Hmm… I don’t seem to have anything new and noteworthy to report today. Can anyone point me to something I might have missed over the weekend?
Instead, I’m going to do a shout out to some of the best book blogs that have supported us this past year. This is by no means a comprehensive list but just a quick way to say thanks so much for reading, reviewing, supporting, tweeting, challenging and blogging for Voyager this year!!
“A fantastic start to a trilogy, set in a wonderfully realised, exotic locale making this a truly transportative novel from the brilliant Aussie writer. I first read Fiona’s The Quickening trilogy while in Australia and paid more attention to the book than to the Great Ocean Road (sorry Oz); I’ve been an avid fan ever since.” – Amy
From out of the East they spread like a merciless plague — destroying kingdom after kingdom and the sovereigns who had previously mocked the warlord Loethar and his barbarian horde. Now only one land remains unconquered — the largest, richest, and most powerful realm of the Denova Set…Penraven. The Valisar royals of Penraven face certain death, for the savage tyrant Loethar covets what they alone possess: the fabled Valisar Enchantment, an irresistible power to coerce, which will belong to Loethar once every Valisar has been slain. But the last hope of the besieged kingdom is being sent in secret from his doomed home, in the company of a single warrior. The future of Penraven now rests on the shoulders of the young Crown Prince Leonel who, though untried and untested in the ways of war, must survive brutality and treachery in order to claim the Valisar throne.
Many thanks to Voyager Australia for this great blog piece by Fiona McIntosh about wrapping up another trilogy… Have you picked up the Valisar books yet? Begin with Royal Exile and find yourself swept away into a tale of mystery, intrigue and adventure…
By Fiona McIntosh:
And so another big fantasy trilogy reaches its conclusion with the publication of the third volume, King’s Wrath and the Valisar series, which has occupied my life for a couple of years, is now behind me, but there was a time when I was unsure it would ever end. I was writing King’s Wrath in Tasmania earlier this year and the story just refused to close. I am a writer who works to no plan and so the tale shapes itself in a most organic style. And, as if by magic, about 20,000 words out from when it decides that the story must finish, it appears to start narrowing itself down until I find myself in the climactic scenes wondering who will survive and who will perish. This is how it has been for four series now and so I have learned to trust my instincts and let the book work its own structure out.
Originally from Brighton, Fiona McIntosh moved to Australia in her teens and forged a successful career in travel – running a business with her husband – before becoming a writer. She continues her work and on top of this not only writes at least two books a year, but also spearheads the Fab Fantasy Bookclub – Australia’s premier fantasy bookclub. She lives in southern Australia with her husband, her two lovely sons, two mad dogs and two insane birds.
After a decade of occupation, the Denova Empire is flourishing under Loethar’s rule as he urges the people of the Steppes to integrate with the West. But Loethar is bored with peace – and so is Leo, the usurped heir, who still lives in hiding, eager to stake his claim to the Valisar throne.
Freath continues his double life, secretly loyal to the Valisars but working as sage counsel to the Empire. But he risks all to contact the rebel, Kilt Faris, and finds his life may be forfeit.
A new evil is stirring… and only one person knows that the legendary Valisar Enchantment is rising. Soon the wars and destruction that formed an empire will seem a squabble by comparison to the darkness that threatens…
We have x5 copies of Fiona McIntosh’ s Royal Exile to giveaway this month. Five lucky winners will each receive a copy of her latest novel. Click below to read an extract.
Drum roll please… at last we can unveil our rather splendid trailer to celebrate 15 years of Voyager publishing.
We hope it was worth the wait. For everyone that leaves a comment on the blog or on YouTube between now and the 10th May, we will enter you into a draw to win a copy of each of the published books from the trailer.
The David Gemmell Legend Award was founded last year to recognize the best in fantasy fiction. The prize is entirely voted for by the public online, and polling is now open to select the 2010 shortlist. Voyager has 5 titles longlisted:
Rides a Dread Legion by Raymond E. Feist – Read an extract
The Rise of the Iron Moon by Stephen Hunt – More info
The Silver Mage by Katharine Kerr – Read an extract
Tyrant’s Blood by Fiona McIntosh – Read an extract
To vote for your favourite nominee, head to www.gemmellaward.com, click on ‘LEGEND’ on the top navigation bar, then click on ‘VOTE!’ and select from the list. The poll closes on 31st March.
Our authors have brought you some wonderful worlds to escape into this year, from favourite destinations, such as Midkemia and the Rain Wilds, to virgin territories like Thesia and The Devona Set; so many in fact, that it would be impossible – ok, annoying – to list them all for you in one newsletter. So here’s just a taste of the adventures Voyager fans enjoyed – or have yet to enjoy – from the year 2009…
Welcome to the Voyager blog – full of news, reviews, and opinion pieces on all of your favourite Voyager authors. We publish a wide range of authors across the genre, from classic science fiction authors to giants of fantasy, as well as a range of bright new stars.
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“A fantastic start to a trilogy, set in a wonderfully realised, exotic locale making this a truly transportative novel from the brilliant Aussie writer. I first read Fiona’s The Quickening trilogy while in Australia and paid more attention to the book than to the Great Ocean Road (sorry Oz); I’ve been an avid fan ever since.” – Amy
