Hmm, no-one else has replied to this part yet. Lysaer’s danger: I’m undecided between two similar dangers. One, over the last 500 years, the other wraiths finally subverted the bits of Traithe that they had possession of and that “evil Traithe” was hidden in Lysaer. Or possibility two, a Marak wraith spent 500 years learning Traithe’s mage talents and hid itself in Lysaer. My supposition is that when Lysaer immolated himself and was pulled out of Rockfell by the Biedar, they stripped that hidden bit and left it in the pit for Arithon to clean up. It took Arithon that long to cleanup simply because of the number of entities he had to find Name for while being assaulted by the remaining horde.
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Today I finished reading Song of the Mysteries and therefore the whole series.
It feels significant to say that because its been a significant number of years and a big chunk of my life since I first read Curse of the Mistwraith.
Song fulfilled so many expectations and answered so many questions. It brought everything to a satisfying conclusion. I can hardly believe it’s really happened.
I feel so many mixed emotions about this series. I fell in love with the originality, the complex world-building, and with Arithon and Elaira. Loved the hints of sci-fi in the fantasy (always wanted more of that side). I felt it should be more widely known and appreciated. Sometimes it seemed the world was so real and plausible it was like reading an undiscovered history of our own world.
Sometimes I was frustrated with the distance between Arithon and Elaira, the Fellowship not stepping in or speaking up where I wanted them to, the long wait between books …
As it went on my life changed a lot. having kids. divorce. therapy. getting older mainly.
The first few books I read several times each but later I didn’t have time for that and it became harder to hang onto the detail from book to book.
I have to admit I was a bit turned off after Peril’s Gate however I had to get each subsequent book to see what would happen and how it was all going to end.
Finally that time has come. It has all ended. I feel sad and satisfied and overwhelmed and I’m hooked, hoping for more short stories to give us more backstory.
I am in awe of Janny’s achievement and persistence over so many years.
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Dropping by for the first time… I was introduced to this series only a couple of years ago and spent many hours delving into this amazing world.
Just finished SotM after waiting for amazon to deliver the paperback to Australia.
Janny, simply, thank you! Ive just left an amazon review - SotM is wonderfully done, beautifully written, and the glorious complexity that I’ve loved is there right to the end. You have a wonderful style and the world you have created is fabulous!
I hope the publishers engage you for many more novel spinoffs about Athera and all the worlds connected to it.
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Hi Beth,
Thank you ever so much for stopping by and posting your enthusiastic response - it is wonderful to see a newer reader fall in love with the series.
I am currently writing more short fiction taking place on the world of Athera (and in the same universe, you’ll see, there are surprises in store). These are underway as I wait on a new submission making the rounds.
HarperVoyager in the UK decided to decline the next work, though they will be following through with Song of the Mysteries’ release in mass market paperback.
For other new readers or older ones wanting to review the series: there will be a pretty big discussion kicking off with Curse of the Mistwraith in January, hosted by Talking Story on youtube, and Brian Bell of BellTube Books.
The tale spinning is not over, yet! Stay tuned for further announcements as they happen.
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I have a question to put to the readership:
In the ongoing ‘dialogue’ to keep Song of the Mysteries under ONE cover as a single volume, I was ‘warned’ that the type size of the mass market paperback might ‘not please me’ (interpret: it could be TINY.). At the time, before the hardback was printed, I was shown a ‘sample page’ that had a 9 point type, which was acceptable (most of the Malazan books are printed in that size and it is readable)…so I was asked to ‘sign off’ on that page, which I OK’d.
Now: the saga ongoing presents me with the proposed ‘layout’ of the mass market page and IT DOES NOT MATCH - it is weenie, like six point type all over again…I pointed out that this was NOT what I signed off on; and the response was, to move the needle a minimal amount - STILL in the weenie size range, unacceptable - Many readers stopped at Initiate’s Trial due to the microscopic type size…so here we are.
I will REPEAT my stance, that this is Not what I signed off on!! but they have already countered with: if this type size is TOO SMALL - (it is) they could ‘eliminate the running heads at the page top and put the page number at the bottom of the page’ to make the type size a bit larger…(in fact would they, or would they just cram in more lines to get a shorter page length? Could be scary).
Here is my question for you readers: Erkison’s HOUSE OF CHAINS has a 9 point type size, and they are readable pages for a book that is over 400,000 words and runs OVER a thousand pages in mass market paperback. This book - has no running heads and, has the page number at the bottom of the page…how do you feel about this?
Would you stick hard to keep the running headers (so the pages match the other INTERIOR pages of the mass market paperback) but run the risk you may need a magnifying glass to read the text, or do you Not miss the consistency of the formatting, and go for having the typesize MAYBE be a bit more readable?
Please post your opinion and help me along.
Personally, I never noticed the lack of a running head in House of Chains when I read it; but - I also do not trust the integrity of this decision holding, since eliminating the headers also would pave the way for cramming more lines to the page, rather than increasing readability…bottom line would just itch for a shorter page length…and they already are reneging on the page I was asked to sign off on, back when.
The series is undergoing ANOTHER editor change, as well - the next in line will be taking over.
Put in your call. I will have to move on this.
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I would be fine with no headers and the page number at the bottom, I have trouble with my eyesight and do NOT like minuscule type sizes.
I am not sure it is worth trusting them after what they did the first time, but any chance of getting a book that is easier to read is probably worth a try.
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Same. It’s annoying that they renege.
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I was thinking about this last week.
I was wondering if all the books could be reprinted in segments. Each original could be broken into two to five smaller books. The segments would still have titles and subtitles.
The Curse of the Mistwraith
- Battle to Exile 100 pages
- Bane to Clans 145 pages
- Desh-Thiere to Etarra 210 pages
- Coronation and War 340 pages
Publisher might balk, but printing 30 smaller paperbacks might appeal to a wider audience. There is precedent. There are 7-book versions of LOTR.
I have read the Peril’s Gate paperback, but I tend to switch to the Kindle version because of the typeface.
9pt would seem to be the smallest they should go.
I would NEVER approve of splitting the books apart - the split between Ships/Warhost was forced on me and it did a lot of damage. If you don’t think so, check the RATINGS fall, for the split versions vs the ratings on the full hardback edition with both halves together.
There is totally no reason to parse this work into novellas; it only allows for more drop off as folks don’t get the full sweep of the narrative as intended, and that will tend to kill the curve all the faster. More, a move like this would throw this series further into eclipse ‘behind’ other long works that are published as is, with no hesitation involved. I don’t need another strike against me, but rather, need to elevate this series to the position it deserves.
Sales pressure is the only answer, and that means, making up for the support that was lacking (marketing)…it is working, but SLOWLY - another hit of out of stock titles - I got a ‘report’ today - that restocking limits were raised once already (insufficient by a long shot) and they are looking at raising restock figures Again…this needs to happen AT SCALE because, always, they are undershooting demand. NOW is the time to scream loudly.
If we get a better edition it will be through a special edition printing and perhaps, backselling those pages to the publisher to re-create the series in large format, as every other book being printed today as mass market is being ‘abandoned’ for e sales, which are low effort. The only thing to do is push for this - demand will drive it. I do realize, here, this is already understood.
I am doing a livestream at 1 PM today for Shelf Esteem on youtube - support Nikhil’s channel Shelf Esteem and pop in! Also, support the READALONGS led by Talking Story, and Shelf Esteem, both at Curse of the Mistwraith, currently. Or go with the Page Chewing forum’s read, they are starting Initiate’s Trial - anyone can sign up at the page chewing forum/they discuss on video every two weeks, usually three chapters at a time. A P Canavan’s A Critical Dragon, Johanna Reads, and Philip Chase’s readalong is setting up to discuss Traitor’s Knot when they can schedule it. And the aussie channel Spaced Out Reads is a fan; the channel Tom Orange is also now up to Fugitive Prince. Nerd Level Rising -another channel heating up - participate, comment, and take note as they discuss many other books you may love. VOTE on the polls. Locusmag is compiling their year end for 2024 now, Song would be eligible.
I truly appreciate the suggestions and support - but I don’t think slicing this carefully planned long work would do the story any favors.
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On an entirely happy note, my sequel novella to The Gallant, titled The Guardian, is nearing 100 pages in draft, I have the finish in sight, probably 30-40 more pages to go. It will have a LOT of in-depth surprises - mentions in the bigger series shown here, in full depth, and a crosshair view of an immense part of history where a lot of things were shifting, very fast. I am taking my time to be sure it hits all the notes; there will be announcements.
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This makes me happy.
This is great news! I’m looking forward to reading it.
This will be great to read!