Sharply told mercenary fantasy with true pulp integrity.

Great for fans of Joe Abercrombie, Glen Cook.

SF/FANTASY/HORROR

Storm Cloud Rising Jason Lancour | Wandering Bear Creative 256p, trade paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-7366566-2-4

The sharp-edged fantasy from Lancour, the first volume in the Storm Cloud series, introduces a band of mercenaries and a classic case of biting off more than they can chew as a seemingly simple assignment—recover a gold disk and magic box, both stolen from a duke— turns out to be a “large tangled puzzle” with stakes higher than anyone expects. Set in a world where magic has a strict order, psychics can control you with a single glance, and bandits run wild while guilds control everything else, Storm Cloud Rising bursts with engaging characters who see their fantasy adventure skill sets (archer, mage, blade-for-hire) as down-to-Earth professions. Tensions are high, deadlines are pressing, and trust turns out to be in short supply. But how can mercenaries trust their companions when they can’t even trust their own minds?

Lancour does a terrific job of world-building through vivid lived detail, and the expansive cast of mercenaries engages from the start, as the hardscrabble group introduces themselves, in crisp and sometimes cutting dialogue, to the duke, to each other, and to readers. Corelan, Qaz, Daelyn, and Lena exchange exciting banter throughout their journey into the desert, as they come to understand the escalating threat of running afoul of the Psychic’s League. Lancour writes fantasy with the eye and spirit of a thriller novelist, with visceral action, pulsing suspense, and a welcome attention to physical reality. The novel will hook readers who prefer pulp integrity in their sword and sorcery, as Lancour develops mysteries and gives real reason to worry about who will survive through to the end.

Storm Cloud Rising is still a fantasy, with copious new terminology and cultures for readers to chart, which at times can prove daunting. (A glossary would help.) But this entry moves quickly and boasts welcome pulp integrity as the mercenaries, striving to keep up with events, find themselves reduced to plans like “If things get ugly, kick in the door and start swinging.”

Cover: C | Design & typography: B | Illustrations: – Editing: A | Marketing copy: A