It's still January so I'm still bombarding you with unexpected special sales & offers & publicity
I don’t usually send out this many emails over such a short time but a new book month will have more events, and in addition there are indeed a number of sales going on at various venues that I want to keep you all posted on.
Use the checkout coupon code PREORDER25
Obviously the sale is good for books besides mine — anything releasing between 1/31/2023 - 12/26/2023. Oh no. Now you have an excuse to buy more books. Although probably buying books needs no excuse.
And! THE GATHERING STORM audiobook is on sale at 50% off until 2/14/2023.
As reported previously, the CHILD OF FLAME audiobook is also on sale until 1/27.
On February 4, 2023 (3 pm PT) I’ll be grilling Ken Liu about his magesterial epic fantasy series, complete in four volumes. No stone unturned! This is going to be a great conversation, hosted online by wonderful indie store Mysterious Galaxy.
Registration is free and here’s the link!
THE KEEPER’S SIX released on January 17, 2023, and has received some lovely reviews, including one in the Wall Street Journal which my brother noticed!
I’ll just quote the whole thing since it’s behind a paywall (and I had to get it quoted for me!)
I think all of us can agree that what the literary world really needs right now is more middle-aged Jewish mom heroes with magical superpowers. By “all of us” I might just mean “everyone in my office, sitting in my chair right now,” but I stand firmly by that. Personal bias aside, “The Keeper’s Six” by Kate Elliott—the author of the multi-volume Crown of Stars epic fantasy series—is a short and satisfying romp with a fully developed world and tightly designed magic system.
When Esther Green’s son is kidnapped by a dragon she has to reunite with her “Hex”—a spell-powered special ops group—that had disbanded after a mission gone sideways the year before. No time to hug it out: They have to fight their way through the Beyond between the Realms, a dangerous in-between world with toxic daylight, violent monsters, exotic non-human bazaars, and some pretty decent ass kicking.
If right now you’re saying to yourself “Wait, this sounds kind of like MythAdventures,” first of all: That means you’re old (like me). Second, you’re not exactly wrong, but “The Keeper’s Six” features no puns, the characters are diverse and well-developed, and while there are humorous moments it’s a serious if cozy plot. Esther very realistically navigates the strengths, weaknesses and occasionally cranky personalities of her team as she leads them into the Beyond. She also has a mature—in the best sense of the term—budding romance with the dragon’s capo, the mysterious and poetic Shahin.
A definite recommend: light fantasy for the more discerning reader.
Head’s up: An in-person event in mid April at Powells in Beaverton, Oregon. More information to follow. It’s going to be a joint event with the great Fonda Lee, so I am super excited!
But wait! There’s Finn! Long Finn!
As always, I could not do this without you. Thank you.
Kate Elliott