annihilated that these crewmembers realize what they work on and want out; with the help of an archivist and a librarian they may be able to escape.
For those living on a far planet in a distant time, the Death Star is the massive starship that Luke and company destroyed in the original Star Wars movie. STAR WARS: DEATH STAR takes a look inside the humongous weapon of planetary destruction-ship at the crew and ordinary people living in something the size of a large moon. Readers will see first hand the normal everyday folks who make the Death Star work and their elation to be part of it turning to horror as worlds are destroyed by its weaponry. Cameo appearances by a who’s who of the 1977 movie adds a sense of time and place to a fascinating character study of everyday people caught up in supporting the atrocities of deliberate genocide of the innocent as a terrorist effort to defeat the opposition.
Harriet Klausner
Monday, August 27, 2007
Auralia’s Colors: The Red Strand of Auralia’s Thread-Jeffrey Overstreet
Auralia’s Colors: The Red Strand of Auralia’s Thread
Jeffrey Overstreet
Waterbrook, Sep 2007, $13.99
ISBN: 1400072522
Except for her royal court, the Queen has outlawed all colors; thus the kingdom of Abascar is draped in dark gloomy grey as King Cal enforces his wife’s decree.
Two old thieves, Krawg and Warney, exiled from the House Abascar as part of paying off societal debts, notice the activity of crows by the River Throanscall. They investigate only to find a girl sleeping like she was dead inside a strange footprint. They take the River Girl who tells them her name is Auralia to their criminal community. She shows a talent to bring out the enchanting colors hidden behind the grey in everything. Her skills reach the monarch and his queen as well as the rest of the Four Great Houses of the Expanse. Will the River Girl prove the savior of the houses or their destruction although some wise philosophers point out that if she never existed, there would be nothing to save the houses from.
The first Auralia Thread tale is a magical inspirational fairy tale fantasy that brings to life the Overstreet world filled with colorful creatures like beastmen, vawns and the enigmatic Keeper. The story line is fast-paced with an obvious homage towards Narnia. Auralia is a fascinating character who keeps the story line anchored as her re-coloring the kngdom puts her on a potentially lethal confrontation with King Cal who has implemented his wife’s demand of a colorless realm.
Harriet Klausner
Jeffrey Overstreet
Waterbrook, Sep 2007, $13.99
ISBN: 1400072522
Except for her royal court, the Queen has outlawed all colors; thus the kingdom of Abascar is draped in dark gloomy grey as King Cal enforces his wife’s decree.
Two old thieves, Krawg and Warney, exiled from the House Abascar as part of paying off societal debts, notice the activity of crows by the River Throanscall. They investigate only to find a girl sleeping like she was dead inside a strange footprint. They take the River Girl who tells them her name is Auralia to their criminal community. She shows a talent to bring out the enchanting colors hidden behind the grey in everything. Her skills reach the monarch and his queen as well as the rest of the Four Great Houses of the Expanse. Will the River Girl prove the savior of the houses or their destruction although some wise philosophers point out that if she never existed, there would be nothing to save the houses from.
The first Auralia Thread tale is a magical inspirational fairy tale fantasy that brings to life the Overstreet world filled with colorful creatures like beastmen, vawns and the enigmatic Keeper. The story line is fast-paced with an obvious homage towards Narnia. Auralia is a fascinating character who keeps the story line anchored as her re-coloring the kngdom puts her on a potentially lethal confrontation with King Cal who has implemented his wife’s demand of a colorless realm.
Harriet Klausner
Warlord-Angela Knight
Warlord
Angela Knight
Berkley, Sep 2007, $14.00
ISBN: 9780425217849
“Jane’s Warlord”. Three hundred years from now the Temporal Enforcement sends warlord Baran Arvid and his genetically engineered wolf Freika back to the twenty-first century to protect reporter Jane Colby from a murderous time traveler Kalag Druss. Baran is to kill Kalag before the jump killer murders Jane. Jane covers a particular brutal murder nearby her home. When she returns to her house, she finds Baran and the talkative Freika waiting for her. Escape is impossible and soon she figures out that her warden and his sidekick come from the future. The worst that could happen to Baran is that he falls in love which distracts him from his mission and places his beloved in peril from the deadly time traveler.
“Warfem”. Her enemy captured WarFem Alina, who would prefer to die, but fears that her foes will use her as a hostage to betray her people and her beloved Baird.
“The Warlord and the Fem”. Kyne hides on the ship Drunna’s Victory from the Warlord Baird Airell who she met while on R&R on the planet Verton. She is a Fem, a genetically engineered soldier which make her subject to any demands in the bedroom from a Warlord; that scares her when it comes to Baird. She has to confront her fears because Baird gains the crew’s respect as he tries to bond with her.
“Baby, You’ve Changed”. When the ship Intrepid defeated the ship that Fem Tamin was on, she was reunited with her first lover Gage Deauxville. She rejected him because he was human, but now he is a vampire who claims he is her master.
JANE’S WARLORD is a reprint of the same title novel while “Warfem” was first published as part of the Kick Ass novellas anthology; the two short stories are new. WARLORD provides fans of Angela Knight, an omnibus collection of this entertaining outer space fantasy saga.
Harriet Klausner
Angela Knight
Berkley, Sep 2007, $14.00
ISBN: 9780425217849
“Jane’s Warlord”. Three hundred years from now the Temporal Enforcement sends warlord Baran Arvid and his genetically engineered wolf Freika back to the twenty-first century to protect reporter Jane Colby from a murderous time traveler Kalag Druss. Baran is to kill Kalag before the jump killer murders Jane. Jane covers a particular brutal murder nearby her home. When she returns to her house, she finds Baran and the talkative Freika waiting for her. Escape is impossible and soon she figures out that her warden and his sidekick come from the future. The worst that could happen to Baran is that he falls in love which distracts him from his mission and places his beloved in peril from the deadly time traveler.
“Warfem”. Her enemy captured WarFem Alina, who would prefer to die, but fears that her foes will use her as a hostage to betray her people and her beloved Baird.
“The Warlord and the Fem”. Kyne hides on the ship Drunna’s Victory from the Warlord Baird Airell who she met while on R&R on the planet Verton. She is a Fem, a genetically engineered soldier which make her subject to any demands in the bedroom from a Warlord; that scares her when it comes to Baird. She has to confront her fears because Baird gains the crew’s respect as he tries to bond with her.
“Baby, You’ve Changed”. When the ship Intrepid defeated the ship that Fem Tamin was on, she was reunited with her first lover Gage Deauxville. She rejected him because he was human, but now he is a vampire who claims he is her master.
JANE’S WARLORD is a reprint of the same title novel while “Warfem” was first published as part of the Kick Ass novellas anthology; the two short stories are new. WARLORD provides fans of Angela Knight, an omnibus collection of this entertaining outer space fantasy saga.
Harriet Klausner
Emissary-Fiona McIntosh
Emissary
Fiona McIntosh
Eos, Oct 2007, $15.95
ISBN: 9780060899066
A year has passed since the warrior city Protector Spur Lazar was killed, Kett was turned into a eunuch, and Ana became an Odalisque although not performing sexual deeds as part of the harem of Boaz, the juvenile Zar of Percheron,. Odalisque Ana blames herself for the misfortune that occurred to her and her protectors. Males have always wanted to cherish Ana so as Kett points out the Lazar needed to become her Protector.
In the harem, the virginal Ana tries to behave and fit in although men still desire her even Boaz. However, the Zar’s mother Herezah sees the first crush her son has had and fears the influence of this newcomer to her role as the queen mother ruling over the harem. She arranges a scheme to humiliate Ana before assassinating her. The eunuch Grand Master Salmeo, who detests the popularity of this newcomer amongst his emaciated subordinates and the women he oversees, abets Herezah with her plan to include sexual torture as only he knows how to use. However, on one of those isles that Odalisque Ana stares at from her window, Lazar slowly heals from his severe wounds planning to fulfill his vow as Ana’s Protector.
EMISSARY, Book Two of the Percheron Saga (see ODALISQUE) is a fascinating fantasy that provides a deep look into the realm although that keen glimpse makes for little action for most of the tale. Instead the story line has started several subplots that look like they will be action-packed fun. Odalisque Ana is the focus of everyone’s wants. The Zar wants her; his mother wants her dead but not martyred;, the Grand Master wants her humiliated; Lazar wants to rescue her;, the Vizier wants to use her to gain power; and the Gods want to manipulate her. This is an entertaining tale, but lacks the punch of ODALISQUE as it sets the stage for the final tale in which hopefully all the players will clash.
Harriet Klausner
Fiona McIntosh
Eos, Oct 2007, $15.95
ISBN: 9780060899066
A year has passed since the warrior city Protector Spur Lazar was killed, Kett was turned into a eunuch, and Ana became an Odalisque although not performing sexual deeds as part of the harem of Boaz, the juvenile Zar of Percheron,. Odalisque Ana blames herself for the misfortune that occurred to her and her protectors. Males have always wanted to cherish Ana so as Kett points out the Lazar needed to become her Protector.
In the harem, the virginal Ana tries to behave and fit in although men still desire her even Boaz. However, the Zar’s mother Herezah sees the first crush her son has had and fears the influence of this newcomer to her role as the queen mother ruling over the harem. She arranges a scheme to humiliate Ana before assassinating her. The eunuch Grand Master Salmeo, who detests the popularity of this newcomer amongst his emaciated subordinates and the women he oversees, abets Herezah with her plan to include sexual torture as only he knows how to use. However, on one of those isles that Odalisque Ana stares at from her window, Lazar slowly heals from his severe wounds planning to fulfill his vow as Ana’s Protector.
EMISSARY, Book Two of the Percheron Saga (see ODALISQUE) is a fascinating fantasy that provides a deep look into the realm although that keen glimpse makes for little action for most of the tale. Instead the story line has started several subplots that look like they will be action-packed fun. Odalisque Ana is the focus of everyone’s wants. The Zar wants her; his mother wants her dead but not martyred;, the Grand Master wants her humiliated; Lazar wants to rescue her;, the Vizier wants to use her to gain power; and the Gods want to manipulate her. This is an entertaining tale, but lacks the punch of ODALISQUE as it sets the stage for the final tale in which hopefully all the players will clash.
Harriet Klausner
Fatal Revenant-Stephen R. Donaldson
Fatal Revenant
Stephen R. Donaldson
Putnam, Oct 2007, $27.95
ISBN: 9780399154461
Looking down form the watchtower of Revelstone, Linden Avery sees men and riders being chased by Demondim; to her shocked elation the riders are the love of her life Thomas Covenant while the other is her adopted autistic son Jeremiah. Covenant explains that though he holds together the Arch of Time together still, he is through a fold in time here in the flesh. Jeremiah is being held by Lord Foul the Despiser who seeks destruction of the land while part of him is here thanks to Covenant.
From the first moment, Linden senses a change in her beloved who is short with her and very sarcastic and scornful. Jeremiah makes it clear that he worships Covenant and has no time for Linden. They trick her into meeting him in an isolated place where they separate her from her friends and allies. They travel thousands of years back in time because Covenant needs to drink the Blood of the Earth so he can use the Power of Command to put an end to Lord Foul. When Linden learns why the two men she most lives are cold to her, she feels her heart torn apart; she vows revenge on those who caused her such anguish if she ever returns to her future present.
FATAL REVENANT, Book Two of The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, is a complex poignant epic fantasy about The Land where wild and tamed magics are part of the earth. The Land is populated by various races including creatures out of myth and legend; some of whom serve as pivotal plot points to move the complicated story line forward even when the heroes go back in time. Lord Foul never appears, but his shadow minions are everywhere seemingly to stop Linden’s quest.. Stephen R. Donaldson is a great worldbuilder as he makes his characters even the monsters seem real, but it is the poignancy of relationships that make him one of the best fantasists today.
Harriet Klausner
Stephen R. Donaldson
Putnam, Oct 2007, $27.95
ISBN: 9780399154461
Looking down form the watchtower of Revelstone, Linden Avery sees men and riders being chased by Demondim; to her shocked elation the riders are the love of her life Thomas Covenant while the other is her adopted autistic son Jeremiah. Covenant explains that though he holds together the Arch of Time together still, he is through a fold in time here in the flesh. Jeremiah is being held by Lord Foul the Despiser who seeks destruction of the land while part of him is here thanks to Covenant.
From the first moment, Linden senses a change in her beloved who is short with her and very sarcastic and scornful. Jeremiah makes it clear that he worships Covenant and has no time for Linden. They trick her into meeting him in an isolated place where they separate her from her friends and allies. They travel thousands of years back in time because Covenant needs to drink the Blood of the Earth so he can use the Power of Command to put an end to Lord Foul. When Linden learns why the two men she most lives are cold to her, she feels her heart torn apart; she vows revenge on those who caused her such anguish if she ever returns to her future present.
FATAL REVENANT, Book Two of The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, is a complex poignant epic fantasy about The Land where wild and tamed magics are part of the earth. The Land is populated by various races including creatures out of myth and legend; some of whom serve as pivotal plot points to move the complicated story line forward even when the heroes go back in time. Lord Foul never appears, but his shadow minions are everywhere seemingly to stop Linden’s quest.. Stephen R. Donaldson is a great worldbuilder as he makes his characters even the monsters seem real, but it is the poignancy of relationships that make him one of the best fantasists today.
Harriet Klausner
Auralia’s Colors: The Red Strand of Auralia’s Thread-Jeffrey Overstreet
Auralia’s Colors: The Red Strand of Auralia’s Thread
Jeffrey Overstreet
Waterbrook, Sep 2007, $13.99
ISBN: 1400072522
Except for her royal court, the Queen has outlawed all colors; thus the kingdom of Abascar is draped in dark gloomy grey as King Cal enforces his wife’s decree.
Two old thieves, Krawg and Warney, exiled from the House Abascar as part of paying off societal debts, notice the activity of crows by the River Throanscall. They investigate only to find a girl sleeping like she was dead inside a strange footprint. They take the River Girl who tells them her name is Auralia to their criminal community. She shows a talent to bring out the enchanting colors hidden behind the grey in everything. Her skills reach the monarch and his queen as well as the rest of the Four Great Houses of the Expanse. Will the River Girl prove the savior of the houses or their destruction although some wise philosophers point out that if she never existed, there would be nothing to save the houses from.
The first Auralia Thread tale is a magical inspirational fairy tale fantasy that brings to life the Overstreet world filled with colorful creatures like beastmen, vawns and the enigmatic Keeper. The story line is fast-paced with an obvious homage towards Narnia. Auralia is a fascinating character who keeps the story line anchored as her re-coloring the kngdom puts her on a potentially lethal confrontation with King Cal who has implemented his wife’s demand of a colorless realm.
Harriet Klausner
Jeffrey Overstreet
Waterbrook, Sep 2007, $13.99
ISBN: 1400072522
Except for her royal court, the Queen has outlawed all colors; thus the kingdom of Abascar is draped in dark gloomy grey as King Cal enforces his wife’s decree.
Two old thieves, Krawg and Warney, exiled from the House Abascar as part of paying off societal debts, notice the activity of crows by the River Throanscall. They investigate only to find a girl sleeping like she was dead inside a strange footprint. They take the River Girl who tells them her name is Auralia to their criminal community. She shows a talent to bring out the enchanting colors hidden behind the grey in everything. Her skills reach the monarch and his queen as well as the rest of the Four Great Houses of the Expanse. Will the River Girl prove the savior of the houses or their destruction although some wise philosophers point out that if she never existed, there would be nothing to save the houses from.
The first Auralia Thread tale is a magical inspirational fairy tale fantasy that brings to life the Overstreet world filled with colorful creatures like beastmen, vawns and the enigmatic Keeper. The story line is fast-paced with an obvious homage towards Narnia. Auralia is a fascinating character who keeps the story line anchored as her re-coloring the kngdom puts her on a potentially lethal confrontation with King Cal who has implemented his wife’s demand of a colorless realm.
Harriet Klausner
Warlord-Angela Knight
Warlord
Angela Knight
Berkley, Sep 2007, $14.00
ISBN: 9780425217849
“Jane’s Warlord”. Three hundred years from now the Temporal Enforcement sends warlord Baran Arvid and his genetically engineered wolf Freika back to the twenty-first century to protect reporter Jane Colby from a murderous time traveler Kalag Druss. Baran is to kill Kalag before the jump killer murders Jane. Jane covers a particular brutal murder nearby her home. When she returns to her house, she finds Baran and the talkative Freika waiting for her. Escape is impossible and soon she figures out that her warden and his sidekick come from the future. The worst that could happen to Baran is that he falls in love which distracts him from his mission and places his beloved in peril from the deadly time traveler.
“Warfem”. Her enemy captured WarFem Alina, who would prefer to die, but fears that her foes will use her as a hostage to betray her people and her beloved Baird.
“The Warlord and the Fem”. Kyne hides on the ship Drunna’s Victory from the Warlord Baird Airell who she met while on R&R on the planet Verton. She is a Fem, a genetically engineered soldier which make her subject to any demands in the bedroom from a Warlord; that scares her when it comes to Baird. She has to confront her fears because Baird gains the crew’s respect as he tries to bond with her.
“Baby, You’ve Changed”. When the ship Intrepid defeated the ship that Fem Tamin was on, she was reunited with her first lover Gage Deauxville. She rejected him because he was human, but now he is a vampire who claims he is her master.
JANE’S WARLORD is a reprint of the same title novel while “Warfem” was first published as part of the Kick Ass novellas anthology; the two short stories are new. WARLORD provides fans of Angela Knight, an omnibus collection of this entertaining outer space fantasy saga.
Harriet Klausner
Angela Knight
Berkley, Sep 2007, $14.00
ISBN: 9780425217849
“Jane’s Warlord”. Three hundred years from now the Temporal Enforcement sends warlord Baran Arvid and his genetically engineered wolf Freika back to the twenty-first century to protect reporter Jane Colby from a murderous time traveler Kalag Druss. Baran is to kill Kalag before the jump killer murders Jane. Jane covers a particular brutal murder nearby her home. When she returns to her house, she finds Baran and the talkative Freika waiting for her. Escape is impossible and soon she figures out that her warden and his sidekick come from the future. The worst that could happen to Baran is that he falls in love which distracts him from his mission and places his beloved in peril from the deadly time traveler.
“Warfem”. Her enemy captured WarFem Alina, who would prefer to die, but fears that her foes will use her as a hostage to betray her people and her beloved Baird.
“The Warlord and the Fem”. Kyne hides on the ship Drunna’s Victory from the Warlord Baird Airell who she met while on R&R on the planet Verton. She is a Fem, a genetically engineered soldier which make her subject to any demands in the bedroom from a Warlord; that scares her when it comes to Baird. She has to confront her fears because Baird gains the crew’s respect as he tries to bond with her.
“Baby, You’ve Changed”. When the ship Intrepid defeated the ship that Fem Tamin was on, she was reunited with her first lover Gage Deauxville. She rejected him because he was human, but now he is a vampire who claims he is her master.
JANE’S WARLORD is a reprint of the same title novel while “Warfem” was first published as part of the Kick Ass novellas anthology; the two short stories are new. WARLORD provides fans of Angela Knight, an omnibus collection of this entertaining outer space fantasy saga.
Harriet Klausner
Emissary-Fiona McIntosh
Emissary
Fiona McIntosh
Eos, Oct 2007, $15.95
ISBN: 9780060899066
A year has passed since the warrior city Protector Spur Lazar was killed, Kett was turned into a eunuch, and Ana became an Odalisque although not performing sexual deeds as part of the harem of Boaz, the juvenile Zar of Percheron,. Odalisque Ana blames herself for the misfortune that occurred to her and her protectors. Males have always wanted to cherish Ana so as Kett points out the Lazar needed to become her Protector.
In the harem, the virginal Ana tries to behave and fit in although men still desire her even Boaz. However, the Zar’s mother Herezah sees the first crush her son has had and fears the influence of this newcomer to her role as the queen mother ruling over the harem. She arranges a scheme to humiliate Ana before assassinating her. The eunuch Grand Master Salmeo, who detests the popularity of this newcomer amongst his emaciated subordinates and the women he oversees, abets Herezah with her plan to include sexual torture as only he knows how to use. However, on one of those isles that Odalisque Ana stares at from her window, Lazar slowly heals from his severe wounds planning to fulfill his vow as Ana’s Protector.
EMISSARY, Book Two of the Percheron Saga (see ODALISQUE) is a fascinating fantasy that provides a deep look into the realm although that keen glimpse makes for little action for most of the tale. Instead the story line has started several subplots that look like they will be action-packed fun. Odalisque Ana is the focus of everyone’s wants. The Zar wants her; his mother wants her dead but not martyred;, the Grand Master wants her humiliated; Lazar wants to rescue her;, the Vizier wants to use her to gain power; and the Gods want to manipulate her. This is an entertaining tale, but lacks the punch of ODALISQUE as it sets the stage for the final tale in which hopefully all the players will clash.
Harriet Klausner
Fiona McIntosh
Eos, Oct 2007, $15.95
ISBN: 9780060899066
A year has passed since the warrior city Protector Spur Lazar was killed, Kett was turned into a eunuch, and Ana became an Odalisque although not performing sexual deeds as part of the harem of Boaz, the juvenile Zar of Percheron,. Odalisque Ana blames herself for the misfortune that occurred to her and her protectors. Males have always wanted to cherish Ana so as Kett points out the Lazar needed to become her Protector.
In the harem, the virginal Ana tries to behave and fit in although men still desire her even Boaz. However, the Zar’s mother Herezah sees the first crush her son has had and fears the influence of this newcomer to her role as the queen mother ruling over the harem. She arranges a scheme to humiliate Ana before assassinating her. The eunuch Grand Master Salmeo, who detests the popularity of this newcomer amongst his emaciated subordinates and the women he oversees, abets Herezah with her plan to include sexual torture as only he knows how to use. However, on one of those isles that Odalisque Ana stares at from her window, Lazar slowly heals from his severe wounds planning to fulfill his vow as Ana’s Protector.
EMISSARY, Book Two of the Percheron Saga (see ODALISQUE) is a fascinating fantasy that provides a deep look into the realm although that keen glimpse makes for little action for most of the tale. Instead the story line has started several subplots that look like they will be action-packed fun. Odalisque Ana is the focus of everyone’s wants. The Zar wants her; his mother wants her dead but not martyred;, the Grand Master wants her humiliated; Lazar wants to rescue her;, the Vizier wants to use her to gain power; and the Gods want to manipulate her. This is an entertaining tale, but lacks the punch of ODALISQUE as it sets the stage for the final tale in which hopefully all the players will clash.
Harriet Klausner
Vorpal Blade-John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor
Vorpal Blade
John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor
Baen, Sep 2007, $25.00
ISBN 9781416521297
Several years have passed since the quantum physics experiment at the University of Central Florida destroyed the area and opened a gateway into other dimensions that allowed the Dreen to invade the earth. Only physicist Dr. William Weaver and Navy SEAL Command Master Chief Robert Miller with rednecks and some real army prevented the deadly Dreen from annihilating the planet (see INTO THE LOOKING GLASS).
Doc Weaver places a captured alien star drive onto a nuclear submarine creating earth’s first starship, the VORPAL BLADE. Captain Steven Blankemeier and Commander Clay White are to head an exploratory expedition into worlds devastated by the Dreen in order to learn more about this malevolent species and the so called other interstellar races who came to the earth prepared to destroy it once the planet was Dreen contaminated; the theory is basic human instinct to know all you can in this case about the dreaded demons before they and the “friendly” benign others return.
Combining quantum physics with MacGyver ingenuity in space, the sequel to INTO THE LOOKING GLASS, VORPAL BLADE is an exciting military science fiction thriller that never slows down for a nanosecond; as the action-packed story line is faster than the alien engine can propel a craft through space. Although the vernacular of the kick butt military during the zillion battle scenes reminds this reviewer of my late mother-in-law’s use of profanity when she cut a finger or stubbed a toe (“your father’s mustache”), readers will go where mankind has never gone before with the prime directive to interfere in order to prepare for the anticipated return engagement.
Harriet Klausner
John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor
Baen, Sep 2007, $25.00
ISBN 9781416521297
Several years have passed since the quantum physics experiment at the University of Central Florida destroyed the area and opened a gateway into other dimensions that allowed the Dreen to invade the earth. Only physicist Dr. William Weaver and Navy SEAL Command Master Chief Robert Miller with rednecks and some real army prevented the deadly Dreen from annihilating the planet (see INTO THE LOOKING GLASS).
Doc Weaver places a captured alien star drive onto a nuclear submarine creating earth’s first starship, the VORPAL BLADE. Captain Steven Blankemeier and Commander Clay White are to head an exploratory expedition into worlds devastated by the Dreen in order to learn more about this malevolent species and the so called other interstellar races who came to the earth prepared to destroy it once the planet was Dreen contaminated; the theory is basic human instinct to know all you can in this case about the dreaded demons before they and the “friendly” benign others return.
Combining quantum physics with MacGyver ingenuity in space, the sequel to INTO THE LOOKING GLASS, VORPAL BLADE is an exciting military science fiction thriller that never slows down for a nanosecond; as the action-packed story line is faster than the alien engine can propel a craft through space. Although the vernacular of the kick butt military during the zillion battle scenes reminds this reviewer of my late mother-in-law’s use of profanity when she cut a finger or stubbed a toe (“your father’s mustache”), readers will go where mankind has never gone before with the prime directive to interfere in order to prepare for the anticipated return engagement.
Harriet Klausner
Fatal Revenant-Stephen R. Donaldson
Fatal Revenant
Stephen R. Donaldson
Putnam, Oct 2007, $27.95
ISBN: 9780399154461
Looking down form the watchtower of Revelstone, Linden Avery sees men and riders being chased by Demondim; to her shocked elation the riders are the love of her life Thomas Covenant while the other is her adopted autistic son Jeremiah. Covenant explains that though he holds together the Arch of Time together still, he is through a fold in time here in the flesh. Jeremiah is being held by Lord Foul the Despiser who seeks destruction of the land while part of him is here thanks to Covenant.
From the first moment, Linden senses a change in her beloved who is short with her and very sarcastic and scornful. Jeremiah makes it clear that he worships Covenant and has no time for Linden. They trick her into meeting him in an isolated place where they separate her from her friends and allies. They travel thousands of years back in time because Covenant needs to drink the Blood of the Earth so he can use the Power of Command to put an end to Lord Foul. When Linden learns why the two men she most lives are cold to her, she feels her heart torn apart; she vows revenge on those who caused her such anguish if she ever returns to her future present.
FATAL REVENANT, Book Two of The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, is a complex poignant epic fantasy about The Land where wild and tamed magics are part of the earth. The Land is populated by various races including creatures out of myth and legend; some of whom serve as pivotal plot points to move the complicated story line forward even when the heroes go back in time. Lord Foul never appears, but his shadow minions are everywhere seemingly to stop Linden’s quest.. Stephen R. Donaldson is a great worldbuilder as he makes his characters even the monsters seem real, but it is the poignancy of relationships that make him one of the best fantasists today.
Harriet Klausner
Stephen R. Donaldson
Putnam, Oct 2007, $27.95
ISBN: 9780399154461
Looking down form the watchtower of Revelstone, Linden Avery sees men and riders being chased by Demondim; to her shocked elation the riders are the love of her life Thomas Covenant while the other is her adopted autistic son Jeremiah. Covenant explains that though he holds together the Arch of Time together still, he is through a fold in time here in the flesh. Jeremiah is being held by Lord Foul the Despiser who seeks destruction of the land while part of him is here thanks to Covenant.
From the first moment, Linden senses a change in her beloved who is short with her and very sarcastic and scornful. Jeremiah makes it clear that he worships Covenant and has no time for Linden. They trick her into meeting him in an isolated place where they separate her from her friends and allies. They travel thousands of years back in time because Covenant needs to drink the Blood of the Earth so he can use the Power of Command to put an end to Lord Foul. When Linden learns why the two men she most lives are cold to her, she feels her heart torn apart; she vows revenge on those who caused her such anguish if she ever returns to her future present.
FATAL REVENANT, Book Two of The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, is a complex poignant epic fantasy about The Land where wild and tamed magics are part of the earth. The Land is populated by various races including creatures out of myth and legend; some of whom serve as pivotal plot points to move the complicated story line forward even when the heroes go back in time. Lord Foul never appears, but his shadow minions are everywhere seemingly to stop Linden’s quest.. Stephen R. Donaldson is a great worldbuilder as he makes his characters even the monsters seem real, but it is the poignancy of relationships that make him one of the best fantasists today.
Harriet Klausner
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The White Plague-Frank Herbert
The White Plague
Frank Herbert
Tor, Oct 2007, $14.95
ISBN: 9780765317735
American molecular biologist Dr. John O'Neill, accompanied by his wife Mary and their five years old twins Mairead and Kevin, is in Dublin completing his project “An Overview of Irish Genetic Research” as required by the Pastermorn Foundation grant. However, they are only a few days in country when the terrorist bomb killed Mary and the kids as he watched them die and consequently killed his soul too.
John vowed vengeance on humanity for murdering his loved ones as he blames all mankind for their avarice. In his New England lab, he creates THE WHITE PLAGUE that kills women only; for without females there is no human race. Instead of coming together governments go it alone seeking a cure; scientific teams see future history books as each wants to be the Fleming of this age so none share their information with others. Firebombing the infected zones becomes the elixir of the moment. John returns to Ireland to take a first hand euphoric tour using his biochemist credentials as his visa. Others join his pilgrimage through hell including the terrorist who killed his family.
THE WHITE PLAGUE is an exciting reprint of an early 1980s cautionary tale that seems still relevant with the talks of weapons of mass destruction and the politicizing by the government of scientific research and data. The story line is at its best prior to John coming to Ireland as competition to be the superhero and superpower leads to further failures at a time when international cooperation and teaming are critical. Although the book turns overly philosophical when John and company begin his final victory tour, science fiction thriller readers will appreciate Frank Herbert’s warning in 1982 that government officials will use science for their dogmatic pampering of their supporters; just ask the Surgeon Generals.
Harriet Klausner
Frank Herbert
Tor, Oct 2007, $14.95
ISBN: 9780765317735
American molecular biologist Dr. John O'Neill, accompanied by his wife Mary and their five years old twins Mairead and Kevin, is in Dublin completing his project “An Overview of Irish Genetic Research” as required by the Pastermorn Foundation grant. However, they are only a few days in country when the terrorist bomb killed Mary and the kids as he watched them die and consequently killed his soul too.
John vowed vengeance on humanity for murdering his loved ones as he blames all mankind for their avarice. In his New England lab, he creates THE WHITE PLAGUE that kills women only; for without females there is no human race. Instead of coming together governments go it alone seeking a cure; scientific teams see future history books as each wants to be the Fleming of this age so none share their information with others. Firebombing the infected zones becomes the elixir of the moment. John returns to Ireland to take a first hand euphoric tour using his biochemist credentials as his visa. Others join his pilgrimage through hell including the terrorist who killed his family.
THE WHITE PLAGUE is an exciting reprint of an early 1980s cautionary tale that seems still relevant with the talks of weapons of mass destruction and the politicizing by the government of scientific research and data. The story line is at its best prior to John coming to Ireland as competition to be the superhero and superpower leads to further failures at a time when international cooperation and teaming are critical. Although the book turns overly philosophical when John and company begin his final victory tour, science fiction thriller readers will appreciate Frank Herbert’s warning in 1982 that government officials will use science for their dogmatic pampering of their supporters; just ask the Surgeon Generals.
Harriet Klausner
Nova Swing-M. John Harrison
Nova Swing
M. John Harrison
Bantam, Sep 2007, $16.00
ISBN 9780553385014
Years have passed since pilot Ed Chianese in 2400 AD crashed into the Kefahuchi Tract (see LIGHT) and a piece of the Tract fell to earth leading to a strange alien like phenomena that also brought early capitalism to the locale. Travel agent Vico “Vic” Serotonin escorts affluent “tourists” on illegal tours of the alien Saudade event site, where the universal laws of physics fail. This outlawed zone contains psychic phenomena that are more often unfriendly and other insanely encounters. Vic also runs an artifact smuggling operation. The law knows of both his illegal activities, but since no one has been hurt they ignore him as a small rascal not worth the cost of incarceration.
Wealthy tourist Elizabeth Kielar hires Vic to take her inside the infamous Saudade. Once there, she vanishes. Obsessed over his dead wife and thinking the Saudade might help him with his need, police detective Lens Aschemann abruptly threatens Vic as reverse tourism seems to suddenly flow out of the event site to spend time at the dives surrounding the location. Meanwhile club owner Paulie DeRaad purchases from Vic a Saudade artifact, but once in his possession, the alien object seems to possess him as it begins to change him. All roads to and from Saudade eventually seem to converge on Vic.
This entertaining strange science fiction Noir is not a direct sequel to LIGHT, but a sort of follow-up related but not very closely (think distant relative). The story line retains the grittiness of the previous tale whether it is the dumpy bars and tourist spots that surround the Saudade event site or just the interplay between the classy client and the roguish tour guide. Fans who appreciate something odd and weird in their futuristic tales will want to read NOVA SWING, as few novels are as enjoyable yet bizarre; perhaps not since M. John Harrison shed LIGHT on quantum physics.
Harriet Klausner
M. John Harrison
Bantam, Sep 2007, $16.00
ISBN 9780553385014
Years have passed since pilot Ed Chianese in 2400 AD crashed into the Kefahuchi Tract (see LIGHT) and a piece of the Tract fell to earth leading to a strange alien like phenomena that also brought early capitalism to the locale. Travel agent Vico “Vic” Serotonin escorts affluent “tourists” on illegal tours of the alien Saudade event site, where the universal laws of physics fail. This outlawed zone contains psychic phenomena that are more often unfriendly and other insanely encounters. Vic also runs an artifact smuggling operation. The law knows of both his illegal activities, but since no one has been hurt they ignore him as a small rascal not worth the cost of incarceration.
Wealthy tourist Elizabeth Kielar hires Vic to take her inside the infamous Saudade. Once there, she vanishes. Obsessed over his dead wife and thinking the Saudade might help him with his need, police detective Lens Aschemann abruptly threatens Vic as reverse tourism seems to suddenly flow out of the event site to spend time at the dives surrounding the location. Meanwhile club owner Paulie DeRaad purchases from Vic a Saudade artifact, but once in his possession, the alien object seems to possess him as it begins to change him. All roads to and from Saudade eventually seem to converge on Vic.
This entertaining strange science fiction Noir is not a direct sequel to LIGHT, but a sort of follow-up related but not very closely (think distant relative). The story line retains the grittiness of the previous tale whether it is the dumpy bars and tourist spots that surround the Saudade event site or just the interplay between the classy client and the roguish tour guide. Fans who appreciate something odd and weird in their futuristic tales will want to read NOVA SWING, as few novels are as enjoyable yet bizarre; perhaps not since M. John Harrison shed LIGHT on quantum physics.
Harriet Klausner
Saturday, August 25, 2007
The Last Days of Krypton-Kevin J. Anderson
The Last Days of Krypton
Kevin J. Anderson
Eos, Oct 2007, $25.95
ISBN: 9780061340741
Jor-El is the greatest scientist that Krypton has ever known, but few of his discoveries are approved by Commissioner Dru-Zod of the Commission for Technology Acceptance. The Kryptonian Council is insular and fears new technology could be made into a weapon of mass destruction. Thus society stagnates while space travel is forbidden and other creative theories outlawed using the patriotic rationalization that Krypton is perfect.
When the alien Donodon lands, he and Jor-El become friends from the onset; however an accident happens and the alien dies. The Kryptonian Council blames Jor-El and intends to send him to prison for murder, but Brainiac shrinks the capital city of Kandor taking it with him in a bottle. Zod takes advantage of the power vacuum and the fears of the people to get them to follow his leadership. He uses Jor-El to gain weapons in exchange for scientific research. Jor-El saves the planet from a comet, but his actions make Zod realize the peaceful scientist could be a threat to his plans.
THE LAST DAYS OF KRYPTON is a journey into an advanced but stultified culture in which political agendas stifle science and technology from advancing. The story line focuses on a hero Jor-El who with his wife Lara and brother Zor-El of Argo City put the people’s need before their own. Although the action is somewhat limited by the insight into Krypton society especially Zod’s personal agenda to stifle science from interfering with his plans, fans of Superman will appreciate the interesting look at his biological parents.
Harriet Klausner
Kevin J. Anderson
Eos, Oct 2007, $25.95
ISBN: 9780061340741
Jor-El is the greatest scientist that Krypton has ever known, but few of his discoveries are approved by Commissioner Dru-Zod of the Commission for Technology Acceptance. The Kryptonian Council is insular and fears new technology could be made into a weapon of mass destruction. Thus society stagnates while space travel is forbidden and other creative theories outlawed using the patriotic rationalization that Krypton is perfect.
When the alien Donodon lands, he and Jor-El become friends from the onset; however an accident happens and the alien dies. The Kryptonian Council blames Jor-El and intends to send him to prison for murder, but Brainiac shrinks the capital city of Kandor taking it with him in a bottle. Zod takes advantage of the power vacuum and the fears of the people to get them to follow his leadership. He uses Jor-El to gain weapons in exchange for scientific research. Jor-El saves the planet from a comet, but his actions make Zod realize the peaceful scientist could be a threat to his plans.
THE LAST DAYS OF KRYPTON is a journey into an advanced but stultified culture in which political agendas stifle science and technology from advancing. The story line focuses on a hero Jor-El who with his wife Lara and brother Zor-El of Argo City put the people’s need before their own. Although the action is somewhat limited by the insight into Krypton society especially Zod’s personal agenda to stifle science from interfering with his plans, fans of Superman will appreciate the interesting look at his biological parents.
Harriet Klausner
Friday, August 24, 2007
Lord of the Fading Lands-C L. Wilson
Lord of the Fading Lands
C. L. Wilson
Leisure, Oct 2007, $7.99
ISBN 9780843959772
When his beloved Sariel died in combat Fey king Rain Tairen Soul went berserk and destroyed much of the realm even as his side defeated the evil wizards of Eld. Now a thousand years later he still grieves, but worries that soon his people the fairy will become extinct. Desperate to save his race, Rain ignores the taboo of touching the sacred Eye of Truth in order to learn if there is some way to save his people.
What the Eye showed him after beating the arrogance out of his soul, is a secret. Rain heads a half of continent away to the mortal city of Celieria where apparently resides his lost soul mate, Ellysetta Baristaini, an unacceptable female for their Tairen by the Fey nobles as she is a woodcarver’s daughter. At the same time that Rain begins courting, the wizards of Eld want to use this expendable woman as a pawn to enable them to destroy the Tairen.
LORD OF THE FADING LANDS is an entertaining opening romantic fantasy that will please fans of both genres. As with many epic fantasies, the story line focuses on introducing the key characters and the setting so that action is somewhat limited to the romance and to a degree the plotting of the malevolent wizards. Still C. L. Wilson provides a fascinating tale with a solid premise of a dying race, which will bring plenty of fans to this debut, who also will eagerly look forward to the sequel.
Harriet Klausner
C. L. Wilson
Leisure, Oct 2007, $7.99
ISBN 9780843959772
When his beloved Sariel died in combat Fey king Rain Tairen Soul went berserk and destroyed much of the realm even as his side defeated the evil wizards of Eld. Now a thousand years later he still grieves, but worries that soon his people the fairy will become extinct. Desperate to save his race, Rain ignores the taboo of touching the sacred Eye of Truth in order to learn if there is some way to save his people.
What the Eye showed him after beating the arrogance out of his soul, is a secret. Rain heads a half of continent away to the mortal city of Celieria where apparently resides his lost soul mate, Ellysetta Baristaini, an unacceptable female for their Tairen by the Fey nobles as she is a woodcarver’s daughter. At the same time that Rain begins courting, the wizards of Eld want to use this expendable woman as a pawn to enable them to destroy the Tairen.
LORD OF THE FADING LANDS is an entertaining opening romantic fantasy that will please fans of both genres. As with many epic fantasies, the story line focuses on introducing the key characters and the setting so that action is somewhat limited to the romance and to a degree the plotting of the malevolent wizards. Still C. L. Wilson provides a fascinating tale with a solid premise of a dying race, which will bring plenty of fans to this debut, who also will eagerly look forward to the sequel.
Harriet Klausner
Queen of Candesce-Karl Schroeder
Queen of Candesce
Karl Schroeder
Tor, Aug 2007, $25.95
ISBN: 9780765315441
Venera Fanning is falling into the large artificially contained nothingness of Virga. Finally, after what feels like eternity, she lands on the ancient nation of Spyre, an orb whose cylinder shape is rotting to the point that this planet is doomed.
Venera quickly does what she does best alienate people although she finds a few allies almost as amoral as she is. Trusting no one, she knows she must respond rapidly to determine who can insure her survivability on this strange world even if it means some of her new cohorts are expendable. However, Venera also possesses the Key of Candesce that can change entire worlds, but her prime goal remains to live until she can avenge those who sent her into free fall even as she understands that her first encounter arrival causes a civil war between the status quo and the reformists.
The second Virga science fiction saga (see Sun of Suns) is a terrific thought provoking entry that is loaded with action yet causes the audience to ponder deep philosophical concepts. For instance as the amoral Venera plots vengeance and causes a civil war, readers will consider what is human in light of rebellious artificial intelligence and how human culture evolves around its environment especially the Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome concept for turning Manhattan into airless space.
Harriet Klausner
Karl Schroeder
Tor, Aug 2007, $25.95
ISBN: 9780765315441
Venera Fanning is falling into the large artificially contained nothingness of Virga. Finally, after what feels like eternity, she lands on the ancient nation of Spyre, an orb whose cylinder shape is rotting to the point that this planet is doomed.
Venera quickly does what she does best alienate people although she finds a few allies almost as amoral as she is. Trusting no one, she knows she must respond rapidly to determine who can insure her survivability on this strange world even if it means some of her new cohorts are expendable. However, Venera also possesses the Key of Candesce that can change entire worlds, but her prime goal remains to live until she can avenge those who sent her into free fall even as she understands that her first encounter arrival causes a civil war between the status quo and the reformists.
The second Virga science fiction saga (see Sun of Suns) is a terrific thought provoking entry that is loaded with action yet causes the audience to ponder deep philosophical concepts. For instance as the amoral Venera plots vengeance and causes a civil war, readers will consider what is human in light of rebellious artificial intelligence and how human culture evolves around its environment especially the Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome concept for turning Manhattan into airless space.
Harriet Klausner
Jumper: Griffin’s Story-Steven Gould
Jumper: Griffin’s Story
Steven Gould
Tor, Aug 2007, $24.95
ISBN: 9780765318275
When Griffin was four year old he learned he had the uncanny skill of a Jumper, being able to teleport himself to any place he has been. His parents warned him to keep his ability secret and quickly relocated out of fear. When he turned nine the men arrived at his home in search of him; they killed his parents, but he leaped to safety before the hit men could murder him.
Over the years, Griffin vows to survive long enough to kill those who murdered his parents. Nothing will stop him although he knows he must learn who the planners and financiers behind the operation are. Every one of them must die if he is to avenge his parents’ murders and if he is to survive as his adversaries want him dead.
This is a book based on an upcoming movie based on a book originally written by the same author Steven Gould. Griffin’s story is fun to follow although it has a film feel to it as it jumps from one action scene to another. Still Mr. Gould showcases his talent as readers will empathize with Griffin, whose jumps seem genuine and his obsession for revenge real.
Harriet Klausner
Steven Gould
Tor, Aug 2007, $24.95
ISBN: 9780765318275
When Griffin was four year old he learned he had the uncanny skill of a Jumper, being able to teleport himself to any place he has been. His parents warned him to keep his ability secret and quickly relocated out of fear. When he turned nine the men arrived at his home in search of him; they killed his parents, but he leaped to safety before the hit men could murder him.
Over the years, Griffin vows to survive long enough to kill those who murdered his parents. Nothing will stop him although he knows he must learn who the planners and financiers behind the operation are. Every one of them must die if he is to avenge his parents’ murders and if he is to survive as his adversaries want him dead.
This is a book based on an upcoming movie based on a book originally written by the same author Steven Gould. Griffin’s story is fun to follow although it has a film feel to it as it jumps from one action scene to another. Still Mr. Gould showcases his talent as readers will empathize with Griffin, whose jumps seem genuine and his obsession for revenge real.
Harriet Klausner
V: The Second Generation-Kenneth Johnson
V: The Second Generation
Kenneth Johnson
Tor, Oct 2007, $24.95, 448 pp.
ISBN: 9780765319067
They came to us as saviors, humanoid beings of such intelligence that their technology is given away freely and our water which is so polluted is taken up to their ships to be cleansed. They assured us that they only arrested people who didn’t want to change the status quo. They land nd it is found out, underneath their human faces are the skin of lizards, a carnivorous, aggressive race intent on conquering most of earth’s population., Since the purge of 1998, the remaining humans believe that they are benevolent.
Twenty years later, the visitors are in total control of the planet and the Commandant Diana is still second to the Leader in power. A new second generation rebel force has been formed with cells all over the planet. They need to win back earth but the humans for the most part don’t know there is a problem. This time, humanity has an ally; the Zedtis arrive, three of them with an invasion force waiting for the word to come in full force. They fought the Visitors and won but their insect evolved humanoid race believes they are using earth’s water to power their armies and are going to use earth’s people to fight using a weapon he Visitors developed to neutralize the Zeltis. However humans were burned once by aliens pretending to be friends now the rebels have to know for certain if liberation and freedom from the threat of The Visitors is all the Zedtis really want.
Reading this book is like coming home to anyone who has seen the original television series V. The characters stay true to form with Diana as the evil villainess who has the means and the power to back up her leadership. The various members of the resistance individually are shown to be heroes. The only quibble one might have is the new alien allies insert themselves into the resistance too easily.
Harriet Klausner
Kenneth Johnson
Tor, Oct 2007, $24.95, 448 pp.
ISBN: 9780765319067
They came to us as saviors, humanoid beings of such intelligence that their technology is given away freely and our water which is so polluted is taken up to their ships to be cleansed. They assured us that they only arrested people who didn’t want to change the status quo. They land nd it is found out, underneath their human faces are the skin of lizards, a carnivorous, aggressive race intent on conquering most of earth’s population., Since the purge of 1998, the remaining humans believe that they are benevolent.
Twenty years later, the visitors are in total control of the planet and the Commandant Diana is still second to the Leader in power. A new second generation rebel force has been formed with cells all over the planet. They need to win back earth but the humans for the most part don’t know there is a problem. This time, humanity has an ally; the Zedtis arrive, three of them with an invasion force waiting for the word to come in full force. They fought the Visitors and won but their insect evolved humanoid race believes they are using earth’s water to power their armies and are going to use earth’s people to fight using a weapon he Visitors developed to neutralize the Zeltis. However humans were burned once by aliens pretending to be friends now the rebels have to know for certain if liberation and freedom from the threat of The Visitors is all the Zedtis really want.
Reading this book is like coming home to anyone who has seen the original television series V. The characters stay true to form with Diana as the evil villainess who has the means and the power to back up her leadership. The various members of the resistance individually are shown to be heroes. The only quibble one might have is the new alien allies insert themselves into the resistance too easily.
Harriet Klausner
Clan Daughter-Morgan Howell
Clan Daughter
Morgan Howell
Del Rey, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780345496515
Dar has a strong reason for not loving for the human race; her father sold her into the King’s army and he is not a king who takes female servants when he is needy. After a battle, Dar convinces five orcs to defect Kovak-Mah, who loves her, follows her wherever she goes and where he goes so do the other four orcs..
On the journey to their home in the wasteland part of the Urkhert Mountains , Dar and Kovak-Mah realize they love each other, but he knows their life together is doomed as the Orcs hate humans and only fight for them because their queen, who lives near the human king, orders them to do so. While living with the orcs, Dar partakes in a ceremony in which she is reborn with the spirit of an Orc. Because of this and that she still looks human, she is chosen to talk with the queen, who refuses to allow female orcs to come near her; her objective is to learn why they kill for a human monarch.
The second book of this trilogy (see KING’S PROPERTY) is a fabulous fantasy due mostly to the intricate Orc culture that is vividly described in detail which in turn provides the tale with a seemingly powerful authentic anchor. Dar is a dynamic independent woman who follows her own course when it comes to races and love. Her fiery spirit along with the insightful Orcan lifestyle and some more typical battle scenes make CLAN DAUGHTER an entertaining tale.
Harriet Klausner
Morgan Howell
Del Rey, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780345496515
Dar has a strong reason for not loving for the human race; her father sold her into the King’s army and he is not a king who takes female servants when he is needy. After a battle, Dar convinces five orcs to defect Kovak-Mah, who loves her, follows her wherever she goes and where he goes so do the other four orcs..
On the journey to their home in the wasteland part of the Urkhert Mountains , Dar and Kovak-Mah realize they love each other, but he knows their life together is doomed as the Orcs hate humans and only fight for them because their queen, who lives near the human king, orders them to do so. While living with the orcs, Dar partakes in a ceremony in which she is reborn with the spirit of an Orc. Because of this and that she still looks human, she is chosen to talk with the queen, who refuses to allow female orcs to come near her; her objective is to learn why they kill for a human monarch.
The second book of this trilogy (see KING’S PROPERTY) is a fabulous fantasy due mostly to the intricate Orc culture that is vividly described in detail which in turn provides the tale with a seemingly powerful authentic anchor. Dar is a dynamic independent woman who follows her own course when it comes to races and love. Her fiery spirit along with the insightful Orcan lifestyle and some more typical battle scenes make CLAN DAUGHTER an entertaining tale.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Empire of Ivory-Naomi Novak
Empire of Ivory
Naomi Novak
Del Rey, Oct 2007, $7.99
ISBN: 9780345496874
The war against Napoleon has turned bad for the English forces since a deadly disease has ravaged the dragon corps. Desperate to find a cure before they lose the aerial war, the English leadership learns the elixir may exist in Africa. As abolitionists protest the African slave trade and demand rights for dragons, British captain Will Laurence and his dragon Temeraire lead a band of warriors with the dragons across the Mediterranean to Africa.
However, the Dark wild continent is unwelcoming to the English as the natives know of the slave trade. Local dragons and their human cohorts go into combat mode to drive the English off the continent. Will and Temeraire know they will lose some friends in the skirmishes even as they struggle with their cause as they agree with the Africans that the slave trade is an abomination and dragons deserve rights as sentient beings.
The forth Napoleonic fantasy (see THRONE OF JADE, HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON, and BLACK POWDER WAR) is a fabsulous refreshing entry as Naomi Novik takes her soaring champions to Africa where the English morality is questioned to the point that the heroic duet wonder if they fight for the wrong side. The battle scenes that include dragons at war seem genuine even with the mythos element. Filled with plenty of action, strong characterizations, and a fascinating locale, the key to this superior early nineteenth century epic remains the quest of human (and dragon) rights as the English run the slave trade and are the invaders claiming they bring a superior lifestyle to these uninformed pagans.
Harriet Klausner
Naomi Novak
Del Rey, Oct 2007, $7.99
ISBN: 9780345496874
The war against Napoleon has turned bad for the English forces since a deadly disease has ravaged the dragon corps. Desperate to find a cure before they lose the aerial war, the English leadership learns the elixir may exist in Africa. As abolitionists protest the African slave trade and demand rights for dragons, British captain Will Laurence and his dragon Temeraire lead a band of warriors with the dragons across the Mediterranean to Africa.
However, the Dark wild continent is unwelcoming to the English as the natives know of the slave trade. Local dragons and their human cohorts go into combat mode to drive the English off the continent. Will and Temeraire know they will lose some friends in the skirmishes even as they struggle with their cause as they agree with the Africans that the slave trade is an abomination and dragons deserve rights as sentient beings.
The forth Napoleonic fantasy (see THRONE OF JADE, HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON, and BLACK POWDER WAR) is a fabsulous refreshing entry as Naomi Novik takes her soaring champions to Africa where the English morality is questioned to the point that the heroic duet wonder if they fight for the wrong side. The battle scenes that include dragons at war seem genuine even with the mythos element. Filled with plenty of action, strong characterizations, and a fascinating locale, the key to this superior early nineteenth century epic remains the quest of human (and dragon) rights as the English run the slave trade and are the invaders claiming they bring a superior lifestyle to these uninformed pagans.
Harriet Klausner
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wicked Magic-Cheyenne Mc Cray
Wicked Magic
Cheyenne McCray
St. Martin's, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780312949570
In San Francisco D'Anu witch Rhiannon Castle hides from her coven sisters that the Shadows dwell inside her. She believes these others enabled her to read the mind of the recently freed evil goddess Ceithlenn, who plots to liberate her mate, Balor. Together they plan to destroy the world; however for now Ceithlenn eats human souls to regain her power so that she can free Balor.
Tuatha D'Danann warrior Keir comes to San Francisco Otherworld where he meets Rhiannon and becomes a believer in love at first sight. He wants her and knows she is his soul mate. However, although the D’Anu witch reciprocates his desires, she knows the Shadows could kill him so she tries to keep him at arms’ length and hides what resides inside of her. As the war turns worse for the D’Anu witches and their Tuatha D’Danann warrior allies, Ceithlenn appears on the brink of succeeding in freeing Balor.
The latest Magic tale (see SEDUCED BY MAGIC and FORBIDDEN MAGIC) continues what is some of the best romantic fantasy on the market today. The story line is fast-paced and the lead couple is hot and heroic while the war looks increasingly helpless. Fantasy and romance readers will want to read the newest entry in the McCray mythos as this thriller is pure WICKED MAGIC.
Harriet Klausner
Cheyenne McCray
St. Martin's, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780312949570
In San Francisco D'Anu witch Rhiannon Castle hides from her coven sisters that the Shadows dwell inside her. She believes these others enabled her to read the mind of the recently freed evil goddess Ceithlenn, who plots to liberate her mate, Balor. Together they plan to destroy the world; however for now Ceithlenn eats human souls to regain her power so that she can free Balor.
Tuatha D'Danann warrior Keir comes to San Francisco Otherworld where he meets Rhiannon and becomes a believer in love at first sight. He wants her and knows she is his soul mate. However, although the D’Anu witch reciprocates his desires, she knows the Shadows could kill him so she tries to keep him at arms’ length and hides what resides inside of her. As the war turns worse for the D’Anu witches and their Tuatha D’Danann warrior allies, Ceithlenn appears on the brink of succeeding in freeing Balor.
The latest Magic tale (see SEDUCED BY MAGIC and FORBIDDEN MAGIC) continues what is some of the best romantic fantasy on the market today. The story line is fast-paced and the lead couple is hot and heroic while the war looks increasingly helpless. Fantasy and romance readers will want to read the newest entry in the McCray mythos as this thriller is pure WICKED MAGIC.
Harriet Klausner
The Immortals: The Gathering-Jennifer Ashley
The Immortals: The Gathering
Jennifer Ashley
Love Spell, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780505526885
The missing Immortal brother Hunter is summoned, but ends up caged with a lion on an isolated island. Irate hermit Leda Stowe, a witch, who prefers no contact with Immortals, humans, or her own kind, demands he leave even as she is attracted to her uninvited guest. Hunter wants Leda, but has no time to seduce the bewitching beauty as there is a world to save.
Hunter tries to reconnect with three of his Immortal brothers for what he knows will prove a distasteful war as the enemies are his insane sibling brother Tain, who vanished centuries ago, and his demon master. With Leda at his side along with three of his brothers and their women, and a horde of witches, shapeshifters, and vampires, they go off the fight a more powerful foe.
Book four of this terrific romantic fantasy finishes off the complex tale of good vs. bad with a world at stake. Leda is a unique protagonist who brings freshness to the mix with her disdain of sentient beings although she self loathingly is attracted to the Immortal hunk. Jennifer Ashley who began the Immortals (with CALLING followed by Robin T. Popp’s DARKENING and Joy Nash’s AWAKENING) completes this excellent saga with a mesmerizing ending.
Harriet Klausner
Jennifer Ashley
Love Spell, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780505526885
The missing Immortal brother Hunter is summoned, but ends up caged with a lion on an isolated island. Irate hermit Leda Stowe, a witch, who prefers no contact with Immortals, humans, or her own kind, demands he leave even as she is attracted to her uninvited guest. Hunter wants Leda, but has no time to seduce the bewitching beauty as there is a world to save.
Hunter tries to reconnect with three of his Immortal brothers for what he knows will prove a distasteful war as the enemies are his insane sibling brother Tain, who vanished centuries ago, and his demon master. With Leda at his side along with three of his brothers and their women, and a horde of witches, shapeshifters, and vampires, they go off the fight a more powerful foe.
Book four of this terrific romantic fantasy finishes off the complex tale of good vs. bad with a world at stake. Leda is a unique protagonist who brings freshness to the mix with her disdain of sentient beings although she self loathingly is attracted to the Immortal hunk. Jennifer Ashley who began the Immortals (with CALLING followed by Robin T. Popp’s DARKENING and Joy Nash’s AWAKENING) completes this excellent saga with a mesmerizing ending.
Harriet Klausner
Ha'penny-Jo-Walton
Ha'penny
Jo Walton
Tor, Oct 2007, $25.95
ISBN 9780765318534
In 1941 the Farthing Group negotiated a peace deal with Hitler that gave the Nazis the continent and made Great Britain his ally. Now eight years later, the once proud English democracy is gone replaced by a repressive regime that persecutes minorities and dissidents through violent police state tactics.
However an angry underground insurgency has caused problems for the government; culminating with a bomb exploding on the streets of London. Scotland Yard Inspector Carmichael, whose investigation into the murder of the Farthing group leader Sir James Thirkie has alienated him with the brass and the politicians, is assigned the lead because he is expendable. Pressure mounts once again for him to fix blame on some scapegoat person preferably a homosexual or a group like the Jews rather than find the truth. However as he did in the FARTHING affaire, he keeps digging. What he finds makes no sense as a vast conspiracy consisting of members of the NRA, the House of Lords, the Communist Party, and a number of other activist groups plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and Hitler with hopes of causing a revolution.
Whereas FARTHING is a terrific alternate historical police procedural, HA’PENNY is more of a fabulous alternate historical suspense thriller. Walton’s world is based on the premises that the British hierarchy “exiled” Churchill and avoided war with Hitler by appeasing the Nazis. Once again the conspiracy is over the top, but the investigation is clever as loner Carmichael struggles with the directions the clues take him even as his supervisors question his loyalty. These two tales are must reading for the Harry Turtledove fans who will appreciate another well written 1940s spin.
Jo Walton
Tor, Oct 2007, $25.95
ISBN 9780765318534
In 1941 the Farthing Group negotiated a peace deal with Hitler that gave the Nazis the continent and made Great Britain his ally. Now eight years later, the once proud English democracy is gone replaced by a repressive regime that persecutes minorities and dissidents through violent police state tactics.
However an angry underground insurgency has caused problems for the government; culminating with a bomb exploding on the streets of London. Scotland Yard Inspector Carmichael, whose investigation into the murder of the Farthing group leader Sir James Thirkie has alienated him with the brass and the politicians, is assigned the lead because he is expendable. Pressure mounts once again for him to fix blame on some scapegoat person preferably a homosexual or a group like the Jews rather than find the truth. However as he did in the FARTHING affaire, he keeps digging. What he finds makes no sense as a vast conspiracy consisting of members of the NRA, the House of Lords, the Communist Party, and a number of other activist groups plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and Hitler with hopes of causing a revolution.
Whereas FARTHING is a terrific alternate historical police procedural, HA’PENNY is more of a fabulous alternate historical suspense thriller. Walton’s world is based on the premises that the British hierarchy “exiled” Churchill and avoided war with Hitler by appeasing the Nazis. Once again the conspiracy is over the top, but the investigation is clever as loner Carmichael struggles with the directions the clues take him even as his supervisors question his loyalty. These two tales are must reading for the Harry Turtledove fans who will appreciate another well written 1940s spin.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Bone Man-Vicki Stiefel
The Bone Man
Vicki Stiefel
Leisure, Oct 2007, $7.99, 358 pp.
ISBN 9780843959371
The founder and head of MGAP (Massachusetts Grief Assistance Program), Tally Whyte has left her job since her foster mother, Massachusetts medical examiner Veda Barrow died. Her replacement Addy Morgridge asks her to come in to see an amazing archeological find. An Anasazi pot with a skull in it was found in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. A forensic archeologist Didi Cravitz reconstructed the skull and the face looks exactly like Delphine who owns the Native Arts. Her assistant Zoe says she is on a on a buying trip and doesn’t want to be disturbed.
When Tally goes back to see Didi, she finds her dead lying in a pool of blood. Didi used her last seconds of life to write an incomplete message in her blood on the floor. Nobody else sees the writing a male is in the store gets rough with Tally asking where the fetish is. Tally figures out what Didi started to write with her blood. She gets shot at, attacked, and ends up in the hospital. She realizes to find the answers she has to go to Chaco Canyon where she is shot at, attacked and ends up needing medical attention. She refuses to give up her quest at finding out what everyone wants the fetish partly because it is a treasure but mostly because she doesn’t know why so many people are willing to kill to get it.
This is an amazing thriller with action on almost every page. The paranormal elements fit right into the storyline making it more realistic since Le Pueblo tribes and the Anasazi practice magic. The heroine is strong, independent and sees things nobody else does, things that save her life. She is determined to find out what is going on with the fetish and wouldn’t stop even if it puts her in danger. Vicki Stiefel writes a brilliant psychological thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Vicki Stiefel
Leisure, Oct 2007, $7.99, 358 pp.
ISBN 9780843959371
The founder and head of MGAP (Massachusetts Grief Assistance Program), Tally Whyte has left her job since her foster mother, Massachusetts medical examiner Veda Barrow died. Her replacement Addy Morgridge asks her to come in to see an amazing archeological find. An Anasazi pot with a skull in it was found in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. A forensic archeologist Didi Cravitz reconstructed the skull and the face looks exactly like Delphine who owns the Native Arts. Her assistant Zoe says she is on a on a buying trip and doesn’t want to be disturbed.
When Tally goes back to see Didi, she finds her dead lying in a pool of blood. Didi used her last seconds of life to write an incomplete message in her blood on the floor. Nobody else sees the writing a male is in the store gets rough with Tally asking where the fetish is. Tally figures out what Didi started to write with her blood. She gets shot at, attacked, and ends up in the hospital. She realizes to find the answers she has to go to Chaco Canyon where she is shot at, attacked and ends up needing medical attention. She refuses to give up her quest at finding out what everyone wants the fetish partly because it is a treasure but mostly because she doesn’t know why so many people are willing to kill to get it.
This is an amazing thriller with action on almost every page. The paranormal elements fit right into the storyline making it more realistic since Le Pueblo tribes and the Anasazi practice magic. The heroine is strong, independent and sees things nobody else does, things that save her life. She is determined to find out what is going on with the fetish and wouldn’t stop even if it puts her in danger. Vicki Stiefel writes a brilliant psychological thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Beg For Mercy-Toni Andrews
Beg For Mercy
Toni Andrews
Mira, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780778323655
In the Balboa Peninsular of California, Mercy Hollings believes her skill with the “presses" should be used by her to help other people through positive suggestions. Her plan is to assist people through hypnotherapy as she understands the need of cautiousness when manipulating others as controlling people is unethical and can lead to dangerous unintended consequences.
Mercy and her best friend Sukey have too much to drink. At a bar with Sukey she meets kind eyes Sam Falls. Intoxicated she misuses her gift to "presses" Sukey's odious boyfriend Rocko to behave nicer. However, her misuse has led to a series of steps that places her friends in danger. Meanwhile glib Dominic Dellarosa knows of Mercy’s ability and her error; he also seems to know much about her past. He apparently wants to use her talent for his benefit; if she fails to adhere to his demand, Sukey will be the first to die, but he has angered her and she will show no mercy to anyone who steps inside her circle though Sam willingly takes the risk.
Although Rocko’s annoying dialogue requires a mercy lobotomy, fans will enjoy this fine paranormal thriller. The story line is fast-paced especially when Rocko is off-stage as Mercy knows she crossed the ethics boundary by doing an amoral act even if she can rationalize her manipulation due to imbibing too much. Told mostly in the first person by the heroine, fans will appreciate the dilemma of too much power can at times corrupt the most conscientious ethical person.
Harriet Klausner
Toni Andrews
Mira, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780778323655
In the Balboa Peninsular of California, Mercy Hollings believes her skill with the “presses" should be used by her to help other people through positive suggestions. Her plan is to assist people through hypnotherapy as she understands the need of cautiousness when manipulating others as controlling people is unethical and can lead to dangerous unintended consequences.
Mercy and her best friend Sukey have too much to drink. At a bar with Sukey she meets kind eyes Sam Falls. Intoxicated she misuses her gift to "presses" Sukey's odious boyfriend Rocko to behave nicer. However, her misuse has led to a series of steps that places her friends in danger. Meanwhile glib Dominic Dellarosa knows of Mercy’s ability and her error; he also seems to know much about her past. He apparently wants to use her talent for his benefit; if she fails to adhere to his demand, Sukey will be the first to die, but he has angered her and she will show no mercy to anyone who steps inside her circle though Sam willingly takes the risk.
Although Rocko’s annoying dialogue requires a mercy lobotomy, fans will enjoy this fine paranormal thriller. The story line is fast-paced especially when Rocko is off-stage as Mercy knows she crossed the ethics boundary by doing an amoral act even if she can rationalize her manipulation due to imbibing too much. Told mostly in the first person by the heroine, fans will appreciate the dilemma of too much power can at times corrupt the most conscientious ethical person.
Harriet Klausner
The Vampire Shrink-Lynda Hilburn
The Vampire Shrink
Lynda Hilburn
Medallion, Oct 2007, $15.95
ISBN: 9781933836232
In Denver, the patient insists her name is Midnight and that she is friends to vampires especially the charismatic eight century old handsome master Devereux. Dr. Kismet Knight assumes she is dealing with a new form of psychosis as Midnight is extremely graphic in describing the underground vampirism lair as if a society of undead lives without humans knowing it.
To her shock, Devereux arrives at Kismet’s office claiming to be a vampire. Hiding her disbelief behind her professional visage, Kismet thinks it is too bad he is a nut because he is a sexy hunk. Devereux begins to show her his strange powers leaving Kismet to begin to believe in vampires. After a client arrives at her office almost totally drained of blood, FBI Special Agent Alan Stevens, who works the vampire beat, questions Kismet. As Devereux binds her to him insisting she is his kismet, Alan tries to bind her to him through the power of love. Confused, Kismet is not sure who to trust even as someone, perhaps one of the two males claiming she is their destiny, tries to kill her.
Kismet Knight’s conversion from cynic to believer makes for a fun paranormal thriller as the heroine becomes the VAMPIRE SHRINK. Readers will understand her transformation from scorning skeptic with dreams of fame and fortune to psychologist to vampires as the story line is told in the first person mostly from Kismet’s perspective. Adding to the satirical entertainment is the odd romantic triangle between the Fed, the vampire master, and the shrink. Lynda Hilburn writes an enjoyable biting frolic that will turn skeptical readers into true believers of her talent.
Harriet Klausner
Lynda Hilburn
Medallion, Oct 2007, $15.95
ISBN: 9781933836232
In Denver, the patient insists her name is Midnight and that she is friends to vampires especially the charismatic eight century old handsome master Devereux. Dr. Kismet Knight assumes she is dealing with a new form of psychosis as Midnight is extremely graphic in describing the underground vampirism lair as if a society of undead lives without humans knowing it.
To her shock, Devereux arrives at Kismet’s office claiming to be a vampire. Hiding her disbelief behind her professional visage, Kismet thinks it is too bad he is a nut because he is a sexy hunk. Devereux begins to show her his strange powers leaving Kismet to begin to believe in vampires. After a client arrives at her office almost totally drained of blood, FBI Special Agent Alan Stevens, who works the vampire beat, questions Kismet. As Devereux binds her to him insisting she is his kismet, Alan tries to bind her to him through the power of love. Confused, Kismet is not sure who to trust even as someone, perhaps one of the two males claiming she is their destiny, tries to kill her.
Kismet Knight’s conversion from cynic to believer makes for a fun paranormal thriller as the heroine becomes the VAMPIRE SHRINK. Readers will understand her transformation from scorning skeptic with dreams of fame and fortune to psychologist to vampires as the story line is told in the first person mostly from Kismet’s perspective. Adding to the satirical entertainment is the odd romantic triangle between the Fed, the vampire master, and the shrink. Lynda Hilburn writes an enjoyable biting frolic that will turn skeptical readers into true believers of her talent.
Harriet Klausner
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Betrayed-P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast
Betrayed
P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast
St. Martin’s Griffin, Oct 2007, $8.95
ISBN: 9780312360283
When Zoey Redbird was MARKED by the vampyre goddess Nyx, it was known that she would turn into a vampyre or die while being at the House of Night, a school and home for fledglings who need to be with their own kind and away from humans. However Zoey is not a normal fledgling because unlike her so called peers she has aMark yhat is filled in and an affinity for all elementals.
Thank to her mentor The High Priestess, Zoe is the new leader of the Dark Daughters and the enemy of Aphrodite and her clique who tortured others and called up vampiric ghosts. High school football players that Zoe knew when she was human are found dead. When her former boyfriend Heath, whom she still cares about in spite of her Changing into a vampyre turns up missing, Zoe vows to go to hell to find and rescue him and save her school from the murderous invaders. Instead she is captured by the killers due to a betrayal by someone she trusts.
Although this is classified as teen fiction, adults will enjoy this just like we do the works of André Norton. The mother-daughter author team casts a spell on readers in which vampires are accepted as a real species by humans. In some ways Zoe is a teenage Anita Blake before experience made the latter wary of sentient beings. The story line is fast-paced with a bit of an amateur sleuth mystery solved the hard way: being captured as Zoey fights for her freedom and being true to her school.
Harriet Klausner
P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast
St. Martin’s Griffin, Oct 2007, $8.95
ISBN: 9780312360283
When Zoey Redbird was MARKED by the vampyre goddess Nyx, it was known that she would turn into a vampyre or die while being at the House of Night, a school and home for fledglings who need to be with their own kind and away from humans. However Zoey is not a normal fledgling because unlike her so called peers she has aMark yhat is filled in and an affinity for all elementals.
Thank to her mentor The High Priestess, Zoe is the new leader of the Dark Daughters and the enemy of Aphrodite and her clique who tortured others and called up vampiric ghosts. High school football players that Zoe knew when she was human are found dead. When her former boyfriend Heath, whom she still cares about in spite of her Changing into a vampyre turns up missing, Zoe vows to go to hell to find and rescue him and save her school from the murderous invaders. Instead she is captured by the killers due to a betrayal by someone she trusts.
Although this is classified as teen fiction, adults will enjoy this just like we do the works of André Norton. The mother-daughter author team casts a spell on readers in which vampires are accepted as a real species by humans. In some ways Zoe is a teenage Anita Blake before experience made the latter wary of sentient beings. The story line is fast-paced with a bit of an amateur sleuth mystery solved the hard way: being captured as Zoey fights for her freedom and being true to her school.
Harriet Klausner
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Prophecy-Hilari Bell
The Prophecy
Hilari Bell
Eos, Sep 2007, $6.50
ISBN: 9780060599454
The dragon has devastated Kingdom of Idris, destroying the land and terrorizing its people. For five years young scholar Prince Perryndon has searched the enormous castle’s library seeking a means to slay the dragon. Finally when he turns fourteen, Perryndon believes he has found the solution in an ancient prophecy. His father the king pays no attention to his scholarly teenage offspring as the royal ruler thinks that a master swordsman to fight the Norsemen and the dragon is what is needed and not a physically pathetic bookworm.
Although he is hurt by his sire’s disdain for him, the courageous Perryndon seeks to save the kingdom so he turns to the magical Mirror of Idris where he learns that Cedric the master of arms, the Norsemen, and the dragon are in cahoots. Unlike his liege, Cedric recognizes the threat posed by Perryndon and plans to kill him. Perryndon realizes he must leave his home in search of the elements that make up the prophecy. He seeks a bard, a unicorn and the Sword of Samhain while his adversaries want him dead before he fulfills his quest of killing the dragon
This entertaining coming of age quest fantasy hooks the audience from the opening sequence when preteen readers meet the young hero and never slows down as he tries to save the kingdom. Perryndon is a terrific yet uncommon hero as he is totally a scholar rather than a warrior, which is why his sire is disappointed in him. Hilari Bell provides a fun tale as her intrepid teen attempts to fulfill THE PROPHECY while his foes try to kill him.
Harriet Klausner
Hilari Bell
Eos, Sep 2007, $6.50
ISBN: 9780060599454
The dragon has devastated Kingdom of Idris, destroying the land and terrorizing its people. For five years young scholar Prince Perryndon has searched the enormous castle’s library seeking a means to slay the dragon. Finally when he turns fourteen, Perryndon believes he has found the solution in an ancient prophecy. His father the king pays no attention to his scholarly teenage offspring as the royal ruler thinks that a master swordsman to fight the Norsemen and the dragon is what is needed and not a physically pathetic bookworm.
Although he is hurt by his sire’s disdain for him, the courageous Perryndon seeks to save the kingdom so he turns to the magical Mirror of Idris where he learns that Cedric the master of arms, the Norsemen, and the dragon are in cahoots. Unlike his liege, Cedric recognizes the threat posed by Perryndon and plans to kill him. Perryndon realizes he must leave his home in search of the elements that make up the prophecy. He seeks a bard, a unicorn and the Sword of Samhain while his adversaries want him dead before he fulfills his quest of killing the dragon
This entertaining coming of age quest fantasy hooks the audience from the opening sequence when preteen readers meet the young hero and never slows down as he tries to save the kingdom. Perryndon is a terrific yet uncommon hero as he is totally a scholar rather than a warrior, which is why his sire is disappointed in him. Hilari Bell provides a fun tale as her intrepid teen attempts to fulfill THE PROPHECY while his foes try to kill him.
Harriet Klausner
The Last Knight-Hilari Bell
The Last Knight
Hilari Bell
Eos, Aug 28 2007, $16.99
ISBN: 9780060825034
Two centuries have past since the vocation of heroic knight errant became extinct. Yet the younger son of an aristocrat, Sir Michael Sevenson decides that he will revise the noble profession doing daring good deeds. Of course like the knights of yore, Michael needs a loyal squire so he goes to the only place he might find such a person; the jail. Con artist Fisk is given the choice of spending a long time as the guest of the kingdom or becoming Michael's squire. Although having a square meal and a cot sound appetizing, Fisk reluctantly agrees to assist Michael on his adventures to right the wrong and protect the innocent.
The daring duo succeed on their first caper freeing Lady Ceciel from incarceration in a tower. As they celebrate their success, they learn she was allowed to remain in comfort rather than a dungeon while standing trial for murdering her husband; they are informed by authorities to right their wrong by returning the Poisoner to them or replace her.
This tongue in cheek medieval saga rotates perspective between the knight and his squire so that the audience sees the same event from two totally opposite viewpoints (a delight for historiographers as to what a fact is and what is tainted by bias). Whereas Michael believes the glass is half filled; Fisk would slice off the top empty part and claim the glass is filled. Targeting middle school children, adults will appreciate the amusing adventures of THE LAST KNIGHT.
Harriet Klausner
Hilari Bell
Eos, Aug 28 2007, $16.99
ISBN: 9780060825034
Two centuries have past since the vocation of heroic knight errant became extinct. Yet the younger son of an aristocrat, Sir Michael Sevenson decides that he will revise the noble profession doing daring good deeds. Of course like the knights of yore, Michael needs a loyal squire so he goes to the only place he might find such a person; the jail. Con artist Fisk is given the choice of spending a long time as the guest of the kingdom or becoming Michael's squire. Although having a square meal and a cot sound appetizing, Fisk reluctantly agrees to assist Michael on his adventures to right the wrong and protect the innocent.
The daring duo succeed on their first caper freeing Lady Ceciel from incarceration in a tower. As they celebrate their success, they learn she was allowed to remain in comfort rather than a dungeon while standing trial for murdering her husband; they are informed by authorities to right their wrong by returning the Poisoner to them or replace her.
This tongue in cheek medieval saga rotates perspective between the knight and his squire so that the audience sees the same event from two totally opposite viewpoints (a delight for historiographers as to what a fact is and what is tainted by bias). Whereas Michael believes the glass is half filled; Fisk would slice off the top empty part and claim the glass is filled. Targeting middle school children, adults will appreciate the amusing adventures of THE LAST KNIGHT.
Harriet Klausner
Lord of the Fading Lands-C L. Wilson
Lord of the Fading Lands
C. L. Wilson
Leisure, Oct 2007, $7.99
ISBN 9780843959772
When his beloved Sariel died in combat Fey king Rain Tairen Soul went berserk and destroyed much of the realm even as his side defeated the evil wizards of Eld. Now a thousand years later he still grieves, but worries that soon his people the fairy will become extinct. Desperate to save his race, Rain ignores the taboo of touching the sacred Eye of Truth in order to learn if there is some way to save his people.
What the Eye showed him after beating the arrogance out of his soul, is a secret. Rain heads a half of continent away to the mortal city of Celieria where apparently resides his lost soul mate, Ellysetta Baristaini, an unacceptable female for their Tairen by the Fey nobles as she is a woodcarver’s daughter. At the same time that Rain begins courting, the wizards of Eld want to use this expendable woman as a pawn to enable them to destroy the Tairen.
LORD OF THE FADING LANDS is an entertaining opening romantic fantasy that will please fans of both genres. As with many epic fantasies, the story line focuses on introducing the key characters and the setting so that action is somewhat limited to the romance and to a degree the plotting of the malevolent wizards. Still C. L. Wilson provides a fascinating tale with a solid premise of a dying race, which will bring plenty of fans to this debut, who also will eagerly look forward to the sequel.
Harriet Klausner
C. L. Wilson
Leisure, Oct 2007, $7.99
ISBN 9780843959772
When his beloved Sariel died in combat Fey king Rain Tairen Soul went berserk and destroyed much of the realm even as his side defeated the evil wizards of Eld. Now a thousand years later he still grieves, but worries that soon his people the fairy will become extinct. Desperate to save his race, Rain ignores the taboo of touching the sacred Eye of Truth in order to learn if there is some way to save his people.
What the Eye showed him after beating the arrogance out of his soul, is a secret. Rain heads a half of continent away to the mortal city of Celieria where apparently resides his lost soul mate, Ellysetta Baristaini, an unacceptable female for their Tairen by the Fey nobles as she is a woodcarver’s daughter. At the same time that Rain begins courting, the wizards of Eld want to use this expendable woman as a pawn to enable them to destroy the Tairen.
LORD OF THE FADING LANDS is an entertaining opening romantic fantasy that will please fans of both genres. As with many epic fantasies, the story line focuses on introducing the key characters and the setting so that action is somewhat limited to the romance and to a degree the plotting of the malevolent wizards. Still C. L. Wilson provides a fascinating tale with a solid premise of a dying race, which will bring plenty of fans to this debut, who also will eagerly look forward to the sequel.
Harriet Klausner
Halting State -Charles Srross
Halting State
Charles Stross
Ace, Oct 2007, $24.95
ISBN 9780441014989
In 2012 China, India and Europe battle to become the world’s economic superpower due to the continuation of Bush economic policies. The United States faces federal bankruptcy as the debt can no longer be covered by foreign borrowing and no leader has the guts to raise taxes and cut spending.
In England, Edinburgh Police Sergeant Sue Smith and London based forensic accountant Elaine Barnaby are looking at a complex convoluted scheme to abscond funds from the international company Hayek Associates. The unknown crook cleverly moves money through a virtual reality allegedly safe bank Avalon Four. Elaine realizes she needs a special programmer who can hack any system, but is too stupid to be more than a basement mushroom. She picks Jack Reed to catch a thief.
This is a terrific science fiction thriller that paints a potentially realistic nightmare of the near future as the Bush legacy will prove to be an economic and technological wasteland. The fun in this delightful one sitting tale (in spite of it being 352 pages) is with the virtual world filled with fantasy species that irritate users. Effortlessly changing viewpoints between the lead trio so that readers observe the same issue from differing biases, HALTING STATE is a fabulous cautionary tale that warn s if we fail to act now, the American century will become real only in virtual reality fantasy games.
Harriet Klausner
Charles Stross
Ace, Oct 2007, $24.95
ISBN 9780441014989
In 2012 China, India and Europe battle to become the world’s economic superpower due to the continuation of Bush economic policies. The United States faces federal bankruptcy as the debt can no longer be covered by foreign borrowing and no leader has the guts to raise taxes and cut spending.
In England, Edinburgh Police Sergeant Sue Smith and London based forensic accountant Elaine Barnaby are looking at a complex convoluted scheme to abscond funds from the international company Hayek Associates. The unknown crook cleverly moves money through a virtual reality allegedly safe bank Avalon Four. Elaine realizes she needs a special programmer who can hack any system, but is too stupid to be more than a basement mushroom. She picks Jack Reed to catch a thief.
This is a terrific science fiction thriller that paints a potentially realistic nightmare of the near future as the Bush legacy will prove to be an economic and technological wasteland. The fun in this delightful one sitting tale (in spite of it being 352 pages) is with the virtual world filled with fantasy species that irritate users. Effortlessly changing viewpoints between the lead trio so that readers observe the same issue from differing biases, HALTING STATE is a fabulous cautionary tale that warn s if we fail to act now, the American century will become real only in virtual reality fantasy games.
Harriet Klausner
A Companion of Wolves-Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear
A Companion of Wolves
Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear
Tor, Oct 2007, $29.95
ISBN: 9780765318169
Wolfcarls are men who fight the trolls and wyvern when they come down from the north and are telepathically bonded with their warrior wolves. There has not been a major Troll excursion in almost a century so the ranks of men and wolves are below full strength. They live apart from the community as the wolfhealls and the males must bond.
Njall is picked as part of this year’s tithe, an honor that makes him defy his father who orders him not to go. He bonds with konigenwolf Viradechtis, an alpha who will grow up to lead her own wolfheall along side of Njall, now called Isolfr. He learns what it means to be a wolfcarl, as major aspects of his life has changed, but his love for his wolf makes him feel it is worth any hardship. However, the trolls invade the land, killing all who stand in the way of their horde. Isolfr and Viradechtis risk their lives to stop the raiders, but will fail unless a recluse who wants no part of them helps; and even then they may still lose.
This collaboration between two greats has led to a fascinating and unusual fantasy. Although the story line follows much of the usual coming of age quest saga, the plot goes much deeper especially into the relationship between the wolfcarl and his wolf than most Scandinavian mythos based tales; thus the audience learns how wolf society works. Not for the squeamish. A COMPANION OF WOLVES is a delightful sexually graphic (running the gamut) save the realm fantasy similar in some ways to Andre Norton’s works.,
Harriet Klausner
Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear
Tor, Oct 2007, $29.95
ISBN: 9780765318169
Wolfcarls are men who fight the trolls and wyvern when they come down from the north and are telepathically bonded with their warrior wolves. There has not been a major Troll excursion in almost a century so the ranks of men and wolves are below full strength. They live apart from the community as the wolfhealls and the males must bond.
Njall is picked as part of this year’s tithe, an honor that makes him defy his father who orders him not to go. He bonds with konigenwolf Viradechtis, an alpha who will grow up to lead her own wolfheall along side of Njall, now called Isolfr. He learns what it means to be a wolfcarl, as major aspects of his life has changed, but his love for his wolf makes him feel it is worth any hardship. However, the trolls invade the land, killing all who stand in the way of their horde. Isolfr and Viradechtis risk their lives to stop the raiders, but will fail unless a recluse who wants no part of them helps; and even then they may still lose.
This collaboration between two greats has led to a fascinating and unusual fantasy. Although the story line follows much of the usual coming of age quest saga, the plot goes much deeper especially into the relationship between the wolfcarl and his wolf than most Scandinavian mythos based tales; thus the audience learns how wolf society works. Not for the squeamish. A COMPANION OF WOLVES is a delightful sexually graphic (running the gamut) save the realm fantasy similar in some ways to Andre Norton’s works.,
Harriet Klausner
Friday, August 17, 2007
A Lost Touch of Innocence-Amy Tolnitch
A Lost Touch of Innocence
Amy Tolnitch
Medallion, Sep 2007, $7.95
ISBN 9781933836096
He knew he should not, but could not prevent himself from touching the compelling crystal. By doing so Piers Veuxfort lives everyday in hell on earth. His gentle rub released the essence of the evil Fin Man, previously trapped inside the crystal. Now the Fin Man resides inside of Piers.
Giselle St. Germain was to be a nun, but the abbess of Kerwick Abbey learned of her “sight” and condemned her as a satanic abomination; she was tossed out of the nunnery that she lived in for thirteen years after allegedly causing Sister Anne’s choking. Her exile is complete with the knowledge she suddenly is betrothed to a stranger. She arrives at Falcon’s Craig Castle to marry Piers. He fears for her as he is losing the control battle to the dark malevolence growing side him. She wonders how a man can be so devilish yet be so attractive. Hiding behind her pietistic upbringing by the nuns, Giselle thinks of fleeing but has no place to go; besides she soon feels God sent her here to help Piers exorcize his demon as love binds these two troubled souls.
The sequel to A LOST TOUCH OF BLISS is an entertaining medieval paranormal romance starring an interesting lead male with two intelligences battling to control his body and the innocent woman who completes the demonic triangle. Piers is a fascinating protagonist as he literally battles with an inner demon for control of his body and soul. Although Giselle adapts to life out of the abbey too easily, she risks her soul to help the man she loves win the war against the malevolent Fin Man. Sub-genre fans will enjoy Amy Tolnitch’s latest Veuxfort thriller in which hearts and souls are on the line.
Harriet Klausner
Amy Tolnitch
Medallion, Sep 2007, $7.95
ISBN 9781933836096
He knew he should not, but could not prevent himself from touching the compelling crystal. By doing so Piers Veuxfort lives everyday in hell on earth. His gentle rub released the essence of the evil Fin Man, previously trapped inside the crystal. Now the Fin Man resides inside of Piers.
Giselle St. Germain was to be a nun, but the abbess of Kerwick Abbey learned of her “sight” and condemned her as a satanic abomination; she was tossed out of the nunnery that she lived in for thirteen years after allegedly causing Sister Anne’s choking. Her exile is complete with the knowledge she suddenly is betrothed to a stranger. She arrives at Falcon’s Craig Castle to marry Piers. He fears for her as he is losing the control battle to the dark malevolence growing side him. She wonders how a man can be so devilish yet be so attractive. Hiding behind her pietistic upbringing by the nuns, Giselle thinks of fleeing but has no place to go; besides she soon feels God sent her here to help Piers exorcize his demon as love binds these two troubled souls.
The sequel to A LOST TOUCH OF BLISS is an entertaining medieval paranormal romance starring an interesting lead male with two intelligences battling to control his body and the innocent woman who completes the demonic triangle. Piers is a fascinating protagonist as he literally battles with an inner demon for control of his body and soul. Although Giselle adapts to life out of the abbey too easily, she risks her soul to help the man she loves win the war against the malevolent Fin Man. Sub-genre fans will enjoy Amy Tolnitch’s latest Veuxfort thriller in which hearts and souls are on the line.
Harriet Klausner
The Restorer’s Son-Sharon Hinck
The Restorer’s Son
Sharon Hinck
NAVPRESS, Oct 2007, $14.99
ISBN: 9781600061325
At the battle of Morsel Plains, the Children of the Verses defeated the Hazer army with the help of the Restorer Susan Mitchell, who came from earth to the world of her husband Mark via a portal in their attic (see THE RESTORER). When the couple returns to earth, they learn their son Jake also went through the portal so they go back to retrieve him. Susan is no longer the Restorer as that mantle and associated responsibility has passed on to Kieran, who refuses to perform the role.
Kieran and Jake meet when the former flees from the attacks of Kahlarian assassins. They travel together to the capital city of Lyric where Councilman Cameron tricks Kieran so that he looks like a traitor. They escape and Jake is left with the Braide Wood clan while the banished Kieran travels to Hazer. He fights against doing the bidding of the One until he finally accepts his fate. Eventually the new restorer, Jake, and his parents meet up just as hostilities seem imminent between Hazor and Lyric.
This enchanting fantasy is filled with plenty of action, political intrigue, sublime religious overtones that fit nicely into the storyline and exciting battle scenes. Susan’s role has changed from when she was the Restorer as now she introduces the readers to her replacement. Having Kieran become the Restorer is ironic as he refused to be touched by the One’s love. Hick’s world is an interesting place in which the Creator shows his power in everyday life; the description of this orb is so vividly alive, readers will check their passports to see the stamp. Fans of Karen Hancock will enjoy the entertaining RESTORER’S SON.
Harriet Klausner
Sharon Hinck
NAVPRESS, Oct 2007, $14.99
ISBN: 9781600061325
At the battle of Morsel Plains, the Children of the Verses defeated the Hazer army with the help of the Restorer Susan Mitchell, who came from earth to the world of her husband Mark via a portal in their attic (see THE RESTORER). When the couple returns to earth, they learn their son Jake also went through the portal so they go back to retrieve him. Susan is no longer the Restorer as that mantle and associated responsibility has passed on to Kieran, who refuses to perform the role.
Kieran and Jake meet when the former flees from the attacks of Kahlarian assassins. They travel together to the capital city of Lyric where Councilman Cameron tricks Kieran so that he looks like a traitor. They escape and Jake is left with the Braide Wood clan while the banished Kieran travels to Hazer. He fights against doing the bidding of the One until he finally accepts his fate. Eventually the new restorer, Jake, and his parents meet up just as hostilities seem imminent between Hazor and Lyric.
This enchanting fantasy is filled with plenty of action, political intrigue, sublime religious overtones that fit nicely into the storyline and exciting battle scenes. Susan’s role has changed from when she was the Restorer as now she introduces the readers to her replacement. Having Kieran become the Restorer is ironic as he refused to be touched by the One’s love. Hick’s world is an interesting place in which the Creator shows his power in everyday life; the description of this orb is so vividly alive, readers will check their passports to see the stamp. Fans of Karen Hancock will enjoy the entertaining RESTORER’S SON.
Harriet Klausner
Cybermancy-Kelly McCollough
Cybermancy
Kelly McCullough
Ace, Oct 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780441015382
Necessity created the magical web (mweb) in order to interconnect the infinite worlds of the multiverse as a means to keep chaos under control. Sorcerer Prince Ravirn of the house of Fate was chosen as the web administrator because of his superior hacker skills. However, as is his way, alienates his three great-aunts, the Fates (Clothos, Atropros, and Lachesis). Actually it was Lachesis who exiled her nephew and his best friend webgoblin-laptop Melchior from the family; while Clothos renamed him Raven of chaos.
Ravirn’s (Don’t call me Raven) girlfriend Cerice mourns the death of her webpixie-PDA Shara, who died saving her mistress; life. Making her grief insurmountable and driving Raven crazy is that Shara the PDA contained Cerice’s doctorate in Computer Science. Thus her paper is on the other side of the River Styx with no way of retrieving it without trickery. Ravirn has a plan to fool his poker buddy Cerberus, the guardian of the underworld and hack into Lucifer’s database to retrieve Shara. Ravirn succeeds, but the outcome proves different than he imagined. Instead of kisses, he finds the mweb is falling apart as if a worm is eating away one byte at a time and Lucifer is madder than hell that someone hacked into his computer. As his great-aunts predicted Ravirn has brought chaos into order and they fear that even worse he plans to fix his mistakes by deleting and rebooting the multiverse.
This zany mixing of computer technology with mythology is a cleverly designed satire in which the audience will have a great time following the antics of Ravirn in the mythological information age. The amusing story line spoofs American top secret paranoia as Ravirn hacks into Lucifer’s protected database and abducts Shara from the other side while correcting his miscues with greater errors. Readers who appreciate something different will want to read this enjoyable insane sequel to the as much fun and crazy WEBMAGE.
Harriet Klausner
Kelly McCullough
Ace, Oct 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780441015382
Necessity created the magical web (mweb) in order to interconnect the infinite worlds of the multiverse as a means to keep chaos under control. Sorcerer Prince Ravirn of the house of Fate was chosen as the web administrator because of his superior hacker skills. However, as is his way, alienates his three great-aunts, the Fates (Clothos, Atropros, and Lachesis). Actually it was Lachesis who exiled her nephew and his best friend webgoblin-laptop Melchior from the family; while Clothos renamed him Raven of chaos.
Ravirn’s (Don’t call me Raven) girlfriend Cerice mourns the death of her webpixie-PDA Shara, who died saving her mistress; life. Making her grief insurmountable and driving Raven crazy is that Shara the PDA contained Cerice’s doctorate in Computer Science. Thus her paper is on the other side of the River Styx with no way of retrieving it without trickery. Ravirn has a plan to fool his poker buddy Cerberus, the guardian of the underworld and hack into Lucifer’s database to retrieve Shara. Ravirn succeeds, but the outcome proves different than he imagined. Instead of kisses, he finds the mweb is falling apart as if a worm is eating away one byte at a time and Lucifer is madder than hell that someone hacked into his computer. As his great-aunts predicted Ravirn has brought chaos into order and they fear that even worse he plans to fix his mistakes by deleting and rebooting the multiverse.
This zany mixing of computer technology with mythology is a cleverly designed satire in which the audience will have a great time following the antics of Ravirn in the mythological information age. The amusing story line spoofs American top secret paranoia as Ravirn hacks into Lucifer’s protected database and abducts Shara from the other side while correcting his miscues with greater errors. Readers who appreciate something different will want to read this enjoyable insane sequel to the as much fun and crazy WEBMAGE.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Primal Desires-Susan Sizemore
Primal Desires
Susan Sizemore
Pocket, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9781416513360
Sofia Hunyara is stunned to learn her cousin Cathy has been kidnapped. She learns the abductors belong to a werewolf pack planning to control all were and vampire groups. Sofia vows to use the skills she has all but ignored to rescue her relative.
In Las Vegas Prime Vampire Jason “Beast Master” Cage works closely with wolves as he puts on quite a stage show filled with magic that the audience assumes are master illusions; he knows that he hides his full skills from those paying to see his performance. When he meets Sofia he is shocked as she is his soulmate although she is werewolf. When she explains her mission is to save Cathy, Jason agrees to assist her as he needs to insure his beloved stays safe. However, he also knows they will need a combined horde from both their species especially her Wolf Tamer family to defeat the rogues holding Cathy hostage.
PRIMAL DESIRES is a superb paranormal romantic suspense thriller in which sensational Susan Sizemore makes believers of her audience that vampires and werewolves exist at least in the Sizemore universe. The story line is fast-paced with seat belts required, but it is the changing relationship between the Beast Master and Sofia as they team up to try to rescue Cathy that makes this a must read for sub-genre fans.
Harriet Klausner
Susan Sizemore
Pocket, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9781416513360
Sofia Hunyara is stunned to learn her cousin Cathy has been kidnapped. She learns the abductors belong to a werewolf pack planning to control all were and vampire groups. Sofia vows to use the skills she has all but ignored to rescue her relative.
In Las Vegas Prime Vampire Jason “Beast Master” Cage works closely with wolves as he puts on quite a stage show filled with magic that the audience assumes are master illusions; he knows that he hides his full skills from those paying to see his performance. When he meets Sofia he is shocked as she is his soulmate although she is werewolf. When she explains her mission is to save Cathy, Jason agrees to assist her as he needs to insure his beloved stays safe. However, he also knows they will need a combined horde from both their species especially her Wolf Tamer family to defeat the rogues holding Cathy hostage.
PRIMAL DESIRES is a superb paranormal romantic suspense thriller in which sensational Susan Sizemore makes believers of her audience that vampires and werewolves exist at least in the Sizemore universe. The story line is fast-paced with seat belts required, but it is the changing relationship between the Beast Master and Sofia as they team up to try to rescue Cathy that makes this a must read for sub-genre fans.
Harriet Klausner
Real Vamps Don't Drink O-Neg-Tawny Taylor
Real Vamps Don't Drink O-Neg
Tawny Taylor
Kensington, Sep 2007, $12.95
ISBN: 9780758215093
Ironically paranormal researcher Sophie Hahn is skeptical that the paranormal exists as she has found no hardcore supporting data to affirm ghosts, werewolves and other supernatural creatures exist. However, she learns the hard way that her disbelief is false when she investigates her best friend Dao’s strange illness. Sophie has discovered that vampires exist because Dao’s new spouse is of that species and though she loves him, she is a black widow killing her mate.
College professor and vampire Ric Vogel learns of Sophie’s discovery and recruits her to help him find two ancient relics that he believes will save Dao’s life and his species. As they work together, Sophie and Ric fall in love, but if they are not careful she could be conducting her research in the afterlife
REAL VAMPS DON'T DRINK O-NEG is an entertaining erotic vampire romantic thriller starring two likable protagonists who readers will root for as a team and to defeat the villain. The story line is fast-paced from the first moment Sophie and Ric meet and never slows down until the last blood drips. Although the ending seems anemic, fans will appreciate this fun tale as the good guys battle against the evil doers in between plenty of sexual interludes.
Harriet Klausner
Tawny Taylor
Kensington, Sep 2007, $12.95
ISBN: 9780758215093
Ironically paranormal researcher Sophie Hahn is skeptical that the paranormal exists as she has found no hardcore supporting data to affirm ghosts, werewolves and other supernatural creatures exist. However, she learns the hard way that her disbelief is false when she investigates her best friend Dao’s strange illness. Sophie has discovered that vampires exist because Dao’s new spouse is of that species and though she loves him, she is a black widow killing her mate.
College professor and vampire Ric Vogel learns of Sophie’s discovery and recruits her to help him find two ancient relics that he believes will save Dao’s life and his species. As they work together, Sophie and Ric fall in love, but if they are not careful she could be conducting her research in the afterlife
REAL VAMPS DON'T DRINK O-NEG is an entertaining erotic vampire romantic thriller starring two likable protagonists who readers will root for as a team and to defeat the villain. The story line is fast-paced from the first moment Sophie and Ric meet and never slows down until the last blood drips. Although the ending seems anemic, fans will appreciate this fun tale as the good guys battle against the evil doers in between plenty of sexual interludes.
Harriet Klausner
Euryale-Kara Dalkey
Euryale
Kara Dalkey
Juno, Jun 2007, $12.95
ISBN: 9780809557837
In Ancient Rome, Praetor Scipio Hispallus wants fame more than power, but what little he has of both is threatened by Daedalus the slave he freed. Daedalus intimates to his former owner that he will reveal to all of Rome that Hispallus’ estranged wife belongs to the banned sect of Bacchus, god of wine and fertility unless he funds the building of an ostentatious bridge. Hispallus panics as he lacks the money needed to appease Daedalus.
An astrologer who is in Hispallus’ home to ask a favor tells him of a foreign women Euryale who is offering a fortune to the person who can answer her question: “What can change stone into living flesh”? Hispallus goes to Euryace’s home hoping she will fund the bridge, but finds her and her household odd. Her face is totally covered and her hair is bound up so that he cannot see her anything above the neck. Her servants and slaves are blind. She agrees to fund the bridge if she fails to obtain an answer to her question as she is a warm hearted caring person living with a curse from Athena; if people realize what she is, her life will be forfeited.
Kara Dalkey writes a fascinating tale of what happens to a woman cursed by a goddess several centuries earlier. EURYALE is a complex compassionate woman unlike the character portrayed in mythology. Readers will admire her courage and root for her to find a man who can see her through the eyes of love. Hispallus is a much simpler protagonist easy to understand as he seeks acclaim but lacks the wit to do so; he affirms the Peter Principle in Ancient Rome.
Harriet Klausner
Kara Dalkey
Juno, Jun 2007, $12.95
ISBN: 9780809557837
In Ancient Rome, Praetor Scipio Hispallus wants fame more than power, but what little he has of both is threatened by Daedalus the slave he freed. Daedalus intimates to his former owner that he will reveal to all of Rome that Hispallus’ estranged wife belongs to the banned sect of Bacchus, god of wine and fertility unless he funds the building of an ostentatious bridge. Hispallus panics as he lacks the money needed to appease Daedalus.
An astrologer who is in Hispallus’ home to ask a favor tells him of a foreign women Euryale who is offering a fortune to the person who can answer her question: “What can change stone into living flesh”? Hispallus goes to Euryace’s home hoping she will fund the bridge, but finds her and her household odd. Her face is totally covered and her hair is bound up so that he cannot see her anything above the neck. Her servants and slaves are blind. She agrees to fund the bridge if she fails to obtain an answer to her question as she is a warm hearted caring person living with a curse from Athena; if people realize what she is, her life will be forfeited.
Kara Dalkey writes a fascinating tale of what happens to a woman cursed by a goddess several centuries earlier. EURYALE is a complex compassionate woman unlike the character portrayed in mythology. Readers will admire her courage and root for her to find a man who can see her through the eyes of love. Hispallus is a much simpler protagonist easy to understand as he seeks acclaim but lacks the wit to do so; he affirms the Peter Principle in Ancient Rome.
Harriet Klausner
Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ravens of Avalon-Diana L. Paxson
Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ravens of Avalon
Diana L. Paxson
Viking, Aug 2007, $25.95
ISBN 9780670038701
In 60 A.D. the Romans have arrived in full force. After some brutal fighting, a ceasefire is agreed upon, but neither side expects the hostilities to end. Meanwhile Druid priestess Lhiannon has a second reason of concern as her student’s Celtic princess Boudica marries Iceni High King Prasutagos. He sues for peace while his wife and her mentor demand war to drive the invaders from their shore.
When Prasutagos dies, the Roman legion rejects Queen Boudica as the island ruler. Instead they torture her and rape her daughters. Outraged by the vicious affront, Boudica vows to avenge the Roman atrocities. With the help of Lhiannon and other Druids bringing the power of the battle goddess to her side, Boudica forges a powerful army to assault the Roman legions.
The late great Marian Zimmer Bradley would be proud of this prequel to THE FOREST HOUSE, the first time she and Diana L. Paxson teamed up. The story line smoothly combines ancient history with fantasy elements to please fans of both authors. Readers of the delightful Avalon series will appreciate learning what occurred that led to the formation of the Society of the Ravens.
Harriet Klausner
Diana L. Paxson
Viking, Aug 2007, $25.95
ISBN 9780670038701
In 60 A.D. the Romans have arrived in full force. After some brutal fighting, a ceasefire is agreed upon, but neither side expects the hostilities to end. Meanwhile Druid priestess Lhiannon has a second reason of concern as her student’s Celtic princess Boudica marries Iceni High King Prasutagos. He sues for peace while his wife and her mentor demand war to drive the invaders from their shore.
When Prasutagos dies, the Roman legion rejects Queen Boudica as the island ruler. Instead they torture her and rape her daughters. Outraged by the vicious affront, Boudica vows to avenge the Roman atrocities. With the help of Lhiannon and other Druids bringing the power of the battle goddess to her side, Boudica forges a powerful army to assault the Roman legions.
The late great Marian Zimmer Bradley would be proud of this prequel to THE FOREST HOUSE, the first time she and Diana L. Paxson teamed up. The story line smoothly combines ancient history with fantasy elements to please fans of both authors. Readers of the delightful Avalon series will appreciate learning what occurred that led to the formation of the Society of the Ravens.
Harriet Klausner
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Best New Romantic Fantasy 2-Paula Guren (ed)
Best New Romantic Fantasy 2
Paula Guren (editor)
Juno, Apr 2007, $13.95
ISBN: 9780809557844
This anthology consists of fifteen well written romantic fantasies published in various sources in 2006. The tales are fun to read as one’s soulmate might be a soul stealer as opposites attract and love does not guarantee a fairy tale happy ever after though it does make the Guren world go round; more often elliptical rather than circular. There are no clinkers as each of the chosen stories is a solid entry though the short format does not lend itself to fully developed paranormal elements. Those excellent few that do typically contain a vivid location make the fantasy seem genuine; especially gripping are the haunting coastal "Journey into the Kingdom" by M. Rickert and the forest of "Evergreen" by Angela Boord. Sub-genre readers will appreciate this fine anthology whether the stars are witches, elves, fairies and various assortments of ilk from other realms as a virtual who’s who (O’Keefe, Friesner, Monette, etc.) contribute. As an aside the first volume is actually titled the BEST NEW PARANORMAL ROMANCE.
Harriet Klausner
Paula Guren (editor)
Juno, Apr 2007, $13.95
ISBN: 9780809557844
This anthology consists of fifteen well written romantic fantasies published in various sources in 2006. The tales are fun to read as one’s soulmate might be a soul stealer as opposites attract and love does not guarantee a fairy tale happy ever after though it does make the Guren world go round; more often elliptical rather than circular. There are no clinkers as each of the chosen stories is a solid entry though the short format does not lend itself to fully developed paranormal elements. Those excellent few that do typically contain a vivid location make the fantasy seem genuine; especially gripping are the haunting coastal "Journey into the Kingdom" by M. Rickert and the forest of "Evergreen" by Angela Boord. Sub-genre readers will appreciate this fine anthology whether the stars are witches, elves, fairies and various assortments of ilk from other realms as a virtual who’s who (O’Keefe, Friesner, Monette, etc.) contribute. As an aside the first volume is actually titled the BEST NEW PARANORMAL ROMANCE.
Harriet Klausner
Garden Spells-Sarah Addison allen
Garden Spells
Sarah Addison Allen
Bantam, Sep 2007, $20.00
ISBN: 9780553805482
In Bascom, North Carolina, Claire Waverley runs a catering service that is booming because of the uniqueness of the items she bakes from the magical flowers in her garden. She avoids the apples from the legendary tree because Claire knows that anyone who eats one will envision the most significant moment of their life; which can be ugly. Her only relative in town is her eccentric septuagenarian Aunt Evanille as her sister Sydney ran away from home ten years ago. At a party she caters, Claire meets her next door neighbor Professor Tyler Hughes. When he touches her, she becomes upset.
Sydney runs away again with her five years old daughter Bay while her abusive spouse David is away on business. Though estranged, Claire takes the two females in without question. Emma Clark is upset that Sydney is back because she fears her husband Hunter John Matteson still loves his high school sweetheart instead of her. Her mom throws a party catered by Claire so that Hunter John can see Sydney as a lowlife compared to his spouse. Angrily, Claire bakes items to make people feel remorse that they hurt Sydney. She tells Sydney she does not care if she loses business; no one will hurt her family. Sydney obtains a job as a stylist while Bay feels at home here. At the 4th of July gala, Henry Hopkins sees Sydney who he fell in love with when they were best friends, but failed to tell her because he was so shy. As he fumbles with her again, David is coming to punish her.
The four Waverley females make the fantasy elements lighthearted yet real while the support cast provides further insight into the bewitching siblings. Although David has no redeeming qualities, the story line is fun to follow as the magic is interwoven into the romances or overcoming the sibling estrangement.
Harriet Klausner
Sarah Addison Allen
Bantam, Sep 2007, $20.00
ISBN: 9780553805482
In Bascom, North Carolina, Claire Waverley runs a catering service that is booming because of the uniqueness of the items she bakes from the magical flowers in her garden. She avoids the apples from the legendary tree because Claire knows that anyone who eats one will envision the most significant moment of their life; which can be ugly. Her only relative in town is her eccentric septuagenarian Aunt Evanille as her sister Sydney ran away from home ten years ago. At a party she caters, Claire meets her next door neighbor Professor Tyler Hughes. When he touches her, she becomes upset.
Sydney runs away again with her five years old daughter Bay while her abusive spouse David is away on business. Though estranged, Claire takes the two females in without question. Emma Clark is upset that Sydney is back because she fears her husband Hunter John Matteson still loves his high school sweetheart instead of her. Her mom throws a party catered by Claire so that Hunter John can see Sydney as a lowlife compared to his spouse. Angrily, Claire bakes items to make people feel remorse that they hurt Sydney. She tells Sydney she does not care if she loses business; no one will hurt her family. Sydney obtains a job as a stylist while Bay feels at home here. At the 4th of July gala, Henry Hopkins sees Sydney who he fell in love with when they were best friends, but failed to tell her because he was so shy. As he fumbles with her again, David is coming to punish her.
The four Waverley females make the fantasy elements lighthearted yet real while the support cast provides further insight into the bewitching siblings. Although David has no redeeming qualities, the story line is fun to follow as the magic is interwoven into the romances or overcoming the sibling estrangement.
Harriet Klausner
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Blood Engine-T. A. Pratt
Blood Engine
T.A. Pratt
Bantam, Oct 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780553589986
On the east coast lies the gritty city of Felport, but Marla Mason loves it and rules the place with a sorcerer’s fire touch. Her consigliore Rondeau is an unknown supernatural entity whose voracious essence drifted into that of six years old boy. He is one of Marla’s true friends and he has the power to Curse and make the Curse happen. Powerful sorceress Susan Wellorslore wants Marla’s position, and is preparing a spell to destroy her rival and as a collateral damage by-product Felport.
Marla and Rondeau travel to San Francisco to find her friend, the might sorcerer Lao Tsung, who she hopes to persuade to let her use the Cornerstone, a magical artifact that will allow Marla to bind her to the earth in a spell that cannot be broken. However, when they arrive they find Lao dead killed by another strong sorcerer Mutex who is using blood spells in the name of the Aztec God Tlatecuhtli. If Muller wins, the world will literally turn to hell without a hand-basket; only Marla and Rondeau stand in the way, but they cannot call on the bloodthirsty Aztec pantheon for support.
T.A. Pratt’s vivid urban fantasy will remind readers of the works of Kelly Armstrong and Lilith Saintcrow. The protagonist is a pragmatic soul who is kind and caring when she can be and ruthless when she must be. She goes out of her way to the point of risking her life to cause no needless harm to innocents, but will go down and dirty when the stakes require her to do so. BLOOD ENGINES is an enchanting work that sub-genre fans will want to read as T.A. Pratt casts an obsession spell on her audience.
Harriet Klausner
T.A. Pratt
Bantam, Oct 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780553589986
On the east coast lies the gritty city of Felport, but Marla Mason loves it and rules the place with a sorcerer’s fire touch. Her consigliore Rondeau is an unknown supernatural entity whose voracious essence drifted into that of six years old boy. He is one of Marla’s true friends and he has the power to Curse and make the Curse happen. Powerful sorceress Susan Wellorslore wants Marla’s position, and is preparing a spell to destroy her rival and as a collateral damage by-product Felport.
Marla and Rondeau travel to San Francisco to find her friend, the might sorcerer Lao Tsung, who she hopes to persuade to let her use the Cornerstone, a magical artifact that will allow Marla to bind her to the earth in a spell that cannot be broken. However, when they arrive they find Lao dead killed by another strong sorcerer Mutex who is using blood spells in the name of the Aztec God Tlatecuhtli. If Muller wins, the world will literally turn to hell without a hand-basket; only Marla and Rondeau stand in the way, but they cannot call on the bloodthirsty Aztec pantheon for support.
T.A. Pratt’s vivid urban fantasy will remind readers of the works of Kelly Armstrong and Lilith Saintcrow. The protagonist is a pragmatic soul who is kind and caring when she can be and ruthless when she must be. She goes out of her way to the point of risking her life to cause no needless harm to innocents, but will go down and dirty when the stakes require her to do so. BLOOD ENGINES is an enchanting work that sub-genre fans will want to read as T.A. Pratt casts an obsession spell on her audience.
Harriet Klausner
Twelve Steps from Darkness-Karen E Taylor
Twelve Steps from Darkness
Karen E. Taylor
Juno, Apr 2007, $12.95
ISBN: 9780809557882
Alcoholic and prescription drug abuser Laura Wagner destroyed her marriage to professor Tony and her addictions cost her any chance of custody of their two daughters, eight years old Lizzy and twelve years old Mandy. She comes out of a bar and hits the accelerator while in reverse; smashing into the vehicle parked behind hers, a police cruiser driven by Woodland Heights officer Mike Gallagher who remains haunted by the unsolved disappearance of five children.
Three months sober blur by as she is finally is considered a candidate to attend the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. Following her time in rehab, she goes to her new home, but begins to hear voices coaxing her to end her life insisting she would be better off dead than fighting her craving for a drink. Meanwhile Lizzy suffers nightmares that her mommy is hurt and in danger as she insists the voices want mommy dead. As Mike is attracted to Laura in spite of her addictions, Tony is marrying Susan. The voice continues to coax Laura that she is better off dead. She finds the first corpse in her basement, as Lizzie becomes depressed that something wants her mommy dead and will kill those her mommy cherishes to force the final act.
This is an exciting psychological horror thriller as readers will wonder until the climax whether Laura suffers from psychoses or is there something or someone trying to push her over the edge of sanity. Laura keeps the exhilarating story line focused as she struggles with inner demons while trying to remain sober, but the twelve step method that she follows seems to be failing once she begins hearing the voice and having the dreams just like her the nightmares haunting her daughter. Karen E. Taylor provides a deep tale of a woman trying to regain her equilibrium, but in trouble with the audience wondering whether it is mental or demonic.
Harriet Klausner
Karen E. Taylor
Juno, Apr 2007, $12.95
ISBN: 9780809557882
Alcoholic and prescription drug abuser Laura Wagner destroyed her marriage to professor Tony and her addictions cost her any chance of custody of their two daughters, eight years old Lizzy and twelve years old Mandy. She comes out of a bar and hits the accelerator while in reverse; smashing into the vehicle parked behind hers, a police cruiser driven by Woodland Heights officer Mike Gallagher who remains haunted by the unsolved disappearance of five children.
Three months sober blur by as she is finally is considered a candidate to attend the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. Following her time in rehab, she goes to her new home, but begins to hear voices coaxing her to end her life insisting she would be better off dead than fighting her craving for a drink. Meanwhile Lizzy suffers nightmares that her mommy is hurt and in danger as she insists the voices want mommy dead. As Mike is attracted to Laura in spite of her addictions, Tony is marrying Susan. The voice continues to coax Laura that she is better off dead. She finds the first corpse in her basement, as Lizzie becomes depressed that something wants her mommy dead and will kill those her mommy cherishes to force the final act.
This is an exciting psychological horror thriller as readers will wonder until the climax whether Laura suffers from psychoses or is there something or someone trying to push her over the edge of sanity. Laura keeps the exhilarating story line focused as she struggles with inner demons while trying to remain sober, but the twelve step method that she follows seems to be failing once she begins hearing the voice and having the dreams just like her the nightmares haunting her daughter. Karen E. Taylor provides a deep tale of a woman trying to regain her equilibrium, but in trouble with the audience wondering whether it is mental or demonic.
Harriet Klausner
The Fall of Lucifer-Wendy Alec
The Fall of Lucifer
Wendy Alec
Realms, 2005, $12.95
ISBN: 9781591858140
After Yehovah, there is the great trio; regents of the almighty. Lucifer the eldest is the favorite as the light bearer viceroy; Michael is the mightiest warrior and general of the angel army; and Gabriel the youngest recently has arisen to their level as the revelator.
Heaven has been harmonious for eternity until the announcement by Yehovah. He is creating a new race not of angelic matter, but from a DNA coding in his image. None of the angelic horde feels comfortable with the pronouncement, but of the lead threesome, only Lucifer feels betrayed by his heavenly Father. Michael and Gabriel do not understand the rationale behind God’s decision, but remain true and loyal as they assume that there are things even they as his immediate lieutenants cannot understand. When Yehovah ignores his plea not create such an abomination, an ouraged Lucifer revolts. Yehovah punishes him by sending him to live on earth with his new species. However, instead of moping, Lucifer as Satan plans to destroy the heavenly monstrosity.
This is an interesting look at THE FALL OF LUCIFER in which the description especially of pre-human heaven is vivid and deep. Lucifer as the title character is fully developed so that when Yehovah announces the new non-angelic species, his anger and disappointment is palatable and remains at that level even after he loses the heavenly battles and becomes exiled; rage keeps him going. Although Yehovah, Michael, Gabriel, and the rest of heaven seem underdeveloped especially next to the emotional three dimensional Lucifer, with a nod to Milton’s PARADISE LOST Wendy Alec provides an interesting tale of how the human genome’s Godly creation provoked a heavenly war.
Harriet Klausner
Wendy Alec
Realms, 2005, $12.95
ISBN: 9781591858140
After Yehovah, there is the great trio; regents of the almighty. Lucifer the eldest is the favorite as the light bearer viceroy; Michael is the mightiest warrior and general of the angel army; and Gabriel the youngest recently has arisen to their level as the revelator.
Heaven has been harmonious for eternity until the announcement by Yehovah. He is creating a new race not of angelic matter, but from a DNA coding in his image. None of the angelic horde feels comfortable with the pronouncement, but of the lead threesome, only Lucifer feels betrayed by his heavenly Father. Michael and Gabriel do not understand the rationale behind God’s decision, but remain true and loyal as they assume that there are things even they as his immediate lieutenants cannot understand. When Yehovah ignores his plea not create such an abomination, an ouraged Lucifer revolts. Yehovah punishes him by sending him to live on earth with his new species. However, instead of moping, Lucifer as Satan plans to destroy the heavenly monstrosity.
This is an interesting look at THE FALL OF LUCIFER in which the description especially of pre-human heaven is vivid and deep. Lucifer as the title character is fully developed so that when Yehovah announces the new non-angelic species, his anger and disappointment is palatable and remains at that level even after he loses the heavenly battles and becomes exiled; rage keeps him going. Although Yehovah, Michael, Gabriel, and the rest of heaven seem underdeveloped especially next to the emotional three dimensional Lucifer, with a nod to Milton’s PARADISE LOST Wendy Alec provides an interesting tale of how the human genome’s Godly creation provoked a heavenly war.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Riding the Storm--Sydney Croft
Riding the Storm
Sydney Croft
Delta (Dell), Sep 2007, $13.00
ISBN: 9780385340809
Only a desperate call from his dad would bring former navy SEAL Remy "T-Remy" Begnaud home especially in this horrendous weather. Although the truth is hurricanes do not disturb him as he has created some nasty storms in his life with his power to control the force of a storm. However, what does bother him is that parameteorologist Haley Marie Holmes is waiting for him at his father’s house.
She tries to persuade Remy to let her and her paranormal skilled operatives help him harness his power, but fails even when she tries seduction as the electricity between them ignites the Bayou. Instead he attempts to defuse his power on his own, but instead T-Remy unleashes his gift. Now he needs Haley and her associates to help him harness his out of control storm that makes Katrina look like a drizzle.
This exhilarating romantic fantasy creatively uses paranormal meteorology skills to tell the tale of people with the ability to control the weather. The key to this superb thriller is the flaws each of the lead pair has in their make-up; especially that of T-Remy who wants nothing to do with his power yet finds he is in the eye of the storm. Haley is pulled in two directions as lightning strikes her heart with her attraction to Remy, but is assigned to bring him in voluntarily or not. Fans will enjoy this fine weather thriller although some subplots are left out in the rain for apparently future parameteorological tales.
Harriet Klausner
Sydney Croft
Delta (Dell), Sep 2007, $13.00
ISBN: 9780385340809
Only a desperate call from his dad would bring former navy SEAL Remy "T-Remy" Begnaud home especially in this horrendous weather. Although the truth is hurricanes do not disturb him as he has created some nasty storms in his life with his power to control the force of a storm. However, what does bother him is that parameteorologist Haley Marie Holmes is waiting for him at his father’s house.
She tries to persuade Remy to let her and her paranormal skilled operatives help him harness his power, but fails even when she tries seduction as the electricity between them ignites the Bayou. Instead he attempts to defuse his power on his own, but instead T-Remy unleashes his gift. Now he needs Haley and her associates to help him harness his out of control storm that makes Katrina look like a drizzle.
This exhilarating romantic fantasy creatively uses paranormal meteorology skills to tell the tale of people with the ability to control the weather. The key to this superb thriller is the flaws each of the lead pair has in their make-up; especially that of T-Remy who wants nothing to do with his power yet finds he is in the eye of the storm. Haley is pulled in two directions as lightning strikes her heart with her attraction to Remy, but is assigned to bring him in voluntarily or not. Fans will enjoy this fine weather thriller although some subplots are left out in the rain for apparently future parameteorological tales.
Harriet Klausner
Dance With Me, My Lovely-
Dance With Me, My Lovely
Jaye Roycraft
ImaJinn, Oct 2007
ISBN 9781933417295
They first lay eyes on each other at the male strip club, The Pony Express. Lucius Santangelo, who in his undead life is Garran Lux and Cate Greenbrood, a psychic practitioner of the shamanic arts, are attracted to one another. Garran uses the club as a hunting ground to find a woman for sex and blood. Cate and Garran connect on the psychic plane and she sees a vision of a dead woman whom she believes is a person from his past.
Garran is in trouble because more and more his vampire side is in control causing him to be the hunter that his human impulses keep in check. He decides to go to a magic practitioner and by luck or destiny he picks Cate. She believes he needs a soul retrieval so they journey to the Land of the Dead where she sees him as a desiccated corpse. They don’t find his lost spirit and return home. They give in to the passion that flows between them and she starts to make another journey to the Land of the Dead where she learns the truth of what he is and turns away from him just like the woman in the vision did that they met on the psychic plane. Only by accepting what he is will those two have a chance to make a relationship based on intimacy work.
Jaye Roycraft is one of the best paranormal romance authors writing today. She slowly builds up the relationship and that of each others powers to make the reader feel as if they are part of that unseen world. This is a sizzling fantastic vampire romance but the lovemaking is necessary to the storyline. Cate is Garran’s equal in power which is one of the reasons this novella is bloody delicious.
Harriet Klausner
Jaye Roycraft
ImaJinn, Oct 2007
ISBN 9781933417295
They first lay eyes on each other at the male strip club, The Pony Express. Lucius Santangelo, who in his undead life is Garran Lux and Cate Greenbrood, a psychic practitioner of the shamanic arts, are attracted to one another. Garran uses the club as a hunting ground to find a woman for sex and blood. Cate and Garran connect on the psychic plane and she sees a vision of a dead woman whom she believes is a person from his past.
Garran is in trouble because more and more his vampire side is in control causing him to be the hunter that his human impulses keep in check. He decides to go to a magic practitioner and by luck or destiny he picks Cate. She believes he needs a soul retrieval so they journey to the Land of the Dead where she sees him as a desiccated corpse. They don’t find his lost spirit and return home. They give in to the passion that flows between them and she starts to make another journey to the Land of the Dead where she learns the truth of what he is and turns away from him just like the woman in the vision did that they met on the psychic plane. Only by accepting what he is will those two have a chance to make a relationship based on intimacy work.
Jaye Roycraft is one of the best paranormal romance authors writing today. She slowly builds up the relationship and that of each others powers to make the reader feel as if they are part of that unseen world. This is a sizzling fantastic vampire romance but the lovemaking is necessary to the storyline. Cate is Garran’s equal in power which is one of the reasons this novella is bloody delicious.
Harriet Klausner
Silver Master-Jayne Castle
Silver Master
Jayne Castle
Jove, Sep 2007, $7.99
ISBN: 9780515143553
On Harmony two centuries since the Curtain closed in Jackson’s Old World Finds, her dust bunny Araminta persuades Celinda Ingram to buy the odd looking red plastic. However, not long after she makes her purchase, Oakes Security specialist Davis Oakes and Cadence City Police Detective Alice Martinez question the Promises, Inc. matchmaker after he found the murdered corpse of thief Alvis Shaw whose body was in the alley outside of Jackson’s Old World Finds. Davis also insists that the item Celinda bought yesterday ay Jackson’s was stolen from his client Mercer Wyatt boss of the Cadence Guild. He demands she return it to him.
Celinda wants nothing to do with Cadence Guild having only bad memories of her dealings with them. Hence she wants to give the relic to Davis so that the Guild stays out of her life; the only problem is Araminta has vanished taking the object with her. Davis sends his dust bunny in pursuit. Meanwhile an unknown adversary tries to kill the matchmaker and the investigator as this foe wants possession of the artifact.
Fans of the amusing Harmony fantasy romances will enjoy the return to Jayne Castle’s creative world in what is more of a detective tale this time. The story line is fast-paced as a reluctant Celinda and a gung ho Davis follow the dust bunny trail while eluding a killer. Celinda makes the tale with her first rule of never get involved with Guild business; even when they owe you they invariably pay off by hurting you, that is if they don’t kill you. Ms. Castle provides a fun lighthearted investigative roman tic romp.
Harriet Klausner
Jayne Castle
Jove, Sep 2007, $7.99
ISBN: 9780515143553
On Harmony two centuries since the Curtain closed in Jackson’s Old World Finds, her dust bunny Araminta persuades Celinda Ingram to buy the odd looking red plastic. However, not long after she makes her purchase, Oakes Security specialist Davis Oakes and Cadence City Police Detective Alice Martinez question the Promises, Inc. matchmaker after he found the murdered corpse of thief Alvis Shaw whose body was in the alley outside of Jackson’s Old World Finds. Davis also insists that the item Celinda bought yesterday ay Jackson’s was stolen from his client Mercer Wyatt boss of the Cadence Guild. He demands she return it to him.
Celinda wants nothing to do with Cadence Guild having only bad memories of her dealings with them. Hence she wants to give the relic to Davis so that the Guild stays out of her life; the only problem is Araminta has vanished taking the object with her. Davis sends his dust bunny in pursuit. Meanwhile an unknown adversary tries to kill the matchmaker and the investigator as this foe wants possession of the artifact.
Fans of the amusing Harmony fantasy romances will enjoy the return to Jayne Castle’s creative world in what is more of a detective tale this time. The story line is fast-paced as a reluctant Celinda and a gung ho Davis follow the dust bunny trail while eluding a killer. Celinda makes the tale with her first rule of never get involved with Guild business; even when they owe you they invariably pay off by hurting you, that is if they don’t kill you. Ms. Castle provides a fun lighthearted investigative roman tic romp.
Harriet Klausner
The Eternal Rose-Gail Dayton
The Eternal Rose
Gail Dayton
Juno, Oct 2007, $13.95
ISBN: 9780809571659
Six years ago in Adara, the demon led rebels were defeated. Subsequently, Kallista Vary was appointed as the Renine. Although she felt good about the victory, she did not feel a celebration was in order, as extended family member Merinda was abducted and remains missing, leaving a hole in the united magic of nine.
Over the years she and her team rescue slave children, but finally word arrives that Merinda and her offspring reside in the household of a rival family in Daryath, the homeland of Kallista’s mate Obed. Using the pretense of an official state visit, Kallista and her retinue travel to Daryath to bring home Merinda and her child. However, instead of a simple retrieval, a murder of the godmarked Iliasti occurs most likely by a demon assassin; that is followed by the killing of a Daryath official. Tensions are high and war seems imminent as the demons manipulate behind the scenes.
The final One Rose Trilogy (see THE COMPASS ROSE and THE BARBED ROSE) is a terrific conclusion to a fascinating fantasy although it helps to have read the previous two stories in the saga in spite a cleverly interwoven "history". Kallista holds the exciting plot together as she and her complicated multiple partners make the Dayton universe seems real, which is the key to this fine tale of magic, demons, and killers. Fans will appreciate the wrap up and cast a spell on the author for more tales in this inventive realm.
Harriet Klausner
Gail Dayton
Juno, Oct 2007, $13.95
ISBN: 9780809571659
Six years ago in Adara, the demon led rebels were defeated. Subsequently, Kallista Vary was appointed as the Renine. Although she felt good about the victory, she did not feel a celebration was in order, as extended family member Merinda was abducted and remains missing, leaving a hole in the united magic of nine.
Over the years she and her team rescue slave children, but finally word arrives that Merinda and her offspring reside in the household of a rival family in Daryath, the homeland of Kallista’s mate Obed. Using the pretense of an official state visit, Kallista and her retinue travel to Daryath to bring home Merinda and her child. However, instead of a simple retrieval, a murder of the godmarked Iliasti occurs most likely by a demon assassin; that is followed by the killing of a Daryath official. Tensions are high and war seems imminent as the demons manipulate behind the scenes.
The final One Rose Trilogy (see THE COMPASS ROSE and THE BARBED ROSE) is a terrific conclusion to a fascinating fantasy although it helps to have read the previous two stories in the saga in spite a cleverly interwoven "history". Kallista holds the exciting plot together as she and her complicated multiple partners make the Dayton universe seems real, which is the key to this fine tale of magic, demons, and killers. Fans will appreciate the wrap up and cast a spell on the author for more tales in this inventive realm.
Harriet Klausner
Narcissus-Don D’Ammassa
Narcissus
Don D’Ammassa
Five Star, Oct 2007, $25.95, 319 pp.
ISBN 9781594146084
Sandor Dyle is a galaxy famous patterns analyst who has solved some very high profile cases. At the moment he is on vacationing traveling on the starship Helen of Troy with his friend and companion Maryum Dunnis. There are two artificial personalities on board; Mennor who has the personality of a grouchy old man and Eco who deals with the public evoking the image of a sexy siren. Dyle wakes up one night and feels something is wrong and the room is ominously quiet.
The Captain asks him to help identify a saboteur-killer on board. He accepts because of the challenge and because he doesn’t want any more trouble on board. While investigating the sabotage, one of the passengers Magnus Mercator, hated throughout the galaxy because of his war crimes committed when he and the Lysandrans took over his world of Cathanor. He became their puppet leader and when the aliens were thrown out, Mercator was exiled. The thinking is that Eco, who has the ability to watch over anyone on the ship, was destroyed in the explosion so that someone could kill Mercator. Dyle isn’t so sure so he studies the patterns seeking to hone in on the killer.
Don D’Ammassa writes a fantastic double mystery science fiction thriller. The differences between artificial personalities (AP) and Artificial Intelligences (AI) play a crucial role in the resolution of the mystery even though it doesn’t reveal which being committed the sabotage. The description of the ship with all its advanced technology enables readers believe they are visiting a time in the future in space. The author is a great worldbuilder who will appeal to fans of mysteries and science fiction.
Harriet Klausner
Don D’Ammassa
Five Star, Oct 2007, $25.95, 319 pp.
ISBN 9781594146084
Sandor Dyle is a galaxy famous patterns analyst who has solved some very high profile cases. At the moment he is on vacationing traveling on the starship Helen of Troy with his friend and companion Maryum Dunnis. There are two artificial personalities on board; Mennor who has the personality of a grouchy old man and Eco who deals with the public evoking the image of a sexy siren. Dyle wakes up one night and feels something is wrong and the room is ominously quiet.
The Captain asks him to help identify a saboteur-killer on board. He accepts because of the challenge and because he doesn’t want any more trouble on board. While investigating the sabotage, one of the passengers Magnus Mercator, hated throughout the galaxy because of his war crimes committed when he and the Lysandrans took over his world of Cathanor. He became their puppet leader and when the aliens were thrown out, Mercator was exiled. The thinking is that Eco, who has the ability to watch over anyone on the ship, was destroyed in the explosion so that someone could kill Mercator. Dyle isn’t so sure so he studies the patterns seeking to hone in on the killer.
Don D’Ammassa writes a fantastic double mystery science fiction thriller. The differences between artificial personalities (AP) and Artificial Intelligences (AI) play a crucial role in the resolution of the mystery even though it doesn’t reveal which being committed the sabotage. The description of the ship with all its advanced technology enables readers believe they are visiting a time in the future in space. The author is a great worldbuilder who will appeal to fans of mysteries and science fiction.
Harriet Klausner
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The Sunrise Lands-S.M. Stirling
The Sunrise Lands
S.M. Stirling
Roc, Sep 2007, $24.95
ISBN 9780451461704
At the end of the twentieth century the Change occurred suddenly and stunningly; it left all technological advances of the past two centuries inoperative. Across America, people were stunned with the loss of taken for granted conveniences like electricity and computers, etc.
In Western Oregon by CY22 (Change Year 22), most, if not all locals, have adapted to the Change living in peaceful cooperation until the traveler from the east arrives. The stranger informs the tribe that he seeks Rudi Mackenzie, whose destiny the outsider insists is to learn what destroyed America and what technology can be salvaged. Meanwhile in the former Wyoming and Montana the Prophet and his Church Universal and Triumphant followers believe that God has sent them to destroy any remains of the technological serpent that drove people away from the heavenly father.
Now S.M. Stirling continues his alternate America with the second decade since the Change as a generation who never tasted technology is heading into adulthood. Thus the story line is fast-paced but also refreshed as Rudi, born of non technology, begins his odyssey across a world filled with Death Zones, massive deserts, and special interest sects protecting their little fiefdoms from outsiders. The audience does not need to read the previous set of the trilogy to appreciate this strong coming of age in a post technological un-United States.
Harriet Klausner
S.M. Stirling
Roc, Sep 2007, $24.95
ISBN 9780451461704
At the end of the twentieth century the Change occurred suddenly and stunningly; it left all technological advances of the past two centuries inoperative. Across America, people were stunned with the loss of taken for granted conveniences like electricity and computers, etc.
In Western Oregon by CY22 (Change Year 22), most, if not all locals, have adapted to the Change living in peaceful cooperation until the traveler from the east arrives. The stranger informs the tribe that he seeks Rudi Mackenzie, whose destiny the outsider insists is to learn what destroyed America and what technology can be salvaged. Meanwhile in the former Wyoming and Montana the Prophet and his Church Universal and Triumphant followers believe that God has sent them to destroy any remains of the technological serpent that drove people away from the heavenly father.
Now S.M. Stirling continues his alternate America with the second decade since the Change as a generation who never tasted technology is heading into adulthood. Thus the story line is fast-paced but also refreshed as Rudi, born of non technology, begins his odyssey across a world filled with Death Zones, massive deserts, and special interest sects protecting their little fiefdoms from outsiders. The audience does not need to read the previous set of the trilogy to appreciate this strong coming of age in a post technological un-United States.
Harriet Klausner
Poltergeist-Kat Richardson
Poltergeist
Kat Richardson
Roc, Aug 2007, $14.00
ISBN: 0451461509
She was clinically dead for two minutes, but when private investigator Harper Blaine was revived, she discovered she was a Greywalker; someone who can cross over from the mortal plane to the paranormal realm of the Grey. There reside magical entities and energies that can cross over to the human realm when the connections are right. Harper is a rarity who can see these energies.
Dr. Tuckman, a megalomaniac professor, has gathered eight people to help him create an artificial poltergeist with their mental energies assisting him. He succeeds when Celia Falwell comes into existence with empirical evidence to prove the phenomena exists. Dr. Tuckman hires Harper to find out who is creating tricks he did not authorize as Celia is becoming increasingly dangerous until she kills one of the team members and injures others. Harper assumes another member is controlling Celia and that psychotic is feeling euphoric over the first murder and has gone completely over the edge. Harper, a vampire and a detective work to dissipate the energy of the entity and to neutralize what they assume is a human killer.
Urban fantasy fans will take immense delight in the latest Greywalker thriller as the heroine is at her best combining Dresden with Millhone. The story line is fast-paced hooking the audience from the onset when Tuckman explains Celia to Harper and never let’s go until the final altercation as readers will wonder just what Celia is and could she have committed a homicide. POLTERGEIST is a terrific tale that sub-genre fans will appreciate as Kat Richardson combines the fascinating paranormal inside a well constructed whodunit.
Harriet Klausner
Kat Richardson
Roc, Aug 2007, $14.00
ISBN: 0451461509
She was clinically dead for two minutes, but when private investigator Harper Blaine was revived, she discovered she was a Greywalker; someone who can cross over from the mortal plane to the paranormal realm of the Grey. There reside magical entities and energies that can cross over to the human realm when the connections are right. Harper is a rarity who can see these energies.
Dr. Tuckman, a megalomaniac professor, has gathered eight people to help him create an artificial poltergeist with their mental energies assisting him. He succeeds when Celia Falwell comes into existence with empirical evidence to prove the phenomena exists. Dr. Tuckman hires Harper to find out who is creating tricks he did not authorize as Celia is becoming increasingly dangerous until she kills one of the team members and injures others. Harper assumes another member is controlling Celia and that psychotic is feeling euphoric over the first murder and has gone completely over the edge. Harper, a vampire and a detective work to dissipate the energy of the entity and to neutralize what they assume is a human killer.
Urban fantasy fans will take immense delight in the latest Greywalker thriller as the heroine is at her best combining Dresden with Millhone. The story line is fast-paced hooking the audience from the onset when Tuckman explains Celia to Harper and never let’s go until the final altercation as readers will wonder just what Celia is and could she have committed a homicide. POLTERGEIST is a terrific tale that sub-genre fans will appreciate as Kat Richardson combines the fascinating paranormal inside a well constructed whodunit.
Harriet Klausner
Divine by Blood-P.C.Cast
Divine by Blood
P.C. Cast
Luna, Sep 2007
ISBN: 9780373802913
Morrigan assumed she was a normal Sooner teen with wants and desires similar to her peers. However, when she turns eighteen, Morrigan learns the truth that she is not just an Oklahoma native; instead she learns her roots are literally magically from a tree and a centaur. Her mother Shannon Parker wanted her daughter to avoid all the otherworldly woes that she twice faced (see DIVINE BY MISTAKE and DIVINE BY CHOICE), but now regrets her decision as Morrigan is outraged and upset.
Her explosion opens the portal to the world of Partholon, which she enters expecting to be treated with adulation and respect as befitting the offspring of the goddess Incarnate. Instead she is treated as an unwelcome outsider. Desperate to belong, she causes problems for the residents of Partholon as she is the Light Bringer whose efforts lead to a growing darkness that is engulfing the realm; her only ally is a shaman centaur warrior
The third Divine fantasy is a major departure from the previous two and not just because the next generation is the mover and shaker. The story line retains the fast-paced rate established by Shannon’s starring escapes, but provides greater insight into Partholon through the amazed, dazed and razed teen. This is one fantasist who knows how to cast a spell on her readers.
Harriet Klausner
P.C. Cast
Luna, Sep 2007
ISBN: 9780373802913
Morrigan assumed she was a normal Sooner teen with wants and desires similar to her peers. However, when she turns eighteen, Morrigan learns the truth that she is not just an Oklahoma native; instead she learns her roots are literally magically from a tree and a centaur. Her mother Shannon Parker wanted her daughter to avoid all the otherworldly woes that she twice faced (see DIVINE BY MISTAKE and DIVINE BY CHOICE), but now regrets her decision as Morrigan is outraged and upset.
Her explosion opens the portal to the world of Partholon, which she enters expecting to be treated with adulation and respect as befitting the offspring of the goddess Incarnate. Instead she is treated as an unwelcome outsider. Desperate to belong, she causes problems for the residents of Partholon as she is the Light Bringer whose efforts lead to a growing darkness that is engulfing the realm; her only ally is a shaman centaur warrior
The third Divine fantasy is a major departure from the previous two and not just because the next generation is the mover and shaker. The story line retains the fast-paced rate established by Shannon’s starring escapes, but provides greater insight into Partholon through the amazed, dazed and razed teen. This is one fantasist who knows how to cast a spell on her readers.
Harriet Klausner
Cast In Secret-Michelle Sagara
Cast In Secret
Michelle Sagara
Luna, August 2007, $14.95, 521 pp.
ISBN 9780373802807
One person in Elantra who made it out of the fiefs, the outposts of poverty and hideouts for criminals, is Private Kaylin Neya. She works as a police officer in the division of the Hawks. Her boss is a Leontine; she wears the mark of Lord Nightshade, an immortal outcast Barrani. She is tutored by a dragon in human form because she has a magic nobody understands, one that can withstand a dragon’s breath or heal a dying patient.
While visiting the Keeper in his store because he reported a theft, he takes her to his garden at the center of his shop. There she sees the face of a bruised child in a pool of water and needs to find her as well as the missing artifact. However, first she must visit enclave of the Tha’alanii, telepathic and empathic mind readers who communicate among themselves with the antennae on their foreheads. A girl was kidnapped by a man who is telepathically deaf and she visits Lord Nightshade who gives her the identity of the person involved with the girl and the kidnapper. While she is working the three cases, she learns if she can’t retrieve the artifact, Elantra will be destroyed.
Elements of a police procedural and a fantasy tale are combined to create the electrifying and wondrous CAST IN SECRET. It is a magical tale where different sentient races live in the same area ruled by an imperial emperor who is an immortal dragon. The heroine learns and grows while seemingly (the reader’s delight) always in the midst of trouble and goes the long way in getting out of it. Fans will enjoy her spunk and élan as Kaylin keeps on ticking.
Harriet Klausner
Michelle Sagara
Luna, August 2007, $14.95, 521 pp.
ISBN 9780373802807
One person in Elantra who made it out of the fiefs, the outposts of poverty and hideouts for criminals, is Private Kaylin Neya. She works as a police officer in the division of the Hawks. Her boss is a Leontine; she wears the mark of Lord Nightshade, an immortal outcast Barrani. She is tutored by a dragon in human form because she has a magic nobody understands, one that can withstand a dragon’s breath or heal a dying patient.
While visiting the Keeper in his store because he reported a theft, he takes her to his garden at the center of his shop. There she sees the face of a bruised child in a pool of water and needs to find her as well as the missing artifact. However, first she must visit enclave of the Tha’alanii, telepathic and empathic mind readers who communicate among themselves with the antennae on their foreheads. A girl was kidnapped by a man who is telepathically deaf and she visits Lord Nightshade who gives her the identity of the person involved with the girl and the kidnapper. While she is working the three cases, she learns if she can’t retrieve the artifact, Elantra will be destroyed.
Elements of a police procedural and a fantasy tale are combined to create the electrifying and wondrous CAST IN SECRET. It is a magical tale where different sentient races live in the same area ruled by an imperial emperor who is an immortal dragon. The heroine learns and grows while seemingly (the reader’s delight) always in the midst of trouble and goes the long way in getting out of it. Fans will enjoy her spunk and élan as Kaylin keeps on ticking.
Harriet Klausner
The Accidental Time Machine-Joe Haldeman
The Accidental Time Machine
Joe Haldeman
Ace, Aug 2007, $23.95
ISBN: 0441014992
MIT laboratory assistant Matthew invents the calibrator, a gizmo that enables a person to travel forward in time; however, there is no going back as his machine only works one way. He tests it for a twenty minute jaunt. However, having lost his girlfriend Kara and his job, a distraught Matthew decides to test his machine after calculating the exponential increasing jumps in time. He leaps forward two weeks into the future only to learn he is a person of interest by the police in a homicide that occurred when he stole a car just before he jumped; apparently the vehicle owner dropped dead when Matt and his auto vanished into thin air.
Knowing he needs to escape, he leaps forward in time, but he learns that each leap is that much longer than the previous one. This time he jumps forward two decades where he learns his device has been found and everyone is waiting for him to reappear when he does. Matthew is a hero and joins MIT. Although the world has dramatically changed while he leaped and his knowledge of physics obsolete, no one has been able to copy his time machine. Now pressure is on him by those who want to use his device so he leaps again two centuries into the future where he seeks a respite knowing that if this fails him the next jump gets into the millennium and there is no reverse.
This terrific science fiction time travel tale feels like a throw back thriller starring a disingenuous antihero struggling with fame as his gizmo works but no one including Matt has been able to replicate what he wrought. Every time the pressure mounts on Matt he leaps, but with the time interval expanding, he knows each subsequent jump is into an unknown future. He learns that with the twenty year leap that prevalent acceptable physics theory were devastated in the interim. Joe Haldeman shows why he is a national treasure with this tremendous thought provoking thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Joe Haldeman
Ace, Aug 2007, $23.95
ISBN: 0441014992
MIT laboratory assistant Matthew invents the calibrator, a gizmo that enables a person to travel forward in time; however, there is no going back as his machine only works one way. He tests it for a twenty minute jaunt. However, having lost his girlfriend Kara and his job, a distraught Matthew decides to test his machine after calculating the exponential increasing jumps in time. He leaps forward two weeks into the future only to learn he is a person of interest by the police in a homicide that occurred when he stole a car just before he jumped; apparently the vehicle owner dropped dead when Matt and his auto vanished into thin air.
Knowing he needs to escape, he leaps forward in time, but he learns that each leap is that much longer than the previous one. This time he jumps forward two decades where he learns his device has been found and everyone is waiting for him to reappear when he does. Matthew is a hero and joins MIT. Although the world has dramatically changed while he leaped and his knowledge of physics obsolete, no one has been able to copy his time machine. Now pressure is on him by those who want to use his device so he leaps again two centuries into the future where he seeks a respite knowing that if this fails him the next jump gets into the millennium and there is no reverse.
This terrific science fiction time travel tale feels like a throw back thriller starring a disingenuous antihero struggling with fame as his gizmo works but no one including Matt has been able to replicate what he wrought. Every time the pressure mounts on Matt he leaps, but with the time interval expanding, he knows each subsequent jump is into an unknown future. He learns that with the twenty year leap that prevalent acceptable physics theory were devastated in the interim. Joe Haldeman shows why he is a national treasure with this tremendous thought provoking thriller.
Harriet Klausner
The Mirador-Sarah Monette
The Mirador
Sarah Monette
Ace, Aug 2007, $24.95
ISBN 9780441015009
At the court of Melusine, master wizard Felix Harrowgate knows he has plenty of peers wanting him dead, but does not care one iota that so many want his demise as he knows how far he has come back from the insane abuse of his former master to reclaim his seat in the ruling Mirador. His half brother Mildmay the Fox, a former thief and assassin, has perhaps even more enemies with only his mystical and blood links to his sibling mage keeping him alive; ergo where Felix goes, Mildmay follows.
The Cabaline wizards are part of The Mirador, but as they meet, the Bastion wizards, just as adept with magic, have plans to destroy their rivals and if Melusine is devastated too so be it. Within the Mirador, the impossible has occurred. The enemy has a mole, Mehitabel Parr, who collects and reports information to her Bastion masters. She learns from Mildmay who courts her that Felix is the source to defeat the Cabaline from within. If she reports this to her masters, she will betray friends; if she fails to report to her masters, she betrays loved ones.
The third Melusine fantasy (see MELUSINE and THE VIRTU) is an exciting character driven fantasy that has the audience wondering who Mehitabel will choose to save as she accepts that she is expendable and cannot save herself. The complex cast, especially the slightly crazy Felix, the eccentric oddly moral Mildmay and the beleaguered Mehitabel make the tale fun as fans of the series will believe Mehitabel is caught between a rock and a hard place. Although nothing earth-shatteringly new in the Monette universe occurs, fans will enjoy reading the further adventures of the half-siblings as this escapade is more personal than epic even if a way of life is at stake.
Harriet Klausner
Sarah Monette
Ace, Aug 2007, $24.95
ISBN 9780441015009
At the court of Melusine, master wizard Felix Harrowgate knows he has plenty of peers wanting him dead, but does not care one iota that so many want his demise as he knows how far he has come back from the insane abuse of his former master to reclaim his seat in the ruling Mirador. His half brother Mildmay the Fox, a former thief and assassin, has perhaps even more enemies with only his mystical and blood links to his sibling mage keeping him alive; ergo where Felix goes, Mildmay follows.
The Cabaline wizards are part of The Mirador, but as they meet, the Bastion wizards, just as adept with magic, have plans to destroy their rivals and if Melusine is devastated too so be it. Within the Mirador, the impossible has occurred. The enemy has a mole, Mehitabel Parr, who collects and reports information to her Bastion masters. She learns from Mildmay who courts her that Felix is the source to defeat the Cabaline from within. If she reports this to her masters, she will betray friends; if she fails to report to her masters, she betrays loved ones.
The third Melusine fantasy (see MELUSINE and THE VIRTU) is an exciting character driven fantasy that has the audience wondering who Mehitabel will choose to save as she accepts that she is expendable and cannot save herself. The complex cast, especially the slightly crazy Felix, the eccentric oddly moral Mildmay and the beleaguered Mehitabel make the tale fun as fans of the series will believe Mehitabel is caught between a rock and a hard place. Although nothing earth-shatteringly new in the Monette universe occurs, fans will enjoy reading the further adventures of the half-siblings as this escapade is more personal than epic even if a way of life is at stake.
Harriet Klausner
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