Cover Art and Blurb, 'The Lady' - K.V. Johansen (Pyr)

Just because, Raymond Swanland :o)

It is my firm belief that Raymond Swanland couldn't do bad cover art if he tried. The guy clearly has the talent of ten lesser artists coursing through his veins which must be the reason why I can't draw at all... Well, that's my reason and I'm sticking to it.
And here's the blurb,

Possessed by a ghost who feeds on death, the undying assassin Ahjvar the Leopard has been captured by the Lady of Marakand, enslaved by necromancy to be captain of her Red Masks. His shield-bearer Ghu, a former slave with an uncanny ability to free the captive dead, follows Ahjvar into the war-torn lands of the Duina Catairna to release him, even if that means destroying what is left of Ahj’s tormented soul.
           
Deyandara, the last surviving heir of the Catairnan queen, rides into a land ravaged by disease and war, seeking the allies she abandoned months before, though they have no hope of standing against the army led by the invulnerable Red Masks of Marakand and the divine terror of the Lady.
           
In the city of Marakand, former enemies ally and old friends seek one another’s deaths as loyalists of the entombed gods Gurhan and Ilbialla raise a revolt, spearheaded by the Grasslander wizard Ivah, the shapeshifting Blackdog, and the bear-demon Mikki. The Lady’s defenses are not easily breached, though, and the one enemy who might withstand her, the Northron wanderer Moth, bearer of the sword Lakkariss, has vanished.

I really want to read this but although I have a copy of 'The Leopard' to hand, I've never read 'Black Dog' and am wary about doing a big ol' catch up (my life is a big ol' catch up right now and I haven't got any time for more of the same). Can anyone set my mind at rest/confirm my fears...?

'The Lady' will be published by Pyr in January next year.

Blurb for 'The Iron Ghost' - Jen Williams (Headline)

I loved 'The Copper Promise' (read my review Here) and, on finishing it, found myself in the rather nice position of wanting the second book to get a move on and be written. I'm feeling pretty jaded at the moment so it's great that a book can still do that to me :o)

I was intrigued then to find out that the sequel would be called 'The Iron Ghost' but properly excited to get a look at the blurb itself. If you like your fantasy 'Old School' then I reckon this will do the trick for you…

Beware the dawning of a new mage...
Wydrin of Crosshaven, Sir Sebastian and Lord Aaron Frith are experienced in the perils of stirring up the old gods. They are also familiar with defeating them, and the heroes of Baneswatch are now enjoying the perks of suddenly being very much in demand for their services.

When a job comes up in the distant city of Skaldshollow, it looks like easy coin - retrieve a stolen item, admire the views, get paid. But in a place twisted and haunted by ancient magic, with the most infamous mage of them all, Joah Demonsworn, making a reappearance, our heroes soon find themselves threatened by enemies on all sides, old and new. And in the frozen mountains, the stones are walking…

I am well up for this already :o) I like reading about adventurers and I love reading about adventurers causing trouble in strange cities; that's all there is to say really. You can expect to see a review here early next year. 'The Iron Ghost' won't be on shelves until February 2015 but that's not actually all that far away now, is it? *Looks at watch*