With January coming to an end, Bane of Kings launches a new feature of TFF, which points out some of January’s notable sci-fi/fantasy releases that you should be looking  into, from science fiction and fantasy publishers.

 

 

 

 

Okay, first off, we’re going to start with the notable sci-fi/fantasy releases from Black Library Publishers in January 2012. Let’s kick off the show with this novel:

Deliverance Lost by Gav Thorpe (Horus Heresy #18)

(Bane of Kings’ Review) / (Lord of the Night’s Review)

As the Horus Heresy divides the Imperium, Corax and his few remaining Raven Guard escape the massacre at Isstvan V. Tending to their wounds, the bloodied Space Marines endeavour to replenish their numbers and return to the fray, taking the fight to the traitor Warmaster. Distraught at the crippling blow dealt to his Legion, Corax returns to Terra to seek the aid of his father – the Emperor of Mankind. Granted access to ancient secrets, Corax begins to rebuild the Raven Guard, planning his revenge against his treacherous brother primarchs. But not all his remaining warriors are who they appear to be… the mysterious Alpha Legion have infiltrated the survivors and plan to destroy the Raven Guard before they can rebuild and threaten Horus’s plans.

You can check out the novel here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/horus-heresy/deliverance-lost.html

Lord of the Night’s Verdict: 9.2/10 

Bane of Kings’ Verdict: 4/5 

 

Next novel on the list, is another Black Library release, but this time, not a Warhammer 40,000 novel.  In fact, it is not a novel at all, but a collection of short stories. We’re journeying into the Time of Legends era of Warhammer Fantasy, with the Christian Dunn edited Age of Legend.

Age of Legend by Various Authors, edited by Christian Dunn (A Time of Legends Novel) 

(Bane of Kings’ Review)

The dark origins of the Warhammer World are soaked in blood. Epic wars between kindred races reshaped continents, vast civilisations rose and fell, the dead walked the earth in legions. This is an age of mighty heroes whose like will never be seen again, such as the mangod Sigmar and Caledor, the Phoenix King of the elves. It is also an era of dread villains like the Witch-King Malekith and Nagash, the Lord of the undead. In these troubled times, dragons still flock the skies and magic exists that can doom or save the world.

It is an age of legend.

You can check out the anthology here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/time-of-legends/age-of-legend.html

Bane of Kings’ Verdict: 4/5

 

 

Next up, we’re moving publishers, to Angry Robot, one of my favourite publishers who have produced a wide range of books across the sci-fi/fantasy range, exploring many subgenre. However, there was only one release from them in January that caught my eye, and that is Empire State, by Adam Christopher, a fantastic superhero noire novel, which you can find out more of below:

Empire State by Adam Christopher 

(Bane of Kings’ Review) / (Shadowhawk’s Review)

It was the last great science hero fight, but the energy blast ripped a hole in reality, and birthed the Empire State – a young, twisted parallel prohibition-era New York.

When the rift starts to close, both worlds are threatened, and both must fight for the right to exist.

Adam Christopher’s stunning debut novel heralds the arrival of an amazing new talent.

File Under: Science Fiction [ Pocket Universe | Heroes or Villains | Speak Easy | Loyalties Divided ].

You can check out this novel here: http://angryrobotbooks.com/our-authors/adam-christopher/empire-state-adam-christopher/

Bane of Kings’ Verdict: 4.5/5 

Shadowhawk’s Verdict: 9/10 

Okay, moving away from Angry Robot now, we’re going to take a look at Ace Books, and much to my dissapointment, a novel that only saw release in the United States and is currently not available in the UK. We are of course, talking about the much talked-about Shadow Ops: Control Point by Myke Cole:

Control Point by Myle Cole (Shadow Ops #1)

(Djinn24′s review)

Army Officer. Fugitive. Sorcerer. 

Across the country and in every nation, people are waking up with magical talents. Untrained and panicked, they summon storms, raise the dead, and set everything they touch ablaze. 

Army officer Oscar Britton sees the worst of it. A lieutenant attached to the military’s Supernatural Operations Corps, his mission is to bring order to a world gone mad. Then he abruptly manifests a rare and prohibited magical power, transforming him overnight from government agent to public enemy number one. 

The SOC knows how to handle this kind of situation: hunt him down–and take him out. Driven into an underground shadow world, Britton is about to learn that magic has changed all the rules he’s ever known, and that his life isn’t the only thing he’s fighting for.

You can check out this novel here: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781937007249,00.html?strSrchSql=Myke+Cole/Shadow_Ops:_Control_Point_Myke_Cole

Djinn24′s Verdict: 9/10 

Now, we’re going to change publishers again, this time, talking about another one of my favourite sci-fi/fantasy publishers, Orbit Books, which saw the following titles released in January 2012. Note, that not all of them have been reviewed on The Founding Fields, though. First up, is MLN Hanover (Pen name of Daniel Abraham), with his new urban fantasy series, The Black Sun’s Daughter, which kicks off with Unclean Spirits. 

Unclean Spirits by MLN Hanover (The Black Sun’s Daughter #1) 

The first novel in a bold and fast-paced new urban fantasy series starring Jayné Heller, a young college student who inherits a string of houses across the world, several bank accounts, and a very unconventional business from her murdered uncle. And it turns out Uncle Eric has been fighting to rid the world of supernatural riders – demons, vampires, werewolves and all sorts of other nasty parasites – since before Jayné was born.

Now it’s up to Jayné to avenge her uncle’s death and continue his mission – if she can survive her first week on the job.

You can check out this novel here: http://www.orbitbooks.net/publishing-schedules/orbit-uk-2012-publication-list/#unclean

Bane of Kings’ Projected Verdict: 4/5

 

 

Next on the list, is the third and final Omnibus in the Riryia Revelations series by Michael J. Sullivan, entitled Heir of Norvon, containing the novels Wintertide and Percepliquis. I’ve currently only read Theft of Swords, but both Rise of Empire and Heir of Norvon are high on my to-get list. Below is the UK cover:

Heir of Norvon (Riryia Revelations #3) 

The New Empire intends to celebrate its victory over the Nationalists with a day that will never be forgotten. On the high holiday of Wintertide, the empress will be married, and Degan Gaunt and the Witch of Melengar will be publically executed. Once the empress suffers a fatal accident, everything will be perfect. There is only one problem—Royce and Hadrian have finally found the Heir of Novron.

You can check out this novel here: http://www.orbitbooks.net/publishing-schedules/orbit-uk-2012-publication-list/#heir.

Bane of Kings’ Projected Verdict: 4.5/5

 

 

 

Next up, is the final Orbit novel that I’m interested in that comes out this month, and as it happens, it’s one that I’m currently reading. I’ve got mixed opinions about it so far, however – in order to find out what they are, you’ll have to wait until my review is posted. Until then, here’s John R. Fultz’s début, Seven Princes:

Seven Princes by John R. Fultz (Books of the Shaper #1)

An ancient necromancer slaughters the king and his court in front of the unbelieving eyes of crown prince D’zan. From that moment, his life is consumed by one thought – to regain his throne. Others will join him, some will oppose him.

In a world where men and giants fight side by side against ancient monsters and new powers, only one thing is sure – war is coming. Blood will run and princes will clash.

Seven princes. Seven destinies.

All will be legend.

You can check out this novel here: http://www.orbitbooks.net/publishing-schedules/orbit-uk-2012-publication-list/#seven

Bane of Kings’ Projected Verdict: 3/5 

 

Phew, that’s a lot of novels, and we’re still going. Next up, is Gollancz, a big sci-fi/fantasy publisher who I’ve not seen a bad book from yet. Having not delved into Alastair Reynolds yet, I think his latest release might be the appropriate time, although it’s quite a hefty price-tag, a hardback book, I’m sure it’ll be a good read. Hopefully. Check it out below:

Blue Remembered Earth by Alastair Reynolds (Poseiden’s Children #1) 

BLUE REMEMBERED EARTH is the first volume in a monumental trilogy tracing the Akinya family across more than ten thousand years of future history…out beyond the solar system, into interstellar space and the dawn of galactic society.