“Kingdoms of Dust” by Amanda Downum (Orbit)

The Third Necromancer Chronicle

With her master dead and her oaths foresworn, necromancer and spy Isyllt Iskaldur finds herself in exile.

Hounded by assassins, she seeks asylum in Assar, the empire she so recently worked to undermine. There, warlords threaten the Empire’s fragile peace, and the empress is beset by enemies within the court. Even worse, darkness stirs in the deep desert. Ancient spirits are waking that could destroy Assar faster than any army.

Isyllt must travel into the heart of the desert to lay the darkness there to rest once more. But first she must stop an order of mages that will do anything to keep the Empire safe – even raze it to dust.

I really enjoyed Downum’s first two Necromancer Chronicles novels, so I had high hopes for this third instalment. It mostly met my expectations, and despite one niggle, was a very strong novel – exhibiting the same strengths that helped elevate the author’s first two novels above the herd. Gothic and mysterious, this is a series to savour.

Top Picks for March 2012

I’m a little late posting this, but I thought I’d still share a few thoughts on some of my most anticipated books coming out in March 2012. As usual, there are more new books coming out than I would be able to read, so I like to give them at least a hat-tip in these posts.

A Quick Chat with AMANDA DOWNUM

In a time when vampires and the undead populate teen fantasy and paranormal romance, I was happy to discover Amanda Downum’s debut, The Drowning City, back in 2009. (Well, I say “discover”, but really Orbit were kind enough to send me a copy, so really it took no effort on my part.) Amanda’s novels feature the undead, but with a difference.

The Bone Palace, the second novel in her series, is one of the best books featuring tye undead that I’ve read in a good long while – alongside Jon Courtenay Grimwood, she’s certainly in the top five of new undead fiction authors. With the publication of the third book, Kingdoms of Dust, later this year, I thought it an excellent opportunity to contact Amanda for an interview. Luckily she was able to squeeze in some time to answer some questions about her books, writing and the undead.

Upcoming: Amanda Downum’s “Kingdoms of Dust” (Orbit)

I’m a big fan of Amanda Downum’s Necromancer Chronicles, which have thus far been dark, gothic and evocative fantasies, set in an exotic world where the lines between the living and the dead are blurred. (It’s reminiscent of Gail Z Martin’s world, although I have to say I much prefer Downum’s creation and writing.) Both of the previous volumes in the series have been reviewed on CR, and if you haven’t yet checked either out, I would certainly recommend it!

The Drowning City was a good start to the series, not without some faults, but showed great promise for the future; while The Bone Palace was a superb, slow-burning supernatural fantasy and thriller, and fulfilled that promise.

Today, Orbit announced the artwork (by Larry Rostant) for the third book, Kingdoms of Dust:

The new artwork sits nicely alongside the previous two novels’, with a more sandy-palette to suit the setting. I think it’s a pretty good cover, if a tiny bit derivative, but it does the trick.

[Please Note: After the break, there are some spoilers in the synopsis]

“The Bone Palace”, by Amanda Downum (Orbit)

The second volume in the Necromancer Chronicles

Death is no stranger in the city of Erisín, but some deaths attract more attention than others.

When a prostitute dies carrying a royal signet ring, Isyllt Iskaldur, necromancer and agent of the Crown, is called to investigate. Her search leads to desecrated tombs below the palace, and the lightless vaults of the vampiric vrykoloi.

But worse things than vampires are plotting in Erisín – a long-dead sorceress is making a bid not only for renewed life but for the throne as well, and Isyllt’s former lover is caught in her schemes.

As a sorcerous plague sweeps the city, Isyllt must decide who she’s prepared to betray – the man she still loves, or the royal family she’s sworn to defend.

I really liked Downum’s debut novel, The Drowning City, with its interesting takes on fantasy tropes, and the author’s keen sense of location and evocative writing style. I particularly like the author’s take on the supernatural, especially when mixed with the politics of the realm she has created. In The Bone Palace, which is set a little after the events of The Drowning City, we are taken back to the capital city, Erisín, into the midst of the aristocracy’s machinations, and also into the dark world below.

“Two years and a half years ago she’d been sent to stir rebellion in the distant port city of Symir. The mission had ended in murder, chaos, and the near-destruction of the city - a success, as far as the Crown was concerned.”

Downum offers a good look at both sides of society: the high class lives and intrigues of the wealthy and aristocratic families (sometimes deadly, but always polite) and the eternal games and schemes of those not occupying the throne; and also the grimmer and tougher world of the poor and lower-classes. Isyllt’s investigation into the death of the prostitute gives us a glimpse of the harsh life of the denizens of ‘the Garden’, Erisin’s pleasure district, and introduces us to the various characters and groups of that world. The author paints a depressing picture of the lives and potential of those born into this world, and Isyllt’s eventual concern for Dahlia is based on a desire to save just one person from a harsh life as a prostitute.

Savedra, the Crown Prince’s mistress, conducts her own investigation into the vrykoloi and how they might be involved with her family. At first it’s not entirely clear how Savedra’s story will tie in to Isyllt’s plotline, but in Part II of the novel, it becomes clear that they are somehow connected. Savedra joins with Ashlin (the Crown Prince’s wife, who shares a surprisingly cordial relationship with her husband’s concubine) to investigate a mysterious, mostly-unknown member of her family. Downum uses this second mystery to take the reader to other locations in the world she has created. The author does a great job of tying the two plot-lines together in the second and third part of the book, making the novel far more satisfying and the plot larger in scope. Indeed, Downum’s pacing of the whole novel is very good – key plot lines are slowly unrolled for us, and the wider picture becomes visible only gradually, keeping us guessing about how the characters will develop and overcome the challenges they must confront and where the story is going.

The death-magic Downum has created for her world is great, and was one of the best elements in the first novel: It’s gruesome, horrific, complex, and strangely captivating at the same time (I love vampires, so this necromantic-magic was bound to pique my interest). There’s also the blood-magic, or ‘haematurgy’ used by vampires and demons, which is also described with skill and originality. Unlike other novels published these days that have an undead flavour, Downum has played with the traditions of the genre, and for that she should be thanked. There are some recognisable influences, but Downum has added plenty of new and unusual twists and elements to her supernatural world to make this feel more original than many recent vampire/undead novels.

The vampires of the synopsis live in catacombs below the city, existing there with the full knowledge of the city’s rulers as part of a long-ago truce of non-disturbance. The vampires can live there as long as they are “discreet”, feeding off indigents and criminals but not the high-born or those connected to them. They’re an interesting, more gothic/horrific take on the breed, though also highly intelligent. They’re quite sinister in their way, but not brutal killers, and not particularly broody... (They remind me of White Wolf’s Nosferatu and Warhammer’s Nechrarchs – more demonic and horrific than the beguiling, beautiful, teenage-seducing vampires of today’s vogue).

There are occasional, slower passages that don’t quite have the same polish and assurance as the majority of the rest of the novel, but on the whole The Bone Palace is better than The Drowning City. Downum’s prose flows well, with excellent description and atmospheric narrative – in fact, the author’s gift for evoking atmosphere is both one of her greatest strengths, and also what can cause those slower moments I mentioned above (when the balance isn’t quite right). She could be described as a less-confident Anne Rice, in this respect. In terms of the characterisation in the novel, I noticed a distinct lack of cliché and over-emoting, which kept the characters and their relationships interesting and realistic. I found myself hooked by the story, and sunk into the plot easily and quickly each time I picked up the book. If I hadn’t been so busy this past week, I have no doubt I would have finished this in just a couple of long, into-the-wee-hours sittings.

While I really liked The Drowning City, I got sucked into the story of this second novel much quicker. Downum’s writing is more assured, her characterisation more interesting and developed, and the plot is as interesting and well-executed as the debut.

Horror, fantasy and detective elements are woven together skilfully to make this a very enjoyable and original read. Amanda Downum is definitely one of the best new authors writing in fantasy, and is an author to watch. If you like your fantasy dark and gothic, with some interesting new takes on some classic fantasy tropes, this is a highly recommended must-read.

For fans of: Gail Z Martin, Anne Rice, Brent Weeks, Steven Saville, CL Werner, Jack Yeovil, Joe Abercrombie

[The third novel in the series, I think, will be titled The Kingdoms of Dust]

The Book Shelf

A new feature I might run a couple of times a year, in which I take a look at what the ‘to-read’ shelf looks like at the moment.

Some pretty exciting releases, stretching from December to March next year. (Behind the fiction are many of the non-fiction titles I’ve used for my PhD. My flat has way too many books in it…) The books are arranged by publication date, but not necessarily in the order I shall read them. Those on the right will (or, at least, should) be reviewed after those on the left, but the best laid plans…

First, pre-December releases (which I’m being slow with reading, and really should have paid more attention to):

Drew Karpyshyn, Dynasty of Evil (Arrow)

Twenty years have passed since Darth Bane, reigning Dark Lord of the Sith, demolished the ancient order devoted to the dark side and reinvented it as a circle of two: one Master to wield the power and pass on the wisdom, and one apprentice to learn, challenge, and ultimately usurp the Dark Lord in a duel to the death. But Bane's acolyte, Zannah, has yet to engage her Master in mortal combat and prove herself a worthy successor. Determined that the Sith dream of galactic domination will not die with him, Bane vows to learn the secret of a forgotten Dark Lord that will assure the Sith’s immortality-and his own.

It’s been a while since I read a Star Wars novel, so this will probably be reviewed pretty soon (also, I feel bad for not getting to it sooner). This is the only ‘early’ Star Wars series that I’ve been following with much interest, and is the third novel to feature Darth Bane – the Sith who reinvented the order into the Rule of Two that we know from the movies (one master, one apprentice, no others). I prefer the post-New Hope novels, of which I think I’ve read most, if not all. Good science fiction escapism, in a familiar setting = comfort reading worth pursuing! I’m also eager to get my hands on Vortex, the latest instalment of the Fate of the Jedi series.

Darius Hinks, Warrior Priest (Black Library)

Warrior Priests are the holy crusaders of the Empire, crushing daemons, witches and heretics alike with righteous fury. These bold men wield death and damnation, with warhammers held high and the word of Sigmar on their lips. They provide the final bastion against the forces of darkness that would run rampant and forever turn the hearts of men. Jakob Wolff is one such warrior, and sets out to track down his brother, whose soul has been tainted by the Ruinous Powers. Family must be put to one side as he battles to prevent the Empire from sinking into Chaos, with only his strength of arms and the purity of his beliefs to call upon.

The Warrior Priests have always been an intriguing sect in the Warhammer realm – as are their real-life inspirations from the Crusades (and other eras, of course). This would be my first novel from the Empire Armies series, and I’ve heard some good stuff about Hinks’s writing, so I’m looking forward to having the time to read this sometime over the Christmas break. I don’t know what sort of novels they are – I assume plenty of warfare, which is actually not what I favour (I prefer more attention to be paid to plotting and character development), but I’ve only heard good things about Warrior Priest and Hinks’s writing, so I shall definitely give this a go, and soon.

December

Amanda Downum, The Bone Palace (Orbit)

Death is no stranger in the city of Erisín, but some deaths attract more attention than others.

When a prostitute dies carrying a royal signet, Isyllt Iskaldur, necromancer and agent of the Crown, is called to investigate. Her search leads to desecrated tombs below the palace, and the lightless vaults of the vampiric vrykoloi. But worse things than vampires are plotting in Erisín – a long-dead sorceress is making a bid not only for renewed life but for the throne as well, and Isyllt’s former lover is caught in her schemes.

As a sorcerous plague sweeps the city, Isyllt must decide who she’s prepared to betray – the man she still loves, or the royal family she’s sworn to defend.

I’m actually reading this at the moment, so if you wait just a few days, you’ll be able to read my whole review. Needless to say, I liked Downum’s debut (The Drowning City), and I’m loving this second novel a whole lot more. There is an exceptional quality to Downum’s writing and attention to character that is noticeably improved from her debut. I’m am finding myself very much drawn to her world and style. Now if only I would stop being interrupted by other things going on, I could give this the attention it deserves and sink into the story. I should get a lot read over the next couple of days.

Rachel Aaron, The Spirit Eater (Orbit)

With the pressure on after his success in Gaol, Eli Monpress, professional thief and degenerate, decides it’s time to lie low for a bit. Taking up residence in a tiny seaside village, Eli and his companions seize the chance for some fun and relaxation.

Nico, however, is finding it a bit hard. Plagued by a demon’s voice in her head and feeling powerless, she only sees herself as a burden. Everyone’s holiday comes to an untimely close, though, when Pele arrives to beg Eli’s help for finding her missing father.

But there are larger plans afoot than even Eli can see, and the real danger, and the solution, may lie with one of his own and her forgotten past.

If only Nico could remember whose side she’s on…

I really enjoyed the first novel in the Eli Monpress series, The Spirit Thief, and as soon as I get the middle book in the series (The Spirit Eater is the third volume, preceded by The Spirit Rebellion), I shall probably get through them both pretty quickly. A series that focuses on the more fun aspects of fantasy, doesn’t take itself too seriously, but also contains an intriguing take on magic, this is highly recommended.

Tom Clancy & Grant Blackwood, Dead Or Alive (Penguin)

For years, Jack Ryan, Jr. and his colleagues at the Campus have waged an unofficial and highly effective campaign against the terrorists who threaten western civilization. The most dangerous of these is the Emir. This sadistic killer has masterminded the most vicious attacks on the west and has eluded capture by the world’s law enforcement agencies. Now the Campus is on his trail. Joined by their latest recruits, John Clark and Ding Chavez, Jack Ryan, Jr. and his cousins, Dominick and Brian Caruso, are determined to catch the Emir and they will bring him in... dead or alive.

It’s been a long while since I read a Clancy novel, and this is quite the beast (not to mention press event – there were parachutes, the Tower of London, and lockdowns involved!). Clancy is a thriller author of considerable prestige, a leading talent in the genre, and one of the few who has been able to make the transition from a Cold War setting to the War on Terror setting. As the characters have developed over time, and the new generation of soldier has taken over from the old (see The Teeth of the Tiger), Clancy has maintained the personal and large scale attention to plot and story. I’m eager to settle into this mammoth thriller, so expect a review relatively soon.

Steve Lyons, Dead Men Walking (Black Library)

When the necrons rise, a mining planet descends into a cauldron of war and the remorseless foes decimate the human defenders. Salvation comes in an unlikely form – the Death Korps of Kreig, a force as unfeeling as the Necrons themselves. When the two powers go to war, casualties are high and the magnitude of the destruction is unimaginable.

Sounds like a good, action-packed slice of Warhammer 40,000, so I am hoping to get to this very soon. My reading about the Imperial Guard has mainly focussed on Gaunt’s Ghosts – the flagship WH40k series that I have featured and written about frequently on this site. Dead Men Walking would be a new reading experience for me, and the regiment portrayed is very different from the Tanith First & Only, so I’m interested to see if this novel holds as much enjoyment as Abnett’s series.

Paolo Bacigalupi, The Windup Girl (Orbit)

Anderson Lake is a company man, AgriGen's calorie representative in Thailand. Under cover as a factory manager, he combs Bangkok’s street markets in search of foodstuffs long thought to be extinct. There he meets the windup girl – the beautiful and enigmatic Emiko – now abandoned to the slums. She is one of the New People, bred to suit the whims of the rich. Engineered as slaves, soldiers and toys, they are the new underclass in a chilling near future where oil has run out, calorie companies dominate nations and bio-engineered plagues run rampant across the globe.

And as Lake becomes increasingly obsessed with Emiko, conspiracies breed in the heat and political tensions threaten to spiral out of control. Businessmen and ministry officials, wealthy foreigners and landless refugees all have their own agendas. But no one anticipates the devastating influence of the Windup Girl.

Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl has already received a ton of praise from seemingly all across the publishing and journalism landscape, not to mention a number of awards over in the US. Finally, Orbit have brought the book properly to the UK, and with it has come a good deal of expectation and interest. I’m eager to give this a read, so I shall try to slot it in as soon as possible. For those of you who have already heard of the novel, and would like to give it a try, head over to the website to read a sample.

January

Dan Abnett, Prospero Burns (Black Library)

The Emperor is enraged. Primarch Magnus the Red of the Thousand Sons Legion has made a terrible mistake that endangers the very safety of Terra. With no other choice, the Emperor charges Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves, with the apprehension of his brother from the Thousand Sons home world of Prospero. This planet of sorcerers will not be easy to overcome, but Russ and his Space Wolves are not easily deterred. With wrath in his heart, Russ is determined to bring Magnus to justice and bring about the fall of Prospero.

The next Horus Heresy novel. And it’s by Dan Abnett. Enough said, really. Can’t wait to get to this, but I’m going to leave it for closer to the release date. It’s really difficult to not dive straight into it, but I shall control myself.

Vince Flynn, American Assassin (Simon & Schuster)

Before he was considered a CIA-super agent, before he was thought of as a terrorist’s worst nightmare, and before he was both loathed and admired by politicians on Capitol Hill, Mitch Rapp was a star college athlete with an untapped instinct for violence.

Tensions in the Middle East are simmering when Central Intelligence Agency Director Irene Kennedy pays a visit to Syracuse University, where she hopes to recruit none other than Mitch Rapp, a student who has quickly climbed up the academic and athletic ranks. At first glance, he appears like any other smart, good-looking American college kid. Under the surface, however, a tempest rages.

Tragedy entered Mitch’s life a year before when 35 of his classmates, including his girlfriend, perished on Pan Am flight 103. Since then, Mitch has grieved their senseless deaths and has felt helpless in his desire for revenge. When Kennedy arrives on campus, his career path is suddenly laid out for him. Nine months later, after gruelling training, Mitch finds himself in Istanbul on his first assignment, which is to assassinate the Turkish arms dealer who sold the explosives used in the Pan Am attack. Mitch hits his target but quickly sees, for the first time, what revenge means to the enemy. When Mitch’s mentor and a fellow recruit are kidnapped and tortured by a dangerous group of Islamic jihadists, he must stop at nothing to save them.

One of my favourite series (regardless of genre), Vince Flynn takes us back to the beginning of Rapp’s career with the CIA. It’s a time the author has only alluded to in previous novels, so it will be interesting to see how Rapp became the man he did over the course of the series. This will be read within the next couple of weeks. An awesome author, and I really hope this novel lives up to my expectations.

Jon Osborne, Kill Me Once (Arrow)

Nathan Stiedowe is seeking perfection – and he has been learning from the best. Recreating some of the most sickening murders in history, his objective appears chillingly simple, but his true motive remains unclear.

On the trail of this sadistic monster is FBI Special Agent Dana Whitestone. Driven by the brutal childhood slaying of her parents, Dana’s relentless pursuit of the most evil and twisted criminals has seen her profile many violent cases. But never has she encountered a maniac as demented as Stiedowe, or a mind as horrifyingly disturbed…

I’ve been searching for a new thriller/crime author to take the place of James Patterson, and I have high hopes for Osborne. The premise of his novel sounds interesting, and I am eager to get started on this. I shall wait until closer to the novel’s publication date, however, so don’t expect a review within the next couple of weeks.

February

Charles Cumming, The Trinity Six (HarperCollins)

One of the enduring mysteries of modern espionage is the Cambridge Spy Ring--the group that included Anthony Blunt, Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, and Donald Maclean – and the identity of the long-rumored sixth man. Many theories have been proposed over the years, yet no one has come forth with any irrefutable proof. And Sam Gaddis, an academic with a specialty in modern Russian history, is the least likely person to do so. Until an old friend reveals that she's working on just that story, suddenly dies; Sam's need for money becomes pressing, and he finds his way to someone claiming to have access to the real sixth man.

But the few remaining people with any direct connection to that sixth man begin dying unexpectedly, MI-6 begins tracking Gaddis trying to throw him off the trail, and he finds himself in the cross-hairs of a very real, very dangerous plot emanating from the highest levels of contemporary Russia. As Sam risks everything he has and everyone he loves to unravel the layers of secrets surrounding the identity of the sixth man, someone else is equally determined, for reasons unknown, to keep the details surrounding the long-standing deception surrounding the sixth man buried forever.

After I received a review copy of Cumming’s previous novel, Typhoon, I was eager to read more from this up-and-coming author. As a member of the Amazon Vine program, I was extremely happy to see it offered as a review-option. It’s not out for a while, so I probably won’t get to it until the second half of January, but if it’s anywhere near as good as Typhoon, then this will be a wonderful read.

March

Helen Lowe, The Heir of Night (Orbit)

The violence of an age-old war casts a long shadow. It falls on a world where mercy is weakness and conflict is a way of life.

Young Malian is being trained to rule. Her people garrison the mountain range known as the Wall of Night against an ancient enemy, keeping a tide of shadow from the rest of their world. Malian is expected to uphold this tradition, yet she’s known little of real danger until the enemy launches a direct attack upon her fortress home.

In the darkest part of the night, the Keep of Winds becomes a bloodbath. Women and children, warriors and priests, are slain by creatures with twisted magic flowing in their veins. And as the castle wakes to chaos, Malian flees deep into the Old Keep, her life at stake. Then when the danger is greatest, her own hidden magic flares into life.

But this untapped potential is a two-edged blade. If she accepts its power, she must prepare to pay the price.

I don’t know much about this novel or author, but the artwork for this novel is certainly eye-catching. The premise sounds interesting, and I’ve seen some positive feedback on the internet for the author and the novel. Again, like Cumming’s novel, it’s not out for some time. I am certainly looking forward to reading it, however.

*     *     *

So, that’s just a small slice of what we have in store over the next couple of months (with some other reviews not mentioned – mainly because I’ve bought them for my Kindle, so couldn’t include them in the photo at the start). As and when we discover more releases, the schedules might shift a little – as is always the case – but  I wanted to at least mention these books as novels readers of science fiction and fantasy should keep an eye out for. What I’ve seen of 2011 release schedules, it is going to be another great year for fantasy readers, and there will also be plenty of science fiction to slake even the most voracious reader’s thirst.

Happy reading.

Coming soon(ish) from Orbit Books

Ok, so I know that’s way in the future, but saw this cover on Amazon UK, so thought I’d share it:

 Amanda Downum, The Bone Palace (January 2011)

Death is no stranger in the city of Erisin, but some deaths attract more attention than others. When a prostitute dies carrying a royal signet, Isyllt Iskaldur, necromancer and agent of the Crown, is called to investigate. Her search leads to desecrated tombs below the palace, and the lightless vaults of the vampiric vrykoloi deep beneath the city. But worse things than vampires are plotting in Erisin - a long-dead sorceress is making a bid not only for renewed life but for the throne as well, and Isyllt's former lover is caught in her schemes. Soon Isyllt is torn between the living and the dead, between the man she still loves, and the royal family she's sworn to defend.

As a sorcerous plague sweeps the city and demons stalk the streets, Isyllt must decide who she's prepared to betray, before the city built on bones falls into blood and fire.

(CR review of The Drowning City can be found here.)

Interestingly, Orbit’s website has posted a slightly different cover artwork:

This also got me thinking about other books that are heading to shelves soon, so here’s a quick run-down of some other upcoming Orbit titles…

 K.J. Parker’s The Folding Knife (June 2010)

Basso the Magnificent. Basso the Great. Basso the Wise. Basso the Murderer. The First Citizen of the Vesani Republic is an extraordinary man. He is ruthless, cunning and, above all, lucky. He brings wealth, power and prestige to his people. But with power comes unwanted attention, and Basso must defend his nation and himself from threats foreign and domestic. In a lifetime of crucial decisions, he's only ever made one mistake. One mistake, though, can be enough.

I’ve only read one book by K.J, Parker, The Company (review here), and it was very good, even if Parker’s prose style can lean towards the ponderous. Always good, but sometimes one can find oneself wishing for something a little faster-paced.

Glenda Larke, Stormlord Rising (August 2010)

The last Stormlord is dead. War has come to the cities of the Quartern. The violent, nomadic Redunners have put every rainlord they could find to the sword and the cities are left without hope.

Shale has been betrayed, drugged, and left at the feet of his greatest enemy. Now, he must decide to work with those who have plotted against him or let thousands of the waterless die. He has great power but is no Stormlord. At least, not yet…

Terelle has escaped the Scarpen in search of her homeland and her people, the mysterious Watergivers. But a desperate message will send her back to find Shale and face her worst fears.

The people of the Scarpen are in danger. Shale and Terelle must find a way to save their people and punish those who have destroyed all they ever loved.

I recently received The Last Stormlord in the post, so expect a review of this very soon. I only have one or two books before it in the queue, so hopefully within a couple weeks.

 Trent Jamieson, Death Most Definite (August 2010)

Steven de Selby has a hangover. Bright lights, loud noise, and lots of exercise are the last thing he wants. But that’s exactly what he gets when someone starts shooting at him.

Steven is no stranger to death-Mr. D’s his boss after all-but when a dead girl saves him from sharing her fate, he finds himself on the wrong end of the barrel. His job is to guide the restless dead to the underworld but now his clients are his own colleagues, friends, and family.

Mr. D’s gone missing and with no one in charge, the dead start to rise, the living are hunted, and the whole city teeters on the brink of a regional apocalypse-unless Steven can shake his hangover, not fall for the dead girl, and find out what happened to his boss- that is, Death himself.

This sounds a little like Terry Pratchett’s Reaper Man, only set in the contemporary world, rather than the Discworld. Here’s part of the blurb for Reaper Man:

Death is missing - presumed... er... gone - which leads to the kind of chaos you always get when an important public service is withdrawn.

I am still really looking forward to this.

Another two notable, eagerly-awaited (and forthcoming) Orbit releases are Kevin J Anderson’s The Map of All Things (June 2010), and Brent Weeks’ The Black Prism (August 2010).

“The Drowning City”, by Amanda Downum (Orbit)

Politics, mercenaries, revolution, and restless dead...

Amanda Downum’s debut novel, set in the dangerous, dark alleyways of a port city on the edge of a corrupt empire, is an intriguing and promising series beginning from a gifted new voice on the fantasy scene; one filled with original takes on popular fantasy tropes, an eye for detail, and an excellent, evocative writing style.

Isyllt Iskaldur, our protagonist, must find and finance a growing number of rumoured revolutionaries in the city of Symir, a home to exiles and expatriates, smugglers and pirates. On behalf of her country, who fears the Emperor’s attention has turned northwards, with an eye to conquest, Isyllt must help the eclectically-mixed Symir people bring down their distant Imperial rulers. A necromancer and a spy, accompanied by two unfamiliar mercenaries, she must find a way to complete her mission, topple the palaces of Symir, and prove herself to the crown and her mentor, Kiril (who seems to be the real power behind the throne, as someone actually aware of the international political environment). But, in a land where even the dead are plotting (a great addition to the story), and revolutionaries are not all on the same page, Isyllt will be lucky to escape with her life intact.

The Drowning City is filled with very interesting and inspired twists on familiar and popular fantasy tropes. Necromancy, for example, seems to be far more related to ghosts and spirits, rather than reanimation and zombies (though possession remains a concern). Downum has created a very intriguing system of magic in general, too – it is more functional than flashy, and isn’t used as a plot crutch when things get difficult. Her characters are well-rounded and almost uniformly complex and slightly damaged, which makes for engaging dialogue and internal monologues, as well as hidden motivations. From Isyllt’s lack of self-confidence, Xinai’s ruthless hunger for revenge, and Adam’s wariness around Isyllt (not to mention the complicating relationship between Adam and Xinai), the cast of characters are interesting enough and complex enough to offer plenty of scope for later instalments of the series.

The world Downum has created is more Asian in style and influences, which makes for another inspired and refreshing difference, evocatively brought to life in her prose. All too frequently, fantasy authors will create their worlds around an Italian-city-state base, or medieval European (though, to be fair, authors like Scott Lynch do this very well indeed), which makes The Drowning City a breath of fresh air. As someone who has lived in a number of Asian countries (just as Downum has), I think the author has captured the feel and flavours of Asian cities and locales extremely well, expertly transferring them to her world.

So far, so good. Indeed, the author’s approach to the supernatural and occult is also original and very well done: ghosts, for example, are actually scary, vindictive and everywhere. Nobody seems to be safe from their attempts at mischief and/or violence towards the living – for this reason, the whole city of Symir is warded against spiritual incursions. If you are familiar with the TV series Supernatural, you will appreciate Downum’s approach to ghosts and beasties.

Downum’s plot and feel for political intrigue is assured and well-executed, making this a far more involved read than many fantasy novels. However, it is also where the book suffers. For an opening novel, The Drowning City is actually surprisingly short given the task Downum has set herself. Traditionally, fantasy series start with a mammoth tome (600+ pages – just look at Scott Lynch’s Lies of Locke Lamorra and Kevin J. Anderson’s The Edge of the World). Some find these unwieldy and slow – which is often a reasonable opinion. However, given the amount of information presented to the reader in opening chapters of The Drowning City, I can’t help wishing Downum had written a longer book, taken more time to outline the factions and nations involved – the first two chapters were far too loaded with names and information, without leaving much opportunity for it all to percolate into our minds before bombarding us with some more! A minor gripe, but I did find myself flicking back to the handy map at the beginning to make sure I was thinking of the right nation(s).

Needless to say, this is a great opening volume in a series that promises a great deal. I’d recommend you leave yourself a good solid amount of time (minus interruptions) to get your teeth stuck into this, as it is a rewarding and original fantasy. Political intrigue, idealistic (read “naive”) revolutionaries exploited as puppets for greater powers, and a cast of interesting and complex characters, make The Drowning City a very satisfying read.

Also try: Gail Z. Martin, The Chronicles of the Necromancer; Peter V. Brett, The Painted Man; Scott Lynch, Lies of Locke Lamorra; Brent Weeks, Night Angel Trilogy; anything by Maria V. Snyder; anything by Karen Miller; Chris Wooding, The Braided Path series

To judge a book…

It’s the oldest piece of advice in the world, not to judge a book by its cover, but in these fantasy-novel cases it’s almost impossible not to be completely taken with them before you’ve had any opportunity to see them in stores, let alone read them. So, a minor break away from reviewing, here’s a post of previews.

1. Mark Charan Newton’s City of Ruin, the second volume in the Legends of the Red Sun series (synopsis, etc., can be found at the author’s website, here):

2. Also from Tor/PanMacmillan is Col Buchanan’s upcoming Farlander (March 2010). It’s not quite as eye-popping as Newton’s, but there’s something about it that is darkly, beautifully evocative:

3. From Orbit, we have Daniel Abraham’s re-released The Long Price series, Shadow & Betrayal and Seasons of War (January 21st 2010). Some people on the blogosphere have said the covers don’t reflect the content or story of the book, but I think they’re great. Bit Hollywood, perhaps, but I think they work perfectly well. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  It’s almost that time of year again, when the world benefits from the latest of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels. This time, in Unseen Academicals (October 1st 2009), I believe the wizards at Unseen University discover football (or soccer, for our friends across the pond).

5. The next non-Games Workshop-related release from the excellent Dan Abnett, released through new publishing imprint Angry Robot, is Triumff (October 1st 2009), in which Mr Abnett messes about with history and introduces us to an excellent eponymous new protagonist:

6. Finally, a novel that’s actually already out (review pending), but one with an excellent cover, and that’s Amanda Downum’s The Drowning City (Orbit):

With luck, we’ll get you reviews of all of these at the earliest moment possible. Happy reading in the meantime.