Joshua Palmatier's Blog, page 28
February 24, 2014
New Book Discussion!
I've posted the latest book discussion at the DAW Books unofficial blog (
dawbooks
)! The trade paperback this month is a re-release of Tanya Huff's Blood Lines, so I'm certain that many of you have read it already. Swing on by and check it out if you haven't, and leave a comment about what you thought of the book if you have!
dawbooks
)! The trade paperback this month is a re-release of Tanya Huff's Blood Lines, so I'm certain that many of you have read it already. Swing on by and check it out if you haven't, and leave a comment about what you thought of the book if you have!
February 19, 2014
New Book Discussion!
I've posted the latest book discussion at the DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! This time, we're discussing Ben Aaronovitch's latest Rivers of London novel, Broken Homes, the fourth in the series. Swing on by and check it out! And if you've read the book already, drop by and tell us what you thought!
dawbooks
)! This time, we're discussing Ben Aaronovitch's latest Rivers of London novel, Broken Homes, the fourth in the series. Swing on by and check it out! And if you've read the book already, drop by and tell us what you thought!February 17, 2014
New Book Discussion!
I've just posted the first book discussion for the February releases at the DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! The hardcover release this month is Dreamwalker by C.S. Friedman, the first book in a new urban fantasy series called Dreamwalker Chronicles. Swing on by and check it out! And if you've read it already, tell us what you thought!
dawbooks
)! The hardcover release this month is Dreamwalker by C.S. Friedman, the first book in a new urban fantasy series called Dreamwalker Chronicles. Swing on by and check it out! And if you've read it already, tell us what you thought!February 14, 2014
jpsorrow @ 2014-02-14T12:02:00
This is the sixth book in the October "Toby" Daye series by Seanan McGuire, and the books have greatly improved since the first few hit the shelves. Seanan has settled into the characters and the world.
The premise of this one is that Etienne, one of the knights of Toby's liege lord who hasn't exactly been one of Toby's greatest supporters, has fathered a changeling. Except he didn't know about it until now, when the changeling is manifesting teleportation powers that are far too powerful for her handle. And now she's vanished. Etienne comes to Toby asking if she can find the missing teenager, before everyone finds out, including their liege lord. But even if Toby succeeds in finding the missing girl, she's old enough now that Toby will be forced into making the Choose--between fairy and humanity. One will rip her away from the other parent the child has ever known . . . and the other may mean her death.
I've thought the book in this series have been steadily improving. The first few were a little loose and not always cohesive. The world didn't feel settled and the characters were often making decision that made little to no sense. That shifted around the fourth book, with the plot threads becoming much more coherent and the world and characters much more grounded. I felt the fifth book was by far the best, and couldn't see how Seanan would best that one.
And Ashes of Honor isn't "better" than One Salt Sea . . . but it comes damn close. The plot thread in this book is easy to follow and the steps that Toby takes to find the girl all make sense (unlike some of the first few books, where it felt more like she was just stumbling around and fumbling in the dark until something happened to her). Here, she's making things happen herself, following leads, seeking help from allies, etc. In other words, she's being the detective that she's expected to be. And of course the plot opens up into something more significant and serious than a changeling simply running wild.
It turns out that the changelings portals opening up hither and yon, uncontrolled, are actually tearing apart the foundations of fairy. In fact, she's opening holes into realms of fairy that have been sealed off and blocked. Toby isn't just trying to save the girl from herself, she's now trying to stop her from ripping the fairy realm apart.
And that's just the main plot thread holding the book together. We also have some significant character development with Toby and her friends, in particular, the long anticipated potential relationship with Tybalt comes to the fore here. I won't ruin how everything plays out, but I know many readers have been waiting for this subplot to take a more central role in the books, and it finally does. I'm certain the romance enthusiasts will mark this book their favorite in the series just because of that.
So, overall, one of the strongest books in the series so far. I hope that all of the future novels with Toby and this world retain the strength of these last few. If they do, I'll be reading about Toby Daye's adventures for a long time to come.
The premise of this one is that Etienne, one of the knights of Toby's liege lord who hasn't exactly been one of Toby's greatest supporters, has fathered a changeling. Except he didn't know about it until now, when the changeling is manifesting teleportation powers that are far too powerful for her handle. And now she's vanished. Etienne comes to Toby asking if she can find the missing teenager, before everyone finds out, including their liege lord. But even if Toby succeeds in finding the missing girl, she's old enough now that Toby will be forced into making the Choose--between fairy and humanity. One will rip her away from the other parent the child has ever known . . . and the other may mean her death.
I've thought the book in this series have been steadily improving. The first few were a little loose and not always cohesive. The world didn't feel settled and the characters were often making decision that made little to no sense. That shifted around the fourth book, with the plot threads becoming much more coherent and the world and characters much more grounded. I felt the fifth book was by far the best, and couldn't see how Seanan would best that one.
And Ashes of Honor isn't "better" than One Salt Sea . . . but it comes damn close. The plot thread in this book is easy to follow and the steps that Toby takes to find the girl all make sense (unlike some of the first few books, where it felt more like she was just stumbling around and fumbling in the dark until something happened to her). Here, she's making things happen herself, following leads, seeking help from allies, etc. In other words, she's being the detective that she's expected to be. And of course the plot opens up into something more significant and serious than a changeling simply running wild.
It turns out that the changelings portals opening up hither and yon, uncontrolled, are actually tearing apart the foundations of fairy. In fact, she's opening holes into realms of fairy that have been sealed off and blocked. Toby isn't just trying to save the girl from herself, she's now trying to stop her from ripping the fairy realm apart.
And that's just the main plot thread holding the book together. We also have some significant character development with Toby and her friends, in particular, the long anticipated potential relationship with Tybalt comes to the fore here. I won't ruin how everything plays out, but I know many readers have been waiting for this subplot to take a more central role in the books, and it finally does. I'm certain the romance enthusiasts will mark this book their favorite in the series just because of that.
So, overall, one of the strongest books in the series so far. I hope that all of the future novels with Toby and this world retain the strength of these last few. If they do, I'll be reading about Toby Daye's adventures for a long time to come.
New Book Discussion!
I've just posted the last book discussion for the January DAW releases at the DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! We're looking at the paperback release of Battle, the fifth book in Michelle West's House War series. Swing on by and check it out!
dawbooks
)! We're looking at the paperback release of Battle, the fifth book in Michelle West's House War series. Swing on by and check it out!February 5, 2014
Crossing the Streams Multi-Author Contest!
Welcome to “Crossing the Streams 2014,” a multi-author book giveaway! Some of you are familiar with this concept, as we’ve run this once before; for others, this’ll be the first time. Either way, here’s what’s what:
I, and nearly two dozen other speculative fiction writers--mostly novelists, but some short story and comic writers as well--have thrown in together to create something huge for you guys.
Here’s how it works:
Each individual author involved is running a contest on his/her own site. The specific details vary from author to author; the contest I run on my site might be very different than the one on James’s site, or Marcy’s site.
However, each contest has a few details in common. Specifically, each of us will select two winners from the contest on our own site. Each of those winners will receive one signed book, free, from the author whose contest they won. So, for instance, if you win here, you’ll win one of my books. If you win on Paul’s site, you’ll win one of his, etc.
But . . . that’s not the big prize. Once the contests have ended, all the authors involved will get together and choose one single “super-winner” from all the entries on all our sites combined. This one lucky individual will receive a signed book, free, from each and every one of the authors involved.
So, somebody out there is going to win around twenty free books.
You can only enter each author’s contest once, but you may enter multiple contests. So you could enter here, on Matt’s site, on Jason’s site, etc. Heck, you can enter on everyone’s site, if you want. (And even if you aren’t selected as the “super winner,” you might win more than one of the individual contests. You never know.)
You can find a complete list of the authors involved, as well as links to their sites, below. But first . . .
How to Enter my Contest
Again, these are just the rules for my contest. The rules for entry on other authors’ sites might be very different.
For me, it’s simple. All you have to do is take note of my next book, SHATTERING THE LEY, the first book in a new series, hitting bookshelves everywhere in July 2014. Here’s the cover copy, to get you interested in the book:
SHATTERING THE LEY:
Erenthrall—sprawling city of light and magic, whose streets are packed with traders from a dozen lands and whose buildings and towers are grown and shaped in the space of a day. At the heart of the city is the Nexus, the hub of the ley line system that powers Erenthrall and links the city and the Baronial plains to the rest of the continent and the world beyond. The Prime Wielders control the Nexus with secrecy and lies, but it is the Baron who controls the Wielders and the rest of the Baronies through a web of brutal intimidation enforced by his bloodthirsty guardsmen and unnatural assassins.
When the rebel Kormanley seek to destroy the ley system and the Baron’s chokehold on the continent, two people find themselves caught in the chaos that sweeps through Erenthrall and threatens the entire world. Kara Tremain, a young Wielder coming into her power, who discovers the forbidden truth behind the magic that powers the ley lines, and Alan Garrett, a recruit in the Baron’s guard, who learns that the city holds more mysteries and more danger than he could possibly have imagined . . . and who holds a secret within himself that could mean Erenthrall’s destruction . . . or its salvation.
SHATTERING THE LEY is available for preorder at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. The cover—by artist Stephen Martiniere—will be revealed at a future date, otherwise I’d let you see how cool it looks now.
So, to enter the contest, send me an email at jpalmatier@sff.net with “Crossing the Streams” in the subject area. In the email, give me the title of the book currently available that I’ve written (either under my real name, Joshua Palmatier, or my pseudonym, Benjamin Tate) that you’d like as your prize if you win my portion of the contest. Here are the options:
The Skewed Throne Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
The Cracked Throne Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
The Vacant Throne Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
Well of Sorrows Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
Leaves of Flame Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
After Hours: Tales from the Ur-Bar Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
Your entry must come to the email jpalmatier@sff.net, not by any other method or e-mail. I will select two winners chosen at random.
And of course, everyone who enters is also in the running for the random “super-winner” selection.
Entries must be received between February 19 and March 19, 2014.
And that’s it!
Prizes: Again, my two winners, and the super-winner, may choose any one of my books currently in print. If you’ve got any questions, please feel free to ask via jpalmatier@sff.net.
The Rest of the Gang
There are over a dozen of us involved in this contest. You can find names, and links, here. But if you click on over to one or more of these sites, don’t just look at the contest page, okay? Everyone involved in this contest is a great author or artist. So take a few minutes. Poke around. See if any of their work intrigues you. Maybe even buy a couple of books. I know they’d all appreciate it.
Thanks, and good luck.
Note: As the links go live, I'll remove the "Coming Soon" tag. If there's a "Coming Soon" tag after a link, then that link has not yet been made active.
* Ari Marmell
* Betsy Dornbusch
* Darrin Drader
* Dave Gross
* Erik Scott de Bie
* Erin M. Evans
* Erin N. Hoffman
* Gabrielle Faust
* Howard Andrew Jones
* James Sutter
* Jeff Salyards
* Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell and Jeffrey J. Mariotte
* Matt Forbeck
* Paul S. Kemp
* Richard Lee Byers
* Saranna DeWylde Coming Soon
* Wendy Wagner
I, and nearly two dozen other speculative fiction writers--mostly novelists, but some short story and comic writers as well--have thrown in together to create something huge for you guys.
Here’s how it works:
Each individual author involved is running a contest on his/her own site. The specific details vary from author to author; the contest I run on my site might be very different than the one on James’s site, or Marcy’s site.
However, each contest has a few details in common. Specifically, each of us will select two winners from the contest on our own site. Each of those winners will receive one signed book, free, from the author whose contest they won. So, for instance, if you win here, you’ll win one of my books. If you win on Paul’s site, you’ll win one of his, etc.
But . . . that’s not the big prize. Once the contests have ended, all the authors involved will get together and choose one single “super-winner” from all the entries on all our sites combined. This one lucky individual will receive a signed book, free, from each and every one of the authors involved.
So, somebody out there is going to win around twenty free books.
You can only enter each author’s contest once, but you may enter multiple contests. So you could enter here, on Matt’s site, on Jason’s site, etc. Heck, you can enter on everyone’s site, if you want. (And even if you aren’t selected as the “super winner,” you might win more than one of the individual contests. You never know.)
You can find a complete list of the authors involved, as well as links to their sites, below. But first . . .
How to Enter my Contest
Again, these are just the rules for my contest. The rules for entry on other authors’ sites might be very different.
For me, it’s simple. All you have to do is take note of my next book, SHATTERING THE LEY, the first book in a new series, hitting bookshelves everywhere in July 2014. Here’s the cover copy, to get you interested in the book:
SHATTERING THE LEY:
Erenthrall—sprawling city of light and magic, whose streets are packed with traders from a dozen lands and whose buildings and towers are grown and shaped in the space of a day. At the heart of the city is the Nexus, the hub of the ley line system that powers Erenthrall and links the city and the Baronial plains to the rest of the continent and the world beyond. The Prime Wielders control the Nexus with secrecy and lies, but it is the Baron who controls the Wielders and the rest of the Baronies through a web of brutal intimidation enforced by his bloodthirsty guardsmen and unnatural assassins.
When the rebel Kormanley seek to destroy the ley system and the Baron’s chokehold on the continent, two people find themselves caught in the chaos that sweeps through Erenthrall and threatens the entire world. Kara Tremain, a young Wielder coming into her power, who discovers the forbidden truth behind the magic that powers the ley lines, and Alan Garrett, a recruit in the Baron’s guard, who learns that the city holds more mysteries and more danger than he could possibly have imagined . . . and who holds a secret within himself that could mean Erenthrall’s destruction . . . or its salvation.
SHATTERING THE LEY is available for preorder at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. The cover—by artist Stephen Martiniere—will be revealed at a future date, otherwise I’d let you see how cool it looks now.
So, to enter the contest, send me an email at jpalmatier@sff.net with “Crossing the Streams” in the subject area. In the email, give me the title of the book currently available that I’ve written (either under my real name, Joshua Palmatier, or my pseudonym, Benjamin Tate) that you’d like as your prize if you win my portion of the contest. Here are the options:
The Skewed Throne Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
The Cracked Throne Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
The Vacant Throne Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
Well of Sorrows Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
Leaves of Flame Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
After Hours: Tales from the Ur-Bar Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
Your entry must come to the email jpalmatier@sff.net, not by any other method or e-mail. I will select two winners chosen at random.
And of course, everyone who enters is also in the running for the random “super-winner” selection.
Entries must be received between February 19 and March 19, 2014.
And that’s it!
Prizes: Again, my two winners, and the super-winner, may choose any one of my books currently in print. If you’ve got any questions, please feel free to ask via jpalmatier@sff.net.
The Rest of the Gang
There are over a dozen of us involved in this contest. You can find names, and links, here. But if you click on over to one or more of these sites, don’t just look at the contest page, okay? Everyone involved in this contest is a great author or artist. So take a few minutes. Poke around. See if any of their work intrigues you. Maybe even buy a couple of books. I know they’d all appreciate it.
Thanks, and good luck.
Note: As the links go live, I'll remove the "Coming Soon" tag. If there's a "Coming Soon" tag after a link, then that link has not yet been made active.
* Ari Marmell
* Betsy Dornbusch
* Darrin Drader
* Dave Gross
* Erik Scott de Bie
* Erin M. Evans
* Erin N. Hoffman
* Gabrielle Faust
* Howard Andrew Jones
* James Sutter
* Jeff Salyards
* Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell and Jeffrey J. Mariotte
* Matt Forbeck
* Paul S. Kemp
* Richard Lee Byers
* Saranna DeWylde Coming Soon
* Wendy Wagner
Crossing the Streams Multi-Author Contest! Coming Soon!
I just thought I'd give everyone a heads up for a contest that we're hoping to get running starting sometime next week. It's going to be called the "Crossing the Streams" contest and it looks like it will involve around 20 authors. I'll post how the contest is going to be run here, but then when the contest goes live, I'll post how YOU can enter MY part of the contest, and give everyone the links to all of the other author pages for their contest. (This will make more sense if you read further.)
Here’s how it's going to work:
Each individual author involved is running a contest on his/her own site. The specific details vary from author to author; the contest I run on my site might be very different than the one on James’ site, or Marcy’s site.
However, each contest has a few details in common. Specifically, each of us will select two winners from the contest on our own site. Each of those winners will receive one signed book, free, from the author whose contest they won. So, for instance, if you win here, you’ll win one of my books. If you win on Paul’s site, you’ll win one of his, etc.
But . . . that’s not the big prize. Once the contests have ended, all the authors involved will get together and choose one single “super-winner” from all the entries on all our sites combined. This one lucky individual will receive a signed book, free, from each and every one of the authors involved.
So, somebody out there is going to win around twenty free books.
You can only enter each author’s contest once, but you may enter multiple contests. So you could enter here, on Matt’s site, on Jason’s site, etc. Heck, you can enter on everyone’s site, if you want. (And even if you aren’t selected as the “super winner,” you might win more than one of the individual contests. You never know.)
And that's how it's going to work. When the contest goes live, check back here (favorite this journal entry now) and I'll have the directions for how to enter my own personal contest, as well as the prizes I'll offer up, and links to all of the other participating authors!
Here’s how it's going to work:
Each individual author involved is running a contest on his/her own site. The specific details vary from author to author; the contest I run on my site might be very different than the one on James’ site, or Marcy’s site.
However, each contest has a few details in common. Specifically, each of us will select two winners from the contest on our own site. Each of those winners will receive one signed book, free, from the author whose contest they won. So, for instance, if you win here, you’ll win one of my books. If you win on Paul’s site, you’ll win one of his, etc.
But . . . that’s not the big prize. Once the contests have ended, all the authors involved will get together and choose one single “super-winner” from all the entries on all our sites combined. This one lucky individual will receive a signed book, free, from each and every one of the authors involved.
So, somebody out there is going to win around twenty free books.
You can only enter each author’s contest once, but you may enter multiple contests. So you could enter here, on Matt’s site, on Jason’s site, etc. Heck, you can enter on everyone’s site, if you want. (And even if you aren’t selected as the “super winner,” you might win more than one of the individual contests. You never know.)
And that's how it's going to work. When the contest goes live, check back here (favorite this journal entry now) and I'll have the directions for how to enter my own personal contest, as well as the prizes I'll offer up, and links to all of the other participating authors!
February 2, 2014
New Release from DAW!
I've posted the February new releases from DAW Books over at the unofficial blog (
dawbooks
)! This month, there's new C.S. Friedman and Ben Aaronovitch, along with paperback releases from Nnedi Okorafor, Jennifer Roberson, and a trade release from Tanya Huff. Swing on by and check them all out! And then raid those bookstores!
dawbooks
)! This month, there's new C.S. Friedman and Ben Aaronovitch, along with paperback releases from Nnedi Okorafor, Jennifer Roberson, and a trade release from Tanya Huff. Swing on by and check them all out! And then raid those bookstores!January 31, 2014
New Book Discussion!
I've just posted the latest book discussion at the unofficial DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! We're talking about Fury of the Demon by Diana Rowland, part of the Kara Gillian series. Swing on by and check it out!
dawbooks
)! We're talking about Fury of the Demon by Diana Rowland, part of the Kara Gillian series. Swing on by and check it out!January 28, 2014
New Book Discussion!
We're discussing Irene Radford's third Children of the Dragon Nimbus series, The Broken Dragon, over at the DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! Swing on by the check it out. Leave a comment if you've read the book!
dawbooks
)! Swing on by the check it out. Leave a comment if you've read the book!
