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Sunday, January 17, 2010

Cindy's Anticipated 2010 List

There are so many books that come out every year. This is just a highlight of some of the books that I'm looking forward to. I tried to highlight some of the books that my fellow colleagues haven't featured so that we can get a wider range of books.

All blurbs are courtesy of Amazon unless otherwise noted.
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Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (January 26, 2010)

Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible. And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.

Although previously released in the UK it's making it's way to the US this January. I am highly awaiting this story as it seems out of the box. I also really love the cover!
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The Dark Eye's War: Book Three of the Blood of the Southland by David B Coe (February 16, 2010)

A bitter old woman’s curse has set in motion events that have felled innocent lives across an already war-weary land. She has paid the ultimate price, and an end to the curse is at hand, but her evil has created chaos and destruction. Qirsi all across the Southlands are dying from a plague that turns their own magic against them, allowing an Eandi army from Stelpana to boldly march into their territory. But magic has many faces, and the Qirsi aren’t the only ones cursed; even as Stelpana’s force wins battles, an insidious magic has corrupted the spells of their sorcerers, and what began as a military triumph is suddenly jeopardized. The future of the Southlands hangs in the balance, as the deeds of previous generations wreak terrible consequences on both sides in this misbegotten war.

As stated in my 2009 best of series, I loved the Blood of the Southland series. I can't wait to see how this trilogy ends and I'm expecting some really great battle scenes ahead.
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Map of All Things: Terra Incognita Book Two by Kevin J Anderson

After terrible atrocities by both sides, the religious war between Tierra and Uraba has spread and intensified, irreparably dividing the known world. What started as a series of skirmishes has erupted into a full-blown crusade. Now that the Uraban leader, Soldan-Shah Omra, has captured the ruined city of Ishalem, his construction teams discover a priceless ancient map in an underground vault - a map that can guide brave explorers to the mysterious Key to Creation. Omra dispatches his adoptive son Saan to sail east across the uncharted Middlesea on a quest to find it. In Tierra, Captain Criston Vora has built a grand new vessel, and sets out to explore the great unknown and find the fabled land of Terravitae. But Criston cannot forget his previous voyage that ended in shipwreck and disaster . . . and the loss of his beloved wife Adrea, who - unbeknownst to him - fights to survive against palace intrigues and constant threats against her life in far-off Uraba. For Adrea is now the wife of the soldan-shah and mother of his adopted son . . .

Although I never thought that I'd be awaiting what happens in this book I am. After reading the first book I just keep thinking what will happen, what's going on. And that makes it an eagerly anticipated novel.
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The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: the thing Beneath the Bed by Patrick Rothfuss & Nathan Taylor

This is not a book for children. It looks like a children's book. It has pictures. It has a saccharine-sweet title. The main characters are a little girl and her teddy bear. But all of that is just protective coloration. The truth is, this is a book for adults with a dark sense of humor and an appreciation of old-school faerie tales. There are three separate endings to the book. Depending on where you stop, you are left with an entirely different story. One ending is sweet, another is horrible. The last one is the true ending, the one with teeth in it. The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle is a dark twist on the classic children's picture-book. I think of it as Calvin and Hobbes meets Coraline, with some Edward Gorey mixed in. Simply said: This is not a book for children!

It has a girl and her bear. That hooked me the moment I saw the cover. I can't wait to see what this holds and I'm trying very hard not to look at too many pictures because this might just be one of the most exciting books for 2010 for myself and a must read!
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Shadow's Son by Jon Spunk(June 2010)

Caim makes his living on the edge of a blade, but when a routine job goes south, he is thrust into the middle of an insidious plot. Pitted against crooked lawmen, rival killers, and sorcery from the Other Side, his only allies are Josephine, the socialite daughter of his last victim, and Kit, a guardian spirit no one else can see. To unmask a conspiracy at the heart of the empire, he must claim his birthright as the Shadow's Son....

Although it sounds like a regular fantasy I am sure it's anything but. Even if it does have the regular fantasy flare to it I'm still hooked!
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Elves: Once Walked with Gods by James Barclay

The elves have fled to Calius, seeking to escape the overwhelming power of the demonic Garonin. A desperate last stand in their own dimension saved the race but only at the cost of 100,000 elves lost to the Garonin. The elf who led that fight, Takaar, is blamed for the loss and has gone into hiding. Now the weakened elf race is tearing itself apart in civil war, human mercenaries have arrived in Calius and are ripping the continent apart. Only one elf can unite the race. And only one elf believes in him. A young warrior named Auum sets out to bring back the shamed hero and save the elven race. James Barclay's ELVES trilogy will tell the whole story of his immortal elven race, it will appeal to all fans of Tolkien and fantasy - this is a uniquely entertaining take on a fantasy staple for readers new to Barclay. And old readers of Barclay will welcome a return for one of their favourite creations and will also love seeing once of their favourite characters back - the Tai Gethan warriror Auum destined to be one of the Raven.

In my interview with James Barclay he gave a small look at this series and I was hooked. Although I probably would have been hooked even if I hadn't had a look at it. It has Elves which next to Dragons are some of my favorite creatures in the fantasy world.
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The Gaslight Dogs by Karin Lowachee (April 2010)

At the edge of the known world, an ancient nomadic tribe faces a new enemy-an Empire fueled by technology and war. A young spiritwalker of the Aniw and a captain in the Ciracusan army find themselves unexpectedly thrown together. The Aniw girl, taken prisoner from her people, must teach the reluctant soldier a forbidden talent – one that may turn the tide of the war and will surely brand him an outcast. From the rippling curtains of light in an Arctic sky, to the gaslit cobbled streets of the city, war is coming to the frozen north. Two people have a choice that will decide the fates of nations – and may cast them into a darkness that threatens to bring destruction to both their peoples.

Not something I would normally pick up but I keep getting drawn to this title. I can't wait to give this one a try.
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Lord of the Changing Winds by Rachel Neumeier (May 2010)

Little ever happens in the quiet villages of peaceful Feierabiand. The course of Kes’ life seems set: she’ll grow up to be an herb-woman and healer for the village of Minas Ford, never quite fitting in but always more or less accepted. And she’s content with that path — or she thinks she is. Until the day the griffins come down from the mountains, bringing with them the fiery wind of their desert and a desperate need for a healer. But what the griffins need is a healer who is not quite human . . . or a healer who can be made into something not quite human.

Griffins are almost as good as dragons in my opinion. Book two comes out the month after.
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The Last StormLord by Glenda Larke (2010)

Shale is the lowest of the low-an outcast from a poor village in the heart of the desert. In the desert water is life, and currency, and Shale has none. But he has a secret. It's the one thing that keeps him alive and may save all the cities of the Quartern in the days to come. If it doesn't get him killed first...

Terelle is a slave fleeing a life as a courtesan. She finds shelter in the home of an elderly painter but as she learns the strange and powerful secrets of his art she fears she may have traded a life of servitude for something far more perilous...

The Stormlord is dying in his tower and there is no one, by accident or design, to take his place. He brings the rain from the distant seas to his people. Without a Stormlord, the cities of the Quartern will wither and die.

Their civilization is at the brink of disaster. If Shale and Terelle can find a way to save themselves, they may just save them all. Water is life and the wells are running dry...

Another fantasy book that looks to bring some interesting thoughts to the world of fantasy.
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Quest for the Fey Brand: Book Two in the Weirdling Cycle
by Mortimus Clay (date to be announced)

I loved the Purloined Boy and can't wait to see what unique aspects Mortimus brings to this series.
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Legends of the Raven Series by James Barclay

A series after the chronicles of the Raven. I'm very excited for the US debut. After Barclay's US debut of the Raven series. I haven't had a chance to dive into all the Legends series but it's a goal of mine this year to finish up the Raven series! Raven to me!

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Dark Age Series by Mark Chadbourn

A series that continues after the Age of Misrule series. I loved that series and can't wait to see what Chadbourn brings to this series.

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Shadows of Apt 1,2, and 3 by Adrian Tchaikovsky

I have had the first book on my book shelf and haven't gotten to read it. The US release of this series by Pyr might just inspire me to sit down and read it.

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The White Shadow Saga: Book Two by A. P. Stephens (October 2010)

After his debut novel of The Stolen Moon of Londor, Stephens brings out his next book. I can't wait to see him grow as an author with this series.

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Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx by James Rollins

I loved the first Jake Ransom book and hope the series continues to live up to what I read the first time.

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The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan

Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them--Set--has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.


The use of the Egyptian gods really does sound like a nice touch. Rick Riordan is known for his Percy Jackson series so this should be an exciting series.

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Spellwright by Blake Charlton

Nicodemus is a young, gifted wizard with a problem. Magic in his world requires the caster to create spells by writing out the text . . . but he has always been dyslexic, and thus has trouble casting even the simplest of spells. And his misspells could prove dangerous, even deadly, should he make a mistake in an important incantation. Yet he has always felt that he is destined to be something more than a failed wizard. When a powerful, ancient evil begins a campaign of murder and disruption, Nicodemus starts to have disturbing dreams that lead him to believe that his misspelling could be the result of a curse. But before he can discover the truth about himself, he is attacked by an evil which has already claimed the lives of fellow wizards and has cast suspicion on his mentor. He must flee for his own life if he’s to find the true villain. But more is at stake than his abilities. For the evil that has awakened is a power so dread and vast that if unleashed it will destroy Nicodemus... and the world.

A debut that I am highly looking forward to. I can't wait to see what this author brings to the world of fantasy.

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Ghosts of Manhattan by George Mann (April 2010)

From the Pyr website:
In 1926, America is in a cold war with a sprawling British Empire and mobsters serial killings are occurring all over New York City. It's a time in need of The Ghost, the world's first Steampunk superhero.

The blurb alone sounds interesting. The fact that it deals with the British Empire as an alternate history is a plus too.

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Swords and Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery
Edited by Lou Anders and Jonathan Strahan

This is an anthology of some of the greatest authors; Steven Erikson, Glen Cook, Gene Wolfe, James Enge, C.J. Cherryh, K. J. Parker, Garth Nix, Michael Moorcock, Tim Lebbon, Robert Silverberg, Greg Keyes, Michael Shea, Scott Lynch, Tanith Lee, Caitlin R Kiernan, Bill Willingham, and Joe Abercrombie.

I love this type of fantasy and will be looking forward to see how some of these authors put their spin on the classic S&S type fantasy.

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Emerald Storm and Wintertide (Ryria 4 & 5) by Michael J Sullivan

Another one of my favorite independently published authors is Michael J Sullivan. A review of Nyphron Rising is still in the works but I can't wait to see what is in store as Sullivan is a great story teller and is taking his series to new heights.

9 comments:

ediFanoB said...

Great list.I just ordered The Gaslight Dogs by Karin Lowachee in advance.
Sounds really promising.

Cindy said...

Thanks!

That's actually one of the ones that's a must read. They all are in a way but this is a must read, going to see how it turns out.

ediFanoB said...

Cindy,
I hope you will review The Gaslight Dogs. I'm really interested in your opinion about this book.

I received a notification saying that my copy of The Gaslight Dogs will be delivered beginning of April. That means I will read and review it within April.

Cindy said...

I'm trying really hard not to overhype myself for any book because then it might not live up to what I think it might. But putting that list together made me more excited for the titles :)

Unknown said...

I'm pretty excited about Elves once Walked with Gods. Like you, elves are some of my favorite characters. Gaslight Dogs looks intriguing too, I'll have to look out for it.

Jules said...

Nice list,because of it I've just added three books to my TBR list (well four, because one of them is book two in a series). Thanks for the list.

ediFanoB said...

Cindy,
in the meantime I read the blurb of the Gaslight Dogs several times and now I'm sure it contains a secret message which says read me, read me, read me, read me, ...
I don't know whether this is permitted or not. Anyway it has nothing to do with hype.

In April we will get to know the truth...

Liviu said...

As I mentioned in my Anticipated Post, I liked Ms. Lowachee teen heroes mil-sf/space opera novels - the loose trilogy of Warchild, Burndive, Cagebird - well enough to try this one and I hope this will be a breakthrough novel for her

Nitin said...

Hi Cindy..

JHave recently finished Adult Fantasy series like Bartemius, Artemius, Girl with tattoo etc..

Could you suggest some unputdownable reads...

Nitin

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