   
Jeff Wheeler: The Druid
Published 1st May 2022
An abandoned child becomes a singular inspiration to the mythology of Muirwood in an epic series by Jeff Wheeler, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Muirwood and Kingfountain novels. Eilean
was born a “wretched”―a lowly foundling raised by the Aldermaston of
Tintern Abbey. Then she’s chosen to assist in establishing the new
abbey of Muirwood, now the site of a castle in the swampy Bearden Muir.
Eilean’s role is as night servant to the druid Mordaunt, the king’s
exiled advisor―and prisoner. He’s clever, dangerous, and invaluable to
the Aldermaston. Mordaunt’s
priceless secret: the hiding place of an ancient tome that reveals the
existence of other worlds and the magic between them. Mordaunt knows
how potent its words are and how dangerous they could be in the wrong
hands. But can Eilean win him over? All she must do is gain Mordaunt’s
confidence and trust and persuade the apostate to divulge his secret to
her. But as she learns more from Mordaunt, Eilean’s loyalties begin to
fray. And the risks are greater than she imagined. Despite
betrayals, deceptions, and the deadly motivations of others, a girl
from the flax fields is about to rise above her station. By exploring
the potential of the power of an ancient spoken magic, Eilean is coming
into her own.
John French: Sigismund
Published 12th May 2022
Sigismund, First Captain... Emperor's Champion..The Eternal Crusader!
The
Great Crusade is ending. The Emperor has returned to Terra while Horus
remains among the stars to complete the unification of humanity.
As
the Imperial armies fight the final battles of the age, Remembrancer
Solomon Voss seeks the answer to one question: why does Sigismund,
First Captain of the Imperial Fists and greatest champion of the
Legions, believe that war will not end?
Granted
a rare audience with the master of the Templars, the answer takes Voss
on a revelatory journey to a time before Sigismund became a Space
Marine, through his first battles and oaths, to the bitterest duels
between Legions
Neal Asher: Weaponized
Published
26th May 2022
Weaponized is a thrilling far-future adventure by acclaimed science fiction author Neal Asher.
A bright new future for humanity – or a dark and inescapable past.
Ursula
has lived twice the normal human lifespan, courtesy of the latest
technology. But now she’s struggling to find excitement and purpose, so
signs up to the Polity’s military. She excels in weapons development,
and progresses rapidly up the ranks. But after botching a powerful new
ammunition test, she’s dismissed from service.
Hunting
for a simpler, more meaningful existence, the ex-soldier heads for the
stars. And after founding a colony on the hostile planet of Threpsis,
Ursula finally feels alive. Then deadly raptors attack and the
colonists are forced to adapt in unprecedented ways. The raptors also
raise a deeply troubling question: how could the Polity miss these apex
predators? And alien ruins? Meanwhile, biophysicist Oren has formed his
own survival plan – one he’ll pursue at any cost.
As a desperate battle erupts to consume the planet, Ursula finds she must dig deep into her past to ensure humanity’s future.
Holly Black: Book of Night
Published 3rd May 2022
#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies.
Charlie
Hall has never found a lock she couldn't pick, a book she couldn't
steal, or a bad decision she wouldn't make. She's spent half her life
working for gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows to peer into
locked rooms, strangle people in their beds, or worse. Gloamists guard
their secrets greedily, creating an underground economy of grimoires.
And to rob their fellow magicians, they need Charlie.
Now,
she's trying to distance herself from past mistakes, but going straight
isn't easy. Bartending at a dive, she's still entirely too close to the
corrupt underbelly of the Berkshires. Not to mention that her sister
Posey is desperate for magic, and that her shadowless and possibly
soulless boyfriend has been keeping secrets from her. When a terrible
figure from her past returns, Charlie descends back into a maelstrom of
murder and lies. Determined to survive, she's up against a cast of
doppelgängers, mercurial billionaires, gloamists, and the people she
loves best in the world - all trying to steal a secret that will allow
them control of the shadow world and more.
Mike Chen: Star Wars Brotherhood
Published
10th May 2022
 Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker must stem the tide of the raging Clone Wars and forge a new bond as Jedi Knights.
The
Clone Wars have begun. Battle lines are being drawn throughout the
galaxy. With every world that joins the Separatists, the peace guarded
by the Jedi Order is slipping through their fingers.
After
an explosion devastates Cato Neimoidia, the jewel of the Trade
Federation, the Republic is blamed and the fragile neutrality of the
planet is threatened. The Jedi dispatch Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of the
Order's most gifted diplomatic minds, to investigate the crime and
maintain the balance that has begun to dangerously shift. As Obi-Wan
investigates with the help of a heroic Neimoidian guard, he finds
himself working against the Separatists who hope to draw the planet
into their conspiracy-and senses the sinister hand of Asajj Ventress in
the mists that cloak the planet.
Amid
the brewing chaos, Anakin Skywalker rises to the rank of Jedi Knight.
Despite the mandate that Obi-Wan travel alone-and his former master's
insistence that he listen this time-Anakin's
headstrong determination means nothing can stop him from crashing the
party, and bringing along a promising but conflicted youngling.
Once
a Padawan to Obi-Wan, Anakin now finds himself on equal-but
uncertain-footing with the man who raised him. The lingering friction
between them increases the danger for everyone around them. The two
knights must learn a new way to work together-and they must learn
quickly, to save Cato Neimoidia and its people from the fires of war.
To overcome the threat they face they must grow beyond master and
apprentice. They must stand together as brothers.
T Kingfisher: Nettle and Bone
Published 26th April 2022
A dark and compelling fantasy about sisterhood, impossible tasks and the price of power, from award-winning author T. Kingfisher After
years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince,
Marra―the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter―has finally realized
that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself. Seeking
help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a
prince―if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way
in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the
beginning. On
her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy
godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a
demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes
around the throat of the prince and frees Marra's family and their
kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last.
Namina Forna: The Merciless Ones
Published 26th May 2022
Discover
the gripping sequel to Namina Forna's New York Times bestselling YA
fantasy, THE GILDED ONES. Set in an ancient West African-inspired
world, this series is perfect for fans of CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE
and BLACK PANTHER.
It's
been six months since Deka freed the goddesses in the ancient kingdom
of Otera, and discovered who she really is... But war is waging across
the kingdom, and the real battle has only just begun. For there is a
dark force growing in Otera – a merciless power that Deka and her army
must stop.
Yet hidden secrets threaten to
destroy everything Deka has known. And with her own gifts changing,
Deka must discover if she holds the key to saving Otera... or if she
might be its greatest threat.
THE
MERCILESS ONES is the second, thrilling instalment of the epic fantasy
series in which a young heroine fights against a world that would dare
tame her.
Jack Campbell: The Lost Fleet - Outlands
Published 28th June 2022
 The
New York Times-bestselling series continues as Admiral ‘Black Jack’
Geary commands the fleet deep into alien space and leads humanity to
the galactic stage. Admiral
John ‘Black Jack’ Geary faces new frontiers as he leads his fleet on a
mission that could change humanity’s understanding the of universe
itself. Having
survived political warfare Geary must lead a diplomatic mission to
establish a new embassy with the cryptic but welcoming Dancers. His
battle group, and the scientists and ambassadors they’re escorting,
must cross territory controlled by the mysterious, and deadly, Enigmas.
And saboteurs and assassins still hide in his crew. Carrying
the burden of his own legend, Geary must embody the best of military
leadership, whether as a brilliant tactical commander or a man who
knows the price of pulling the trigger. Knowing every decision he makes
will be assessed on the galactic stage.
The
small print: Books
Monthly, now well into its 24th
year on the web,
is published on or slightly before the first day of each month by Paul
Norman. You can contact me here.
If you wish to submit something for publication in the magazine, let me
remind you there is no payment as I don't make any money from this
publication. If you want to send me something to review, contact me via
email at paulenorman1@gmail.com and I'll let you know where to send it.
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