The Book Plank

(p)review forecast January part 2 What will you be reading in the second half of January? Cheers, Jasper 1. The Waste Lands by Stephen King, Hodder and Stoughton In the third novel in King's epic fantasy masterpiece, Roland, the Last Gunslinger, is moving ever closer to the Dark Tower, which haunts his dreams and nightmares. Pursued by the Ageless Stranger, he and his friends follow the perilous path to Lud, an urban wasteland. And crossing a desert of damnation in this macabre new world, revelations begin to unfold about who - and what - is driving him forward. 2. The Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley, Tor The conspiracy to destroy the ruling family of the Annurian Empire is far from over. Having learned the identity of her father's assassin, Adare flees the Dawn Palace in search of allies to challenge the coup against her family. Few trust her, but when she is believed to be touched by Intarra, patron goddess of the empire, the people rall...

(p)review Forecast January part 1 A new year, and stil many books to read. I hope you all had a great Christmas and went out with a blast on New Year's eve. I had a great time with friends and family and after the short two week break I will be begin picking up the reviewing today. Here is my first selection of books that will appear on the blog asap.  1. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman, Tor The first installment of an adventure featuring stolen books, secret agents and forbidden societies - think Doctor Who with librarian spies! Irene must be at the top of her game or she'll be off the case - permanently... Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission - to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to th...

Review Round-up January I just cant believe that January went by so fast! It feels that is was a two week month instead of the four weeks, maybe it's largely owed to the fact that I read some very exciting books or that I longed to get back to reviewing/blogging after the Christmas break. I don't know, all I can say is that January has already proven to an amazing month reading wise and I hope that the others months will proof to be just as fruitful. And with each finished month, you can expect an Review Round-up post wherein I highlight a few books that I thoroughly enjoyed in the past month. 1. The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley, Tor   The Emperor's Blades copy was already on my reading shelves and it kept lurking and lurking to be read but the pub date was in January so I really had to exert some control. But when I finally was allowed to read it I was awed. The story that Brian Staveley has put down in The Emperor's Blade is just amazing and exactly ...

No time to spare! I already read only good great and greater books in the first half January and if this is what will be in store for me for the remainder of the year, it is going to be mighty fine! here is my reading list for the second half of January. 1. Dangerous Women by George R. R. Martin and Gerdner R. Dozois, Tor All new and original to this volume, the 21 stories in Dangerous Women include work by twelve New York Times bestsellers, and seven stories set in the authors’ bestselling continuities—including a new “Outlander” story by Diana Gabaldon, a  tale of Harry Dresden’s world by Jim Butcher, a story from Lev Grossman set in the world of The Magicians, and a 35,000-word novella by George R. R. Martin about the Dance of the Dragons, the vast civil war that tore Westeros apart nearly two centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones. Also included are original stories of danger...

No time to waste! We are already a few days into the new year so time to get reading! I received quite a few cool books over the Christmas holidays, and like I mentioned in my anticipated book post there are a lot more coming our way! No time to waste, here is what I will be reading in the first half of January. The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley, TorUK/TorUSA The circle is closing. The stakes are high. And old truths will live again . . . The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must bury their grief and prepare to unmask a conspiracy. His son Valyn, training for the empire’s deadliest fighting force, hears the news an ocean away. He expected a challenge, but after several ‘accidents’ and a dying soldier’s warning, he realizes his life is also in danger. Yet before Valyn can take action, he must survive the mercenaries’ brutal final initiation. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s daughter, Minister Adare, hunts her father’s murder...