This month's fantasy literature offerings include a swashbuckling tale of debt and monsters, a dystopian vision of societal control, and a detective story steeped in family feuds and dark secrets.
Ian Green's 'The Deep and the Drowned' introduces Killian, a privateer burdened by significant debt. Despite possessing psychic tomb-robbing abilities and a Berserker rage, Killian constantly battles to stay ahead of his troubles. The narrative escalates when he accepts a mission to pay off his debt, requiring him to navigate monster-infested waters while escorting a cold-hearted imperial official and her fanatical bodyguard. The novel is described as "outstandingly swashbuckling, outrageously gripping and out-of-this-world brilliant."
Richard Swan's 'The Infinite State' presents a "masterclass in storytelling," blending elements of dystopian nightmares akin to 'The Handmaid's Tale' with futuristic aesthetics reminiscent of 'Blade Runner.' The novel intertwines the lives of three characters—Katherine, a widowed party official; Cyprian, a jaded police officer; and Julian, an off-world speed merchant—all of whom have lost much under the oppressive Decurion state. Faced with limited options on their home planet, they consider a new beginning on a different world, a prospect the state cannot permit. The book is characterized by its "gritty, unflinching and suffocatingly atmospheric" tone.
Robert Jackson Bennett's 'A Trade of Blood' is a detective story that explores themes of murder and family conflict, featuring unusual elements such as oversized cattle and dexterous cats. The plot centers on a potential war between two powerful dynasties, ignited by the murder of one dynasty's daughter by the son of another. The narrative follows the astute detective Ana Dolabra and her assistant, Dinias Kol, as they investigate. Their inquiry uncovers a human infection linked to a fungal mutation previously used on animals, leading them to question who is responsible and what secrets lie hidden within an ancient forest. This mystery is lauded for its "utterly immersive, high-stakes" plot, seasoned with "sharp humour and grisly grotesquerie."
