merlinscribe | Update: Blade of Empire

Tor Books has scheduled Blade of Empire: Dragon Prophecy Book Two, as a FALL 2017 release.

Only a year to wait...

From: (Anonymous)

By the time it comes out I'll have been waiting half a decade for it. Not really complaining just an observation that hit me this morning.

From:

merlinscribe

And that means I've been writing in this world...for a very very long time... :)

From: (Anonymous)

YES! I can't wait. As much as I wish it would come out sooner, the second you posted that you turned the book into Tor. I knew it would not come out earlier then 2017, and suspected it would be late. Currently this is my favorite series. The waiting is still hard, but at least now we have close to a date. Hopefully I can wait that year, but something tills me the year is going to drag by and take forever. Thank you once again for writing a wonderfully book, that I could not put down. And continuing my favorite series.

Will I am off to reread Crown, a few hundred times just was not enough. Why I am at it, I might as well listen to the audio book for both Obsidian and Enduring Flame, that should take a while.

From: (Anonymous)

Yes, waiting a year does seem interminable at times. I have something else going on in my life that won't be where it's supposed to be until a year from now, so I was already in that boat. I just keep reminding myself how quickly a year can pass and how many things I wonder to myself how it could be possible that a year went by since that event.

From:

merlinscribe

It certainly goes fast when you're *writing*...

From: (Anonymous)

I read the first book to pieces. I think my wife finally threw them out I had parts of the book scattered all over.

From: (Anonymous)

I know the feeling. That is one reason I replaced a lot of my books in Hardback, since it is a little harder to destroy do to over reading (not that I haven't managed it). In the paperback version of When Darkness Falls the first 20 pages or so is completely out of the binding (that is the one in the best condition), and I don't have a whole lot of confidence that the rest of series is any better. The condition of that series would make any book lover cry. But that was one of my favorite series (till the Dragon Prophecy started coming out) so it was the first one I replaced in hardback. Also have all those in my e-book, at least then it can't get destroyed and I can count on the fact all the pages will be there.

From:

merlinscribe

::laughs::

From:

merlinscribe

That's a wonderful compliment. Thank you!

From: (Anonymous)

Gee aren't Tor Books quick....I might die of old age before this book comes out, just hope book 3 doesn't take 5 years!

From:

merlinscribe

Book 3 should be in Tor's hands by the end of this year, but it's anyone's guess when they'll publish it.

From: (Anonymous)

At least we got a date. Hopefully a 2018 scourge of fate release will be in order haha.

From:

merlinscribe

I certainly hope so!

From: (Anonymous)

I'm re-reading Crown of Vengeance for tge third time, so this is great news. Thank you!

From:

merlinscribe

Thank you for commenting!

From:

micbu

Each time I've reread Crown of Vengeance, I pick up on something else that i missed the previous times. I've probably reread it 5 times and listened to it on audio at least that many, so really anxious to get my hands on "Blade of Empire" Book 2 of the Dragon Prophecy. The excerpts you provided (that were edited out of Crown of Vengeance) are extremely beneficial and filled in background, characters and circumstances. I can appreciate that the publisher thought it made the volume overly cumbersome or lengthy, but I personally would prefer the story as it was originally intended. After all, JRR Tolkien's The Silmarillion has been published and it's sold quite well.

Due to the many excisions, each sentence and paragraph of Crown of Vengeance is integral to grasping nuances of character and story. It's not a book that you can skim.

Any thoughts on providing an ebook with those missing passages that Tor didn't include? Not sure if that is possible or even feasible, but I would definitely purchase that.

So once again, sigh.... I am waiting for the next update and of course the continuing saga on publication dates.

From:

merlinscribe

I don't think Tor has any interest in publishing an "Author's Preferred Version", alas. But perhaps someday I will have the rights back, and then we'll see...

From: (Anonymous)

Happy dance time! Woo hoo! I shall be excitedly counting down the days and re-reading all of your books. Can't wait. Like the other comment, I would love to read the full version of crown of vengeance. Please keep writing! Your books hold a special place on my bookcase and have been re-read countless times.

From:

merlinscribe

Thank you!

From: (Anonymous)

YAY!!! Good news! Thank you so much for the update!
I am so looking forward to adding the last two books of this trilogy to my James Mallory collection. Love your writing, your plots and your characters!

From:

merlinscribe

Thank you! Editorial often tells me my books have too many characters. Personally, I think they should have more...

From: (Anonymous)

A year is a long time, but it's so much easier to wait when you know the end-date!

From:

merlinscribe

Very true!

From:

lusional

Congrats on getting the (sort of) date!

I've been watching quietly in the background here for years waiting for that announcement, and I'm sure it has been quite the ride for you.

It's funny, I originally stumbled onto you because I was trying to find anything from Misty that I hadn't read yet, and now I've read your Obsidian and the Enduring Flame more than any other series out there.

Keep up the good work - I love the world you've built.

Edited Date: 2016-11-08 06:30 pm (UTC)

From:

merlinscribe

Thank you! I have many more stories to tell about it, and I hope I get the opportunity to do so.

From: (Anonymous)

So glad to finally have a date!!! Thanks for posting.

From:

merlinscribe

You're quite welcome!

From: (Anonymous)

Hello! Is the second book coming out any time soon? Read it and loved it and am waiting to see what's happening with the other princesses :D

From:

merlinscribe

Tor has the proposals on its desk. I'll let you know when I have any news.

From:

destofworlds

I just want to say that CROWN easily makes my top five fantasy books. The others are Tolkien's The Return of the King; T.H. White's The Once and Future King; Piers Anthony's On a Pale Horse; and T.C. Southwell's the Queen's Blade.
And of all of those I think I have read CROWN more than any of them. I love ridiculously detailed worlds and the Obsidian Universe is one of the best. Thank you very much for what you do Mr. Mallory.

From:

merlinscribe

That's rarefied company for me to be in--thank you!

From: (Anonymous)

Yay! I'm almost as excited as I was when I found that The Outstretched Shadow had a sequel (which became my favorite book). It's always easier having an end date to look forward to instead of just waiting; this will give me time to re-read Crown. -Mel

From:

merlinscribe

Thank you!

From: (Anonymous)

I have been in a good mood since you posted this. So excited.

Just a note to those who have a life outside this book, since I apparently don't. About two weeks ago the publisher Tor has finally put this books on their website. Name is still not there, it is listed as Dragon #2. The release date was listed as Oct. 24, 2017.

From:

merlinscribe

I wonder if they're really releasing it in October? They've been telling me mid-November.

From: (Anonymous)

I regularly post on Tor's Facebook page demanding the book. I am really waiting for this as it is so rare to read new material that isn't predictable and your first in this series was wildly good.