The Wurms of Blearmouth

Eccentric necromancers Korbal Broach and Bauchelain are once again on land, following the events of The Lees of Laughter’s End. The two have shipwrecked on the jagged shores of Spendrugle of Blearmouth, a tiny backwater village whose motley populace salvages the remains of ships that founder off the coast. In this quick-moving, clever novella, there are seemingly more hidden motives than there are townspeople. Lord Fangatooth Claw the Render has proclaimed that no visitor to the village will leave alive. Feloovil Generous, the owner of The King’s Heel tavern and brothel, has some truly unique body modifications and a daughter who wants to run off to see a wider world. There are hidden sorcerers and goddesses, and all manner of nefarious deeds going down. Erikson has produced another winning entry in the long-lived, endlessly fascinating Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Agent: Howard Morheim, Howard Morheim Literary Agency. (July)