Overview
A band of fabled mercenaries tour a wild fantasy landscape, battling monsters in arenas in front of thousands of adoring fans. But, a secret and dangerous gig ushers them to the frozen north, and the band is never one to waste a shot at glory. Live fast, die young. Tam Hashford is tired of working at her local pub, slinging drinks for world-famous mercenaries and listening to the bards sing of adventure and glory in the world beyond her sleepy hometown. When the biggest mercenary band of all, led by the infamous Bloody Rose, rolls into town, Tam jumps at the chance to sign on as their bard. It's adventure she wants -- and adventure she gets as the crew embark on a quest that will end in one of two ways: glory or death. It's time to take a walk on the wyld side. Humorous twists and pulse-ratcheting action abound in Bloody Rose , but its Eames' knack for heart-wrenching poignancy that makes his warm, wonderful fantasy so harmonious. -- NPR For more from Nicholas Eames, check out: Kings of the Wyld
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Details
- ISBN-13: 9780316362535
- ISBN-10: 0316362530
- Publisher: Orbit
- Publish Date: August 2018
- Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.05 pounds
- Page Count: 560
Related Categories
Sci-fi & fantasy: Object permanence
Robert Jackson Bennett’s Foundryside is a vivid and lively romp through a fantasy world marked by lavish wealth and extreme poverty. In the city of Tevanne, four powerful merchant houses reign supreme. Ensconced behind massive walls, they vie for control over the city, its wealth and each other’s scriving designs, which are magical blueprints that give sentience to everyday objects. Troubled thief Sancia Grado finds herself caught smack in the middle of the warring houses’ feud when she pilfers a living object that’s powerful enough to shift the balance. With the help of some unexpected allies and her friends from the city’s underbelly, she races to understand the object while trying to stay one step ahead of the forces bent on taking it for themselves. Bennett’s inventive system of magic is surrounded by a lush, Mediterranean-inspired city that’s as fun to read about as the lives of its inhabitants. Readers seeking a fantasy with fewer bodies strewn about would do well to pick this one up.
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TOP PICK IN SCI-FI & FANTASY
Bloody Rose, Nicholas Eames’ follow-up to Kings of the Wyld, is a power-chord fantasy overflowing with attitude. When Tam is accepted into Fable, the most famous mercenary crew in the world, she thinks her dreams have come true. Now part of a gladiatorial squad hired to entertain the masses by slaughtering magical beasts, Fable plays to sold-out arenas in every town across the land of Grandual. When creatures from the north threaten to invade, Tam wonders if she and her crew should be fighting for more than just money and glory. This is fantasy written in tattoo ink and stale beer, raucously carousing with confidence and swagger. Pure entertainment isn’t the only strong suit of Bloody Rose—it also poses questions about celebrity and the effect of violence within fantasy. But it’s the backstage rock-show aesthetic that drives this adventure. Anyone looking for fantasy amplified (the book’s launch is accompanied by a Spotify playlist filled to the brim with classic ’80s tunes) will have a ball.
This article was originally published in the September 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.
Sci-fi & fantasy: Object permanence
Robert Jackson Bennett’s Foundryside is a vivid and lively romp through a fantasy world marked by lavish wealth and extreme poverty. In the city of Tevanne, four powerful merchant houses reign supreme. Ensconced behind massive walls, they vie for control over the city, its wealth and each other’s scriving designs, which are magical blueprints that give sentience to everyday objects. Troubled thief Sancia Grado finds herself caught smack in the middle of the warring houses’ feud when she pilfers a living object that’s powerful enough to shift the balance. With the help of some unexpected allies and her friends from the city’s underbelly, she races to understand the object while trying to stay one step ahead of the forces bent on taking it for themselves. Bennett’s inventive system of magic is surrounded by a lush, Mediterranean-inspired city that’s as fun to read about as the lives of its inhabitants. Readers seeking a fantasy with fewer bodies strewn about would do well to pick this one up.
MIND OVER MATTER
Named for a near-future Nigerian city that surrounds a massive alien biodome, Tade Thompson’s thought-provoking and deftly structured Rosewater blends science fiction, philosophy and mystery. Someone has been killing off government agent Kaaro’s fellow sensitives, individuals who can tap into the mental energies of other people. Guided by visions and memories of his past, Kaaro must choose whether to follow the rules or break free to unravel a mystery and prevent a terrifying future. The dark haze of Thompson’s alternate world is an entertaining backdrop to this sci-fi noir, but it’s the open-ended questions posed by Rosewater that stick with the reader. Perfect for fans of William Gibson’s Neuromancer, this twisty, captivating page-turner explores the fragility of the mind and how memory constructs identity.
TOP PICK IN SCI-FI & FANTASY
Bloody Rose, Nicholas Eames’ follow-up to Kings of the Wyld, is a power-chord fantasy overflowing with attitude. When Tam is accepted into Fable, the most famous mercenary crew in the world, she thinks her dreams have come true. Now part of a gladiatorial squad hired to entertain the masses by slaughtering magical beasts, Fable plays to sold-out arenas in every town across the land of Grandual. When creatures from the north threaten to invade, Tam wonders if she and her crew should be fighting for more than just money and glory. This is fantasy written in tattoo ink and stale beer, raucously carousing with confidence and swagger. Pure entertainment isn’t the only strong suit of Bloody Rose—it also poses questions about celebrity and the effect of violence within fantasy. But it’s the backstage rock-show aesthetic that drives this adventure. Anyone looking for fantasy amplified (the book’s launch is accompanied by a Spotify playlist filled to the brim with classic ’80s tunes) will have a ball.
This article was originally published in the September 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.