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Books Fiction Affliction

Fiction Affliction: January Releases in Urban Fantasy

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Published on December 29, 2011

New book releases in urban fantasy in January 2012
New book releases in urban fantasy in January 2012

Got all those holiday gift cards for books ready to go? Thirty new adult and YA urban fantasy books arrive in January just in time for those New Year’s reading resolutions.

New series titles include installments from Faith Hunter, Darynda Jones, and Diana Rowland, plus the final book in Andrea Cremer’s Nightshade trilogy. Check out Australian author Daniel O’Malley’s debut The Rook to see what all the buzz is about, and The Bride Wore Black Leather to see if John Taylor and Suzie Shooter can make a go of marriage without destroying Simon R. Green’s Nightside. And how will megazillion indy celebrity Amanda Hocking’s first novel fare in traditional print

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

 

WEEK ONE

Never to Sleepby Rachel Vincent (Jan. 1, Harlequin)

Don’t Close Your Eyes. Sophie Cavanaugh is not going to let her freak of a cousin’s strange psychiatric condition ruin high school for them both. Not after all the work she’s put into cultivating the right look, and friends, and reputation. But then, Sophie sees something so frightening she lets out a blood-curdling scream—and finds herself stuck in a bizarre parallel world where nothing is safe and deadly creatures lurk just out of sight, waiting for her to close her eyes and sleep…forever. A digital novella in the Soul Screamers series. YA

City of the Lost, by Stephen Blackmoore (Jan. 3, DAW)

Joe Sunday has been a Los Angeles low-life for years, but his life gets a whole lot lower when he is killed by the rival of his crime boss—only to return as a zombie. His only hope is to find and steal a talisman that he learns can grant immortality. But, unfortunately for Joe, every other undead thug and crime boss in Los Angeles is looking for the same thing.

The Bride Wore Black Leather, by Simon R. Green (Jan. 3, Ace)

John Taylor is marrying the love of his life, Suzie Shooter, the Nightside’s most fearsome bounty hunter. But before he can walk down the aisle he has one more case to solve as a private eye—a case that has him on the run from friends and enemies both, with his bride-to-be looking to collect the bounty on his head. Twelfth in the Nightside series.

Dreaming Awake, by Gwen Hayes (Jan. 3, NAL)

When Theia Alderson encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions. Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own. Second in the Falling Under series. YA

Switched, by Amanda Hocking (Jan. 3, St. Martin’s Griffin)

When Wendy Everly was six, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn’t until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed—a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy’s not sure she wants to be a part of it. First in the Trylle Trilogy. Originally self-published digitally in 2010. YA

Raven Cursed, by Faith Hunter (Jan. 3, Roc)

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to the Master Vampire of New Orleans they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, he sends an envoy with the best bodyguard blood money can buy: Jane Yellowrock. But when a group of local campers are attacked by something fanged, Jane goes from escort to investigator.

Shadow Heir, by Richelle Mead (Jan. 3, Zebra)

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land’s prophecy-haunted queen, there’s no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld. The spell-driven source of the blight isn’t the only challenge to Eugenie’s instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can’t trust the synergy drawing them back together. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon—and risk the ultimate sacrifice. Fourth in the Dark Swan series.

To Walk the Night, by E.S. Moore (Jan. 3, Kensington)

Kat Redding is the very thing she hunts: a vampire, thirsting for blood, capable of killing any creature unlucky enough to get in her path. The difference is, Kat kills her own kind in order to protect human Purebloods. She’s good at what she does. Good enough to earn the nickname Lady Death—and the enmity of every bloodthirsty being around. But now a vampire Count is intent on merging his House with a werewolf cult to create a force of terrifying power. Kat can’t allow that to happen. Even if it means taking on a den of weres and a vampire more ruthless than any she’s encountered before.

Charmfall, by Chloe Neill (Jan. 3, NAL)

Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a junior. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even if it means not giving demons, vampires and the twisted magic users known as Reapers her undivided attention. But when a Reaper infiltrates the school, Lily doesn’t forget what she’s sworn to protect. Third in the Dark Elite series. YA

Sins of the Demon, by Diana Rowland (Jan. 3, DAW)

The homicide beat in Louisiana isn’t just terrifying, it’s demonic. Detective Kara Gilligan of the supernatural task force has the ability to summon demons to her aid, but she herself is pledged to serve a demonic lord. And now, people who’ve hurt Kara in the past are dropping dead for no apparent reason. To clear her name and save both the demon and human worlds, she’s in a race against the clock and in a battle for her life that just may take her to hell and back. Fourth in the Kara Gilligan series.

Archon, by Sabrina Benulis (Jan. 5, HarperCollins)

Angela Mathers is plagued by visions of angels, supernatural creatures who haunt her thoughts by day and seduce her dreams by night. Newly released from a mental institution, she hopes her time at the Vatican’s university, the West Wood Academy, will give her a chance at a normal life. But within West Wood, a secret coven plots, and demons and angels search for the key to open Raziel’s book—a secret tome from a lost archangel. Torn between mortal love and angelic obsession, Angela holds the key to Heaven and Hell—and both will stop at nothing to possess her. YA

 

WEEK TWO

Fangtastic, by Lucienne Diver (Jan. 8, Flux)

Top five perks of Gina Covello’s new secret mission: 1) The five-alarm-fire hotties. A few degrees below my genius boyfriend Bobby, of course.2) The wannabe vamps love me. An entourage, finally! 3) Fashion tips from the steampunk crowd. 4) Putting a stop to the brutal killings—which only look like the work of vamps—in Tampa, Florida. 5) Finding out just what the Feds are hiding. . . Guantanamo Bay of the undead? Third in the Vamped series. YA

Shadow’s Edge, by Maureen Lipinski (Jan. 8, Flux)

Sixteen-year-old Leah Spencer didn’t mind being a natural-born Shaman to the Créatúir. Until she broke Rule No. 1 and traveled to the Other Realm, where she quickly lost time. Like, a whole year of time. She missed out on everything—holidays, school, her sixteenth birthday, the boyfriend who ditched her. So Leah swore to leave all things magical behind her and lead the life of a normal high school girl. But when a mysterious dark force starts offing the Créatúir, both Light and Dark, Leah must choose between her new life and “getting all CSI” on the Other Realm murder spree. YA

Nameless, by Kyle Chais (Jan. 10, Gallery)

Names are for masters and the Nameless have none. They live in the Nameless realm; between being saved and being destroyed. They are Fallen.One Nameless spends his time watching humans in New York City and, in his endless eternity of boredom, becomes intrigued by a drunk named Aurick Pantera. One day Aurick, a reckless gambler, is about to be killed by a gang over his debts. Nameless feels sorry for him, and possesses his body to save his life. He then decides that he rather likes being in a human body; the chance to taste, smell, and touch. He uses Aurick’s body to fulfill all of his wildest dreams – become a rock star, have a successful psychiatric practice, and pursue star journalist Helena Way. Until, three years after possessing Aurick, the other Fallen take notice of these random achievements and are ready to start a war.

Jessica Rules the Dark Side, by Beth Fantaskey (Jan. 10, Harcourt Children’s)

It’s one thing to find out you’re a vampire princess. Newly married Jessica Packwood is having a hard enough time feeling regal with her husband, Lucius, at her side. But when evidence in the murder of a powerful elder points to Lucius, sending him into solitary confinement, Jessica is suddenly on her own. Determined to clear her husband’s name, Jessica launches into a full-scale investigation, but hallucinations and nightmares of betrayal keep getting in her way. YA

Death and Resurrection, by R.A. MacAvoy (Jan. 10, Prime)

Chinese-American artist Ewen Young has gained the ability to travel between the worlds of life and death. This unasked-for skill irrevocably changes his life, as does meeting Nez Perce veterinarian Dr. Susan Sundown and her remarkable dog, Resurrection. After defeating a threat to his own family, Ewen and Susan confront great evils—both supernatural and human—as life and death begin to flow dangerously close together.

The Rook, by Daniel O’Malley (Jan. 11, Little, Brown)

“The body you are wearing used to be mine.” So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her. She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Chequy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own.

 

WEEK THREE

Something Wikkid This Way Comes, by Nicole Peeler (Jan. 17, Orbit)

Capitola, Moo, and Shar are the halfling ladies of Triptych: a company that specializes in cleaning up supernatural messes. Normally Cappie doesn’t take human cases, but who can resist a priest, missing Catholic schoolgirls, and a creature that may or may not be the Prince of Darkness? A digital-only story set in Nicole Peeler’s Jane True series.

The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries Vol. 5: The Asylum, by L.J. Smith, Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec (Jan. 17, HarperTeen)

Driven from their hometown of Mystic Falls, both Stefan Salvatore and his brother, Damon, arrived in Europe looking for a fresh start. But Samuel, a wealthy and cunning vampire, has other plans for them. First he ruined Stefan’s peaceful existence and now he’s framing Damon for the most gruesome murders London has ever seen. United against their common enemy, Stefan and Damon are stunned when they realize that the source of Samuel’s rage lies in their past—tied up with the woman who forever changed their lives. Fifth in the series based on the CW TV show.

 

WEEK FOUR

Bloodrose, by Andrea Cremer (Jan. 24, Philomel)

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. Final installment in the Nightshade trilogy. YA

The Burned Tower, by Sergey Dyachenko and Marina Dyachenko (Jan. 24, Tor)

A truck driver on a lonely stretch of road, a hitchiker, and an ancient curse— a tale steeped in folklore by the masters of modern fantasy. In 1999 “The Burned Tower” was awarded the “Interpresscon” as the best short story of the year on the international SF-convention in St. Petersburg, Russia. First time, in English. Digital edition.

Havoc, by Jeff Sampson (Jan. 24, Balzer + Bray)

Emily Webb thought life would return to normal after the death of the man who attacked her and her fellow “Deviants.” Or as normal as it could be, after discovering that she has nighttime superpowers…and she’s a werewolf. But when Emily awakes one night to find an otherworldy Shadowman watching her, she knows the danger has only just begun. So Emily and her packmates set out to find the people who made them what they are, and why. But as they get closer to the truth, they realize they aren’t the only ones in town with special powers. Second in the Deviants series. YA

 

WEEK FIVE

Lenobia’s Vow, by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Jan. 31, St. Martin’s Griffin)

The second in the new miniseries of novellas from the authors of the House of Night series, Lenobia’s Vow tells the story behind the enigmatic riding instructor–and one of Zoey’s closest allies against evil. In a small southern town at the turn of the century, young Lenobia is developing into a beautiful young woman with ideas of her own. But when she is Marked as a fledgling vampyre, her world turns upside down, and she is drawn to the musical streets of New Orleans. There, she learns of the city’s dark underbelly, ruled by powerful black magic. YA

Control Point, by Myke Cole (Jan. 31, Ace)

Across the country and in every nation, people are waking up with magical talents. Untrained and panicked, they summon storms, raise the dead, and set everything they touch ablaze. Army officer Oscar Britton sees the worst of it. A lieutenant attached to the military’s Supernatural Operations Corps, his mission is to bring order to a world gone mad. Then he abruptly manifests a rare and prohibited magical power, transforming him overnight from government agent to public enemy number one. Driven into an underground shadow world, Britton is about to learn that magic has changed all the rules he’s ever known, and that his life isn’t the only thing he’s fighting for.

Destiny and Deception, by Shannon Delany (Jan. 31, St. Martin’s Griffin)

With the threat of the mafia seemingly gone and the company’s headquarters in Junction destroyed, Pietr Rusakova is adjusting to being a normal teen and Jess is realizing normalcy may not be what she wanted after all. But both Jess and Cat know the truth—that normal can’t be taken for granted. Their precious cure isn’t permanent, and when a new danger stalks into their small town, Alexi decides he must overcome his issues with the mother who abandoned him to be raised by wolves and make a brand new deal to save his adopted family. The fourth 13 To Life book. YA

Undone Deeds, by Mark Del Franco (Jan. 31, Ace)

Connor Grey is a druid consultant for the Boston PD on their “strange” cases. So his world is turned upside down when he suddenly finds that he himself has become one. Wrongly accused of a terrorist attack that rocked the city to its core, Connor evades arrest by going underground, where rumors of war are roiling. A final confrontation between the Celtic and Teutonic fey looks inevitable—with Boston as the battlefield.

Third Grave Dead Ahead, by Darynda Jones (Jan. 31, St. Martin’s)

Charley Davidson—grim reaper extraordinaire, private investigator…meh—is practicing her profession under the influence, caffeine and copious amounts of it, due to an extreme desire to induce insomnia. Every time she closes her eyes, Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan, is there. Only thing is, he’s a tad peeved. She did bind him for all eternity, so it’s hard to blame him. But thirteen days without a wink is bound to bring out the crazy in a girl. So, when a man hires her to find his wife, Charley accepts the job with one goal in mind: Put the man behind bars, and not the wet kind.

Burned, by J.F. Lewis (Jan. 31, Pocket)

No description available. Fourth in the Void City series.

A Little Night Magic, by Lucy March (Jan. 31, St. Martin’s Griffin)

Olivia Kiskey needs a change. She’s been working at the same Nodaway Falls, New York, waffle house since she was a teenager; not a lot of upward mobility there. She’s been in love with Tobias, the cook, for the last four years; he’s never made a move. Every Saturday night, she gathers with her three best friends—Peach, Millie, and Stacy—and drinks the same margaritas while listening to the same old stories. Intent on shaking things up, she puts her house on the market, buys a one-way ticket to Europe, and announces her plans to her friends. But then she meets Davina Granville, a strange and mystical Southern woman who shows Olivia that there is more to her life than she ever dreamed.

Wrong Side of Dead, by Kelly Meding (Jan. 31, Bantam)

Barely recovered from her extended torture at the hands of mad scientist Walter Thackery, Evy can use a break. What she gets instead is a war, as the battered Triads that keep Dreg City safe find themselves under attack by half-Blood vampires who have somehow retained their reason, making them twice as lethal. Worse, the Halfies are joined by a breed of were-creature long believed extinct—back and more dangerous than ever. Fourth in the Dreg City series.


Author Suzanne Johnson is a book geek with a fondness for a good dystopia. Her new urban fantasy series, scheduled to begin with the release of Royal Street in April 2012 by Tor Books, is set in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina. Find Suzanne on Twitter.

About the Author

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Suzanne Johnson

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Urban fantasy author with a new series, set in immediate post-Katrina New Orleans, starting with ROYAL STREET on April 10, 2012, from Tor Books. Urban fantasy author with a new series, set in immediate post-Katrina New Orleans, starting with ROYAL STREET on April 10, 2012, from Tor Books.
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