Praise for Rachel Neumeier’s Books
THE CITY IN THE LAKE
“It’s the poetic, shimmering language and fascinating unfolding of worlds that elevates this engrossing story beyond its formula . . . Fans of Sharon Shinn’s books will find a similar celebration of the natural world – from the dense darkness of a forest to the ‘crystalline music’ of the stars – in this vividly imagined debut.” – Booklist, starred review
“Oh my God, I was so not prepared for how awesome this book is. Prose, setting, story, characters, everything is top notch and I too loved this book.” – Ana Grilo, the Book Smugglers
THE FLOATING ISLANDS
An ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection
A Junior Library Guild selection
A Kirkus best-of-2011 selection
“Intelligent, richly detailed fantasy featuring two young cousins battered by losses, personal passions, and larger events . . . The author delineates complex characters, geographies and societies alike with a dab hand, deftly weaves them all – along with dragons of several sorts, mouthwatering kitchen talk, flashes of humor, and a late-blooming romance – into a suspenseful plot and delivers an outstanding tale that is self-contained but full of promise for sequels.”– Kirkus Reviews, starred review
HOUSE OF SHADOWS
“I loved House of Shadows. The characters, writing, and magic captivated me, but there was a lot to love in the details as well – the dragon, the cats who were characters in their own right, female characters with different situations and types of inner strength, and just a little bit of romance.” – Kristen at Fantasy Book Café.
“House of Shadows possess certain qualities of mystery and intrigue, but the driving force came from the characters and their individual, detailed stories. Despite the multiple narratives and points of view, the author miraculously pulled it all together for a very climactic ending.” – Gina at My Precious.
THE GRIFFIN MAGE TRILOGY
“The Griffin Mage Trilogy is recommended to anyone who enjoys a fantasy story that focuses on vivid storytelling with more emphasis on interaction instead of bold fighting.” – Jasper de Joode, Fantasy Book Review.
“A theme running throughout the trilogy is the importance of trusting people with the freedom to make their own decisions, even if you may not like the result. The plot of Lord of the Changing Winds is full of difficult moral choices, so if you like your fantasy to be subtle and complex, this could be the trilogy for you.” – Geraldine at Fantasy Reads.
THE KEEPER OF THE MIST
“Reminiscent of classic YA fantasy in the vein of Howl’s Moving Castle and old-school Robin McKinley, The Keeper of the Mist is utterly, unequivocally awesome.” – Thea James, The Book Smugglers
THE WHITE ROAD OF THE MOON
“As is to be expected from this cerebral purveyor of fully realized fantasy worlds, Neumeier firmly establishes the laws and rules of this medievallike fantasy’s reality early on, but she also gives Meridy’s world a romantic tinge, from the colors of a couture gown to the gnashing tusks of a fire horse. … A richly rewarding stand-alone story evoking far more color than its titular tint might suggest.” – Kirkus, starred review.
“An imaginative, slow-building YA fantasy, appropriate for younger readers as well as older ones. … Neumeier also weaves in the loyal friendship that develops between Jaift and Meridy, choosing to focus on this relationship and other bonds of friendship and respect between the characters rather than romance. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the pervasive romance-oriented young adult fantasies. … a traditional, almost retro vibe … reminded me distinctly of Robin McKinley’s style.” – Fantasy Literature blog.
WINTER OF ICE AND IRON
“Neumeier’s writing has a spare, haunting quality . . . Best of all are her characters … they work together beautifully, and their romance has a number of interesting and unconventional complications. The character’s hook; the writing holds. It’s comfort food, but more satisfying than most.” – NK Jemisin, NYT book review.
“One of the most satisfying reads I’ve enjoyed all year. I closed the book already aching for more of the characters and setting and immediately settled in for a reread. … I often gravitate to fantasy novels that favor character over incident, but Winter of Ice and Iron offers the best of everything: it is a meaty, plot-y tome with political machinations aplenty, filled with people you’ll love or hate, all of whom you’ll come to know intimately. Recommended.” – Shana DuBois, Barnes and Nobel SciFi and Fantasy Blog.
“There’s very little I can say that can even do any sort of justice to the wonderfully intricate story, the characters that get under your skin, and the intrigue seeping through the pages. … You need to take your time with this, to become immersed, in this slow-burning fantasy that will reward you if you devote your time to it.” – Utopia State of Mind blog.
Acknowledgements
Nicole Culbertson corrected my Spanish. Any remaining mistakes are undoubtedly mine and not hers.
Laura Florand was kind enough to read and critique an earlier draft; my brother Craig Neumeier also provided a critique and pointed out plot holes. Michael and Linda Schiffer and Hanneke Nieuwenhuijzen read through the final manuscript and caught a few more inconsistencies and questionable details, plus a truly startling number of typos. Thank you all!
Also, thank you to all the authors who encouraged me to dip my toe into the intimidating world of self-publishing, either directly or simply by their example.
* * *
[1] See “Unlikely Allies,” Black Dog Short Stories II
[2] In “A Family Visit,” Black Dog Short Stories II
[3] See Pure Magic
[4] “Bank Job,” Black Dog Short Stories II
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