Peter V. Brett’s ‘Messenger’s Legacy’ Announced!

We here at Fantasy-Faction are huge fans of Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle books. Now at number three in the series, with book four due next year, what we’ve come to appreciate – in addition to the excellent way the plot is moving forwards – is Peter V. Brett’s almost unmatched ability for writing a story both laterally and backwards. What we mean by this is is how Peter so seamless takes us back in time and builds the present storyline by filling in a number of gaps or adding new intriguing layers that alter our understanding and perception.

Mostly Brett has accomplished this by including flashback type chapters in his three novels, but he has also gone a step further with two very well received novellas The Great Bazaar and Brayan’s Gold too.

I should say that last week I was excited to see Peter tweet that he only had three chapters of The Skull Throne (book 4) left to write and I thought that would probably be the last bit of ‘big news’ until he announced he’d submitted the manuscript (I guess in a few months time). However, today, I had an exciting e-mail arrive in my inbox:

ANNOUNCING Peter V. Brett’s Messengers Legacy

Humanity has been brought to the brink of extinction. Each night, the world is overrun by demons—bloodthirsty creatures of nightmare that have been hunting the surface for over 300 years. A scant few hamlets and half-starved city-states are all that remain of a once proud civilization, and it is only by hiding behind wards, ancient symbols with the power to repel the demons, that they survive. A handful of Messengers brave the night to keep the lines of communication open between the increasingly isolated populace.

Briar Damaj is a boy of six in the small village of Bogton. Half Krasian, the village children call him Mudboy for his dark skin. When tragedy strikes, Briar decides the town is better off without him, fleeing into the bog with nothing but his wits and a bit of herb lore to protect him.

After twenty years, Ragen Messenger has agreed to retire and pass on his route to his protégé, Arlen Bales. But for all that he’s earned the rest, he has no idea what to do with the rest of his life. When he learns Briar, the son of an old friend, is missing, Ragen is willing to risk any danger to bring him safely home.

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Yep! New novella! I’d actually heard of its concept from Peter before, but had no knowledge of it being anywhere near ready for release. Subterranean Press said, however, that it is ‘deep in production, with layout complete [and] proofing underway’. All they are waiting for it seems is a bit more artwork and they should be ready to ship it in November!

Speaking of the artwork, those who have been lucky enough to pick up the previous Demon Cycle novellas will be delighted to hear that Lauren K. Cannon will be back to do the illustrations for Messenger’s Legacy, as she did the previous two. From what we’ve heard there will be different dust jackets for the trade and limited editions, nine full-page interior black-and-white illustrations, and a full-color frontispiece exclusive to the limited edition.

Savvy readers have probably noticed a pattern here with the three novels and three novellas; well, in a recent Reddit AMA Peter said: ‘Yes, it has worked out to on novella in between each novel, and I expect that trend to continue.’ As for what comes next, the author is less sure, “I honestly don’t know what I will do next,” he said, “not counting Skull Throne, I am currently under contract for two more Demon Cycle novels (the fifth in the quintet, and one stand-alone), and have plans for at least as many in-world novellas. At the rate I work, that is enough to last me the next 5 years or so. I don’t really have plans beyond that. There is certainly a fertile world for me to plant in here, as there are plenty of aspects of the Demon Cycle world I have yet to explore, but it may be at that point I want to take a break and try something new.”

To be honest, Fantasy-Faction are happy either way. If Peter V. Brett is writing it, we’ll be reading it! Find out more about the novella and order your copy here.

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