The Saypuri overthrew their Continental masters, killed their gods and passed the Worldly Regulations outlawing any further mention of them. But belief in the Divine lingers. Divine power can still be channelled. And now a Saypuri scholar of that forbidden history has been murdered in the Continental capital. Are the Divine returning to Bulikov?
fantasy
The Vanishers left the world in tatters. The waters are poisoned, disease is rampant, lives are balanced against value and need. The elders give Yên to a dragon as payment for a healing; but what value can a failed scholar have to an immortal spirit? What need can an unwanted peasant girl fulfil?
Kellen son of Ke is searching for the legendary Ebony Abbey, rumoured to possess a cure for the shadowblack. Separated even from Reichis, he finds himself caught between mistrustful monks and a Jan’Tep war party intent on wiping out the shadowblack once and for all. Can he unlock his curse and thwart his father’s ambitions?
Supernatural heroes won the Second Poppy War. Now war orphan Rin is determined to escape a future of marriage and drug running for her foster parents. She will fight herself to win a place at the Empire’s prestigious military academy – and fight everyone else to keep it. Can she learn enough to keep her country safe from the resurgent Mugen Federation?
Young, sheltered and abused, Maia is the Emperor’s least-loved son, the only offspring of a poorly-judged political match. When a terrible accident kills his father and brothers, Maia is recalled from exile and proclaimed Emperor – upsetting every apple cart in the empire. Can he hold on to the throne?
Amalia Cornaro is learning to live in the political limelight. A Witch Lord pursues her hand in marriage. La Contessa seeks a diplomatic solution to an impending war. And it’s anybody’s guess who can unleash a greater fiery hell on the northern border: Zaira or the ambitious prince of Vaskandar. Can Amalia keep the Empire serene?
It all started – as so many things do – with a proposal on Twitter: what would happen if a group of bookworms had a go at calling the best genre reads of 2017? Well, firstly an explosion of reading lists as our opinions cross-pollinated. Then an outbreak of glee. Finally, much Serious Debate. And now, at last, we can reveal our winners…
The Hadleys are on the run, at the heart of a struggle that is challenging their convictions about who they are. The Jardines are in control of the country, the ruthless Chancellor happy committing atrocities and ruling by fear. But power is a slippery thing, and family can’t be trusted any more than rebels…
Amalia Cornaro is a good-hearted scholar who likes wearing trousers. She’s also the daughter of La Contessa, the most powerful woman in the Empire. And she’s just forged an unbreakable bond with Zaira, the most destructive warlock the Empire has seen in centuries. Life’s about to get complicated…
Irene is still working off her superiors’ displeasure for abandoning her assigned world to rescue Kai. The dragons are irritated that she won’t accept their protection to stop it happening again. And the Fae probably want to kill her. But soon they’ll all have bigger things to worry about: Alberich is back – and this time he has his eyes set on the Library itself…
War has been declared. Closely-guarded secrets are being made public. The rules of engagement are battered if not broken. Can Kris summon the Warders’ Circle one last time and broker a peace with Quloo now they have evidence of Mertika’s treachery?
The American government imprisoned Aphra’s people and let them die in the desert, far from the sea. Now they need her help, and have an irresistible offer to make. But can outcasts ever truly win the trust of a government that persecuted them? And can they trust that government in return?
Ojo lives, but is weak and disoriented after a vicious Rumikan ambush. As Takeshi fights to save his life and limbs, Adechike rushes to take revenge on Kris. Meanwhile, incensed by what she has learned about the sinking of the Rumikan fleet, Michiko confronts Bellona. Twaa Fei’s traditional neutrality is no more. Even the Warders are at war.
We’re entering the final phase of the Subjective Chaos Kind of Awards. After the initial phase of nomination and debate, we ended up with 5 categories and 33 nominees. Now we’re down to the wire after six months of reading, discussing and voting: it’s finalist time. So who has made our final cut?
