Booklist: Karen and Priya are out for a night on the town when Karen’s irrepressible curiosity gets them entangled with a pair of spiritualists, a stage illusionist, and a riled-up tommy-knocker kidnapped from its mine.
The spiritualist Arcade sisters start it off with a bit of table knocking, but it could be a real “haint”—there’s a story, Karen tells us, about a man returned from Alaska who murdered everyone in the place. Then again, it could just be a grift. Priya, more cautious, is having none of it—which leaves Karen in the hotel with the Arcade sisters and Mrs. Horner, the illusionist, when the hotel starts shaking. The Arcade sisters have gotten the attention of something much more dangerous with their tricks.
Karen is an affable narrator and an enthusiastic investigator, and the story is an excellent adventure as well as a genuinely touching narrative about relationships and compromise; Bear’s (The Stone in the Skull, 2017) narrative skill and flair for both plot and character continue to impress.
Congratulations to Nicky Drayden! The Prey of Gods is a finalist for the 30th Annual 
RT Book Reviews: Although award-winning Bishop’s amazing new UF book is not about beloved characters Meg and Simon, it is thankfully still set in the world of the Others. Bishop moves the action and story to a tiny village adjacent to Lake Silence. The richness of the world that Bishop has created is truly impressive, and the perspectives of the Others, including their view on humanity, makes these stories unique and unforgettable.
Tor.com: Martha Wells is an amazing writer, whose work I’ve generally loved since first encountering THE ELEMENT OF FIRE. When her novella ALL SYSTEMS RED came out last year from Tor.com Publishing, it was a delight to see Wells turn her considerable talents to original science fiction – space operatic science fiction with a sense of humour and a deep well of kindness. This year will see two sequels published, ARTIFICIAL CONDITION (May) and ROGUE PROTOCOL (August), and—not a word of a lie—they’re both really good.
Audio rights to Hugo- and Nebula-nominated author Cherie Priest’s THE TOLL, to Brian Sweany at Recorded Books, at auction, by Jennifer Jackson and Michael Curry.
Portuguese rights (Portugal only) to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s LAKE SILENCE, a stand alone novel in the world of the Others, to Saída de Emergência, by Maru de Montserrat at International Editors Co. in association with Jennifer Jackson.