Today we got a special little something for you – a guest post accompanying the cover reveal for his latest book – by the super talented Justin Lee Anderson!
Justin spent 15 years as a professional writer and editor before his debut novel, Carpet Diem, was published in 2015. It became a best-seller and won a 2018 Audie award. His second book, The Lost War, was shortlisted in the 2019 Booknest Awards and won the 2020 SPFBO competition. A new release is coming from Orbit Books as the first in the four-book Eidyn Saga.
Since nothing else of any global significance is happening today, it seems like a
good day to launch my new book cover!
Seriously, though, as I write this it is lunchtime on November 4 and like a lot of
people worldwide, I’m consumed with the thought of the American election tomorrow
and the most important question:
“What happens next?”
By the time you read this, we’ll all know, and I will either be consumed with relief or
despair.
Why am I yapping about politics while launching the cover for The Damned King, the third book in The Eidyn Saga? Well, because I’m a political junkie and the whole series was conceived as a political metaphor. This might come as a surprise to some who have read The Lost War and The Bitter Crown, but it probably won’t to anyone who’s ever been on my Twitter timeline.
I worried I’d leaned too heavily into the political allegory as I was writing books, but one of the first bits of feedback I got from a beta reader was how nice it was that it was “just a good story” and that it “wasn’t trying to do anything else”. I guess I was too subtle!
Of course, there’s more to it than that: the series is also a love letter to my hometown
of Edinburgh and to the rich and glorious world of roleplaying. And mystery – I love a
good conspiracy. It’s all in there.
I absolutely love what Jeremy Wilson and Lauren Panepinto have done with the
covers for this series – they’re so striking.
As someone said to me the other day,
even if you took my name off this, you would know it was the next book in The Eidyn Saga. This one captures a really cold, wintry vibe, which fits the book perfectly.
If you’ve read The Lost War and The Bitter Crown, you’ll know I like to leave
readers on a big ending, one way or another. Of course, every writer wants you
clamouring for more. You’ll be pleased to hear that my editor, the excellent Bradley
Englert, reckons The Damned King delivers on the promise at the end of The Bitter
Crown, and of the ending, he says I’ve “done it again”.
That’s all I can hope for.
I can’t wait for you to get your hands on this next year. It feels like a very long time
away, but I hope it will go quickly and then you can enjoy finding out “what happens
next”!
Slainte mhath,
Justin
The eternal light keeping demons at bay has been extinguished and Eidyn’s last bastion is under brutal siege. Aranok and his allies draw the final battle lines as the war for the kingdom nears its end. With death threatening from every shadow and truth itself at stake, Eidyn’s defenders must put aside their grudges and come together. But is it possible to save everyone when some prefer the lie?
And now you suffered long enough, here it is, in all its glory!
The Damned King by Justin Lee Anderson!
Set to be released on August 19th 2025.
You can preorder US copies here!
A general worldwide link is here!
Cover design is by Lauren Panepinto with art by Jeremy Wilson. And what a great job they did!
And if that wasn’t enough, you can feast your eyes from a different level as well…
Geoff Matthews