And here’s what publishers have sent me recently:
* Farlander, by Col Buchanan (Tor UK): Also sent along by the Tor UK folks. In a fantasy world, an apprentice assassin and his master pit themselves against powerful forces, and naturally the fate of nations hang in the balance. Like they do. This debut novel is already out in the UK; it’s apparently been sold in the US but I don’t have a release date for it here.
* The Poison Throne, by Celine Kiernan (Orbit): A young woman returns to the court of an increasingly mad king and finds herself thrown into palace intrigue, which include a missing prince and a reluctant replacement heir. This first installment in a fantasy trilogy got a starred review in Publishers Weekly and is out now.
* Sisters Red, by Jackson Pearce (Little, Brown): I don’t generally quote the press releases for books, but this is a snappy little synopsis: “What if instead of a basket of treats, Little Red Riding Hood carried an ax — and wasn’t afraid to use it?” Well, if nothing else, it does call into question what plans she had for her grandmother. This fable revision (featuring two ax-wielding little red riding hoods for the price of one) is out in June.
* Death Most Definite, by Trent Jamieson (Orbit): First book in a new series featuring a fellow named Steven de Selby. His job? Death’s assistant! Hey! Death wants a vente half-caf latte! Although this book isn’t about that, it about what happens when Death goes missing, and de Selby has to deal with the after-effects. Out in August.