News

R.I.P, Anne McCaffrey

Last night, the Voyager team were very sad to hear about the passing of one of fantasy and science fiction’s greatest writers, Anne McCaffrey. Tributes and obituaries are flooding in from around the globe, and the immense outpouring of love and sadness shared by the genre community and beyond is just a testament to the impact that Anne had on readers and writers everywhere.

Read a lovely obit by io9 here and share your thoughts on what Anne meant to you in an open forum at John Scalzi’s blog, here.


Reader Review Cinda Williams Chima

Hi everyone! I’m Daisy, a book lover and blogger (my blog). I recently won a contest from Harper Voyager for the first two books in the Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima and when they asked if I might be interested in reviewing them as a guest blogger I said YES! Because, really, I’m such a fangirl for this series!

In these books we follow Raisa, the princess heir of the Fells, and Han, a reformed thief. And I’m not giving anything away, but you’ll be surprised at how these two storylines come together. And you will love it. I know I did!

The point of view switches between Raisa and Han and they are both wonderful! I LOVED how Raisa is not a spoiled little princess, but maybe slightly naïve about everything going on outside the palace. But you would be too if the only time you’d been in the city was when there was a parade in your honor! I loved that she’s intelligent and really wants to make a difference. She does have the whole superficial crush thing down, but well, she’s only 15 and she doesn’t think of her crush instantly being her soulmate, so I was good with this.
Han is a little on the dangerous side. And mysterious! He has had cuffs on his wrists ever since he was a baby and they grow along with him (MAGIC CUFFS). He doesn’t know why and up until the very end of this first book in the series, we don’t either. I LOVED it!

 I LOVED the world building and all the different characters! And I loved to hate the ‘bad guys’ which is always a bonus! Oh, and I was secretly gleeful when their evil plans failed! *enter evil laugh of my own*

Sometimes a series can suffer from ‘second book syndrome’, but The Exiled Queen absolutely did not! It has just as much going on as the first book and further explores the world and the characters and doesn’t just act as a filler to get to the action!

I think this series is one of the best YA fantasy series I have ever read and I’ve been lucky enough to already read the third book, The Gray Wolf Throne and let me tell you it’s excellent as well! This series will grab you and not let go, be warned: you will be sucked into this world and will not remember to do trivial things, such as eating/drinking/sleeping!

http://www.cindachima.com/

Buy Demon King

Buy Exiled Queen

Pre-order Gray Wolf Throne


Best of… 2011

Just as sure as mince pies and Christmas lights, ‘Best of…’ lists abound at this time of year. And Voyager is very pleased to announce that one of our authors has made a very special list – Kirkus Reviews’ Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2011.

Kirkus Reviews is a US-based publication, but its starred reviews are highly coveted by authors (and publishing houses) around the globe. So we are all extremely excited that Spellbound by Blake Charlton not only landed a starred review, but is also one of Kirkus’ picks for 2011. Congratulations Blake!

If you haven’t picked up this series yet, what are you waiting for? Labelled “absolutely not to be missed” by Kirkus, Spellbound is book two of Blake’s fantastic series. It continues the struggle began in Spellwright of the wizard Nicodemus Weal, who is unable to wield the magical text of his people owing to his severe cacography – which causes him to ’misspell’ magic with potentially disastrous consequences.

Buy Spellwright now!

Amazon

Waterstones

Kindle download

Spellbound – Kirkus Reviews Best Book 2011

Amazon

Waterstones

Kindle


We love dragons

With the end of The Inheritance Cycle readers might find themselves having dragon-related withdrawal. Common symptoms include googling “Dragon books” and watching Dragon Heart over and over and over and over(etc) again. No one should ever subject themselves to that much Kevin Costner…

To get your dragon fix why not try a dragon book that you’ll love if you enjoyed The Inheritance Cycle books… 

Temeraire

Naomi Novik

This book is one of my favourites. In my opinion the writing is sophisticated, the descriptions are beautiful and the story is quite simply one of the best I’ve ever read.

Captain Will Laurence has been at sea since he was just twelve years old. Rising on merit to captain his own vessel, Laurence has earned himself a beautiful fiancée, society’s esteem and a golden future. But the war is not going well. It seems Britain can only wait as Napoleon plans to invade.

After a skirmish with a French ship, Laurence finds himself in charge of a rare cargo: a dragon egg bound for the Emperor himself. Dragons are much prized: properly trained, they can mount a fearsome attack from the skies. It falls to one of Laurence’s men to take the beast in hand and join the aviator’s cause, forcing him to relinquish all hope of a normal life.

But when the newly-hatched dragon decides to imprint itself on Laurence, the horrified captain’s world falls apart. Gone is his golden future: gone his social standing, and soon his beautiful fiancée, as he is consigned to be the companion and trainer of the fighting dragon, Temeraire…

If you would like to get in touch to do a Reader Review, please do!

Buy it

‘Great, intelligent fun’ The Times

‘Planty of intrigue, swordplay, exotic locations, plausible invention. In short a treat’ The Daily Telegraph

‘These are beautifully written novels, not only fresh, original and fast-paced, but full of wonderful characters with real heart’ Peter Jackson, Director

If you fancy drawing your own dragon…

http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/3649/1/3/how-to-draw-baby-dragon.htm

This is my attempt… I think I’ll stick to reading Naomi Novik…


A Song of Ice and Fire HB editions

They’re in!! We can barely contain our excitment.

Buy them here:

A Game of Thrones

A Clash of Kings

A Storm of Swords

A Feast for Crows 


Fantasy Faction Publishers Choice 2012

Fantastic blogs from Fantasy Faction

Fantasy Faction have put together two amazing blogs this week.

Top 10(ish) Fantasy Books of 2012

By Marc Aplin

11. City of Dragons (The Rain Wilds Chronicles: Book Three)

7. King of Thorns (Broken Empire #2) by Mark Lawrence (artwork not final)

Two of our titles made the list! City of Dragons and King of Thorns!

Read the full article here: http://fantasy-faction.com/2011/most-anticipated-fantasy-books-of-2012

Fantasy Faction Publishers Choice 2012

The second blog features our picks for 2012 – sadly we could only pick 5(again ish) and here were our choices: http://fantasy-faction.com/2011/fantasy-books-due-in-2011-publishers-choice


Initiate’s Trial by Janny Wurts 27/10/2011

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Janny Wurts is the author of the Cycle of Fire series, co-author of the worldwide bestselling Empire series with Raymond E. Feist, and is currently working on the Wars of Light and Shadow series. 

The long-awaited beginning of the fourth story arc – Sword of the Canon – in the epic fantasy series, the Wars of Light and Shadow.

Betrayed and double-crossed, Arithon s’Ffalenn is held captive by the Order of the Koriathain. The desperate Fellowship Sorcerers have gambled the weal of Athera and forced through the perilous bargain that spared him, as the last Prince of Rathain, and their sole hope of unity. To suspend the Prime Matriarch’s decree of execution, Arithon lives only to battle Marak’s horde of free wraiths, unleashed one by one from the shielding grip of the star wards.

But on the day the last wraith is redeemed, the inflexible terms sealed by Dakar’s oath of debt will be forfeit.

Against a backdrop in which the Religion of Light has undergone schism, the fanatical True Sect’s high priesthood stands consumed by its thwarted ambition: to conquer Havish, the backbone of order that secures the terms of Paravian survival. Now Lord Mayor of Etarra, Lysaer s’Ilessid must fight the pull of the Mistwraith’s curse, and battle for sanity to uphold his just ethic. Another young defender will stand at his side, newly sworn by the Sorcerer’s auspices.

As Arithon’s life once again becomes the fulcrum that shifts the game board, Elaira’s choice might save or break the unstable future; while at large and answerable to no mortal law, Davien and the dragon that holds his service throw in the wild card no one predicts.

Official Website

Buy it here

Review copies available email: thevoyager@harpercollins.co.uk

Buy Janny’s books here


Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima 27/10/2011

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The second book in an epic fantasy series from Cinda Williams Chima. Adventure, magic, war and ambition conspire to throw together an unlikely group of companions in a struggle to save their world.

You can’t always run from danger…

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery – but the bargain they make is one Han may soon regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden’s Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.

Praise for The Exiled Queen:

‘Vividly drawn and lusciously executed, the Seven Realms series continues to grow in breadth and detail with this sequel to The Demon King. The story lines are intricately plotted and the characters fully realized, even as questions about truth, loyalty, and power are explored.’ VOYA

‘Duty, love, expedience and revenge fuel the labyrinthine intrigues of this second entry in an epic fantasy series…Seven Realms fans will pore over every detail and beg impatiently for the sequel. Riveting.’ Kirkus

Praise for The Demon King:

‘The Demon King is a page-turner for any reader, regardless of age.’ Robin Hobb

‘Dozens of characters, complex and distinct in personality, are placed with jewel-like precision, set off by dark glints of villainy… [readers] will clamor for the sequel.’ Publishers Weekly

Praise for Cinda Williams Chima:

‘Centuries of wizardly scheming, slavery and slaughter reap apocalyptic fallout in this final volume of Chima’s trilogy… Heroes and villains alike are swayed by achingly human motivations into disastrous choices with devastating consequences…The resolution is—like the end of childhood itself—tentatively hopeful, if not triumphant. A superlative accomplishment.’ Kirkus.

Review copies available


Editor’s Desk – Red Phoenix by Kylie Chan

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27/10/2011

£7.99 buy it here

The demon threat closes around mortals and gods alike… When Emma became nanny to John Chen’s daughter, she never expected to be caring for the child of a Chinese god, or that all the demons in hell would want him dead.

Now she’s in love with John, and they are hunted from China to Europe by a race of demons. But who are the real pawns in this deadly celestial game?

Kylie Chan’s Dark Heavens trilogy is the most exciting Urban Fantasy debut of 2011. Already a smash-hit in the author’s native Australia it brings a world of Oriental Gods, martial arts action and romance to the genre.

http://www.kyliechan.com/

REVIEW COPIES AVAILABLE

“it is a book that I have read over and over and still find myself just as excited as the first time… Skillfully created story with wonderful characters and a gripping storyline.”
- from Goodreads

“Kylie Chan continues this series in the irreverent style that made the first book so readable. The story hurtles along and takes you with it for a wild ride.”
- from Library Thing

“[the Dark Heavens trilogy] is impossible to put down… you’re missing out if you don’t rush out and get them”
- Lunch.com


The Hollows get a make-over

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Kim Harrison January 2012 reissues

 We hope you like them!

Dead Witch Walking

Synopsis £7.99 Buy it here

Rachel Morgan is a white witch and runner working for Inderland Security, in an alternate world where a bioengineered virus wiped out a great deal of the world’s human population – exposing the existence of the supernatural communities that had long lived alongside humanity.

For the last five years Rachel has been tracking down law-breaking Inderlanders in modern-day Cincinnati, but now she wants to leave and start her own agency. Her only problem is that no one quits the I.S.

Marked for death, Rachel will have to fend off fairy assassins and homicidal weres armed with an assortment of nasty curses. She’s a dead witch walking unless she can appease her former employers by exposing the city’s most prominent citizen as a drug lord. But making an enemy of the ambiguous Trent Kalamack is just as deadly as leaving the I.S.

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead

Synopsis £7.99 Buy it here

During the last few months, former bounty-hunter Rachel Morgan has been rather busy.
Having escaped relatively unscathed from her corrupt former employers, she’s not only acquired a vampiric room-mate called Ivy, faced werewolf assassins and battled shape-shifting demons, but has also found the time to pick up a boyfriend (even if he is only human) and open her very own runner agency.
But cohabiting with a vampire, however reformed, has its dangers. Ivy’s evil vampire ex-boyfriend has decided that he wants her back, and views Rachel as a tasty side-dish. To make matters worse, Rachel’s demon mark is the ultimate vamp-aphrodisiac; one that works both ways.
The stakes are high, and if Rachel is to save herself and her room mate she must challenge the master vampire and confront the dark secrets she’s kept hidden even from herself.

http://www.kimharrison.net/