“First comes smiles, then lies. Last is gunfire.”

—Roland Deschain, of Gilead

Welcome to A Read of the Dark Tower series. Join me each week as I, Constant Reader, tackle the magnum opus of Stephen King’s career for the first time. If you want to discuss in general terms or talk about these first sections, join me by commenting here.

We last left our story with Jake and Oy slipping out and crossing the river at night while Benny is sleeping, and overhearing Andy and Ben Sr. at the “Dogan.”

[Read this week’s post.]

Twenty-one new paranormals hit the romance aisles in May. Who says paranormal is dead? Look for additions to long-running series this month from Terry Spear (Heart of the Wolf 11); Laura Wright (Mark of the Vampire 5); Joey W. Hill (Vampire Queen 9); Nancy Gideon (Moonlight 8); Cynthia Eden (Fallen 4); Alexandra Ivy (Guardians of Eternity 10); and Christine Feehan (Leopard People 6).

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read about this month’s releases.]

And so it is that, with bloody tears streaming down our pasty cheeks, we bid farewell to Sookie and Eric and Pam and Bill as the final book in Charlaine Harris’ wildly popular Southern Vampire series comes to a conclusion with the release of Dead Ever After. And yet…there are twenty-three other urban fantasies hitting the virtual shelves this month, including new series additions from Jocelynn Drake, Rachel Caine, Alyson Noel, Joely Skye, S.M. Stirling, Patricia Briggs, Molly Harper, Jenn Bennett, Jill Archer, Nicole Peeler, Mike Shevdon, and Jacquelyn Frank.

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read about this month’s releases.]

Fourteen new genre-benders are flowering in May, including new series additions from Steven Harper (Clockwork Empire), Lilith Saintcrow (Bannon and Clare), and Kady Cross (Steampunk Chronicles), a slew of new short fiction from the folks here at tor.com, and new series starts in the YA world from Margarel Stohl, Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr, Amy Tintera, and Rick Yancey.

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read about this month’s releases.]

Sixteen new releases will be propelled into readerspace this month, including new series additions from Gini Koch (Katherine “Kitty” Kat), Eric Flint/Ryk E. Spoor (Boundary), Jack Campbell (Beyond the Frontier), Neal Asher (Owner Trilogy), and Chris Moriarty (Spin Trilogy). Also, look for a new Honorverse companion book from David Weber and the release of the full The Human Division novel from John Scalzi, originally released as a thirteen-part serial.

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read about this month’s releases.]

Nineteen new fantasies welcome the onset of warm weather (at least where it’s not still snowing), including new series additions from Ian C. Esslemont (Malazan Empire/US), Erin Hoffman (Chaos Knights), Erin Hunter (Survivors), Raymond E. Feist (Chaoswar Saga), K.D. McEntire (Lightbringer), Daniel Abraham (The Dagger and the Coin), and L.E. Modesitt Jr. (Imager Portfolio). Barb Hendee and Jean Johnson weigh in with new series starts. Also new this month: the addition of some digital-only or digital-first releases, although the list is by no means inclusive.

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read about the May releases.]

“First comes smiles, then lies. Last is gunfire.”

—Roland Deschain, of Gilead

Welcome to A Read of the Dark Tower series. Join me each week as I, Constant Reader, tackle the magnum opus of Stephen King’s career for the first time. If you want to discuss in general terms or talk about these first sections, join me by commenting here.

We last left our story with Eddie and Roland returning from the door in the cave after Eddie’s trip to New York, both aware that Jake is among traitors.

[Read this week’s post.]

“First comes smiles, then lies. Last is gunfire.”

—Roland Deschain, of Gilead

Welcome to A Read of the Dark Tower series. Join me each week as I, Constant Reader, tackle the magnum opus of Stephen King’s career for the first time. If you want to discuss in general terms or talk about these first sections, join me by commenting here.

We last left our story with Eddie teaching a little gunslinger etiquette to George Biondi and Jack Andolini before sending a warning to Balazar to leave Calvin Tower alone.

[Read this week’s post]

“First comes smiles, then lies. Last is gunfire.”

—Roland Deschain, of Gilead

Welcome to A Read of the Dark Tower series. Join me each week as I, Constant Reader, tackle the magnum opus of Stephen King’s career for the first time. If you want to discuss in general terms or talk about these first sections, join me by commenting here.

We last left our story with Eddie determined to use Black Thirteen and go todash to New York alone, in order to procure the vacant lot from Calvin Tower.

[Read this week’s post.]

“First comes smiles, then lies. Last is gunfire.”

—Roland Deschain, of Gilead

Welcome to A Read of the Dark Tower series. Join me each week as I, Constant Reader, tackle the magnum opus of Stephen King’s career for the first time. If you want to discuss in general terms or talk about these first sections, join me by commenting here.

We last left our story with Susannah telling the rest of the ka-tet the shocking news that she “might be a little bit in the family way.”

[Read this week’s post.]

“First comes smiles, then lies. Last is gunfire.”

—Roland Deschain, of Gilead

Welcome to A Read of the Dark Tower series. Join me each week as I, Constant Reader, tackle the magnum opus of Stephen King’s career for the first time. If you want to discuss in general terms or talk about these first sections, join me by commenting here.

We last left our story with Callahan finally telling the others the rest of his story, and he’d gotten to the point where he’d hit rock bottom—in a jail cell in Topeka.

[Read this week’s post.]

Twenty-one is the age one needs to have reached in order to check out this month’s twenty-one steamy paranormal romance releases. There are new series starts from Thea Harrison and Kate Douglas, and series additions from Shannon K. Butcher, Kylie Griffin, N.J. Walters, Hannah Howell, Michele Bardsley, Zoe Archer, Moira Rogers, Lynn Kurland, and Karina Cooper.

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read this month’s releases.]

Twenty-three new urban fantasy titles give readers’ wallets a little break after the March onslaught. Still, there are new series additions from Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock); M.J. Scott (Half-Light City); Michael Grant (Gone); Kelley Armstrong (Darkness Rising); Karen Mahoney (Iron Witch); Tim Lebbon (Toxic City); Darren Shan (Zom-B); Kimberly Derting (Body Finder); Kevin Anderson (Dan Shamble); Amanda Carlson (Jessica McClain); MLN Hanover (Black Sun’s Daughter); and Caitlin Kittredge (Black London).

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read about this month’s releases.]

Thirteen new genre-benders are blooming out this spring, including what’s being billed as the “most comprehensive compendium ever” on Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, something all Constant Readers will want to check out. There are also new series additions from Rusty Fischer, E.E. Knight, and Anna Carey, a new series start from A.A. Aguirre, a new Interworld novel from Neil Gaiman, Michael Reaves, and Mallory Reaves, and new stories from Walter Mosley.

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read about this month’s releases.]

Science fiction fans will find a quiet fourteen new releases this month, including new series additions from C.J. Cherryh, Ian Douglas, Ian Tregellis, and B.V. Larson, new series starts from Neve Maslakovic and Stacey Kade, and a handful of standalones. (Let’s hear it for standalones!)

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read about this month’s releases.]

Seventeen new fantasies hit the shelves in April, including five Young Adult titles (or are they sci-fi? Or genre-benders? Or romance?). A new standalone comes from Guy Gavriel Kay to kick off the month, plus there are series additions from Mercedes Lackey/Rosemary Edghill, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, John Marco, Mary Robinette Kowal, Robin Hobb, Freda Warrington, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Jenna Black—plus an anthology of animal tales chosen by Neil Gaiman.

Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here.

Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.

[Read about this month’s releases.]

“First comes smiles, then lies. Last is gunfire.”

—Roland Deschain, of Gilead

Welcome to A Read of the Dark Tower series. Join me each week as I, Constant Reader, tackle the magnum opus of Stephen King’s career for the first time. If you want to discuss in general terms or talk about these first sections, join me by commenting here.

We last left our story with Eddie, Suze, Jake and Oy sitting on the porch of Took’s Store, talking to locals, and Roland climbing up to the cave with the Manni chief, Henchick, and hearing the story of how the Manni found Callahan when he came through the door with Black Thirteen.

[Read this week’s chapter.]

“First comes smiles, then lies. Last is gunfire.”

—Roland Deschain, of Gilead

Welcome to A Read of the Dark Tower series. Join me each week as I, Constant Reader, tackle the magnum opus of Stephen King’s career for the first time. If you want to discuss in general terms or talk about these first sections, join me by commenting here.

We last left our story as Jake has witnessed some disturbing things—Susannah as Mia, eating a live baby pig, and Benny the Elder having a clandestine meeting with Andy by the river.

[Read this week’s chapter.]

“First comes smiles, then lies. Last is gunfire.”

—Roland Deschain, of Gilead

Welcome to A Read of the Dark Tower series. Join me each week as I, Constant Reader, tackle the magnum opus of Stephen King’s career for the first time. If you want to discuss in general terms or talk about these first sections, join me by commenting here.

We last left our story as “Gran-Pere” Jamie Jaffords finished telling the story of how a woman threw an oriza to kill one of the Wolves back in the old days.

[Read this week’s chapter.]