The Year's Best....So Far

Half the year is over and Speculative Book Review thought we would recap our favorite books we have read so far this year. Here are each of our top 5 picks for the best books we have read this year...so far.

 

Tyson

5. The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane by Robert E. Howard Collected in this volume, lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Gary Gianni, are all of the stories and poems that make up the thrilling saga of the dour and deadly Puritan, Solomon Kane. Together they constitute a sprawling epic of weird fantasy adventure that stretches from sixteenth-century England to remote African jungles where no white man has set foot. Here are shudder-inducing tales of vengeful ghosts and bloodthirsty demons, of dark sorceries wielded by evil men and women, all opposed by a grim avenger armed with a fanatic’s faith and a warrior’s savage heart. This edition also features exclusive story fragments, a biography of Howard by scholar Rusty Burke, and “In Memoriam,” H. P. Lovecraft’s moving tribute to his friend and fellow literary genius. Rating 8.5/10 
 

4. The Terror By Dan Simmons The bestselling author of Ilium and Olympos transforms the true story of a legendary Arctic expedition into a thriller worthy of Stephen King or Patrick O'Brian. Their captain's insane vision of a Northwest Passage has kept the crewmen of The Terror trapped in Arctic ice for two years without a thaw. But the real threat to their survival isn't the ever-shifting landscape of white, the provisions that have turned to poison before they open them, or the ship slowly buckling in the grip of the frozen ocean. The real threat is whatever is out in the frigid darkness, stalking their ship, snatching one seaman at a time or whole crews, leaving bodies mangled horribly or missing forever. Captain Crozier takes over the expedition after the creature kills its original leader, Sir John Franklin. Drawing equally on his own strengths as a seaman and the mystical beliefs of the Eskimo woman he's rescued, Crozier sets a course on foot out of the Arctic and away from the insatiable beast. But every day the dwindling crew becomes more deranged and mutinous, until Crozier begins to fear there is no escape from an ever-more-inconceivable nightmare. Rating 8/10 
 

3. Shadow's Son by John Sprunk In the holy city of Othir, treachery and corruption lurk at the end of every street, just the place for a freelance assassin with no loyalties and few scruples. Caim makes his living on the edge of a blade, but when a routine job goes south, he is thrust into the middle of an insidious plot. Pitted against crooked lawmen, rival killers, and sorcery from the Other Side, his only allies are Josephine, the socialite daughter of his last victim, and Kit, a guardian spirit no one else can see. But in this fight for his life, Caim only trusts his knives and his instincts, but they won't be enough when his quest for justice leads him from Othir's hazardous back alleys to its shining corridors of power. To unmask a conspiracy at the heart of the empire, he must claim his birthright as the Shadow's Son.... Rating 8.5/10 
 

2. The Emerald Storm by Michael J. Sullivan A MESSAGE IS INTERCEPTED. A SINISTER PLAN LAUNCHED. TWO THIEVES STAND IN THE WAY. Ex-mercenary Hadrian Blackwater sets course on a high seas adventure to find the lost Heir of Novron. His only hope lies in confronting the ruthless and cunning Merrick Marius. Fearing his friend is not up to the challenge, Royce Melborn joins his old partner for one last mission. Their journey finds them adrift amid treachery and betrayals forcing Hadrian to face a past he hoped never to see again. Rating 8.5/10

1. Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis Raybould Marsh is a British secret agent in the early days of the Second World War, haunted by something strange he saw on a mission during the Spanish Civil War: a German woman with wires going into her head who looked at him as if she knew him. When the Nazis start running missions with people who have unnatural abilities - a woman who can turn invisible, a man who can walk through walls, and the woman Marsh saw in Spain who can use her knowledge of the future to twist the present - Marsh is the man who has to face them. He rallies the secret warlocks of Britain to hold the impending invasion at bay. But magic always exacts a price. Eventually, the sacrifice necessary to defeat the enemy will be as terrible as outright loss would be. Rating 9/10 
 

Yagiz

5. The Dwarves by Markus Heitz For countless millennia, no man or beast has ever succeeded in breaching the stone gateway into Girdlegard. Until now ...Abandoned as a child, Tungdil the blacksmith is the only dwarf in a kingdom of men. But when he is sent out into the world to deliver a message and reacquaint himself with his people, the young foundling finds himself thrust into a battle for which he has not been trained. Not only his own safety, but the life of every man, woman and child in Girdlegard depends upon his ability to embrace his heritage. Although he has many unanswered questions, Tungdil is certain of one thing: no matter where he was raised, he is a true dwarf. And no one has ever questioned the courage of the Dwarves. Rating 9/10

4. The Noise Within by Ian Whates On the brink of perfecting the long sought-after human/AI interface, Philip Kaufman finds his world thrown into turmoil as a scandal from the past returns to haunt him and dangerous information falls into his hands. Pursued by assassins and attacked in his own home, he flees. Leyton, a government black-ops specialist, is diverted from his usual duties to hunt down the elusive pirate vessel The Noise Within, wondering all the while why this particular freebooter is considered so important. Two lives collide in this stunning and innovative space-opera! Rating 9.5/10

3. City of Ruin by Mark Charan Newton Villiren: a city of sin that is being torn apart from the inside. Hybrid creatures shamble through shadows and barely human gangs fight turf wars for control of the streets. Amidst this chaos, Commander Brynd Lathraea, commander of the Night Guard, must plan the defence of Viliren against a race that has broken through from some other realm and already slaughtered hundreds of thousands of the Empire’s people. When a Night Guard soldier goes missing, Brynd requests help from the recently arrived Inquisitor Jeryd. He discovers this is not the only disappearance the streets of Villiren. It seems that a serial killer of the most horrific kind is on the loose, taking hundreds of people from their own homes. A killer that cannot possibly be human. The entire population of Villiren must unite to face an impossible surge of violent and unnatural enemies or the city will fall. But how can anyone save a city that is already a ruin? Rating 9.5/10
 

2. Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton The ancient city of Villjamur is threatened by a long-expected ice age, and thousands of refugees from the coming freeze are camped outside its gates, causing alarm and the threat of disease for the existing population. When the Emperor commits suicide, his elder daughter, Rika, is brought home to inherit the Jamur Empire, but the sinister Chancellor plans to get rid of her and claim the throne for himself. Meanwhile an officer in the Inquisition, in pursuit of a mysterious killer, also uncovers a conspiracy within the Council to solve the refugee crisis by wholesale slaughter, and a cultist magician is causing a trail of havoc in his search for immortality and his obsessive quest to gain access into another world. To the far fringes of the Empire is dispatched military commander to investigate a mysterious new race of undead that seems intent on genocide of the most gruesome nature. Gradually the separate strands of romance, jealousy, political intrigue and dark violence converge in a superb new action series of enthralling fantasy. Rating 10/10
 

1. Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay An epic historical adventure set in a pseudo 8th century China, from the author of the 2008 World Fantasy winner, Ysabel. Under Heaven is a novel of heroes, assassins, concubines and emperors set against a majestic and unforgiving landscape. An epic historical adventure set in a pseudo 8th century China, from the author of the 2008 World Fantasy winner, Ysabel. Under Heaven is a novel of heroes, assassins, concubines and emperors set against a majestic and unforgiving landscape. For two years Shen Tai has mourned his father, living like a hermit beyond the borders of the Kitan Empire, by a mountain lake where terrible battles have long been fought between the Kitai and the neighbouring Tagurans, including one for which his father - a great general - was honoured. But Tai's father never forgot the brutal slaughter involved. The bones of 100,000 soldiers still lie unburied by the lake and their wailing ghosts at night strike terror in the living, leaving the lake and meadow abandoned in its ring of mountains. To honour and redress his father's sorrow, Tai has journeyed west to the lake and has laboured, alone, to bury the dead of both empires. His supplies are replenished by his own people from the nearest fort, and also - since peace has been bought with the bartering of an imperial princess - by the Tagurans, for his solitary honouring of their dead. The Tagurans soldiers one day bring an unexpected letter. It is from the bartered Kitan Princess Cheng-wan, and it contains a poisoned chalice: she has gifted Tai with two hundred and fifty Sardian horses, to reward him for his courage. The Sardians are legendary steeds from the far west, famed, highly-prized, long-coveted by the Kitans. Rating 10/10

Cara

5. Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard A supernatural murder mystery set in pre-Columbian Aztec Mexico The basic plot is a whodunnit, where a Priestess disappears and Acatl’s brother is the prime suspect. Acatl, the High Priest of the Dead and the central character, has only a short time to try to exonerate his brother and find the real murderer. This is established very early on in the book and what follows is a memorable and exciting adventure featuring all manner of gods, demi-gods, reanimated corpses, and dark magic with the Aztec culture providing a realistic setting for such fantastical themes. The dark nature of the religion gives an air of believability to the magic. Overall rating 8/10

4. Dante's Journey by J.C. Marino Joe Dante, Boston cop, finds himself in Hell This is an excellent update of the classic epic poem Dante's Inferno, reworked for a modern audience. Some aspects remain true to the original; the nine levels of hell, and the sins that are punished within each level, for example; but it was Joe Dante's personal journey that hooked me in. Why was he in hell? What happened to his family? These questions are finally and satisfyingly answered by the end of the book but for me, added an extra dimension to the plot. I enjoyed that J.C.Marino kept a fast pace throughout without skimping on descriptions of the surroundings. At no point did my concentration drift. The device of intercutting the journey through hell with the events that led to Joe being there was well done and combined with excellent black humour, witty dialogue and some surprises, Dante’s Journey was a very enjoyable read. Round Table Discussion (my Overall rating 8/10)
 

3. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin First in an epic fantasy trilogy I loved this book. The claustrophobic feel of Sky combined with a short time frame, gave a sense of urgency to the plot. The writing was descriptively strong, and I found the occasional memory lapses in Yeine’s narration added an extra dimension to a fast paced novel. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms explores the idea of balance and how things spiral out of control when balance is lost. Race, slavery, and oppression are all explored here, to varying degrees but it is in the portrayal of the gods and their history that N.K.Jemisin shines. A highly recommended read. Overall rating 9/10

2. Walking the Tree by Kaaron Warren [as demonstrated by the link, reviewed elsewhere] Botanica is an island, but almost all of the island is taken up by the Tree. Lillah lives on Botanica, an island where life, society and culture is dominated by the giant Tree. She has come of age and is about to embark on her journey around the Tree as a teacher. Walking the Tree is the story of Botanica as seen through Lillah’s experiences. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. I was hooked from the opening pages and was immediately drawn into Lillah’s world. I feel Walking the Tree is a book that will benefit from re-reading as the earlier sections contain clues to the eventual path Lillah takes. She is a strong narrator and carries the story well, but the ultimate star of the book is the Tree itself. It gives life, nourishes the people, dominates their existence, yet is cruel and demanding in sacrifice, just like nature itself. Overall rating 9/10
 

1. City of Ruin by Mark Charan Newton Book 2 of Legends of the Red Sun Just as Mark Charan Newton’s first book in the Legends of the Red Sun series, Nights of Villjamur, was my favourite read of 2009, his follow up book, City of Ruin makes the number 1 spot in this half-year round up of my top reads of 2010. I admit I am unashamedly a fan of Newton’s writing, and it will take a very special book to knock him off his rather lofty perch! The action moves from Villjamur to the more northerly city of Villiren, a much more sinister and jaded place. The encroaching ice still looms large and the threat of invasion by the Oken adds to the tension within the city. This is urban fantasy in the truest sense of the term, the city is the star in this gritty and innovative novel. Several familiar characters return, having left Villjamur at the end of the previous volume. Investigator Jeryd and Night Guard Commander Brynd Lathraea join forces to hunt a serial killer, plus Randur and the princesses are still fleeing the events in Nights of Villjamur. A host of new characters are introduced, of these Malum, Beami, Dannan and Artemisia engaged me most and provided more depth to the world Mark Charan Newton has created. And best of all, there is a spider… this is not a book for arachnophobes! Mark Charan Newton’s writing style, already proven to be of high quality, continues to impress, and City of Ruin shows no signs of suffering the dreaded ‘sequel syndrome’. It is a gripping and exciting read, enhanced by strong characterisation and a meaty plot. If you have not read any of his work before, you are really missing out on an author who looks set to become a giant in the world of fantasy fiction. Overall rating 10/10
 

PeterWilliam  

5. River Kings' Road: A Novel of Ithelas A debut work by an interesting new author. A pair of rival border lords nearly engage in another bitter feud when hidden interests and a foreign evil collaborate to assassinate the heir to the throne. Caught amidst these machinations are: a peasant woman who is homely, homeless, single and mother to a young infant - and who has just seen her entire village annihilated; a once proud local lord now lost to himself - drinking to assuage his guilty conscience at betraying his lord; a man and woman deeply in love - bound by oath and duty to refrain from doing anything about it; and an aristocrat's second son - a dangerous young man who is a combination of studied intelligence and ruthless ambition. Rating: 8/10

4. Return of the Crimson Guard, by Ian C. Esslemont The Malazan Empire must face it's most ardent rival - the Crimson Guard. After a long absence from events in the Malazan corner of the world, the Crimson Guard has returned - and it's brought Hell with it. The Empress will need every ounce of shrewdness to survive this latest uprising and threat to her position. Even more ominous, who is the swordsman named Traveller? Rating: 9/10

3. Devices and Desires, by K.J. Parker After committing an unpardonable crime within his own culture, Ziani Vaatzes - engineer and fugitive, is playing a long, strategic and patient strategy towards an end the reader can only guess at. As each party and faction plays the other, striving toward juxtaposed goals, pieces slowly connect, interlock and begin to turn as the full mechanism of Parker's drama unfolds. Without any true heroes and villains in the cast, the reader is left upon the edge of their seat pondering, "How can this end well for these characters?" The easy answer - it can't. Rating: 9.5/10

2. Severian of the Guild, by Gene Wolfe [as demonstrated by the link, reviewed elsewhere] Severian of the Guild is the omnibus (yes!!!) version of Gene Wolfe's speculative fiction classic, The Book of the New Sun. Follow along with Severian, as he recounts his life and ascension from discarded orphan to Autarch. The stereotypical, if not perfectly prototypical, unreliable narrator takes you on a tour of half-mad ponderings and epic levels of delusion that will, if only you persist, bring you to deeply layered and largely hidden parallels between the world of Wolfe's creation, and our own. Rating: 10/10 [I originally rated "Must Read and All-time Classic" elsewhere]

1. Shadowrise, by Tad Williams The third book in a series, Shadowrise continues to follow the twists and turns of a series of terribly convoluted paths the Eddon twins must traverse. Neither knows of a true outcome toward which they strive, but, given the circumstances, there simply is no alternative. Beset upon by the Twilight peoples on one side, and the Emperor of Xis on the other, there seems little to no cause for hope. Yet, as forces approach, preparing to collide, several ancient and unremembered facts and peoples begin to arise. Is it masochistic to hope that it will matter? Rating: 9/10

Victoria

5.  Rise of the Iron Moon by Stephen Hunt The Rise of the Iron Moon is part of the steampunk genre. Hunt has borrowed heavily from both the nineteenth and eighteenth centuries, then merrily added generous dollops of magic, steampowered technology and rip-roaring fun. Imagine if I put Errol Flynn, Charles Dickens, the Final Fantasy video games and Robert Heinlein in a box and then shook it all up. The Rise of the Iron Moon is what I would find when I'd peel open the box flaps.  It is a fast paced yarn of adventure. It plays with tropes and cliches with reckless abandon, but leaves us with a sense of the new. The novel is gripping, exciting, and full of a fun, rag tag team of characters. Overall Rating: 8.5/10

4.  Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon After twenty years of waiting, Elizabeth Moon decided to bring us back into the world of her female paladin, Paksenarrion and she did not disappoint.  Oath of Fealty takes place after the trilogy The Deed of Paksenarrion, giving us the story of what happens after a hero completes their quest.  It gives us the political aftermath and ramifications that kings, lords and peasants have to deal with when evil has been thwarted.  Oath of Fealty is fast-paced and full of action. The first fifty pages contain more action than a lot of fantasy books contain in a novel.  If you have not read this series, put it at the top of your reading list.   Overall Rating: 8.5/10 

3.  The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip  First published in 1976, The Riddle-Master of Hed is the first book of a trilogy.  Regardless of this being McKillip's first published novel, her prose drips velvet and tastes like a decadent dark chocolate mousse.  There is a reason this novel is found in school libraries: it's a classic, and something that any reader who enjoyed Ursula K. Le Guin's The Wizard of Earth Sea novels will love.     Overall Rating: 9/10  

2.  White as Snow by Tanith Lee White as Snow is the story of Snow White mixed in with the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone.  It deals with the macabre and the nightmare aspects of the original fairy tales, before they were watered down for children.  Lee's prose, like always, is poetic and fluid.  She creates vivid imagery that will both entice and revolt the reader.  There is a reason why Tanith Lee is considered the queen of dark fantasy.   Overall Rating: 9/10     

1.  Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon  Ofelia is an elderly woman who has decided to remain alone on a planet after the company who settled it decides to pull out and send its inhabitants to another colony on a different planet.  Living happily away from anyone else and finally able to do as she pleases, Ofelia's world is suddenly turned upside down when she unwillingly becomes humanity's first representative to an intelligent alien race.  This novel was a Hugo Award finalist in 1997, and it shows.  The themes in this novel are rich, poignant and thought-provoking.  Remnant Population is an engrossing tale of a stubborn and insightful woman who just wants to be left alone.  This book is a must read for anyone who wants intelligent science fiction. Overall Rating: 9/10