Publisher: Tor
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/17/2012
ISBN-13: 9780765322180
ISBN-10: 0765322188

Historical Fantasy. After staging a highly public quarrel, lovers Ilse Zhalina and Lord Raul Kosenmark pretend to go their separate ways -- the better to mislead their enemies as they pursue their shared goal of preventing a devastating war. While Raul remains ensconced in his shadow court in Tiralien City, overseeing his vast network of spies, Ilse searches both the physical and spiritual worlds for a set of legendary magical gems known as Lir's Jewels, which possess the power to counteract the magic of a ruthless ruler bent on conquest. Full of military maneuvers, espionage, and courtly intrigue, this dark, lush sequel to Passion Play is the 2nd book in the River of Souls series.

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Publisher: DAW Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/07/2012
ISBN-13: 9780756407391
ISBN-10: 0756407397

Urban Fantasy. Centuries ago, Johannes Gutenberg founded The Porters, a secret society of "libriomancers" who possess the magical power to extract objects from books. Now, however, Gutenberg has gone missing, vampires (ranging from Dracula to Twilight-esque "sparklers") are attacking, and only former field agent Isaac Vainio, currently assigned to catalog the Copper River Library's entire fantasy and science fiction collection, can save the day. Fortunately, he's got the assistance of his loyal pet fire-spider, Smudge, and voluptuous dryad Lena Greenwood. Unfortunately, his stalwart companions can be as distracting as they are helpful. Libriomancer is the action-packed, humorous, and highly metafictional 1st book in the Magic ex Libris series.

Publisher: Atria Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/18/2012
ISBN-13: 9781451660074
ISBN-10: 1451660073

Historical Fantasy. Known to the English as "Mistress Molly," Maeve is an Irish healer who leads her loyal companions across 13th-century England. It's a close-knit band that includes her enigmatic lover, Jack, her granddaughter, Nemain, and her apprentice, 13-year-old orphan Hob. As the group travels the countryside, they gradually realize that they're being pursued by a terrifying beast. When a storm forces them to seek shelter in the Norman castle of Blanchefontaine, it becomes clear that their shelter may not be the sanctuary they hoped for. Slow to unfold yet suspenseful, this well-researched, richly detailed, and atmospheric historical fantasy debut brings medieval Europe to life and may appeal to fans of Canadian fantasy author Guy Gavriel Kay's work.

Publisher: Atria Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/04/2012
ISBN-13: 9781451660319
ISBN-10: 1451660316

Fantasy. Like its predecessor, The Map of Time, this genre-blending sequel is comprised of three separate yet interconnected tales, each featuring author H.G. Wells in a minor role. The novel begins when Wells encounters the American hack writer who has penned an unauthorized sequel to Wells' novel The War of the Worlds -- and justifies his copyright infringement by claiming to have seen a real Martian. From there, it's but a hop, skip, and a jump to alien invasions, late-Victorian secret societies, and thrilling fantastical adventures that straddle multiple worlds. A rich stew of time-travel, historical fiction, romance, sci-fi, fantasy and old-fashioned adventure fiction, The Map of the Sky should please readers looking for something a bit different.

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Publisher: Little, Brown
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/07/2012
ISBN-13: 9780316201261
ISBN-10: 031620126X

Steampunk Fantasy. Archibald Clare is one of the last remaining mentaths in Londoninium, in large part because the others have been murdered. Unregistered on account of previous crimes, Clare -- whose Sherlock Holmesian feats of deduction result from his obsessive need to manipulate data -- is both an embarrassment and a vital asset to his country. For that reason, Queen Victrix, the current physical incarnation of the goddess Britannia, charges Prime sorceress Emma Bannon to protect Clare from assassins. Bannon, aided by her shape-shifting demon Shield, Mikal, doesn't trust Clare any more than he trusts the "illogical" sorceress, but with enemies hot on their trail, they have no choice but to work together.

Publisher: Orbit
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 02/21/2012
ISBN-13: 9780316187527
ISBN-10: 0316187526

Dark Fantasy. Teenage musical prodigy George Carole runs away from home to pursue a life on the stage -- and also to find his alleged father, Hieronomo "Harry" Silenus, who heads a magical Vaudeville troupe that travels across turn-of-the-century America performing in some of the nation's worst venues. But, as George soon learns, the Troupe has another, secret agenda: they're searching for surviving fragments of the song of creation. However, Harry and his players aren't the only ones following the music. Dark forces also seek the song -- in order to silence it forever.

Publisher: Night Shade Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/01/2012
ISBN-13: 9781597802192
ISBN-10: 1597802190

Historical Fantasy. In a 19th-century Naples where music is imbued with magic and the very act of singing can cause miracles, Conrad Scalese is librettist whose latest play -- which calls for a real lightning strike -- skirts perilously close to heresy. However, instead of the rack, Conrad receives an unexpected reprieve...at a price. Comissioned by King Ferdinand II to write an opera, one that will counteract the efforts of The Prince's Men, a secret society rumored to be producing a "black opera" to summon the Devil, Conrad has just six weeks to create an appropriate counterspell, which will mean working with the composer married to the woman he once loved. Fast-paced and intricately plotted, The Black Opera will thrill bel canto buffs with its "high stakes, grand betrayals, and extravagant characters" (Publishers Weekly).

Publisher: Doubleday
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/01/2010
ISBN-13: 9780767930765
ISBN-10: 0767930762

Fantasy. When brilliant but impetuous sorcerer Johannes Cabal discovers that a soul is a hindrance to mastering the art of necromancy, he sells his to Satan. But seller's remorse soon sets in and he demands its return. Fortunately, the Devil is willing to strike a second deal: if Johannes can deliver 100 additional souls before one year elapses, he can have his own soul back. To accomplish his goal, Johannes and his vampire brother Horst start a Carnival of Discord and set out to relieve unfortunate customers of their souls. But will Johannes make his quota in time? If you enjoy this darkly humorous fantasy debut, check out its sequel, Johannes Cabal, The Detective.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Doubleday
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/13/2011
ISBN-13: 9780385534635
ISBN-10: 0385534639

Fantasy. Instantly recognizable by its black-and-white tents, Le Cirque des Rêves -- the Circus of Dreams -- arrives at night without warning...and then vanishes at daybreak, only to reappear in a new and unexpected location. Its chessboard color scheme is appropriate, since psychokinetic conjurer Celia and illusionist Marco are pawns in a longstanding game between two mysterious magicians who routinely pit their protégés against one another in a high-stakes competition. But what happens when Celia and Marco fall in love? As in Susannah Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, the magical rivalry at the heart of this book plays out over decades and against an elaborate, atmospheric 19th-century backdrop.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Prime Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/10/2011
ISBN-13: 9781607012535
ISBN-10: 1607012537

Dark Fantasy. Traveling across a bleak post-apocalyptic landscape, the Circus Tresaulti, run by a mechanically gifted ringmaster known as Boss, stars a motley crew of technologically enhanced performers, including a Strong Man cobbled together from scrap metal and clockwork; aerialists whose bones have been replaced by hollow pipes; and human trapezes with seven-foot-long extendable metal arms. Looming over the company is the shadow of former aerialist Alec, a winged man who plummeted to his death -- perhaps intentionally. Beset by internal squabbles and pursued by the "government man," who demands the Circus' help in restoring order to a chaotic world, the troupe must find a way to survive in an already unforgiving world.