Review: Demons of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison

Apr 242023
 

Booklist: After fighting for her position in Trouble with the Cursed (2022), Cincinnati subrosa (demon leader) Rachel Morgan must deal with an old enemy. Walter returns with a horde of alpha weres from outside the city, hoping to steal power over the city’s werewolves from Rachel’s ally David. On top of that, Rachel is being investigated by the coven of moral and ethical standards, initially for using an illegal dark curse and then for murder she didn’t commit. Coincidentally, Rachel’s lover, Trent, is suddenly being investigated for illicit genetic endeavors and Brimstone trade, plunging both their lives into more chaos than usual. After a rescue that involves trading with sullen demon Dali while hiding in the ever after, Rachel and Trent learn that the coven is planning to block demons from returning to reality, led by none other than Walter’s ally the Mage, and launch themselves into action to prevent it. Harrison delivers another page turner in the Hollows series, leaving readers wondering how Rachel will emerge from this crisis and which of her allies will survive it with her.

Review: Hybrid Heart by Iori Kusano

Apr 102023
 

Library Journal: Kusano, an Asian American living in Tokyo, makes their debut with this novella set in a near-future Japan, where people have software apps installed in their bodies that allow them to interact online in their minds, and human pop stars compete for fame against digital vocaloid singers. Rei is a human “idol,” an entertainer with a corporate manufactured image created for purely commercial purposes. She loves to sing and aspired to this life, but then her singing partner Ririko abandoned their idol life for love. Now Rei is even more strictly managed by Kosaka, who controls every aspect of her life from her songs and performances to what she eats and where she goes. Rei tries to navigate handling Kosaka and garnering more fame while still missing Ririko and obsessing over singer LYRICO, who hides behind an avatar. When Kosaka takes on a new, younger singer, Rei begins to see her life for what it is more clearly and has to decide what she wants for herself.

VERDICT Give this to fans of manga and anime for an insightful, speculative glimpse into Japanese pop culture.

March Translation Rights Deals

Mar 312023
 

French rights to USA Today bestselling author Cassandra Khaw’s HAMMERS ON BONE and A SONG FOR QUIET, to Argyll, by Sarah Dray at Anna Jarota Agency in association with Michael Curry.

German rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s CHANGES, GHOST STORY, COLD DAYS, SKIN GAME, PEACE TALKS, and BATTLE GROUND, Books 12-17 in the Dresden Files series, to Blanvalet, by Sarah Knofius at the Thomas Schlueck Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

German rights to LJ Andrew’s Curse of Shadows and Thorns, Court of Ice and Ash and Crown of Blood and Ruin, the first three books of The Broken Kingdoms series, to Blanvalet, in a pre-empt, by Sarah Knofius at Thomas Schlueck Agency, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

German renewal rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s FURIES OF CALDERON, ACADEM’S FURY, CURSOR’S FURY, CAPTAIN’S FURY, PRINCEPS’ FURY, and FIRST LORD’S FURY, the Codex Alera series, to Blanvalet, by Sarah Knofius at the Thomas Schlueck Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Italian rights to Seth Dickinson’s THE TRAITOR BARU CORMORANT, the first book in the Masquerade series, to Mondadori, by Stefania Fietta at Donzelli Fietta Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Italian kiosk edition rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ ALL SYSTEMS RED, ARTIFICIAL CONDITION, ROGUE PROTOCOL, and EXIT STRATEGY, the first four installments in the New York Times bestselling Murderbot Diaries series, to Mondadori, by Stefania Fietta at Donzelli Fietta Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Polish audio rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s PEACE TALKS and BATTLE GROUND, the sixteenth and seventeenth novels in the Dresden Files series, plus renewal of audio rights on the first 11 novels in the series, to Storytel, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava i Prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Polish rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ ALL SYSTEMS RED, ARTIFICIAL CONDITION, ROGUE PROTOCOL, and EXIT STRATEGY, the first four installments in the New York Times bestselling Murderbot Diaries series, to MAG Jacek Rodek, by Milena Kaplarević at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Polish rights to Ellen O’Clover’s SEVEN PERCENT OF RO DEVEREUX, to Kobiece, by Lola Dunton at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Hybrid Heart by Iori Kusano

Mar 282023
 

Rei is a pop idol in near future Japan trying to push past middling success despite competition from Vocaloid-style digital singers. Haunted by both guilt and the insidious manipulations of a controlling talent manager, Rei is forced to question what parts of herself—and those around her—she will sacrifice on the path to top billing.

Review: Hybrid Heart by Iori Kusano

Mar 232023
 

Publishers Weekly: Kusano brings the vibrant world of J-Pop into stunning clarity in their near-future debut novella. Rei must navigate the semidystopian world of Japanese pop idols as a solo act after her best friend and former duo member, Ririko, gets caught with a secret boyfriend despite a contractual obligation not to fall in love. In the wake of this scandal, Rei’s success hinges on her role as the singing voice of a character on a popular anime, and her overbearing manager frequently reminds her how tenuous her career is. Meanwhile, she can’t help being drawn to the music of her main competitor, a lifelike computer-generated idol called Lyrico. With a hotshot young recruit to Rei’s talent agency nipping at her heels, Rei must work out her feelings for Lyrico and determine if the new trainee will be friend or foe. Rei makes for a fascinating protagonist held captive in a glittering world. The author holds readers in a similarly tight grip, immersing them in imagined future Japanese pop culture. Kusano shows real promise.

Review: Demons of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison

Mar 172023
 

Library Journal: Rachel Morgan knew that taking the position of demon subrosa—protector of Cincinnati’s supernatural residents—would be another way to get into trouble. When she discovers that a group of werewolves are after the focus that her friend David holds, it is just the beginning of the problems headed her way. From coven grumblings about a witch-born demon still walking, a vampire-turned-mouse causing havoc in her home, and a mysterious mage framing Rachel and her friends for various crimes, it may take more than a few twisted charms to get out of these predicaments. Harrison leads readers further into the logistics of human and paranormal races coexisting together, and Rachel’s emotional arc continues to grow as she lets others in, but she is still a delightfully defensive heroine. An interesting revelation at the end will have long-term readers excited for the next book.

VERDICT The latest in the “Hollows” series, after Trouble with the Cursed, contains all the magical action, emotional tension, and snippy dialogue that fans adore.

2022 Nebula Award Nominees

Mar 132023
 

Congratulations to our DMLA authors who have been nominated for a 2022 Nebula Award!

Nebula Award for Novel

  • Nona the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir (Tordotcom)

Nebula Award for Novella

  • “Bishop’s Opening”, R.S.A. Garcia (Clarkesworld 1/22)
  • Even Though I Knew the End, C.L. Polk (Tordotcom)

Nebula Award for Novelette

  • “Two Hands, Wrapped in Gold”, S.B. Divya (Uncanny 5–6/22)

Nebula Award for Short Story

  • “Douen”, Suzan Palumbo (The Dark 3/22)

The Queen’s Price by Anne Bishop

Mar 072023
 

Enter the dark and sensual realms of the Black Jewels in this sweeping story in the New York Times bestselling fantasy saga of three young women who must navigate life within the powerful SaDiablo family—and come to terms with Witch, the Queen who is still the heart and will of that family.

The Queen’s price is to stand against what you know is wrong. To stand and fight, no matter the cost to your court or to yourself. Especially to yourself.

Zoey, a young Queen-in-training at SaDiablo Hall, is wounded…and vulnerable to taunts and criticism. When an opportunity arises to befriend a stranger seeking sanctuary at the Hall, she puts herself and others in danger by ignoring Daemonar Yaslana’s warning to back off.

Meanwhile, the witch Jillian’s family prepares for her Virgin Night, the rite of passage that assures a woman will retain her power and her Jewels. The trouble is Jillian secretly went through the ceremony already. Now she has to explain the omission of that detail to her powerful and lethal family.   And the High Lord of Hell’s daughter, Saetien, travels to Scelt to find out about Jaenelle Angelline’s sister—and perhaps to discover truths about herself.

With some guidance from Witch, these three young women will learn when to yield because it is right—and when to take a stand, even if they must pay the Queen’s price.

Review: The Witch King by Martha Wells

Mar 032023
 

Library Journal: Demon Prince Kai awakens in his own tomb, alone and unable to remember how he got there, although he knows he must have been betrayed. He’ll have to recover his companions, retrace his steps, both in the past and in the present, and consume the life energy of anyone who gets in his way. After all, Kai is the Witch King, and he can’t let anyone stand in the way of protecting his loved ones. Kai and his dearest companions saved their world from an all-consuming conqueror. His betrayal is an attempt to undo that work, and Kai must figure out whom he needs to kill this time around. The world is wide-open, its peoples are not the usual fantasy suspects, and the power of both friendship and heartbreak pushes the story on at a breathless pace.

VERDICT:  After the rousing success of “The Murderbot Diaries,” Wells has returned to her fantasy roots in a tale of revolt, rebellion, and betrayal. Readers looking for more Murderbot may be disappointed, but fantasy readers looking for new worlds and characters to explore will be enthralled.

February Translation Rights Deals

Feb 282023
 

Arabic rights to Martha Wells’ ALL SYSTEMS RED, ARTIFICIAL CONDITION, ROGUE PROTOCOL, EXIT STRATEGY, NETWORK EFFECT, and FUGITIVE TELEMETRY, the first six installments in the New York Times bestselling Murderbot Diaries series, to Yatakhayaloon, by Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Bulgarian rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ ALL SYSTEMS RED, ARTIFICIAL CONDITION, ROGUE PROTOCOL, and EXIT STRATEGY, the first four installments in the New York Times bestselling Murderbot Diaries series, to Studio of A, by Milena Kaplarević at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Czech rights to Robert McCammon’s GONE SOUTH, to Dobrovsky by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

French renewal rights to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s WRITTEN IN RED, the first book in the Others series, to Bragelonne, by Marie-France Heinic at Anna Jarota Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

French rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ WITCH KING, to L’Atlante, by Sarah Dray at Anna Jarota Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Polish rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ WITCH KING, to Grupa Wydawnicza Foksal, by Milena Kaplarević at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Swedish rights to Nnedi Okorafor’s REMOTE CONTROL, Pernilla Ståhl at Palaver Press by Katie Shea Boutillier.
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