Archive for bestselling fantasy books
New Fantasy Books for January 2009
Posted by: | CommentsBecause of entries by Simon R. Green, Michael Boatman, Charles Stross, Marcus Pelegrimas, Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon, Mark Del Franco, Raven Hart, and Kelley Armstrong, more than half of the contemporary/urban fantasy books released this month contain stories with male lead characters!
| Jan. 2, 2009 |  |
Ghosts by Randy Cribbs In his new novel, multiple award winning author Randy Cribbs, interweaves the fabric of Old St Augustine and its ghost-filled landscape with the sleepy modern town of today, building a mystery that forces three courageous young people on a mission to confront powerful spiritual forces they don’t understand. In a race against time, they discover the secret that can release spirits trapped ‘in between’. Ghosts is a most intriguing brew of apparitions, poltergeists and young romance. |
| Jan. 6, 2009 |  |
Host by Faith Hunter In a post-apocalyptic ice age, neomage Thorn St. Croix was nearly driven insane by her powers. She lived as a fugitive, disguised as a human, channeling her gifts for war into stone-magery. When she was discovered, her friends and neighbors accepted her, but warily. Not so the mage who arrives from the Council of Seraphs, who could be her greatest ally—or her most dangerous foe. And when her long-gone sister, Rose, is revealed to still be alive, Thorn must make a choice—and risk her own life in the process. |
| Jan. 6, 2009 |  |
Just Another Judgement Day, Nightside Book 9 There’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s got the Nightside’s rich and powerful quaking in their boots. He’s The Walking Man, and it’s his mission to exorcise sinners—with extreme prejudice. Problem is, the Nightside was built on sin and corruption, and The Walking Man makes no distinction between evildoers and those simply indulging themselves. He’ll leave the place a wasteland unless someone stops him, and P.I. John Taylor has been handed the job. No known magic or science can affect The Walking Man, and if John can’t discover his weakness, he’ll be facing the very Wrath of God… |
| Jan. 6, 2009 |  |
One More Bite I’ve already smoked the guy who was the pain in the CIA’s you-know-what for the past few years. But now, in the power vacuum left by Edward’s death, a struggle for supremacy has begun between his former allies. The CIA feels the balance must be maintained. So when an agent planted among the Weres discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven’s leader, I and my vampire hottie (and boss), Vayl, are brought in to take out the woman hired to do the deed, a killer who might be as wily and Gifted as ourselves. |
| Jan. 6, 2009 |  |
Mean Streets The best paranormal private investigators have been brought together in a single volume—and cases don’t come any harder than this. New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher delivers a hard-boiled tale in which Harry Dresden’s latest case may be his last. Nightside dweller John Taylor is hired by a woman to find something she lost—her memory—in a thrilling noir tale from New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green. |
| Jan. 15, 2009 |  |
The Revenant Road Obadiah Grudge’s father is dead and it’s time for the family funeral. Turns out Obadiah has inherited his father’s monster-killing business, his lunatic of a partner, and his pet Raven. It’s too bad he didn’t inherit his father’s skill. It seems Dad’s death has put Obadiah’s feet on The Revenant Road, and there’s no escape from that. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
The Vampire’s Revenge Tourists are heading to Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day–and Jack is racing through tunnels below the city to the edge of Hell itself to hold off a plot posed by the double-dead and demented. But Jack must also hold off his own desire for Connie Jones, the beautiful cop he turned into a vampire slayer. Connie, her blood running hotter than she can handle, can’t imagine the games that Jack is playing with her body and her mind, or that the other monster she’s falling in love with is all part of his devious plan. Welcome to the world of Jack McShane, a blue-eyed vampire who knows how crazy things can get–once you get a little taste for blood. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
The Map of Moments What if you were given a map to a magic that could change the worst moment of your life…for a price? |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Men of the Otherworld New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong has captivated readers with her spellbinding Women of the Otherworld series. Now, for the first time, in this collection of four tales she gives center stage to the men who love these sexy, supernatural women—the men who live on the other side of humanity…the wild side. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Seraph of Sorrow Slowly coming into her own, Jennifer Scales just may be the bridge to bring the two warring sides of her family together—provided she can survive learning the most ancient skills of dragonkind. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Blood Blade Welcome to the nightmare. There is a world you don’t know about, inhabited by supernatural creatures of darkness—vampires, werewolves, and all manner of savage, impossible beasts that live for terror and slaughter and blood. They are all around us but you cannot see them, for knowledge of their presence—so close and so hungry—would surely drive any ordinary human insane. But for centuries a special breed of hunter has kept the monsters at bay, preventing them from breaking through the increasingly fragile barriers protecting our mortal realm. These guardians are called skinners. But beware . . . for there are very few of them left. This one just got added to my Amazon shopping cart. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Unfallen Dead For a century the door between the land of Faerie and modern reality has been closed. But now signs point to the chance that the veil may lift again. Boston Police consultant Connor Grey is working to solve a string of murders that seem to point to the occult, in particular, the Fae Guild. With the return of his old Guild partner Connor is surrounded by events that just may kill him. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Kitty and The Dead Man’s Hand Already the alpha pair of Denver’s werewolf pack, Kitty and Ben now plan to tie the knot human-style by eloping to Vegas. Kitty is looking forward to sipping fru-fru drinks by the pool and doing her popular radio show on live TV, but her hotel is stocked with werewolf-hating bounty hunters. Elsewhere on the Strip an old-school magician might be wielding the real thing; the vampire community is harboring a dark secret; and the irresistible star of a suspicious animal act is determined to seduce Kitty. Sin City has never been so wild, and this werewolf has never had to fight harder to save not only her wedding, but her very life. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Spiral Hunt They call her “Hound,” and with her unique supernatural sense Evie can track nearly anything—lost keys, vanished family heirlooms, even missing people. And though she knows to stay out of the magical undercurrent that runs beneath Boston’s historic streets, a midnight phone call from a long-vanished lover will destroy the careful boundaries she has drawn. Now, to pay a years-old debt, Evie must venture into the shadowy world that lies between myth and reality, where she will find betrayal, conspiracies, and revelations that will shatter all she believes about herself and the city she claims as home. When the Hunt is on, the Hound must run. |
See also:
New Fantasy Books for December 2008
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s the list of new fantasy books for December 2008. I’ve noticed that the number of new fantasy books being released each month is growing at a steady pace. Many of the books being released fall into the “epic” or “high” fantasy books genre but I’ve sifted through them and selected those that qualify as contemporary or urban fantasy books.
The Unnatural Inquirer (Nightside, Book 8), by Simon R. Green
The engaging eighth book in Green’s popular offbeat Nightside series drops another paranormal mystery in the lap of series hero John Taylor, a PI in the shadowy realm of Nightside. Pen Donavon, who claims to have a DVD depicting actual footage of the afterlife, has vanished shortly after signing an exclusive deal with a tabloid newspaper. Various factions seeking to control the Nightside are leaving a considerable body count behind as they hunt for him. Accompanied by sexy half-demon reporter Bettie Divine, Taylor navigates the treacherous terrain with his typical skill before tracking down the real force behind Donavon’s disappearance. Green skillfully blends action and humor, and shows no sign of running out of ideas. This installment will undoubtedly rope in new readers who enjoy his blend of dark humor and the supernatural. Check Prices
In the Blood, by Adrian Phoenix
Vampire. Rock star. Begotten son of the fallen angel Lucien. Dante Baptiste still struggles with nightmares and seizures, searching for the truth about his past. It is a quest as seductive as his kiss, as uncontrollable as his thirst, and as unforgiving as his determination to protect one mortal woman at any cost. FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace now knows the extent of the Bureau corruption that surrounds her, but worries she is losing the battle. And when Dante and his band Inferno come to Seattle on tour, Heather can’t help but be drawn back to the beautiful, dangerous nightkind. But what Heather and Dante don’t know is that new enemies lurk in the shadows, closer than they think…and even deadlier than they fear. Note: I just added this one to my Amazon Shopping cart. Check Prices
On the Prowl (Tales of an Urban Werewolf, Book 2), by Karen MacInerney
Talk about a bad-hair day! Sophie Garou is a master at taming her inner beast, which comes in handy since she’s a werewolf. With a big promotion at work and a supersexy boyfriend, Heath (whom she recently spotted leaving a jewelry store with a beguiling ring box), she’s one happy girl.
But when Heath starts spending long nights at the office with his new associate–a dead-ringer for Career Day Barbie–Sophie smells trouble. And when her professional relationship with her big new client–who also happens to be Texas’s brilliantly blue-eyed most eligible bachelor–begins to sizzle, she wonders if her animal instincts are leading her in the wrong direction. Just when it seems that things can’t get any more complicated, they do. The Houston werewolf pack has sniffed Sophie out, and their message is chillingly clear: you’re either with us or against us. And unless she can prove that she’s with them, the next full moon may just be her last. Check Prices
The Atrocity Archives, by Charles Gross
This wonderfully offbeat book offers two related novellas, “The Atrocity Archive” and “The Concrete Jungle.” With often hilarious results, the author mixes the occult and the mundane, the truly weird and the petty. Bob Howard is a computer-hacker desk jockey, who has more than enough trouble keeping up with the endless paperwork he has to do on a daily basis. He should never be called on to do anything remotely heroic. But for some reason, he is.
In “Atrocity,” Bob, a low-level computer fix-it guy for the Laundry, a supersecret British agency that defends the world from occult happenings, finds himself promoted to fieldwork after he bravely saves the day during a routine demonstration gone awry. With his Palm, aka his Hand of Glory (a severed hand that, when ignited, renders the holder invisible), and his smarts, he saves the world from a powerful external force seeking to enter our universe to suck it dry. In “Jungle,” Bob teams up with a cop, Josephine, to save the Laundry from a powermonger who seeks to stage an internal coup by using zombies as her minions. Amid all the bizarre happenings are the everyday trappings of a British bureaucracy. For example, Bob gets called on the carpet by his bosses because he requested backup during an emergency without first filling out the requisite forms. The world he creates is wonderful fun.Check Prices
The Darkness (Vampire Huntress Legends), by LA Banks
Description: After the battle at Masada, the Neteru team returns to San Diego believing forty-thousand demons had been eradicated and that Lilith’s spawn has been killed. But somehow the treacherous little creature got away. Just as had been prophesized at the dawn of the Armageddon, the antichrist has been born…and will soon rise to power. Check Prices
Demon’s Hunger by Eve Silver
Description: Forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn fears she’s losing her mind. Her libido has kicked into overdrive, and she’s blacking out, leaving hours of her life unaccounted for and no memory of where she’s been or what she’s done. But when a sexy stranger rescues her from a demon attack, Vivien realizes there’s more than just her sanity at stake. A seductive killer is luring victims, and Sorcerer Dain Hawkins finds himself walking a dangerous line between ancient duty and sizzling desire when the brotherhood–and Vivien herself–begins to suspect that her mysterious symptoms may connect her to the crimes. Can Dain save Vivien from the evil that threatens to claim her? Or will they both succumb . . Check Prices
Mr. Gaunt and Other Uneasy Encounters, by John Langan
The richly atmospheric title story evokes the weird fiction of both Henry James and M.R. James in its account of a family cursed with a demonic familiar with a ravenous appetite for disobedient children. A man plays an audiotape left for him by his late father and is initiated into a family story of monstrous deeds. A student learns frightening lessons in a surreal tutoring center. A young couple struggles to make their stand against a group of inhuman pursuers in a ravaged landscape. The five tales run the gamut from supernatural satire (Tutorial) to apocalyptic nightmare (Episode Seven), but whatever their theme or tone, Langan shows uncommon skill at balancing character, plot and mood to achieve the perfect pitch for each. Check Prices
Unclean Spirits: Book One of the Black Sun’s Daughter, by M.L.N. Hanover
Plucky heroine Jayné Heller stumbles into a world of dangerous magic when she inherits a distant uncle’s fortune and his difficulties with a clan of malicious supernatural beings. Jayné likewise gains her uncles loose conglomerate of useful friends, all of whom have about one character trait apiece (the chef, the Frenchman, the ex-Jesuit), and she plots with them to destroy her uncles murderer, the sinister Randolph Coin. When trouble threatens, Jayné displays startling monster-fighting abilities, belatedly attributed to her uncle’s blessing. Check Prices
Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy, by Dana Stabenow
This follow-up to Powers of Detection showcases bestselling and award-winning names from Simon Green to Laurie King to Sharon Shinn—with original stories featuring otherworldly investigators trailing uncanny criminals across fantastical realms. From video game characters seeking civil rights and a cave dragon loan shark pondering an investment, to Santa Claus’s Australian vacation and an enemy of Sam Spade’s out for revenge—plus visits to the Nightside and Sookie Stackhouse’s hometown— these stories will take readers around the world on a magical mystery tour. Check Prices
Blue Moon (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter), by Laurell K. Hamilton
In Blue Moon, Anita’s ex-boyfriend Richard is jailed in Tennessee, accused of rape. When Anita arrives with a lawyer and an entourage of vampires and werewolves supplied by Jean-Claude, it’s clear that something is rotten in Myerton. The local cops are corrupt, and the trolls Richard was studying are threatened. But if she sticks around to investigate, the local Master vampire will attack her and her friends. The local werewolf clan isn’t rushing to welcome her either, and her self-control is going to the, um, wolves. Be warned–there’s steamy sex and graphic violence here, though Anita does reflect on her moral position. But if dark urban fantasy featuring those who hunt the night appeals, pounce on this series. Check Prices
The Return: The Dark Stalker Journals, by Byron N. Morrison
In this book a team of special men and women called Dark Stalkers are assembled to combat evil forces. Witches, lycanthropes, and vampires have been identified and allowed to live among humans secretly, providing they live in peace. A secret bill has recently been passed to have these creatures licensed and regulated because some would use their strange abilities for death and destruction. At ththe turn of the century, evil has moved its focus to a town called Reading, Pennsylvania, looking for a demon of great power. It holds knowledge that could plunge the entire human existence into a hellish nightmare that could force them to live as cattle or fodder to the ruling denizens. Check Prices
Ghostlight, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Truth Jourdemayne, parapsychologist and illegitimate child of celebrated vanished occultist Thorne Blackburn, decides to write a book about her much-hated father; to begin her research, she visits his estate, Shadow’s Gate, nestled in the Hudson River valley. There Truth meets a group continuing Blackburn’s occult “Work,” led by the exciting and mysterious Julian Pilgrim. Truth lost her parents in the late 1960s to an occultist experiment. Now, a quarter-century later, some New Agers mess around with the same experiment, and Truth ends up with the job of preventing a second disaster. Bradley is a master storyteller, and her latest proves thoroughly absorbing. Check Prices
Escape From Hell!, by Hal Duncan
A hitman, a hooker, a homosexual kid, and a hobo suicide make the ultimate prison break…escape from Hell itself! But when news of their attempted escape gets out, the souls of the damned are transformed into a rioting mob, and all Hell truly does break loose. It’s Escape from New York meets Jacob’s Ladder, by one of fantasy’s rising stars. Check Prices
Tamarisk: A Novel by Lou Aronica,
In this heartfelt fantasy of love and loss, a young girl’s tragic illness leads her on a journey to a mystical dreamland, revealing truths that force her family to make the most difficult choice of their lives. Check Prices
See also:
Best New Urban Fantasy Books for November 2008
Posted by: | CommentsHere are the urban fantasy books that will be released this month, November 2008. There are titles here from Nina Harper, Jenna Black, Maria Lima, and Jim Butcher. And you’ve got to check out the new Sookie Stackhouse box set. The Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire books by Charlaine Harris form the basis for the new HBO True Blood series. The box set is currently on sale for 40% off the regular price.
| Nov. 1, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Grave Peril (The Dresden Files, Book 3) New Hardcover Release Asked to deal with an enraged ghost, Harry Dresden, Chicago’s resident wizard, is puzzled and disturbed not by the ghost’s wrath but by the fact that someone had cast a torture spell on it, goading it into action. Harry’s disturbance increases when he discovers that the same spell has been cast on one of his friends. Harry begins to realize that he and his friends may be targets of a vengeful spirit, and as he desperately tries to discover which of his many enemies has it in for him, his friends are attacked one by one. The spirit, whom Harry refers to as the Nightmare, continues to torment Harry’s friends until he manages to cast a spell preventing it from harming anyone else until it kills him, which leads to a showdown that Harry might not survive. Fantasy Girl: I love all of the Harry Dresden urban fantasy books. Jim Butcher is a fantastic writer and his books are chock full of action, adventure, and humor. |
| Nov. 1, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Hunter’s Moon by David Devereux
“My name is unimportant, but you can call me Jack. I’m a musician by choice, a magician by profession, and a bastard by disposition. I’d been doing the magic thing for about five years when they found me. They said I had a talent, that I was smart enough and fit enough and enough of a shit that I could serve my country in a way most people never even get to hear about. And I did want to serve my country, didn’t I? I didn’t really want to contemplate what might happen if I said no.” And so Jack found himself on the front line of a secret war that most people simply wouldn’t believe was possible, working for a secret organization tasked with defending England from whatever supernatural threat faces it. MI5 know nothing about it and would laugh if they found out—but they wouldn’t laugh for long. Whether wiping out a group of demon summoners, infiltrating a coven determined to assassinate the prime minister, or rooting out a neo-Nazi sect who are trying to bring back Hitler from the dead, Jack is a very modern sort of magician—trained in a variety of the dark arts but also handy with firearms and skilled in unarmed combat and electronic surveillance. David Devereux has combined lightning action with dark supernatural thrills and produced a blistering new breed of supernatural thriller. |
| Nov. 4, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk
Using magic means it uses you back, and every spell exacts a price from its user. But some people get out of it by “offloading” the cost of magic onto an innocent. Then it’s Allison Beckstrom’s job to identify the spell-caster. Allie would rather live a hand-to-mouth existence than accept the family fortune—and the strings that come with it. But when she finds a boy dying from a magical offload that has her father’s signature all over it, Allie is thrown back into his world of black magic. And the forces she calls on in her quest for the truth will make her capable of things that some will do anything to control… Fantasy Girl: I just added Magic to the Bone to my shopping list. It sounds like a good urban fantasy read. |
| Nov. 4, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Better Off Undead by Martin H. Greenberg
From vampires to mummy con artists, this lively collection explores the many forms the undead can take in stories that range from the chilling to the hysterical. There are those who people the Afterlife, others who wander the lands of the living in ghostly form, and even those who walk about in the flesh. For anyone who’s ever wondered if the grass is greener on the other side of this mortal coil, this collection will provide a wide range of intriguing answers from those who are undead…and loving it! |
| Nov. 4, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Bloodring by Faith Hunter
Thorn St. Croix is a neomage, people that can use leftover creation energy. When an attractive policeman appears at her door and tells her she is suspected of abducting her former husband, Thorn has to use her powers to hunt for him. Of course, any official who watches her long enough will figure out what she is, which means madness or death for her. |
| Nov. 4, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Thirteen Orphans by Jane Lindskold
As far as college freshman Brenda Morris knows, there is only one Earth and magic exists only in fairy tales. Brenda is wrong. A father-daughter weekend turns into a nightmare when Brenda’s father is magically attacked before her eyes. Brenda soon learns that her ancestors once lived in world of smoke and shadows, of magic and secrets . . . |
| Nov. 12, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Sookie Stackhouse Box Set (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood) by Charlaine Harris
If you love True Blood you’ll love the entire collection in paperback. This box set contains Books 1 - 7 (Book 8 is currently only available in hardcover). Amazon is running a great sale on this box set now. Get all 7 books for only $33.56. This is a savings of $22.37 (40% off). |
| Nov. 15, 2008 |  Check Prices |
New Tricks by John Levitt
Former enforcer Mason would normally be concerned with finding ghosts and vampires stalking the Castro section of San Francisco. Fortunately, Halloween provides the perfect explanation for the abundance of ghouls. But someone is trying to possess his old flame, Sarah. Now, with the help of his magical dog Louie, Mason must uncover the black magician responsible. |
| Nov. 25, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Succubus Takes Manhattan by Nina Harper
|
| Nov. 25, 2008 |  Check Prices |
The Devil’s Due (Morgan Kingsley Book 3) by Jenna Black
Trust me or die…That’s the choice Morgan Kingsley, exorcist, is given by the gorgeous rogue demon who’s gotten inside her. The truth is, Morgan has dozens of reasons not to trust anyone, from the violence that torched her house and killed her father to a love life that’s left her questioning her relationship with her erstwhile boyfriend, Brian. But Lugh, a king among demons, won’t take no for an answer. He’s prying into her body, her mind, even her sex life. And he’s just pulled Morgan into a power struggle that could have devastating consequences for both the human and demon worlds. |
| Nov. 25, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Demon’s Hunger by Eve Silver
The Compact of Sorcerers, a brotherhood sworn to protect the wall between the human and demon realms, is thrust into battle with an unseen evil that threatens to destroy them all… Forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn fears she’s losing her mind. Her libido has kicked into overdrive, and she’s blacking out, leaving hours of her life unaccounted for and no memory of where she’s been or what she’s done. But when a sexy stranger rescues her from a demon attack, Vivien realizes there’s more than just her sanity at stake. |
| Nov. 29, 2008 |  Check Prices |
Blood Bargain by Maria Lima
Keira Kelly is coming into her unexpected and unexpectedly awesome powers… and Rio Seco, Texas ain’t ever gonna be the same! Keira just wants to be left alone without many responsibilities to her supernatural clan and, lately, spend some time with sexy Adam Walker - a vampire trying to get his brethren to give up human blood - on his luxurious Wild Moon ranch. But trouble and her paranormal family keep intruding - Gigi, Keira’s great-great-grandmother and the chief of the clan has sent Tucker, Keira’s 1,200-year-old shapeshifter brother to keep an eye on her! |
See also:
New Urban Fantasy Books for September 2008
THE Complete List of Charlaine Harris True Blood Books
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’re following the True Blood series on HBO you should definitely start reading the Sookie Stackhouose books from Charlaine Harris. The books are part of her Southern Vampire Mystery series and they’re as entertaining as the True Blood television show. Actually, they’re more entertaining in some ways because they give you additional information about the main characters: Sookie, Bill, Sam, and Eric. They’re also pretty darn funny.
Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) books (in order)
|
#1 |
Dead Until Dark |
> Check price |
|
#2 |
Living Dead in Dallas |
 Check price |
|
#3 |
Club Dead |
 Check price |
|
#4 |
Dead to the World |
 Check price |
|
#5 |
Dead as a Doornail |
 Check price |
|
#6 |
Definitely Dead |
 Check price |
|
#7 |
All Together Dead |
 Check price |
|
#8 |
From Dead to Worse |
 Check price |
|
#9 |
Dead And Gone |
 Check price |
|
#10 |
A Touch of Dead |
 Check price |
You should also check out Sookie Stackhouse Books A Quick Summary.
Charlaine Harris also contributes stories to fantasy book collections. Many of her stories are about Sookie Stackhouse and some of the other characters from the books above. I really like reading these book collections because you get to learn more about Sookie and her personality. Here’s the complete list of books that have stories about Sookie.
Book Collections That Include Sookie Stackhouse
| Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (2008) | Title of Story: “Gift Wrap”
Description: Sookie, alone and bored during the Christmas holiday, decides to go outside for a bit. Following the sound of a strange noise she ends up finding an injured werewolf named Preston, who tells her a wonderful and remarkable story about how he ended up in his condition. Of course, Sookie can’t help but get involved! I have to say, this entire book is fantastic. |
 Check price |
| Many Bloody Returns (2007) | Title of Story: “Dracula Night”
Description: Sookie Stackhouse gets an invitation from Eric to attend an annual vampires-only birthday party at Fangtasia and almost ends up being the main course. The rules for being included in this book were: 1) the story had to be about a birthday, and 2) it had to include a vampire. Here’s an excerpt: “I had to gape. He looked positively edible. Eric was very tall, very broad, very blond, and tonight he was dressed in a tuxedo that had not come off any rack. This tux had been made for Eric, and he looked as good as any James Bond in it.” |
 Check price |
| Powers of Detection (2006) | Title of Story: “Fairy Dust”
Description: in this story Sookie is asked to help Claudine, from the local fairy clan. Sookie learns that you don’t cross fairies - they’re a thick bunch. And if you do, be prepared to pay the ultimate price. |
 Check price |
| Bite (2004) | Title of Story: “One Word Answer”
Description: this story highlights Sookie’s cleverness when she’s put in a situation requiring her to make quick choices. Sometimes, talking too much can get you killed, especially when vampires are involved. Sookie demonstrates this theory in this short story that includes Bill and Bubba. |
 Check price |
| Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy |
Title of Story: “Lucky”
Description: After Sookie’s insurance agents visits her to discuss a recent break-in at his office, she and her housemate Amelia (a practicing witch) decide to investigate the crime and see if they can catch the guilty party. |
 Check price |
Read The True Blood Books On The Kindle!
The New Kindle
Now At a NEW Low Price
Get the NEW Sookie Stackhouse Box Set
(Books 1-7)
They’re On Sale Now for $31.88, marked down from $55.93. That’s a savings of $24.05 (43% discount).
Storm Born by Richelle Mead
Posted by: | Comments
The opening scene in Storm Born is one of the most unique I’ve read in a while. Eugenie Markham, a female shaman who makes her living banishing evil spirits that have crossed over from the Otherworld to our world, has been asked to exorcise a haunted sneaker. Yes you heard right, a haunted sneaker. Here’s an excerpt:
“Look, Miss . . . Odile . . . or whatever. I’m not crazy. That shoe is haunted. It’s evil. you’ve gotta do something, okay? I’ve got a marathon coming up, and until this started happening, these were my lucky shoes. And they’re not cheap, you know. They’re an investment.”
It sounded crazy to me - which was saying something - but there was no harm in checking. I reached into my coat pocket, the one without ammunition. I’d seen weirder things than a haunted shoe, but not many. Sending some of my will into the wand, I tapped it against the shoe and spoke in a sing-song voice.
“Come out, come out, whoever you are.”
“Go away, bitch.”
Great, a shoe with attitude.
Too bad most of her cases aren’t that easy; unfortunately for Eugenie, her next one takes her into the Otherworld, a place inhabited by the gentry, magical fairy beings notorious for their dislike of humankind (don’t think small creatures with wings though; the gentry look just like humans). Eugenie hates the gentry and often sends them to the Underworld if needed. She’s been taught to loathe them since childhood and as such avoids crossing over whenever possible but her new case her to make the journey into their world.
She’s looking for a young girl recently abducted by the gentry, who are also known for stealing adolescent human girls for white slavery and prostitution purposes. Fortunately Eugenie doesn’t have to make the trip alone; she summons the 3 spirits bound to her for protection. It’s through them that she learns that the young girl, Jasmine, has been taken by Aeson, a powerful gentry king. At the advice of one of her spirits she approaches Dorian, a rival of Aeson’s, asking him to accompany her on her mission to rescue Jasmine. Dorian refuses to join her but does offer the help of one of his guides. He then proceed to tell her a story about a powerful ruler called the Storm King who had the ability to control the weather. He tells her of a prophecy in which the Storm King’s daughter will have a child that will rule over both humankind and the Otherworld. Imagine her surprise to learn that she is that daughter and that her child will become the prophesied ruler. Eugenie refuse to accept the prophesy because it puts her in direct conflict with what she’s been taught. Her heritage, her upbringing, and her entire childhood would be reduced to mere lies if Dorian’s tale were true.
Eugenie soon takes her leave of Dorian and takes her run at Aeson but is unsuccessful in part because Jasmine flatly refuses to leave. Eugenie herself is only able to flee Aeson’s minions just in the nick of time.
Back in the human world Eugenie’s next and most important task is to discuss Dorian’s story with her parents. If what he told her is true, they have some splainin’ to do.
The backdrop for Richelle Mead’s book is a social commentary on prejudice and misguided hatred but it primarily takes a back seat to the action-packed storyline.
Eugenie eventually learns the truth about her past which forces her to once again seek Dorian’s assistance, but this time she wants him to help her control her newly discovered powers. The exchanges between Dorian and Eugenie provide many of the comedic elements in the book. Dorian is, at his core, a wise and very powerful gentry king but he’s also incredibly bored with his life in the Otherworld and therefore welcomes the opportunity to travel to the human world to give Eugenie her lessons and ogle human women. He also does his share of propositioning Eugenie but she never really takes him seriously. Eugenie’s romantic interest is Kiyo, a gorgeous kitsune (shapeshifter) who saves Eugenie’s life on more than one occasion. Kiyo’s help is integral to Eugenie’s survival because someone from the Otherworld doesn’t want the prophesy to come true and is gunning for Eugenie. Additionally, some of the Otherworld beings have determined that they can increase their powers by fathering her next child. As such she spends a lot of time fighting for her life and battling creatures wanting to mate with her.
All of this leads up to an incredible climax rife with surprises and suspense.
In some ways this book reminds me of a modern day Elizabethan court piece; there’s intrigue, romance, betrayal, and characters jockeying for power. Mead manages to balance these elements by writing believable characterizations and fleshing out a very detailed fantasy setting. As a matter of fact, she does a great job with world building. The Otherworld she creates is as varied as our world but it’s also magical, frightening, and fascinating. The book ends with an unanswered mystery that I can’t wait to read more about. I’ve got my ideas but there are lots of possibilities so I’ll have see how good I am at predictions!
All of this makes for a thoroughly entertaining, enjoyable, and captivating read.
This is the first book in the Dark Swan series and a great addition to the urban fantasy genre. Richelle, get the second book finished!
Hot New Releases - Best Urban Fantasy Books for August 2008
Posted by: | CommentsThe following fantasy books are being released this month, August 2008. Several of these books are written by very popular fantasy book writers and are sure to be good.
| August 2, 2008 | 
|
Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga Book 4) by Stephenie Meyer This is the last book in the incredibly popular Twilight Saga series. |
| August 3, 2008 |  |
Seaborn by Chris Howard Corina Lairsey goes from one bad relationship to the next. However this new guy has taken a few liberties that Corina can’t possibly allow - he’s taken control of her body. As Corina struggles to get rid of him he starts selling off pieces of her life in order to gain additional power. What follows is an adventurous race against time and a to-the-death battle of wills. |
| August 4, 2008 |  |
The Last Angel by Kayla Steele “An angel is found murdered on the streets of Sunset Boulevard. To the media gossip mongers, it’s the biggest story ever. To the Hunters, an underground monster-fighting hit-squad, it’s just another case of ‘whodunnit’. To Kayla Steele, their youngest and newest member, it means a last, desperate chance to bring her murdered fiancé back from the dead . . .“ |
| August 5, 2008 |  |
Storm Born (Dark Swan Book 1) by Richelle Mead I’d seen weirder things than a haunted shoe, but not many. Sending some of my will into the wand, I tapped it against the shoe and spoke in a sing-song voice. “Come out, come out, whoever you are.” “Go away, bitch.” Great, a shoe with attitude. Fantasy Girl: I just bought this one - check out my Storm Born review! |
| August 5, 2008 |  |
Enchantment Place by Denise Little To say that the stores in Enchantment Place are unique is an understatement. They cater to customers that are looking for specialty items. “Here are seventeen shopping trips you’ll never forget, from a store that sells the highest quality familiars…to the non-magical daughter of a magic-filled family who is left to mind the family jewelry store though she has no means to defeat an enchanting thief…to a woman running a Wiccan supply store who is suddenly faced with an IRS audit…“ |
| August 5, 2008 |  |
Necking by Chris Salvatore “Gia Felice has a Rolodex full of vampires, werewolves, witches, and aliens - not to mention the livestock suppliers, undead-friendly hotels, and sleazy bars that cater to her clients’ more carnal needs. Sometimes being the premier book publicist to the underworld can suck - literally. Especially if you’re human. Especially if you’ve got the hots for irresistible Johnny and his sly half smile that shows just a little fang!” |
| August 5, 2008 |  |
Gale Force (Weather Warden, Book 7) by Rachel Caine “Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is on vacation when her Djinn lover, David, asks Joanne to marry him. She’s thrilled to say yes, even if some others may be less than happy about it. Unfortunately, Joanne’s pre-marital bliss is ended by a devastating earthquake in Florida. And she can’t ask David and his kind for assistance. Because the cause of the quake is unlike anything Joanne has ever encountered—and a power even the Djinn cannot perceive.” |
| August 5, 2008 |  |
Underground (Greywalker, Book Three) by Kat Richardson “Harper Blaine was your average small-time P.I. until she died—for two minutes. Now Harper is a Greywalker—walking the thin line between the living world and the paranormal realm. The local homeless are turning up dead and mutilated, and zombies have been seen roaming the underground—the city buried beneath modern Seattle. But the killer is no mere murderer—it is a creature of ancient legend. And Harper must deal with both the living and the dead to stop the monster and its master…unless they stop her first.” |
| August 5, 2008 |  |
Kiss of Fury (Dragon Fire Book 3) by Deborah Cooke “Alexandra Madison has discovered an invention that could change the world. When her partner is murdered and their lab destroyed, Alex knows she has to rebuild her prototype in time… Donovan Shea knows the Madison project is of dire importance to the ongoing Pyr/Slayer war. So when he sees Alex being followed by a Slayer, he reacts and defends her, never imagining that she’s his destined mate… As Slayers close in on their prey, Donovan knows he’ll surrender his life to protect Alex—and lose his heart to possess her…“ |
| August 12, 2008 |  |
Bitten to Death (Jaz Parks, Book 4) by Jennifer Rardin “Jaz Parks here. My latest mission has taken me to the ancient Greek city of Patras; but instead of soaking up its splendor, I’m here to infiltrate a Vampere Trust. Only two vamps have ever escaped the tightly bound communities and lived to tell the tale: Edward “The Raptor”Samos, the most reviled criminal mastermind in recent memory, and Vayl, the CIA’s number one assassin who also happens to be my boss.“ |
| August 26, 2008 |  |
The Gypsy Morph (The Genesis of Shannara, Book 3) by Terry Brooks |
| August 26, 2008 |  |
Hunter’s Prayer by Lilith Saintcrow “Another night on the Nightside…An ancient evil looms over Santa Luz. Prostitutes are showing up dead and eviscerated. And Jill Kismet just might be able to get her revenge against an old enemy. There’s just one problem. Someone wants Jill dead–again. And if they have to open up Hell itself to kill her, they will.” Fantasy Girl: I have every Lilith Saintcrow urban fantasy book in publication and they’re all fantastic! |
| August 26, 2008 |  |
Legacy (Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles, Book 4) by Jeanne C. Stein “The sinister vampire who transformed her is dead, and Anna is entitled to his vast fortune. But a predatory werewolf comes forward, claiming the inheritance as her own—and she’ll kill to get what she wants most: blood and money.” Fantasy Girl: I have every book in the Anna Strong urban fantasy vampire series and highly recommend them! Reviews: |
| August 26, 2008 |  |
Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory “A demon had possessed a man, and O’Hare security had sealed off the concourse between the gates and baggage claim. Reactions varied from exasperation to excitement. It was another travel delay, but at least it was an interesting delay. Fantasy Girl: I’ve added this one to my shopping cart! |
| August 26, 2008 |  |
Pure Blood by Caitlin Kittredge “In the shadows of Nocturne City, witches lurk and demons prowl, and homicide detective Luna Wilder must keep the peace—while living life as a werewolf. Now bodies are turning up all over town, the brutal murders linked by a cryptic message: We see with empty eyes… To make matters worse for Luna, she can’t get wolfishly handsome Dmitri Sandovsky out of her mind . . .“ |
See also: Best Selling Urban Fantasy Books for 2008
Bestselling Urban Fantasy Books (April 2008)
Posted by: | CommentsBased on Amazon sales rankings here are the Top 10 urban fantasy books. Since their list contained books that aren’t out yet this list only contains books that are available for purchase by April 30th.
See also:
- Hot New Releases: Urban Fantasy Books for May 2008
- Hot New Releases - Best Urban Fantasy Books for June 2008
- New Releases - Best Urban Fantasy Books for July 2008
| 10. |  |
Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) by Jim Butcher |
| 9. |  |
All Together Dead (Southern Vampires Mysteries, Book 7) by Charlaine Harris |
| 8. |  |
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks |
| 7. |  |
Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2) by Ilona Andrews |
| 6. |  |
Embrace The Night (Cassandra Palmer Series, Book 3) by Karen Chance |
| 5. |  |
Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, Book 8 ) by Kelley Armstrong |
| 4. |  |
From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8 ) by Charlaine Harris |
| 3. |  |
The Outlaw Demon Wails (Rachel Morgan, Book 6) by Kim Harrison |
| 2. |  |
His Dark Materials Trilogy (Boxed Set) by Philip Pullman |
| 1. |  |
Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10) by Jim Butcher |
