March Debut Round-Up

Midwinter (US - Canada - UK)
by Matthew Sturges (Website - Blog - Facebook - Forum - Twitter)
Publisher: Pyr (March 24, 2009)
Paperback: 345 pages
Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:
Winter comes to the land only once in a hundred years. But the snow covers ancient secrets: secrets that could topple a kingdom.

Mauritaine was a war hero, a captain in the Seelie Army. Then he was accused of treason and sentenced to life without parole at Crere Sulace, a dark and ancient prison in the mountains, far from the City Emerald. But now the Seelie Queen – Regina Titania herself – has offered him one last chance to redeem himself, an opportunity to regain his freedom and his honor.

Unfortunately, it’s a suicide mission . . .

Read more at Pyr Books. Matthew Sturges is a former comic book writer for D. C. The author website above takes you to Clockwork Storybook, a group writer blog. Contrary to the "clockwork" part of their name, it does not appear to be a steampunk blog.

Reviews: Fantasy Book Critic - Grasping for the Wind

The Betrayal (US - Canada - UK)
by Pati Nagle (Website - Blog - Livejournal - Twitter - Facebook)
Publisher: Del Rey (March 24, 2009)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:
The noble and magical aelven were riven by war when a rogue clan embraced a forbidden source of magic: the drinking of blood. In the bitter fighting that ensued, the vampiric Clan Darkshore were cast out of the aelven and driven across the Ebon Mountains. Stripped of their various clan colors, they were thenceforth known only as “alben,” hated and shunned. An uneasy peace now holds over the land, but it is whispered that Shalár, the beautiful and bloodthirsty queen of the alben, is readying a surprise attack to win back all that was lost–and none can say where or when she will strike.

The fate of the clans will depend on two young aelven lovers, Eliani and Turisan, who are blessed with a legendary gift: the fabled power of mindspeech. But this ability comes with great risks. Time is running out as the alben mount their attack–and their ultimate betrayal.

Reviews: Aelven

The review site above takes you to a page of author blurbs. Pati Nagle is a historical novelist making the jump to fantasy. From her bio, she has been a lifelong fan of fantasy and science fiction.

Red-Headed Stepchild (US - Canada - UK)
by Jaye Wells (Website - Blog - MySpace - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads)
Publisher: Orbit (March 31, 2009)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:
In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.

This time, it's personal.

Reviews: Darque Reviews - SciFiGuy.ca

The author got a fabulous book deal for this one; congratulations to her! Her name is already familiar to me--she has been very active on Facebook. Raven has already read Red-Headed Stepchild and her review will be appearing later in the week.

Debut Showcase: The Warded Man / The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett

The Warded Man / The Painted Man (US - Canada - UK)
By Peter V. Brett (Website - Blog - Forum -Facebook - MySpace - Goodreads)
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Del Rey (March 10, 2009)
Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb:

The time has come to stand against the night.

As darkness falls each night, the corelings rise–demons who well up from the ground like hellish steam, taking on fearsome form and substance. Sand demons. Wood demons. Wind demons. Flame demons. And gigantic rock demons, the deadliest of all. They possess supernatural strength and powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity. For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards–symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and mystery, and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile.

It was not always this way. Once, men and women battled the corelings on equal terms. Once, under the leadership of the legendary Deliverer, and armed with powerful wards that were not merely shields but weapons, they took the battle to the demons . . . and stopped their advance.

But those days are gone. The fighting wards are lost. Night by night the demons grow stronger, while human numbers dwindle under their relentless assault.
Now, with hope for the future fading, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will dare the impossible, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past.

Arlen will pay any price, embrace any sacrifice, for freedom. His grim journey will take him beyond the bounds of human power.

Crippled by the demons that killed his parents, Rojer seeks solace in music–only to discover that music can be a weapon as well as a refuge.

Beautiful Leesha, who has suffered at the hands of men as well as demons, becomes an expert healer. But what cures can also harm. . . .

Together, they will stand against the night.

Mulluane's Take:
I have an unfair advantage on this one. I have already read and reviewed the book. I have to admit that I loved it. Dark, scary, great characterization, fascinating world and most definitely does not read like a debut! There are reviews all over the net on this book, including mine, so I'll link you to a few: The Old Bat's Belfry - Dark Wolf's Fantasy Reviews - Graeme's Fantasy Book Review. It is interesting to note that this book has been released under two different titles, depending on where in the world you live. Here in the US it is called The Warded Man (I wonder why they do that?)

Tia's Take:
I'm almost done reading it! The book arrived in the mail a few weeks ago, courtesy of Del Rey. I hope to have the review up on Tuesday or Wednesday. I love the artwork on the author's website, and he has deleted scenes!

Debut Showcase: Pandemonium

Pandemonium (Amazon USA, UK, Canada)
By Daryl Gregory (website, blog, other Daryls)
Del Rey
Excerpt (pdf, html)

It is a world like our own in every respect . . . save one. In the 1950s, random acts of possession begin to occur. Ordinary men, women, and children are the targets of entities that seem to spring from the depths of the collective unconscious, pop-cultural avatars some call demons. There’s the Truth, implacable avenger of falsehood. The Captain, brave and self-sacrificing soldier. The Little Angel, whose kiss brings death, whether desired or not. And a string of others, ranging from the bizarre to the benign to the horrific.

As a boy, Del Pierce is possessed by the Hellion, an entity whose mischief-making can be deadly. With the help of Del’s family and a caring psychiatrist, the demon is exorcised . . . or is it? Years later, following a car accident, the Hellion is back, trapped inside Del’s head and clamoring to get out.

Del’s quest for help leads him to Valis, an entity possessing the science fiction writer formerly known as Philip K. Dick; to Mother Mariette, a nun who inspires decidedly unchaste feelings; and to the Human League, a secret society devoted to the extermination of demons. All believe that Del holds the key to the plague of possession–and its solution. But for Del, the cure may be worse than the disease.

The author of this novel has been published in many of the big magazines--F&SF, Asimov's, Hitchcock's, plus a bunch of anthologies. It's getting some great reviews, but ususally, demons and I don't mix. However, he's a fellow computer programmer, which to me is very cool. His blog reflects a sense of humor that I don't see in the blurb, so I'll have to check out Graeme's review. Also, check out that page on other Daryls; very cute.