New fantasy trilogy opens with a 'Vengeance'

Looking for a new series opener?  Try Vengeance by Ian Irvine, in which Tali, the subterranean slave of a brutal race, escapes to the surface, where she teams up with the nobleman Rix.  Library Journal gave this book a starred review, saying that the book is "a compelling tale of vengeance, loyalty, and the search for a place in the world."  This is the first book in the planned "Tainted Realm" trilogy, so fans have two more volumes to look forward to.

First in a new fantasy series: 'The Killing Moon'

Looking for an inventive new work of epic fantasy?  N.K. Jemisin's new book The Killing Moon is the first in the planned Dreamblood series, in which priests are tasked with policing their territory through the use of healing dreams.  When one priest is sent to collect the dreams of a diplomat from abroad, he is pulled into a web of intrigue from which he will not easily escape.  The book's desert setting, loosely inspired by northern Africa and the Middle East, is part of a larger trend in fantasy fiction.  Try Kingdoms of Dust or Desert Spear for more books that draw on the desert for inspiration.

The Thirteenth Tribe

Here's a series opener that fans of intricately plotted action thrillers will not want to miss.  Jagger Baird, a troubled former soldier and head of security for an archaelogical dig on Mount Sinai, goes up against immortal warriors who kill those they consider sinners.  Publishers Weekly says that The Thirteenth Tribe is "a fast-moving, imaginative narrative that examines moral questions," adding that while not all readers "will get or care about the scriptural framework," all readers are "in for roller-coaster action."  Be warned - the cliffhanger ending will leave you eagerly awaiting the publication of the next book in the "Immortal Files" series.

New Series Launch: Only Time Will Tell

Jeffrey Archer has launched the promising new Clifton Chronicles series with Only Time Will Tell, the epic tale of an orphaned working-class boy in 1930s England whose life  changes radically when he wins a scholarship to an exclusive school.  Years later, supicious events cause the main character to wonder if his father really was a dockworker, as he's been told.  The forthcoming series is planned to span a century and follow two intertwined families. If you enjoy well-developed characters set against a richly detailed historical backdrop, this new series opener might just get you started on an epic journey you'll never forget.