books for druids - Macmillan Library

More Books for Kitty Fans

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Ali Fisher

I'm guessing that you have a few fans of Carrie Vaughn's bestselling Kitty Norville series lurking around your library. In between Kitty releases, those fans might get understandably antsy, so here's a few more Vaughn stories to keep them satisfied.

DISCORD'S APPLE (7/2010) is a stand-alone dystopic fusion of mythology, fairy tales, and modern life.

"Taking a break from the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series, Vaughn melds a near-future world torn by war with the legend of the fall of Troy in this brilliantly structured, beautifully written stand-alone." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

AFTER THE GOLDEN AGE (4/2011) is a very different stand-alone novel following the decidedly average daughter of two famous superheroes (I'm sure you've already heard me singing praises for it).

Kirkus Reviews says, "In this warm homage to and deconstruction of classic comic books, a young woman demonstrates that you don’t need superpowers to be a hero."

And Library Journal specifically notes that this one is "a good bet for most public libraries, especially if they're home to Kitty Norville fans or comic book devotees."

And if your patrons just can't leave Kitty's world, they're in luck! Next month Tor will release KITTY'S GREATEST HITS (8/2011), a series of short stories following some of the other characters in Kitty's life.

Library Journal says, "This collection should please fans of the series, especially those who want to know more about the side characters, but readers new to the Kittyverse will also find a fine introduction to this richly populated, fascinating paranormal world."

Vaughn is exceptional at pulling the strange, fantastic, and otherworldly into the lives of very real and modern young women. And if you want to get more people hooked on Vaughn's work, it should appeal to fans of Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter Series.

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Publishers Weekly Editors’ Top 10 SFF & Horror

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Between BEA, ALA, a long 4th of July weekend, and general summer sluggishness, I'm behind on reading reviews. This morning while catching up on my Publishers Weekly reading I got to the Top 10: Editors' Picks issue (June 27th) and had to share a few of their top 10 selections in my favorite category: Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror.

HARBOR
by John Ajvide Lindqvist

One ordinary winter afternoon on a snowy island, Anders and Cecilia take their six-year-old daughter Maja across the ice to visit the lighthouse in the middle of the frozen channel. While the couple explore the lighthouse, Maja disappears. Another chilling tale from the author of LET ME IN (or, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN).

THE MONSTER'S CORNER: STORIES FROM INHUMAN EYES
edited by Christopher Golden

These haunting stories of monsters are all told from the monster's point of view. With contributions by Lauren Groff, Chelsea Cain, Simon R. Green, Sharyn McCrumb, Kelley Armstrong, David Liss, Kevin J. Anderson, Jonathan Maberry, and many others.

THE CHILDREN OF THE SKY
by Verner Vinge

After nearly twenty years, Vernor Vinge has produced an enthralling sequel to his memorable bestselling novel A FIRE UPON THE DEEP. Ten years have passed on Tines World and while there is peace, there are those among them—and among the humans—who seek power

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Solstice Reading; or, Ali’s Backlist Books for Druids

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Ali Fisher

And so the summer solstice is upon us. If you're not living it up at Stonehenge or weaving flowery head wreaths and braiding your sister's hair, then maybe you need a good book to get you in the spirit.

My solstice backlist pick is Juliet Marillier's Alex Award-winner DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST.

Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift. When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once.

How exactly does this story tie in to the solstice? The curse on Sorcha's brothers turned them all into swans (read: total bummer). They only become humans again on midsummer and midwinter (read: solstices!). And there's all sorts of tricky magic, sorcery, and druids (read: excellent).

What is your solstice reading pick?

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10 Can’t-Miss SFF Books from Kirkus Reviews

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Ali Fisher

This week Kirkus Reviews highlighted 10 Can't-Miss Science Fiction and Fantasy Books for 2011 including a few of our in-house favorites!

They selected Jo Walton's AMONG OTHERS because, "All SF fans will get what Morwenna is about, particularly the joy she experiences discovering new books and other people to talk to about them."

Richard Matheson's OTHER KINGDOMS caught their eye for the "accomplished and tragic" story: a "star-crossed romance between two lovers from different worlds."

Finally, THE QUANTUM THIEF made the list because author Hannu Rajaniemi, "is clearly one of those disgustingly brilliant people whom you could hate if you didn't admire him so much." [...]

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