Upcoming Fantasy Books

FitzChivalry Farseer, veteran assassin, seeks vengeance for the abduction of Bee, his young daughter. With the aid of the Fool, a deformed figure, Fitz pursues the Servants, his daughter’s captors.

In Lady Midnight: Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn, her parabatai, travel across Los Angeles to investigate the murder of Emma’s parents. Mark Blackthorn, Julian’s older brother, is conditionally returned by the faeries.

By the end: Finding that Malcolm had planned to have Jules killed, Emma kills Malcolm, but not without the help of her comrades.  

Cristina and Diego are longing for home.

Kit arrives at the Institute, finding that he is a Shadowhunter.

Jem and Tessa travel via portal to the location of Max, Magnus and Alec.

For Newcomers: Kvothe is a peerless swordsman, mage and troubadour. But, he’s also a notoriously melancholy man with a tortured past. In the Kingkiller series, Kvothe reminisces about his past and grapples with his present reality. He tells of his dalliances, his time spent at a School of magic (it’s totally not Hogwarts) and of how he learned the name of the wind.

For Veterans

Past: Tales of Kvothe’s exploits have spread far and wide and have taken on a truth of their own. Because of the Maer’s benevolence, Kvothe is largely unworried about his tuition. Denna remains as enigmatic as ever. As to her relationship with Kvothe? Well it’s not exactly on certain terms, though it never was, really.  Oh and yes, Kvothe slept with Felurian and mastered the Ketan and the Lethani. Did I mention that he met the Cthaeh? Maybe it explains his current misery. Speaking of…

Disappointed that Doors of Stone isn’t out yet? Don’t be. 

Pat Rothfuss compares favorably to contemporary writers of fantasy trilogies.

Although it cannot reach the heights of the first novel, The Wise Man’s Fear is more than adequate.

By the admission of Patrick Rothfuss himself, he’s proud of it.

The most compelling aspect of Fear is undoubtedly the enigmatic Kvothe. The reader gains a greater comprehension of the figure and sympathy for his plight. Passages which explore Kvothe’s psyche are as engrossing as they are revelatory.

As ever, Pat crafts enthralling prose. His action is also tighter, more fluid and convincing than ever before.

Yet, much is left unresolved is in the book. Disconcertingly so, as there is only one novel to come in the trilogy. Despite this, the novel is far more ambitious in scope than the first, introducing a myriad of races and lands previously unmentioned.  

Ultimately, for fans of the first book, there is nothing to fear. Pat has delivered once again.  

“I’ve no time to waste. Winter’s coming.”  ― Andrzej Sapkowski, The Last Wish, 1993

“Winter is coming.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones, 1996

In City of Blades: Turyin Mulaghesh, on the brink of retirement, is directed to investigate the godless city of Voortyashtan. There, she meets with Sigrud, the spy who masqueraded as Shara’s secretary. Turyin discovers that The City of Blades, constructed by the god Voortya, continues to exist. Assailed by deities and humans, Turyin manages to prevent the destruction of this realm.

The Name of the Wind portends of greatness to come.

That may seem a slight against the book, but the opposite is true. This is one of the most promising fantasy novels in years.

The book follows the tale of Kvothe; troubadour, romantic and tragic. Despite his talents, Kvothe is more worthy of pity than admiration.

Pat proves to be an ebullient author with penetrating prose. However, he never sinks to indulgence. The novel is also largely devoid of action. This would be no crime, but the action lacks the potency of Pat’s contemporaries. The author’s strength is his meticulous expression, yet this does not translate well into frenetic moments of activity. The last sequence, involving a certain winged beast, is unnecessarily protracted.

Despite the splendour of Pat’s prose, the novel’s conclusion only left me hollow. As a reader, I felt beguiled, even cheated, by Pat. The novel is not what the blurb promises.

But, as you will come to see, that’s entirely the point.

The novel demonstrates that words are not just wind. Words shape and manipulate others to do their bidding. Words are worth more than the things they describe.

Words have power.

And Pat certainly knows how to use them.

In A Court of Mist and Fury: Lucien reveals that he is mated to Elain; Feyre’s sister.

Feyre’s sisters, now turned to Fae, escape Lanthe and the revived Jurian. With the Book of Breathings in their possession, the sisters and Feyre’s companions travel home.

Meanwhile, despite the king’s best efforts, Feyre and Rhysand maintain their mental and mating ties. Ryhsand consolidates his forces for war.  

Who could have guessed?

The second book in the Stormlight Archive, typically weak in fantasy series, is the best piece of literature ever produced by Sanderson.

The foundations laid in the first book are slowly realised here, as Sanderson hints that a calamity will sweep across Roshar.  

There are moments in this book, decisions made by certain characters, which are impossible, electrifying.  

At one point, I flung the book across my room in disbelief.

The battles, climatic and epic in scale, are fitting of a finale. Yet, Sanderson has managed it in the second book of a ten-book series.

Where to from here? Well, it can’t get much better than this.

Unfortunately, that’s the problem.

If anything, Sanderson overextends himself. There are reveals here which may have been delayed to greater effect, events that occur somewhat prematurely.

But, they are spectacular all the same.

 One of the finest books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.