In honor of book blogger appreciation week 2010, I’m submitting some of the best reviews from Fantasy Book News. Below is a sampling.
Posts Tagged With: Brandon Sanderson
Fantasy Blogosphere: June 13, 2010
Brandon Sanderson is making the rounds, with The Way of Kings slated for release in August. He’s interviewed at The Dragon Page, Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist and Tor.com over the past few weeks, and The Way of Kings sounds like its going to be a great one. Also reviewed this week is Swords & Dark Magic, an anthology in the classic sword & sorcery genre featuring tales by newer authors like Steven Erickson, Scott Lynch, Joe Abercrombie, and many others you’ll recognize. We’ve found reviews of books by Jim Butcher, Tad Williams, Scott Lynch, Stephen King, and Guy Gavriel Kay among other reviews that hit the fantasy blogosphere recently. Wrapping up this week don’t miss the cover art that was recently released for Scott Lynch’s forthcoming The Republic of Thieves; its a beautiful cover for what is likely to be an equally beautiful novel.
- Review: Swords & Dark Magic Anthology by Various @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
- Review: Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher @ Steve’s Fantasy Book Reviews
- Review: Changes by Jim Butcher @ BC Books
- Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch @ Steve’s Fantasy Book Reviews
- Review: Shadowmarch by Tad Williams @ Margaret Bowling
- Review: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin @ Fantasy Magazine
- Review: The Dawning of Three by Stephen King @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
- Review: Rhone by John A. Karr @ Fantasy Book Critic
- Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfield @ Book Geeks
- Review: The Magicians by Lev Grossman @ BC Books
- Review: Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay @ SF Signal
- Interview: Brandon Sanderson @ The Dragon Page
- Interview: Brandon Sanderson @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
- Interview: Brandon Sanderson @ Tor.com
- Interview: Lev Grossman on The Magicians @ Express Night Out
- Interview: Tad Williams on Shadowrise and Shadowmarch @ Fantasy Book Critic
- Interview: Guy Gavriel Kay @ Suvudu
- Interview: Tracy Hickman on Eventide @ Adventures in SciFi
- Covers: The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Fantasy Blogosphere: April 18, 2010
We’ve got reviews of Mistborn, The Name of the Wind, and Leviathan this week, along with a great post over at SF Signal that features a great summary of quality sword & sorcery novels. GRRM fans should get ready to have scenes with Dani in the new A Game of Thrones HBO series shine as its rumored that they’re breathing life into the dothraki by creating a language to be used on the show. We’ve also found a few great author blog posts this week, from both Pat Rothfuss and Guy Gavriel Kay. And finally, check out the cool box set of art inspired by Stephen King novels.
- Review: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson @ Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
- Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss @ Arts & Faith
- Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfield (and other steampunk opinion) @ The Barnes & Noble Review
- Reviews: The Best Sword & Sorcery @ SF Signal
- TV: Dothraki language to be created for A Game of Thrones HBO series @ GeekTyrant
- Interview: Peter V. Brett @ Writer’s Grove
- Author Blogs: Pat Rothfuss on fan fiction @ Patrick Rothfuss’ blog
- Author Blogs: Guy Gavriel Kay on magic realism (4/12 post) @ Under Heaven blog
- Art: Stephen King art box set released @ Missions Unknown!
Fantasy Blogosphere: April 4, 2010
Do we have some golden eggs this week? I think so! Its Easter, and we’ve found reviews of books by Brandon Sanderson, Guy Gavriel Kay, Daniel Abraham and more. Also, check out an interview with George R.R. Martin and Daniel Abraham, and get GRRM’s most recent update on the 2011 Song of Ice & Fire calendar. Those calendars are so hard to find! I ordered my 2009 one on Amazon.com, only to receive an e-mail from Amazon three months into the year that they gave up trying to fill stock. Happy Easter!
- Review: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson @ Blood of the Muse
- Review: Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
- Review: The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett @ A Dribble of Ink
- Review: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin @ Suite 101
- Review: The Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts @ Genre Reader
- Review: The Gunslinger by Stephen King @ Only the Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
- Review: The Sword of Albion by Mark Chadbourn @ Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review
- Review: A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham @ The Wertzone
- Interview: George R.R. Martin and Daniel Abraham @ Newsarama
- Covers: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie @ Orbit
- Calendars: George R.R. Martin on the 2011 Song of Ice & Fire calendar @ GRRM’s personal blog
And just for kicks this week (and to feature a video again, its been so long!), here’s some advice from your favorite super hero, Aquaman:
Fantasy Blogosphere: March 7, 2010
Four reviews kick off our fantasy blogosphere roundup this week, with reviews of books by Tad Williams, Joe Abercrombie, Ian C. Esslemont and Seressia Glass. Following this is the fantastic news that HBO has approved A Game of Thrones, so we’ll be seeing something more than a static image soon. A few covers were released this week, for Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings, and Brent Weeks’ The Black Prism. Check out the interview with Brandon for his comments on his new series. I’m not sure I’m into the new photo realistic cover as exhibited on Weeks’ novel; we’ll have to keep an eye on this and see if it becomes a trend. And last but not least, some sort of explanation as to why Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter made the Amazon top 5 yesterday.
- Review: Shadowrise by Tad Williams @ BookGeeks
- Review: The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie @Peter V Brett
- Review: Night of Knives by Ian C. Esslemont @ BSC Review
- Review: Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass @ SciFi & Fantasy Lovin’ News & Reviews
- News: BO greenlights A Game of Thrones @ Airlock Alpha
- News: Terry Brooks sells three more Shannara books @ GalleyCat
- Interview: Brandon Sanderson discusses The Way of Kings @ Suvudu
- Covers: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson @ Tor
- Covers: The Black Prism by Brent Weeks @ Orbit
- Background: Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter @ Thaindian News
Fantasy Blogosphere: January 10, 2010
I don’t think we’ve ever had a more eclectic brew on the Fantasy Blogosphere. We start this week off with a pair of reviews at Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist and Grasping for the Wind, and balance those out nicely with three interviews, including the second we’ve spotlighted in the “Patrick Rothfuss interviews other fantasy authors” series. He’s following up his interview with Joe Abercrombie with a conversation with Brent Weeks. We touch on a new novella by Steven Erikson, give Brandon Sanderson the nod for his work on The Gathering Storm, and round out the week with a lesson on writing from George R.R. Martin, and the icing on the cake: a cage match between Steven Erikson and R. Scott Bakker. Mmm, Tasty.
- Review: Horus Rising by Dan Abnett @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
- Review: Shadow Prowler by Alexy Pehov @ Grasping for the Wind
- Interview: Patrick Rothfuss interviews Brent Weeks @ Patrick Rothfuss’ site
- Interview: Guy Gavriel Kay @ Book Banter
- Interview: Peter S. Beagle @ Alethea Kontis
- News: Steven Erikson novella Crack’d Pot Trail @ Fantasy Book Review
- News: Brandon Sanderson’s work on The Gathering Storm not too shabby @ The Gateway
- Education: Learn to Write Good by George R.R. Martin @ GRRM’s blog
- Cage Match: Steven Erikson vs R. Scott Bakker @ The League of Ordinary Gentlemen
Top 10 Fantasy Books for 2010
Here’s my list of the books I’m most excited to read in 2010. The first three are not released yet, and are possibly the most highly anticipated fantasy novels slated for (potential) release in 2010. Picks 4-6 are historical fiction, or some twist on the sub-genre. Books 7-9 are continuations, if not necessarily in the same series, of authors I’ve already read at least once. And my final pick is a classic thrown in for good measure.
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
I know its been five years since A Feast for Crows. But Pat over at Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist has this book slated for release in 2010, and he knows George R.R. Martin personally. Coincidence? Hopefully, for legions of A Song of Ice and Fire Fans, its a bit more.

The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch
The first two books in Scott Lynch’s fantasy debut series have redefined the meaning of action fantasy. Saying the third book in this seven book series is highly anticipated is like saying Tiger Woods made a boo-boo. In other words, its going to be huge.

The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
Patrick Rothfuss delivered a home run with his first novel, The Name of the Wind, and rightfully earned himself a seat among the top dogs in the fantasy novel industry. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that we’ll see this one drop in 2010.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
With a degree in anthropology, Steven Erikson’s ability with characterization should be fantastic. Gardens of the Moon is the first book in the ten book Malazan Book of the Fallen series. With historical fiction gaining traction in the industry and the popularity of the later novels in this series recently, I’m interested to get Erikson’s take on fantasy novels.

Acacia by David Anthony Durham
Durham has traveled the world, and lived in Scotland for a number of years, before landing in California as a Creative Writing professor at California State University. He’s made a name for himself writing novels involving The American Civil War, Carthage and the war with the Roman Republic. Acacia is his first attempt in the epic fantasy genre, and has made some noise in the industry.

Top 10 Fantasy Books of 2009
Okay, so I want to make sure we’re clear before diving in: this is not a list of the best fantasy books released in 2009, but rather the top books read and reviewed here at Fantasy Book News in 2009. That said, there are some newer books, and some classics, but overall this is an elite list of fantasy novels that any avid reader should check out. And away we go.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
While this series is going on fifteen years, I gave a re-read to the first novel in the Song of Ice and Fire series in 2009, in audio book format. The book still has the same enchanting effect as the first time I read it, and is still the standard to which I compare most other fantasy books, and absolutely any epic fantasy books. Check out the full review of A Game of Thrones.
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
The second book in Lynch’s seven book Gentlemen Bastards series delivered what many creative people struggle to accomplish time and time again: give the audience a better experience than the original. Red Seas Under Red Skies upped the stakes from The Lies of Locke Lamora, and hit ended up hitting a grand slam. Read the full review of Red Seas Under Red Skies.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
This whopping freshman fantasy novel by Rothfuss completely transports you to another world, which is one of the goals that every fantasy novel aspires to. Believe me, I read most of it while lounging poolside in Araxa, Brazil, and I can’t tell you how many times I forgot my beautiful surroundings for the world that Rothfuss creates. Check out the full review of The Name of the Wind.
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
The quintessential fairy tale, The Last Unicorn is simply a beautiful story. Get lost in a world of fantasy and magic, complimented with a fantastically original plot and a genuine sense of humor. Read the full review of The Last Unicorn.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn is an absolutely beautiful novel. Its got everything that a fantasy reader looks for: insanely original devices, characters you can identify with, tons of action, and wholesome undercurrents. We have a full review of Mistborn over here.





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