The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review consideration (often unsolicited). Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.
I’m doing some catching up this week since I ended up unexpectedly busy most of last weekend. This post includes last week’s books as well as this week’s.
One book showed up in the last week that I’ve already talked about. Here it is in case you missed it:
- Clash of Eagles by Alan Smale (Release Date: March 17 – Hardcover and Ebook)
On to the rest of the books!
Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: July 7 (Hardcover, Ebook, Audiobook)
Kim Stanley Robinson is both a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author whose works have won Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards. The Mars Trilogy, which contains books that have each won at least one of these awards, is being adapted for television.
A major new novel from one of science fiction’s most powerful voices, AURORA tells the incredible story of our first voyage beyond the solar system.
Brilliantly imagined and beautifully told, it is the work of a writer at the height of his powers.
Our voyage from Earth began generations ago.
Now, we approach our destination.
A new home.
AURORA.
Artemis Invaded (Artemis Awakening #2) by Jane Lindskold
Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: June 30 (Hardcover, Ebook)
Previous Book in the Series:
- Artemis Awakening (Read an Excerpt)
Jane Lindskold is a New York Times bestselling author. Her work includes The Firekeeper Saga beginning with Through Wolf’s Eyes, Thirteen Orphans, Child of a Rainless Year, and more.
In Artemis Invaded, Jane Lindskold returns to the world of Artemis, a pleasure planet that was lost for millennia, a place that holds secrets that could give mankind back unimaginable powers.
Stranded archaeologist Griffin is determined to make his way back to his home world with news of the Artemis discovery. He and his gene-modified native companion, the huntress Adara, and her psyche-linked puma Sand Shadow, set out to find another repository of the ancient technology in the hope that somehow Griffin will be able to contact his orbiting ship.
In the midst of this, Adara wrestles with her complex feelings for Griffin–and with the consequences of her and Sand Shadow’s new bond with the planet Artemis. Focused on his own goals, Griffin is unaware that his arrival on Artemis has created unexpected consequences for those he is coming to hold dear. Unwittingly, he has left a trail–and Artemis is about to be invaded.
The Crow of Connemara by Stephen Leigh
Genre: Fantasy (Contemporary)
Release Date: March 3 (Hardcover, Ebook)
Stephen Leigh, who also writes as S. L. Farrell, is the author of Immortal Muse, the Hoorka trilogy beginning with Slow Fall to Dawn, and more. He has also contributed to some of the Wild Cards books edited by George R. R. Martin.
The Crow of Connemara is a contemporary Celtic fantasy set primarily in Ireland. Picking up threads from ancient Irish mythology and folktales, this story is fantasy, drama, and tragic romance all at once, a tale caught in the dark places where the world of ancient myth intersects our own, where old ways and old beliefs struggle not to be overwhelmed by the modern world.
Colin Doyle is young Irish-American musician from Chicago, whose interest is traditional Irish music. Maeve Gallagher is an Oileánach, an “Islander” from Ireland’s west coast. Islanders are outcasts treated with suspicion by the locals, who think them responsible for wild and strange happenings in the area. Colin soon discovers that he’s connected to Maeve in ways he never could have imagined.
Jinn and Juice (The Jinni #1) by Nicole Peeler
Genre: Fantasy (Urban)
Release Date: April 7 (Paperback); Ebook and Audiobook Available Now
Nicole Peeler is also the author of the Jane True series beginning with Tempest Rising.
Cursed to be a jinni for a thousand years, Leila nears the end of her servitude—only to be bound once again against her will. Will she risk all to be human?
Born in ancient Persia, Leila turned to her house Jinni, Kouros, for help escaping an arranged marriage. Kouros did make it impossible for her to marry—by cursing Leila to live a thousand years as a Jinni herself.
If she can remain unBound, Leila’s curse will soon be over. But Ozan Sawyer, a Magi with the ability to See, Call, and Bind jinn has other plans. Oz needs Leila to help him penetrate Pittsburgh’s steel-soaked magic, a juice potent but poisonous to supernatural creatures, in order to find a missing girl with her own mysterious connection to Kouros. Unfortunately for Leila, becoming Bound to Oz may risk more than just her chance to be human once more—it could risk her very soul…
Jinn and Juice is the first in a new series by fantasy writer, Nicole Peeler, set in a world of immortal curses, powerful jinni and belly dancing.
