Exciting Book Launches Of 2015
When the people over at Tombola invited us to contribute to their Most Exciting Book Launches Of 2015 post for National Literacy Week we jumped at the chance to spread our passion for fantastic reads beyond our little corner of the web.
You can read the full article at Tombola Times (here)
Despite the multitude of brilliant releases waiting to occupy our shelves and inhabit our e-readers, it was surprisingly easy for us to agree on our most anticipated adult book release for 2015. A book which Caroline has on pre-order and Faye has had the privilege of reading prior to publication (you can read Faye’s full review here)
The book in question is
Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.
Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London – but no one speaks of that now.
Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her ‘proper adventure’.
But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.
What Faye Thought About A Darker Shade Of Magic
I loved Vicious by V. E. Schwab and was therefore SUPER excited for this book. When I finally got my hands on the book, I only waited a few days before I started reading it. And then it took me a week to read it, only because I wanted to savour the words. This book is written in such a lovely way that I just wanted to devour it and I certainly never wanted the book to end. The plot was super interesting and I loved the characters and I really cannot wait for the next book in this series. This book is full of magic, both within the world it’s about, and in the way that it can truly transport you to that place. I would highly recommend this book.
1. This urban fantasy promises magic, adventure and alternate worlds.
Which is perfect if , like me, you are looking for escapism and crave something different from the hordes of adult romances and real life stories lining the supermarket shelves and the best seller lists.
2. It is set in not one, but four alternative London’s!
I love reading books with familiar settings, it makes it much easier for me to imagine and get a sense of time and place. Ironically speculative fiction involves taking the familiar and twisting it in some way. I love the idea of spotting the differences between our London and V E Schwab’s fictional one, it’s like a grown up game of spot the difference!
3. It is written by the fantastic V E Schwab.
I absolutely adored her previous adult book, Vicious. I loved how she took a topic, in the case of Vicious it was superheroes and their nemeses, and created something fresh and exciting with believable world building, a pacey plot and strong, interesting characters.
4. It is the start of a brand new series with the promise of at least two more books.
So if this book lives up to my high expectations, and all the reviews I’ve read indicate that it will, I will have a new series to sink my teeth in to, new characters and situations to obsess over, a new fandom to join and at least two years of anticipation and excitement of really good reads.
5. The wait is minimal.
It’s will be available in e book format from the 20th of February, while the paperback is due for publication on the 27th.
Posted by Caroline and Faye
