The time has come to take down my Amazon.com listing for Blood Song to make way for the Penguin version. I know it’s only a few lines of html but it does feel oddly emotional, like saying goodbye to an old friend, one who took me a long way. The current listings for Amazon UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Japan remain unchanged for the time being.
The Smashwords listing has also been removed and the affiliate listings should disappear in the next day or two. New links are on the books page together with a rejigged cover courtesy of the graphic department at Ace. The new Nook link is already up with iBooks and Kobo to follow.
I would ask anyone who’s linked to the book on their own blog, facebook page, Goodreads (or anywhere else) please update their links.
Anyone who left a review on the old Amazon.com page fear not, I’m told Ace are working to have these moved over to the new page.
And finally, the hardcover of Blood Song is now available for pre-order. My editor assures me there’ll be a whole new cover by the time it appears on July 2nd 2013.
November 28th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
There’s some idiots out there … isn’t there. I mean giving it a two star review because they got it cheap and loved the book and now you’re with a proper publisher. Way to support you. Some people are so stupid. Any way good luck with the book, hombre!
November 29th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Congratulations on your success! I recently purchased Blood Song due to the great reviews I read online at Amazon. I was a little leery of purchasing a book that was listed for such a low price, and was pleasantly when the quality of your storytelling far exceeded the price I paid. It was a pleasure to read! I stumbled onto your blog hoping to find information about the second installment, and am happy hear that it will be released sometime in the (near?) future. Anyway, congratulations again and good luck! It’s wonderful to have another great fantasy author.
November 29th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Mr. Ryan, will there be any numbered copies available for sale? and if so is there any way I can be put on the list for a copy? Really enjoy your work, just outstanding!
November 29th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Thanks Robert. I may offer signed copied for sale in due course, depending on demand. But nothing along those lines will happen until the harcover comes out in July next year. Check back for details closer the time.
February 27th, 2013 at 5:03 pm
I would be very interested in this also and I haven’t even finished the ebook yet.
November 29th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Mr. Ryan, I have to admit that I never liked fantasy, as I thought that it was waste of time and would never find anything in such books except quests, today I’m glad to say that I was wrong :). Please, don’t delay publishing of second and third books, I already read 1st one 3 time not to forget characters and story line :P. Thank you in advance 🙂
November 29th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
I am 53% through what may have been one of the last purchases of your book on Amazon before Penguin released their copy (I bought it a few days ago). I’m glad your Amazon reviews should be transferred over…they are why I purcased the book. And how gateful I am! Blood Song is incredible. I’ve laughed, cried, and even clapped my hands while reading. Soon I’ll pre order the hardcopy, but would also love a signed or numbered copy if they become available. I am so grateful authors like you exist to enrich our world. Thank you!
November 30th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Glad to see it finally getting released in Hard Cover! Well deserved. 5 bucks as an ebook is still cheap. Gets us close to Book 2 which i assume will be in July 2014. Cant wait
December 1st, 2012 at 12:39 am
ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE your book (Blood Song). However, thanks to your product of intelect, i am now going to count the seconds until the next book hits the amazon world. It is a well worth sacrifice though. Keep it up and I hope you write many, many more!
December 7th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
My thoughts echo the myriad of reviews I read after I read your surprisingly fan-effing-tastic book. I’m looking forward to buying the hardcover because a book this good needs to be owned in the actual physical world. I count myself lucky that I stumbled upon your book and find it hard to believe there were people who didn’t want to publish it when there is such wagon load of crap out there being dumped upon us. And crap smells, man. Not good smell either. It’s crap smell. The smell of crap.
I look forward to your next installment. Thank you for writing. 🙂
December 7th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Thanks Brett. The smell of crap is indeed crap. Wise wise words.
December 8th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
I bought the book when it was $1.49. I feel proud too. 🙂 Like a godfather. Please, do not become like George RR Martin.
December 9th, 2012 at 8:24 am
Unfortunately, in Europe the kindle version is $21.16 US! I am happy to have been able to buy and recommend to friends the self-published version. I hope the price eventually falls to allow for a larger non-US readership. I look forward to the next volume.
December 9th, 2012 at 8:28 am
Jeremy – Not sure where you got that price from, but just to clarify, the Kindle version is currently 3.97 Euros in Europe and £3.20 in the UK. The hardcover is available for pre-order in Europe at 22.99 Euros.
December 9th, 2012 at 9:23 am
This may just be my bad luck to be in Switzerland, although it was a friend living in France that first brought it to my attention. Happy to send screenshot if helpful. Cheers!
December 17th, 2012 at 6:16 am
Nice to see that e price has now been adjusted to $5.38 in Switzerland
December 9th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Just confirmed if you are on French (amazon.fr) or German amazon.de) sites, then it is 3.97 euros, but if you are on the Amazon International site (which is in English), then it is the higher price of 21.16 USD. I assume this would probably apply in other European countries not large enough to be covered in one of the publishing agreements.
December 9th, 2012 at 10:18 am
Jeremy,
Can you post a link to the Amazon International book page? I can’t seem to find it.
Thanks
December 9th, 2012 at 11:58 am
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Song-Ravens-Shadow-ebook/dp/B00ABKGG0C/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1
Also sent screenshot to your hotmail.
December 10th, 2012 at 11:56 am
Hi,
I’m living in Ireland and now I can’t get *any* Kindle copy of “New Blood”. Previously, I had access to the same version as everyone else on Amazon.com. I had held off on buying it purely because a different Anthony Ryan I knew was going to buy it for me because the naming coincidence was too much fun to pass up! Any idea what’s happened here?
Thanks,
Aidan
December 10th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Hi Aidan,
Evidently the digital confusion continues. I’ve added Ireland to the list of countries where I still hold the distribution rights on my Kindle page. Hopefully this will resolve the issue, but you’ll need to wait 12 hours to find out. Let me know how it goes.
Regards,
Anthony
December 11th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
It’s now happily sitting on my Kindle! Thanks for sorting it out and hopefully you’ll get a few more Irish customers (I based the purchase on a few recommendations from Irish users on a sci-fi forum).
December 11th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Mr Ryan,
While I personally have my much beloved kindle copy of Blood Song, it appears that the problem that many are encountering re: the kindle version is also present for Australian customers as the book is no longer available for me. Given that I have been quite active in reccomending the book to my friends, if it is withing your power could you look into this?
Regards,
James
December 11th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
James – will do. Thanks for your recommendation efforts.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
YOU DOG! been a long time fan and i’m glad you’ve found success.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
heh…any more 2.99 book deals in the future?
December 12th, 2012 at 7:17 am
James – It’s my ambition to keep on a dual track publishing wise – traditional and self, so it’s possible. Might take a while though.
December 12th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
I just wanted to stop by and let you know that Blood Song has just taken the throne as my favorite book. Thank you sir. I can’t wait for the second.
December 15th, 2012 at 8:43 am
Sir, I would like to tell you how amazing your book is. It was so refreshing compared to what I’ve been reading to have a rich complex adventure. I’m ecstatic that I’m going to be able to have a hard copy soon. Thank you, congratulations, and good luck with all your future endeavors. Stay excellent!
January 3rd, 2013 at 5:43 am
I just finished the book last night and have been feeling depressed for finishing it so fast. I could not put it down once I started and have found the book to be very refreshing, it was a nice change from the Game of Throne series. Keep writing man I look forward to the next book in the series, you got talent.
January 19th, 2013 at 9:36 am
I bought the book because i hear great things about it. I don’t like reading it from PC and don’t have time to sit in front of it.
Any chance you doing an audiobook version? Only way for me to read/listen to books these days
January 19th, 2013 at 11:35 am
Hi Rory,
Penguin assure me they will be producing an audiobook version. No info on a release date yet but watch this space.
February 9th, 2013 at 4:15 am
yay!! also waiting with baited breath for the audiobook!!! let the suits at penguin know they should definitely get on that, I’ll give my word they wont regret it!
January 19th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Absolutely loved the book and am looking forward to future instalements in the blood song saga. I was able to get it for kindle in the us thankfully as it was difficult to find a downloadable copy.
February 13th, 2013 at 5:41 am
Hi Anthony
I was really taken by the training programs and the melee you describe so well. Is any of this based on special forces training ( more specifically GRU etc)?
February 13th, 2013 at 10:58 am
Hi Tesh, The tests are all my own invention – and, as far as I know, physically impossible in the real world. The inspiration for the test of the melee did come from modern military training, however – there’s a ritual/test British paratroopers have to go through called ‘the milling’ where they put on boxing gloves and beat each other senseless for 60 seconds.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:44 am
Hi Anthony,
I purchased your book blood song from Amazon some time ago now, and have been checking regularly for the second instalment. This is the best new author fantasy book I have read from amazon. I am so impressed with your story telling it is up there with the greats, you are a rare natural talent in the fantasy genre. I wish you all the success in the world. Can you please let me know when the next book is coming? I am eager to get my hands on it.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:34 am
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for the kind words. Book 2 is unlikely to appear before summer of 2014. Please direct any complaints to the Penguin Publishing Company of New York.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:34 pm
It sure is strange that it takes a publishing company so long to publish a book. If I can remember correctly, I believe you completed the second book last October. While I’m sure several editing runs were required, two years seems quite excessive. Well, I hold your writing in the highest regards Anthony, not sure I can say the same about Penguin though.
March 17th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Hi Anthony,
I purchased your original version of Blood Song some time ago on Amazon and now there is the new Penguin version available on there. Has there been any changes with this version (editing, additions, etc.) or is it exactly the same as the old one?
Thanks!
March 17th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Hi Sarah,
The currently available ebook version of Blood Song features the new cover produced by Ace but is otherwise identical to the one you’ve already bought. The new version, which has been through Ace’s editing / proof reading process, will be available from 2 July. I’ll do a post about the changes to the book when it’s published, however, the new edition is substantially the same as the original so please don’t expect a comprehensive rewrite.
Thanks for reading.
Anthony
March 17th, 2013 at 9:36 pm
Really enjoyed Blood Song. I picked it up cheap a year ago on my Kindle. I read a ton of fantasy by pretty much every top name author out there. The only sequel I’m looking more forward to than Ravens Shadow 2 is Sandersons next book in the stormlight archive.
May 28th, 2013 at 9:54 pm
I am about 60% of the way through Blood Song and loving every minute of it – actually, I don’t want it to end. This is one of the best fantasy books I have read for a long time. I’m looking forward to the sequel already.
June 4th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
I’m really happy for you that you found a publisher, but now us original fans that purchased your work prior to Penguin are made to wait for the next installment while Penguin milks the market on your first book. Why couldn’t the next book in the series be released later this year? I finally have the ear of another hard core reader (who has the ears of many others) after recommending Hugh Howey’s Wool series and I want to recommend Blood Song, but I’m hesitant to do so since we are in a holding pattern. Any chance we can get book 2 sooner than Summer 2014?
June 4th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
Hi Christian,
As stated on the ‘Tower Lord – The Frequently Asked Question’ page, publication dates are outside my control and any complaints should be addressed to the Penguin publishing company.
Glad you liked the book.