The cover art and some more information about American fantasy author author Brent Weeks‘ next book, entitled Black Prism, has made its way onto the internet.
Weeks is best known for his best-selling Night Angel trilogy, which focuses on an orphan (Azoth) who becomes an assassin. That trilogy has now finished, and for some time Weeks has been working on Black Prism, expected to be the first book in a new trilogy published by Orbit. In January Weeks wrote this about the book:
“It’s set in a new world. Think more 1500 Mediterrean Sea, rudimentary fire arms and magic together. Woot. But don’t worry, it’s not a pirates-and-their-peg-legged-mateys book. Cross my heart. But there are awesome characters, lots of action, much cooler magic this time out, secrets, lies, betrayal, and butt-kicking.”
This week the cover art for the book was published by several blogs. But, according to Weeks, the move may have been a bit premature.
“So here I am, writing a book, trying to stitch together a subplot, when I oh-so-innocently launch Twitter. (Always a mistake. Always.) Turns out I have just been scooped. Some blogger posted my new, not-yet-supposed-to-be-released cover,” wrote Weeks on his blog, linking to the Mad Hatter’s blog and noting some things about the cover could change before it was published.
Weeks also published comments on the blog A Dribble of Ink, which also published the cover, warning fans to beware of spoilers available online.
“We haven’t settled on a name for the series yet. It’s not the final cover. (Though honestly, it’s probably close.),” he wrote. “The blurb over at Mad Hatter (quoted from Amazon) is full of mistakes and spoilers. (Again, due to the unintentional release. No one’s fault.) And I’m not even finished writing, so maybe the heavy fire about the story itself can wait until August?”
Another post by “Lauren P”, who claimed to be the creative director at Orbit in charge of the cover, confirmed the cover wasn’t the final version. “Just let me say we’re still fiddling with the cover…sometimes things sneak off our servers before I have a chance to officially launch them on our blog & I’m trying to get better at managing that…but it’s close enough to final to talk about,” she wrote.
Black Prism is due out in approximately August 2010.
Commentary
There is no doubt that there will be a great deal of interest in Weeks’ next book, whatever it ends up looking like. His Night Angel trilogy was tremendously successful – it’s one of the few fantasy series that you can find in virtually every bookshop around my home country of Australia.
However, I’m not so sure that’s a good thing.
I’m halfway through the first book, The Way of Shadows, and to be honest, it’s a little … shallow. I wouldn’t say Weeks’ work has the depth of other mid-level contemporary authors like Joe Abercrombie, for example, and it’s a far cry from the awesome books being pumped out by fellow American author Brandon Sanderson, let alone established fantasy masters.
As I said, so far I’m only a short way through The Way of Shadows, but already I feel as if I’m existing in a cartoon world. The characters’ motivations aren’t tremendously deep so far, and they feel very much like cardboard cut-outs. There doesn’t seem to be very much real emotion to them, and I have put the book down half a dozen times absent-mindedly after growing bored.
In tone the book feels a bit like Raymond E. Feist’s Magician … but watered down.
It’s not that The Way of Shadows is a bad book so far … it’s just that there is far more complex and satisfying stuff out there if you’re after a deeper read.
However, I am fully cognizant that I’m only halfway through Weeks’ first book, and I have friends who rave about him, so I am giving him a try. Very keen to hear other opinions about his work!
Go read a boring book without a good story but a lot of emotion.. ??
just because it’s not your typ of book doesn’t mean it’s bad.
At the end of the book it was like it was written for me. And I think a lot of people will feel the same way.. you will never feel it.. I’m sure of that. don’t bother reading the thanking.. (don’t know how it was titled in English ’cause I red it in Dutch.
You could be right — I’m only halfway through the first book, after all. And quite a few people have recommended the series to me.
I’ll post my review of the first book after I’ve finished it! :)
i understand what you mean with the beginning part of the book, it takes a while to get into it all i remeber thinking that the first time i read it, but as soon as you get into it it is awesome. as an example, i have read the whole series…. five times…. in a row. and its still not boring! =)
Think I will have to go back into it and push through to the end this time! :)
I never read and this is the first book i have even picked up in years and i thought it was absolutely great i was so into it i couldnt put it down and finished the series in 6 days with a 6 month old to take care of
I read the entire book in one day and that’s working from 9am-9pm… basically I read as much as I could in between breaks and it was a very slow day at work… didn’t even put the book down til I finished it… then went to sleep… I don’t know how you guys couldn’t get into the story at the beginning cause I thought it was a great beginning… if you imagined the world as you read on it’s not only very detailed in description, but also very vivid in its story telling… I was hooked onto the book after reading just the first paragraph… I read all the books in either 1-3 days each(it’s not always slow at work)…
I love all the books in the Trilogy, they have so much depth in the characters and the plot is very exciting, passionate and well….just plain awesome. It was challenging to read in the beginning but I quickly got into it and felt like my eyes were burning out of their sockets when I refused to put the book down every night. Same went for the second and third books. No doubt, I recommend this Trilogy to everyone.
Boring with 2/3 part of the first book, but exciting with 2nd book.
And, I suppose the night angel series should be 7 books, because the 3rd is ended unexpectedly, too many clues without clear explanation…
I agree with systest, i was strongly hoping weeks would announce a continuation of the night angel trilogy because although i find the books to be very interesting (especially after half way through the first book) i just wish there was more closure. However, the trilogy is an incredible read and one im sure to read again
I also agree. There is way too much left unused or unanswered and it seems to just be begging for a sequel. The “Twins” (don’t want to spoil anything) was the biggest one of these and I would love to continue following Kylar.
Brent, if you just happen to read this, just want to say, ‘amazing’.
I have just finished the ‘Night Angle Trilogy’ and i’m already missing the characters bad!
i don’t know as i’ve ever read a story where so many possible other stories could be written about so many of the characters.
following Kylar’s later lives, Durzo’s, Vi, Logan, solon, Uly. . .
others too.
anyways, again, great job and i can’t wait to see your future publications.
*bow
i agree… the end of part 3 leaves off with so much possibilty for future books, and the black kakari (black prism((wink wink))…
i wish there was a connection but there isn’t
The book series is amazing. The characters develop very well and i have to say i disagree with systest. I thought the 2nd book was a bit slower than the first or third. I have read the series several times and always enjoy it. when you want more closure it is usually a sign that the series is quite good because you are simply wanting more!
Hmm. Think I will have to put this back to the top of my reading list — quite a lot of people have said similar!
Have just read the series for the second time. Agree that it doesn’t have the depth of Song of Ice and Fire or other epics, but that is not a bad thing. Great read and Brent has said that he will eventually go back to the series. For his first release he really impressed me and can’t wait for Black Prism to see him developing as a writer.
I wonder how Kylar will cope without (name censored to prevent spoilers).
I’ve also almost read the whole series, I am over half way done the last book and i love it. I do agree it did start off slow but after reading for a bit i got into it.
@ubergeek he doesnt need to cope with that…he has someone even better!!!!
By the middle of the last book, i was getting really really frustrated and mad. I was only mad because the book was going to end soon. I have only recently read the series and its been out for a while now. I was so confused as to why there isnt more then 3 books. The last book left me hanging and also got me really mad that they introduced new relationships and about twins that couldve had a future by now if the story was continued!!!. This series makes me want to read every fantasy book just to see if i can get the same feeling i had with the NA trilogy.
This series was amazing… @ Nur, I feel your pain I felt the same halfway into book 3…
book 1, was a bit slow, but nonetheless if u cant feel Azoths pain, then why read. its full of drama with a twist of fantasy. The magic isnt totaly original, but its freash with “talent”… the trilogy flows perfactly.
m hoping that Weeks will, take some time in the future to pen a few more book about the Night Angel…..
H
The NA trilogy is a great read, begining is indeed a tad bit slow, but then again most great books often start off slow, especially fantasys that have to introduce their ‘worlds’ to us. After the half way mark it instantly picks up and introduces you to many charachters that are exciting and is a read i recommend even to non-fantasy readers everywhere.
I have been a huge fantasy reader for near 7 years now and never have i read a story so vulgar and gorey but i love it. the character depth is lenghty but having them all stand for something makes each book series easy to read more than once
Brent Weeks will continue the series 17 years later…for those that read the commentaries at the end of the first book, he says that he will continue them but after he finishes a new series that he is thinking of, which is the Black Prism Trilogy right now…so just wait patiently and i recommend Naomi Novik, she also writes fantasy with a bit of historical during the napoleon era…so good, check her out!
i meant int he series 17 years have passed…sorry….well in the commentary he said that one of the sons will be the main character, but knowing brent, he make most of the characters have their own scene at least once in the series….so excited and i hope that in a few years (before i’m 30 *hint*) that he will have the first book out!
Wings… that’s all I’m going to say, Wings. Wish there was more to this serious because I want to see what else these characters can come up with, lol.
Have you gotten around to finishing the series? I would like to see your opinion on how the characters were developed by the end. I really feel as though your initial assesment was accurate but simply premature.
I actually thought that the first book was the best. All the pieces fit together really well by the end, and there was a sense of “completion” (even though it was part of a trilogy)
Lots of mild inaccuracies/illogic in the characters(the ones you’ll ignore with lesser authors) actually make sense by the end, and while I wouldn’t necessarily say the entire book is worth a re-read(I don’t even reread Gene Wolfe), rereading certain sections, at least, ought to be a must.
The prologue was a literary masterpiece, quite possibly one of the best and most effective I’ve read in my entire life.
Read them all before you judge the series. I preferred the second and third books and they kept you emotionally in tune with each character :) admittedly there are more complex books out there, but if your looking for something that will keep you hooked, entertained and thrilled. Brent Weeks is your man :)
i think that it explains everything perfectly.He dosent leave anything out he explains it all if you read it carefully. p.s. i think the tird is the best
third sorry missed the key