Release Date: 02/02/12
SYNOPSIS:
George Carole ran away from home to join the Vaudeville circuit. Sixteen years old, uncommonly gifted at the piano, he falls in with a strange troupe - even for Vaudeville. Under the watchful eye of the enigmatic figure of Silenus, George comes to realise that the members of the troupe are more than they appear to be. And their travels have a purpose that runs deeper than entertainment. George must uncover the mysteries of Silenus's company before it is too late. He is already entangled in their web of secrets and, if he doesn't learn where they are taking him, he may never find his way out.
REVIEW:
Robert burst onto the scene with Mr Shivers and he seems set to continue his war to claw his way to the top of the Urban Fantasy genre with this release, his third and one that continues to build upon the lessons learned in previous outings. The prose is top notch, the pace is one that really doesn’t want to let you go and with the dialogue the reader is in for a real treat. Add to this a modern reworking on classic mythology blended with the authors own unique style of telling a story and its been a real joy to read.
All in great fun and one that I’ll definitely be recommending to other UF fans who are seeking something a little different from the multitudes of Vamps or Were’s on the market.
Release Date: 07/04/11
SYNOPSIS:
A trolley car pulls into the station with eleven dead bodies inside. Four minutes before, the factory workers were seen boarding at the previous station. Now, all are dead. And all of them are union. The year is 1919. The McNaughton Corporation is the pinnacle of American industry. They built airships that crossed the seas. Guns that won the Great War. And above all, they built Evesden: the city of tomorrow, dominated by the immense McNaughton Tower. But something is rotten at the heart of Evesden and one man must uncover its dark secret before it all goes up in flames. Caught between the union and the company, between the police and the victims, McNaughton investigator Cyril Hayes must find the truth behind the city of the future. Because if he doesn't ...he's history.
REVIEW:
Having originally read Roberts work with his debut title, Mr Shivers, I was interested to see where he’d go in his next title. Luckily he sticks with early 20th Century America albeit this time in an alternate universe. It’s well written, the concept clearly thought out and with the added benefit of a crime novel thrown in, makes this a deeply involving read for any who pick up this title. Add to this a great writing style, ideal for a Noir type title with a great understanding of prose and pace which will make this a title to keep you glued to the last page.
Whilst this will be placed in the Science Fiction/Fantasy section, I’d really recommend this to any who enjoy a good crime read with a solid dash of thrills, finally mix that up with solid characterisation and the reader really will have a treat ahead. I can’t wait to see what he’ll come up with next but for now it seems that Robert will not be pegged into any singular hole.
BOOK BLURB:
It is the time of the Great Depression. The dustbowl has turned the western skies red and thousands leave their homes seeking a better life. Marcus Connelly seeks not a new life, but a death - a death for the mysterious scarred man who murdered his daughter. And soon he learns that he is not alone. Countless others have lost someone to the scarred man. They band together to track him, but as they get closer, Connelly begins to suspect that the man they are hunting is more than human. As the pursuit becomes increasingly desperate, Connelly must decide just how much he is willing to sacrifice to get his revenge.
REVIEW:
New authors are always an interesting prospect, mainly because you never know what you’re going to get so the novel will always end up as a surprise. What unfurls in this novel is a story of vengeance and a tale where the protagonist’s quest is always in doubt up until the final moments. It is well written and demonstrates that Orbit are prepared to bring new talent to the fore in this interesting new offering in the Urban Fantasy/Horror genre.
Release Date: 02/02/12
