December/Xmas Book Haul

December is a month where I usually look forward to a few bookish gifts that are from people other than myself … but, I love me very much so obviously I bought myself a few to go along with those I’ve been gifted by others.

Hope those of you who celebrate Christmas have had a good one.

Physical Book/E-books:

AS AN EMPIRE DIES, THREE WARRIORS WILL RISE. THEY MUST RIDE THE STORM OR DROWN IN ITS BLOOD.

The kingdom of Kisia is divided, held together only by the will of the god-emperor. When an act of betrayal shatters an alliance with the neighbouring land of Chiltae, all that has been won comes crashing down.

Now, as the fires of war spread, a warrior, an assassin and a princess must chase their ambitions, no matter the cost.

War built the Kisian Empire. And now war will tear it down.

Title: We Ride The Storm

Author: Devin Madson

Publisher: Orbit

Genre: Fantasy

The Sukai Dynasty has ruled the Phoenix Empire for over a century, their mastery of bone shard magic powering the monstrous constructs that maintain law and order. But now the emperor’s rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire’s many islands.

Lin is the Emperor’s daughter, but a mysterious illness has stolen her childhood memories and her status as heir to the empire. Trapped in a palace of locked doors and old secrets, Lin vows to reclaim her birthright by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

But the mysteries behind such power are dark and deep, and wielding her family’s magic carries a great cost. When the revolution reaches the gates of the palace itself, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her throne – and save her people.

Title: The Bone Shard Daughter

Author: Andrea Stewart

Publisher: Orbit

Genre: Fantasy

On December 26th, 1985, Whitley Strieber was woken in his isolated cabin in upstate New York, he saw a creature in his bedroom. His next memory is sitting in the woods around the cabin. Hypnosis revealed that Whitley Strieber had been abducted by a UFO and that he had been subjected to medical testing by aliens. Strieber came to realise that he had been abducted by these alien life forms for most of his life, and began to record his experiences with visitors from ‘elsewhere’.

Whether the reader believes or not his story it will fascinate and terrify. The sincerity and detail of Strieber’s account of his experiences is powerful and it will force every reader to ask: what are the aliens trying to communicate, are they here to guide and transform mankind, has the greatest mystery of our time been solved? Is Whitley Strieber an ambassador for beings from another world to contact mankind?

Title: Communion

Author: Whitley Strieber

Publisher: Souvenir Press

Genre: Non-Fiction

A suspicious accident, a prized asteroid, and a game of politics to decide who rules the galaxy. Someone’s making a power play, but who?

Captain Greg Daniels of the DSM Boone is a handful of asteroids away from retiring when his plans are threatened by an explosion on his ship. With the risk of another more lethal attack, Greg must locate the source of the explosion or he’ll lose more than the priceless rock he just obtained – he’ll lose his life.

On the Lunar Community, Final Frontier Mining Director David Rivera has his sights set on becoming Prime Minister of the ISC. His hopes rest on ace miner, Daniels, bringing in the most profitable asteroid in the company’s history to keep himself in the spotlight. But when he discovers a conspiracy to destroy his company and put a stop to his political aspirations, David must hunt down his mysterious hacker while trying to save Greg, DSM Boone, and the asteroid it has secured.

One man fights for survival in deep space, another on the moon, but is there someone else pulling the strings of both? Only if they can work together, will they find the answers they need to survive.

Title: Lasso

Author: Mike Coville

Publisher: Indie Author

Genre: Science Fiction

When a body of a woman is discovered at a lighthouse in the Icelandic town of Akranes, it soon becomes clear that she’s no stranger to the area.

Chief Investigating Officer Elma, who has returned to Akranes following a failed relationship, and her collegues Sævar and Hörður, commence an uneasy investigation, which uncovers a shocking secret in the dead woman’s past that continues to reverberate in the present day

But as Elma and her team make a series of discoveries, they bring to light a host of long-hidden crimes that shake the entire community. Sifting through the rubble of the townspeople’s shattered memories, they have to dodge increasingly serious threats, and find justice before it’s too late.

Title: The Creak On The Stairs

Author: Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir

Series: Forbidden Iceland #1

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Thriller

As the leaves fall, he’s coming for you . . .

One October morning in a quiet suburb, the police make a terrible discovery.

A young woman is found brutally murdered with one of her hands missing.

Above her hangs a small doll made of chestnuts.

Examining the doll, Forensics are shocked to find a fingerprint belonging to a young girl, kidnapped and murdered a year ago.

Can a new killer be the key to an old crime?

And will his spree be over when winter arrives – or is he only just getting started?

Title: The Chestnut Man

Author: Søren Sveistrup

Publisher: Penguin

Genre: Thriller

A horrifying crime.

Water-tight evidence points to a single suspect.

Except he was seventy miles away, with an iron-clad alibi.

Detective Anderson sets out to investigate the impossible: how can the suspect have been both at the scene of the crime and in another town?

Title: The Outsider

Author: Stephen King

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Genre: Thriller

Audio Books:

Don your deerstalker and break out your magnifying glass, Queen Victoria is missing and the British Empire needs you. Join Holmes and Watson in this gripping Audible Original drama as they battle to rescue the Queen with the help of an unusual ally, arch-nemesis Moriarty.

Title: Sherlock Holmes & The Voice of Treason

Author: George Mann & Cavan Scott

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genre: Thriller/Historical Fiction/Audio Drama

Ebenezer Scrooge is not a fan of Christmas. In fact, he dislikes most things, but especially people. Bah humbug!

But one Christmas Eve he is visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come, and so begins a transformational evening for the mean and miserly man.

Title: A Christmas Carol

Author: Charles Dickens

Publisher: Audible

Genre: Historical Fictiuon

A dinner party is held in the penthouse of a multimillion-pound development. All the guests are strangers – even to their host, the billionaire owner of the building.

None of them know why they were selected to receive his invitation. Besides a postcode, they share only one thing in common – they’ve all experienced an unsettling occurrence within the building’s walls.

By the end of the night, their host is dead, and none of the guests will say what happened.

His death remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries – until now.

Title: Thirteen Storeys

Author: Jonathan Sims

Publisher: Gollancz

Genre: Horror

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