Thirty-one new fantasies set out to save the empire from marauding hordes in November, including series additions from David Drake (The Books of the Elements), James A. Moore (Seven Forges), C.S. Friedman (Dreamwalker), Sharon Shinn (Elemental Blessings), Juliet Marillier (Blackthorn and Grim), David Hair (Moontide Quartet), Trudi Canavan (Millennium’s Rule), Terry Goodkind (Richard and Kahlan), and Michelle Sagara (Chronicles of Elantra).
Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here. Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.
WEEK ONE
Air and Darkness (The Books of the Elements #4)—David Drake (November 3, Tor)
This adventure is both an independent novel and the gripping conclusion of the Books of the Elements, a four-volume set of fantasies set in Carce, an analog of ancient Rome. During the extraordinary time in which this story is set, the supernatural is dominant. The story is an immensely complex journey of adventure through real and magical places. Corylus, a soldier, emerges as one of the most compelling heroic figures in contemporary fantasy. Battling magicians, spirits, gods, and forces from supernatural realities, Corylus and his companions from the family of the nobleman Saxa, especially Saxa’s impressive wife Hedia, and his friend (and Saxa’s son) Varus, must face constant deadly and soul-destroying dangers, climaxing in a final battle not between good and evil but in defense of logic and reality.
Black Wolves (The Black Wolves Trilogy #1)—Kate Elliott (November 3, Orbit)
A fantasy tale of warriors and nobles who must take the most desperate gamble of all: awaken allies more destructive than the hated king they hope to overthrow. Twenty two years have passed since Kellas, once Captain of the legendary Black Wolves, lost his King and with him his honor. With the King murdered and the Black Wolves disbanded, Kellas lives as an exile far from the palace he once guarded with his life. Until Marshal Dannarah, sister to the dead King, comes to him with a plea-rejoin the palace guard and save her nephew, King Jehosh, before he meets his father’s fate.
City of Wonders (Seven Forges #3)—James A. Moore (November 3, Angry Robot)
Old Canhoon, the City of Wonders, is facing a population explosion as refugees from Tyrne and Roathes alike try to escape the Sa’ba Taalor. All along the border between the Blasted Lands and the Fellein Empire, armies clash and the most powerful empire in the world is pushed back toward the old Capital. From the far east, the Pilgrim gathers an army of the faithful, heading for Old Canhoon. In Old Canhoon itself, the imperial family struggles against enemies old and new, as the agents of their enemies begin removing threats to the gods of the Seven Forges and prepare the way for the invading armies of the Seven Kings. In the distant Taalor valley, Andover Lashk continues his quest and must make a final decision, while at the Mounds, something inhuman is awakened and set free. War is here. Blood will flow and bodies will burn.
Dreamseeker (Dreamwalker #2)—C.S. Friedman (November 3, DAW)
When Jessica Drake learned that her DNA didn’t match that of her parents, she had no idea that the search for her heritage would put her family’s lives in danger or force her to cross into another world. In an alternate Earth dominated by individuals with unnatural mental powers called Gifts, Jessica learned that there was a curse within her blood. She was a Dreamwalker, and the same dark Gift that would allow her to enter the dreams of others would eventually destroy her mind. Her childhood home has been destroyed, her mother’s mind is irreparably damaged, and the Gift of the Dreamwalkers is beginning to manifest in her in terrifying ways. When a stranger invades her dreams and creatures from her nightmares threaten to cross into the waking universe, Jessica knows she must return to the alternate Earth and seek allies, even if doing so means she must bargain with those she fears the most.
Jeweled Fire (Elemental Blessings #3)—Sharon Shinn (November 3, Ace)
As one of the four princesses of Welce, Corene always thought she might one day become queen. Only circumstances changed, leaving fiery Corene with nothing to show for a life spent playing the game of court intrigue, until a chance arises to become the ruler of a nearby country. After stowing away on a ship bound for Malinqua with her loyal bodyguard, Foley, Corene must try to win the throne by making a play to marry one of the empress’s three nephews. Corene is not the only foreign princess in search of a crown. Corene is surprised to find companionship among her fellow competitors. Behind Malinqua’s facade lie many secrets. The visiting princesses are more hostages than guests. Corene must rely on both her new allies and Foley’s unwavering protection, for the game she has entered is far more perilous than she ever imagined.
Mystic (Mystic #1)—Jason Denzel (November 3, Tor)
Mystics have the unique ability to summon and manipulate the Myst: the underlying energy that lives at the heart of the universe. Once in a very great while, they take an apprentice, always from the most privileged sects of society. Until a new High Mystic takes her seat and chooses Pomella AnDone, a low-born teenager, as a candidate. When Pomella chooses to accept the summons and journey to Kelt Apar, she knows that she will have more to contend with than the competition for the apprenticeship. Breaking both law and tradition, Pomella undergoes three trials against the other candidates to prove her worthiness. As the trials unfold, Pomella navigates a deadly world of intolerance and betrayal, unaware that ruthless conspirators intend to make her suffer for having the audacity to seek to unravel the secrets of the Myst.
The Builders—Daniel Polansky (November 3, Tor.com)
A missing eye. A broken wing. A stolen country. The last job didn’t end well. Years go by, and scars fade, but memories only fester. For the animals of the Captain’s company, survival has meant keeping a low profile, building a new life, and trying to forget the war they lost. But now the Captain’s whiskers are twitching at the idea of evening the score. Novella.
The Flame in the Maze (The Door in the Mountain #2)—Caitlin Sweet (November 3, ChiZine)
The Princess Ariadne schemes to bring her hated half-brother Asterion to ultimate ruin. Asterion himself, part human, part bull, grapples with madness and pain in the labyrinth that lies within a sacred mountain. Chara, his childhood friend, tries desperately to find him, accompanied by Prince Theseus, who has sworn to kill him. In a different prison, Icarus, the bird-boy who cannot fly, plans his escape with his father, Daedalus and plots revenge upon the princess he once desired. All of their paths come together at last, in an unforgettable blaze of fire, hatred, love and hope.
The Shock of Night (The Darkwater Saga #1)—Patrick W. Carr (November 3, Bethany House)
When one man is brutally murdered and the priest he works for mortally wounded on the streets of Bunard, Willet Dunham is called to investigate. As Willet begins to question the dying priest, the man pulls Willet close and screams in a foreign tongue. Then he dies without another word. Willet returns to the city, no closer to answers than before, but his senses are skewed. People he touches appear to have a subtle shift, a twist seen at the edge of his vision, and it’s as though he can see their deepest thoughts. Willet soon learns he’s been passed the rarest gift of all: a gift that’s not supposed to exist. Willet must pursue the murderer on the loose in Bunard even as he’s pulled into a more dangerous conflict that threatens not only his city, but his entire world, a conflict that will force him to come to terms with his own tortured past if he wants to survive.
The Wheel of Time Companion: The People, Places and History of the Bestselling Series—Robert Jordan, Harriet McDougal, Alan Romanczuk and Maria Simons (November 3, Tor)
Since its debut in 1990, The Wheel of Time® by Robert Jordan has captivated millions of readers around the globe with its scope, originality, and compelling characters. Over the course of fifteen books and millions of words, the world that Jordan created grew in depth and complexity. The Wheel of Time Companion sheds light on some of the most intriguing aspects of the world, including biographies and motivations of many characters that never made it into the books, but helped bring Jordan’s world to life. Included in the volume are: An entry for each named character; An inclusive dictionary of the Old Tongue; New maps of the Last Battle; New portraits of characters; Histories and customs of the nations of the world; The strength level of many channelers; Descriptions of the flora and fauna unique to the world; And much more.
Tower of Thorns (Blackthorn and Grim #2)—Juliet Marillier (November 3, Roc)
Disillusioned healer Blackthorn and her companion, Grim, have settled in Dalriada to wait out the seven years of Blackthorn’s bond to her fey mentor, hoping to avoid any dire challenges. Lady Geiléis, a noblewoman from the northern border, has asked for the prince of Dalriada’s help in expelling a howling creature from an old tower on her land, one surrounded by an impenetrable hedge of thorns. It threatens both the safety and the sanity of all who live nearby. With no ready solutions to offer, the prince consults Blackthorn and Grim. As Blackthorn and Grim begin to put the pieces of this puzzle together, it’s apparent that a powerful adversary is working behind the scenes. Their quest is about to become a life and death struggle, a conflict in which even the closest of friends can find themselves on opposite sides. (U.S.)
Ascendant’s Rite (The Moontide Quartet #4)—David Hair (November 5, Jo Fletcher Books)
The last few months of the moontide, when the bridge connecting East and West rises above the sea, has come, and in the West Emperor Constant prepares the final phase of his plan to conquer the East. For failed mage Alaron and his companion Ramita, widow to the mage who built the Leviathan Bridge, the unthinkable has happened. They have lost the Scytale of Corineus, the key to the Rite of Ascendancy, as well as one of Ramita’s infant sons. In Javon, Cera Nesti, the imprisoned queen, has been freed, and plots to take on the might of the Rondian Empire. Seth Korion’s Lost Legions must navigate treacherous roads to gain safety, bearing secrets that could bring down the Emperor. The time has come for the Rite of Ascendancy to be performed. New powers must rise to save or damn Urte, and on the Leviathan Bridge itself, all will be decided. (U.S.)
WEEK TWO
Bohemian Gospel—Dana Chamblee Carpenter (November 8, Pegasus)
Thirteenth-century Bohemia is a dangerous place for a girl, especially one as odd as Mouse, born with unnatural senses and an uncanny intellect. Some call her a witch. Others call her an angel. Even Mouse doesn’t know who, or what, she is. But she means to find out. When young King Ottakar shows up at the Abbey wounded by a traitor’s arrow, Mouse breaks church law to save him and then agrees to accompany him back to Prague as his personal healer. Caught in the undertow of court politics at the castle, Ottakar and Mouse find themselves drawn to each other as they work to uncover the threat against him and to unravel the mystery of her past. But when Mouse’s unusual gifts give rise to a violence and strength that surprise everyone, especially herself, she is forced to ask herself: Will she be prepared for the future that awaits her? (Digital; print available November 16.)
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales—Michael Cunningham (November 10, Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
A poisoned apple and a monkey’s paw with the power to change fate; a girl whose long hair causes catastrophe; a man with one human arm and one swan’s wing; and a house deep in the forest, constructed of gumdrops and gingerbread, vanilla frosting and boiled sugar. Here are the moments that our fairy tales forgot or deliberately concealed: the years after a spell is broken, the rapturous instant of a miracle unexpectedly realized, or the fate of a prince only half cured of a curse. The Beast stands ahead of you in line at the convenience store, his devouring smile aimed at the cashier. A malformed little man with a knack for minor acts of wizardry goes to disastrous lengths to procure a child. A loutish and lazy Jack prefers living in his mother’s basement to getting a job, until the day he trades a cow for a handful of magic beans.
Domnall and the Borrowed Child—Sylvia Spruck Wrigley (November 10. Tor.com)
The best and bravest faeries fell in the war against the Sluagh, and now the Council is packed with idiots and cowards. Domnall is old, aching, and as cranky as they come, but as much as he’d like to retire, he’s the best scout the Sithein court has left. When a fae child falls deathly ill, Domnall knows he’s the only one who can get her the medicine she needs: Mother’s milk. The old scout will face cunning humans, hungry wolves, and uncooperative sheep, to say nothing of his fellow fae.
Ecko Endgame—Danie Ware (November 10, Titan)
Winter has come to the Varchinde, and with it, the fatal spread of the blight. The grass is dead, and the plains’ cities are falling to the loss of crops and trade. Now, the Kas take their chance to rise from Rammouthe. Overmatched, betrayed and abandoned by his own forces, Rhan takes the ultimate gamble, he will abandon Fhaveon to lure the Kas into a final confrontation. But the world’s memory is returning. And, as the battle rages round him, Ecko begins to realize that everything they have done has been for a purpose. If they can fit the pieces together, then they might just win the war. Yet, even if they do defeat the Kas, the blight is still there. And to save both the Varchinde and himself, Ecko must face the worst fear of all, the one that has come from his own world.
Legends and Liars (Duelist’s Trilogy #2)—Julia Knight (November 10, Orbit)
Vocho and Kacha are brother and sister, and between them they’ve got quite a reputation. They were once known for the finest swordplay in the city of Reyes. The only problem is, ever since they were thrown out of the Duelist’s Guild for accidentally killing a man they were sworn to protect, it seems everyone wants them dead. Including a dark magician whose plans they recently thwarted. Now Vocho and Kacha are in the midst of an uneasy truce, not sure whether to trust each other, or anyone else for that matter. The sinister magician is rumored to have returned. Now he knows who was behind the failure of his last plan, he’s determined to put a stop to Vocho and Kacha permanently. This time, the flash of steel may not be enough to save them.
Rules for a Knight—Ethan Hawke (November 10, Knopf)
It is 1483, and Sir Thomas Lemuel Hawke, a Cornish knight, is about to ride into battle. On the eve of his departure, he composes a letter to his four young children, consisting of twenty virtues that provide instruction on how to live a noble life, and on all the lessons, large and small, that he might have imparted to them himself were he not expecting to die on the battlefield. “Why am I alive? Where was I before I was born? What will happen to me when I die? Whatever well our lives are drawn from, it is deep, wild, mysterious, and unknowable. A code of ethics; an intimate record of a lifelong quest; a careful recounting of a knight’s hardest won lessons, deepest aspirations, and most richly instructive failures; and an artifact, a relic of a father’s love.
Soundless—Richelle Mead (November 10, Razorbill)
Young Adult. For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom. When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation. But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon. A triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever.
The Two of Swords: Part 10—K.J. Parker (November 10, Orbit)
A soldier with a gift for archery. A woman who kills without care. Two brothers, both unbeatable generals, now fighting for opposing armies. No-one in the vast and once glorious United Empire remains untouched by the rift between East and West, and the war has been fought for as long as anyone can remember. Some still survive who know how it was started, but no-one knows how it will end. The story of a war on a grand scale, told through the eyes of its soldiers, politicians, victims and heroes. (Serial; Digital)
WEEK THREE
Angel of Storms (Millennium’s Rule #2)—Trudi Canavan (November 17, Orbit)
Tyen is teaching mechanical magic at a school respected throughout the worlds. News arrives that the formidable ruler of all worlds, long believed to be dead, is back and enforcing his old laws, including the one forbidding schools of magic. As teachers and students flee, Tyen is left with no home and no purpose, except the promise he made to Vella, the sorcerer imprisoned in a book. Tyen must decide what he is willing to do to free her. After five years among the tapestry weavers of Schpeta, Rielle’s peaceful new life has been shattered by a local war. As defeat looms, the powerful Angel of Storms appears and invites Rielle to join the artisans of his celestial realm. But what will he require in return for this extraordinary offer?
City of Dark Creatures (Daughter of Gods and Shadows #2)—Jayde Brooks (November 17, St. Martin’s Griffin)
Eden had done the impossible-, defeat Sakarabru and save the world from complete annihilation. Yet the demise of the great demon was not enough. With his Brood army still on the loose and a powerful replacement ready to step in, the world is in greater danger than ever before. But not all enemies are outsiders. As Eden’s newfound, barely-controlled powers boil inside her, one Ancient will take on the task of keeping Eden in check. And in this apocryphal battle for the ages, it’s either kill or be killed.
Once Again: Snow; Beauty Sleep—Cameron Dokey and Liz Braswell (November 17, Simon Pulse)
Young Adult. Snow: After the death of her mother, Jessica’s father finds love again. As Jessica grows into a young woman, it becomes clear that her stepmother is wildly, and murderously, jealous of her. Jessica escapes to London and finds herself surrounded by an odd band of outcasts. When her stepmother, repentant and supposedly seeking forgiveness, appears in the city, Jessica must decide whom to trust. Beauty Sleep: Princess Aurore is fated to prick her finger at age sixteen and sleep for one hundred years. The princess makes a habit of exploring the lands beyond the castle, where her warmth and generosity earn her the devotion of the townspeople. When she finds out the impending curse will not only harm her, but the entire kingdom, Aurore embarks on a quest to end the evil magic. Will she be able to put a stop to the curse before it’s too late?
Skyborn (Seraphim #1)—David Dalglish (November 17, Orbit)
The last remnants of humanity live on six islands floating high above the Endless Ocean, fighting a brutal civil war in the skies. The Seraphim, elite soldiers trained for aerial combat, battle one another while wielding elements of ice, fire and lightning. The lives of their parents claimed in combat, twins Kael and Breanna Skyborn enter the Seraphim Academy to follow in their footsteps. There they will learn to harness the elements as weapons and fight at break-neck speeds while soaring high above the waters. But they must learn quickly, for a nearby island has set its hungry eyes upon their home. When the invasion comes, the twins must don their wings and ready their blades to save those they love from annihilation.
Sword & Runestaff: The Sword of the Dawn and The Runestaff—Michael Moorcock (November 17, Tor)
This omnibus collects The Sword of the Dawn and The Runestaff, two novels in Moorcock’s acclaimed Hawkmoon series. The Sword of the Dawn: Dorian Hawkmoon’s quest to destroy the Dark Empire leads him onto the path of a man who possesses a rare ring that allows men to travel through time. Hawkmoon uses this ring to travel to the far future, where he must battle the Pirate Lords and claim the Great Sword of the Dawn, which can end the Dark Empire once and for all. The Runestaff: Hawkmoon’s mission leads him to Dnark, the home of the Runestaff. Now Hawkmoon must take up the Runestaff in a final effort to vanquish the Dark Empire of Grangretan.
The Shootout Solution (Genrenauts Episode #1)—Michael R. Underwood (November 17, Tor.com)
Leah Tang just died on stage. Well, not literally. Not yet. Leah’s stand-up career isn’t going well. But she understands the power of fiction, and when she’s offered employment with the mysterious Genrenauts Foundation, she soon discovers that literally dying on stage is a hazard of the job. Her first assignment takes her to a Western world. When a cowboy tale slips off its rails, and the outlaws start to win, it’s up to Leah, and the Genrenauts team, to nudge the story back on track and prevent a catastrophe on Earth. But the story’s hero isn’t interested in winning, and the safety of Earth hangs in the balance. Novella.
Towers Fall (Towers Trilogy #3)—Karina Sumner-Smith (November 17, Talos)
War. Fire. Destruction. Xhea believed that the Lower City had weathered the worst of its troubles, that their only remaining fight would be the struggle to rebuild before winter. She was wrong. Now her home is under attack from an unexpected source. The Central Spire, the City’s greatest power, is intent on destroying the heart of the magical entity that resides beneath the Lower City’s streets. The people on the ground have three days to evacuate, or else. With nowhere to go and time running out, Xhea and the Radiant ghost Shai attempt to rally a defense. Yet with the Spire’s wrath upon them, nothing, not their combined magic, nor their unexpected allies, may be strong enough to protect them from the power of the City.
Warheart (Richard and Kahlan #4)—Terry Goodkind (November 17, Tor)
Soulmates, pawns of prophecy and inheritors of an ancient conflict, Richard and Kahlan’s destinies have been bound together since their first encounter in Wizard’s First Rule. But now Richard lies on a funeral bier, suspended between the worlds of life and death and Kahlan faces her greatest challenge. She must fight for Richard’s very existence, and Richard, trapped in the underworld, must fight to keep the world of life from ending. Desperate sacrifices are required. This is the final battle in a war three-millennia old, a war that saw the Sword of Truth forged, a war that could mean the end, not only of their lives, but of their world.
The Girl on the Liar’s Throne—Den Patrick (November 19, Gollancz)
In a castle that is, itself, reminiscent of Gormenghast in its size and brooding presence a collection of young, flawed but resilient outsiders find their way in a dangerous society teetering on the brink of dramatic change, even as it learns the fantastical secrets of its past. Anea is the Silent Queen and she is struggling to bring change to the ancient society of Landfall. Vested interests and dark magics alike are determined to hold onto power and in a society where the loyalties of many are fluid and the true nature of the players is hidden the game of politics can be a lethal one even for those close to the throne. (Note: conflicting release dates: Nov. 19 for digital; Jan. 21, 2016, for print; Oct. 13, 2016, for print.)
WEEK FOUR
Cast in Honor (Chronicles of Elantra #12)—Michelle Sagara (November 24, Mira)
Elantra stands strong, but countless numbers of Hawks, the city’s staunchest protectors, were lost in the brutal attack. Humans, Barrani, Aerians, Leontines, none of the races emerged unscathed from the defense of the city. Homes were lost, families were scattered, and the outcast Barrani Lord Nightshade is missing from his castle in the fiefs. Private Kaylin Neya’s duties must resume, despite her grief. Called in to investigate a triple murder in a quiet part of town, Kaylin and her companions are soon embroiled in a case that is anything but routine. Evidence of the deadly Shadows that still threaten the city leads to hints of ancient, forgotten magics. And a visit to the Oracular Halls points directly to Ravellon, the heart of the Shadows and the darkness they contain. But it is there that Lord Nightshade will be found, if he still survives.
The Seventh Bride—T. Kingfisher (November 24, 47North)
Rhea is a miller’s daughter of low birth, so she is understandably surprised when a mysterious nobleman, Lord Crevan, shows up on her doorstep and proposes marriage. Rhea is forced to agree to the engagement. Lord Crevan demands that Rhea visit his remote manor before their wedding. She discovers that not only was her betrothed married six times before, but his previous wives are all imprisoned in his enchanted castle. Determined not to share their same fate, Rhea asserts her desire for freedom. Lord Crevan gives Rhea a series of magical tasks to complete, with the threat “Come back before dawn, or else I’ll marry you.” Rhea must use her resourcefulness, compassion, and bravery to rally the other wives and defeat the sorcerer before he binds her to him forever.
Suzanne Johnson is the author of the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, with a new novella this month in the anthology Dark Secrets. You can find Suzanne on Facebook and on her website.
