I should probably complete a best of 2013 list before an anticipated 2014 book list however there were so many to choose from that I have been struggling with the ranking. I am considering just a top 10 with no ranking. My 2014 top 10 anticipated books list is not much easier. There are a ton of amazing looking books coming out this year! I have nearly 50 marked on my
Goodreads Fantasy Not Yet Released Shelf. Narrowing it down to
2014 30 Most Anticipated was difficult enough. That being said, here goes.
1) Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War #1)
Anyone who knows me or has read this blog should be aware by now that The Broken Empire (
Prince of Thorns) is my favorite series and Mark Lawrence is my favorite author. The series ended with
Emperor of Thorns, which was the highlight of my year in books. He's back with a brand new trilogy, set in the same world. From the Goodreads blurb-
The Red Queen is old but the kings of the Broken Empire dread her like no other. For all her reign, she has fought the long war, contested in secret, against the powers that stand behind nations, for higher stakes than land or gold. Her greatest weapon is The Silent Sister—unseen by most and unspoken of by all.
The Red Queen’s grandson, Prince Jalan Kendeth—drinker, gambler, seducer of women—is one who can see The Silent Sister. Tenth in line for the throne and content with his role as a minor royal, he pretends that the hideous crone is not there. But war is coming. Witnesses claim an undead army is on the march, and the Red Queen has called on her family to defend the realm. Jal thinks it’s all a rumor—nothing that will affect him—but he is wrong.
After escaping a death trap set by the Silent Sister, Jal finds his fate magically intertwined with a fierce Norse warrior. As the two undertake a journey across the Empire to undo the spell, encountering grave dangers, willing women, and an upstart prince named Jorg Ancrath along the way, Jalan gradually catches a glimmer of the truth: he and the Norseman are but pieces in a game, part of a series of moves in the long war—and the Red Queen controls the board.
I have no doubt this will live up to expectations, which from what I have seen, are insanely high.
2) Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archives #2)
The Way of Kings, book 1, was a highlight of my reading year. The first 8 chapters are released and there is already a lot of discussion about this book. It is also on many 2014 lists as the first was on many "best of" lists the year it came out. Not grimdark, but I still loved it. The writing, lore, characters, plot, and magic were all phenomenal. Even at over 1000 pages, it didn't seem overly long. Here's the Blurb-
In the first volume, we were introduced to the remarkable world of Roshar, a world both alien and magical, where gigantic hurricane-like storms scour the surface every few days and life has adapted accordingly. Roshar is shared by humans and the enigmatic, humanoid Parshendi, with whom they are at war. Among those caught up in the conflict are Highprince Dalinar Kholin, who leads the human armies; his neice Jasnah, a renowned scholar; her student Shallan, a brilliant but troubled young woman; and Kaladin, a military slave who, by the book’s end, was beginning to become the first magically endowed Knight Radiant in centuries.
In Words of Radiance their intertwined stories will continue and, as Sanderson fans have come to expect, develop in unexpected, wonderfully surprising directions. The war with the Parshendi will move into a new, dangerous phase, as Dalinar leads the human armies deep into the heart of the Shattered Plains in a bold attempt to finally end it. Shallan will come along, hoping to find the legendary, perhaps mythical, city of Urithuru, which Jasnah believes holds a secret vital to mankind’s survival on Roshar. The Parshendi take a dangerous step to strengthen themselves for the human challenge, risking the return of the fearsome Voidbringers of old. To deal with it all, Kaladin must learn how to fulfill his new role, while mastering the powers of a Windrunner
3) The Thorn of Emberlain (Gentleman Bastards #4)
No cover but all 3 previous covers were beautiful. This book is promised for late 2014 (November) however many think it won't come out because of past delays with Scott Lynch's books. I do. His first book,
The Lies of Locke Lamora, was a huge success and a personal favorite. I plan a reread soon. The next book,
Red Seas Under Red Skies was a bit of a letdown for me but I plan to try it again.
The Republic of Thieves, the third in the series was one of my top 10 of the year, and I reviewed it here
Review. Scott Lynch is one of the most imaginative a best writers in fantasy today. From Goodreads, a very short description of this book-
A kingdom torn by civil war.
A breakaway republic, outnumbered on all fronts.
Two thieves caught between avarice and admiration.
Things change forever.
4)The Crimson Campaign (The Powder Mage Book #2)
Brian McClellan's debut book, considered "flintlock" or "gunpowder" fantasy has made most 2013 top 10's I have seen. I read it early and was blown away. I have been anticipating book 2 since I was halfway through book 1. Here's the description-
'The hounds at our heels will soon know we are lions' Tamas's invasion of Kez ends in disaster when a Kez counter-offensive leaves him cut off behind enemy lines with only a fraction of his army, no supplies, and no hope of reinforcements. Drastically outnumbered and pursued by the enemy's best, he must lead his men on a reckless march through northern Kez to safety, and back over the mountains so that he can defend his country from an angry god. In Adro, Inspector Adamat only wants to rescue his wife. To do so he must track down and confront the evil Lord Vetas. He has questions for Vetas concerning his enigmatic master, but the answers might come too quickly. With Tamas and his powder cabal presumed dead, Taniel Two-shot finds himself alongside the god-chef Mihali as the last line of defence against Kresimir's advancing army. Tamas's generals bicker among themselves, the brigades lose ground every day beneath the Kez onslaught, and Kresimir wants the head of the man who shot him in the eye.
5) Half a King (Untitled Trilogy #1)
Normally, Joe Abercrombie would be number 2 on this list. I have read 4 of his 6 books and loved them all. However, this book is geared at younger readers and while I have had some good experiences with YA books, I don't read many these days. Because Joe Abercrombie is such a good writer and storyteller I expect I will enjoy this book a lot, despite its YA designation. The description has me very interested as well-
“I swore an oath to avenge the death of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath.”
Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains, and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it all with only one good hand.
The deceived will become the deceiver.
Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.
The betrayed will become the betrayer.
Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.
Will the usurped become the usurper?
But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy.
Hey everyone! The Grimdark Reader is back! In the next few months, I plan to start reviewing again, starting with one of my favorite people and authors, Jeff Salyards, whose final book in the Bloodsounder's Arc Trilogy, Chains of the Heretic, is now out. The first two were phenomenal and I waited a long time for Chains to come out. There are a lot of promising books coming out this year; I really thought 2015 was a little flat, especially for new authors and series. There were remarkable releases by two of my favorite authors, Mark Lawrence and Joe Abercrombie, but I didn't see anything new and amazing and unique like in 2014 such as Mark Alder's Son of the Morning, Robert Jackson Bennett's City of Stairs, or Rjurik Davidson's Unwrapped Sky, three of my favorite fiction books, all superbly written and vividly imagined. So far this year, I have my eye on Snakewood by Adrian Selby and a new series by Michael Sullivan called The Legends of the First Empire with the first book called Age of Myth. The previous mentioned Mark Alder and Robert Jackson Bennett (out now!!) have book 2 in their series coming out as well as the final Red Queens War book called The Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence and a collection of previously released and some new shorts by Joe Abercrombie set in the First Law world called Sharp Ends. Also, Scott Lynch has a new Gentleman Bastard book coming out.
