* Benedict, Lyn : Lies & Omens
(Ace 978-1-937007-50-8, $7.99, 320pp, mass market paperback, May 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Shadows Inquries #4

Urban fantasy novel, fourth “Shadows Inquiries” novel following Sins & Shadows (2009), Ghosts & Echoes (2010), and Gods & Monsters) about a private investigator who handles supernatural cases.
Publishers Weekly has this review.

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* Bennett, Jenn : Summoning the Night
(Pocket 978-1-4516-2053-5, $7.99, 324pp, mass market paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Arcadia Bell #2

Urban fantasy novel, ssecond in a series following Kindling the Moon (2011), about Tiki lounge magician Arcadia Bell.
• The publisher’s site has the description with a “Browse Inside” function.

(Mon 23 Apr 2012)
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* Black, Jenna : Deadly Descendant
(Pocket 978-1-4516-0680-5, $7.99, 355pp, mass market paperback, May 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Descendant #2

Urban fantasy novel, second in a series following Dark Descendant (2011), about a private eye who discovers that she’s an immortal huntress.
• The author’s site has a description with a link to an excerpt.

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* Brooks, Terry : Indomitable
(Subterranean Press 978-1-59606-307-5, $35, 96pp, hardcover, March 2012, cover by Maurizio Manzieri)
Nominal Publication Date: Sat 31 Mar 2012

Fantasy novella, an epilogue to the author’s popular Shannara series.
• Subterranean’s site has this description and order page. The book includes interior artwork by Maurizio Manzieri.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides a preview.
• The Publishers Weekly review notes that this “is essentially prose adaptation of his 2008 graphic novel, Dark Wraith of Shannara.” The review concludes, “Though it reunites several of Brooks’s best-known characters, this slight tale is mostly an afterthought to the series. Only fans who missed the graphic novel will appreciate it.”

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+ Chadbourn, Mark : The Burning Man
(Pyr 978-1-61614-611-5, $17.95, 339pp, trade paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Kingdom of the Serpent #2

Fantasy novel, second of a series following Jack of Ravens (2006 UK, 2012 US), about an archaeologist who is transported to Celtic Britain of 2000 years before his birth.
• Pyr’s site has this description.

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* Douglas, Kristina : Warrior
(Pocket 978-1451655919, $7.99, 400pp, mass market paperback, May 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
The Fallen #3

Fantasy novel, third of a series following Raziel (Feb 2011) and Demon (Jun 2011) about fallen angels.
• The author’s site has only this brief post about the book.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides a preview.

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* Frater, Rhiannon : Siege
(Tor 978-0-7653-3128-1, $14.99, 352pp, trade paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
As the World Dies #3

Zombie apocalypse novel, third in a series following The First Days and Fighting to Survive (both 2011).
• The publisher’s site has this description with an excerpt and quotes from reviews.
• The Publishers Weekly review says “Frater has managed to develop an original treatment of the zompocalypse; the protagonists try their best not to abandon civilized values, and they resist despair despite tragic loss…”

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* Gustainis, Justin : Evil Dark
(Angry Robot 978-0857661364, $7.99, 400pp, mass market paperback, May 2012, cover by Timothy Lantz)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #2

Urban fantasy novel, second in a series following Hard Spell (2011), about an Occult Crimes Unit that investigates supernatural crimes.
• Angry Robot’s site has this description with quotes from reviews and a link to a sample chapter.

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* Haley, Guy : Champion of Mars
(Solaris 978-1907992858, $8.99, 448pp, mass market paperback, May 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012

SF novel about near-future explorers of Mars and a far future champion trying to save mankind.
• Solaris’ site has this description.

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* Hearne, Kevin : Tricked
(Ballantine Del Rey 978-0-345-53362-3, $7.99, 368pp, mass market paperback, May 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Iron Druid Chronicles #4

Urban fantasy novel, fourth book of a series following Hounded, Hexed, and Hammered (all 2011), about a 2000-year-old Druid living in Arizona.
• The publisher’s site has this description with an excerpt.

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* Hoffman, Erin : Lance of Earth and Sky
(Pyr 978-1-61614-615-3, $17.95, 324pp, trade paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
The Chaos Knight #2

Fantasy adventure novel, second novel in a series following Sword of Fire and Sea (2011), about a merchant captain obliged to transport a fire priestess through pirate territory in order to fulfill a family obligation.
• Pyr’s site has this description.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes that the author’s “obvious strengths promise more than this book delivers.”

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King, Stephen : The Wind Through the Keyhole
(Scribner 978-1-451-65890-3, $27, 320pp, hardcover, May 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Dark Tower #8

Fantasy novel, eighth book in King’s long-running “Dark Tower” series that began with The Gunslinger (1982) and whose previous volume was The Dark Tower (2004). This book is not a sequel, but a semi-independent story taking place after the fourth volume, Wizard and Glass.
• The publisher’s site has this description with a preview function.
• King’s site has this promotional page with links to reviews, an excerpt from the audiobook read by King, and a PDF text excerpt.
• Wikipedia has this page about the book.
• This Scriber edition was preceded by a limited edition from Donald M. Grant with illustrations by Jae Lee.
Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Even those who aren’t familiar with the series will find the conclusion both satisfying and moving. This gripping novel is sure to put King back on the bestseller lists.”
Washington Post has this review by Bill Sheehan: “At his characteristic best, King creates the kind of fully imagined fictional landscapes that a reader can inhabit for days at a stretch. In ‘The Wind Through the Keyhole,’ he has done this once again.”

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+ MacLeod, Ken : The Night Sessions
(Pyr 978-1-61614-613-9, $17.95, 264pp, trade paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012

First US edition (UK: Orbit, August 2008)

First US edition of near-future SF novel following the Faith Wars and the subsequent separation of religion and politics, in which new terrorist attacks are targeting religious believers.
• Pyr’s site has this description with quotes from reviews.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “MacLeod’s visionary fusion of science fiction and police procedural is replete with thought-provoking scientific and social speculation, particularly the exploration into the consciousness of robots and their significance in society.”
• The 2008 UK edition won the 2009 British SF Association Award for Best SF novel.

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* Mickelsen, Melissa : Nightingale
(Hadley Rille 978-0-9849670-0-1, $16, 310pp, trade paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Fri 6 Apr 2012

Fantasy novel, the author’s first novel, about halfblood children of humans and anthelai, elflike creatures who live in the wilds.
• The Amazon page has a description and a “Look Inside” preview.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “…debut author Mickelsen brings fresh twists and emotional depth to her tightly written, compelling tale of mercantile politics, interracial conflict, and difficult choices.”

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+ Mills, K. E. : Wizard Undercover
(Orbit 978-0-316-12022-7, $7.99, 416pp, mass market paperback, May 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Rogue Agent #4

Fantasy novel, fourth in the series following The Accidental Sorcerer (Australia 2008), Witches Incorporated (2009), and The Wizard Squared (2010), about three witches who set up an agency to solve magical problems.
• Mills is a pseudonym for Karen Miller, whose website has this page about the series, though no details yet about this book.
• Orbit’s site has sample.

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* Morrissey, Thomas : Faustus Resurrectus
(Night Shade Books 978-1-59780-405-9, $14.99, 320pp, trade paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 3 Apr 2012

Supernatural fantasy novel, the author’s first novel, about an occult scholar who helps in NYPD investigations.
• Night Shade’s site has this description and order page.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides a preview.
Publishers Weekly has this review.

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* Parsons, Zach : Liminal States
(Kensington/Citadel 978-0-8065-3364-3, $14.95, 320pp, trade paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 27 Mar 2012

SF/western/horror novel, the author’s first novel, about a man who first dies in 1984 and is resurrected by a mysterious pool, enabling him to live on into the 1950s.
• The publisher’s site has this description, with an excerpt.
Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “There’s no way a novel with this many moving parts should hold together, but it does, and even readers initially daunted by the jumble will soon be glad to go wherever Parsons takes them.”
• Amazon has a remarkable number of 5-star reader reviews (and a couple 1-star reviews), as well as blurbs from Cory Doctorow and Kevin J. Anderson.

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* Pehov, Alexey : Shadow Blizzard
(Tor 978-0-7653-2405-4, $26.99, 464pp, hardcover, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Chronicles of Siala #3

Epic fantasy novel, third of a trilogy following Shadow Prowler (2010) and Shadow Chaser (2011), about a legendary thief in pursuit of a magic Horn that will restore peace to his kingdom.
• The publisher’s site has this description, with quotes from reviews.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides a preview.
• The author’s series site has descriptions of the three books.

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* Stephenson, Neal, Greg Bear, Mark Teppo & et al : The Mongoliad
(Amazon/47north 978-1612182360, $14.95, 442pp, trade paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Foreworld Saga #1

Alternate history novel, first of a series, about an attempt to save Europe from the Mongol invasion of the 13th century.
• The book began as an online collaboration in conjunction with a series of apps for smartphones. Wikipedia has details. The series site is mongoliad.com.
• The publisher’s corner of Amazon.com has this overview and description.
• io9 has a chapter 7 excerpt.

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* Weis, Margaret, & Tracy Hickman : Rage of the Dragon
(Tor 978-0-7653-1975-3, $25.99, 368pp, hardcover, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Dragonships of Vindras #3

Fantasy novel, third in a series following Bones of the Dragon (2009) and Secret of the Dragon (2010), about seagoing tribes (inspired by Viking and Norse mythology) who fight side by side with dragons and gods.
• Tor’s site has this description with an excerpt.

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* Wellington, David : 32 Fangs
(Broadway 978-0307886187, $14, 352pp, trade paperback, April 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Vampire Tales #5

Vampire novel, fifth in a series that began with 13 Bullets (2007), followed by 99 Coffins (2007), Vampire Zero (2008), and 23 Hours (2009), about cop-turned-fugitive Laura Caxton and her war against vampires.
• The publisher’s site has this description.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides an excerpt.
• The author’s site has this description.
• Tim Pratt reviewed the book in the March issue of Locus Magazine: “The Caxton quintet is a refreshing change from the vision of vampires as brooding outsiders who long for their lost human lives (or to have soppy romantic entanglements with teenage girls): Wellington’s vampires are predatory, scary, and impressively weird.”

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* Wendig, Chuck : Blackbirds
(Angry Robot 978-0-85766-230-9, $7.99, 384pp, mass market paperback, May 2012)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Apr 2012
Miriam Black #1

Fantasy novel, first of a series, about a woman who perceives the future death of anyone she touches.
• Angry Robot’s site has this description with numerous extracts from reviews and a link to an excerpt.
• The second book, Mockingbird, is coming in September.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Visceral and often brutal, this tale vibrates with emotional rawness that helps to paint a bleak, unrelenting picture of life on the edge.”

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