SF/Fantasy

When vampire private eye Felix Gomez answers a request from Charleston attorney (and werewolf) Eric Bourbon to rid himself of a troublesome adversary, Gomez refuses—until a pair of vampires attempt to kill him by dropping a massive fiberglass sculpture of a crab on top of him. Sensing the work of past enemies, Gomez soon finds himself trying to prevent an all-out war involving the entire supernatural community and any humans who get in the way. The author's fifth book in his Felix Gomez series (after Jailbait Zombie) sports not only the series' catchy title but also its quirky humor and memorable vampire protagonist. VERDICT This smart urban fantasy should attract fans of Tanya Huff's Blood series and Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files." [For more werewolf fiction, see Full Moon City and Gregory Lamberson's The Frenzy Way, reviewed on p. 97.—Ed.]

With the end of the cruel reigns of corrupted Queens, the people of Shalador look to a new ruler with a mixture of hope and trepidation. The Rose-Jeweled Queen, Lady Cassidy, embarks on a quest to prove herself to those who must accept her and to the land that has gone so long without the healing touch of a Queen. Bishop's latest addition to her "Black Jewels" series (The Shadow Queen; Tangled Webs) brings to the fore a heroine who possesses more courage than restraint and who does not hesitate to risk herself for what she loves. VERDICT A lavishly detailed, exotic background in which women exercise the power of leadership and jewels serve as the source of magic brings to mind the sensual fiction of Tanith Lee and Storm Constantine and should appeal to fans of dynastic fantasy.

From the people of the desert, a warrior has arisen to deliver them from the demons that rule the night and bring terror and destruction to the land. Ahmann Jardir bears the ancient spear and crown that seem to mark him as the Deliverer, but a rival—once a friend—known as the Warded Man challenges his claim. Now a new kind of demon has arisen, and the world's fate depends on a small group of brave souls who must rely on their combined strength to save their people. VERDICT The sequel to Brett's acclaimed debut, The Warded Man, extends the author's panoramic vision of a world steeped in the traditions of the desert and rich in magic both good and evil. Fans of epic fantasy in the tradition of Robert Jordan and George R.R. Martin will enjoy the arrival of a strong voice in multivolume epic fantasy. [Also available as an ebook: ISBN 978-0-345-51963-4; The Warded Man has been optioned by director Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil).—Ed.]

When the mother of young Ahu dies while shapeshifted into her owl form, leaving behind no proper body to bury, his father, the War Chief Shonan, forbids his son to use his own shapeshifting gift. Yet Ahu feels the call of his mother's spirit within him and knows that he can change his shape for a reason and that he will need his power one day to save his people. Fox has taken the legends of his Cherokee ancestry and built stories around them of a prehistoric age filled with the magic of natural things. VERDICT Readers who enjoyed Fox's earlier retelling of Cherokee legends, Zadayi Red, should look forward to another gracefully told tale of an ancient people.

Ice, a fairy attuned to the element of water, makes her living as a petty thief in the supernatural underground of Melbourne, a city ruled by demon gang lords and vampire mobsters. When she steals a magical mirror belonging to a local demon, she falls prey to its insidious powers and hurtles headlong into a confrontation with the city's nightmare denizens. Hayes's second volume in her urban fantasy trilogy picks up the threads of a new set of characters, intermingling them with notables from Shadowfae, the series opener. VERDICT Writing with an explicitly sexual, visceral eroticism, Hayes calls to mind the fantasy of Laurell K. Hamilton and Storm Constantine and targets a strictly adult audience.

From a hauntingly gruesome tale of a secret cave near a New England Lighthouse ("Madonna Littoralis") to the bittersweet account of a woman born to minister to ghosts ("The Madam of the Narrow Houses"), these 20 stories, written between 2005 and 2007 and previously published in the subscription-only Sirinia Digest, reveal the author's remarkable storytelling talent and her ability to conjure nightmarishly beautiful visions. Strong language and explicitly sexual references give Kiernan's stories power and ground them in the visceral world but may limit the audience to mature adults. VERDICT The author's growing following will enjoy her latest story collection.

Fleeing the wizards of England who want to use her power, Paolina Barthes makes a perilous journey across the Equatorial Wall. Aboard a Chinese submarine, Emily Childress and her devoted companions attempt to escape the grasp of the Silent Order and the White Birds. In Southern Earth, another force attempts to guard its mysticism from the greedy predators to the north. The third volume in Lake's Clockwork Earth series (Mainspring; Escapement) follows the adventures of a small group of disparate individuals as they travel toward a great destiny. VERDICT Lake's blending of steampunk and the mechanical "magic" of a giant clockwork mechanism provides an ever-startling backdrop for his remarkable tale of adventure and derring-do. Highly recommended for fans of steampunk fantasies.

When veteran NYPD Captain Anthony Mace investigates a particularly vicious murder of a history professor, he becomes embroiled in a strange case involving Native American legends of "skinwalkers," or shapeshifters. As the murders continue, Mace and his partner have only one solid clue to work with—a silver sword bearing pictures of a wolf and a priest, perhaps a member of the Inquisition. The Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Johnny Gruesome combines popular werewolf legends with American Indian myths to produce a delightfully gory horror novel that pits a hard-boiled detective and his rookie partner against creatures of nightmare. VERDICT Fast pacing and a popular subject make this a solid addition to werewolf literature. [For more werewolf fiction, see Mario Acevedo's Werewolf Smackdown, reviewed on p. 96, and Full Moon City, reviewed below.—Ed.]

Sasha, the former Princess of Lenayin, now lives in the port city of Petrodor, where her life becomes even more complicated as a sister's marriage involves her in a rivalry among the wealthy families of the city. As political turmoil escalates, the beautiful nonhuman serrin race may tip the balance in the struggle, provided Sasha can trust her serrin friends. This sequel to Sasha continues Shepherd's complex drama of political intrigue, sword play, and magic while leaving new avenues for future books. VERDICT The author of the Cassandra Kresnov trilogy (Crossover; Breakaway; Killswitch) brings an acute eye for detail and a gift for dialog and characterization to a fantasy adventure series that should appeal to most genre fans.

The 1000-story building known as Urban Monad 116 houses over 800,000 people in a 24th-century world free of conflict, where free sex and procreation and the strict regulation of every facet of life ensures that "civilization" runs smoothly. Dissenters are sent "down the chute" for recycling. When a few individuals question their unhappiness with the system, their search for answers leads them to a dark secret at the heart of UrbMon life. First published in 1971, this classic by sf Grand Master Silverberg (Lord Valentine's Castle; A Time of Changes) contains a new introduction by the author and serves as a cautionary tale that explores the dangers of losing what makes humans evidently unique in the universe. VERDICT Libraries wanting to revive interest in classic sf authors and sf fans in general will appreciate the return to print of this seminal story.

From a bittersweet tale of love amid the savagery of human galactic conquest ("Scream Angel") to a postapocalyptic story of a righteous gunman known only as the Dead Man ("Memories of the Dead Man"), the 16 stories in this collection showcase the inventive mind and immense storytelling talent of one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction. Covering the spectrum from sf ("Enlightenment") to horror ("By Her Hand, She Draws You Down") to fantasy ("The Boys Are Back in Town"), Smith writes with a keen eye for detail and atmosphere, crafting each story with wit and perception. VERDICT Twice winner of Canada's Aurora Award, Smith writes stories that will appeal to fans of such literary sf writers such as Jack Vance and Gene Wolfe.

An autistic child has been kidnapped, and her mother seeks Boston PI Remy Chandler's help, not knowing that she has enlisted the help of an angel who has cast his lot with humanity. When Chandler realizes that Zoe's autism goes hand in hand with the ability to draw pictures of the future, he follows her trail to the heart of a dark and ancient conspiracy. VERDICT The latest addition to this series (Dancing on the Head of a Pin; A Kiss Before the Apocalypse) offers fast action, a soul-searching detective, and a memorable cast of supporting characters. Should appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files."

On the way to her wedding in the city of Croad, Lady Isola is kidnapped by Beauceron, the Dog of the North, whose allegiance lies with the Winter King of Mettingloom and whose personal ambition is to conquer Croad. In the city itself, a lowborn youth named Arren grows to become a valorous knight with a destiny that far surpasses his birth. Many stories combine in Stretton's richly woven tapestry that depicts a land of fractious city-states and the lives of the people who affect the world's direction. VERDICT Combining a hint of Renaissance Italy with a Shakespearean gravity leavened with touches of humor, the author of Dragonchaser and The Zael Inheritance has created a vividly detailed world that should appeal to fans of David Drake, Midori Snyder, and George R.R. Martin.

Neuroscientist Dominic O'Shaughnessy seeks in science a rational means of "curing" his memories of past lives, while Olivia, a vampiric fallen angel of desire, seeks a way to return to a state of grace. Both turn to L'Otel Matillide, a strange asylum located beneath the city of Cashel, in Ireland and to the ministrations of its proprietor, the seemingly ageless Gaehod, for a cure that will bring them either salvation or utter damnation. VERDICT The author's fluid style and ability to alternate convincingly between his two protagonists creates an affinity in the reader for both Olivia and Dominic. Strong storytelling and an unusual interpretation of vampires should attract fans of supernatural fiction and urban fantasy to this outstanding debut.

Riding the new wave of werewolf fiction, this anthology meets—and exceeds—expectations. With contributions from Tanith Lee, Holly Black, Mike Resnick, and other top horror and fantasy writers, the 15 never-before-published stories range from funny to horrific. Some, like Gene Wolfe's tale of a human-eating werewolf told from its culinary perspective ("Innocent"), are disturbing and hold a rightful place in the horror genre. Other stories, such as Resnick's "A Most Unusual Greyhound," are incredibly funny. Like Shakespeare's plays, the humorous seems hilarious when juxtaposed with the gruesome. Every story features a different writing style and perspective. On the one hand, the change can be refreshing. On the other, a nice light story followed by one about a psychotic cannibal can be rather disconcerting. VERDICT This collection offers an excellent introduction to the horror genre, but it is definitely not for paranormal romance fans who think werewolves are sexy. [For more werewolf fiction, see Mario Acevedo's Werewolf Smackdown and Gregory Lamberson's The Frenzy Way, reviewed on p. 96 and p. 97, respectively.—Ed.]—Jennifer Draper, Pickering P.L., Ont.

Two 19th-century world leaders, Abraham Lincoln and Queen Victoria, join the fight against the evil undead. The author of the best-selling literary mashup Pride and Prejudice and Zombies tackles a fantasy biography of Abraham Lincoln as a vampire hunter. Although the title might signify humor, there is none—at least intentional. Seth, a would-be writer, obtains the secret journals of Lincoln's encounters with vampires and turns them into a biography. The story begins promisingly, but as interactions with the undead pile up, the plot becomes less and less believable. VERDICT Purchase only where requested. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/09.]

In the pseudonymous Moorat's fantasy, June 19, 1837, heralds an auspicious night. The young Princess Victoria, only 18, becomes England's new monarch. Demon forces hatch a plan to take down the queen and usurp her empire. The story, told with delightful, understated British humor, is not for the squeamish. The zombie scenes are especially disgusting, as zombies have appalling table manners. Yet within this gory tale lurks a beautiful romance between Victoria and Albert proving that love can conquer all. VERDICT Recommended for historical urban fantasy and paranormal romance fans.—Patricia Altner, Biblioinfo.com, Columbia, MD

The newly widowed Emma Andrews has always been wary of inheriting her mother's madness. Anticipating the opportunity to spend time with her family, especially cousin Roger's daughter Henrietta, Emma arrives at Dulwich Manor to find Hen acting strangely. When Mr. Valerian Fox appears, Emma fights her immediate attraction to this man who seems to know too much about Henrietta's troubles. When Mr. Fox reveals his belief that a vampire is nearby and that they must fight this evil together, Emma isn't sure if she believes him because she's insane or because it explains newly awakened abilities. VERDICT Readers who enjoy the current trend of genteel ladies fighting supernatural evil in days gone by (see A.E. Moorat's Queen Victoria, Demon Slayer, reviewed above) will be interested in picking up this first book in a promised trilogy. A large number of engaging characters populate this story, each with a unique role to play, and the pace alternates between slow discovery of scholarly knowledge and pulse-pounding action scenes. While there are a few anachronistic contemporary touches that don't fit this Victorian-era story, this is still an entertaining read.—Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH