Easie Damasco is a lovely rascal, a thief that gets by on wit and charm. This book has a great opening scene where he … No I won’t spoil it for you.  The main protagonist kind of steals a giant from an evil warlord who is making a bid for the crown thus the name. It is not giving away any spoilers considering the title and the lovely cover made by Angelo Rinaldi. David Tillerman’s debut novel is a traditional swashbuckling adventure with all the elements you expect. It has an evil villain that does his best to hunt down Damasco. In fact the whole book is one long chase. It also has a fair woman who challenges our hero in more ways than one. She is not a princess, which would be way too traditional. She is the mayor in the next town. I give Kudos to the author for a strong female character in a nontraditional role. There is magic but it is downplayed, this is a story about a thief, not a magician. I liked Giant Thief a lot. It is fast paced fun with a lot of action and just what I needed. I am looking forward to the second book Crown Thief which will be out before the end of this year and a third in 2013.

Book Information

Giant Thief (book 1) by David Tallerman (Angry Robot) uk us - review copy

Meet Easie Damasco, rogue, thieving swine and total charmer.

Even the wicked can’t rest when a vicious warlord and the force of enslaved giants he commands invade their homeland. Damasco might get away in one piece, but he’s going to need help. Big time.

File Under: Fantasy [ Big Trouble | Deception | Saltlick's City | Hang 'im High ]

I like to read fantasy now and then to break with the science fiction and Trudi Canavan is one of my favorites. The Black Magician trilogy was where I fell in readership with her and in love with Sonea a street urchin turned magician. Sonea and many of her friends features prominently in this trilogy too.

The point of view characters are Sonea, her son Lorking, Dannyl and Lilia the novice. Trudi changes view between them in every chapter so the books reads like a tv show with change after each scene. I like that much better than a whole chapter that ends in a cliffhanger and then three chapters until we learn what happens. Sonea and the master thief Ceryl, a childhood friend are hunting The Rogue Skellin and he keeps building his drug empire in their city. Lorking is stuck in the Traitors Sanctuary while he tries to find a way to love and the secret of their magical gems, the later he wants to trade for the Guild’s Healing magic. Dannyl continues his quest for the history of magic while juggling an old lover and a potential dangerous new one. Lilia is a new character and she gets caught in a web not of her own making. She is a naïve young novice born of a family of house servants. Just the type of character Trudi does so well. Lilia is my favorite character, I like coming of age histories and she is so sweet and innocent. Her journey to discover her sexual identity is told very well in my opinion.

The greater forces behind the scene start to take form here. I hope Trudi writes more about the history of the land and it’s magic.

The one thing I feel a bit disappointed with is that we hear and see so little of Skellin the Rogue in a book with his name. What is up with that? It is a great book but the title might lead you to wrong expectations.

The story has good pacing and I read it in one sitting. Trudi Canavan has done it again with this fantasy drama in familiar settings all her own. I am very interesting in what is going to happen in the concluding volume next year. Traitor Queen will probably be out in spring 2012.

Book information

Other books by Trudi Canavan:

- The Magician’s Apprentice (Orbit 2010)
The Black Magician Series
1. The Magicians’ Guild
2. Novice
3. High Lord
The Traitor Spy Trilogy
1. The Ambassador’s Mission (Orbit 2010)
Age of the Five Series
1. Priestess of the White
2. Last of the Five
3 Voice of the Gods

The Rogue (Traitor Spy Trilogy book 1) by Trudi Canavan  - Orbit (2011) – Bought from Amazon UK | US

Kyralia is facing threats at home and abroad, as a rogue killer stalks its capital’s streets, while the neighbouring kingdom of Sachaka is breeding a rebellion that could destabilise the entire region.

High Lord Akkarin and Sonea’s son Lorkin has a legacy of heroism to live up to, but despite his good intentions, his incarceration in Sachaka’s rebel traitor stronghold could destroy the tenuous peace between the two countries. Angered by Lorkin’s seeming defection the Sachakans blame the Kyralian ambassador, Danny–and they are a savage people when roused.

And back home, in the University, two young novices are about to remind the Guild that sometimes their greatest enemy comes from within…

This is my first Alan Campbell novel ever but it will not be the last. Sea of Ghosts have a great first scene involving a book shop, a little lost girl, magicians, a dragon and the Gravediggers themselves. It is quite entertaining hearing them discuss how get the ceiling to fall on the magician especially since it probably would crumble a significant portion of the city. It makes you understand why the Emperor wants to be rid of them. Now the Emperor is a greedy heartless tyrant but that is beside the point.

The main protagonist Colonel Thomas Granger goes into hiding as a jailer to avoid the emperors clutches but unlucky for him his sense of compassion and loyalty will soon unravel his true identity.

The world is slowly sinking into the sea due to seabottles spread by the Unmer magicians before their defeat by the Empire. They used to enslave dragons with their magic but one of their own freed them and they could not resist the telepathic Haurstaf mercenaries the Empire bought to fight them.  Now the Haurstaf are paid to keep the Unmer imprisoned while the world continues to sink. If that was not enough the sea bottles pour out a substance known as Brine that turns human skin into shark skin and prolonged exposure turns you into sea people with no recollection of your previous life.  It is an interesting mixture of fantasy and science that Alan cooked up here that tie into the entropy and the end of the universe theories.

It is also a good narration and at least one character you can relate to. Tomas is jaded and cynical when the story begins but he learns that behind his rough exterior beats a caring heart. He also has a dark kind of humor I like. Unfortunately the other characters are sketchier. The banter is okay to good.

The story is fast paced after a slow beginning and starts in a steampunk sword & sorcery land but evolve to a mixture of high fantasy and science fiction. I am a bit of two minds about the plot, it allures to me as a vivid reader of science fiction but I think many fantasy fans might have a problem with it but that’s just my opinion.

I found the firsts Gravedigger novel to be an amusing adventure and a great start of Alan Campell’s new series. The blend of steampunk, high fantasy and science fiction works great for me but I would have liked a bit more about the characters. With that said I recommend it.

Book Information

Sea of Ghosts (The Gravedigger Chronicles book 1) by Alan Campbell – Tor UK 2011 – Bought from Amazon UK | US

When the last of the Gravediggers, an elite imperial infiltration unit, are disbanded and hunted down by the emperor they once served, munitions expert Colonel Thomas Granger takes refuge in the unlikeliest of places. He becomes a jailer in Ethugra – a prison city of poison-flooded streets and gaols in which a million enemies of the empire are held captive. But when Granger takes possession of two new prisoners, he realises that he can’t escape his past so readily. Ianthe is a young girl with an extraordinary psychic talent. A gift that makes her unique in a world held to ransom by the powerful Haurstaf – the sisterhood of telepaths who are all that stand between the Empire and the threat of the Unmer, the powerful civilization of entropic sorcerers and dragon-mounted warriors. In this war-torn land, she promises to make Granger an extremely wealthy man, if he can only keep her safe from harm. This is what Granger is best at. But when other factions learn about Ianthe’s unique ability, even Granger’s skills of warfare are tested to their limits. While, Ianthe struggles to control the powers that are growing in ways no-one thought were possible. Another threat is surfacing: out there, beyond the bitter seas, an old and familiar enemy is rising – one who, if not stopped, will drown the world and all of humanity with it..

This new-to-me series (I have in fact finished all five books now) takes place in a fantasy world that works according to scientific principles where a quantum bomb unraveled reality and put earth in contact with other dimensions that already knew all about us. Alfheim, Demonia and Fae being the more accessible. Earth still doesn’t know much about the other worlds but have intelligence agencies working on it. One such agent is Lila Black, our intrepid and formidable protagonist.

Lila is not exactly peachy after being turned into half a machine after a supposedly safe recon mission into Alfheim. Her new mission is to be the body guard of a sexy elven rock star Zal of the band No Show. He is not exactly as she expected and then she gets locked in a Game with him. But before it gets too steamy things derail a bit and she has to enter Alfheim again in pursuit of answers.

I really like this multi verse of unpredictable Fey, mysterious Elves and haughty Demons. Lila’s journey through Alfheim peels layer after layer of our preconceptions of what is really going on and shows us the greater game but the ending is still a great surprise.

The characters are also great. Lila is slightly flawed, damaged psychologically from being maimed and being turned into a machine but with a lot of spirit and tenacity she prevails. Her battle mode also helps. Zal is a bit of the mysterious dangerous but charming stranger and I do enjoy the Game they play a lot. Lila also has a thing for motorcycles I enjoyed immensely. What a ride! This is something that we return to in later books too.

Keeping it Real is is a bit like a more steamy Buffy with cyborg enhancements, gunfights and wonderful one liners (they have those on Buffy too). It was a fast read too. Justina Robson and Lila Black are guilty pleasures I warmly recommend.

Information

Title: Keeping it Real
Series: Quantum Gravity book 1
Author: Justina Robson
Genre: Scientific Fantasy
Paperback: 279 pages
Publisher: Gollancz 2006
Order from: Amazon US | UK

LILA BLACK: HALF ROBOT, ALL ATTITUDE

The Quantum Bomb of 2015 changed everything. The fabric between the dimensions was ttorn and now, six years later, the people of earth exist in uneasy company with the inhabitants of, amongst others, the elven, elemental, and demonic realms. Magic is real and can be even more dangerous than technology. Elves are alien, erotic and very dangerous. Elementals are a law unto themselves and demons are best left well to themselves.

Special agent Lila Black, 21, used to be pretty, but now she’s not so sure.

Torn apart two years ago, her body is now half restless carbon and metal alloy. A machine she’s barely in control of. When it goes into combat mode, enough weapons for a small army springing from within itself, at the merest provocation. And then there’s her AI. And Lila has never known where she ends and it begins.

As for her heart . . . well ever since being drawn into a Game by the elf she’s been assigned to protect, she’s not even sure she can trust that anymore either.

This is in many ways a traditional story about a young boy who grows up not believing he has any powers and being given a hard time by his peers. He then discovers he has powers but it is gate magic and that carries a death sentence since Loke stole all the gates and cut the gods of from their powers centuries ago. He has to go on the run as an ordinary boy and learn about ordinary humans at the same time.

Danny North is the name of this likeable protagonist and it is wonderful to read about him discovering the world and getting a bit more balanced view of humans than his folks back home. He meets some interesting friends on the run and makes some startling discoveries. His clan of Northern gods or magicians as they call themselves is only one of many pantheons that live in secret on earth maintaining the little powers they have left.

The world building meshes well with known history and the magical system is well thought out and implemented. It feels like a lot of energy has been spent on making this a believable world and it shows.

There is also a parallel storyline on Westil, the home of the gods about a young boy who one day step out of a tree with no memory.

I have not enjoyed an Orson Scott Card book as much as this one since Ender’s Game. The Lost Gate is a great coming-of-age story about current day wizards with hints of a greater evil to come in the sequels. I have no idea when the second Mithermages book will be out but I will definitely go for it.

Information

Title: The Lost Gate
Series: Mither Mages book 1
Author: Orson Scott Card
Genre: Fantasy
Audiobook: 12h 21min
Publisher: Blacksone Audio (2011)
Order from: Amazon US | UK | Audible

Danny North knew from early childhood that his family was different – and that he was different from them. While his cousins were learning how to create the things that commoners called fairies, ghosts, golems, trolls, werewolves, and other such miracles that were the heritage of the North family, Danny worried that he would never show a talent, never form an “outself”.

He grew up in the rambling old house, filled with dozens of cousins and aunts and uncles, all ruled by his father. Their home was isolated in the mountains of western Virginia, far from town, far from schools, far from other people.

There are many secrets in the House, and many rules that Danny must follow. There is a secret library with only a few dozen books, and none of them in English – but Danny and his cousins are expected to become fluent in the language of the books. While Danny’s cousins are free to create magic whenever they like, they must never do it where outsiders might see.

Unfortunately, there are some secrets kept from Danny as well. And that will lead to disaster for the North family.

Orson Scott Card, a New York Times best-selling author, has won several Hugo and Nebula Awards for his works of speculative fiction. He lives with his family in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Emperor is dead and so is the protection he provided for the fifth world now threatened by star demons, malicious summoners and inner strife.

It all starts when they find councilor Ocome cut to pieces by a star-demon inside the palace. The demon is on the loose and has to be found. The investigation into the councilor’s death starts to peel an onion of mystery with many surprising twists and turns to be enjoyed.

The succession is far from as clear as it ought to be even though the Emperor named his preference and while the council and the different fractions struggle for power they have a star-demon loose in the palace and the wards protecting the world is getting weaker by the hour.

You can compare the story to a traditional detective story with Acatl as the lead detective and Teomitl as his loyal sidekick muscle with the difference that Acatl is the High Priest of the Dead with magical powers of his own beside the deductive mind needed for the job. Teomitl is a member of the Imperial family, the next leader of the House of Darts and a frequent vessel for his gods and their powers. He is also in love with Acatl’s sister which his family frown on to say the least. The daughter of peasants? It is not done. As his brother the dead Emperor’s chosen successor says.

Acatl continues to show little ambition for power but his life is starting to get intertwined with the ones in power and the gods that favors them. One could say that he is in the hot pan for the duration. I think we get an inkling of how people in a different culture reason and think. That is something I value in a book.

Aliette de Bodard has done it again. Harbinger of the Storm is an action packed Aztec mystery opera with magic, interventions from the gods and more twists and turns than the first book. It even has a love story with amusing snippets here and there, I love formidable women. The story is self contained and can be enjoyed standalone, but you will not want to miss out on the first. I wish it was 2012 already even if the world is going under while I read the final Obsidian and Blood.

About the Author

Aliette de Bodard is becoming one of my favorites. She has written strong fantasy but I have also read her science fiction short stories and they are amazing. I hope we will see both novels in both genres in the future.

Aliette lives in Paris, France and is  half-France, half-Vietnamese. I especially like the way her strong interest in non-westerner cultures affect her writing like here with the Aztec but also mixed in with the Chinese like in The Lost Xuyan Bride.

You find more of her writing at aliettedebodard.com.

Information

Title: Harbinger of the Storm
Series: Obsidian and Blood book 2
Author: Aliette de Bodard
Genre: Aztec Mystery Fantasy
Paperback:
Publisher: Angry Robots 2011
Copy: Bought by me
Order from: Amazon US | UK

The year is Two House and the Mexica Empire teeters on the brink of destruction, lying vulnerable to the flesh-eating star-demons – and to the return of their creator, a malevolent goddess only held in check by the Protector God’s power.

The council is convening to choose a new emperor, but when a councilman is found dead, only Acatl, High Priest of the Dead, can solve the mystery.

When he hears rumours of a sinister cabal of sorcerors he must face up to demons, not all of them his own.

FILE UNDER: Modern Fantasy [Aztec Gods / Star Demons / Secret Sorcery / Blood Rituals

The way the story evolves is quite dark and foreboding, the pacing is better here than in the first book even if I enjoyed the character developments there better. I am weak for coming of age stories especially when they are about discovering your powers. Asher is more miserable and pressed here which is natural, as he is from all sides; even his loved ones have hidden agendas for him.

Dialog is one of Karen Millers strengths which she shows again in this novel. I also like that we learn more about the other characters around Asher. Some of them have great character development. I am not entirely happy with Asher and Dathne’s romance though, but that could be just me. I am picky when it comes to love. But that would be my only real complaint against an otherwise decent fantasy novel.

Awakened Mage is mostly about Asher in the role of the savior and how he and the people around him grow into the Prophesy. This is not a fast paced action and it invites more to contemplation than celebration in the end. I would still recommend it as it is quite enjoyable fantasy.

Information

Title: Awakened Mage
Series: Kingmaker, Kingbreaker 2
Author: Karen Miller
Genre: Fantasy
Paperback: 678 pages
Publisher: Orbit (2006, 1st 2005)
Copy:  Bought it for my son

“The evil foretold has risen … and we are all that stands between it and the end.”

Asher has come a long way for a fisherman’s son. Together with his friend Prince Gar, he has defended their kingdom against its bitterest enemy, but at great cost.

Now, the evil mage Morg is preparing for his most deadly assault. Desperate, trapped in a broken body, Morg has little time and fewer scruples. And he has a plan.

As Gar and Asher unwittingly fall into a dangerous deception, Morg gets ever closer to his goal. And this victory would be particularly sweet’for who better to destroy the kingdom than the two who would give anything to save it?

This is Karen Miller’s debut novel and my first read of her writing. She is an Australian writer

It has a common trope. Young man runs away from family trade to make it by himself and finds his magical powers and love, but it also has interesting differences.

The story takes place in the Kingdom of Lur whose original inhabitants the Olken lives as second class citizens and are forbidden magic, in fact they are believed to be without it. Six centuries ago the Doranen came through the mountains fleeing the evil mage Morg. Their leader, Barl wove a magical protection over the Kingdom that has kept Morg at bay since and the Doranen with their magic form the upper class and their King provides the weather magic that powers the wards.

There is a secret society among the Olken that still practice earth magic and they have an ancient prophecy about the Final Days and the Innocent Mage that can save them from Morg. One of their members the young seeress Dathne will come and play a major part in Asher’s life and for the prophecy. She is an interesting conflicted character.

Asher the protagonist is a likable character. He leaves for the capital for a year to earn enough money to buy his father a fishing boat. A chance meeting with the magicless prince, Gar leads to friendship and a job as the prince’s assistant. He is fairly successful in what he does as is to be expected in this kind of novel but a great deal of my enjoyment with this book comes from the interaction between Gar and Asher. Gar was born Doranen but is handicapped and looked down on because his lack of magic while Asher is of low unmagical Olken origin and he starts to develop magic he is forbidden to even try. Another thing I enjoyed with Asher is his frankness it is often hilarious to read.

The story is about an unequal society and prejudice as well as a compelling personal story. The pace is steady and doesn’t bog down in unnecessary details; you know more or less as much as the characters do which isn’t much. I was intrigued by Morg and Barl who used to be lovers before he became an evil mage and she escaped to Lur but you don’t learn much about that in this book but I noticed that Karen Miller has a release of a prequel to Awakened Mage about them scheduled for August next year. It is titled Blight of Mages.

It ends in a cliffhanger but that’s no problem since the second and concluding book The Awakened Mage is already out.

Awakened Mage is a somewhat original take on “the peasant on which the destiny of the Kingdom rests”, it was a fast read even if it is quite long (613 pages) with interesting characters and funny dialog but you will want to have The Awakened Mage handy as it ends in a cliffhanger. The one complaint I would have is that not much is happening in the main plot until the last hundred pages or so but the character development and drama kept me entertained until then. I would recommend it if you want a different take on the usual fantasy tropes with strong characters.

Information

Title: Innocent Mage
Series: Kingmaker, Kingbreaker book 1
Universe: Innocent Mage Universe
Author: Karen Miller (karenmiller.net)
Paperback: 613 pages
Publisher: Orbit (2009, First 2005)
Copy: Borrowed from my son

Order from: Amazon US | UK | B&N | sfbok

“The Innocent Mage is come, and we stand at the beginning of the end of everything.”

Being a fisherman like his father isn’t a bad life, but it’s not the one that Asher wants. Despite his humble roots, Asher has grand dreams. And they call him to Dorana, home of princes, beggars’and the warrior mages who have protected the kingdom for generations.

Little does Asher know, however, that his arrival in the city is being closely watched by members of the Circle, people dedicated to preserving an ancient magic.

Asher might have come to the city to make his fortune, but he will find his destiny.

Title: Innocent Mage
Series: Kingmaker, Kingbreaker book 1
Universe: Innocent Mage Universe
Author: Karen Miller (karenmiller.net)
Paperback: 613 pages
Publisher: Orbit (2009, First 2005)
Copy: Borrowed from my son

It has been a year since Lady Morgana disappeared and no trace of her has been found when season 3 begins. She returns under mysterious circumstances and soon the king is having hallucinations; an old enemy attacks and Arthur has to take charge.

Merlin starts to suspect Morgana but she and her evil sister are to fast for him. They capture him and bind him with magic. In desperation he calls the great dragon.

The new season is seems darker than before, strife is afoot in Camelot.

Merlin is a great series and 13 new episodes is better than usual for a BBC production.

Episodes

3.01

It has been a year since Lady Morgana disappeared and no trace of her has been found, as the fantasy drama starring Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head and Richard Wilson returns for a new series.

Just as it seems all hope is lost, Merlin and Arthur pick up a trail. Set upon by bandits it seems they may perish but Merlin’s secret magic saves the day. As the dust settles, a mysterious, bruised and bloodied figure approaches the group: it’s Lady Morgana.

Camelot rejoices at her return but Merlin is worried that Morgana will remember the circumstances of their last meeting and tell King Uther that he tried to kill her. The King will not understand that he did it to save Camelot from Morgana’s half-sister, sorceress Morgause’s deadly enchantment; Merlin would be executed on the spot.

Morgana promises Merlin that she has learnt the error of her ways and repents for the evil things she has done. Morgause no longer has any hold over her and Morgana forgives Merlin and promises to keep his secret.

Uther and Morgana enjoy a tearful reunion. The King is delighted that his ward has returned and immediately announces a banquet in her honour. But is there more to her return than meets the eye?

That night, Morgana slips out of the castle and journeys to a cave guarded by mysterious warriors. It seems that she has been playing a game. Far from renouncing magic she has spent the last year at Morgause’s side. Morgana is no longer Camelot’s daughter but a servant of the Old Religion. Using a handkerchief stained with Uther’s grateful tears, Morgause concocts a spell to bring the tyrant King to his knees.

As the evil magic begins to take hold of Uther’s mind, Camelot is cast into great peril. Morgause is rousing Uther’s mortal enemy, King Cenred, to invade the Kingdom, while Uther, plagued by hallucinations from his past, is incapable of mounting a defence of the realm.

As Gaius urges Arthur to take command, Merlin begins to suspect that Morgana’s repentance is not all it seems. He soon discovers he was right but the evil sisters are too quick for him. He is captured, bound with magic and left to the mercy of the scorpion-like enchanted serkets.

As Cenred’s army amasses on the border and Merlin’s life hangs in the balance, the young sorcerer summons the Great Dragon, his last and only hope. Can the Dragon and the Dragonlord save Camelot from certain doom?

3.02

The young warlock struggles to recover from the serket’s poison, as the fantasy drama continues. Meanwhile, Morgana and Morgause are free to step up their plans for the invasion of Camelot.

Morgause continues her manipulation of Cenred, as he prepares to launch an attack on the citadel, but Cenred knows he cannot take the castle alone. Morgause promises him that they have an ally within King Uther’s court who will ensure they win the day – no one can fight a battle on two fronts. Morgause gives Morgana a powerfully enchanted rowan staff to aid her in her magical treachery.

King Uther is still unable to rule as he recovers from the enchantment inflicted by the mandrake root. So, as Cenred’s army attacks the citadel, Camelot’s fate now rests on Arthur’s shoulders. The young prince and his men fight bravely but, just as they think the tide might turn, Morgana plays her deadly card. In the vaults beneath Camelot she uses the rowan staff to summon a skeleton army to wreak havoc within the castle walls.

Arthur and his men cannot hold off both an army of the living and an army of the dead. Merlin knows that their only hope is for him to stop Morgana and vanquish the enemy within. Will he be able to do so without revealing his own magical powers?

3.03

Merlin stumbles across a secret chamber and accidentally releases a goblin, as the fantasy drama continues. The mischievous creature possesses Gaius, leading the once-wise physician to develop a taste for gold, ale and magical jokes.

With a suddenly bald King and a scourge of flatulence sweeping the Royal household, can Merlin work out what is going on and banish the goblin back to where he came from before any real damage is done?

Last Week

Our intrepid artifact hunters missed one in the mail that made the whole town the scene of a number of really bad movies. The final one Doctor Doomsday they stopped just before he blew up the town. And Pete got a new veterinarian to fuss over and Claudia got a hardware-store boy to blush over. The cold shoulder they have been getting all over town also got its explanation, their cover is IRS agents.

This Week

Myka is in a sword fight while Pete eat dirt in Wales and an old lady disturb a Fashion show in Milan. Artie calls and tells them to stop by in Milan on their way home. Need a geography lesson? The old lady said “they stole me” in Russian before she died. Peter, the expert on breast implants track down her identity as Anya Verdikov a 19 year old fashion model that disappeared two days ago. Back in the Warehouse we learn that this is just the last in a series of disappearing fashion models. Off to Fashion Week in Manhattan we go.

Pete thinks he is in heaven. They discover one of the models they meet have similar symptoms like Anya after talking to her agent. When Pete rush after her she transforms to and old woman and collapse. Peter is spooked. We established earlier this episode that Myka was a tomboy learning to fight with swords as she grew up. Pete is delighted with his plan to infiltrate Fashion Week. Myka is going undercover as one of the Models and Peter as her obedient slave/assistant. No sooner than she is embedded she is approached by a creepy photographer to take her photos, but Gunther is not the photographer we are after.

Miss Donovan is getting persistent text on her Farnsworth from hardware-store Todd. It was so amusing to see Artie dig himself a hole with saying you are not a girl any more (meaning be responsible and call answer him). Back home Claudia plays with a Big Needle before going on coffee with Todd. While entertaining the date is a train crash and Claudia rushes home to yell at Artie for telling her to be herself.

It seems like someone is peddling youth to elderly people and it looks like Myka’s photo is involved. An old lady is shown Myka’s photo and says she is perfect. Pete’s pep talk before going out there was warm, corny and effective. Myka noticed an old woman with huge ruby earrings watching the show but she disappears before Pete and Myka can get to her. Unfortunately that also means Myka turns old. There is silver-nitrate in Myka’s blood which leads them to Man Ray’s camera and one of the photographers. He escapes  but Pete track him down and Artie figures something out before everybody else and take a photo of him overexposed on a photo of Myka. They guy had been stealing youth for a long time but it is over now.

Claudia and Artie has a cute father daughter talk before Todd walks into the Diner. Gulp from Claudia and a not so subtle go away to Artie. Young love, so charming.

This was a very corny episode but I liked it. Maybe that tells you something about me. I expected something for the season arc but it never landed, maybe it is something with Todd and the season arc? The friendly bickering was great this episode and showed how fond the characters all are of each other. Could all these fuzzy warm feelings be a buildup for something? Or am I just paranoid? I don’t know but I am going to watch next week when Fargo from Eureka comes to visit …

Things learned

• There was a holy grail
• Myka’s sister was the pretty one, the cheer leader the boys was crazy about.

Next week

This is crossover-with-Eureka Week; there might be more than one this season according to rumors from comic con.

Tuesday, August 3

Warehouse 13 2.05 – 13.1 (Syfy).
Douglas Fargo (Neil Grayston) of Eureka’s Global Dynamics is sent to Warehouse 13 to help update its aging computer system. This triggers a seemingly sentient computer virus that sends the Warehouse into lockdown and traps the team inside.

Friday, August 6

Eureka 4.05 – Crossing over (Syfy)
Claudia Donovan visits Eureka to see if Fargo’s promises of wondrous devices are true, but she finds herself in the middle of a mystery suitable for Warehouse 13 when objects begin to appear randomly around the town and GD, and it must be solved before there are deadly consequences.

Related Posts

• Warehouse 13 2.03 – Beyond Our Control (Review) July 21, 2010
• Warehouse 13 2.02 – Mild-Mannered July 14, 2010
• Warehouse 13 – Season 2 premiere July 6 July 3, 2010
• Myka Bering on Warehouse 13 July 2, 2010
• Warehouse 13 Season 2 Promo April 10, 2010
• Warehouse 13 renewed for a second season August 20, 2009
• Warehouse 13 pilot July 8, 2009
• Warehouse 13 sneak peak March 28, 2009

This is the cover for the new Paladin’s Legacy book Kings of The North. Elizabeth uncovered it herself today on her website Paksworld. It is expected to be published in the US by Del Rey March 22 and in the UK by Orbit March 24 next year. I loved Oath of Fealty (Paladin’s Legacy book 1) and I will definitely get this one. I assume this is the US cover though if I remember correctly the last book had the same cover in both UK and the US.

King Kieri’s realm has been destabilised by political wrangling and his court is blind to the dangers – until an assassination attempt on their king. And when this backfires, Kieri’s enemies start planning an invasion using dragonfire, a force unseen for hundreds of years. In King Mikeli’s adjoining kingdom, his crown is threatened by a bandit prince. Alured the Black claims his lineage gives him dominion over all the lands. His ambition is boundless, his methods are ruthless and he will not be swayed from his goal, whether or not it undermines a region already on the brink of war. Dark mages also watch for weakness and hunger for their own lost powers. The Kings of the North must plan wisely, as disaster is a sword’s breadth away.

It is available at Amazon US and UK

Title: The Ambassador’s Mission
Series: Traitor Spy Trilogy 1
Author: Trudi Canavan
Jacket art: Steve Stone [portfolio]
Hardback: 528 pages
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Review copy from the publisher
Order:Amazon US | UK | B&N | sfbok

As the son of late High Lord Akkarin, savior of the city, and Sonea, the former street urchin turned Black Magician, Lorkin has a legacy of heroism and adventure to live up to. So when Lord Dannyl takes the position of Guild Ambassador to Sachaka, Lorkin volunteers to be his assistant in the hopes of making his mark on the world.

When news come that Lorkin is in danger, the law forbids Black Magicians leaving the city forces Sonea to trust that Dannyl will save him, and now Cery needs her as never before. Someone has been assassinating Thieves, and when his family is targeted he finds evidence that this Thief Hunter uses Magic.

Either a member of the Guild is hunting down the Thieves one by one, or there is – once again – a rogue on the streets of Imardin. But this one has full control of their powers – and is willing to kill with them.

The Author

Trudi Canavan is relatively new for me. I started reading The Black Magician Trilogy (The Magicians’ Guild, Novice, High Lord) after a slightly tippsy literary discussion on a company outing in November 2009. A colleague borrowed me the trilogy and I was hooked, thank you M. I also read Age of Five trilogy (Priestess of the White, Last of the Five, Voice of the Gods) and I liked it too.

Information

The jacket has a fine staff wielding figure in some kind of fighting stance overlaid with a tower/cityscape and some signs on it.

There is three good maps at the beginning of the book over The Magicans’ Guild of Kyralia, The City of Imardin and The Land of Kyralia. There is no maps of Sachaka where most of the ambassador’s adventures take place.

At the back of the book there is a Glossary of animals, plants/food, clothing and weaponry, countries/peoples in the region, titles/positions and other terms that you will find useful.

There is also Lord Dannyl’s Guide to Slum Slang and Acknowledgements at the end.

Background

Sonea was a street urchin, a rogue mage and then she became a black magician in the first series The Black Magician Trilogy. Her boyfriend gave his last power so she could defeat the Sachaka invaders and save the city. They fought the invaders with the help of her childhood friend Cery and the thieves guild. Some time later she gave birth to Lorkin. Now Lorkin is a young man living in the shadow of his legendary mother. This is explained well in the book

Worldbuilding

Half of the action takes place in the City of Imardin in Kyralia and the Magicians’ Guild so that is fleshed out quite well in glimpses and short backgrounds. For example every year they used to Purge poor people from the inner city before winter, that has stopped now leading to all kinds of interesting changes in the city. It was at one of those Purges Sonea discovered her magic ability. The author fills in the background and social settings into the action and suspense in a way that works well for me.

The land of Sachaka where Lorkin goes as the Ambassador’s assistant is not as well described but then its not there Lorkin end up.The Ambassadors long term job is to get Sachaka to free it’s slaves and to join the Alliance. The travel there gives a good general orientation. By the time the book ends we have a glimpse of the underground Traitor society and their hidden city. I will not ruin the surprises for you by telling you details.

Plot

There are two plot lines in this story Lorkin’s in Sachaka and Sonea’s in Imardin.

Sonea is restricted to temple grounds and the hospital as one of two Black Magicians in the Guild. If she ever leaves them she will be exiled outside the alliance never to return. Black Magic is powerful and the Guild doesn’t trust anyone wielding it. Cery, her childhood friend is a prominent thief. But someone is killing thieves in the city. They call the murderer the Thief Hunter. When Cery is at a meeting with another crime boss named Skellin his family is killed. Evidence shows that magic was involved. He turns to Sonea for help, either there is someone in the Guild doing the killings or they have a rogue mage in the city. They find some unlikely allies in the hunt that goes through a for me a changed city. Much have changed since we saw them last.

Sonea’s son Lorkin goes as an ambassador’s assistant to Sachaka. Sonea fear for his life as Sachaka is known for family blood feuds even for outcasts like the black magicians that invaded Kyralia she killed. He leaves anyway together with Ambassador Dannyl. Both he and Dannyl are really there to study the history of magic. Dannyl because he is writing a history of magic and Lorkin because he wants to find new kinds of magic like his father did. Quit soon after their arrival there is an attempt on Lorkins life but he is rescued and have to flee with the slave underground who calls themselves the Traitors.

There is also what I believe is a trilogy plot line, someone is subverting the kingdom of Kyralia with Rot a new and habit forming drug. What is their long time goal? I think you will get some of the answers at the end of this book.

I liked the narration that switches between Sonea and Lorkin, particularly when it stayed with the one where things heated up until some resolution before switching back.

Characterization

The characters are easy to love and be interested in even if I sometimes feels that there could be more challenges for them. I am a character guy, I like to like my characters, I like when it goes well for them but they have to have challenges that presses them and here Lorkin got it but Sonea never breaks a sweat.

The Black Magician Sonea we know from previous books, she feels frustrated by all the restrictions surrounding her especially when she learns her son has disappeared. She also involve herself in Guild politics when it comes to change old unfair rules that prohibit the mages from lower classes to socialize with their kin as any poor is of ‘dubious character’. Her helping Cery hunt down the Thief Hunter is in fact a small part of her story that is mostly about changing the system.

For Sonea’s son Lorkin this is a coming of age story. He is out of his legendary mother’s shadow and has to stand on his own. He gets to experience life in Sachaka from the bottom in an illuminating and character building way. I liked the clever way he handled the Ambassador’s Mission and his father’s promise.

A love interest is also nice spice to any story and Lorkin’s is just what the doctor ordered.

My View

It is great being back in the Black Magician Universe again with Sonea and her friends. The Ambassador’s Mission is enjoyable straightforward fantasy with easy to love characters and a bit of Fantasy Opera and Romance in it.

The Ambassador’s Mission works as a stand alone novel if you want to start with Trudi Canavan but you will understand more of the background and the characters if you read The Black Magician Trilogy before.

The Ambasador’s Mission is a great start for a series, I will definitely get the rest.

This week’s Formidable Female Protagonists contain one of my favorite protagonists, Nimisha. Its fun researching the list; I pick up new books to read all the time. I got 47 more protagonists to go, got six more last week. The females are carefully selected by me, their names written on paper, folded and put in one of two bowls, one for new-to-me and one for read-by-me. I then select four read and one new-to-me and write about them. I am open to suggestions for more females to include.

1. Margaret Bain – Seven of One (Sheri S. Tepper)
2. Jenny Casey – Cyborg Pilot (Elizabeth Bear)
3. Nimisha Boynton-Rondymnse – First Family Castaway (Anne McCaffrey)
4. Freya Nakamachi-47 – Soulful Machine (Charles Stross)
5. Nausicaä – Ecological Princess (Hayao Miyazaki)

Margaret Bain – Seven of One

Books: The Margarets (2007)
Author: Sheri S. Tepper
Publisher: Eos (Harper Collins) 2007
Genre: Science Fiction | Fantasy | Space Opera

Margaret Bain grows up a lonely child on Martian moon Phobos and as many such kids she has make-believe friends. The friends include a healer, a telepath, a warrior, a linguist, a queen and a spy who had different names and lived on different worlds. The difference is that her friends come alive as extensions of her personality at different times in her life.

1. When Margaret is nine Wilvia is the first to split off when she meets her future husband Prince Jozire.
2. At twelve, she is on earth and is granted a water ration while another one of her imaginary splits off is not granted a water ration. She becomes the foster daughter of the being known as the Gardener on another planet.
3. At twenty-two another split occurs and one Margaret is sold as a bond slave.
4. Another Margaret marries the man who loves her and goes to the colony world Bright.
5. One Margaret is a shaman
6. The lone male of the split becomes a warrior.

Full of fascinating characters and beautifully detailed settings, Tepper’s complex and multifaceted far-future SF novel follows the many selves of Mars colonist Margaret Bain on a mission to save the human race from annihilation.

Humanity got the eternal hatred of tha foul-tempered Quaatar a long time ago when some pre-humans stowed away on one of their survey ship. Now humankind is at the brink of self-destruction through overpopulation and ecological collapse. The farsighted Gentherans have taken up the human cause within the Interstellar Trade Organization, but as Earthgov struggles to conform to ISTO’s enforced sterilization laws while trading excess children for offworld water, the Quaatar continue plotting to destroy humanity.

Only Margaret, a secret organization called the Third Order of the Siblinghood and the truth behind an old Gentheran folktale can stop the genocide and give humanity a future.

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Jenny Casey – Cyborg Pilot

Books: Hammered (2004), Scaredown (2004), Worldwired (2005)
Series: Jenny Casey Trilogy
Author: Elizabeth Bear
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Military Science Fiction | First Contact | Space Opera

Jenny Casey used to be a former retired Canadian special forces living in the hellish streets of Hartford, Connecticut. Earth is in shambles from environmental disasters. Jenny becomes a pawn in game of world dominance between Canada and China over being the first to reach the stars. In Hammered Jenny tries to survive, in Scardown she has to fly and in Worldwired she has to teach the aliens to talk with each other. The world is a bit noir and gritty as Elizabeth Bear likes to write.

Hammered

Jenny Casey is hiding from herself and the Canadian authorities in former USA. She is half metal since a war accident, now her metal half is acting up. And now her former handler wants her back so he sends her whacked out sister. Mix in an escaped AI and new technologies derived from alien space ships found on Mars and you have a very down to earth Space Opera. Jenny might be the only one that has the reaction time and the wiring to handle the new tech. But she will have to work for people she hates again and suffer another set of operations to replace her failing prophesies.

Scardown

For being about the world’s first FTL ship it’s a lot about earth and staying in orbit. More about the interesting alien tech is revealed in this novel. International tension rises as Canada and China race to be the first to fly faster than light. There are many aspects to this book. I like the ecological aspect and the aliens that comes to visit. I would hate to live in the world she paints, but it is very realistic.

Worldwired

The second book in the Jenny Casey Trilogy, Scaredown left the world on the brink of war just as the aliens arrived. World ecology is in scrambles after centuries of misuse and the PanChinese dropped a meteorite on Montreal, center of the Commonwealth since England sunk under the sea, causing further damage to an already fragile system. The world face a few years of darkness and cold before global warming kicks in with a vengeance. As a last resort Casey and company crashes one of the starships into the sea infecting the world with hacked alien nanites under the command of Richard, the AI.

Elizabeth Bear has an annoying habit of building up to a decisive point and then spending twenty pages talking about other stuff until you get any resolution. Otherwise it is good. It’s all good, it’s just frustrating sometimes. I think she does it just to tease us readers.

Wordwired is the final book in the Jenny Casey Trilogy, but I hope she will write more books in this universe and the people in it. The contact team tries to establish communication with the birdcage aliens and the shiptree aliens. Elizabeth has made up some really original aliens; I haven’t heard anything like the birdcage people before.

The AI’s Richard and his alter ego Andre try to save the planet from catastrophe while the sleazy political intrigue continues unabated. PanChina is responsible for the meteor hit on Canada and the Commonwealth wants them to pay. At the same time both countries are suffering from internal political conflicts. The Unitek Corporation play commonwealth against PanChina and uses the opposition in both countries to help. Unitek wants control of the alien nanotechnology.

Exellent series. Pity it’s over. Hmm, I need more books

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Nimisha Boynton-Rondymnse – First Family Castaway

Book: Nimsha’s Ship (1998)
Author: Anne McCaffrey
Publishers: Del Ray | Corgi Adult| Bantam Pres | Random Houses (UK) | Ballantine
Genre: Science Fiction | First Contact

This is one of my favorite Anne McCaffre books, mainly because of Nimisha’s charming personality, her competence and the emphasis on friendship and romance. The first contact situation and how it is resolved is also quite attractive. If you are new to Anne and into gritty fast paced adventure you should maybe start with her Pern stories.

On Vega III, Lady Nimisha Boynton-Rondymense loves the challenging world of her father, Lord Tionel, owner and principal starship designer of the famous Rondymense Ship Yards. Precociously gifted, Nimisha becomes his secret assistant–and, in the aftermath of a shocking tragedy, his chosen successor at the helm of the Ship Yards.

When Nimisha takes an experimental ship on a solo test flight, something goes horribly awry, marooning her light-years from home on a planet as deadly as it is beautiful. Now the ruthless members of a rival branch of the Rondymense family are given the chance they’ve been waiting for: to reclaim the Ship Yards by any means necessary.

Only Nimisha’s ingenious child, Cuiva, stands in their way. But for how long? For just when her daughter needs her most, Nimisha is in a precarious situation herself–and unable to help. But Nimisha has never given up in her life–and she’s not about to start now . . .

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Freya Nakamachi-47 – Soulful Machine

Book: Saturn’s Children
Author: Charles Stross
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Science Fiction | Space Opera | Post human

Drunk on battery acid Freya consider jumping from the balcony of the pleasure palace floating in the stratosphere of Venus. It is the 200th anniversary of the extinction of her One True Love, the human race. Some bored Aristos stumbles on her there and take enough interest to start a fight. Annoyed and drunk Freya ripes the head off one of them. That particular Aristo take offence and promise to pay her back. Aristos is the name of the cruel slave owning class. Most of the robots are slaves and called arbeiters.

Freya is of a line of pleasure robots, the Rhea line that help each other out, they buy out indentured siblings and they also share memories of each other’s lives with memory chips. Freya has just put in Juliett’s chip and now she has to get off Venus before the aristo or his henchmen can find her. She is offered a job on Mercury that includes the travel there, she jumps on the opportunity.

After she lands on Venus and make the acquaintance of the sentient hotel she has a run in with some siblings of the offended aristo. Her new job turn out to be to work for the Jeeves Corporation as a courier carrying some organic matter in her womb, avoid the pink police (nice name), and deliver it to the recipient on Mars.

This is when it starts to heat up for her. She learns more about Julietta during her trip. There are enemy operators on the ship but she succeeds in avoiding them and the pink police. She is also more or less force-seduced by Aristo Granita Ford who turns out to be in league with the police.

The rest you have to read yourself.

This is another story about Freedom and self governance. It is thought provoking, action packed, seedy (at least some) and in an imaginative original world. I love it!

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Nausicaä – Ecological Princess

Comics: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind 1-7 (2004)
Author: Hayao Miyazaki
Publisher: VIZ Media
Genre: Manga

Manga isn’t exactly new to me but it’s not something I usually reads, Nausicaä comes well recommended so I think I can include one as a teaser.

Nausicaä (ナウシカ Naushika?, pronounced [na.uɕika]) is a fictional character from the science fiction manga and anime film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind created by Hayao Miyazaki. Nausicaä is the princess of the Valley of the Wind, a very small nation with fewer than 500 inhabitants (and steadily declining in population). She is the eleventh child of King Jihl, and the only one to live to maturity. She is rarely seen without her Mehve or her companion, Teto the fox-squirrel. In the legends of Dorok, she is also called “The Blue Clad One”.

Nausicaa is the gifted teenaged princess of a small valley on a devastated far-future Earth, where a growing poisonous forest is threatening the last human settlements. As an excellent gunship pilot, she is drawn by an old alliance into a war between neighboring kingdoms. But the pacifistic Nausicaa is much more interested in exploring the secrets of the forest. This complex ecological adventure epic – a true comics classic – is the only extended manga work by renowned anime director Miyazaki (Spirited Away). His lush, detailed art, reproduced here in sepia ink, is more reminiscent of European artists such as Moebius than of most manga, but manga fans will be drawn into the story nonetheless. Highly recommended for teens and adults alike, this tremendous series belongs in every library.

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Read Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | index | afterword

Betwixt is believed to be included in the CW’s Fall 2010 schedule. Rumor also says it will be partnered with Vampire Diaries (on Thursdays then?).

The buzz talks about Vampire Diaries and Smallville cross-overs, be as that may there are some news about the cast.

Celine’s mother Vanessa is played by Chelah Horsdal (Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, The L Word. Dr. McCann in Lexmas - Smallville.

Celine’s father Michael Garrett is played by Tyler McClendon (Todd in Stargate Atlantis, minor roles in Smallville and the Watchmen). Could the last name have changed from “Halstead” to “Garrett?” Sounds possible…

The main characters are played by:

Jessy Schram (Life) plays Morgan Brower, who can transform into a creature with claws, fangs and yellow eyes initially she wakes up in the night with dirt and blood all over her and no memory of where she’d been at night.

Allison Miller (Kings) is Celine Halstead (or Garrett?), an “ethereal beauty, who can fly.

Josh Henderson (Desperate Housewives) plays Nix Uyarak a runaway from Alaska who lives in the wood and has the ability to see a faintly glowing halo of light around people who are about to die.

Other casts include:

• Aaron Douglas (BSG, Smallville) in a possible recurring role.
• Almeera Jiwa (Soulstice) as Laura and Leah Gibson (Watchmen) as Emily. Two girls who gets into a dangerous predicament at the start of the pilot. This is almost surely just guest roles.
• Tessa Thompson (Veronica Mars) has been cast but her character is not yet announced. It could possibly be the role of Jenny.
• Brandon Jay MacLaren (Red Ranger in Power Rangers, Human Target, Smallville, Harper’s Island, and the upcoming Tron Legacy) plays Steiner a video game geek character.
• Blair Redford (Passions) plays Moth.
• Austin Butler (Jones on LUX) plays Cameron the twin brother of Morgan who transforms into a wild beast with claws, fangs and yellow eyes..
• David Gallagher has been cast as Tim Bleeker, a fellow changeling that’s known as a ‘cutter’, one who’s gone to the dark side. He’s further detailed as having a dark and slightly androgynous look about him that is both mysterious and sexy.

Sources: thr.com, thefutoncritic.com, betwixtonline.com, imdb.com, ksitetv.com, deadline.com

Elizabeth Moon’s bestselling science fiction novels featuring Kylara Vatta have earned her rave reviews and comparison to such giants as Robert Heinlein and Lois McMaster Bujold. But as Moon’s devoted fans know, she started her career as a fantasy writer. The superb trilogy known as The Deed of Paksenarrion is widely judged to be one of the great post-Tolkien fantasies, a masterpiece of sustained world-building and realistic military action. Now Moon returns to this thrilling realm for the first time in nearly twenty years. The result: another classic in the making.

Thanks to Paks’s courage and sacrifice, the long-vanished heir to the half-elven kingdom of Lyonya has been revealed as Kieri Phelan, a formidable mercenary captain who earned a title—and enemies—in the neighboring kingdom of Tsaia. Now, as Kieri ascends a throne he never sought, he must come to terms with his own half-elven heritage while protecting his new kingdom from his old enemies—and those he has not yet discovered.

Meanwhile, in Tsaia, Prince Mikeli prepares for his own coronation. But when an assassination attempt nearly succeeds, Mikeli suddenly faces the threat of a coup. Acting swiftly, Mikeli strikes at the powerful family behind the attack: the Verrakaien, magelords possessing ancient sorcery, steeped in death and evil. Mikeli’s survival—and that of Tsaia—depend on the only Verrakai whose magery is not tainted with innocent blood.

Two kings stand at a pivotal point in the history of their worlds. For dark forces are gathering against them, knit in a secret conspiracy more sinister—and far more ancient—than they can imagine. And even Paks may find her gods-given magic and peerless fighting skills stretched to the limit—and beyond.

It was with great anticipation I opened the package from amazon and beheld this shiny new book from Orbit. It even arrived the correct day, good job Royal Mail. I started reading almost immateriality. The Dramatis Personae was quite extensive followed by little more facts about the main cast.

• Kieri Phelan – the lost heir of to the kingdom of Lyonya former mercenary commander and duke.
• Jandalir Arcolin – Kieri’s second in command now has to pick up the duke’s reins.
• Dorrin Verrakai – outlawed by her magic wielding family now a captain in the company
• Mikeli Vostan Kirieli – crown prince of Tsaia about to be crowned king
• Paksenarrion (Paks) – Paladin of Gird, former mercenary in the Dike’s company

This is mostly the story of Dorrin and Jandalir who both has to shoulder responsibilities and roles they never expected. They have to overcome numerous obstacles and they both grow immensely. Dorrin has to face both her family and her own magical abilities. While Jandalir has to take charge of the Mercenary Company, become a Duke and protect some villages against bandits.

Kieri and Mikeli are both new rulers that face similar problems but from a different starting point, both countries are threatened in some way or another, there isn’t so much resolution on their part as on Dorrin and Jandalir’s part but that feels right for a trilogy. We have something to look forward to in book two and three.

Paks is in the story but as a minor character.

Elizabeth usually have some crafty old ladies in her stories, at least in her SF, here there is a formidable enemy ambassador to Phelans crowning cermony.

Elizabeth Moon is a fantastic story teller with vivid hearty characters you can’t help falling in love with, which she proves again with Oath of Fealty a mature, competent and fulfilling read. Oath of Fealty is a great start of a series that also works as a standalone book. You can read it without first reading Deeds of Paks but you will get greater satisfaction from it if you do.

Blurb

After centuries of calm, the Nameless One is stirring. An army is gathering: giants, ogres and other creatures joining forces from across the Desolate Lands, united for the first time in history under one black banner. By the spring, or perhaps sooner, the Nameless One and his forces will be at the walls of the great city of Avendoom.

Unless Shadow Harold, master thief, can find some way to stop them.

Epic fantasy at its best, Shadow Prowler is the first in a trilogy that follows professional thief Shadow Harold on his quest for a magic Horn that will restore peace to the kingdom of Siala. Accompanied by an elfin princess, ten Wild Hearts – the most experienced and dangerous royal fighters – and the King’s court jester (who may be more than he seems .

Format & Information

This is the first book I received for review.
Published by Simon & Schuster UK, April 2010
Format Trade Paperback, 400 pages
Translated by Andrew Bromfield, who translated Sergei Lukyanenko’s Night Watch series

World Building

The world Alexey Pehov builds feels refreshingly new. The story takes place in the border lands of the civilized world. It starts in the capital city before they head out towards an ancient dungeon/burial ground and all parts have their own story, their own background, their own history and it all feels interesting and fits well with the story being told.

The history of the world has elements familiar to fantasy readers. The first race were the Ogres followed by Orcs and Elves before the lesser races of gnomes, dwarfs, humans and such came along.

This is also a world where the gods sometimes walk among ordinary men. Alexey pulls off the god of thieves mysterious yet helpful appearance in a believable and intriguing way.

Plot

The story is told in first person by the thief Harold. He is commissioned to heist an item from a local aristocrat. He doesn’t know he has been lied to and that it is only a test to see if he is the right man for the job. He is then blackmailed against his will to take the most dangerous and potentially legendary commission in his life, to steal the Rainbow Horn from it’s resting place deep down Hrad Spein, a long abandoned dungeon now occupied by denizens of the dark.

Before he can leave though he has to sort out a few personal problems, like the local Thieves Guild wanting to kill him for not joining, being accused of stealing a horse by this and that murdering group, and a demon in need of a thief. He also has to enter the forbidden city, an area of wild magic that has been sealed off from the city, and retrieve a map of Hrad Spein for his mission. Along the way he also picks up a hitchhiker.

The Nameless-One has been biding his time for centuries, building armies and he is now prepared to strike and unless Harold can retrieve and recharge The Rainbow Horn, a legendary item that keeps the Nameless-One from entering this land, he will attack and sweep trough the border lands coming springtime.

There are also hints of another mystic antagonist simply called The Master I am sure we will see more off in the upcoming books.

Previous expeditions to the Hrad Spein has simply disappeared with only one returning survivor driven mad by what he experienced. So this time the King decides to send a small group of Wild Hearts soldiers, a thief, an elfish princess and a gnome jester in the hope they will have more success.

Characterization

I like the characters in the story a lot, and Alexey makes it easy to do so, they all have quirks or traits that makes them interesting and believable. Yet they don’t fall into stereotypes. Elves here have fangs and are not airy ethereal wisps for example. The Wild Hearts are an elite band of unruly soldiers all with distinct background and a lot of friendly banter. Kli-Kli the Gnome is really annoying as I am sure is the authors intention, but he also seems to be much more competent than he tries to appear.

My View

Shadow Prowler is a fresh take on high fantasy about a colorful and charming Rogue, with exceptional skill and a healthy interest in avoiding heroics, blackmailed into saving the kingdom and maybe the rest of the world. This is the first translated novel in the Chronicles of Siala by Russian writer Alexey Pehov and I can’t wait on the next books in the Trilogy Shadow Chaser and Blizzard of Shadows. I would like to recommend this book to all readers of fantasy especially if you like a good high fantasy adventure.

Extras

• Alexey Pehov homepage
• Excerpt from Shadow Prowler
• The Big Idea: Alexey Pehov on Whatever

The cast looks really promising, I liked Allison in Kings (sad what happened to that show) and dito with Jesse in Life, another show that I liked that died a premature death.

For three teenagers dark mystery has always lurked at the corner of the eyes and the edge of sleep. Beautiful Morgan D’Amici wakes in her trailer park home with dirt and blood under her fingernails. Paintings come alive under Ondine Mason’s violet-eyed gaze. Haunted runaway Nix Saint-Michael sees halos of light around people about to die.

At a secret summer rave in the woods, the three teenagers learn of their true, changeling nature and their uncertain, intertwined destinies. Riveting, unflinching, beautiful, Betwixt shows a magic as complex and challenging as any ordinary reality.

About three teens – Morgan Brower, Nix Uyarak and Celine Halstead – who discover they’re actually “changelings,” the children of mythological fairies.

Jessy Schram (“Life”, “Veronica Mars”) as Morgan, who can transform into a creature with claws, fangs and yellow eyes.

Allison Miller (Kings) as Celine Halstead, an “ethereal beauty, who can fly.

David Gallagher as Tim Bleeker, a fellow changeling that’s known as a “cutter,” one who’s gone to the dark side. He’s further detailed as having “a dark and slightly androgynous look about him that is both mysterious and sexy .

From the book: When three teens, each haunted by uncanny happenings, receive invitations to a top-secret summer solstice celebration, they expect a typical Portland rave. Instead, they find an elaborate ritual staged to inform them about a secret, powerful nonhuman race to which they actually belong. Eagerness to learn about the race will pull readers through the first 200 pages, which introduce the connections hurling the teens toward the truth. Thereafter, the momentum slackens, with Smith haphazardly doling out facts about the teens’ true physiology and situation, and introducing confrontations with evil renegades that end before they have truly begun. This isn’t advertised as a series launcher, but many readers will emerge hoping for additional installments that clarify hazy plot elements and further develop Smith’s interesting characters—whose matter-of-fact multiculturalism is a bonus. Aspects of this dark fantasy will remind some readers of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight (2005), especially the poetically limned Pacific Northwest setting. But the language in this book is unusually raw, and occasional sexual allusions, often in a leering context, will substantially narrow the book’s audience. Grades 11-12.
Jennifer Mattson Amazon.com Booklist

Feature writer Elizabeth Chandler (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) has penned the script for the full film pilot and is executive producing with Paul Stupin (Make It or Break It).

Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon

Perfectly timed this time by amazon, the parcel arrived on time. I feel a  quick read coming up.

Elizabeth Moon’s bestselling science fiction novels featuring Kylara Vatta have earned her rave reviews and comparison to such giants as Robert Heinlein and Lois McMaster Bujold. But as Moon’s devoted fans know, she started her career as a fantasy writer. The superb trilogy known as The Deed of Paksenarrion is widely judged to be one of the great post-Tolkien fantasies, a masterpiece of sustained world-building and realistic military action. Now Moon returns to this thrilling realm for the first time in nearly twenty years. The result: another classic in the making.

Thanks to Paks’s courage and sacrifice, the long-vanished heir to the half-elven kingdom of Lyonya has been revealed as Kieri Phelan, a formidable mercenary captain who earned a title—and enemies—in the neighboring kingdom of Tsaia. Now, as Kieri ascends a throne he never sought, he must come to terms with his own half-elven heritage while protecting his new kingdom from his old enemies—and those he has not yet discovered.

Meanwhile, in Tsaia, Prince Mikeli prepares for his own coronation. But when an assassination attempt nearly succeeds, Mikeli suddenly faces the threat of a coup. Acting swiftly, Mikeli strikes at the powerful family behind the attack: the Verrakaien, magelords possessing ancient sorcery, steeped in death and evil. Mikeli’s survival—and that of Tsaia—depend on the only Verrakai whose magery is not tainted with innocent blood.

Two kings stand at a pivotal point in the history of their worlds. For dark forces are gathering against them, knit in a secret conspiracy more sinister—and far more ancient—than they can imagine. And even Paks may find her gods-given magic and peerless fighting skills stretched to the limit—and beyond.

The Crucible of Empire by Eric Flint & K. D. Wentworth

Also arrived on time, another long awaited book. Loved the first book.

When humans and their Jao overlords joined forces in a desperate battle to save the Earth from the malevolent race called the Ekhat, the relationship between the two species was changed forever. Two years later, humans and Jao are learning to work in an uneasy alliance. Then, in a distant nebula, three Jao ships detect signs of another sentient species during a battle with the Ekhat. Only one of the ships returns, with most of its crew or injured.

Earth’s Preceptor Ronz suspects the unknown species was actually the Lleix, a name out of the Jao’s past, and an ancient shame from  the period in their development when they themselves were still ruled by the maniacal Ekhat.

Ronz sends the Lexington, a massive ship built on Earth and crewed by both human and Jao, to investigate. The Lexington dwarfs any ship ever built by the Jao and even outmasses Ekhat ships, which may enable it to survive the attack that destroyed two of the three Jao ships. But if the expedition does find a surviving remnant of the Leleix, will the survivors trust the Jao? And should they?