The Bonehunters

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

The story returns to the Seven Cities continent in the sixth book of the Malazan series. The rebels are holed up in Y’Ghatan and the Malazan army under the command of Tavore march toward the city for a final showdown. Tiste Edur ships show up on the high seas, conflict engulfs the heartland of the Malazan Empire, and the Nameless Ones enact desperate measures for their own ends. And there is still the mystery of the jade statutes on Otataral Island and the imprisoned souls. The Crippled God has been granted a place in the pantheon and now both gods and mortals alike must choose sides as the ultimate showdown begins.
I was glad to see the storyline continued and to see many of the characters return. I was also glad that the events from Midnight Tides were tied into the broader plot. Frankly I think Midnight Tides could have been condensed a bit and included in another book. At least Bonehunters didn't have the half-hearted economic philosophy of the previous book, and while Bonehunters was certainly big, nothing seemed overtly superfluous. The plot is really starting to pick up now and I can't wait to see how the series ends.
Final Rating: 8.5/10

New releases for the week of November 27

Spotlight:

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Whether writing about werewolves, wizards, or outer space, George R.R. Martin is renowned for his versatility and expansive talent, highlighted in this dazzling collection. Included here, in Volume II, are acclaimed stories such as the World Fantasy Award-winner "The Skin Trade," as well as the first novella in the Ice and Fire universe, "The Hedge Knight," plus two never-before-published screenplays. Featuring extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume II, is an invaluable chronicle of a writer at the height of his creativity—and an unforgettable reading experience for fans old and new.

Hardcover:

The Golden Apples of the Sun, Ray Bradbury
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Antediluvian Tales, Poppy Z. Brite
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

The Complete Hammer's Slammers, David Drake
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

The River Horses, Allen Steele
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)


Paperback:
Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Fury, Aaron Allston
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

The Patron Saint of Plagues, Barth Anderson
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Alpha, Catherine Asaro
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Sky Coyote, Kage Baker
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Looking Backward from 2000 to 1887, Edward Bellamy (Reprint)
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Cursor's Fury, Jim Butcher
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Scar Night, Alan Campbell
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Empire, Orson Scott Card
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Red Prophet: The Tales of Alvin Maker Volume 1, Orson Scott Card, Roland Bernard Brown

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)


The Tower of Fear, Glen Cook
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Blade Runner: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Philip K. Dick (Reprint)
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Escape from Hell!, Hal Duncan
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

1824: The Arkansas War, Eric Flint
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

1634: The RAM Rebellion, Eric Flint and Virginia DeMarce
(Barnes & Noble)

The Assassin King, Elizabeth Haydon
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Variable Star, Robert A. Heinlein
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Forest Mage, Robin Hobb
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Finding Magic, Tanya Huff
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Dragon's Fire, Anne McCaffrey, Todd McCaffrey
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

The Solaris Book of New Fantasy, George Mann (Editor)
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Dragonlance: The Secret of Pax Tharkas, Douglas Niles
(Amazon)

The Tourmaline, Paul Park
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Tesseracts Eleven, Holly Phillips (Editor)
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Three Days to Never, Tim Powers
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Thraxas at War, Martin Scott
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Clarke County, Space, Allen Steele (Reprint)
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe, James M. Ward
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

The Eagle, Jack Whyte
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)


Europe:
The Curse of the Chosen, Ian Irvine
(Amzaon.co.uk, Book Depository)

New York Times bestsellers for November 25

Hardcover:
Terry Goodkind’s Confessor makes it debut on the New York Times bestseller lists at number 2. US, Europe, Canada.

Laurell K. Hamilton’s A Lick of Frost drops two spots to number 17 in its fourth week on the list. US, Europe, Canada.

Clive Barker’s Mister B. Gone finishes its third week on the list up two to number 22. US, Europe, Canada.

R.A. Salvatore’s The Orc King is up to number 24, one spot higher than previously in its eighth week. US, Europe, Canada.


Paperback:
Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is steady at number 8 rounding out its 33rd week on the New York Times bestseller list. US, Europe, Canada.

Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, in its third week, falls four points to number 11. US, Europe, Canada.

Max Brooks’ World War Z drops to number 19 in its fifth week, down eight from last week. US, Europe, Canada.

Stephen King’s The Mist is down one spot to number 17 at the end of week seven. US, Europe, Canada.

Gregory Maguire’s Wicked, also in its seventh week, falls seven points to number 24. US, Europe, Canada.

Midnight Tides

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Midnight Tides completely changes locations in this fifth book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. The story takes readers clear to the far eastern part of the world to the Tiste Edur and the Human empire of Lether. The Tiste Edur tribes have been united and are finally at peace while in the south expansionist Lether is eager to fulfill and long-awaited prophecy of a renaissance. As the two sides prepare for a clash, ancient forces are awakening and are preparing for a battle for supremacy.
This book was the least satisfying of the Malazan series since Gardens of the Moon. It was nice having a completely different setting and characters for a change of pace, however, plotting and characterization are not Erikson’s strong points and it was hard to see how events are tied to what is happening elsewhere. I’ve heard that The Bonehunters is supposed to start bringing all the disparate parts together so I’m moving on with anticipation.
Final Rating: 7.5/10.

New York Times bestsellers for November 17

Laurell K. Hamilton’s A Lick of Frost drops six spots to number 15 in its third week on the list. US, Europe, Canada.

Clive Barker’s Mister B. Gone finishes its second week down four to number 24. US, Europe, Canada.

R.A. Salvatore’s The Orc King slips to number 25 in its seventh week and down two. US, Europe, Canada.


Paperback:
Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend finishes its second week up seven points to number 7 on the list. US, Europe, Canada.

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is back up another two spots to number 8 in its 32nd week. US, Europe, Canada.

Max Brooks’ World War Z comes into number 11, down three rankings in its fourth week. US, Europe, Canada.

Stephen King’s The Mist shoots back up thirteen points in its sixth week to hit number 16. US, Europe, Canada.

Gregory Maguire’s Wicked, also in its sixth week, maintains its previous number 17 ranking. US, Europe, Canada.

New releases for the week of November 13

Spotlight:

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

As a young parish priest, Father Christopher has heard many confessions, but his own tale is more astounding than any revelation he has ever encountered in the confessional . . . for Chris was once a pirate captain, hundreds of years before his birth.

Fresh from the monastery, the former novice finds himself inexplicably transported back to the Golden Age of Piracy, where an unexpected new life awaits him. At first, he resists joining the notorious Brethren of the Coast, but he soon embraces the life of a buccaneer, even as he succumbs to the seductive charms of a beautiful and enigmatic senorita. As the captain of his own swift ship, which may or may not be cursed, he plunders the West Indies in search of Spanish gold. From Tortuga to Port Royal, from the stormy waters of the Caribbean to steamy tropical jungles, Captain Chris finds danger, passion, adventure, and treachery as he hoists the black flag and sets sail for the Spanish mainland.

Where he will finally come to port only God knows...

Hardcover:
The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch, Neil Gaiman, Michael Zulli
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Futures from Nature, Henry Gee
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Confessor, Terry Goodkind
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)


Paperback:
Tesseracts Eleven: Amazing Canadian Speculative Fiction, Cory Doctorow, Holly Phillips
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Eifelheim, Michael Flynn
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

The Dark-Hunter Companion, Sherrilyn Kenyon
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Europe:
Fallowblade, Cecilia Dart-Thornton
(Amazon.co.uk, Book Depository)

New York Times bestsellers for November 11

Laurell K. Hamilton’s A Lick of Frost is at number 9, down seven in its second week on the list. US, Europe, Canada.

Clive Barker’s Mister B. Gone makes it debut on the New York Times bestseller list at number 20. US, Europe, Canada.

R.A. Salvatore’s The Orc King, in its sixth week, is down six spots to number 23. US, Europe, Canada.

Michael Reaves’ and Steve Perry’s Star Wars: Death Star is down by down spots to number 28 in its third week. US, Europe, Canada.

Stephen R. Donaldson’s Fatal Revenant hangs on to the list and is at number 34 in its fourth week and down thirteen. US, Europe, Canada.


Paperback:
Max Brooks’ World War Z heads into its third week and drops two points to number 8. US, Europe, Canada.

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road now in its 31st week is at number 10, down two. US, Europe, Canada.

Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend makes it debut on the list at number 14. US, Europe, Canada.

Gregory Maguire’s Wicked makes it first drop falling twleve to number 17 in its fifth week. US, Europe, Canada.

Stephen King’s The Mist stays on the list at number 29, also in its fifth week and dropping eighteen. US, Europe, Canada.

House of Chains

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

House of Chains is the fourth book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. It picks up soon after the end of Deadhouse Gates, albeit opening with a tale of Karsa Orlong, also known as Toblakai and Sha’ik’s bodyguard, who now becomes a major player. Tavore, Adjunct of the Empress, trains several thousand soldiers for the upcoming battle with the rebellion while Sha’ik waits in Raraku. However, things are not at all serene in the desert those in Sha’ik’s own camp conspire to separate ends. Aspalar and Crokus, as well as Kalam and Fiddler, continue their adventures begun earlier while far away a T’lam Imass comes across a lone Tiste Edur. Once again power and convergence, soldiers and mages, shape events as the Crippled God makes a play for power behind the scenes.
Lacking the timbre and emotion of Deadhouse Gates and Memories of Ice, House of Chains suffers from being a middle book. It continues events from the earlier books as well as setting the stage for further stories without anything really happening. The climax had a nice buildup but ultimately dropped a little flat. Nevertheless I did enjoy this book and, as always, the world building was superb. The next book supposedly features a whole new setting and characters which should be fun to read even if it means leaving the “main” body of the tale.
Final rating: 8/10.

New releases for the week of November 6

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

For Karigan G'ladheon, the call of magic in her blood is too strong to resist. Karigan returns to the Green Riders, the magical messengers of the king, to find she's badly needed. Rider magic has become unstable, many Riders have been lost, and the Rider corps is seriously threatened. The timing couldn't be worse. An ancient evil, long dormant, has reawakened, and the world is in peril. Karigan must face deadly danger and complex magic to save the kingdom from certain doom.

Hardcover:

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, Stephen King, Peter David
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Cauldron, Jack McDevitt
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)


Paperback:
Conan and the Midnight God, Joshua Dysart
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Host, Faith Hunter
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

The Secret Books of Paradys, Tanith Lee
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Heart of Stone, C. E. Murphy
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Nightshadows, William F. Nolan
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)


Europe:
Stormed Fortress, Janny Wurts
(Amazon.co.uk, Book Depository)

New York Times bestsellers for November 4

Laurell K. Hamilton’s A Lick of Frost debuts at number 2 on the New York Times bestseller list. US, Europe, Canada.

R.A. Salvatore’s The Orc King is into week five at number 17, dropping four from the previous week. US, Europe, Canada.

Michael Reaves’ and Steve Perry’s Star Wars: Death Star is down four spots to number 19 in its fourth week. US, Europe, Canada.

Stephen R. Donaldson’s Fatal Revenant finishes the fifth week on the list down five to number 21. US, Europe, Canada.

Joe Hill’s 20th Century Ghosts makes a respectable debut on the list at number 22. US, Europe, Canada.

Terry Pratchett’s Making Money, in it's sixth week, holds on to number 35, down eleven. US, Europe, Canada.


Paperback:
Gregory Maguire’s Wicked bounces back up seven spots to number 5 at the end of week four. US, Europe, Canada.

Max Brooks’ World War Z is up four points to number 6 in its second week on the list. US, Europe, Canada.

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, after several weeks of falling, shoots back up nine points to number 8 at the end of week 30. US, Europe, Canada.

Stephen King’s The Mist is up another two points in its fourth week to reach number 11. US, Europe, Canada.