With the recent news that Brent Weeks is coming out with another Night Angel book, I thought it would be fun to list some authors who are going back to their previously-completed series and re-opening it with a new addition in 2023!
It can be hard to recapture the magic of the original. Readers of the original series may be excited, with nostalgia-fueled high expectations, new readers may not be so interested in the author’s backlist. Regardless, it’s always interesting when an author decided to take a look back to their own backlist and go: you know what? I don’t think we’re done here after all.
Brent Weeks: Night Angel Trilogy
- The Way of Shadows – 2008
- Shadow’s Edge – 2008
- Beyond the Shadows – 2008
Now, this really does throw me back to 2008. Those cloaked figure covers! A time when you couldn’t tell if you were picking up Brent Weeks, or Trudi Canavan, because everyone had practically identical mysterious cloaked dudes against a stark white background. A simpler time.
As you can tell from the, uh, less-than-subtle taglines for this series, this was an action-packed, assassin-vs-assassin, what is morality when I’m a murderer type of series. With magic. These books were, in my opinion, solidly aimed at teenage boys. And slightly ripped off Wheel of Time magical organizations. Maybe more than slightly. And had female characters that were actively painful to read about. ANYWAY.
Despite never being a teenage boy myself, I did read and, er, somewhat enjoy these. I do love an assassin story, especially where the character is forced to draw their own likes of morality. Where do they decide those lines are, when they’re already the among the most detestable type of person? What is “too far” for a lifelong successful assassin? I find that fascinating. Also, I like fantasy action. Don’t tell me throwing knives are impractical. I do not care.
This was smack-dab in the middle of the gritty/dark fantasy era, where all we wanted was messy characters, grey morality, and violence from our authors. And Night Angel delivered. It was very much a series of it’s time, wildly popular, and don’t get me wrong–Weeks is a very good writer. I think the worldbuilding could have used some help in this series, as it starts in a very different place than it ends, and the female characters — we won’t discuss them. But Weeks has a style and ability to imbue his words with an intensely colorful imagery, drama, and visceral heart-stopping moments. Also, it’s been a long time since he revisited Night Angel, writing his Black Prism series in between which has one of the best color magic systems in the genre. So I’m very interested to see the reception of …
Night Angel Nemesis – Apr 25, 2023
Return to the New York Times bestselling world of the Night Angel, where master assassin Kylar embarks on a new adventure as the High King Logan Gyre calls on him to save his kingdom and the hope of peace.
Book Summary
After the war that cost him so much, Kylar Stern is broken and alone. He’s determined not to kill again, but an impending amnesty will pardon the one murderer he can’t let walk free. He promises himself this is the last time. One last hit to tie up the loose ends of his old, lost life.
But Kylar’s best–and maybe only–friend, the High King Logan Gyre, needs him. To protect a fragile peace, Logan’s new kingdom, and the king’s twin sons, he needs Kylar to secure a powerful magical artifact that was unearthed during the war.
With rumors that a ka’kari may be found, adversaries both old and new are on the hunt. And if Kylar has learned anything, it’s that ancient magics are better left in the hands of those he can trust.
If he does the job right, he won’t need to kill at all. This isn’t an assassination—it’s a heist.
But some jobs are too hard for an easy conscience, and some enemies are so powerful the only answer lies in the shadows.
Here’s the problem, friends. I like assassins. I LOVE thieves. And heists? There’s a reason Locke Lamora is one of my favorite books of all time.
I am absolutely fascinated to see how this book is reviewed. I assume most of the original readers of Night Angel were young-ish, and now are adults, possibly less excited by the unstoppable-ninja-emo-boy trope. This book looks to be clearly aimed at those readers who remember Night Angel fondly, and not at new readers, who would obviously be completely spoiled for the first series if they continue. And it doesn’t have a new Main Character — one of the ways authors can get around that hurdle, and allow newer readers to skip over the original trilogy (see: Shannara, Dragonlance, etc.).
I will probably not read it because just seeing Kylar Stern’s name makes me wince in memory (get it … Kylar? Killer? Get it? yeah, ok … ) but I am slightly tempted by that promise of a heist. But still, probably not. Excited to see what the Book Community thinks of it as well — Black Prism was a huge departure from Night Angel, and I’m sure Weeks gained tons of fans who had never read his debut trilogy. Will they like it? Stay tuned.
Jacqueline Carey: Phedre’s Trilogy (Kushiel’s Dart Trilogy)
- Kushiel’s Dart – 2001
- Kushiel’s Chosen – 2002
- Kushiel’s Avatar – 2003
Kushiel is one of the most misunderstood series’ in my opinion. When I think of this series, I think of politics. In Phedre, Jacqueline Carey creates a character who is both a courtesan and a spy — a common melding of occupations, I would assume, in real history! She sets it in a barely-disguised alternate France, and furthermore the original series is entirely in first-person POV, told in a reflective style by the main character, like a memoir. These are all elements that I, personally, do not tend to enjoy. I like secondary world fantasy. I like third person POV. I do not enjoy child characters. But Carey is such a good writer, that all these preferences of mine take a back seat. She is brilliant.
Her style in these books is extremely flowery, some may say … purple. But hear me out: it works. The ornate style is perfect for this impossibly, angelically beautiful mask under which all the nastiness of politics and manipulation are hidden. I love Phedre because she is an outsider. I love how intensely complicated the web of relationships is between all the characters, the court intrigue, the casual way that beauty and goodness are entirely decoupled in this series. The betrayals rival Game of Thrones, but this is a series that is definitely not “gritty” or “grimdark”. I think that is what makes this unique. It’s beautiful, but also deadly.
Carey hasn’t left the world of Terre D’Ange in the years following Phedre’s Trilogy. Indeed, she has returned a multitude of times, with books set in the same alternate-Europe universe and beyond, with different main characters. So I think her readers that have kept up with her have remained connected to the world, the characters, and the themes. Which makes the direction she has chosen to go extremely interesting, in …
Cassiel’s Servant – Aug 1, 2023
The lush epic fantasy that inspired a generation with a single precept: “Love As Thou Wilt.”
Book Summary
Returning to the realm of Terre d’Ange which captured an entire generation of fantasy readers, New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey brings us a hero’s journey for a new era.
In Kushiel’s Dart, a daring young courtesan uncovered a plot to destroy her beloved homeland. But hers is only half the tale. Now see the other half of the heart that lived it.
Cassiel’s Servant is a retelling of cult favorite Kushiel’s Dart from the point of view of Joscelin, Cassiline warrior-priest and protector of Phèdre nó Delaunay. He’s sworn to celibacy and the blade as surely as she’s pledged to pleasure, but the gods they serve have bound them together. When both are betrayed, they must rely on each other to survive.
From his earliest training to captivity amongst their enemies, his journey with Phèdre to avert the conquest of Terre D’Ange shatters body and mind… and brings him an impossible love that he will do anything to keep.
Even if it means breaking all vows and losing his soul.
This is Joscelin:
Carey has decided to re-write Kushiel’s Dart with Joscelin as the POV character.
I think this is a very odd choice.
I guess we’ll see if it pans out. One of the reasons I enjoyed the first trilogy so much, and didn’t continue on, was Phedre. This is the problem with first person POV books. You either love the main character — and therefore, love the book — or you don’t. And the idea of reading about Joscelin’s angst for 400+ pages is just … no. I am not interested. Phedre is smart, funny, rebellious, and human. Joscelin is Zuko.
Regardless, I do highly recommend Carey as an author, especially her Banewreaker and Godslayer duology, a very fun take on the cliches of epic fantasy reversed! She is a beautiful writer, and is especially excellent at tightly layered nets of human relationships.
Christopher Paolini: Inheritance Cycle
- Eragon – 2002
- Eldest – 2005
- Brisingr – 2008
- Inheritance – 2011
I think this is one of the most interesting Throwbacks in this list, given the fact that the other authors featured were grown adults both when their first series was published, and their Throwback 2023 is coming out. Paolini was 19 when he published Eragon.
Are there things I could say about this series? Yes. But in a way, I feel like it would be unfair. After all, the dude was 19. And it was a smashing hit. I think it’s extremely good and well-written given the age of the author at the time. These are not small books. And most impressively, he finished it. How many of us have finished novels we started as teenagers, let alone a series?
I think Paolini looking back to the Inheritance Cycle is so interesting because he is likely the writer who has grown the most. He’s had other books since then, and could have let Inheritance quietly disappear into his backlist, his breakthrough hit series of the past. Instead, he’s chosen to go back, and I am absolutely fascinated to see how he handles the transition between his teen and early 20s writing self, and …
Murtagh – Nov 7, 2023
Master storyteller and internationally bestselling author Christopher Paolini returns to the World of Eragon in this stunning epic fantasy set a year after the events of the Inheritance Cycle. Join Dragon Rider—and fan favorite—Murtagh and his dragon as they confront a perilous new enemy!
Book Summary
The world is no longer safe for the Dragon Rider Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn. An evil king has been toppled, and they are left to face the consequences of the reluctant role they played in his reign of terror. Now they are hated and alone, exiled to the outskirts of society.
Throughout the land, hushed voices whisper of brittle ground and a faint scent of brimstone in the air—and Murtagh senses that something wicked lurks in the shadows of Alagaësia. So begins an epic journey into lands both familiar and untraveled, where Murtagh and Thorn must use every weapon in their arsenal, from brains to brawn, to find and outwit a mysterious witch. A witch who is much more than she seems.
In this gripping novel starring one of the most popular characters from Christopher Paolini’s blockbuster Inheritance Cycle, a Dragon Rider must discover what he stands for in a world that has abandoned him. Murtagh is the perfect book to enter the World of Eragon for the first time . . . or to joyfully return.
I also find it interesting that the age group is clearly still children’s/Teen for Murtagh. These are kids who were, possibly, not even born when Eragon came out (horrifying to think about). And the stuff you read as a teen is perhaps the time period you grow out of the fastest. So going back — very, very interesting. The people who have the strongest nostalgia for Inheritance have long since moved to other series, and are now adults — technically, out of the intended audience for Murtagh (though of course, adults can read kids and YA). It is also very clearly aimed at readers new to the series — again, makes sense. Perhaps their parents read and enjoyed Eragon, and this is a great opportunity to go back and connect. Again, here Paolini uses that very good strategy of choosing a character for POV that is familiar to old readers, but has an entire unexplored story for new readers, a semi-standalone setting and time.
I think this is a great move on the part of the author. Readers who fondly (or not) remember Eragon will be curious. New readers will be captivated (dragon-riding heroes is a timeless classic). It’ll be interesting to see how these two groups review Murtagh once it comes out. I am tempted to pick it up myself. We will see!
Which, if any, of these authors have you read before? Are you planning on picking up their 2023 throwback book? Comment below!
In The Library 