Funnily enough, publishing a prequel novella was never part of my original plan for the Crucible of Legacy series. I mapped out the series as three books and planned to move on to other projects once I finished, but writing has a funny way of taking you in unexpected directions.
The story moves at a quick pace, throwing you into a world that is both alien yet easily accessible. The Asian inspired, “arcane punk” setting is fun and feels different than most other fantasy. Between the setting, the magic system and the characters, I found myself reminded of some of the classic anime shows movies I remember watching as a teenager, but with a more mature edge.
The plot of King Sorrow is something of a Frankenstein’s monster of horror, thriller, fantasy and a decade’s spanning morality tale. The story begins with a group of hapless college students who get more than they bargained for in a classic Faustian bargain, playing heavily to the book’s horror thriller billing.
I went into this book with no info but what was on the blurb and I can confidently say it was one of the most unexpected reading experiences I’ve had in a long while.
But when I found myself staring down the barrel of my novel’s rapidly approaching launch date with no connections, no money and no marketing plan, I knew I had to do something to get the word out there. So I turned to the avenue that was most readily available and convenient to me; social media.
I have always seen books as tools, not art pieces. Fundamentally, a book is a medium for passing along stories, wisdom and information from person to person.
He has a real knack for establishing a world that feels just a few years removed from our own, like we’re reading an account of something that might actually happen in about ten years. Pair this with his ability to create engaging yet flawed characters and maintain a steady, well structured story, Weir has a winning formula.
Gus Moreno’s modern horror novel delves into that question in a book that is undeniably unsettling and uniquely captivating.
By contrast, Abercombie beats his readers with a warhammer while delivering a battlecry.
People from every walk of life adore his monstrous creations, they are the darlings of literary connoisseurs, artists and blue collar workers alike.
