SF/Fantasy

Rieuk Mordiern accidentally freed the spirit that keeps separate the kingdoms of life and death; Celestine sees the spirit as her link to vengeance for the murder of her father by the Inquisition. Following the action of Tracing the Shadow, Ash ("Tears of Artamon" trilogy) weaves together the lives of two individuals who must weigh their personal goals against the salvation of their world. With a richness of detail and a visual freshness that transcends its genre; for most fantasy collections.

When a Healer's daughter resists the unwanted advances of a Sachakan mage with heretofore unknown magic of her own, her life changes forever. Soon the resourceful Tessa discovers that magic has its advantages and its dangerous responsibilities. Set in the same world as the internationally popular "Black Magician" trilogy (e.g., The Magicians' Guild), this standalone is a good introduction to Canavan's work.

Mechanic and old car lover Altagracia "Grace" Quintero falls in love with artist John Burns despite differences that make their relationship all but impossible: they inhabit different worlds, the living world and the "other side." Unlike the author's urban fantasies, this stand-alone work draws from the rich culture of the Southwest as well as the flashy world of antique cars and rockabilly music, with love and loss providing background motifs. An essential purchase that should appeal to a wide readership.

Fifteen-year-old Alex Taylor spots a sign in a window that reads "Adventurers Wanted" and walks straight into a world of elves, dwarves, magic—and evil, treasure-hoarding dragons. Forman's first novel, the beginning of an epic fantasy series featuring a contemporary young man and his adventuring companions from a strange, magical world, has straightforward appeal for fans of sword and sorcery, fantasy role-players, and online gamers of all ages.

The ancient creatures known as Souleaters have returned to threaten the tenuous civilizations that have grown up since the last great war that nearly destroyed the witches who powered magic with their own life energy and enabled the rise of the Magisters. The author of the "Coldfire" trilogy (e.g., Black Sun Rising) offers moments of both beauty and horror and characters who find themselves questioning their deepest beliefs. A strong addition to most fantasy collections.

Three half sisters, each fathered by the Pharaoh Ptolemy Auletes, grow up in an Egypt on the verge of catastrophic change. Iras and Charmian are companions to their middle sister, the legitimate daughter, named Cleopatra. The author of Black Ships brings to life the courts of Ptolemy and Cleopatra in a way that illuminates the lives of women and their effect on history. A stand-out addition to most libraries, with strong appeal to fans of ancient history and mythology.

In this purported diary, demon hunter John Winchester chronicles his exploits and the results of his research from the time of his wife's murder in 1953 to his journey's end—and the beginning of his sons' quest—in 2005. This media tie-in to the popular Supernatural TV series provides background information, additional material, and connective tales that will appeal to the series' many fans.

Originally published in 1986, in two volumes, this updated and reworked tale of an Earth in ecological shambles and a resource colony on the planet Fiix in meteorological upheaval provides a powerful and complex cautionary tale as timely as it is entertaining. Grand-scale storytelling with personal immediacy; a good choice for most sf collections.

After the world's economic collapse, civilization requires the incorporation of every individual at birth. Most people spend most of their lives gaining control of the majority of their own shares. The arrival of a cryogenically preserved man from the 21st century—who's obviously unincorporated—creates a social anomaly. The Kollin brothers' first novel, chosen as a Sci Fi Essential Book, recalls the emphasis on freedom of the early works of Heinlein and the cutting-edge social commentary of William Gibson and Fritz Lieber. A good choice for most libraries.

Aliens calling themselves the Atoners have confessed to committing crimes against the human race thousands of years ago and have recruited a few individuals to travel to select worlds to "Witness" what they have done. Kress (Stinger) once again demonstrates her absolute mastery of alien-human encounters, fleshing out her characters as believable individuals while at the same time managing surprising plot twists and philosophical conundrums at every turn. For most libraries.

High school senior John Rayburn's eerie encounter with his doppelganger, who calls himself John Prime and gives him a device that allows him to travel among many parallel universes, leads to frantic world-hopping as the damaged device refuses to allow him to return home, where Prime has stolen his life. The author of Singularity's Ring expands an earlier novella into a full-length tale of interdimensional identity theft and hairbreadth escapes. Suitable for larger libraries.

Four travelers, each suffering the loss of a person or a dream, find their way to the miraculous city of Palimpsest, a place attainable only by those with the eyes to see it. Their journeys are intensely personal yet tied to together. The author of "The Orphan's Tales" (e.g., In the Night Garden) continues her lyrical allegories, which give readers a feast of carefully chosen words and unforgettable images. Fans of literary fantasy should enjoy this foray into the sensual imagination.

In this graceful retelling of the Irish legend of Deirdre of the Sorrows, the young woman whose birth laid a curse upon the kingdom of Ulster and its aging king, Conor, the author of The White Mare captures the sense of tragedy, nobility, and the acceptance of destiny that permeates Celtic myth. Watson's characters have both a larger-than-life appeal and a commonality that emphasizes their human frailty as well as their dedication to life and love. A good addition to libraries where Celtic legends are popular.

In the 11th novel in Weber's popular Honor Harrington series and the 13th set in the "Honorverse," the author views earlier novels from a different perspective and sets the stage for new evolutions in this compellingly rendered space opera. Series fans will demand this title, while newcomers may at times find themselves lost in space. A significant purchase for most libraries.

Bearing a French bulldog in a pink sweater and a halo and with a prominent character called Dead Jimmy, Lockwood promises laughs interspersed with psychics, demons, and ghosts. Lockwood, of I Do (But I Dont) fame and a series of YA novels where classic literature characters come to life (e.g., Bard Academy), brings down-home humor to this tale of dead (and dumb) ex-husbands and haunted old flames. Constance Plyd is a prophet who is supposed to foretell the birth of the next Antichrist (the last being an unfortunate half goat with a penchant for eating tin cans). Stuck in a marriage with the aforementioned Dead Jimmy (before he was dead, of course), Constance doesn't know it and would rather just live quietly working at her diner. When a Pride Demon owns up to offing Jimmy and she starts seeing ghosts, Constance begins a wild, funny ride in this Shanna Swendson/Kim Harrison readalike. Lockwood's latest work is recommended for public libraries, especially those with a patron base geared toward humor and urban fantasy.—Stacey Rottiers, Warren Civic Ctr. Lib., MI