I read, and enjoyed, Nights of Villjamur (REVIEW), the first novel in Mark Charan Newton’s Legends of the Red Sun series, a few months ago, just before its UK and Canadian release. Buzz online was good, which (along with positive sales, one would asume) led to Del Rey picking up the US rights to the novel (along with the sequel, City of Ruin).
Political intrigue and dark violence converge in a superb new action series of enthralling fantasy. An ice age strikes a chain of islands, and thousands come to seek sanctuary at the gates of Villjamur: a city of ancient spires and bridges, a place where banshees wail the deceased, cultists use forgotten technology for their own gain and where, further out, the dead have been seen walking across the tundra.
When the Emperor commits suicide, his elder daughter, Rika, is brought home to lead the Jamur Empire, but the sinister Chancellor plans to get rid of her and claim the throne for himself. Meanwhile a senior investigator in the city inquisition must solve the high-profile and savage murder of a city politician, whilst battling evils within his own life, and a handsome and serial womanizer manipulates his way into the imperial residence with a hidden agenda. When reports are received that tens of thousands of citizens are dying in a bizarre genocide on the northern islands of the Empire, members of the elite Night Guard are sent to investigate. It seems that, in this land under a red sun, the long winter is bringing more than just snow.
According to Newton’s website, US readers will be able to get their hands on Nights of Villjamur on June 1st, 2010. Astute followers of Newton will notice that this coincides with the June, 2010 UK/Canadian release of City of Ruin.
This sounds great! On a side note, wouldn’t it be fun if there was an epic fantasy novel written with a city that had a completely blase name? Like… Springfield. I wonder if that would have the same impact.
It’s a good book. If you think the premise sounds interesting, I can vouch for it fulfilling what it promises.
As for your second point, you might not count it (considering its more contemporary Fantasy than Epic/High) but Charles De Lint has a series of books set in a town called Newford, which is pretty blasé!
:)