…ncy from those who would prey on them, the Houses in post-war Paris have become fortresses, hoarding their wealth and dependents and fighting each other for scraps of power. A House actually encompasses a small area of Paris: it’s not a building, but generally a series of streets and associated buildings. For instance, House Silverspires, the setting of much of the novel, covers the entirety of Ile de la Cité. Each House has a formal uniform with…

…innate magic heals them, they are at their most vulnerable: amnesiac and wounded and struggling to understand what they are doing in the mortal world. Needless to say, in a world where Paris is a devastated city where everyone struggles to survive, this makes newly Fallen particularly sought after–and generally not to give them hugs or flowers… The firstborn and foremost of Fallen is Lucifer Morningstar, the founder of House Silverspires on Ile de…

…e Epoque: there have been some changes since then, but the Belle Epoque is understandably seen as halcyon days, a Golden Age everyone more or less overtly longs for, or regrets. More next week! Read Chapter One! Where to Buy Hardback (US) Penguin Random House Amazon US Barnes and Noble US Indie Stores The Book Depository Trade Ppb (UK) Amazon UK Foyle’s Waterstones Blackwell’s WH Smith The Book Depository Ebook/Audio Amazon US (Kindle) Amazon UK (…

…dable, House Silverspires now lies in disarray. Its magic is ailing; its founder, Morningstar, has been missing for decades; and now something from the shadows stalks its people inside their very own walls. Within the House, three very different people must come together: a naive but powerful Fallen angel; an alchemist with a self-destructive addiction; and a resentful young man wielding spells of unknown origin. They may be Silverspires’ salvatio…

…and exile (with postapocalyptic mermaids and swarms of nanobots!). Buy at .com, .co.uk, .fr, or any other amazon places. I’ll look up into how to put it for sale on smashwords on days when I feel less lazy, promise… -Proud to announce I have sold “The Waiting Stars”, the space opera story I was working on last week (snippet here if you’re interested) to Athena Andreadis and Kay Holt’s The Other Half of the Sky, an anthology of feminist space opera…

…nd very much NOT your average urban fantasy. Plus, we definitely need more Brits trying out their hands at this sort of thing (I for one am getting tired of all those US settings and mindsets, and very much welcome stuff like Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London/Midnight Riot, and Suzanne MacLeod’s Spellcrackers.com). So, if you feel like checking it out, now’s the time… I’m off to preorder my own copy….

…r) -Antony at Science Fiction and Fantasy reviews the book: Servant of the Underworld is an intelligent, involving and very rewarding novel which I have no hesitation in recommendation to one and all. -Val reviews it at his blog: An interesting and unusual setting, a well rounded main character (did you ever meet a priest of the dead being the good guy in a fantasy novel?) and a brisk pace. This novel has a lot going for it. -Couple of reviews sho…

…their sockets, pleading, begging her to take him away. -(dark fantasy) “Golden Lilies”, Fantasy Magazine, August 2009. Came in the Top Five of the reader’s poll for 2009. Available in handy podcast format as well. A story of Chinese ghosts, bound feet and unsatiated desires. This one was a lot of fun to write–fair warning though, it’s pretty explicit and somewhat gruesome (the violence is somewhat peculiar, and no one dies, but it’s kind of squick…

…Sue Michniewicz) did a clean sweep, being nominated in Best Novel, Best Newcomer and Best Artwork. W00t, let’s hear it for translated fiction! (the website possibly has a textual version of the nominees, but I couldn’t find it. I direct you to this post instead) And, of course, the Hugos were also announced Sunday evening–mega congrats to everyone, but special mentions for Eugie Foster for being on the novelette ballot with her fabulous “Sinner, B…

…lable in handy podcast format as well at StarshipSofa. -(dark fantasy) “Golden Lilies”, Fantasy Magazine, August 2009. Came in the Top Five of the reader’s poll for 2009. Available in handy podcast format as well. -(epic-ish/philosophical fantasy) “In the Age of Iron and Ashes”, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, 31st December 2009. Also available in handy podcast format. Novelette (SF)“On Horizon’s Shores”, IGMS, issue 14, September 2009. Will email. You c…