Tag Archives: heroic fantasy

The Kraken’s Tooth – Released Today

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  – KoboNook 

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. 


Upcoming ‘Black Song’ Signed US Hardcover Giveaway

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.


The Black Song – US and Canada Release Day

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.


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

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


The Black Song – UK Hardcover Release

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.ukWH SmithWordery

Other formats:

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

UK audiobook:  Audible.co.ukApple 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


The Black Song – UK Ebook and Audiobook Release Day

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


The Black Song – UK Hardcover Giveaway

In nine days The Black Song – Book II of The Raven’s Blade Duology – is released in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. To mark the occasion I’m holding a giveaway for existing subscribers to my mailing list and anyone who subscribes between now and midnight GMT July 29th. 

Five first place winners will receive a UK hardcover first edition of The Black Song.

Five second place winners will receive a UK trade paperback edition of The Black Song.

All books will be signed, lined and dated (with a personalised dedication if requested). Winners will be chosen at random and notified on July 30th. The giveaway is open to all mailing list subscribers not just those in the UK. Be sure to check your spam folders on the 30th to make sure you haven’t missed out on a prize.

The US edition of The Black Song will be released on August 4th. I was hoping to include US editions in this giveaway. However, as my author copies haven’t arrived yet (I assume to ongoing COVID related botheration), I’ve decided to run a second giveaway for US edition after the release on August 4th. 

Join the mailing list.

Please note that the Goldsboro Books special signed and numbered hardcover edition of The Black Song has now sold out. Thanks to everyone who purchased and commiserations to those who missed out. 

Pre-order The Black Song here:

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

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

US audiobook:  Audible.com

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

UK hardcover:  amazon.co.uk  –  Waterstones –  Hive.co.ukBlackwells

UK audiobook:  Audible.co.ukApple Audiobooks


New Podcast Interview/’The Black Song’ Giveaway/’The Waking Fire’ Price Drop

Thanks to David Walters for inviting me to be interviewed on FanFiAddict’s ‘Authors on a podcast talking books’. You can hear me waffle on about The Black Song and various writer-related gubbins via these links:

FanFiAddict website: https://fanfiaddict.com/2020/07/11/authors-on-a-podcast-talking-books-ep-42-anthony-ryan/

Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authors-on-a-podcast-talking-books/id1489100521?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5flRejokJOk3ODDJHv8mUH

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Good news everyone, my author copies of the UK hardcover edition of The Black Song have arrived which means I’ll be able to run a giveaway for signed copies after all. I’ll be running the giveaway in about a week and winners will be chosen from existing mailing list subscribers, so make sure you sign up to have a chance of winning. 

The Black Song will be released in the UK on July 30th and the US on August 4th. Pre-order links are here.

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Thanks to everyone who entered The Kraken’s Tooth advance review copy giveaway. The winners have now been notified. Please check your spam folders to make sure you haven’t missed out on a prize. Pre-order links for The Kraken’s Tooth are on the book page.

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And finally, I’m pleased to report that the US ebook edition of The Waking Fire – Book One of The Draconis Memoria – has been reduced in price to $3.99, so if you were thinking about starting this series but hadn’t yet taken the plunge, now would be a very good time. Where-to-buy links and book description are on The Waking Fire book page.


The Black Song – UK Audio Pre-Order and Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review

The audiobook edition of The Black Song – the second and final book in the Raven’s Blade duology – narrated by Steven Brand, is now available for pre-order in the UK. The book will be released on July 28th in the UK and August 4th in the US. 

Pre-Order here: Audible.co.uk

Pre-Order the US audiobook here:  Audible.com

Other formats:

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

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

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

UK hardcover:  amazon.co.uk  –  Waterstones –  Hive.co.uk

I’m also pleased to report that The Black Song has received a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly: “…expert worldbuilding, crackling dialogue, gripping action and subtle shifts on the political chessboard.”

Read the full review here.

Read an excerpt from Chapter One of The Black Song.

I’ll be running a giveaway for signed copies of the UK and US hardcovers for mailing list subscribers in July. Be sure to sign up for the list to make sure you don’t miss out.


The Wolf’s Call – US Paperback Out Now

I realise many US readers will have a lot on their plate at the moment, but anyone seeking a distraction might want to know that the paperback edition of The Wolf’s CallBook One of the Raven’s Blade – is now available in the US and Canada.

Buy here:   Amazon.comBarnes & Noble  –  Indiebound

Buy links for other formats are on The Wolf’s Call book page.

I’d normally do a paperback giveaway at this point but COVID chaos means I haven’t received my author copies yet. I hope to run a Wolf’s Call paperback giveaway closer to the release for The Black Song – Book Two of the Raven’s Blade, so watch out for that.

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Also, a reminder that I’ve teamed up with a bunch of other great sci-fi authors to do a SF/F raffle giveaway for FREE signed paperbacks, including Slab City Blues: The Collected Stories.

Just hop over to mattwardwrites.com/raffle and enter your email before June 10th to register.