In My Mailbox (#31)

Amazon Summary:

Darien is no longer a lost outpost of humanity, but the prize in an intergalactic power struggle. Hegemony forces have a stranglehold over the planet and crack troops patrol its hotspots while Earth watches, passive, rendered impotent by galactic politics. But its Darien ambassador will soon become a player in a greater conflict. There is more at stake than a turf war on a newly discovered world. An ancient Uvovo temple hides access to a hyperspace prison, housing the greatest threat sentient life has ever known. Millennia ago, malignant intelligences were caged there following an apocalyptic war. And their servants work on their release. However, Darien’s guardians have not been idle, gathering resistance on the planet’s forest moon. Knowledge has been lost since great races battled in eons past, and now time is short. The galaxy will depend on the Uvovo reclaiming their past – and humanity must look to its future. For a new war is coming.

Silver Borne

Patricia Briggs (Orbit)

Publication Date: 8 April 2010

Paperback: 342 pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Goodreads Summary:

Being a mechanic is hard work. Mercy Thompson, for instance, just spent the last couple of months trying to evade the murderous queen of the local vampire seethe, and now the leader of the werewolf pack – who’s maybe-more-than-just-a-friend – has asked for her help. A book of fae secrets has come to light and they’re all about to find out how implacable – and dangerous – the fae can be. OK, so maybe her troubles have nothing to do with the job. But she sure could use a holiday …

The Mage in Black

Jaye Wells (Orbit)

Publication Date: 8 April 2010

Paperback: 326 pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Goodreads Summary:

Sabina Kane doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional. Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she’s some kind of ‘Chosen’ who’ll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn’t care who chose her, she’s not into destiny. But the mages aren’t Sabina’s only problem. In New York’s Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame. Sabina thought she’d take a bite out of the Big Apple – but it looks like it wants to bite back.

The Stopping Place

Helen Slavin (Pocket Books/Simon & Scuster)

Publication Date: 1 April 2010

Paperback: 297 pages

Genre: Thriller

Book Depository Summary:

For a woman who wants to remain invisible, a shelving job at a quiet suburban library provides the perfect cover. Ruby sees a lot from behind the stacks — maybe even enough to bring her out of hiding. And that could be a problem. Because everyone has a history, especially someone who’s trying desperately to forget their own…

The Island

Sarah Singleton (Simon & Schuster)

Publication Date: 1 April 2010

Paperback: 294 pages

Reading Level: Young Adult

Genre: Thriller

Amazon Summary:

Otto, Jen and Charlotte have planned the trip of a lifetime to India for their gap year, before going their separate ways to university. For Charlotte, it’s an opportunity to get involved in an environmental project and finally feel like she’s doing something worthwhile; for Otto, it’s the perfect opportunity to take some real photos to help his career as a photojournalistic; for Jen, it’s the realisation of a lifelong dream. But when Otto discovers the body of a girl on the beach, things take a sinister turn as he finds himself a prime suspect in her murder. Together Otto, Charlotte and Jen start to unravel the mystery behind the girl’s death. Can they discover the truth and clear Otto’s name and even if they do will they be able to handle what they find as their dreams of paradise crumble around them…

Hex Hall

Rachel Hawkins (Simon & Schuster)

Publication Date: 1 April 2010

Paperback: 323 pages

Reading Level: Young Adult

Genre: Supernatural

Amazon Summary:

In the wake of a love spell gone horribly wrong, Sophie Mercer, a sixteen-year-old witch, is shipped off to Hecate Hall, a boarding school for witches, shapeshifters and faeries. The traumas of mortal high school are nothing compared to the goings on at “Freak High.” It’s bad enough that she has to deal with a trio of mean girls led by the glamorous Elodie, but it’s even worse when she begins to fall for Elodie’s gorgeous boyfriend, Archer Cross, and frankly terrifying that the trio are an extremely powerful coven of dark witches. But when Sophie begins to learn the disturbing truth about her father, she is forced to face demons both metaphorical and real, and come to terms with her own growing power as a witch.

and Falling, Fly

Skyler White (Berkley)

Publication Date: 2 March 2010

Paperback: 335 pages

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Goodreads Summary:

In a dark and seedy underground of burned-out rock stars and angels- turned-vampires, a revolutionary neuroscientist and a fallen angel must pit medicine against mythology in an attempt to erase their tortured pasts…but at what cost?

Olivia, vampire and fallen angel of desire, is hopeless…and damned. Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire. Dominic O’Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions. When his research and her despair collide at L’OtelMathillide- a subterranean hell of beauty, demons, and dreams-rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both.

The Poison Throne

Celine Kiernan (Orbit)

Publication Date: 1 April 2010

Paperback: 475 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Goodreads Summary:

YOUNG WYNTER MOOREHAWKE RETURNS TO COURT WITH HER DYING FATHER. BUT HER OLD HOME IS CLOAKED IN FEAR. Once benevolent King Jonathon is now a violent despot, terrorising his people while his son Alberon plots a coup from exile. Then darkness spreads as the King appoints Alberon’s half-brother Razi as heir. Wynter must watch her friend obey his father’s untenable commands, as those they love are held to ransom. And at the heart of matters lies a war machine so lethal that none dare speak of it. The kingdom would belong to its master, yet the consequences of using it are too dire to consider. But temptation has ever been the enemy of reason.

The Magician’s Apprentice

Trudi Canavan (Orbit)

Publication Date: 8 April 2010

Paperback: 696 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Goodreads Summary:

In the remote village of Mandryn, Tessia serves as assistant to her father, the village Healer – much to the frustration of her mother, who would rather she found a husband. But her life is about to take a very unexpected turn. When treating a patient at the residence of the local magician, Lord Dakon, Tessia is forced to fight off the advances of a visiting Sachakan mage – and instinctively uses magic. She now finds herself facing an entirely different future as Lord Dakon’s apprentice. But along with the excitement and privilege, Tessia is about to discover that her magical gifts bring with them a great deal of responsibility. Events are brewing that will lead nations into war, rival magicians into conflict, and spark an act of sorcery so brutal that its effects will be felt for centuries …

Changes

Jim Butcher (Orbit)

Publication Date: 8 April 2010

Hardback: 438 pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Amazon Summary:

I answered the phone, no big deal, until I heard the message: ‘They’ve taken our daughter.’ Harry Dresden, professional wizard, has never faced anything like this. Arianna Ortega, Red Court vampire, blames Harry for her husband’s death – and she’s out for revenge. So her discovery that Susan Rodriguez had borne Harry a daughter was an unexpected gift. Arianna’s next step was to kidnap the girl and she plans to use her blood in a violent ritual sacrifice designed to kill Harry, Susan and their daughter. With the White Council of Wizards and the Red Court in a state of detente, Harry finds himself alone except for a handful of allies – resources utterly inadequate to challenging the Red King and his entire vampire Court. With the life of his child at stake, Susan’s humanity hanging in precarious balance and with his own death looming, Dresden must find a new source of strength. In the past, there had always been a line Harry wouldn’t cross, and though dark powers have tempted him time and again, he never gave in. But then, only his own life was at stake.

Angel’s Blood

Nalini Singh (Gollancz)

Publication Date: 11 Feb 2010

Paperback: 475 pages

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Goodreads Summary:

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn’t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break.

Supernatural: Heart of the Dragon

Keith R. A. DeCandido (Titan Books)

Publication Date: 26 Feb 2010

Paperback: 310 pages

Genre: Supernatural