Coming Soon: Dancing with Dragons and Leopards

July 2011 sees the release of some amazing books from authors such as George R.R. Martin and Jo Nesbo. So, before they hit the shelves, we thought we would give you a brief run down on some of the next months biggest releases.

7th July
The Leopard by Jo Nesbo


The Leopard
by Jo Nesbo

 The Leopard, the sixth Harry Hole novel to be published in Britain, is a big and meaty, but easily digestible, slab of a read, ably translated by Don Bartlett. At first glance, 610 pages might seem a little (or a lot) on the long side for what is, in essence, a serial killer/maverick cop story, but the labyrinthine plot and the large canvas (Hong Kong and Africa as well as Norway, and several points in between) justify the word-count.

The story begins with Hole being recalled (somewhat implausibly) from Hong Kong, where he has fled after his last, traumatic case. He is in hock to the triads over gambling debts, and self-medicating with opium to stop drinking. Lured back by the lovely Kaja with the prospect of seeing his father, he reluctantly agrees to investigate the case of two women who have been found murdered in a way so spectacularly ingenious and revolting that it is the stuff (literally, in my case) of nightmares. With no forensic evidence or even a single clue, and the media circling like hungry sharks, Hole finds himself caught in the middle of a police turf-war over power and jurisdiction.

Order your copy now at A Great Read to save 30%!

12th July
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

A Dance with Dragons
by George R.R. Martin

 The fifth volume in the greatest epic work of the modern age. The future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance. In the east, Daenerys, last scion of House Targaryen, her dragons grown to terrifying maturity, rules as queen of a city built on dust and death, beset by enemies. Now that her whereabouts are known many are seeking Daenerys and her dragons. Among them the dwarf, Tyrion Lannister, who has escaped King’s Landing with a price on his head, wrongfully condemned to death for the murder of his nephew, King Joffrey. But not before killing his hated father, Lord Tywin.

To the north lies the great Wall of ice and stone – a structure only as strong as those guarding it. Eddard Stark's bastard son Jon Snow has been elected the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, but he has enemies both in the Watch and beyond the Wall, where the wildling armies are massing for an assault.
On all sides bitter conflicts are reigniting, played out by a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves. The tides of destiny will inevitably lead to the greatest dance of all…

Order all your George R.R Martin books today at A Great Read! Up to 59% off!

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater



Forever
by Maggie Stiefvater

 The conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy. In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.








The Final Curtsey by Margaret Rhodes



The Final Curtsey
by Margaret Rhodes

 This is the intimate and revealing autobiography of Margaret Rhodes, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and the niece of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Margaret was born into the Scottish aristocracy, into a now almost vanished world of privilege. Royalty often came to stay and her house was run in the style of Downton Abbey. In the Second World War years she 'lodged' at Buckingham Palace while she worked for MI5. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousin, Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip. Three years later the King and Queen attended her own wedding; Princess Margaret was a bridesmaid. In 1990 she was appointed as a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen Mother, acting also as her companion, which she describes in touching detail. In the early months of 2002, she spent as much time as possible with her ailing aunt, and was at her bedside when she died at Easter that year. This is a fascinating account of a special life, with the author's family relationships to nobility and royalty, her long and special marriage, her children and grandchildren and a life lived to the full.

So, all in all very very exciting few weeks ahead, all of the above are available from the A Great Read website to pre-order now! So get yourself over there Now!