Category Archives: Writing Stuff

November 17, 2020

‘Songs of the Dark’ – Illustration Preview & ‘Kraken’s Tooth’ Hardcover Giveaway

By Anthony Ryan

Songs of the Dark – Short Fiction from the World of Raven’s Shadow will be released in special edition hardcover by Subterranean Press in December. I thought I’d let you have a preview of my interior illustrations for A Duel of Evils, the first story in the collection. I’ll be revealing the other illustrations prior to release so check back for updates. 

Pre-order Songs of the Dark from the Subterranean Press website.

In other news, I was intending to wait until mid-December to run the giveaway for signed hardcovers of The Kraken’s Tooth, the second volume in my Seven Swords novella series. However, given the current state of postal services around the world I though it best to run it now to give winners a chance of receiving their prize before Christmas (for those that celebrate it – other mid-winter festivals are available). 

I have five signed hardcover copies of The Kraken’s Tooth to give away to members of my mailing list. Existing members are automatically entered. If you’re not a member and would like a chance to win one please join the mailing list before midnight GMT on 22nd November. Winners will be chosen at random and notified on 23rd November (remember to check your spam folders to make sure you haven’t missed out on a prize). 

I’m told that Subterranean still has some copies of The Kraken’s Tooth hardcover available for purchase. Please note that these can only be bought direct from the Subterranean Press website. 

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October 26, 2020

Announcing ‘Songs of the Dark – Short Fiction from the World of Raven’s Shadow’

By Anthony Ryan

I’m delighted to announce that Subterranean Press is now taking pre-orders for ‘Songs of the Dark – Short Fiction from the World of Raven’s Shadow’. This is a special limited edition signed hardcover collecting all the Raven’s Shadow novellas including a new introduction and black-and-white interior illustrations by yours truly (previews to come). The wraparound dust jacket illustration is by long-time collaborator Kevin Zamir Goeke.

Subterranean will start shipping in December so please get your order in early if you’d like to secure a copy. There is a limit of one copy per person/household. Order from the Subterranean Press website.

About the Book:

“Heard whispers of the Dark all my life. It’s a strange feeling when a whisper becomes a shout.” 

Songs of the Dark collects all four novellas from the world of Anthony Ryan’s internationally best-selling Raven’s Shadow trilogy.

A Duel of Evils – Centuries before the rise of the Unified Realm, the final battle looms between the city-state of Kethia and the Volarian Empire. As told by Imperial Chronicler Lord Verniers, this terrible event is shrouded in many secrets and, some say, wrought by servants of the Dark.

Many Are the Dead – When word reaches the north of a fresh outbreak of the dreaded Red Hand, Brother Sollis, the finest swordsman in the Sixth Order, leads a small band to a long-abandoned castle in search of a potential cure but discovers a far greater threat lurking in the mountains.

The Lady of Crows – A quest for bloody vengeance forces Derla, a skilled and deadly veteran of the Varinshold underworld, into the service of the arch schemer King Janus.

The Lord Collector – Veteran Realm Guard Jerhid, newly appointed Lord Collector of the King’s Excise, finds himself battling ruthless smuggler gangs and worse on the wild southern shore of the Unified Realm. 

Four compelling tales of mystery, magic, intrigue, and battle presented in one volume for the first time—featuring all-new introductions and black-and-white interior illustrations by the author.  

Limited: 400 signed numbered hardcover copies: $125

Lettered: 26 signed specially bound copies, housed in a custom traycase: $600

Table of Contents:

  • Introduction
  • A Duel of Evils
  • Many Are the Dead
  • The Lady of Crows
  • The Lord Collector

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October 6, 2020

The Kraken’s Tooth – Audiobook Released and Updated Ebook Links

By Anthony Ryan

The Kraken’s Tooth – the second novella in my Seven Swords series from Subterranean Press – is now available in audiobook, narrated by Steven Brand. 

Buy the audiobook:  Audible.com – Audible.co.uk

The Kraken’s Tooth ebook is also now available outside the US. Click the link below for the relevant Kindle store in your country:

Amazon US (*)

Amazon UK (*)

Amazon Canada

Amazon Australia

Amazon France

Amazon Germany

Amazon Netherlands

Amazon Italy

Amazon Spain

Amazon Brazil

Amazon India

(*Amazon Affiliate Paid link)

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September 30, 2020

The Kraken’s Tooth – Released Today

By Anthony Ryan

My new novella The Kraken’s Tooth – Book Two of The Seven Swords – is released today by Subterranean Press. Most of the hardcovers have already sold out but I’m told there may be a few left if anyone wants to head over to the Subterranean Press site to snag one.

The Kraken’s Tooth is also available in ebook:  amazon.com  – Kobo – Nook 

The ebook edition doesn’t appear to have filtered through to non-US stores yet. There will also be an audiobook edition, narrated by Steven Brand, available from Audible (hopefully soon) – I’ll post links  to both when I have them. 

About the Book:

THE GREAT MERCHANT CITY OF CARTHULA—RAISED FROM THE BONES OF A KRAKEN ON THE WHIM OF A GODDESS

WHERE NOBLE HOUSES CALL UPON DARK MAGIC TO TRIUMPH IN THEIR ENDLESS AND DEADLY GAME FOR DOMINION…

Landless one-time king Guyime, once called Pilgrim but known to history as the Ravager, has survived the fall of the Execration – an event that set him on a path to find the legendary Seven Swords. 

Guided by sorcery, Guyime journeys to Carthula in the centre of the First Sea to claim the mythical blade known as the Kraken’s Tooth. Aided by three companions – the beast charmer Seeker, a powerful sorceress and a scholarly slave – Guyime ventures into Carthula’s perilous underbelly to secure a prize guarded by ancient magics, cursed spirits, and lethal traps. But can he survive an ultimate ordeal crafted from his worst nightmares?

Continuing the epic story begun in A Pilgrimage of Swords, The Kraken’s Tooth is a fast-paced tale of low intrigue and grand adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of the Raven’s Shadow and Draconis Memoria trilogies. 

From Publishers Weekly (Starred Review):

“Ryan masterfully combines vivid characterization and understated worldbuilding in the stellar second fantasy novella in his Seven Swords series (after A Pilgrimage of Swords)… Ryan does a superior job of propelling the adventure along while simultaneously pulling back the layers of [the fallen king] Guyime’s tortured backstory, and the robust fantasy world is described in clean, evocative prose…”

Anyone wishing to check out the first book in the Seven Swords series, check out the Pilgrimage of Swords book page.

Thanks to my editors, Yanni Kuznia and Bill Schafer, and everyone else at Subterranean for making this happen. Also, many thanks to Didier Graffet for another wonderful cover. 

I’ll be running a mailing list giveaway for signed hardcovers closer to Christmas, so be sure to sign up to the list to make sure you don’t miss out. 

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August 29, 2020

Upcoming ‘Black Song’ Signed US Hardcover Giveaway

By Anthony Ryan

Just a quick post to let you all know that on 4th September I’ll be running a quickie mailing list exclusive give-away for five signed, lined and dated copies of the US hardcover edition of The Black Song to mark the one month-aversary of its publication.

In order to enter you have to be a signed-up member of the mailing list – sign up here. I’ll be sending out an email to subscribers on 4th September with a clickable link for those who want to be entered into the draw, so make sure you check your spam folders to ensure you don’t miss out. Winners will be chosen at random and notified on Monday September 7th. The give-away will be open to all mailing list subscribers, not just US residents.

In other news – it transpires that I totally missed the publication of the Italian edition of The Wolf’s Call in April – Il richiamo del lupo (La spada del corvo #1) is now available, published by Fanucci Editore. Click here for the Amazon.it link, but I’m assured it’s available in all good bookshops, COVID restrictions permitting. (If anyone knows the name of the cover artist, please let me know so I can credit them).

Finally, a reminder that The Kraken’s Tooth – the second novella my ‘Seven Swords’ series from Subterranean Press – will be released on 30th September and is available for pre-order here: https://subterraneanpress.com/krakens-tooth.

If you order before the release date you have the added bonus of being entered into a draw to win an original signed illustration by me and you won’t have to send me emails complaining about the price of hardcovers on eBay after Subterranean have sold out.

The ebook and audiobook editions of The Kraken’s Tooth will also be available when the hardcover is released.

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August 22, 2020

and ‘The Wolf’s Call’ in German is…

By Anthony Ryan

Das Lied des Wolfes, published today by Hobbit Presse.

Many thanks to my translator Sara Riffel and my German editor Stephan Askani for all their hard work in making this happen.

Click here to buy the book in hardcover, ebook or audiobook.

Also, thanks to Frederico Musetti for the spectacular cover. You can see more of his work here: http://www.federicomusetti.it

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August 4, 2020

The Black Song – US and Canada Release Day

By Anthony Ryan

The Black Song – Book Two of the Raven’s Blade – is released today in the US and Canada.

Buy here:

Ebook: amazon.com –  Nook  –  iBooks  –  Kobo  –  Google Play  –  Books A Million

Hardcover:  amazon.com  – Barnes & Noble  –  Indiebound  –  Books A Million  –  Bookshop.org  –  Hudson Booksellers  –  Powell’s  –  Target  –  Walmart

Audiobook:  audible.com  – Apple Audiobooks –  audiobooks.com  –  audiobookstore.com  –  Libro.fm

Description:

A matchless warrior is pitted against a near-God in the second epic installment of the Raven’s Blade series.

 “It has long been our lot in life, brother, to do what others can’t.”

Vaelin Al Sorna was known across the realm as the greatest of warriors, but he thought battles were behind him. He was wrong. Prophecy and rumor led him across the sea to find a woman he once loved, and drew him into a war waged by the Darkblade, a man who believes himself a god—and one who has gathered a fanatical army that threatens all of the known world.

After a costly defeat by the Darkblade, Vaelin’s forces are shattered, while the self-proclaimed immortal and his army continue their terrible march. But during the clash, Vaelin regained some of the dark magic that once gave him unrivaled skill in battle. And though the fight he has been drawn into seems near unwinnable, the song that drives him now desires the blood of his enemy above all else…

“…expert worldbuilding, crackling dialogue, gripping action and subtle shifts on the political chessboard.” – Publisher’s Weekly.

For anyone who missed it, The Black Song released in the UK on July 28th.

Buy here:

UK ebook:  amazon.co.uk  –  iBooks –  Kobo  –  Google Play

UK hardcover:  amazon.co.uk  –  Waterstones –  Hive.co.uk – WH Smith – Wordery

UK audiobook:  Audible.co.uk –  Apple audiobooks

Thanks to everyone at Ace for helping to bring The Black Song into the world, particularly my editor Jessica Wade. Thanks also to my UK editor James Long and my agent Paul Lucas.

The Black Song the second and final book in The Raven’s Blade duology and, to answer an oft-asked question, it will be Vaelin’s last adventure… for the time being. I think he’s earned a break after everything I’ve put him through but, rest assured, he will be back eventually. In the meantime I have other stories to tell and new worlds to explore – watch this space for details to be announced in the near future.

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August 1, 2020

‘The Black Song’ is an August Book of the Month on Amazon.com

By Anthony Ryan

Many thanks to Amazon for including The Black Song in the ‘Best Books of the Month in Science Fiction & Fantasy’. Check out the full list on Amazon. com.

The Black Song releases in the US and Canada in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in three days. Full details on the book page. Pre-orders below.

US ebook:  amazon.com  –  Nook  –  iBooks  –  Kobo  –  Google Play

US hardcover:  amazon.com  – Barnes & Noble  –  Indiebound

US audiobook:  Audible.com

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July 30, 2020

The Black Song – UK Hardcover Release

By Anthony Ryan

The Black Song – The second and final book of The Raven’s Blade – is released in hardcover today in the UK and Ireland.

Buy here: amazon.co.uk  –  Waterstones –  Hive.co.uk – WH Smith – Wordery

Other formats:

UK ebook:  amazon.co.uk  –  iBooks –  Kobo  –  Google Play

UK audiobook:  Audible.co.uk – Apple audiobooks

Congratulations to the winners of the signed hardcover giveaway who have already been notified. Look out for another giveaway for the US hardcover (cover below) sometime after the release on August 5th. Pre-orders below:

US ebook:  amazon.com  –  Nook  –  iBooks  –  Kobo  –  Google Play

US hardcover:  amazon.com  – Barnes & Noble  –  Indiebound

US audiobook:  Audible.com

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July 28, 2020

The Black Song – UK Ebook and Audiobook Release Day

By Anthony Ryan

The UK ebook and audiobook editions of The Black Song – second and final volume of the Raven’s Blade – are released today. Readers in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa should also be able to download it. July 30th is the official release day for the UK hardcover but I’m told it’s already on the shelves in some bookshops (wear a mask if you go looking). 

Thanks to everyone at Orbit UK for making this happen.

I’ll still be running the signed UK hardcover giveaway until midnight GMT on 29th and notifying the winners not he 30th, so mailing list subscribers make sure to check your spam folders to ensure you haven’t missed a prize. 

Buy The Black Song UK ebook:  amazon.co.uk  –  iBooks  –  Kobo  –  Google Play

Buy The Black Song UK audiobook:  audible.co.uk

Buy The Black Song UK hardcover:  amazon.co.uk  –  Waterstones  –  Hive.co.uk

The Black Song will be released in the US and Canada on August 4th. Pre-order here:

US ebook:  amazon.com  –  Nook  –  iBooks  –  Kobo  –  Google Play

US audiobook:  Audible.com

US hardcover:  amazon.com  – Barnes & Noble  –  Indiebound

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In other news, the US Kindle edition of Tower Lord, Book Two of the Raven’s Shadow trilogy, is currently on sale at $1.99. I’ve no idea how long this price will last so be quick to bag yourself a bargain:  Amazon.com

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