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New Releases: 4/5/16

Here’s what went on sale today!

opens in a new windowAlien Hunter: White House by Whitley Strieber

opens in a new windowAlien Hunter: White House by Whitley StrieberThe aliens have seen many worlds, but they know that Earth in particular is a jewel. They lust for its soaring mountains, its shining seas, its gorgeous forests, and majestic deserts. There is just one part of the planet that they don’t want: us.

Flynn Carroll knows that the aliens are a race of brilliance and extraordinary cruelty. And he knows that they have found a way to eliminate humanity: capture the mind of the president of the United States. Control him, and you control the most powerful man in the world.

opens in a new windowHellknight by Liane Merciel

opens in a new windowPathfinder Tales: Hellknight by Liane Merciel The Hellknights are a brutal organization of warriors dedicated to maintaining law and order at any cost. For devil-blooded Jheraal, even the harshest methods are justified if it means building a better world for her daughter. Yet when a serial killer starts targeting hellspawn like Jheraal and her child, Jheraal has no choice but to use all her cunning and ruthlessness in order to defeat an ancient enemy to whom even death is no deterrent.

opens in a new windowIn the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan

opens in a new windowIn the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie BrennanEven those who take no interest in the field of dragon naturalism have heard of Lady Trent’s expedition to the inhospitable deserts of Akhia. Her discoveries there are the stuff of romantic legend, catapulting her from scholarly obscurity to worldwide fame. The details of her personal life during that time are hardly less private, having provided fodder for gossips in several countries.

As is so often the case in the career of this illustrious woman, the public story is far from complete. In this, the fourth volume of her memoirs, Lady Trent relates how she acquired her position with the Royal Scirling Army; how foreign saboteurs imperiled both her work and her well-being; and how her determined pursuit of knowledge took her into the deepest reaches of the Labyrinth of Drakes, where the chance action of a dragon set the stage for her greatest achievement yet.

opens in a new windowNightstruck by Jenna Black

opens in a new windowNightstruck by Jenna Black The night is the enemy, and the city of Philadelphia is its deadliest weapon. Becket is an ordinary teenage girl, wrestling with the upheaval of her parents’ divorce. A studious high school senior, her biggest problems to date have been choosing which colleges to apply to, living up to her parents’ ambitious expectations for her, and fighting her secret crush on her best friend’s boyfriend. But that all changes on the night she tries to save an innocent life and everything goes horribly wrong.

opens in a new windowNight Work by David C. Taylor

opens in a new windowNight Work by David C. Taylor Michael Cassidy, a New York cop plagued by dreams that sometimes come true, escorts a prisoner accused of murder to Havana on the cusp of Fidel Castro’s successful revolution against the Batista dictatorship. After delivering the man to La Cabaña prison and rescuing Dylan McCue, a Russian KGB agent and his now-married former lover, from her scheduled execution, Cassidy returns to New York and retreats into the comforts of alcohol and sex.

opens in a new windowQuantum Break: Zero State by Cam Rogers

opens in a new windowQuantum Break: Zero State by Cam Rogers Jack Joyce spent six years trying to escape—escape his life, escape time, escape the madness of his brother, Will. But when he finally returns home, it turns out his brother isn’t quite so mad. Will has created a time machine, one with the potential to save humanity. War? Preventable. Natural disasters? Stoppable.

Except for one tiny problem… his machine will also cause the end of the time as we know it. Now Jack has just one chance to turn back time, to fix what was broken, to save the world.

NEW SHORT STORY:

opens in a new windowDown to Zero by Jon McGoran

opens in a new windowDown to Zero by Jon McGoranWhen a beekeeper removing hives from an inner city warehouse is greeted with gunfire, Detective Doyle Carrick is called in to help aging mentor Jack Conroy catch the shooters. Although a previous case involving genetically modified bees has made Doyle the closest thing to a bee expert the Philly PD has, it’s a subject he wants nothing to do with. But Doyle owes Jack plenty of favors. Soon, the pair are clashing with foreign agents, corporate security agents, and lowlife thugs while tracking the mysterious bees across the city. As they work to figure out why these bees are worth killing over before the shooters can strike again, Doyle finds himself racing against a clock he could never have imagined.

NEW FROM TOR.COM:

opens in a new windowEvery Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

opens in a new windowEvery Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere… else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced… they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

NOW IN PAPERBACK:

opens in a new windowAssassin’s Game by Ward Larsen

opens in a new windowBlood of the Cosmos by Kevin J. Anderson

opens in a new windowFractured by Kate Waterson

opens in a new windowNight Life by David C. Taylor

opens in a new windowThe Suspicion at Sandition by Carrie Bebris

opens in a new windowTrial of Intentions by Peter Orullian

NEW IN MANGA:

opens in a new windowAkuma no Riddle: Riddle Story of Devil Vol. 3 by Yun Kouga; Art by Sunao Minakata

opens in a new windowHour of the Zombie Vol. 1 by Tsukasa Saimura

opens in a new windowSee upcoming releases.

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Paperback Spotlight: Trial of Intentions by Peter Orullian

opens in a new windowTrial of Intentions by Peter OrullianOnce a month, we’re spotlighting a Tor/Forge book that will soon become available in paperback! This month, opens in a new windowTrials of Intentions by opens in a new windowPeter Orullian comes out in paperback April 5th.

The gods who created this world have abandoned it. In their mercy, however, they chained the rogue god—and the monstrous creatures he created to plague mortalkind—in the vast and inhospitable wasteland of the Bourne. The magical Veil that contains them has protected humankind for millennia and the monsters are little more than tales told to frighten children. But the Veil has become weak and creatures of Nightmare have come through. To fight them, the races of men must form a great alliance.

Chapter One

The Right Draw

Mercy has many faces. One of them looks like cruelty.

Reconciliationist defense of the gods’ placement of the Quiet inside the Bourne

Tahn Junell raced north across the Soliel plain, and his past raced with him. He ran in the dark and cold of predawn. A canopy of bright stars shone in clear skies above. And underfoot, his boots pounded an urgent rhythm against the shale. In his left hand, he clenched his bow. In his mind, growing dread pushed away the crush of his recently returned memory. Ahead, still out of sight, marching on the city of Naltus Far … came the Quiet.

Read More »

Tor Books Announces Programming for New York Comic-Con 2015

Poster Placeholder of - 27 It’s time for New York Comic Con again! This year, we are pleased to announce that the Tor: The Next Generation! stage from BEA has been chosen as a panel. As always, Tor Books will continue its popular in-booth (#2223) signings and giveaways, offering you a chance to meet your favorite authors and pick up free books! Our exciting line-up includes author appearances by opens in a new windowJohn Scalzi, opens in a new windowCatherynne M. Valente, opens in a new windowCharlie Jane Anders, and more!

Be sure to follow opens in a new window@TorBooks on Twitter for up-to-date information and last minute events.

Thursday, October 8th

Friday, October 9th

Look at something like The Martian vs. The Fold vs. the Iron Man movies. Is hard science always a good thing? Authors discuss the pros and cons and the sometimes slippery slope of including hard science in a work of fiction, especially in a paradigm era of technological development.
Panelists: A.G. Riddle, Mindy McGinnis, Robin Wasserman, opens in a new windowIan McDonald, Barry Lyga
Moderator: Peter Clines

  • 6:45 PM – Signing to follow, Bookstore Hall 1-B

Saturday, October 10

  • 12:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowTrial of Intentions – Peter Orullian
  • 1:30pm Masters of Unreality: Heavy Metal and SFF, Room 1A18
    It’s well known that heavy metal songs have been based on fantasy novels; however, it can be argued that they’re also the perfect soundtrack to any battle scene, whether deep in the forest or in deep space. Authors Myke Cole, Michael Fletcher, and opens in a new windowPeter Orullian are not just talented writers, but they’ve all been in metal bands! Join them along with James Dashner as they discuss what they listen to as they write epic scenes, discuss seminal albums and how the two cross reference each other.
    Panelists: opens in a new windowPeter Orullian, Myke Cole, Michael R. Fletcher
    Moderator: Tricia Narwani of Del Rey
  • 1:45pm Signing to follow
  •  2:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowAll the Birds in the Sky – Charlie Jane Anders
  •  4:00pm Books to Movies Wishlist, Room A101
    The Martian. Foundation. American Gods. Redshirts: So many iconic SFF novels are finally scheduled to it the big screen, thanks to the rabid fandom of recent dramatizations of Game of Thrones, Outlander, The Hunger Games, and Divergent. But what’s on the big screen wish list of this panel of bestselling speculative fiction superstars? They all agree that the obvious franchises have been done already – and now, they want to discuss with NYCC attendees what lesser-know/cult fave titles should invade theaters and march into cable programming! Join us for a nerdy-fun discussion about which science fiction and fantasy must-reads would really make celluloid magic!
    Panelists: Christopher Golden, Chuck Wendig, Jennifer Armentrout, opens in a new windowCharlie Jane Anders
    Moderator: Michael Underwood
  • 5:15pm Signing to Follow, Bookstore Hall 1-B
  • 5:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowRadiance – Catherynne M. Valente

Sunday, October 11

Whether it’s satisfying readers’ desires for interstellar armchair travel or sparking ambitions for SF fans to pursue extra-terrestrial encounters, in actuality, science fiction is the fiction of the imagination and inspiration. Authors opens in a new windowMichael Swanwick, Jay Allen, opens in a new windowCatherynne M. Valente, Judd Winnick, CH Higgin stake readers to the final frontier … and beyond.
Panelists: opens in a new windowMichael Swanwick, opens in a new windowCatherynne M. Valente, CH Higgins, Judd Winnick
Moderator: Maryelizabeth Hart

  • 2:45pm Signing to follow, Bookstore Hall 1-B

Giveaways are on a first-come, first-served basis

Tor Books Announces Programming for San Diego Comic-Con 2015

Tor30SDCC

opens in a new windowTor Books is heading to San Diego Comic-Con!

 

Once again Tor (Booth #2707) continues our wildly popular *in-booth signings and giveaways, offering you a chance to meet your favorite authors up close and personal and pick up free books. We’ve got a great line up including appearances by:  opens in a new windowBrandon Sanderson, opens in a new windowCharlie Jane Anders, opens in a new windowSusan Dennard, and more!

For excerpts, a spotlight on our newest authors, panel schedules, giveaway times and much more, please visit opens in a new windowtorbooks2015.com. And make sure to follow @TorBooks on Twitter for up to date information and last minute events.

Wednesday, July 8

Thursday, July 9

  • 1:00pm—2:00pm Resurgence of Science Fiction, Room 32AB
    Welcome to the promised land, oh geeks and nerds: your time has come. Star Wars is getting new movies, and so is Star Trek. Andy Weir’s The Martian and John Scalzi’s opens in a new windowOld Man’s War are heading to the big and small screens and Mars One is looking for volunteers—Science Fiction and the draw of technology, futurism, space and the final frontier are hot on everyone’s mind. Come join Adam Christopher ( opens in a new windowMade To Kill), Margaret Stohl, Peter Clines, and others as they discuss this renaissance of SF and why now is an exciting time to live in, for both fiction and fact.
  • 2:30pm—3:00pm Signing to follow in the autographing area, Table AA06
  • 1:30pm—2:30pm Authors of Epic Fantasy, Room 24ABC
    How do you best describe stories of epic fantasy? Expansive worlds with long histories, huge casts of characters, political intrigue, massive battles, magic, legend, and much more… they are indeed epic! Join authors of fantasy fiction Peter Orullian ( opens in a new windowTrial of Intentions), Susan Dennard ( opens in a new windowTruthwitch), Peter Brett, and others as they discuss their own works, as well as other popular series that have made epic fantasy one of pop culture’s most successful genres.
  • 3:00pm—4:00pm Signing to follow in the autographing area, Table AA09
  • 3:00pm—4:00pm Worldbuilding, Room 25ABC
    Fact: worlds are important. But how are they made? Join our panel of top authors as they describe how they set the stage for their stories and create a living universe for their characters. Moderated by Charlie Jane Anders ( opens in a new windowAll the Birds in the Sky).
  • 4:30pm—5:30pm Signing to follow in the autographing area, Table AA09
  • 4:00pm—5:00pm I’m Sleeping with the Lights On: Horror and Thriller Authors in Discussion, Room 25ABC
    Horror and thriller books have an amazing way of keeping readers up at night. From demons to zombies, and from historical to even seemingly mundane settings, certain authors can find bone-chilling ways to make sure the reader keep turning the pages. Join Robert Brockway ( opens in a new windowThe Unnoticeables), Mary Kubica, Matthew Riley, and others as they discuss their books and what motivates them to scare you! Moderated by Del Howison ( opens in a new windowMidian Unmade), owner of the Dark Delicacies Bookstore.
  • 5:30pm—6:30pm Signing to follow in the autographing area, Table AA09

Friday, July 10

  • 11:30am—12:30pm Gender in Science Fiction, Room 24ABC
    Pizza rolls, not gender roles! From the strong female protagonist to the battle of the sexes, Science Fiction has long given us the ability to challenge the way we think about traditional gender roles. Come listen to Maryelizbeth Yturralde, owner of the bookstore Mysterious Galaxy, lead acclaimed authors such as Wes Chu ( opens in a new windowTime Salvager), Nick Cole, and more in a discussion about the importance of gender in Science Fiction, how Science Fiction novels open our minds to non-traditional ideas, and just what is the difference between gender and sex.
  • 1:00pm—2:00pm Signing to follow in the autographing area, Table AA09

Saturday, July 11th

  • 12:00pm—1:00pm Family Feud: Sci-Fi vs. Fantasy, Room 7AB
    Calling all Nerds! Since the dawn of time we have argued and contemplated crucial matters: What’s cooler? Who would win in a fight? Who would lose? Star Trek or Star Wars? Ironman or Captain America? Now, in an open forum, join us as other diehard Nerds and geek experts—including Brandon Sanderson ( opens in a new windowMistborn series), Chuck Palahniuk, Ernie Cline, and others—prove their mettle by squaring off into furious debates about the hottest topics in geek culture.
  • 1:30pm—2:30pm Signing to follow in the autographing area, Table AA09
  • 4:00pm—5:00pm Epic Fantasy, Room 29AB
    Learn about fantasy literature and book-to-movie adaptations from New York Times bestselling authors Heather Brewer, Jonathan Maberry, Kami Garcia, Brandon Sanderson ( opens in a new windowMistborn series) and Maggie Stiefvater. Moderated by Henry Herz.

Sunday, July 12

All Tor Booth signings are on a first come first serve basis and while supplies lasts. Limit one book per person.

On the Road: Tor/Forge Author Events in June

opens in a new windowThe Darkness Rolling by Win Blevins and Meredith Blevins opens in a new windowLong Black Curl by Alex Bledsoe opens in a new windowSeriously Wicked by Tina Connolly

opens in a new windowTor/Forge authors are on the road in June! Once a month, we’re collecting info about all of our upcoming author events. Check and see who’ll be coming to a city near you:

Alex Bledsoe, opens in a new windowLong Black Curl

Thursday, June 11
opens in a new windowA Room of One’s Own
Madison, WI
6:00 PM

Saturday, June 13
opens in a new windowThe Avid Reader
Davis, CA
7:30 PM

Sunday, June 14
opens in a new windowBorderlands Books
San Francisco, CA
3:00 PM

Saturday, June 27
opens in a new windowMystery to Me Bookstore
Madison, WI
2:00 PM

Win and Meredith Blevins, opens in a new windowThe Darkness Rolling

Saturday, June 20
opens in a new windowThe Poisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ
2:00 PM

Tuesday, June 23
opens in a new windowBookworks
Albuquerque, NM
7:00 PM

Tuesday, June 30
opens in a new windowMarie’s Bookshop
Durango, CO
6:30 PM

Tina Connolly, opens in a new windowSeriously Wicked

Thursday, June 4
opens in a new windowStayton Public Library
Stayton, OR
7:00 PM

Saturday, June 6
opens in a new windowYA-Landia
Also with Fonda Lee, Ali Berman, Paula Stokes, and Mary Elizabeth Summer
Barnes & Noble
Beaverton, OR
2:00 PM

Thursday, June 18
opens in a new windowRaven Book Store
Lawrence, KS
7:00 PM

Alan Gratz, opens in a new windowThe Dragon Lantern

Tuesday, June 9
opens in a new windowMalaprop’s
Asheville, NC
7:00 PM

Peter Orullian, opens in a new windowTrial of Intentions

Monday, June 1
opens in a new windowPowell’s Cedar Hills Crossing
Beaverton, OR
7:00 PM

Tuesday, June 2
opens in a new windowWeller Book Works
Salt Lake City, UT
6:00 PM

Wednesday, June 3
opens in a new windowBarnes & Noble
Orem, UT
7:00 PM

Anne A. Wilson, opens in a new windowHover

Tuesday, June 2
opens in a new windowThe Poisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ
7:00 PM

Dan Wells, opens in a new windowThe Devil’s Only Friend

Tuesday, June 16
opens in a new windowWeller Book Works
Salt Lake City, UT
6:00 PM

Wednesday, June 17
opens in a new windowBarnes & Noble University Crossings Plaza
Orem, UT
6:00 PM

On the Road: Tor/Forge Author Events in May

opens in a new windowBenefit of the Doubt by Neal Griffin opens in a new windowVoyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan opens in a new windowOf Noble Family by Mary Robinette Kowal

opens in a new windowTor/Forge authors are on the road in May! Once a month, we’re collecting info about all of our upcoming author events. Check and see who’ll be coming to a city near you:

James O. Born, opens in a new windowScent of Murder

Friday, May 1
opens in a new windowMurder on the Beach
Delray Beach, FL
7:00 PM

Saturday, May 16
opens in a new windowSouth Carolina Book Festival
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
Columbia, SC
9:30 AM

Marie Brennan, opens in a new windowVoyage of the Basilisk
Mary Robinette Kowal, opens in a new windowOf Noble Family

Tuesday, May 5
opens in a new windowDePaul University Bookstore
Chicago, IL
6:00 PM

Wednesday, May 6
opens in a new windowMysterious Galaxy
San Diego, CA
7:30 PM

Thursday, May 7
opens in a new windowCopperfield’s Books
Petaluma, CA
7:00 PM

Tuesday, May 12
opens in a new windowPowell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
Beaverton, OR
7:00 PM

Thursday, May 14
opens in a new windowWeller Book Works
Salt Lake City, UT
6:00 PM

Saturday, May 16
opens in a new windowPoisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ
2:00 PM

Sunday, May 17
opens in a new windowMurder by the Book
Houston, TX
2:00 PM

Monday, May 18
opens in a new windowQuail Ridge Books & Music
Raleigh, NC
7:00 PM

Tuesday, May 19
opens in a new windowFlyleaf Books
Chapel Hill, NC
7:00 PM

Wednesday, May 20
opens in a new windowMalaprops
Asheville, NC
7:00 PM

Thursday, May 21
opens in a new windowBorderlands Books
San Francisco, CA
7:00 PM

Tina Connolly, opens in a new windowSeriously Wicked

Tuesday, May 5
opens in a new windowPowell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
Beaverton, OR
7:00 PM

Saturday, May 9
opens in a new windowMysterious Galaxy
San Diego, CA
1:00 PM

Saturday, May 16
opens in a new windowRedmond Library
With Jennifer Brozek, Cat Rambo, and Raven Oak
Hosted by Cascade Writers, books provided by University Bookstore
Redmond, WA
12:30 PM

Saturday, May 23
opens in a new windowSeattle Mystery Bookshop
Seattle, WA
12:00 PM

P.N. Elrod, opens in a new windowThe Hanged Man

Friday, May 22
Barnes & Noble at Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
4:00 PM

Neal Griffin, opens in a new windowBenefit of the Doubt

Saturday, May 9
opens in a new windowMysterious Galaxy
San Diego, CA
3:00 PM

Wednesday, May 13
opens in a new windowWarwick’s Books
San Diego, CA
7:30 PM

Thursday, May 14
opens in a new windowBook Carnival
Orange, CA
7:00 PM

Friday, May 15
opens in a new windowPoisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ
7:00 PM

Sunday, May 17
opens in a new windowNorman P. Murray Community Center
Mission Viejo, CA
9:30 AM

Monday, May 18
opens in a new windowMurder by the Book
Houston, TX
6:30 PM

Dave Gross, opens in a new windowPathfinder Tales: The Lord of Runes

Thursday, May 21
opens in a new windowUniversity Bookstore
Seattle, WA
7:00 PM

May 22—May 25
opens in a new windowPaizoCon
Seattle, WA

Rachel Howzell Hall, opens in a new windowSkies of Ash

Tuesday, May 19
opens in a new windowBook Carnival
Launch party!
Orange, CA
7:00 PM

Wednesday, May 20
opens in a new windowThe Last Bookstore
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM

Thursday, May 21
opens in a new windowEso Won Books
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM

Wednesday, May 27
opens in a new windowMysterious Galaxy
San Diego, CA
7:30 PM

Saturday, May 30
opens in a new windowPoisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ
2:00 PM

Sunday, May 31
opens in a new windowA Great Good Place for Books
Oakland, CA
6:30 PM

Peter Orullian, opens in a new windowTrial of Intentions

Tuesday, May 26
opens in a new windowUniversity Bookstore
Seattle, WA
7:00 PM

Thursday, May 28
opens in a new windowMysterious Galaxy
San Diego, CA
7:30 PM

Saturday, May 30
opens in a new windowBorderlands Bookstore
San Francisco, CA
3:00 PM

Sunday, May 31
opens in a new windowCopperfield’s Books
Petaluma, CA
1:00 PM

Kit Reed, opens in a new windowWhere

Thursday, May 14
opens in a new windowSkylight Books
Also with Scott O’Connor
Los Angeles, CA
7:30 PM

Tuesday, May 26
opens in a new windowR.J. Julia Booksellers
Madison, CT
7:00 PM

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Is it Okay if I Cook You Slowly?

Trial of Intentions by Peter Orullian
Written by opens in a new windowPeter Orullian

I learned the phrase “Violating Your Expectations” in college, when studying Shakespeare, and it’s stuck with me ever since. It’s the idea of taking a reader someplace they’re not anticipating. With my series, The Vault of Heaven, that was always my plan: To begin in a warm place of familiarity and comfort, and then apply heat enough to boil you. Kind of like that thing where the crab is placed in a pot of room temperature water. It sits, content. And before it knows what’s happening, the water is boiling, cooking the crab.

I started down that path with my first book, The Unremembered. Now, in my second book, Trial of Intentions, I turn up the heat. And there are a number of things in the book that I think equate to cranking the dial on the stove.

First might be the music. In book one, it’s clear there’s a music magic system. But it’s not understood or used much. In Trial of Intentions, that changes. In spades. Not only does a character use that ability with savage intent and results, but she also goes to the one place where she can study it. Take it further. These were some of my favorite scenes to write, as I found in them a dark beauty.

And, in keeping with the “violate your expectations” theme, there’s this whole science thing that begins to amp up in book two. This is where readers who think they have one of my main characters pegged as a farm boy are in for some violation. I’m a bit of an amateur astronomer. And I use it as a leap point for creating an entire city dedicated to science and populated with colleges of astronomy, physics, mathematics, philosophy, and cosmology. Like the music scenes, these were a blast to write, and also where the lion’s share of my research time was spent.

Of course, what’s an epic fantasy without war, right? And I give you some. In fact, there’s an entire culture dedicated to what it calls “gearworks”—the building of siege engines and the like. But then, I had this counter notion: What if one of the main characters decides that it would be best to avert war? While some people are building alliances and escalating to war on a grand scale, others are employing every means possible to stop the war before it begins. I found the juxtaposition of these opposing motivations a fun challenge to write.

I’ve also spent quite a bit of time on my magic systems. So far, there are five. But most of that time was devoted to creating what I call “governing dynamics.” Each magic system ladders up to a set of unifying principles. It made sense to me that this world would have something akin to mechanical laws for magic, laws that different cultures would tap into in different ways. The various cultures might not even call those laws by the same name. But readers will see that all these different magic systems tie into something I call Resonance. I think it gives the world a kind of coherence.

Finally, it’s always been the case that the world of my series is a harsh place. So much so that there are those who find refuge in self-slaughter. This is only lightly touched upon in The Unremembered. But in Trial of Intentions, suicide steps into the glare of the spotlight. It lays near the center of motivation for at least one of my characters, who’s seen it up close and too often.

Like I said, this was always part of the story. But when I finished writing book two, I realized the resonance of it was stronger than I’d planned. Or maybe that’s just my read of it, because I had a friend recently make that choice. The book doesn’t linger overlong on the topic, but I hope it gives some emotional context for a few of the characters and their relationships.

In the end, however, some carnage is inevitable. Battles happen. Some involve skills of science. Some involve swords. And some, music magic.

All of which is to say, I think Trial of Intentions turns the gas up to get the pot boiling. Cook you good.

Preorder Trial of Intentions today:
opens in a new windowAmazon | opens in a new windowBarnes & Noble | opens in a new windowBooks-a-Million | opens in a new windowiBooks | opens in a new windowIndiebound | opens in a new windowPowell’s

Follow Peter Orullian on Twitter at opens in a new window@PeterOrullian, on opens in a new windowFacebook, or visit opens in a new windowhim online.

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