One for 2014? 'The Iron Wolves' (Andy Remic)

I don't normally answer quite so emphatically but this time I'm say, "yes, this is definitely one for 2014." While Andy Remic isn't David Gemmell, he's the closest thing we've got and we need to make the most of him while he's writing fantasy. Remic is also the only person I know who can coin the phrase 'Mud-Orcs' and get away with it. Seriously, check out the blurb...

Thirty years ago, the Iron Wolves held back mud-orc hordes at the Pass of Splintered Bones, and led a brutal charge that saw the sorcerer Morkagoth slain. This ended the War of Zakora, and made the Iron Wolves heroes.

Now, a new terror stalks the realm. In hushed whispers, it is claimed the Horse Lady, Orlana the Changer, has escaped from the Chaos Halls and is building an army, twisting horses, lions and bears into terrible, bloody hunters, summoning mud-orcs from then slime and heading north to Vagandrak where, it said, the noble King Yoon has gone insane...

After hearing a prophecy from a blind seer, aged General Dalgoran searches to reunite the heroes of old for what he believes will be the final battle. But as mud-orcs and twisted beasts tear through the land, Dalgoran discovers the Iron Wolves are no longer heroes of legend... Narnok is a violent whoremaster, Kiki a honey-leaf drug peddler, and Prince Zastarte a drinker, a gambler, amoral and decadent: now he likes to hear people scream as they burn...

United in hate, the Iron Wolves travel to the Pass of Splintered Bones; and as half a million mud-orcs gather, General Dalgoran realises his grave error. Together, the Iron Wolves hold a terrible secret which has tortured them for three decades. Now, they only wish to be human again...

Orcs made out of mud or Orcs that live in the mud? Either way, I'm in and will be settling down to read my advance copy about five minutes after I post this :o) I'll let you know how it goes. Angry Robot will be publishing 'The Iron Wolves' on the 2nd January 2014 in the UK and on the 31st December in the US and Canada. Does that make the book 'one for 2013' then? Erm... Too busy reading :o)