Dark Serpent now on shelves

Yes, that's right.  The first book of the final trilogy is now available!  Dark Serpent, by Kylie Chan, continues the somewhat epic love story about our star crossed lovers Emma Donahue and the Dark Lord, Xuan Wu.

I've been following this series since I first saw the cover of White Tiger on the shelf at Bookworld - many years ago now - not long after it was first released.  There is something compelling about this twist on a mythology based story, and I have been waiting on tender hooks for all these years to finally find out exactly who, or what, Emma finally is!

My only negative is that the book has been released in trade format.  With the other books on my shelves in mass market format I don't like to have all different sizes in the one series.  So I'll be reserving my copy from the library and waiting for the smaller edition.

So until then I'm hoping to avoid all reviews - and resisting the temptation to peek!

DARK SERPENT -  BUY IT NOW!

Final Trilogy named!

Yes!  It's official.  Kylie Chan has released the details of the final trilogy to her very engaging and fabulous contemporary Chinese mythology series.

The final trilogy is the Celestial Battle Trilogy, with Book One: Glass Citadel picking up right after the events of Heaven to Wudang.

I have been faithfully buying these books since White Tiger was first released and though it will be sad to see them go - I can't wait to get my hands on Book 7, Glass Citadel, which according to Ms. Chan's website may be in stores in Australia as soon as September 2012.

The working titles for the final trilogy have been posted on her FAQ page, but so far they are listed as:

• Glass Citadel
• Mountain Fortress
• Celestial Palace

Remember, these may not be the titles the books are published under, so you'll have to double check before it's time to order them.  As far as I know there is no cover art available yet, but I'll post an image as soon as it is released.

Can't wait to get my hands on them...

I Found It! Earth to Hell is here

I can't believe that after nearly 18 months of waiting, and waiting, and waiting, that I only found Earth to Hell (Book 4) by total accident!  Here's what happened.... I'd been out shopping with my mother, and we'd been cruising through Big W - as you do, and we had decided to meet in the book section.  I was just browsing the shelves and had just about lost interest, when there, on the top shelf, was the book.  It's been soooo long in the works that I'd completely forgotten to check the author's website to find out when it was being released.  So I snapped it up (2nd last copy to :P) and proceeded directly home.  Do not stop, do not collect $200.

I got myself comfy in a little nest... drink... check, nibblies... check.  Now, when I opened up the book I realised something.  It had been so long since I'd read the darn series that I wasn't making instant connections to the names printed.  So I had to down tools, drag out the first trilogy and re-read them.  Not a chore, since as the character were being refreshed in my mind I just sailed into the 4th book, et voila, finis.

Earth to Hell picks up 8 years after Blue Dragon.  Emma Donahoe is now nearing 40, still as scruffy as ever, and is trying her best to look after the Northern Heavens for her love.  Simone is now 16, and a powerful creature.  She and Emma are holding on until Xuan Wu pulls himself together and comes back to them.  But the Demon King still has a few tricks up his sleeve.  His demon children are again causing havoc for Emma and her friends, and they are desperately trying to find the missing Black Lion.

I won't tell you anymore because to do that would be to give the story away.  Rest assured that all your old friends are there, and you will see Emma's snake in action, you may catch a glimpse of Xuan Wu's snake, the White Tiger is still an ass, and there may be one or two little surprises :P

Now, being the complete obsessive compulsive person I am about these sorts of things, I went onto Kylie Chan's website and found out that the other 2 books in the second trilogy - The Journey to Wudang, will be out mid and late 2010.  Wuhooo!

The series works best if you read them in order....

The Dark Heavens Trilogy
White Tiger
Red Phoenix
Blue Dragon

The Journey to Wudang
Earth to Hell (out now in Australia, April everywhere else... sorry)
Hell to Heaven (out mid 2010 in Australia)
Heaven to Wudang (out late 2010 in Australia)

There will be a final trilogy to this series, and I can't wait to see what it will be.  I'm hoping that there will still be enough of a storyline, but knowing the series so far I don't think that'll be too much of a drama.

So I'm finally over my Regency Rut, and thank you Kylie Chan for that.  I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for the rest of the series this year, oh, and there is a small prequel coming out late 2010.  It's Gold's story.  Details are on Kylie Chan's website www.kyliechan.com