The Given- Vicki Pettersson

The Given Vicki Pettersson Harper Voyager, May 27 2014, $14.99 ISBN 9780062066206 In Las Vegas, angel-human Grif Shaw reads the Tribune story on the accidental shooting death of septuagenarian Barbara McCoy. In 1960, as he died from a knife to the gut, McCoy said “Both Shaws got what they deserved”; which led Grif to assume his wife Evie died when he did. Now the P.I. knows Evie survived his death and still lives. Although he realizes he has hurt badly his current love reporter Kit Craig with his obsession to find his spouse, Grif planned to interrogate McCoy before she died in a shooting accident. Meanwhile Kit uncovers an ugly nursing home plot while Grif knows why he was murdered. With Kit’s help, Grif investigates the rest of his personal mystery, but a horde from beyond willing to kill him try to thwart him from succeeding in learning the truth. The third Celestial Blues romantic urban fantasy (see The Taken and The Lost) is a terrific, twisting and taut thriller starring a hard boiled 1950s detective with a soft boiled heart and his loyal beloved reporter teaming up on his cold case murder. With a somewhat convoluted but exciting storyline, fans will appreciate this entry as the Bible says “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”; but not in the way Grif (or readers) anticipated. Harriet Klausner

The Lost-Sarah Beth Durst

The Lost Sarah Beth Durst Mira, May 27 2014, $14.95 ISBN 9780778317111 Lauren Chase fears the pending results of her mom’s medical tests; so instead of heading to work she just keeps on driving mile after mile. Unsure of which state she is in and after a while without any towns until she reaches Lost, Lauren is forced to stop there due to a horrific dust storm that seems endless. Lauren soon learns the diverse populace share one thing in common; an obsession into finding out what each particularly lost that trapped them here; as this town consists of the forgotten amidst long forgotten items. However, her arrival causes a radical change in the hierarchy when the Missing Man vanishes; as he is the only one who can free a dead or alive person from this village. Thus many of the trapped blame the newcomer for their losing hope of ever going home. The Lost is a wonderful metaphysical parable in which the town and its residents make for a captivating poignant tale. Although the thought-provoking storyline can turn passive with too frequent soliloquies, Lauren’s fears of being lost and alone without her mother evoke reader empathy. Harriet Klausner

Nebula Awards Showcase 2014-Kij Johnson (editor)

Nebula Awards Showcase 2014 Kij Johnson (editor) Pyr, May 20 2014, $18.00 ISBN: 9781616149017 The Nebula Awards Showcase annual collection is always an entertaining anthology that provides readers with those tales selected by the by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America as the best, in this case of 2012, in the two genres. Included are the enjoyable short story winner sci fi tale “Immersion” by Aliette de Bodard and two of the other five finalists (“The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” by Ken Liu and “Five Ways to Fall in Love on Planet Porcelain” by Cat Rambo). The Best Novelette (fascinating survivor saga of “Close Encounters” by Andy Duncan) and the Best Novella (excellent eco-thriller “After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall” by Nancy Kress) are strong entries. Fans will read excerpts from the Best Novel (taut terraforming “2312” by Kim Stanley Robinson) and the eerie winner of the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy (“Fair Coin” by E.C. Myers). Finally the great Gene Wolf received the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master recognition; with his short story “Christmas Inn” and two essays paying homage to this superstar by Michael Dirda and Neil Gaiman added to the anthology. Rounding out the compilation are 2012 Rhysling Awards, Best Short Poem (“The Library, After” by Shira Lipkin) and Best Long Poem (“The Curator Speaks In The Department of Dead Languages” by Megan Arkenberg); and the 2012 Dwarf Stars Award went to Marge Simon for “Blue Rose Buddha”. With a list of past winners as well, this is a great book though I personally would prefer more of the complete shorter works that many of us do not get a chance to read rather than extracts from the longer winners. Harriet Klausner

Shades Of Virtue-Jack Whitsel

Shades Of Virtue Jack Whitsel Paladin Timeless Books, Apr 15 2014, $17.95 www.paladintimelessbooks.com ISBN: 9781606192252 Almost two years ago a half of century of peace in the Hugue ended with the incursion of the feral beasts of the Harhn of Vol Thaldane. Led by a diabolical sorcerer and allied with the Darkfey, the Harhn invaded the Hugue at a time when most of the Order Knights were far away and unable to protect humanity. Due to the heroic efforts of Lord Protector of the Land Duke Baudouin and Dragon Maiden Lady Lucia, mankind survived though the war has left behind devastation especially for those who work the land as the fall harvest yielded little (see Shadows of Kings). As he leads his armies against the Harhn Hordes and other enemies, Lord Yannic tries to persuade the humans that divided they fall while united they triumph. He pleads with the fiefdom leaders to join Shyrlandia. Meanwhile a jousting tournament at Kilgan draws many desperate individuals as well as experience champions to compete for the hand of Lady Basina and becoming influential throughout the lands. To insure fair play as this contest has far reaching impact, the Council sends Lady Lucia accompanied by her novices (Dragana and Tallya) as observers with instructions to interfere if, as expected treachery or malevolence, surfaces; and to uncover who defiantly defies the Order Knights causing potential destruction. The fast-paced second Dragon Rising fantasy magically transports engaged readers to a medieval setting that enables fans to believe in wizardry, beastly hordes, dragons and much more. Filled with high drama and a delightful tournament of champions, Shades of Virtue is a terrific tale of yore lacking only a needed regional map of Shyrlandia, Vol Thaldane and Hugue. Harriet Klausner

Queen of the Dark Things-C. Robert Cargill

Queen of the Dark Things C. Robert Cargill Harper Voyager, May 13 2014, $26.99 ISBN 9780062190451 In Austin, Texas Colby Stevens suffers from PTSD after he and his BFF Ewan successfully escaped from the Fey’s Limestone Kingdom only to have to fight and defeat the fairy horde’s invasion from their realm. However, the cost was exorbitant with the death of Ewan and the knowledge that others know of his skills (see Dreams and Shadows). Thus six months later, Colby has become a semi-recluse. At the same time while the American grieves and broods, in Australia tweener Kaycee accepts that the mundane normal world ignores her as a loser due to physical disabilities and blemishes. However, in the dreamworld, no one dares ignore powerful Kaycee. Diabolical demons use their respective rush to fight attitudes without data to cause Colby and Kaycee to confront one another; while also ignoring their real adversaries who threaten both of them, Austin, America and the world. The second Colby thriller is an enjoyable urban fantasy filled with deep metaphysical debates on life and death, and other conditions. Having tasted death, aware that evil exists and feeling alone since his abductee peer and BFF died, brooding (until the escapades begin) Colby is much grimmer and darker than he was in his debut. Readers will appreciate the action-packed Queen of the Dark Things while wondering along with the protagonist who this ethereal monarch is. Harriet Klausner

Oath Of The Brotherhood-C. E. Laureano

Oath Of The Brotherhood C. E. Laureano Think/NavPress/Tyndale, Apr 18 2014, $14.99 ISBN: 9781612915876 King Galbreath of Tigh wanted nothing to do with his heir so ordered Lord Labrhas to raise his son. Labhras sired the lad as if Conor was his biological offspring training him to be a scholar. However after nine years of no contact, Galbreath demands his seventeen year old child see him at his fortress Glenmallaig. The monarch is disgusted to learn Conor’s time was wasted on worthless languages and history instead of sword fighting, and proclaims Conor is not his son. Diarmuid the Druid tells the distraught teen when he is ready come to him for answers. Fearing an invasion from the Sofarenden seafarers of the Northern Isles crossing the Amantine Sea, Galbreath wants to seal an alliance with his equally threatened Isle of Saire neighbor to the east Faolin; so he exiles his worthless son as a hostage to King Calhoun as a sign of good faith. At Calhoun’s court in Lisdara, Conor and the monarch’s sister Aine fall in love. While he is away receiving special training, war breaks out threatening the four nations on the Isle of Saire. The first Song of Seare coming of age fantasy is a fabulous saga because the Laureano world seems genuine and the lead couple a brave wonderful duo. The storyline starts slow as terms and names are introduced but also providing a sense of a different setting. Once the audience adjusts to the vernacular, readers will appreciate Conor as a scholar warrior defending his faith and people, and Aine leading her nation in an insurgency against the evil who took over the kingdom. Harriet Klausner

Mirror Sight-Kristen Britain

Mirror Sight Kristen Britain DAW, May 6 2014, $27.95 ISBN: 9780756408794 In a confrontation inside the primordial Blackveil Forest, Sacoridia Green Rider Karigan G’ladheon manages to dispatch malevolent Mornhavon the Black into another age, but the wicked magic released by their duel also sends her two centuries away. She awakens inside a fully sealed stone tomb with her air supply rapidly running out. Karigan escapes to learn that magic seems to have all but vanished as the Serpentine Empire has crushed her beloved kingdom. She also finds out her fate; as the myths record a Green Rider named Karigan G’ladheon disappearing without a trace within the Blackveil Forest while on King Zachary’s quest to defeat Mornhavon the Black. As Karigan struggles to adapt, she knows she must find a way home to her time, but first obsesses over liberating her kingdom’s descendants from the tyranny of evil essences; of whom she knows most, firsthand from previous encounters with them many decades ago. The fifth Karigan epic fantasy (see Green Rider, First Rider's Call, and The High King's Tomb) is a terrific entry made fresh with the heroine in a new era and though it is her homeland, she is A Stranger In A Strange Land (Robert A. Heinlein}. Although fans should at least read Blackveil to better understand how the protagonist became a future legend due to mysterious vanishing, fans will appreciate the return to Sacoridia; albeit a future even darker place than the one we and the protagonist are very familiar with. Harriet Klausner