One for 2014 (Seriously, the last one this year)? Star Wars: Honour Among Thieves' - James S.A. Corey

Royal Mail may have given up for the last few days of the year but DHL are still doing business it would appear. We did feel very sorry for the very grumpy driver who arrived on our doorstep, complaining that he hadn't been able to drink over Christmas because he was working... (I had an extra one for him that evening)
Anyway, I've got a couple of posts planned for the next couple of days so this really will be the last 'One for...' post this year, promise. Go on, have a look at the cover and blurb...

When the mission is to extract a high-level rebel spy from the very heart of the Empire, Leia Organa knows the best man for the job is Han Solo—something the princess and the smuggler can finally agree on. After all, for a guy who broke into an Imperial cell block and helped destroy the Death Star, the assignment sounds simple enough.

But when Han locates the brash rebel agent, Scarlet Hark, she’s determined to stay behind enemy lines. A pirate plans to sell a cache of stolen secrets that the Empire would destroy entire worlds to protect—including the planet where Leia is currently meeting with rebel sympathizers. Scarlet wants to track down the thief and steal the bounty herself, and Han has no choice but to go along if he’s to keep everyone involved from getting themselves killed. From teeming city streets to a lethal jungle to a trap-filled alien temple, Han, Chewbacca, Leia, and their daring new comrade confront one ambush, double cross, and firestorm after another as they try to keep crucial intel out of Imperial hands.

But even with the crack support of Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing squadron, the Alliance heroes may be hopelessly outgunned in their final battle for the highest of stakes: the power to liberate the galaxy from tyranny or ensure the Empire’s reign of darkness forever. 

I'd pretty much given up on Star Wars books for a whole load of reasons that you've all heard before. Ok, recycled plots with the same old characters that the franchise won't allow to die (erm... zombie Star Wars?) 'Honour Among Thieves' could be different though, slotting somewhere in between 'Star Wars' and 'The Empire Strikes Back', meaning the characters won't feel quite so 'same old' then. If that wasn't enough, James S.A. Corey has got form for writing quality space opera and that's something the Star Wars franchise could really do with a good dose of. And if that wasn't enough, 'Honour Among Thieves' is only two hundred and forty six (and a bit) pages long; that makes it the ideal read for a couple of train rides to and from work. So yep, despite all my misgivings about Star Wars books in general I'll be giving 'Honour Among Thieves' a go and I reckon you'll hear my thoughts a little while before the March 2014 publication date.

How about you, will you be reading 'Honour Among Thieves'? And are there any new(ish) Star Wars books that you think could change my views on Star Wars books in general? Go on, leave a comment ;o)

One for 2014? 'The Boy with the Porcelain Blade' (Den Patrick)

I reckon this could well be the last ‘One for…’ post of 2013 (given that Royal Mail are currently experiencing their annual ‘Christmas Meltdown’, I really feel for them) as I’m only covering stuff that comes through the door and catches my eye. Books like ‘The Boy with the Porcelain Blade’ for example. Having read a couple of Den’s short stories, this is a title that I’ve been keeping an eye open for and (small daughters and Christmas permitting) will more than likely dive straight into after I finish ‘The Desert of Souls’. That’s an awesome book by the way but more on that when I finally finish it.

But yeah, ‘The Boy with the Porcelain Blade’. Have some blurb…

An ornate yet dark fantasy, with echoes of Mervyn Peake, Robin Hobb and Jon Courtenay Grimwood. An original and beautifully imagined world, populated by unforgettable characters.
Lucien de Fontein has grown up different. One of the mysterious and misshapen Orfano who appear around the Kingdom of Landfall, he is a talented fighter yet constantly lonely, tormented by his deformity, and well aware that he is a mere pawn in a political game. Ruled by an insane King and the venomous Majordomo, it is a world where corruption and decay are deeply rooted - but to a degree Lucien never dreams possible when he first discovers the plight of the 'insane' women kept in the haunting Sanatoria.

I’m not going to lie here, I’m hoping for more Peake and Grimwood than Hobb (never got the fuss there…) but it all looks quite promising from where I’m sat with what looks like a good mix of politics and swordplay. Reminds me of some family Christmas’ from when I was a kid… Anyway, ‘The Boy with the Porcelain Blade’ will be published by Gollancz in March next year but I’ll let you know what I think sooner than that. Is it one that you’ll check out?

One for 2014? 'Traitor's Blade' (Sebastian De Castell)

I'm kind of hoping it is as the blurb intrigued me enough to ask for a review copy :o)
Here's some cover art and a blurb...

(This cover art, from the Jo Fletcher Books website, is much nicer than the incredibly generic artwork I was 'treated to' in the Quercus catalogue. I'm really hoping they stick with this.)

Falcio is the first Cantor of the Greatcoats. Trained in the fighting arts and the laws of Tristia, the Greatcoats are travelling Magisters upholding King’s Law. They are heroes. Or at least they were, until they stood aside while the Dukes took the kingdom, and impaled their King’s head on a spike. 

Now Tristia is on the verge of collapse and the barbarians are sniffing at the borders. The Dukes bring chaos to the land, while the Greatcoats are scattered far and wide, reviled as traitors, their legendary coats in tatters. 

All they have left are the promises they made to King Paelis, to carry out one final mission. But if they have any hope of fulfilling the King’s dream, the divided Greatcoats must reunite, or they will also have to stand aside as they watch their world burn…

I love reading Judge Dredd and talk of 'travelling magisters' has got me thinking of something similar here but in a fantasy setting. I probably couldn't be more wrong but I can dream in the meantime :o)
I'm really into fantasy at the moment (Comfort reading? Maybe...) so I will definitely give 'Traitor's Blade' a go; it sounds promising and possibly just what I'm after. It's not being published until March 2014 though (not sure if it has a US publisher) so I'm in for a bit of a wait :o)
How about you? Will you be reading 'Traitor's Blade'?

One for 2014? 'Moth and Spark' - Anne Leonard (Headline)

It's still only November (although where has this year gone...?) but advance copies are starting to show up are starting to arrive for all the books next year. You have to admire all those publicity people who are already thinking about books that are months from publication as well as dealing with the 'here and now' of book publicity. :o)
But anyway... I used to do this on the old blog and thought it would be worth continuing here; a little feature where I talk about these books and any first impressions that I have. Here goes...

Prince Corin has been given the task of freeing the dragons from their bondage to the Empire. However, it seems that that not even the dragonriders themselves know how these terrifying beasts are kept under control.

When Tam, a doctor's daughter, arrives in the capital she makes an amazing discovery: she is a Seer, gifted with visions.

Sparks fly when Corin and Tam meet ... but it's not all happily ever after. Not only is the prince forbidden to marry a commoner, but war is coming to Caithen. Torn between love and duty, they must work together to uncover the secret that threatens to destroy their country.

First things first. If I see a nicer looking cover next year I'll be very surprised. The book looks just as nice in my hands as it does on the screen. It's not just about the cover though is it? If it was, well... Just imagine what publishing would look like.

The blurb though, doesn't look too inspiring though does it? Luckily I've got the book to hand and, based on the few pages that I glanced at, I'll give it a few more chapters to prove itself. Also, the way it has been pitched ('The Princess Bride' meets 'A Game of Thrones' with a dash of Jane Austen) has caught my interest as well. Yep, I can't say when I'll get round to reading 'Moth and Spark' but read it I will. How about you?

'Moth and Spark' will be published in the UK, by Headline in February 2014. A quick Google shows it also being published in the US, by Viking, at around the same date.

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)

One for 2014? 'Maul: Lockdown' (Joe Schreiber)

I promise there won't be too many more of these... It's just that my other reading has stalled while I'm finishing the last 'Black Company' book for Tor.com. Ok, I've stalled on that book as well. Oh well, anyway... Check out my latest 'heads up' on a book that I think could be worth looking at next year (January next year to be more precise),

In a tale of retribution and survival set before the events of The Phantom Menace, Darth Plagueis
and Darth Sidious dispatch Sith apprentice Darth Maul on a secret mission to infiltrate a criminal empire operating from inside Cog Hive Seven--a hidden prison teeming with the galaxy's most savage criminals. There, he must contend against the scummiest and most villainous in gladiatorial death matches while carrying out his masters' clandestine commands. Failure is not an option; success will ignite the revenge of the Sith against the Jedi Order.

All my reasons for not reading Star Wars fiction still stand (too many to go into here) but I am prepared to make an exception in this case. Schreiber wrote the excellent 'Death Troopers' and 'Red Harvest' as well as 'No Doors, No Windows' (not a Star Wars book). If he can bring some of the horror and menace to 'Maul: Lockdown' that he did with 'Death Troopers' (both set in prison facilities) then we're in for a Star Wars novel that bucks tradition and actually does something new. Please let that happen... I'll be reading 'Maul: Lockdown' very soon so I'll let you know what I think.

One for 2014? 'The Emperor's Blades' (Brian Staveley)

As 2013 starts to look like drawing to a close, advance copies for 2014 start to arrive at the door. I'm still a little behind all the other bloggers talking about these books (like Justin for example) but it's still worth doing a little 'heads up' post here and there; especially with a book like this...

The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must bury their grief and prepare to unmask a conspiracy. His son Valyn, training for the empire’s deadliest fighting force, hears the news an ocean away. He expected a challenge, but after several ‘accidents’ and a dying soldier’s warning, he realizes his life is also in danger. Yet before Valyn can take action, he must survive the mercenaries’ brutal final initiation.

Meanwhile, the Emperor’s daughter, Minister Adare, hunts her father’s murderer in the capital itself. Court politics can be fatal, but she needs justice. And Kaden, heir to the empire, studies in a remote monastery. Here, the Blank God’s disciples teach their harsh ways – which Kaden must master to unlock their ancient powers. When an imperial delegation arrives, he’s learnt enough to perceive evil intent. But will this keep him alive, as long-hidden powers make their move?

Even though I don't have the time to read as much 'Fat Fantasy' as I used to, I still can't get enough and every time I see a title like this I'm immediately intrigued. Tor UK have good form for fantasy (Tchaikovsky, Newton, Buchanan and Hulick...) so I'll definitely be reading 'The Emperor's Blades' in the next couple of months. If you're wondering, Tor UK will be publishing 'The Emperor's Blades' in January 2014; absolutely no idea when the US edition will arrive (help?)

Is this one for you?

One for 2014? 'Archetype' (M.D. Waters)

I've been blogging a little while now, here and there, and it still amazes me how publishing as a whole manages to stay ahead of itself, not only in terms of getting the next book out but getting people talking about it as well. Fair play to 'em I say, having totally been sucked into that discussion with my 'One for...?' posts :o)

Take 'Archetype' for example. Dutton won't be publishing it until February next year (I was under the impression that Tor UK were publishing it here but can't find anything to back that up now...) but advance copies are already doing the rounds, including one that landed on my doorstep. Check out the blurb...

Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories showing her a past life she can’t believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.

Suppressing those dreams during her daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman, and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.

In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men—one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which… 

Now I've got to say that this is the kind of book that I wouldn't normally go anywhere near, especially with reading time being scarce (blahblahblah). 'Archetype' has caught my eye though as I read it (during a publishing work experience placement) while it was on submission. I was interested enough to read about half of it, before skipping ahead to the end to see how it ended, and then gave up. The book felt like it was going nowhere fast, at the time, but there was enough to it to have me thinking that I might give it another go now. December is due to be an incredibly busy month (not just because of Christmas either) and I reckon 'Archetype' might be just the book to dip in and out of during all the hectic stuff. We'll see but, in the meantime, has 'Archetype' caught your eye?

One for 2014? 'Red Rising' - Pierce Brown

It feels like this feature gets earlier and earlier every year... :o)

When I was running the other blog, I liked to flag up 'next year's' new releases a little ahead of time, just for the hell of it really and to see if they caught anyone's eye. I hadn't planned on doing it here but 'Red Rising' came through the door this morning and the timing just felt right, the 'One for...' series is now a thing again! Here goes,

Darrow is a miner and a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he digs all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of the planet livable for future generations. Darrow has never seen the sky.

Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better future for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow and Reds like him are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow joins a resistance group in order to infiltrate the ruling class and destroy society from within. He will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

Hodder are publishing 'Red Rising' at the end of January next year, here in the UK, while Del Rey will be publishing at the beginning of February in the US.

So what do you reckon? I'm always up for a stirring tale of slaves overthrowing their masters so will be probably give 'Red Rising' a go a little nearer the time. I'm a little tiny bit wary though having read the tag-line 'The Hunger Games meets Ender's Game' on the back. Nothing against either of the two books (which I enjoyed) and I know that publishers have to make these kinds of comparisons to generate interest. It can work the other way though... Do I really want to read another version of 'The Hunger Games' or 'Ender's Game'? No, not really, I've read them already. I'm hoping more a little bit more from 'Red Rising' then, we'll see how it goes.

How about you?