Prequel and Sequel Novella News (By Mihir Wanchoo)

Official Rachel Aaron Website

Read FBC’s Review of "The Spirit Thief"

Read FBC’s Review of "The Spirit Rebellion"

Read FBC Interview with Rachel Aaron

Nowadays with some of my favorite series either finishing or having a break in the publication schedule, its always great to hear news about prequel and sequel novellas planned by the authors to help stem the reader anticipation until the next book/s. So first up is the wonderfully talented Rachel Aaron who’s got a new spiffy look to her website and is all set to release the omnibus edition of the first three Eli Monpress books. And to commemorate the occasion she revealed that she has a written a special short story/novella called “Spirit’s Oath” which focuses upon Miranda and how she met a special ghosthound. The blurb to this awesome piece is as follow:

"Four years before the events of The Spirit Thief, Miranda Lyonette was a young apprentice Spiritualist on the cusp of a promising career. But on the eve of her return from bonding a wind spirit, a night that should have been a celebration, she finds instead that her father has come to take her home. Now, Miranda must choose between her duty to her family and her future at the Spirit Court. But while she's trying to make her parents see reason and avoid an arranged marriage to a man she can't stand, she stumbles across the one one spirit who needs her more than any other, a caged ghosthound who doesn't want her help. To save him, Miranda will have to earn the dog's trust, but what she gets in return is a friendship deeper than anything she expected."

The novella will be released exclusively via the Orbit Short Fiction site on February 15th. The fourth book is all set to be released in June and with the final book coming out in November, this novella will be a great way to get caught up with one of the pivotal series characters. Also for those readers who will have to wait for nearly 2 years to get their hands on The Spirit War, Rachel has put up a chunky three chapter excerpt on her site to give the fans a whisk of the troubles coming ahead. So this year looks all set to be a great year for Rachel Aaron fans and I can’t wait to read how it all ends for our beloved unrepentant thief.

Official Jennifer Estep Website

Read FBC’s Review of “Spider’s Bite”

Read FBC’s Review of “Web of Lies”

Read Dual FBC Review of "Venom" & "Tangled Threads"

Read FBC’s Interview with Jennifer Estep

Now to talk about the second series that I am a fan of, the series is the Elemental Assassin one by Jennifer Estep. Jennifer has woven a nice action packed, revenge saga which has seen the release of five books which complete the first arc of the series. I’ve yet to finish and review the fifth book Spider’s Revenge however Bastard who has read and reviewed it, praised it with the following words: “While not a perfect novel, it does serve it's purpose and it gave me the satisfaction read I was looking for. Violent and gritty at times, as expected from a revenge tale, it's also a book about making peace with one's self, acceptance, and sacrifice.”

Sounds like a welcome series arc climax if you ask me, which brings us to this bit of excitement as revealed by the author on her blog. The author has also signed by the publisher for more books in the Elemental Assassin world and so before the sixth book By a Thread is released, there will be a novella released on January 31 to set up events for the seventh book. This novella is titled “Thread of Death” and is set around the climax of Spider’s Revenge. This novella features viewpoints from Gin and two other villainous characters and now onto the blurb with a word of caution as it has spoilers for the fifth book:

“Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, might have finally triumphed over her nemesis, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing. Gin goes to a certain funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland’s most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to the person for whom the funeral is being held!”

I trust Jennifer Estep to make this novella particularly exciting and also develop a lead in to the future books. Thus I’m very much looking forward to reading both Spider’s Revenge and Thread of Death to see what Gin and the other beloved characters have been up to.

Mihir's Top Reads of 2011

With the start of the new year, we tend to look back at the past year & all that it presented. So here are my top picks amongst all the books I read this year. All of the reviews are from the FBC site done by Liviu, Robert or me. The basic reasons for me choosing these titles is the varied milieu of the plots, the richness of the prose and the overall enjoyment they provided. And so without further adieu, here are my choices:

TOP 10 NOVELS OF 2011

1) RUN by Blake Crouch – This was the year I was introduced to the brilliance of Blake Crouch and RUN was possibly one of the most exciting & adrenaline-filled thrillers I have ever read. To start with, the blurb is one of the best I have ever read and while the story has a hint of SF/F to it. It sticks to its strongest suit that is; the prose and characterization and therefore the story is a marvelous one touching upon poignant moments and then giving us moments of sheer terror to completely unsettle the reader and remain unpredictable to its very end. David Morrell’s words about Blake seemed prophetic then however after reading Run, no one will ever doubt them. Highly highly recommended standalone thriller and one which might make a great cinematic adaptation.

2) Zero Sum by B. Justin Shier– This book proved that sequels can be better than the first books even with high reader anticipation. Zero Sum added on to the experience of its predecessor and avoided its pitfalls smartly. With an action packed plot which expanded the world and the main protagonist’s backstory, it managed to completely overcome all my expectations and now it will be intriguing to see where the author takes the series next.

3) Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child – Cold Vengeance was a return to the earlier excellent standards of this talented duo. While being the second book in a new trilogy, Cold Vengeance opens a chapter in Pendergast's life which has only been speculated at. The revelations and twists in this book are exemplary to say the least. And while it does end on a amazing note, it makes the wait for this year’s Two Graves that much harder. Another amazing thriller and one which rejuvenated fan interest in this series tremendously.

4) Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews – Magic Slays is the fifth entry in an epic series, following on the heels of two amazing titles, it was hard to imagine where the authors would be going with the overall story and not to mention all the anticipation from the readers. Magic Slays took a slight tangent from where the readers thought the story would be going however it still delivered on all counts and then ended on a note which again teases the readers about the tough battles ahead. Ilona Andrews are showcasing their versatility superbly and have quickly ascended to my favorites list.

5) The ShadowDance Trilogy by David Dalglish – The Shadowdance trilogy consisted of three novels A Dance of Cloaks, A Dance of Blades & A Dance of Death. And while all three had standalone plots, they focused on a character and a few folk around him. David Dalglish is an Indie author who was an unknown to me until early last year however all that changed when I read the first book and kept on reading the remaining two parts of the trilogy. Overall its his homage to the genius of GRRM’s plotting abilities and a good one at that. Since all the three titles are now available in one big omnibus, I heartily recommend picking it up to find out why David is the next big thing in the fantasy field you might almost never hear about.

6) The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss – The Wise Man’ Fear was perhaps the second most heavily anticipated book to be released and as the author took four years to complete it and to make it good enough for publication. While such dedication to his craft is indeed admirable, the book didn't really blow all my cylinders. Yes there were revelations and many more momentous events occur, however it felt as many passages could have been condensed. Its now highly probable that Kvothe’s story might not get finished in the third volume and there might be more to follow. It remains to be seen how it will all end but it can’t be denied that Patrick Rothfuss has serious talent and is a writer to be followed avidly in the future.

7) A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin – This was the book that almost everybody was waiting for. Even when the date was announced, there was excitement in gargantuan proportions and so when most readers got their hands on the book, it lead to a variety of reactions. I happen to like it for the fact that it featured many of the characters whom I love, what I didn’t like was the fact that it seemed a bit like AFFC and with all the cliffhangers in the end. The end storyline has yet to begin, its looking highly impossible that the author will be able to finish it in his projected seven volumes given his propensity for taking “the gardening route”. A series which can still reclaim its place as possibly the best fantasy series of all time, the next book will be looked upon with anticipation though not to the same degree.

8) The Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham – Daniel Abraham is an author whose debut series was critically acclaimed however didn’t garner that much sales. Daniel’s next series however showcased a different style of a book. The Dragon’s Path is the first volume set in a world inhabited by many races, it is his take on epic fantasy and one which should be counted as a very good one. Following a few individuals as they go about their life paths while the world around is going down a path of ruination. It is a bit unique and common at the same time and a book which is to be savored over and over again in the forthcoming years.

9) Stirred by J. A. Konrath and Blake Crouch – Stirred was a collaboration between two dynamic minds and the way it was planned that it would serve as the culminative end to both their individual series. Mixing visceral thrills with dark, deadpan humor, Stirred is possibly one of the best series endings I have ever read. And with the way it ends, you can be sure that the authors have some aces up their sleeves if they should decide to ever write more.

10) Heaven’s Needle by Liane Merciel – Liane Merciel debuted in 2010 with The River King’s Road, it was a traditional fantasy book with some stellar characters, the sequel to that book however was a fantasy horror hybrid which very well showcased her talent and propensity to shock the reader with her imagination and world settings. Heaven’s Needle is one hell of a follow up and manages to out do its predecessor in almost all regards. Sadly the series was dropped by its publisher and now it remains to be seen if the author will ever write the third book in the series. However each of her books has a standalone plot and this makes it easy to read these two Ithelas books for those petrified to start unfinished series.

Honorable Mentions - Two books were great reads however could not make it to the above list. The books are Devil's Cape by Rob Rogers (which was published in 2008) and The Hammer by K. J. Parker. Devil's Cape was so terrific that it could easily been in the top 2 and the only reason I'm not including it because of it being published more than three & half years ago. In regards to The Hammer, it was another intriguing story by the pseudonymous author however it still falls a bit short of the high standards that I've come to expect, after the incredibly stunning The Folding Knife.

TOP 10 DEBUT NOVELS

1) Zero Sight by B. Justin Shier - This book was the debut of the year for me simply because of its writing style and characterizations and while it faced some very stiff competition amongst its subgenre, it won out in the end because of the surprise factor and the fact that the book is incredibly funny. A debut which was almost missed out by many, this book for me is one of the best urban fantasy debuts of the last decade.

2) Ex-Heroes by Peter Clines – This book is a bit of an outsider to this list as it was published in 2010 however I’m going to include it as I read it last year and also because its one of the most awesome debuts that I have ever read/reviewed. Combining superheroes with zombies with a last stand scenario, Peter Clines absolutely shines with his debut acing the characterization, comedic elements, plot twists and pace, highly highly recommended and with the sequel out as well I can safely vouch that this series keeps getting better.

3) The Informationist by Taylor Stevens – Taylor Stevens's past as covered by this wonderful Vogue article showcases a background which almost could from a thriller in itself. The Informationist is the first in a series which is sure to be great one if this book is any indication. A very good thriller debut and with the next book just being recently released, its great to see the author is not resting on her debut laurels.

4) Hounded by Kevin Hearne - This book was another winner and heralded an author who will be soon be competing with Jim Butcher. Opening in Arizona with a 2100 year-old druid who lives with his talking dog and is hunted by Gods who know how to hold a grudge for more than two millennia. Intensely funny and with a whimsical nature, the Iron Druid Chronicles has a strong opening with this book.

5) The Whitefire crossing by Courtney Schafer – The Whitefire Crossing is one of the most intriguing debuts of the year and certainly another ace from Nightshade books who have been resurgent this year. Courtney’s debut managed to mix the ethos of rock climbing within a fantasy world creating a unique storyline and a book which heralded a series to look out for. The sequel, The Tainted City is one of the books that I’m looking forward to with high anticipation.

6) Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence – This book was admittedly one which produced a lot of diverse reactions however what cannot be denied is the sheer brilliance of the writing and story. Mark Lawrence’s storyline had the main protagonist who is a teenage sociopath and one who in most novels would be the series villain. The dark beauty of the series is that it dwells into his mind and showcases all that he does and why he does it. An excellent debut and one which manages to push the boundaries of dark fantasy so far beyond.

7) Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick – Douglas Hulick’s debut seemed a bit stereotypical but what made the difference was the accessible prose and the world settings. The main character was also a grey one and the author has fleshed him out nicely to make this story a very interesting one. Excellent addition to the dark gritty subgenre of fantasy, Douglas Hulick’s next few books will be eagerly awaited by many readers.

8) The Emperor’s Knife by Mazarkis Williams– Another debut which was a bit different in its world settings, author Mazarkis Williams has written a debut which offers spartan prose and very good characterization that helped elevate it in my reading list. He planned a different type of fantasy story and was successful in executing it, another interesting debut from Nightshade books and one to savor for readers who enjoy stories with interesting twists to them.

9) God’s War by Kameron Hurley – Kameron Hurley’s debut was an exciting one in terms of its subject matter. This tale was a futuristic one set on a different planet however the human species residing on it haven’t lost their human tendencies. Exploring race relations, feministic aspects and questions about faith, humanity & war, God’s War is an exciting but plot heavy debut. A bit difficult to get into but one which immensely rewards the reader for perseverance and connecting the dots. The sequel Infidel was released in later quarter of last year and with it further exploring the world created by Kameron, God’s War is an excellent starting point for readers enamored by R. Scott Bakker’s books and style of writing.

10) The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley P. Beaulieu – This debut was again by Nightshade books and another intriguing one in the long list of exciting books. The world setting and magic system are what differentiate this epic fantasy debut amongst the trappings of the genre. The author’s prose and characterization is not at the optimum level but there is definite potential here and it will be worthwhile to see where the author takes the story in the sequels.

New Authors to look out for:

Every year I’m on the lookout for newer authors who match my reading interests.This year was again an exciting one for me in urban fantasy & thriller genres. As I discovered many authors and quite a few excellent books. So here are the authors whom I'm most excited to have discovered within the last year(in random order):

David Dalglish – David was a terrific find for me from the fantasy side of indie publishing. Combining exciting prose with terrific action sequences set in a dark and disturbing world, his trilogy focusing on Haern the Watcher, was a standout read for me & thereby marking him out as an author to watch out for in the future.

Brian Justin Shier - Brian’s books were possibly the find of the year for me, combing humor, action and an exciting writing style, the Zero Sight series is one to be absolutely savored. Currently writing his third book Brian’s witty prose makes him an excellent addition to the writer league of Butcher, Hearne, Marquitz, etc.

Peter Clines – Peter Clines's take on Superheroes left me absolutely amazed, his books were a mix of multiple genres and yet managed to be retain the author’s unique stamp on them. Plus with his eclectic background, it will be interesting to see what he decides to write about next and how he ends the Ex-Heroes trilogy.

Kevin Hearne – Kevin Hearne was an author whose books had quite a buzz around them and after finishing them I had to admit they were deserving of all the anticipation. Mixing humor, action and a terrific protagonist, Kevin’s Iron Druid chronicles have captivated readers everywhere and now it will be fun to watch him give Jim Butcher a run for his money.

Taylor Stevens – It can safely said that Taylor Stevens had a stellar year and with two of her books releasing in the last year itself, fans didn’t have to wait a long while to jump back in the world of Vanessa Michael Munroe. Blending action, intrigue and a touch of personal history, her books have managed to garner attention from most thriller readers as well praise from most writers within the genre as well. If you haven't tried her books, you are definitely missing out on one of the most exciting writers in the genre.

Lastly I would like to give a thumbs-up to Nightshade Books for owning up to the troubles that had arisen last year and after being placed on a one-year probation period by the SWFA. And then doing a turnaround in terms of those specific problematic issues and also at the same time giving the fantasy readers an eclectic buch of books/authors to read. All in all their follow up actions have been admirable and I wanted to congratulate them for rectifying those mistakes and acting professional which has resulted in the lifting of the probation period. I hope they can continue their fine form and continue to provide praise-worthy and exciting books in the forthcoming year/s as well.

Imperium by Nicholas Olivo w/ Bonus review of Krampusnacht (Reviewed by Mihir Wanchoo)

Official Nicholas Olivo Website

Order “Imperium” HERE

Read Chapter One HERE

AUTHOR INFORMATION: Nicholas Olivo hails from the greater Boston area and has spent most of his life in the American North East. Besotted with the local legends as well as mythology, he conspired to write his own series after being smitten by Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. Imperium is his first novel.

BOOK BLURB: Vincent Corinthos leads a triple life. As a secret agent, he handles paranormal threats; as a god, he protects his followers from evil forces; as a stock clerk, he keeps the back room of an antique store tidy.

When one of his fellow agents goes missing, Vincent begins with the usual suspects. His investigation takes him to vampire lairs, golem laboratories, and the realm of the fae. Along the way he squares off against genetically modified gremlins, virus-spawned zombies and a horseman of the Apocalypse.

Now, with the aid of a new partner and a gremlin, Vincent must locate the missing agent, defend his followers and learn the identity of his adversaries. But it’s only when he infiltrates a private medical lab that he realizes just how big of a threat he’s facing, and even being a god might not be enough of an edge…

FORMAT/INFO: Imperium is 338 pages long divided over twenty-five numbered chapters. Narration is in the first-person, exclusively via Vincent Corinthos. Imperium is self-contained, but is the first volume of the Caulborn series. June 30, 2011 marked the North American paperback & e-book publication of Imperium by the author himself.

ANALYSIS: I was clueless about the book when it was released; however my ignorance was rectified by Bastard. He told me about the book and the blurb hooked me in, I also read the chapter excerpt which ends on quite a pivotal point to grab the reader’s interest. The book is an urban fantasy however it has much more in store for the reader.

The book begins with Vincent Corinthos saving his people the Urisk from an attack by the Hobgoblins and Trolls. He basks in the Urisk’s faith and is able to easily repeal the attack and make his way back to Boston. He’s a mild mannered person who works in an antique store called Antiquated Treasures. He’s also the part of a secret organization called the Caulborns and who regularly keep the streets of Boston and the neighboring areas safe from supernatural threats. Things however haven’t been going smoothly as someone seems to be hunting the paranormals and one of the missing is Miguel Gomez, Vincent’s friend and comrade Caulborn. He is then paired up with a new Caulborn agent called Megan Hayes. Together they set out to find out what is indeed happening on the streets of Boston and why are the Urisk being regularly attacked all of a sudden.

Thus with such an upheaval occurring in a very short period of time, it will be up to Vincent and his fellow caulborn agents to save the various worlds and also try to find out who is behind it all. The plot revealed so far is only one-tenth of the entirety of events and the beauty of it all is that the author has many tricks up his sleeve. The story begins from a standpoint wherein few details are revealed and the reader is just dropped into the action and then info-fed as per the requirement of the scene and plot twists. The list of characters introduced in this book is a slightly long one and a couple of them quickly became very endearing. Chiefly the gremlin Gears with his fondness for things of a mechanical nature and high calorie foods, Gears is a character who I very much liked reading about and I hope the author increases his role in the future books. The remaining characters such as Megan, Petra, Galahad etc are given enigmatic entries and while feeding the reader some information about them, more is withheld tantalizingly to make the future stories more mysterious. The action and pace of the story is of top quality and is a major positive for the book as the author has multiple twists lined up in the story and thus with them popping up one after the another, the reader isn't given much time to figure them out completely before the next one surprises the reader.

The book while having all these plus points has a rather funny drawback, the book is of a shorter length and while this adds to the compactness of the story, it also robs it of its depth. The book has a lot of things revealed in it however the author doesn’t necessarily explain wholly or completely. This certainly takes some of the sheen of the classy parts; I think that the author purposefully introduced them to lay the groundwork for the future books. The author also has never quite properly explained the mythology of the world and while it has shades of the Greek & Roman mythos, it also has the author’s own variations. A bit more explanation would have certainly helped to deepen the overall world.

CONCLUSION: A surprising and rather clever urban fantasy which manages to combine the commonalities of the sub genre along with certain authorial additions to give the readers a rather fresh take in this rather crowded literary environment. Heartily recommended for urban fantasy fans as well as a thriller readers, Nicholas Olivo is a an intelligent author and it certainly shows in his debut and from here I hope he goes onto to better the deficiencies and improve his craft to give the readers some enthralling tales.

Order “Krampusnacht” HERE

OVERVIEW: Krampusnacht is a short story collection featuring three stories, here’s a brief description of all of them:

(1) Krampusnacht - Santa’s been kidnapped by his demonic ex-partner, Krampus! Can Gearstripper the gremlin and Jake the security guard free St. Nick in time for Christmas?

(2) Pause - Time’s been frozen on Christmas Eve and two Chroniclers are dispatched to investigate. Find out what happens when they encounter someone dressed as super-hero Commander Courageous!

(3) Fulfillment - A mysterious figure known as Stranger Wolfram prepares to summon a creature from the pits of Hell on Christmas Eve. Will fortune teller Mrs. Rita stop him?

The short story collection has a curious pattern to it, the three stories are sequential however they go the reverse direction timeline wise, that is the second tale is a prequel to the first and the third the prequel to the second. This curious arrangement makes a lot of sense while reading the stories and it would be unfair for me to reveal more about it.

The short focus on the side character cast and this is a welcome move as we get to know more about them as well understand the world lucidly. The stories focus upon Gears, Jake and Mrs. Rita and a few other entities, these stories serve a dual purpose of giving these characters more face time as well as introducing the cooler aspects of the story universe to the reader with an intent to explore them further in the future books. Just a reminder, one should read this book preferably after reading Imperium as it will make more sense. The world of the Caulborn is an exciting one and the author is doing his best to entice the readers completely.

BLOG TOUR: “Pantheons” by E.J. Dabel

OFFICIAL PANTHEONS SYNOPSIS: On the streets, they call fifteen year old orphan Isaiah Marshall the “Indestructible Diamond”. Isaiah is the leader of the “Redrovers”, a group of teenage misfits consisting of his friends Jeremy, Monty, and Pipsqueak, who one day find themselves in way over their heads when they trespass into Kaliber Academy to get even with the arrogant Jason Ollopa. Principal Webb enrolls them into the High School and Isaiah soon learns about the existence of the gods of the Ancient World. Because the gods have refused to fight the last War for fear of the Mysterious Dark, the Powers-that-Be have stripped them of their spiritual bodies and given them mortal, teenage forms.

Isaiah soon discovers he's not only a god, but that he's the child of the Greek goddess Metis and the son destined to overthrow his cruel and sadistic father Zeus, the Darkener of the Sky, and become the greatest god in all the Pantheons. Isaiah is then thrown into a world where the democratic Olympians, war-mongering Norse, Gothic Celts, firstborn Egyptians, the enlightened Hindu, the animal-like Aztecs, the martial artist Asians, the intelligent Babylonians, the great spirits of the Native American Indians, and the fierce Finnish will war against one another for the greatest of all prizes: the Dominion...

To help support the release of Pantheons—a self-published YA ebook with distribution through Sea Lion Books—Ernst J. Dabel has released an interview HERE discussing the new book as well as future projects, including another YA series called ALBINO. To help augment that original interview, Mr. Dabel graciously agreed to answer a few follow-up questions which can be found below:

Q: The decision to release Pantheons as an E-Book?

Ernst: The e-book market is still new and fresh and there is a need for good product. I think Pantheons will help fill that need. The book can go directly to the consumer without first going through a middleman, the retailer. By going directly to the consumer there is a greater chance for any e-book to be successful.

Q: The appeal of ancient mythology?

Ernst: I don’t think mythology would have appealed to me as much if I hadn’t read Tolkien’s Silmarillion back when I was twelve years old. It was very shortly after I had finished reading every Tolkien book that I stumbled into Norse mythology. I learned of the dwarf Andvari and his golden ring, Andvaranaut, which was capable of producing gold and the part it played with the tragic fate of the hero Sigurd. I then sucked up all the information I could on the Norse. Not long after I found out about some of the other Pantheons and in every ancient myth I read, I tried to find some similarity between the gods and the Powers of Arda, I think for me that was the appeal of it. Are there similarities between Hercules and Tulkas? Are there similarities between Zeus and Manwe? Both of Zeus and Manwe lived on the tallest mountain and they both chose the eagle as their bird of choice. Those were some of the questions that went through my head when I first started reading mythology as a kid (grins).

Q: The difficulties of working ancient mythology into a modern setting?

Ernst: There are tons of difficulties working these mythologies into a modern setting, but this also offers the chance for creativity as well. For example, in ancient Celtic myths, Dagda, the Chief-god of the Celts possessed a Cauldron, which had an endless supply of food. There was no way I could have a teenaged Dagda walking around with a cauldron. So I changed the cauldron to a potato chip bag, not just any chips mind you but my own brand of Cranton potato chips :) From this small bag of chips, Dagda is able to pull out any food he wants, and that’s a good thing, because he’s always hungry.

Q: What kind of research was undertaken?

Ernst: The way I do my research works very well for me. I’d read about a certain god for instance, and there would be 50 other gods mentioned in that one reading, so once done, I would go back and thoroughly read about each of those 50 other gods, and each of those 50 would have a whole bunch of new deities mentioned in their story as well, and I would read about each and every one of them. This takes quite a bit of time and that is why I appreciate my wife very much, because when I get lost in these endless webs of stories, she reminds me that I have to eat, sleep, and yes, even breathe, lol :)

Additionally, Mr. Dabel talks a bit more about his other series ALBINO: “Albino does to woodland creatures what Lord of the Rings did for fantasy back in Tolkien’s time. In other words Albino takes woodland creatures into a story that even adults would care to read ;) There will be black-and-white artwork scattered inside of the novel, and the target audience is 12-16, but the story can be read and enjoyed even by adults.” Not only that, but the author has also provided an official synopsis of ALBINO:

OFFICIAL ALBINO SYNOPSIS: The white mouse Albino always believed that he would live with the old farmer William Springer forever, eating Cheddar cheese and enjoying life at the farm. But after he is kidnapped by the street urchin Darl and violently thrown into a raging river to drown, he wakes up in the middle of a strange and mysterious forest and his life is changed forever as he finds himself in a world unlike anything he could ever imagine.

Aided by an odd crow, he begins an adventure filled with action, danger, and ultimately a final confrontation against his worst nightmares.

The ancient and cruel rats called the Ma’aldee are on the move, while the Spiritual Guardians of the Land whisper in fear and dread of the coming of Emperor Loucura, Lord of the Ma'aldee.

Only Albino has the power to save the Land...

Going back to Pantheons, readers can enter a giveaway HERE to win one of five prizes, including copies of the e-book Pantheons and a Signed Glossy Print of the Pantheons cover! Giveaway ends on Monday, January 9, 2012.

ABOUT E.J. DABEL:

Ernst J. Dabel is the President and co-owner of Dabel Brothers Productions, a publishing company specializing in comics and graphic novels. Ernst’s company has adapted novels by major authors such as Dean Koontz, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jim Butcher, George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Orson Scott Card, Raymond E. Feist, R.A. Salvatore, Patricia Briggs, Robert Silverberg, Tad Williams, and others. Pantheons is his first novel.

News about the Demon Cycle saga by Peter V. Brett ( By Mihir Wanchoo)

Official Peter Brett Website

Read FBC Review of The Painted Man(UK) aka The Warded Man(US)

Read FBC Review of The Great Bazaar and Other Stories

Read FBC review of The Desert Spear

(Photo Credit: Peter V. Brett)

At Fantasy Book Critic, Liviu and me are big fans of Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle series. The first book The Painted Man was something of a book of the year for me. The author soon followed it up with The Desert Spear and the sequel built upon its predecessor’s premise and also doubled the POV list. The book’s ending made the next book seem very promising however the next book wasn’t complete and 2012 was tentatively floated around as a publication date of sorts but it was never confirmed. The writing however took its own time and around the same time the author also had to contend with health issues which reduced his writing speed.

So it was to my pleasure when I saw Peter blog about it and give out a release date of sorts for The Daylight War, the third book in the series. The current date heralded by the author is February 4, 2013. While it does seem a bit far away fans need not despair, along with the date proclamation. Peter also revealed a bunch of stuff about his series namely clearing the air about it not being a trilogy but a quintet. Also after the series gets over there will be a sixth book featuring a minor character called Selia Barren and is tentatively titled “Tibbet’s Brook”. To quote Peter it is basically “Selia’s life story and how it affects her decisions in the present as she contends with corelings, Krasians, and the growing power of Southwatch, all while wrestling the demons of her own past.”

Following the pattern of his previous novellas "The Great Bazaar" and "Brayan's Gold" there will be another novella out which is tentatively called “Mudboy” and features the titular character who originally was part of the Daylight War storyline however the author felt the character deserved his own story and hence the novella. There will be other novellas released in between the books and more information will revealed as time passes.

The remaining books in the Demon Cycle saga have the following titles and all of them are subject to change:

- The Forest Fortress [4th book of the Demon Cycle]

- The Core [5th book of the Demon Cycle and series end]

- Tibbet’s Brook [ 6th book in the series and a standalone work]

With such wonderful news being revealed I can’t wait to read the next book and novella and see where Peter plans to take the reader next in his demon infested world.