Fantasy Book Critic: Fantasy Book Critic’s 2008 Review/2009 Preview

2008 FAVORITES:

2008: The year that got away. It seems like I spent the entire year either writing or rewriting. Out of the ones I did read, there were some real standouts for me.

1) “The Devil You Know” by Mike Carey. A British fantasy about an exorcist with a complicated life.
2) “Black Magic Woman” by Justin Gustainis. I bought it on a whim, misreading the cover, half-expecting the modern Quincy Morris to be a woman. I enjoyed it wholeheartedly nonetheless.
3) “The Magicians & Mrs. Quent” by Galen Beckett. For any fantasy reader who loves English lit, it's a must read.
4) C.E. Murphy's “The Queen's Bastard" shocked me rigid. Even at its most repellant, “The Queen's Bastard” was fascinating and addictive; I can't wait to find out what happens next!
5) My favorite book read this year isn't a 2008 book. “The Sword-Edged Blonde” by Alex Bledsoe came out in Fall of 2007, and I missed it until mid-summer 2008. I'm just glad I didn't miss it entirely. It's a wonderful read.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2009:

1) “The Pretender's Crown” by C E Murphy. Release Date: April 28, 2009. Published by Del Rey.
2) “Darkborn” by Alison Sinclair. Release Date: May 5, 2009. Published by Roc Books.
3) “Unfallen Dead” by Mark Del Franco. Release Date: January 27, 2009. Published by Ace Books.

And my urban fantasy trifecta: New books from Jim Butcher, Rob Thurman, and Carrie Vaughn. More Harry, Cal, & Kitty; always a good thing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lane Robins is the author of the debut novel “Maledicte”. Her new novel, “Kings and Assassins”, is set a few years after the events of “Maledicte”, and will be published by Del Rey on April 21, 2009. For more information, please visit the author’s Official Website.

NOTE: For more author responses, please visit Fantasy Book Critic's 2008 Review/2009 Preview index HERE.