I've been locked in a room for over two-and-a-half years, the only light--the soft glow of a computer screen. That's how I remember it, anyway. After finishing
Hollow World, I began working on what was supposed to be a trilogy called The First Empire. Three books became five, and two-and-a-half years slipped away.
Readers of The Riyria Chronicles began requesting book three immediately after
The Rose and Thorn's release in September 2013. The Chronicles--previously expected to be a flop because prequels are the third rail of publishing--did surprisingly well. I apologize to everyone who has been anxiously awaiting this book, but at least the wait is over!
If you are new to the Riyria stories, you certainly can start with this book. The first two Riyria Chronicles told the origin story of how Royce and Hadrian met. With that tale told, this book was freed to tell a standalone adventure. If you do want to read other Riyria novels, then you should know there are two different ways you can approach the saga.
- Order of Publication: Theft of Swords * Rise of Empire * Heir of Novron * The Crown Tower * The Rose and the Thorn * The Death of Dulgath
- Chronological Order: The Crown Tower * The Rose and the Thorn * The Death of Dulgath * Theft of Swords * Rise of Empire * Heir of Novron
Personally, I prefer order of publication, but I've heard from people who have read chronologically and they've been equally pleased with the experience.
If you are wondering if there will be a next Royce and Hadrian story, the answer is: I just don't know. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I'm protective of the duo and would rather have them leave early than stay too long. Because of that, I never know if there will be more until after a Chronicle's release. If you want to advocate for more, by all means drop me an email. Even if you don't, you can still reach out. I always love hearing from people. My address is:
michael. sullivan.dc@gmail.com.
One of the really cool things about this project was the ability to showcase an aspiring writer's work. We asked for submissions from anyone and everyone. I sifted through 176 entries and narrowed it down to fifteen good stories. From there it went to the final three. Robin helped me decide on the winner. I wish all of them could have been included--each one was deserving. In today's super-saturated world of publishing, exposure often makes the difference between success and failure. Robin and I hope that you'll like the story we've included, and if you do, please look for more from T.C. Powell and help spread the word.
One last thing I should mention. If you are interested in learning more about the novel creation process, I've created an e-book entitled:
The Making of the Death of Dulgath. It's free, so just drop me an email at the address above. Some people might find the process interesting.
Thank you for your interest, I hope you'll be interested to turn the page, tap the screen, or adjust the volume. Old friends are waiting to take you on a new adventure.
Thanks for all the amazing support.
Michael J. SullivanSeptember 2015
After finding a manual typewriter in the basement of a friend's house, Michael J. Sullivan inserted a blank piece of paper and typed: It was a dark and stormy night. He was just eight years old and mimicking the greatest (or only) writer he knew about at the time...Snoopy. That spark ignited a flame and the desire to fill blank pages would become a life-long obsession.