The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Witch King
Martha Wells
TorDotCom
c/o Tor/Forge Books
www.tor-forge.com
9781250826794, $28.99, HC, 432pp

https://www.amazon.com/Witch-King-Martha-Wells/dp/1250826799

Synopsis: After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of th=
e passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to f= ind a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai's magic to his own advantage. T= hat was never going to go well.

But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the worl=
d since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear t=
o be growing in influence?

Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he=
is to answer even the least of these questions. -- He's not going to like = the answers.

Critique: "Witch King" is author Martha Wells's first new fantasy in over a=
decade, and draws together her signature ability to create fascinating cha= racters, a compelling action and adventure plot, all with an entertaining, = memorable, and distinctive narrative storytelling style. While also readily=
available for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans in a di= gital book format (Kindle, $14.99), "Witch King" is an extraordinary and un= reservedly recommended addition to community library Fantasy Fiction collec= tions.

Editorial Note: Martha Wells (https://marthawells.com) has written many fan= tasy novels, including The Wizard Hunters, Wheel of the Infinite, the Books=
of the Raksura series (beginning with The Cloud Roads and ending with The = Harbors of the Sun), and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer,=
as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, and nonfiction. Her New York = Times and USA Today-bestselling Murderbot Diaries series has won the Hugo, = Nebula, Locus, and Alex Awards.

The Ghosts of Trappist
K. B. Wagers
Harper Voyager
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063115163, $32.50, HC, 560pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Trappist-NeoG-3/dp/0063115166

Synopsis: NeoG (the Near-Earth Orbital Guard), is a diverse military force = that patrols and protects the solar system, inspired by the real-life missi=
on of the Coast Guard -- and the crew of Zuma's Ghost are under attack, and=
shocking truths are about to be exposed.

Ensign Nell "Sapphi" Zika has been working hard to get past her trauma, but=
the unnerving pleas for help she's hearing in the Verge and the song she c= an't get out of her head are making that increasingly difficult. As Zuma's = Ghost gears up for a final run at the Boarding Games, their expert hacker i=
s feeling anything but confident. Plus, her chief's robot dog, Doge, is act= ing weird (a computer problem she can't find an answer to) and the increasi=
ng number of missing freighters is putting everyone living on or stationed = around Trappist on edge.

It doesn't help the NeoG's mission that Dread Treasure is sidelined from co= mpeting in the Boarding Games, and Commander D'Arcy Montaglione is stuck on=
the front lines of the mystery of the missing ships while also stuck in hi=
s own head. Never good at trusting people to begin with, he's struggling to=
piece together his new crew in the aftermath of a great betrayal, knowing = this may be his final chance at command. The last thing he wants to do is p= rove his enemies right and end up getting shoved behind a desk and forgotte=
n.

The easy answer to missing ships is pirates, but D'Arcy soon realizes the e= asiest answer is rarely the right one out in the vacuum of space. What's wo= rse is that the actual pirates are scared of something out beyond the aster= oid belt. Something that's been taking their ships too!

As the unknowns multiply and one of their mysterious enemies escalates by l= aunching an attack on the NeoG itself, the Interceptor crews must brave bot=
h cyber and outer space to hunt down their foes, but no one is prepared for=
the truth that is revealed or the way it will shake the foundations of eve= rything they believe about the universe.

Critique: A deftly crafted and original novel by K.B. Wagers, "The Ghosts o=
f Trappist" is a fun read that will have a special appeal to science fictio=
n fans with an interest in Space Opera/Colonization action/adventure storie=
s. Memorable characters combine with a narrative driven plot with more twis= ts, turns and surprises than a Disneyland roller coaster, "The Ghosts of Tr= appist" is unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction c= ollections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Ghosts =
of Trappist" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99) an=
d as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212691086,=
$57.99, CD).

Editorial Note: K.B. Wagers (https://kbwagers.com) is the author of the Ind= ranan and Farian War trilogies from Orbit Books and the NeoG Adventures fro=
m Harper Voyager. K.B. Wagers can be followed on Twitter @kbwagers and Inst= agram @midwaybrawler for political commentary, plant photos, and video game=
play-throughs.

Marvel Wastelanders: Star-Lord
Sarah Cawkwell
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839082276, $16.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Marvel-Wastelanders-Star-Lord-Sarah-Cawkwell/dp/1839= 082275

Synopsis: In "Marvel Wastelanders: Star-Lord" by Sarah Cawkwell, Star-Lord = and Rocket are a little older, a little slower, and a lot saltier than they=
were during their glory days. When they crash land in the desolate Midwest=
, they soon discover that Earth isn't what it used to be either, thirty yea=
rs after Doctor Doom seized control and created his new domain: the Wastela= nds.

They aren't there by choice: the former Guardians are working for The Colle= ctor, who's sent them to find the Black Vortex (an ancient relic reported t=
o yield cosmic powers) before the guillotine collars of their employer snap=
their necks. In the Wastelands, they encounter the ageless telepath Emma F= rost, outlaw Ghost Riders, and the bloodthirsty Kraven the Hunter. Who will=
find the Black Vortex first and what will be the price of its power?

Critique: Essential reading for the legions of Guardian of the Galaxy fans,=
"Marvel Wastelanders: Star-Lord" is a welcome and fun read from first page=
to last. Another gem that continues to expand the Marvel Universe, "Marvel=
Wastelanders: Star-Lord" is highly recommended for community library Scien=
ce Fiction collections and available for personal reading lists in a digita=
l book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: Sarah Cawkwell is a sci-fi and fantasy writer based in the = North East of England. Old enough to know better, she's still very much you=
ng enough not to care. She's been a writer for many years, and her publishe=
d works include several novels and short stories within the Warhammer and W= arhammer 40,000 universes and an original alternate-history fantasy novel. = There is a listing of her books at www.goodreads.com/author/list/4483467.Sa= rah_Cawkwell

Assassin's Creed: The Resurrection Plot
Kate Heartfield
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839082351, $16.95, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Creed-Resurrection-Kate-Heartfield/dp/1839= 082356

Synopsis: Cairo, 1869. When a bomb goes off at the Khedivial Opera House ce= lebrating the opening of the new Suez Canal, visiting Assassin Pierrette Ar= naud investigates, only to uncover a plot to eradicate free will.

To her surprise, her old friend and teacher Simeon Price arrives in Egypt o=
n the same trail, seven years after they allied to stop the Templars in Lon= don. But there's no time to reminisce as the Templars maneuver Europe and A= frica like pieces on a chessboard, wreaking havoc on a global scale.

As Simeon and Pierrette race to stop further attacks, they unearth plans su= ggesting a mysterious tower is the key to the ultimate Templar takeover -- = and with the puzzling Engine of History in their grasp, the Assassins might=
be outmatched at last.

Critique: The conspiracies of the Templars reverberate across nineteenth ce= ntury Europe as they seize control of the future, and only the Brotherhood =
of Assassins can hold them back, in this globetrotting adventure from Assas= sin's Creed. Continuing and expanding the Assassin's Creed series, "The Res= urrection Plot" by Kate Heartfield is a simply riveting read by an author w= ith a full mastery of the genre and a highly recommended pick for personal = reading lists and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.

Editorial Noe: Kate Heartfield (https://kateheartfield.com) is the Aurora A= ward-winning author Armed in her Fashion, and the bestselling The Embroider=
ed Book, a historical fantasy novel. Her novellas, stories, and games have = been finalists for the Nebula, Locus, Crawford, Sunburst and Aurora awards.=
A former journalist, Kate lives near Ottawa, Canada.

Three Oaths
Josh Reynolds
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839082313, $16.95, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Three-Oaths-Legend-Rings-Novel/dp/1839082313

Synopsis: When a long-lost member of the Lion Clan, Itagawa Mosu, seemingly=
returns from the dead to claim the hand of his betrothed, it's up to Daido=
ji Shin to determine the truth of this miraculous reappearance. The Lion re= luctantly permit Shin's involvement, even if they have to let him plan the = wedding as part of his investigation. Shin must navigate dangerous politica=
l waters to discover if Mosu really is the man he claims to be, or is he a = cleverly disguised imposter? It will take all of Shin's charm, wit, and fla=
ir to find out before the wedding begins. And the guests are already starti=
ng to arrive.

Critique: In "Three Oaths" by Josh Reynolds is the newest addition to the a= uthor's 'Legend of the Five Rings' series and finds the debonair samurai de= tective Daidoji Shin returning to once again solve a fresh mystery -- this = one offers a surprise resurrection. Also available in a digital book format=
(Kindle, $9.95) and an especially recommended pick for the reader list of = anyone with an interest in historical fantasy, myth and legend set in Japan=
during the age of the samurai, "Three Oaths" will prove to be an enduringl=
y popular addition to community library Fantasy Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Josh Reynolds (https://joshuamreynolds.co.uk) is the author=
of over thirty novels and numerous short stories, including the wildly pop= ular Warhammer: Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000.

Watch Dogs Legion: Cold Reboot
Robbie MacNiven
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839082238, $16.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Watch-Dogs-Legion-Cold-Reboot/dp/1839082232

Synopsis: Freya Bauer's revolutionary fervor has dimmed with age, but just =
as she's about to hang up her DedSec mask, she's recruited for one last mis= sion to Berlin -- and with her ex-husband of all people. Yet upon her arriv=
al in Germany, a series of betrayals mean she's suddenly unable to distingu= ish between friends and foes.

Meanwhile, Freya's past has caught up with her in the form of a mysterious = hitman determined to take out the Bauer family in London. However, if he ca= n't immediately remove Freya from the board, her son might be the next best=
thing. Freya must navigate competing tech-gangs, reconcile with her ex, an=
d save her son before everything she loves is destroyed.

Critique: Of particular appeal to readers with an interest in techno-thrill=
er science fiction stories, "Watch Dogs Legion: Cold Reboot" is a compulsiv=
e page turner of a read from cover to cover. As a novelist, Robbie MacNiven=
has a genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative driven and i= maginative storytelling style that makes "Cold Reboot" such a fun and unres= ervedly recommended pick for personal and community library Science Fiction=
collections.

Editorial Note: Robbie MacNiven is lifelong fan of science fiction and fant= asy who has had over a dozen novels published in settings ranging from Marv= el's X-Men, to Descent: Legends of the Dark, to Warhammer 40,000. Having co= mpleted a doctorate in Military History from the University of Edinburgh in=
2020, he also possesses a keen interest in the past.

Mockingbird: Strike Out
Maria Lewis
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839082177, $16.95, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Mockingbird-Strike-Marvel-Heroines-Novel/dp/18390821=
78

Synopsis: S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent and superspy Bobbi Morse needs to get out of L=
A. Like, yesterday!

With her painful divorce from Hawkeye still being hashed out, Bobbi could d=
o with a new job to take her mind off the mind-numbing mediations. Luckily,=
an old friend and mentor of Bobbi's is missing, so a jaunt to the UK might=
be the perfect distraction.

What Bobbi isn't anticipating is having to team up with the snarky and hand= some Lance Hunter, but her options are limited if she wants to solve this m= ystery. Someone is trying to recreate and weaponize the original Super-Sold= ier Serum which could spell global disaster.

To save the world, Bobbi will have to face her past, put her problems behin=
d her, and let the Mockingbird take flight.

Critique: A part of the Marvel Heroines series, "Mockingbird: Strike Out" w= ill delight the legions of Marvel Universe fans with another story of a str= ong female character that can hold here own in a world of superheroes, colo= rful villains, and would-be world conquerors. An original and fun read by n= ovelist Maria Lewis, "Mockingbird: Strike Out" is a welcome addition to the=
growing library of Marvel Universe stories and a welcome addition to commu= nity library Science Fiction & Fantasy action/adventure collections. It sho= uld be noted that "Mockingbird: Strike Out" is also available for personal = reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: Maria Lewis (https://www.marialewis.com.au) is a screenwrit= er, best-selling author, film curator and pop culture etymologist currently=
based in Australia. She has built an international reputation as a storyte= ller across a diverse range of mediums including the award-winning Supernat= ural Sisters series. In film and television space, she has worked on projec=
ts for Netflix, AMC, BBC, Ubisoft, DC Comics, ABC, Marvel and many more. Sh=
e is also the writer, researcher, presenter and producer of audio documenta= ries Josie and the Podcatsand The Phantom Never Dies, about the world's fir=
st superhero.

The Massacre at Yellow Hill
C. S. Humble
Cemetery Dance Publications
132-B Industry Lane, Unit #7, Forest Hill, MD 21050 https://www.cemeterydance.com
9781587678912, $16.99, PB, 260pp

https://www.amazon.com/Massacre-at-Yellow-Hill/dp/1587678918

Synopsis: When George Miller is killed in the mines of Yellow Hill, his wif=
e and children are left to try and piece their lives back together. Tabitha=
Miller, George's widow, is thrown into deeper chaos when she discovers tha=
t George's death had nothing to do with the cave's collapse, but was caused=
by some terrible predator deep within the earth. His death covered up by t=
he mine's Proprietor-Jeremiah Hart.

In nearby Big Spring, freed slave-turned-occult bounty hunter Gilbert Ptole=
my arrives with his adopted son in search of a murderous vampire. New revel= ations in Yellow Hill draw the duo toward the struggling Miller family, the=
strange mine, and the horrors lurking within.

The Miller and Ptolemy families are pitted against mundane and supernatural=
forces in this Weird West adventure by novelist C. S. Humble.

Critique: Family struggles, heart-stopping gunfights, and nightmare creatur=
es from dark realms. "The Massacre at Yellow Hill" is an unique and extraor= dinary blending of western, vampire, and occult horror elements that result=
in a simply riveting read and an unreservedly recommended pick for communi=
ty library fiction collections and the personal reading lists for readers w= ith an interest in Western/Fantasy/Vampire books. It should be noted that C=
.. S. Humble's "The Massacre at Yellow Hill" is also available in a digital = book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: C. S. Humble (www.cshumble.com) is an award-winning America=
n novelist and short story writer. His Twitter handle is @cshumble

The Phoenix Chase
Neil Kleid
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839082085, $16.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Chase-Marvel-School-Novel/dp/1839082089

Synopsis: Kid Omega's latest scheme to set up his own mutant school goes ho= rribly awry when mysterious aliens called The Remaining kidnap his "student= s", demanding a rare Phoenix Egg (source of the awesome Phoenix Force) in e= xchange for their lives. Wildly out of his depth, Kid Omega turns to Cyclop=
s for help. He gets a ride with space pirates the Starjammers, and someone = more responsible: Cyclops' brother Alex "Havok" Summers. Their mission: res= cue the students, recover the Egg, save the day. But it won't be easy. Gala= xy-hopping sleuthing, heists, and action lead the X-Men to clues that revea=
l a monstrous plot using the Phoenix Egg to ultimately conquer the universe=
..

Critique: The latest Marvel 'School of X' novel that further expands the Ma= rvel Universe world of the X-Men, "The Phoenix Chase" by Neil Kleid is a de= ftly scripted, original, fun and compelling read from cover to cover. While=
highly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections and t=
he personal reading lists of all dedicated X-Men fans, it should be noted t= hat "The Phoenix Chase" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,=
$9.95).

Editorial Note: Neil Kleid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Kleid) is th=
e Xeric Award winning graphic novelist who authored Ninety Candles, a novel=
la about life, death, legacy and comics, and the acclaimed graphic novels B= rownsville and The Big Kahn. He has written several comic books and graphic=
novels; adapted Jack London's novel Call of the Wild into sequentials for = Penguin Books; did the opposite for the seminal Marvel Comics' storyline Sp= ider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt; and co-authored Powers: The Secret History of=
Deena Pilgrim, a novel based on the award-winning comic book series. Savor=
, his culinary adventure graphic novel with John Broglia and Frank Reynoso,=
was released by Dark Horse Comics.

Isle of the Undead
C. L. Werner
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839082139, $16.95, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Isle-Undead-Zombicide-Black-Plague/dp/1839082135

Synopsis: The Zombie Black Plague's terrible toll never ends, unleashing a = new wave of zombies with disastrous consequences. Low on hope, Knight Alari=
c von Mertz and his companions flee their crumbling sanctuary, and soon com=
e under the unlikely wing of murderous pirates. There, they learn of a lege= ndary artifact called Mournshroud that could destroy swathes of the undead,=
but to claim it they must defeat an evil sorceress on an isolated island. = Guarded by a dragon! A knight's honor demands he defend his kingdom, no mat= ter the cost. Yet, as the undead hordes close in on them, a familiar evil w= aits in the shadows, plotting revenge on Alaric and everything he holds dea=
r.

Critique: Truly impressive, original, action packed, and zombie fan's delig= ht, "Isle of the Undead" by veteran author C. L. Werner (who has a complete=
mastery of the genre) is particularly and whole heartedly commended additi=
on to personal reading lists and community library Fantasy Fiction collecti= ons. It should be noted that "Isle of the Undead" is also available in a di= gital book format (Kindle, $9.95) from Aconyte Books.

Editorial Note: C. L. Werner is a voracious reader and prolific author. His=
many novels and short stories span the genres of fantasy and horror, and h=
e has written for Warhammer's Age of Sigmar and Old World, Warhammer 40,000=
, Warmachine's Iron Kingdoms, and Mantic's Kings of War. (https://ageofsigm= ar.lexicanum.com/wiki/C._L._Werner)

Fractal Noise
Christopher Paolini
Tor Books
c/o Tor/Forge Books
www.tor-forge.com
9781250862488, $28.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Fractal-Noise-Fractalverse-Christopher-Paolini/dp/12= 50862485

Synopsis: July 25th, 2234: The crew of the Adamura discovers the anomaly on=
the seemingly uninhabited planet Talos VII: a circular pit, 50 kilometers = wide. Its curve not of nature, but design. Now, a small team must land and = journey on foot across the surface to learn who built the hole and why. But=
they all carry the burdens of lives carved out on disparate colonies in th=
e cruel cold of space. For some the mission is the dream of the lifetime, f=
or others a risk not worth taking, and for one it is a desperate attempt to=
find meaning in an uncaring universe.

Each step they take toward the mysterious abyss is more punishing than the = last. And the ghosts of their past follow.

Critique: "Fractal Noise" is the second volume of science fiction and fanta=
sy author Christopher Paolini's "The Fractalverse" series. A deftly crafted=
, imaginative, impressively detailed, and original story, "Fractal Noise" i=
s a solid pick for community library Science Fiction collections. It should=
be noted for the personal reading lists of the growing legions of Christop= her Paolini fans that "Fractal Noise" is also available in a digital book f= ormat (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Macmill=
an Audio, 9781250871589, $$39.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Christopher Paolini (https://www.paolini.net) is also the a= uthor of the World of Eragon and the Fractalverse novel "To Sleep in a Sea =
of Stars".

Project Chrysalis
Willard Joyce
Permuted Press
https://permutedpress.com
c/o Simon & Schuster (distribution)
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781637585115, $18.00, PB, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Project-Chrysalis-Book-Transfigured-World/dp/1637585= 11X

Synopsis: On Jenn's side of the city's impenetrable walls: power, military = discipline, and unimaginable technology. On Mykol's: darkened streets, dete= riorating infrastructure, and a tedious job prying haunted memories from th=
e electronic devices of those long departed. When the orphan Jenn risks eve= rything to learn about her hidden past and her father's possible connection=
to the world's collapse, she and Mykol discover a secret that binds them t= ogether while glimpsing the strange reality behind the all-powerful Thomas = Gibson and his Provisional Authority. Their next desperate step is attempti=
ng to save humanity from what it has wrought.

Critique: A deftly crafted, original, post-apocalyptic, and dystopian scien=
ce fiction novel, "Project Chrysalis" by novelist Willard Joyce offers a fa= scinating (if terrifying) story of how human technology might create a post= -human world. It is also a story about what place love, family, and society=
could be like within such a post-global plague devastated world. While esp= ecially and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction = collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated=
science fiction fans that "Project Chrysalis" is also available in a digit=
al book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Willard Joyce's work focuses on the intersection between hu= manity and technology, and the fertile realm where the two will meet.

Baen Books
www.baen.com

https://www.amazon.com/Wraithbound-Spiritbinder-Saga-Tim-Akers/dp/198219255=
0

Tim Akers's Wraithbound (9781982192556, $18.00) provides dark fantasy reade=
rs with a Spiritbinder saga which is replete in epic fantasy adventure and = highly recommended both for prior Akers fans and newcomers to his works. Th=
is first book in a series follows the dreams of young Rae Kelthannis to bec= ome a stormbinder like his father, whose reputation experiences blows that = cause the family to be banned to the edge of the Ordered World. Rae decides=
to defy his fathers orders and enter into his own effort to fulfill his de= stiny, but his inexperience leads him to become conjoined not with an air e= lemental that would lend him stormbinding powers, but a wraith with dangero=
us powers and unknown purposes. The adventure is tense, unpredictable, and = thoroughly engrossing as Rae steps into his destiny and uncharted territory=
..

https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Orbit-2-Eccentric-Orbits/dp/1982192542

Escape Orbit: The Unknown Awaits by Patrick Chiles (9781982192549, $18.00) = tells of a lost astronaut's return from space when his ship suddenly reappe= ars five years later. How did he survive, and how can he continue to surviv=
e when his life support is running out? Jack's former crewmate Traci is det= ermined to rescue him, but agencies with special interests in Jack's fate a= lso become involved and a tangled situation emerges to test both of their l= ives.

Both of these new Baen Books science fiction titles are powerful adventure = stories that lead characters to more closely examine their callings, effort=
s, and the mysterious forces that influence their futures, and deserve a pl= ace in any sci-fi library.

Stormless
Nick Stitle
https://www.nickstitle.com
Blazecrest Publishing
https://www.blazecrestpublishing.com
9798987896228, $32.95, HC, 512pp

https://www.amazon.com/Stormless-Nick-Stitle/dp/B0C47RJZR5

Synopsis: Auris is a place of storms and chaos where seven violent Tempests=
rule the land, wreaking havoc across the continent. Only the Summoners, be= arers of powers not unlike those of the divine Tempests themselves, have th=
e strength to stand against the tyranny of the storms. Society depends upon=
the enigmatic Summoner-empowering Crystals for survival... Yet when a Summ= oner bearing powers that should not exist appears on Arvendon's doorstep, t=
he world begins spiraling into chaos.

Castien Varic, a common soldier, finds himself in the throes of a coming wa=
r. He embarks on a mission with the most legendary of Auris's Summoners, ho= ping to discover the truth behind the resurfacing of the Ancient Summoner.

Faelyn Titansworn, heir to the largest of Auris's empires and one of the mo=
st powerful Summoners in the world, finds himself lost in his father's shad= ow. When a conspiracy threatens to destroy all that he knows and loves, Fae= lyn takes it upon himself to save not just his kingdom, but all of Auris.

Asteros Silverglade bears the powers of a god. Two years in the past, he, a= long with five others of his Sect, uncover the hidden secrets that the worl=
d has tried to erase. Yet they soon learn that the mysteries of the bafflin=
g event known as the Vanishing (the war that somehow caused over half of Au= ris's Summoners to disappear without a trace) run far deeper than they coul= d've ever imagined.

These three heroes walk the threads of fate, together weaving an epic tale =
of magic, war, love, and loss. Together these individuals will forever chan=
ge Auris's future. Empires will shatter, Tempests will be Unbound, but dest= iny will prevail as these heroes face their fated ends.

Critique: A unique and epic saga of a sword and sorcery style fantasy, "Sto= rmless" is Book 1 of author Nick Stitle's 'The Stormless' series and a simp=
ly riveting read from first page to last. Of special note is the deftly emb= edding of such emotional factors on the part of the lead characters of 'dep= ression, anxiety, and panic attacks' -- believable mental health issues giv=
en the stresses, strains, traumas, and assaults that must be dealt with in = attempting to survive seemingly constant life or death conflicts. Original,=
entertaining, and leaving the reader looking anxiously toward the next vol= ume in this simply outstanding series, "Stormless" is highly recommended fo=
r community library Epic Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted fo=
r the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy action/adventure fans tha=
t "Stormless" is also available in a paperback edition (9798987896211, $17.= 99) and in digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).

Editorial Note: It is interesting to note that Nick Stitlies (https://www.n= ickstitle.com) is 17 years old and that "Stormless" is his debut as an auth= or.

tales from the techpocalypse
Balthazar Westbrook III
Independently Published
9798218189525, $9.99, PB, 212pp

https://www.amazon.com/tales-techpocalypse-Balthazar-Westbrook-III/dp/B0C2S= 27826

Synopsis: The biggest and most profitable Big Tech company in human history=
, Magna Mega Corp, is the common thread across each tale, giving you an ins= ide look at:

1. How it unleashes its latest invention - the Intuipet, a new device that = AI-enables your dog and translates its thoughts to human speech - on the wo= rld, and what that means for humanity.

2. The impact the company has on society, from sending unlimited opioids by=
mail to algorithmically spreading the kind of misinformation that would ra= dicalize your grandma via its social media division.

3. Its peculiar work environment, internal dysfunctions, morally flexible v= alue systems, and diabolical business flywheel

Along the way, you'll meet clout-chasing celebrity organ donors, AI-enabled=
dogs who can do your taxes and make you cocktails, eccentric multi-billion= aires who have lost complete touch with reality, social media influencers w= illing to do anything to keep their followers, and a new kind of artificial=
intelligence that might be more human than all of them put together.

Critique: B. Westbrook III is a new author and (mostly) a very good dog. "t= ales from the techpocalypse" is apparently his first book -- a brilliant sa= tire in which AI-enabled dogs can speak in full sentences and get into Ivy = League colleges! Wickedly funny, wildly fascinating, "tales from the techpo= calypse" is a darkly funny and saterical portrait of Big Tech, our modern w= orld, and the coming AI-enabled (and possibly canine-led) apocalypse". Comb= ining humor, imagination, and science fiction, "tales from the techpocalyps=
e" is recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for=
personal reading lists that "tales from the techpocalypse" is also availab=
le in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

The Coin
Anna M. Elias
https://www.annamelias.com
Independently Published
B0BY3KFDJJ, $4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Coin-Anna-M-Elias-ebook/dp/B0BY3KFDJJ

Prior fans of the metaphysical sci-fi saga The Vessels will find the journe=
y continues seamlessly in Book Two, The Coin. It follows new Vessels Tal, L= ink, and Avani as they fulfill their purposes as hosts for spirits who work=
through them to correct wrongdoings of the past. Each holds a coin that gi= ves them protection. But it also holds deadly potential to allow dark entit= ies from the other side to get through, and so they face a major challenge = from one vengeful spirit determined to wreck havoc.

The story opens with a rogue spirit tapping the life force of a Ugandian wo= man who feels it within her, but isn't aware of what it means. She only kno=
ws she is being overtaken on a deeper level than anything that's happened t=
o her body or soul in her life. Whether that force is one of good or evil, = remains to be seen. The rogue's difficulty in controlling non-vessel humans=
is apparent from the start. He needs something different.

Familiarity with the spirit journeys and setting of The Vessels will allow = readers to extend the foundations created in the former book as the struggl=
e evolves. The playing field of good and evil is not always even. These con= trasts between the different entities are nicely drawn as future scenes exp= lore the willing vessels that not only acknowledge, but accept their revise=
d missions: "Like every other spirit Link had served, Teddy held no sense o=
f animosity or bitterness. No matter how badly they'd been hurt in human li= fe, the spirits were like bright, flickering torches that never went out."

The metaphysical struggles supplement sci-fi events and interpersonal relat= ionships in a satisfying manner as the story assumes the countenance of a d= etective-style investigation, a thriller's embrace of nonstop action, and t=
he possibilities of a paranormal environment in which humans and spirits no=
t only interact, but intersect for a greater purpose than individual object= ives alone.

Anna M. Elias does an outstanding job of melding the worlds of spirit and h= uman affairs, developing personalities and purposes attuned to the magic of=
the coins, the efforts of Spirit Guards, and presence of evil powers that = spill into human affairs. The result is a powerfully-rendered story that ex= tends the milieu of The Vessels with a mystery and focus that holds the pow= erful attraction of forces that struggle on both sides of the coin.

Libraries and readers interested in works that dovetail metaphysical and sp= iritual questions with sci-fi settings and struggles between good and evil = spirits will find The Coin essential for any collection seeing popularity w= ith The Vessels and interested in taking the next step into a milieu marked=
by spiritual healing, forgiveness, and symbiotic relationships.

Hibernaculum
Anthony Doyle
Out-of-This-World Press/Devil's Party
www.devilspartypress.com
9781957224053, $TBA, PB, 248pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hibernaculum-Anthony-Doyle/dp/1957224053

Imagine sleeping through winter like a bear, emerging to new possibilities = and life when times are better.

Hibernaculum posits a near future in which humans make this choice, enterin=
g into a sanctioned deep sleep that appeals to the infirm, the tired, and t= hose who want to make room on the planet for the blossoming tide of humanit=
y. Like other hibernating creatures, much of mankind has adopted the ritual=
s of gorging on food and life before they enter this long sleep period: "By=
late fall, the feast is over, and heavy, heaving, jelly-fleshy men and wom=
en move slowly, think slowly, sit and wonder, slouch and doze, while raisin=
g buckets of water to their swollen faces. Lethargy. Twenty hours a day in = front of the TV: reruns, reality shows, salmon documentaries, huntsman horr=
or flicks. This is wind-down; counting down the light, as the darkness grow= s."

Anthony Doyle injects many reflective phrases about this unique time in hum= anity's life: "Time is chemical...Time is hormones, time is melatonin...Not=
all winters fall in winter." These contribute a deeper reflective atmosphe=
re about this period in human history where individuals experience the Hibe= rnaculum's dreams and nightmares in different ways. He injects writings tha=
t capture these observations, exploring disparate experiences from Jonah's = Syndrome and the instability it brings dreamers, to those who reflect that =
a hibernation-based society may not bring the answers and solutions it prom= ises: "I can't help thinking that this is too little too late. How many of = these domes would it take to cut a real chunk out of the human ecological f= ootprint? Is it just an expensive, stubborn act of desperation? Is hibernat= ion, ironically, an attempt at a global wake-up call?"

The ecological, social, and psychological messages embedded in this world a=
nd the new choices offered by hibernation are thought-provoking and reveali=
ng as those newly awakened admit to different perceptions that were uninten= ded results of the pursuit of new possibilities for humanity: "I don't thin=
k I came back out the same person. I'm not sure whether some of me is still=
unconscious, still down there in the underworld. Or perhaps a new part I d= idn't know existed followed me back up, like a shadow or a tethered ghost. = Maybe I brought it back with me, from oblivion, and I haven't been able to = integrate it yet. The result is a glitch. It seems I am on the blink."

Ultimately, readers who enter Hibernaculum with the characters, who come to=
realize that its promises may be empty and hold consequences they never sa=
w coming, will find the story gripping, revealing, and frightening. The con= trast between notes and experiences of those who navigate this world are ex= ceptionally well done, and will lend to book club discussions and sci-fi re= ader delight.

Libraries and readers seeking a futuristic exploration which examines sleep= ers of the world and the social and political truths and realities that und= erlie their motivations will find Hibernaculum replete with a growing horro=
r of realization that awakens, at the end, into a nightmare of manipulation=
and truth. It will leave readers thinking long after the story's final sta= rtling revelations.

Loy: In the Forests of the Mind
Todd David Gross
Sunlit Lane Productions
9781737942603, $17.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/LOY-forests-Todd-David-Gross-ebook/dp/B0C17DFG4Q

It is said that 'one door opens when another closes.' Such could apply to t=
he events of Loy: In the Forests of the Mind, which opens with the scenario=
of a humanity of the future stripped of all its technological wonders, wit=
h people born blind until they hit puberty. This situation forces the remna= nts of humanity to build extraordinary senses before they evolve into adult= hood and are granted the gift of vision, which serves as another layer augm= enting reality rather than being the main sense that perceives and translat=
es the world.

The story opens with an event that changes everything, prompting Daniel's d= ecision to lead his family on an outing to a cave that winds up sheltering = them from disaster. An edible plant feeds them, but in fact it does much mo= re. It transforms them into survivors of this apocalypse.

Readers who anticipate the usual progression of apocalyptic events, rebuild= ing, and struggle will find that Loy operates on a less predictable, more m= etaphysical level as it follows the growth of a spiritual culture and what = happens when it confronts an industrial force that threatens to tear down t=
he physical and spiritual forces driving this new world.

Descriptions of this process of takeover and change provide vivid observati= ons about the horror of change that arrives to once again transform the wor= ld: "A nearby meadow was invaded and tented. The muffled sounds sent a new = sensation through the land. Garbled voices became prominent. That night, fl= ickering points of firelight burned their way deep into the forest. The fol= lowing day flat, stabbing sounds pierced the air as trees came under attack=
.. Men with axes moved with unmerciful speed. An area that had stood and sou= nded together for a millennium vanished within days. In their absence lay a=
n open, desolate sound. Each day this emptiness grew. Each day a dull ache = spread further through the land."

As an author, Todd David Gross paints a richer story of endings and beginni= ngs than most dystopian or apocalyptic sci-fi, embedding these scenarios wi=
th spiritual and metaphysical components that capture the disparate approac= hes to life that each sector of humanity represents. As shocking discoverie=
s are made about these invaders and what they truly represent ("They kill t= heir own kind!"), underlying messages about ecology, Spirit, darkness and l= ight lead readers on as much a philosophical and intellectual journey as on=
e of entertainment and discovery.

Different experiences drive characters that represent shifting realizations=
and realities, from a shaman driven from his home to both discover and lea=
d his people to truth, to a mother struggling to protect her sensitive and = extraordinarily blessed child, whose pain evolves into hope and strength. A=
s these disparate lives intersect, questions of connections between nature = and humanity and a tunnel that leads to evolution and transformation come t=
o light that brings readers into a milieu filled with new possibilities and=
discoveries.

Gross is especially adept at contrasting the changing natures of individual=
s and communities forced outside their comfort zones and into situations th=
at test not just their perceptions of the world, but their choices in eithe=
r engaging with or altering it.

Libraries and readers interested in apocalyptic sci-fi may at first think t= hat the nature and setting of Loy: In the Forests of the Mind portends the = usual read about physical struggles and adaptations, but the greater joy of=
this story lies in its mental and spiritual explorations. Sci-fi fans seek= ing higher-level thinking from their futuristic reading will find Loy: In t=
he Forests of the Mind not just thought-provoking, but well suited to book = club discussions.

Topics range from the challenges of transformation and risk-taking to the b= onds between people and paradigm-changing encounters with contemporary issu=
es the world faces today, from diversity and inclusion to ecological awaren= ess and global exploitation's impacts.

Baen Books
www.baen.com

These new Baen Books titles are top recommendations for sci-fi collections = looking for lasting library lending choices.

https://www.amazon.com/Tower-Silence-Saga-Forgotten-Warrior/dp/1982193204

Larry Correia's Tower of Silence (9781982192532, $24.00) charts a spreading=
war as conflict rages across the land from the Great Extermination, which = seeks to eliminate the casteless, who pin their hopes on fallen Protector A= shok Vadal, who is a prisoner seemingly far from helping his people. Chaos,=
coups, and political struggles involve humans and demons in a war that see= mingly has no end or possibility of winning as warrior Vadal taps his inner=
resources to find strength under impossible conditions. Fans of sword-and-= sorcery or military sci-fi will find plenty to love, here.

https://www.amazon.com/Ross-248-Project-Johnson/dp/1982192623

Les Johnson and Ken Roy edit The Ross 248 Project (9781982192624, $18.00), = which contains original stories by D.J. Butler, Patrick Chiles, K.S. Daniel=
s and more. Many sci-fi scenarios cover travel to other stars. Just as many=
recount the discoveries, over the journey. But, in this book, the real cha= llenge arrives in the process of converting worlds to support humans -- esp= ecially when it comes to red dwarf star Ross 248, which presents special my= steries and challenges to those who would reside under a red sun. The diver= sity of challenges and scenarios depicted in this adventure will appeal to = anyone interested in the process of colonization, adaptation, and overcomin=
g obstacles to life.

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Magic-Simon-R-Green/dp/1982192615

Simon R. Green's For Love of Magic (9781982192617, $25.00) follows the rise=
of magic in a world of science and logic, presenting character Jack Daimon=
as the keeper of secrets, charged with protecting present-world perception=
s from the knowledge of a supernatural force operating under them. Here, ja=
ck investigates the disappearances in the Tate Museum which are related to =
a peculiar painting. As he engages in a mystery aided by art expert Amanda = Fielding, who has her own agenda, a time-traveling adventure evolves which = will appeal to sci-fi enthusiasts of magic, time travel, and alternate real= ities, which are all fueled by a thought-provoking mystery.

https://www.amazon.com/Rhymer-1-Gregory-Frost/dp/1982192666

Gregory Frost's Rhymer (9781982192662, $25.00) is a powerful blend of folkl= ore and time-travel adventure that follows multi-named hero True Thomas and=
his efforts to remain a hero as he battles forces of evil that traverse ti=
me and require his ongoing identities as a champion of humanity. As medieva=
l Thomas moves through extraordinary realizations and developing purpose, r= eaders are brought into the first book in a trilogy which portends much act= ion and many revelations. The bow to legendary figures who are reconfigured=
in this fantasy scenario is original and creatively fun.

All of these Baen Book science fiction titles are top picks that fans and c= ommunity libraries will find popular and wide-ranging.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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