All you need to know about books at www.booksmonthly.co.uk Issue 4 July 2008
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The menu is self-explanatory - try it and see for yourselves. The magazine is arranged into three main sections, REVIEWS, FEATURE ARTICLES and STORIES, and NEW & COMING SOON TITLES. The latter section is a little like a bookshop where you can browse what's new for this month, but it is arranged by Publisher, as this is the easiest way for me to do it. Let me knowwhat you think...
Amanda Greenslade is a fantasy writer, like me (except she's young enough to be my granddaughter, and therefore has time on her side!). Her ASTOR CHRONICLES look fantastic, and I hope it won't be long before she finds a publisher. In the meantime, there's an interview with Amanda in this issue, together with information on TALON, the first book in the series. KELLEY ARMSTRONG's latest book, THE SUMMONING, is so good I had to give it joint book of the month in the fantasy section; Kelley never lets you down, and this is a terrific read, chilling and entertaining at the same time - don't miss it! And don't forget to let me know what you think of this issue of BOOKS MONTHLY ~ you can e-mail me at editor@booksmonthly.co.uk Last weekend the fourth INDIANA JONES movie smashed box office records with takings estimated to be in excess of £148m - there are lots more great new Indy books reviewed in this issue, see the Feature Articles and Stories menu above All of the titles listed or reviewed in Books Monthly are available from the store. Click on the Amazon logo to check availability as many are not yet published.
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If you were lucky, and you're a dad, you might have received a copy of this fantastic book on Father's Day! Neil Oliver, the historian from the smash BBC series COAST, retells the stories that inspired us to be better men during the last century. He laments...
When nineteen-year-old Talon encounters a ferocious icetiger in the wilds near his home village, Jaria, he has no idea how drastically his life is about to change. Within weeks, his lonely, yet somewhat comfortable lifestyle as the quartermaster's apprentice and a warrior-in-training, changes forever. Not only does the icetiger become his ‘Rada-kin’ animal companion, but Talon also receives a special earring that was left for him by his long-dead father.
Both the icetiger and the earring speak in ‘the waves’, which Talon hears in his mind. They show him friendship and understanding like he’s never known before. He also meets Sarlice, a female warrior from an allied civilisation far away. Like many of the Kriite people in Chryne, Sarlice's village is suffering at the hands of the sorcerous, war-hungry Zeikas. Sarlice came to Jaria to find help, but she soon realises the Jarian Kriites are in equal danger. For the Zeikas will stop at nothing to obliterate the Kriites from all of Chryne.
When Talon realises it’s time for him to leave Jaria, not all are in agreement. But Sarlice is appointed as his guide and they are sent to find allies. The Zeikas pursue Talon for a gift he supposedly possesses, but doesn't fully understand. There is far more to the earring than he first realised. As their journey progresses, Talon is trained by the earring, which turns out to be his Anzaii-kin. Like his mother before him, Talon has a unique gift of control over the 'waves'.
These ‘Anzaii’ abilities go back to the earliest human beings and entail a range of telepathic and spiritual abilities using the waves. Because of this, the Zeikas are well aware of how much of a threat Talon is to them. If properly cultivated and enhanced by various Anzaii artifacts, Talon’s powers will continue to grow, giving him the ability to halt Zeika magic.
Bal Harar, ruler of the Zeikas is a cunning, well-learned man several centuries old. Along with his plans to dominate the free world, he studies people with Anzaii abilities, seeking a way to turn their powers to the Zeikas’ advantage. Talon is among his ultimate targets and Bal Harar goes to great lengths to lure him into a trap.
After fleeing from Zeikas all the way to the city of Ubu, Talon and Sarlice turn to the secluded nation of Tanza. A fabled land of flying ‘skyearls’, Tanza is the world’s last-standing bastion of Kriite power. An immense, bountiful land, Tanza is ruled by people who have special flying kindred, the ‘Sleffion-kin’. These skyearls can grow to be enormous, towering beasts, with furred bodies, lion-like paws and the wings of eagles.
But the Zeikas have their eyes set on Tanza already. Both Talon and Sarlice soon realise that the problems faced by their people were only echoes of a far greater battle.
A war is coming.
And don't forget, you can purchase any of the titles you read about in BOOKS MONTHLY at the Booksmonthly Online Amazon store, just click on the Amazon logo anywhere in the magazine.
Books Monthly (formerly Gateway Monthly) is published by Paul Edmund Norman on the first day of each month. You can contact me via e-mail at: editor@booksmonthly.co.uk. If you'd like to get a story published in Books Monthly just e-mail it to me and I'll consider it - no payment though, I'm afraid!