The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.

This week’s pile is much more manageable than last with three books that showed up. One of these was already covered as an ARC, but here’s the basic details with a link to more in case it’s one you missed and might be curious about:

Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach

Fortune’s Pawn (Paradox #1) by Rachel Bach

This is the first book in a new science fiction series written by Rachel Aaron, author of the Legend of Eli Monpress books. Fortune’s Pawn will be released in trade paperback and ebook in November. Book two, Honor’s Knight, is scheduled for release in February 2014.

 

Devi Morris isn’t your average mercenary. She has plans. Big ones. And a ton of ambition. It’s a combination that’s going to get her killed one day – but not just yet.

That is, until she just gets a job on a tiny trade ship with a nasty reputation for surprises. The Glorious Fool isn’t misnamed: it likes to get into trouble, so much so that one year of security work under its captain is equal to five years everywhere else. With odds like that, Devi knows she’s found the perfect way to get the jump on the next part of her Plan. But the Fool doesn’t give up its secrets without a fight, and one year on this ship might be more than even Devi can handle.

The Grim Company by Luke Scull

The Grim Company (Grim Company #1) by Luke Scull

This first book in a new fantasy series has already been released in the UK, and it will be available in the US on September 3 (hardcover, ebook). An excerpt from The Grim Company can be read on Tor.com.

 

The Gods are dead. The Magelord Salazar and his magically enhanced troops, the Augmentors, crush any dissent they find in the minds of the populace. On the other side of the Broken Sea, the White Lady plots the liberation of Dorminia, with her spymistresses, the Pale Women. Demons and abominations plague the Highlands.

The world is desperately in need of heroes. But what they get instead are a ragtag band of old warriors, a crippled Halfmage, two orphans and an oddly capable manservant: the Grim Company.