Description
'A highly original modern fantasy from one of the rising stars of British SFF. Real, archetypal, heartfelt and playful' - Paul Cornell
'Excellent! Dark and light and brilliant' - Miles Cameron
Somewhere in England, in a small town called Strange Ground by the Skea, Ebbie Wren is the last librarian and he's about to lose his job. Estranged from his parents, unable to make connections with anyone except the old homeless lady who lives near the library, Ebbie isn't quite sure what he's supposed to do next. His only escape from reality is his deep interest in local folklore, but reality is far stranger than Ebbie can dream.
On the other side of the sky and the sea, the Queen of House Wood Bee has been murdered. Her sister has made the first move in a long game, one which will lead her to greatness, yet risk destruction for the entire Realm. She needs the two magical stones Foresight and Hindsight for her power to be complete, but no one knows where they are. Although the sword recently stolen by Bek Rana, small time thief and not very good at it, might hold a clue to their location . . . and to stopping the chaos. But all Bek wants is to sell the sword and buy herself a better life. She's not interested in being a hero, and neither is Ebbie.
But someone is forcing their hand and playing for the heart of the Realm. Ebbie and Bek are destined to unite. They must find a way to stop the destruction of House Wood Bee, save the Realm, and just maybe save themselves in the process. All victories come at a price. The Oldungods are rising. And they are watching...
About the Author
Edward Cox began writing stories at school as a way to pass time in boring lessons. It was a hobby he dabbled with until the late 80's when he discovered the works of David Gemmell, which not only cemented his love of fantasy but also encouraged a hobby to become something much more serious.
With his first short story published in 2000, Edward spent much of the next decade earning a BA 1st class with honours in creative writing, and a Master degree in the same subject. He then went on to teach creative writing at the University of Bedfordshire. During the 2000's he published a host of short stories with the smaller presses of America, where he also worked as a reviewer.
Currently living in Essex with his wife and daughter, Edward is mostly surrounded by fine greenery and spiders the size of his hand. His first full novel was The Relic Guild, which was the result of more than ten years of obsessive writing.
Reviews
A cleverly plotted fantasy story, full of symbolism that reads like an old fairy tale. * Stephen Aryan *
The Wood Bee Queen is an excellently-paced fantasy adventure, with a strong central cast and a world that's crying for further exploration. Thumbs up emoji! * James Oswald *
Excellent! Dark and light and brilliant. * Christian/Miles Cameron *
The Wood Bee Queen is a much needed breath of wonder in these times. * Gavin Smith *
An engaging dive into a fascinating fantasy world * Adrian Tchaikovsky *
As fresh as a sea breeze from another realm. Completely engrossing and enchanting fantasy * Mark Stay *
A highly original modern fantasy from one of the rising stars of British SFF. Real, archetypal, heartfelt and playful * Paul Cornell *
I loved it and didn't want to leave its world when I finished reading. It's a love letter to books, libraries, fairy tales and love itself * A.K. Benedict *
Book Information
ISBN 9781473226869
Author Edward Cox
Format Paperback
Page Count 432
Imprint Gollancz
Publisher Orion Publishing Co
Weight(grams) 520g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 154mm * 38mm
