Mogsy's Pick:
The Leopard by K.V. Johansen: June 10, 2014 (Pyr Books)
The Leopard is the first book of a two-series, set in the same world but can be read apart from K.V. Johansen's Blackdog. I have an ARC so I'm not technically waiting, but I'm still really looking forward to it and also wanted to feature that lovely cover. And if you think that's pretty, check out the equally stunning cover to book two, The Lady, coming out this winter (and will be featured in a future WoW too, no doubt!)
"Part one of a
two-book epic fantasy, set in a world as richly drawn as J.R.R.
Tolkien's Middle Earth, but with Mideastern and Eastern flavors.
In the days of the first kings in the North, there were seven devils…
Ahjvar, the assassin known as the Leopard, wants only to die, to end the curse that binds him to a life of horror. Although he has no reason to trust the goddess Catairanach or her messenger Deyandara, fugitive heir to a murdered tribal queen, desperation leads him to accept her bargain: if he kills the mad prophet known as the Voice of Marakand, Catairanach will free him of his curse. Accompanying him on his mission is the one person he has let close to him in a lifetime of death, a runaway slave named Ghu. Ahj knows Ghu is far from the half-wit others think him, but in Marakand, the great city where the caravan roads of east and west meet, both will need to face the deepest secrets of their souls, if either is to survive the undying enemies who hunt them and find a way through the darkness that damns the Leopard.
To Marakand, too, come a Northron wanderer and her demon verrbjarn lover, carrying the obsidian sword Lakkariss, a weapon forged by the Old Great Gods to bring their justice to the seven devils who escaped the cold hells so long before."
In the days of the first kings in the North, there were seven devils…
Ahjvar, the assassin known as the Leopard, wants only to die, to end the curse that binds him to a life of horror. Although he has no reason to trust the goddess Catairanach or her messenger Deyandara, fugitive heir to a murdered tribal queen, desperation leads him to accept her bargain: if he kills the mad prophet known as the Voice of Marakand, Catairanach will free him of his curse. Accompanying him on his mission is the one person he has let close to him in a lifetime of death, a runaway slave named Ghu. Ahj knows Ghu is far from the half-wit others think him, but in Marakand, the great city where the caravan roads of east and west meet, both will need to face the deepest secrets of their souls, if either is to survive the undying enemies who hunt them and find a way through the darkness that damns the Leopard.
To Marakand, too, come a Northron wanderer and her demon verrbjarn lover, carrying the obsidian sword Lakkariss, a weapon forged by the Old Great Gods to bring their justice to the seven devils who escaped the cold hells so long before."
Sounds pretty good :)
ReplyDeleteStill undecided. I was unable to finish Blackdog despite some good points, but that was before I had much fantasy under my belt and now wonder if it had a Gardens of the Moon thing; too tough a read for beginners.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe I just want to like it because of its cover. pretty pretty cover.
Yeah, it's funny you mentioned Gardens of the Moon because I couldn't really get into that either and that was because I was so new to fantasy at the time. Reading The Leopard now should be interesting.
DeleteI just nabbed the eARC of this last week - great pick!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my WOW.
I think I saw that :) Hope you'll enjoy this too!
DeleteThis one is new to me but not really into this genre. I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteCheck out our WOW.
Also check out our OUAT 4 year Giveaway.
Leydy @OUaT & RCE
Sounds like it will be an awesome read. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletemy WOW: http://www.bookythoughtsandme.com/waiting-wednesday-otherwise-engaged/
now I have to go check this one out....you are so in the know
ReplyDelete