This week was a very good week since it brought 3 new review copies, all of which look very interesting to me.
I already talked about one of these books on Friday since I got it after I’d written up a post about how much I was looking forward to it in 2012. If you’re interested in learning more about Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear, there’s a post on it here (and I will say that although I haven’t had a chance to read the whole book yet, I have peeked at the opening and it is so beautifully written).
This is the second volume in A Dirge for Prester John and a sequel to The Habitation of the Blessed, which showed up along with this one (I see a giveaway in the future since I already have 2 copies of this book, having recently purchased a second signed copy at a talk given by Catherynne Valente). I really enjoyed The Habitation of the Blessed (review) and I’m really excited about reading The Folded World. It was such a gorgeously written, imaginative story. The Folded World is out now with a third book, The Spindle of Necessity, coming out in November 2012. The only excerpt I can find is the Amazon preview.
I was also incredibly excited to see my review of The Habitation of the Blessed quoted under the critical acclaim section in this book. Catherynne Valente is an author who I think very highly of so seeing that in one of her books made my week!
When the mysterious daughter of Prester John appears on the doorstep of her father’s palace, she brings with her news of war in the West–the Crusades have begun, and the bodies of the faithful are washing up on the shores of Pentexore. Three narratives intertwine to tell the tale of the beginning of the end of the world: a younger, angrier Hagia, the blemmye-wife of John and Queen of Pentexore, who takes up arms with the rest of her nation to fight a war they barely understand, Vyala, a lion-philosopher entrusted with the care of the deformed and prophetic royal princess, and another John, John Mandeville, who in his many travels discovers the land of Pentexore–on the other side of the diamond wall meant to keep demons and monsters at bay.
These three voices weave a story of death, faith, beauty, and power, dancing in the margins of true history, illuminating a place that never was.
Eyes Like Leaves, an epic fantasy with Celtic and Norse mythology, is coming out in February 2012. This book was released once in hardcover with a limited print run, and this time it will be available in paperback.
Charles de Lint has written over 70 books and is mostly known for contemporary fantasy. According to the introduction to the book, Eyes Like Leaves was actually his fourth novel but he delayed publishing it because he decided at the time to brand himself as a contemporary fantasy writer. I’m really curious about this one since I love Celtic and Norse mythology.
Taking a delightful departure from his more common urban-fantasy settings, this epic tale from acclaimed author Charles de Lint weaves elements of Celtic and Nordic mythology while bringing sword and sorcery to the forefront. Summer magic is waning in the Green Isles, and the evil Icelord is encasing the lands in a permanent frost while coastal towns are pillaged by snake ships. Mounting one last defense against the onslaught, a mysterious old wizard instructs his inexperienced apprentice in the art of shape-changing. Mercilessly pursued by the Icelord’s army, this newfound mage gathers allies—a seemingly ordinary young woman and her protective adoptive family—and they flee north in a desperate race to awaken the Summerlord. Time is running short for the Summerborn, especially when a treacherous family betrayal is discovered.
