Jennifer Jackson – Literary Agent

Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear

After the death of Mongke Khagan, the heirs to the Khaganate of the steppes went to war. Defeated by his cousin, the rightful heir Temur flees, joining a caravan of refugees headed toward mountains known as the Range of Ghosts. Adopted into the Tsareg tribe, Temur plans revenge while avoiding sorcerous attempts on his own life. When his path crosses that of the wizard Samarkar, a former princess who seeks her independence, Temur realizes that they can help each other-and perhaps save the world from dark forces that could tear it apart. Bear, winner of the 2005 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, a 2006 Locus Award for Hammered, and two Hugo Awards for short fiction, creates a vivid, multicultural world reminiscent of Eurasia during the 12th and 13th centuries, after the death of Genghis Khan dissolved an empire that included the Mongols, Tatars, and Chinese. Her characters possess depth of feeling as well as political acumen, bringing a personal element to a broad-scale epic fantasy.

VERDICT Fans of George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” series should welcome this gracefully told tale of war, political intrigue, and personal drama. Highly recommended. –Library Journal

Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal

At the start of 1815, newly married and eager to explore her gifts as a glamourist, Jane Vincent (Shades of Milk and Honey) is pleased with life. A recent glamural, commissioned by the Prince Regent, has provided the Vincents with the funds and status to travel abroad. Their destination is Binché, near Brussels, and the workshop of artisan M. Chastain, where they secretly attempt the groundbreaking work of containing a glamour within glass. But soon Jane’s husband’s erratic behavior and misleading communication leave her feeling unsure of her future.

VERDICT This sequel to Kowal’s Nebula Award–nominated debut continues to build a historically recognizable world made anew by the addition of “glamour.” The focus remains on Jane’s internal struggle to find a satisfying balance between society’s restrictions and the person she’d like to be, endearing her further to series fans. Espionage and tangled feelings over family create a nice sense of mystery and provide great action and drama. Prepare to settle in and snuggle up in your comfiest chair; once you start reading, you won’t want to stop. –Library Journal

Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear

Bear (Ad Eternum) launches a trilogy in a fantastic new world with this compelling tale. Temur, nephew to the now-dead khan of khans, is a survivor on the losing side of a war between his relatives for the rule of the empire. Fleeing with other refugees, Temur becomes involved with a young woman named Edene, and when she is taken by blood ghosts, he swears he will stop at nothing to get her back. With the help of Samarkar, newly made wizard and Once-Princess of the land of Rasa, and Hrahima, a tiger-woman at odds with her god, Temur has a chance to win his revenge against those who took Edene and murdered an entire city, and perhaps even restore balance to the empire. Bear creates a vivid world where wizards must sacrifice their ability to procreate in order to control magic and the sky changes to reflect the gods of the land’s rulers. The strong setting and engaging characters will have readers eager for the second installment. –Publishers Weekly

Bridge of Dreams by Anne Bishop

Ephemera is a world of landscapes connected by bridges that have the power to take you where your heart
belongs. Lee is a Bridge, who can make connections between pieces of the world. Just coming from a visit
to Glorianna Belladonna (his sister), he runs into a group of wizards out to wreck his sister’s work. In a
desperate attempt to keep them from her, he creates a bridge to a place disconnected from any of his
family’s landscapes—the city of Vision—and takes the wizards with him. In Vision, he is taken to an
Asylum, a raving madman. Vision has its own problems: a darkness is hiding its streets, baffling the
Shamans who watch over it. Fortunately, one of those Shamans has been assigned to oversee the Asylum
Lee is sent to. Between Danyal, the Shaman, and Zhahar, a Handler at the Asylum, Lee recovers—and
discovers that the threat to Vision is not just to the city. With a well-paced mystery, likable characters, and
fascinating world building, this is a fun read. –Regina Schroeder, Booklist

*** Also available: The Voice, a new novella set in the world of Ephemera for a special electronic release price of $2.99 ***
[Nook | Kindle | Sony]

Kingdoms of Dust by Amanda Downum

Necromancer Isyllt Iskaldur, exiled and forsworn following the events of 2011’s The Bone Palace, takes refuge with her mercenary comrade Adam at the court of the Assari empress. Stalked by agents of rival factions of Quietus, a fast-shrinking order of mages dedicated to containing ancient spirits of entropy, Isyllt and Asheris al Seth, a jinn bound in human flesh, venture into the burning desert in search of the ancient city of Qais and the source of the destructive ghost winds that threaten Assar’s very existence. Downum leavens the fast-paced fantasy adventure with the anger and despair of those bound, sometimes brutally, to preserve humanity’s safety and the moral dilemma the situation presents for Isyllt. This magnificent and multifaceted work, set against a richly detailed quasi-Arabian background, confirms Downum’s Necromancer Chronicles as a top-notch fantasy series. –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review