Pre Pub Book Buzz: The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris

Ok, readers, this one might be a LEETLE far out (for us here in the States) but I really can't wait! So far I'm only seeing a UK release date of Feb 20, 2014 from Gollancz. I'm sure at some point we'll have it here in the US but I've no idea when. (I may have to order mine overseas come Feb.)

I very much enjoy Joanne Harris's work. Ever since my introduction to her with Five Quarters of the Orange, she's been on my must have list. This includes her excellent teen release, Runemarks, which - like Gospel of Loki - concerns Norse mythology. Though in this case Gospel of Loki does appear to be an adult title and I'm assuming no linked to Runemarks in any way other than the source material.

Here's a bit about The Gospel of Loki from the Goodreads entry:

The novel is a brilliant first-person narrative of the rise and fall of the Norse gods - retold from the point of view of the world's ultimate trickster, Loki. It tells the story of Loki's recruitment from the underworld of Chaos, his many exploits on behalf of his one-eyed master, Odin, through to his eventual betrayal of the gods and the fall of Asgard itself. Using her life-long passion for the Norse myths, Joanne Harris has created a vibrant and powerful fantasy novel.

Loki, that’s me.

Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies. Take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s at least as true as the official version, and, dare I say it, more entertaining.

So far, history, such as it is, has cast me in a rather unflattering role.

Now it’s my turn to take the stage.

With his notorious reputation for trickery and deception, and an ability to cause as many problems as he solves, Loki is a Norse god like no other. Demon-born, he is viewed with deepest suspicion by his fellow gods who will never accept him as one of their own and for this he vows to take his revenge. 

From his recruitment by Odin from the realm of Chaos, through his years as the go-to man of Asgard, to his fall from grace in the build-up to Ragnarok, this is the unofficial history of the world’s ultimate trickster.

Honestly, any new title from Joanne Harris would be featured here but the fact that this one is an adult fantasy makes it that much higher on my must have list!

Pre Pub Book Buzz: Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

I'm bringing back Pre Pub Book Buzz -- or Books I'm Stoked About -- Saturdays! Why? Because there are always a ton of upcoming releases I can't wait to read and Saturdays are kind of a free day to do promote those.

My recent Paul Cornell read and the upcoming Mike Shevdon release have me in the mood for another UK urban fantasy favorite, the latest Peter Grant installment from Ben Aaronovitch. Unfortunately I have absolutely no clue when this book is due out here in the States. I do know that it's slated for release on June 27 in the UK, so I may have to special order mine overseas.

Here's the description from Goodreads:

A mutilated body in Crawley. Another killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil; an associate of the twisted magician known as the Faceless Man? Or just a common or garden serial killer?

Before PC Peter Grant can get his head round the case a town planner going under a tube train and a stolen grimoire are adding to his case-load.

So far so London.

But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening in Elephant and Castle, on a housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans and inhabited by the truly desperate.

Is there a connection?

And if there is, why oh why did it have to be South of the River?

If you haven't read the series, the titles (in order) are:

Midnight Riot

Moon Over SoHo

Whispers Underground

And I'm just going to throw this out there, but I totally see Jesse Williams as Peter Grant when I read these.