The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
by N.K. Jemisin
Orbit Books
Trade Paperback – $13.99
Epic Fantasy
Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky – a palace above the clouds where gods’ and mortals’ lives are intertwined.
There, to her shock, Yeine is named one of the potential heirs to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with a pair of cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother’s death and her family’s bloody history.
But it’s not just mortals who have secrets worth hiding and Yeine will learn how perilous the world can be when love and hate – and gods and mortals – are bound inseparably.
Here’s a novel that’s making a big splash. And quite excitingly, the author is a woman. I’ve been on the lookout for debut epic fantasy authors by women, because there were so few (actually, none that I knew of) that came out in the last year or so. Now, this week, I have two to announce! Plus, this part of the Inheritance Trilogy. As in three books. Not an unending mega-series. Throw that in with the intriguing blurb, and I must get a copy.
The River Kings’ Road
by Liane Merciel
Pocket Books
Hardcover – $
A fragile period of peace between the eternally warring kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr is shattered when a surprise massacre fueled by bloodmagic ravages the Langmyrne border village of Willowfield, killing its inhabitants — including a visiting Oakharne lord and his family — and leaving behind a scene so grisly that even the carrion eaters avoid its desecrated earth. But the dead lord’s infant heir has survived the carnage — a discovery that entwines the destinies of Brys Tarnell, a mercenary who rescue the helpless and ailing babe, and who enlists a Langmyr peasant, a young mother herself, to nourish and nurture the child of her enemies as they travel a dark, perilous road…
Odosse, the peasant woman whose only weapons are wit, courage, and her fierce maternal love — and who risks everything she holds dear to protect her new charge… Sir Kelland, a divinely blessed Knight of the Sun, called upon to unmask the architects behind the slaughter and avert war between ancestral enemies… Bitharn, Kelland’s companion on his journey, who conceals her lifelong love for the Knight behind her flawless archery skills — and whose feelings may ultimately be Kelland’s undoing… and Leferic, an Oakharne Lord’s bitter youngest son, whose dark ambitions fuel the most horrific acts of violence.
As one infant’s life hangs in the balance, so too does the fate of thousands, while deep in the forest, a Maimed Witch practices an evil bloodmagic that could doom them all…
I already have a copy of The River Kings’ Road by Liane Merciel, the other female author of an epic fantasy, mentioned above. And I’ve already read it. As I’ve mentioned previously, the idea of a nursing mother involved in a fantasy quest was a strong hook for me. Plus, I love epic fantasies. I plan to post a review this week, but in the meantime, you can see what Robert thought.
How to Knit a Love Song
by Rachael Herron
HarperCollins
Trade Paperback – 13.99
Contemporary Romance
Abigail is more than ready for a change when she inherits a cottage from her beloved mentor, knitting guru Eliza Carpenter. Leaving the oppressive city for the greener pastures of a small California beach town, she intends to turn her cozy little windfall into a knitting shop and spend her days spinning, designing, and purling. But she’s not going to be welcomed with open arms by her new neighbor. Eliza’s disgruntled nephew, the gorgeous Cade, now owns everything surrounding Abigail’s ramshackle new home, and he views this sexy city girl as an unwanted interloper.
But chemistry working overtime is drawing two very different people closer than they ever thought possible. And when the past that Abigail thought she’d left behind comes calling, she’ll have to somehow learn to trust her handsome adversary with much more than just her heart.
I’m not sure how to classify this one. It sounds like a romance, but I’m cautious of labeling. Suffice to say, it’s a love story. I think it’s hilarious that her mentor’s nephew must endure this “hole” in his newly-inherited land. The reading of the will alone sounds like it would be great fun.
Warrior Ascended
by Addison Fox
Signet Eclipse
MM Paperback – $7.99
Paranormal Romance
Charming, proud, and impulsive, Leo Warrior Brody Talbot is fighting what may be his final battle. Enyo, the Goddess of War, plans to fulfill an ancient prophecy to destroy humanity by harnessing the dark power of the Summoning Stones of Egypt. There’s only one person who knows enough about the stones to help Brody stop her-beautiful museum curator Ava Harrison.
Never in all his centuries has Brody met a woman who enthralls him like Ava. But, bound to protect her, he struggles to deny his passion as they are drawn into a dark and dangerous final reckoning between good and evil.
The description on the author’s website provides a lot of backstory, so be sure to visit if you’re interested. It looks like there’s twelve novels planned in the series, which is called Sons of the Zodiac. Each novel will concentrate on a sign of the Zodiac.
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I have more debuts on my calendar, but since I want to post this on Tuesday morning, I’ll just stop here. As always, I’d love to know if any of these interest you.
You know, I never thought about the fact that so few women write Epic fantasy, but now that you mention it… (ponders bookshelf.) I thought The River King’s Road sounded interesting, but I must confess that’s mostly because I’m a sucker for heroic mercenaries.
He’s kind of a non-heroic mercenary. He gets heroic almost in spite of himself.
I’m a sucker for that!
i like it – epic fantasy by women! All of these are actually on my tbr list!
Did somebody say ancient Egypt?! A twelve book series sounds daunting, but I’d still give Warrior Ascended a try. I love ancient Egypt, but I haven’t been able to find many books about it that I actually enjoyed. I tried Elizabeth Peters, but I hated her voice. I couldn’t even get through the first chapter.
Do you read paranormal romances? Want me to try to acquire it for review here?
I’ve never actually read a published paranormal romance, but a critique buddy of mine writes historical paranormal romance, and I absolutely love her stuff. So if you think you can get ahold of a copy, I’d definitely be interested.
And just so I don’t have to hit reply and submit comment twice…Now that you mention it, I do think I remember hearing about a novel titled Nefertiti. I must have made a mental note and then forgotten about it. So thanks! My to-read list is sitting right next to me. I’ll add that right now.
I hate to recommend someone else here, but I’ve heard good things of Michelle Moran‘s novels, which are set in ancient Egypt. Her debut was Nefertiti.
Crap. I keep forgetting to change my website link every time I post. I’m doing it now so I won’t forget later.
Definitely the first two!
For me, maybe The River King’s Road, although the blood magic thing I’ve seen before, and it doesn’t excite me. But the idea of a nursing mother heroine, especially one nursing an enemy child, appeals to me.
How to Knit a Love Song is also a maybe, depending on how the romantic relationship is handled. The premise sounds interesting.
I’ve never seen this particular blood magic before. It’s not what you might think. The villainess was truly horrifying.
I love when the villain is a woman! You just don’t see that often enough.
I think this is the most I’ve ever commented on your blog in a single day.
Hmm, now I’m intrigued!
The review will be on Thursday. I’m going to hold myself to that. Really.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more fun The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms sounds too. I mean, power struggles, family secrets, inseparable love and hate… What’s not to like? 😀
I think the “unknown becoming heir to the throne” part was what turned me off initially.
The three fantasies sound worth a second look at the least. I’m particularly intrigued by the one with the nursing mother, but the others might be interesting, too. {Smile}
Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
P.S. I can’t decide whether the knitting one sounds more like a romance or Chick Lit. Yes, there’s a strong love story, but not all love stories are romances. It also depends on how much book is love story, and how much is establishing herself in the community, and so forth. {Smile}
Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
Raven, I’d like to read The Hundred Thousand Kingdom’s as well. I wish I’d looked into it sooner!
Anne, probably the only way to know for sure is to read it!