City Of Stairs-Robert Jackson Bennett

City Of Stairs

Robert Jackson Bennett

Broadway Books, Sep 9 2014, $15.00

ISBN: 9780804137171

Bulikov the Divine City was once the central sacred seat of power as a brutal military abetted by violent deities conquered and viciously oppressed millions.  However that is the past; in the present its former colony Saypur replaced Bulikov as the superpower and adding insult to how far the change in fortunes have occurred, the once oppressed nation relies on the miracle of technology governing its past conquerors.

Ashara’s great-grandfather, as the Kaj of Saypur, led a successful revolt against the ironfisted Bulikov tyrants.  When he killed the Divinities that made Bulikov the greatest nation, the Kaj freed his people and those of other lands.  However, an unintended consequence left power vacuums throughout the lands leading to open conflict within and without as the tyrannical control of Bulikov had kept everyone in line.  Currently Shara the espionage agent investigates the assassination of Saypuri professor Dr. Pangyui apparently for studying the once Divine City’s inglorious past, a tabooed topic.  Instead with help from her assistant and her ex-lover, Shara begins to find the unthinkable evidence that some of the Divinities survived the onslaught and live in hiding waiting for the moment to regain their version of paradise lost.

City of Stairs is an exciting fantasy noir in which readers will feel transported to Bulikov.  The storyline starts slow as the Bennett world comes into complex focus, but once Shara's inquiry takes shape by ironically spinning out of control into a wider thriller, the storyline also accelerates.  With a deep philosophical look at unintended consequences and second order effects of moral causes (think of Iraq and Yugoslavia), Mr. Bennett’s opening epic is an insightful complex (and convoluted) tale.

Harriet Klausner

Elisha Magus- E.C. Ambrose

Elisha Magus

E.C. Ambrose

DAW, Jul 1 2014, $24.95

ISBN: 9780756409265

In fourteenth century England, Elisha Barber has become the most feared magus in the kingdom after he committed regicide using magic (see Elisha Barber); the aristocrats and other powerful entities either want his support or his death.  Currently the Duke Randall, whose wife is a mage, gives Elisha shelter.  In spite of Prince Alaric’s affront to his daughter Rosalynn by choosing Brigit the mage to be his bride, Randall supports him to replace the late King Hugh as the next ruler before the French invade what they perceive a weak neighbor. 

After a dance with Rosalynn, Elisha is asked by the duke to marry his daughter.  The commoner says no, but agrees to escort her to a convent, which also will enable him to try to retrieve the talisman Brigit took from him.  Before he leaves, Elisha is unable to prevent the murder of a French mage in which Barber was the intended target.  On what proves to be a dangerous trek with enemies everywhere, Elisha rescues a strange female and befriends Alaric’s outlawed brother Prince Thomas the traitor.

The second Dark Apostle medieval fantasy is an exciting fourteenth century thriller due to a terrific ethical hero trying to save lives, but considered dangerous and heretical for his medical practices and for slaying the king.  The key to this strong saga is the grim English background that makes the magic and its classes of practitioners seem genuine while also containing a flicker of enlightenment when compared to the implications of the Papal-French monarchy pact.  E.C. Ambrose provides another powerful extremely dark historical fantasy with a great final spin.

Harriet Klausner

Live Bait- Fazio Genovesi

Live Bait

Fazio Genovesi; Michael F. Moore (translator)

Other Press, Jul 1 2014,

ISBN 9781590516812

Nothing of significance (good or bad) ever happens in the small Tuscan town Muglione.  Teenager Fiorenzo is like all of the young as he struggles with his future though atypical since he had the misfortune of losing a hand in a childhood accident.  Currently he skips school to work at his widowed father’s bait shop and to sing with his band Metal Devastation.  

Nineteen years old Fiorenzo meets thirtyish beautiful, brilliant and bored Tiziana, who runs the local youth center.  The teen and the older woman appear as opposites, yet they connect because in each other they find an honest soul seeking to escape ennui.

Live Bait is an engaging look at contemporary Italian youth with Fiorenzo representing every teen facing seemingly no future, surviving a boring past and dealing with a nothing present.  By being the exception to what the rest of the young masses confront, a top level teenage cyclist emphasizes this hopeless phenomenon.  Leisurely-paced and at times slow, readers will enjoy a glimpse of life in Italy for the millenniums.

Harriet Klausner

Hope Renewed-David Drake and S.M. Stirling

Hope Renewed

David Drake and S.M. Stirling

Baen, Jul 1 2014, $14.00

ISBN 9781476736587

“The Sword.”  On planet Bellevue, Raj Whitehall visits the Center battle computer to discuss recent events (see The Forge) with his friend Thom Poplanich, who temporary is revived from stasis.  Raj and his wife Suzette fear that his military victories leave him at great risk from either public execution or assassins working for Civic Government Governor Barholm Clerett, whose late wife Anne was Whitehall’s greatest supporter.  Chancellor Robert Tzetzas has begun the process of destroying the top general.  Everything changes when the Colony led by Ali the Settler and Tewfik invades land with a strong force that quickly takes Gurnyca.  To his disbelief, Barholm learns the tribute to the Colony has been underfunded and his troops unprepared for combat; both due to the corrupt Chancellor.  Raj agrees to lead a counter force to defend Sandoral knowing he will be outnumbered 3:1.

“The Chosen.”  Once a highly regarded general, Raj Whitehall’s essence has merged with the Center battle computer as they work in consort to achieve the goal of a Federation-like renaissance by duplicating themselves to deploy on other planets.  They recruit youthful Santanders John Hosten and Jeffrey Farr to counter what is happening on Visager.

This omnibus reprint contains books 5 and 6 of the exciting General military science fiction thriller (see Hope Reborn for 1 and 2, and Hope Returned for 3 and 4).  Though there is a déjà vu feel to the Sword, this is a terrific climax to the Raj as field general saga.  The Chosen is a supernova change to the series that once the audience adjusts turns into an entertaining military outer space epic.

Harriet Klausner

The Promise-Robyn Carr

The Promise

Robyn Carr

Mira, Jun 24 2014, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778316206

Peyton Lacoumette arrives in Thunder Point, Oregon to check out the town and its solo doctor Scott Grant as she decides whether to apply for the Physician's assistant vacancy.  She chats with Devon McAllister (see The Hero) who after learning why Peyton stopped amusingly calls her Miss Sneaky Pants.  Clearly overqualified with experience in Portland and elsewhere, Grant hires her on a three month trial expecting her to leave.

Peyton and Scott are attracted to each other, but both hesitate to act on their mutually-shared feelings.  She suffered heartbreak from a lover with kids; while he struggles with the loss of his wife and as a single dad he knows his two small children (Penny and Will) come first.  However, love proves difficult to ignore.

The fifth Thunder Point leisurely-paced relationship drama is an engaging second chance at life drama though the respective reasons for inertia have been used often.  The entertaining warm romance is enhanced by the continuation of those from the previous entries (see The Chance, The Newcomer and The Wanderer),

Harriet Klausner

Talking After Midnight-Dakota Cassidy

Talking After Midnight

Dakota Cassidy

Mira, Jun 24 2014, $7.99

ISBN: 9780778316312

“Talking After Midnight.”  In Plum Orchard, Georgia Marybell Lyman works as a phone- sex operator at Call Girls.  She has the voice for seducing men though many of her customers would be shocked by her Goth look enhanced by biting sarcasm.  Contractor Taggart Hawthorn is attracted to Marybell.  His attention scares her as he persistently asks her out and she persistently says no.  Though she likes him and his obvious desire turns her on, Marybell fears once he knows her dark secret, his love will die.  When she finally finds the courage to tell Tag, Marybell is too late as a cruel person tells him the truth about his beloved

“Talk This Way.”  In Atlanta Catherine Butler never takes a respite as she works at any job she can get in order to pay for her cancer-stricken mom residency at the Oakdale Nursing Home.  Cat loses her job at a coffee shop due to an exchange with annoying Flynn McGrady whose mom also is at Oakdale.  However, Landon, who was a resident at Oakdale where Cat met him, offers her the position of managing his phone-sex company in his penthouse.  She accepts unaware that Flynn lives in this building too.

Talking After Midnight is an engaging Plum Orchard entry (see Talk Dirty To Me and Something to Talk About) with two “outsiders” falling in love while the phone-sex crowd continues to provide culture shock to the rural residents.  Talk This Way is the print version of a delightful e-novella that introduces readers to Landon who in death shook the complacent conservative town when he willed his thriving business to relocate there.

Harriet Klausner

The Texan’s Cowgirl Bride-Trish Milburn

The Texan’s Cowgirl Bride

Trish Milburn

Harlequin American Romance, Jul 1 2014, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373755271

In Texas Savannah Baron manages The Peach Pit on her family farm. She also competes in barrel races.  Recently at a rodeo she ran into her schoolmate widower Travis Shepard who just retired from the army.  When she takes a fall while racing, Savannah suffers an injury but insists on taking care of her horse first before heading to the hospital.  Her BFF Abby insures Bluebell is okay while Travis drives her to the hospital where she learns she suffered a severe bruise only.

While fantasizing that Travis was nipping her breasts, Savannah finds a lump.  The nurse suggests she learn if breast cancer runs in the family.  Thus she asks her sister Lizzie (see The Texan’s Baby by Donna Alward) about their mother who deserted them years ago before hiring private investigator Travis to locate her mom.  As they fall in love, Travis must overcome his fears of losing her like he did Corinne while Savannah needs to meet her mom before committing to her beloved.

The second Texas Rodeo Barons is an enjoyable contemporary as two high school friends fall in love years after they graduated but her health scare frightens both of them from commitment.  Readers will appreciate this engaging tale as love may not be enough to bring this couple together permanently.

Harriet Klausner