Tag Archives: the seven swords

July 6, 2021

The Black Song – US Paperback Out Now and more…

By Anthony Ryan

The US paperback edition of The Black Song – the second and final volume of The Raven’s Blade – is published today.

Buy the US paperback here: amazon.com – Barnes & Noble – Indiebound – Books A Million – Bookshop.org – Hudson Booksesllers

Check out The Black Song book page for other formats.

I’m delighted to report that City of Songs – Volume Three in my Seven Swords novella series – has received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly.

‘Ryan ingeniously combines magic and mystery in his outstanding third Seven Swords fantasy.’

Read the full review here (some mild spoiler warnings for those who prefer to come to it completely cold).

City of Songs will be released in special edition signed hardcover and ebook from Subterranean Press in September. Hopefully, the audiobook edition will appear shortly after. To answer an oft-asked question, there won’t be a pre-order page for the ebook, however, I’ll be sure to announce the release and provide the relevant where-to-buy links when they become available. 

Pre-order the signed, numbered hardcover edition from the Subterranean Press website.

Heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported the Kickstarter for Grimdark Magazine’s anthology The King Must Fall. Thanks (I like to think) to you, the anthology – which includes an all new Raven’s Shadow novella – has now reached its funding goal. A number of really great stretch goals remain with 8 days left to run. So, if you haven’t already become a supporter, please consider doing so now. 

The King Must Fall Kickstarter Page.

Thanks to those nice people at Orbit for providing this nifty video to remind everyone that my next full-length novel, The Pariah – Book One of the Covenant of Steel – will be released in two months time. 

Grimdark Magazine (purely coincidentally) were kind enough to review the book last week and seemed to like it a lot:

‘The Pariah is Anthony Ryan at his best. A fast-paced, brutal fantasy novel with larger than life characters and a plot full of intrigue and suspense. With bloody twists and turns aplenty, this novel is destined to become a favourite of the grimdark community.’

Read the full review here.

For Canadian readers – I’m told that the Indigo book chain is running a 30% off promotion on their ‘Most Anticipated Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books’ – which includes The Pariah. Go here to pre-order: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-pariah/9780316430760-item.html

Draconis Memoria RPG update – work continues on this project despite some dreadful pandemic related issues for the publisher. I still don’t have a start date for the Kickstarter but you can now register your interest here to make sure you don’t miss it: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hirukoa/draconis-memoria-rpg

And finally, it will be Blood Song’s tenth birthday on July 31st, which marks the day when I first self-published the book on Smashwords (whereupon it sold a massive five copies before I put it on the Kindle store in January 2012, but that’s a different story). Watch out for a book birthday related giveaway towards the end of the month. Please note – you’ll need to be signed up to my mailing list to have a chance of winning.

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May 31, 2021

‘City of Songs’ ARC Giveaway – ‘The Black Song’ UK Kindle Daily Deal – ‘The King Must Fall’ Kickstarter – New Interview

By Anthony Ryan

Thanks to those nice folks at Subterranean Press I have three signed advance review copies of City of Songs – Volume Three of The Seven Swords novella series – to give away to existing mailing list subscribers and anyone who subscribes between now and midnight GMT June 5th. 

Winners will be chosen and notified on June 6th. As usual, remember to check you spam folders to make sure you haven’t missed out.

Join the mailing list.

City of Songs will be released in September in special edition hardcover, audio and ebook. It looks like the lettered tray-case editions have already sold out but the signed and numbered hardcovers are still available. Go to the Subterranean Press website to place your orders.

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In other news – for today only the UK ebook edition of The Wolf’s Call – Book One of the Raven’s Blade duology – is on sale at £0.99 as a Kindle daly deal on the UK Amazon store. Buy here: amazon.co.uk.

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I’m also delighted to announce that I will contributing an all new Raven’s Shadow novella to the upcoming anthology The King Must Fall from Grimdark Magazine. 

This will be a crowdfunded publication so, if you want to make it happen, head over to the Kickstarter page to be notified when the project goes live on June 15th. More details on the novella coming soon. 

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And finally, many thanks to book blogger and aspiring writer Shauna Lawless for interviewing me about the upcoming publication of The Pariah, plus a lot of other stuff. Find it on at her blog at: https://shaunalawless.com/2021/05/19/author-interview-anthony-ryan/

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March 8, 2021

‘The Black Song’ Nominated for the Booknest Awards, ‘Slab City Blues’ Audio Goes Wide, and more…

By Anthony Ryan

Many thanks to those nice people at Booknest for nominating ‘The Black Song’ – Book Two of The Raven’s Blade – for their ‘Best Traditionally Published Novel’ award longlist. Head over to the awards page to vote for your favourite fantasy novel from 2020: http://booknest.eu/component/k2/blog/2183-2020-booknest-fantasy-awards-longlist

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The audiobook edition of ‘Slab City Blues – The Collected Stories’, narrated by the inestimable Steven Brand, is no longer exclusive to Audible and can be purchased from these retailers: 

 Apple Books  –  Kobo  –   Google Play  –  Chirp

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‘Een Pelgrimstocht van Zwaarden’ – the Dutch edition of my novella ‘A Pilgrimage of Swords’ – Vol. 1 of The Seven Swords – will be released on March 30th. Netherlands fantasy outlet AnderWereld are offering a box of goodies which includes a hardcover copy of the novella and a 210mm x 210mm glossy postcard of the Execration map signed by yours truly. Go here to order: https://www.anderwereld-magie.nl/a-63512008/nieuwe-mystery-boekenboxen/mystery-boekenbox-maart-fantasy-novelle/

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And finally, I’m please to share a few more sample pages from the Draconis Memoria RPG rulebook courtesy of Hiruoka. Watch this space for news of the upcoming kickstarter. 

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February 23, 2021

Announcing ‘City of Songs’ – Volume Three of the Seven Swords

By Anthony Ryan

I’m pleased to announce that Subterranean Press is now taking pre-orders for my novella City of Songs – Book Three of The Seven Swords.

About the Book:

ATHERIA – THE FABLED CITY OF SONGS, THE SHINING JEWEL OF THE THIRD SEA WHERE THE MASKED EXULTIA CASTE HOLD SWAY AND VIE TO OUTDO EACH OTHER IN THEIR PATRONAGE OF THE ARTS, SOMETIMES WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES…

Guyime, wandering, dethroned King of the Northlands, is drawn to the Atheria by his quest for the Seven Swords, the demon cursed blades of legend. But to claim the next sword he must first solve a seemingly impossible murder—a puzzle that, once untangled, will unveil secrets so dark they could bring the City of Songs to utter ruin.

Continuing the epic tale of The Seven Swords, City of Songs is an action-packed, darkly magical mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of the Raven’s Shadow and Draconis Memoria trilogies. 

Pre-order from the Subterranean Press website.

As with the previous instalments there will be an audio version of City of Songs – details to follow when I have them. 

For any newcomers to this series click the links below for details of the first two volumes:
A Pilgrimage of Swords

The Kraken’s Tooth  

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 yet another spectacular cover. Check out more of his work here.

I’ll be running a mailing list giveaway for signed hardcovers closer to the release date so watch out for that. 

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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 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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July 13, 2020

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

By Anthony Ryan

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.

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July 6, 2020

‘The Kraken’s Tooth’ – ARC Giveaway & ‘The Black Song’ Signed, Numbered Edition Pre-order from Goldsboro Books

By Anthony Ryan

Thanks to those nice people at Subterranean Press I have three signed Advance Review Copies of my novella The Kraken’s Tooth – Book Two of the Seven Swords, to give away to mailing list subscribers. If you’re not already a subscriber please sign up here by midnight GMT on July 12th to have a chance of winning. Winners will be chosen and notified on July 13th.

Any book reviewers/bloggers/book-tubers who would like a copy please get in touch via the contact page and I’ll ask Subterranean to send you one. The book is also available to reviewers via Netgalley. 

The Kraken’s Tooth will be released in special limited edition hardcover and ebook on September 30th. Further details, excerpt and pre-order on the Subterranean Press website: https://subterraneanpress.com/krakens-tooth

Also, a reminder that anyone who pre-orders will be entered into a draw to win this signed original illustration that appears at the front of the hardcover. I’m told the hardcover may well sell out prior to release so act now if you don’t want to miss out. 

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In other news – I’m happy to report that Goldsboro Books now has a pre-order page for the signed and numbered UK edition of The Black Song: https://www.goldsborobooks.com/product/the-black-song-limited-edition.

About this time I was hoping to run a giveaway for signed UK and US edition hardcovers of The Black Song. Sadly, due to ongoing COVID chaos, I’m not sure when my author copies will turn up. As I don’t want to promise books to readers without a reasonable expectation of when their prize will arrive, I’ll be holding off on this giveaway until I have my author copies. It’s possible this may happen after the book is released, so watch this space for updates.

Please note – the release date for The Black Song has been changed from July 28th to July 30th for the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa – August 4th in the US & Canada. Pre-order details for all formats are on the book page.

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