now starting MASK OF SWORDS

As you might have guessed from recent Facebook posts, I am now writing a new DEMONSOULED novel entitled MASK OF SWORDS. It is the first book of a planned trilogy, and if all goes well MASK OF SWORDS should be out sometime before Christmas. (Note that “before Christmas” is defined as everything up to 11:59 PM on December 24th. )

So what is MASK OF SWORDS about? A hint is below. Note that this hint has !!!SPOILERS!!! for the end of SOUL OF SWORDS, so if you haven’t read all the DEMONSOULED books you should probably skip the paragraphs below.

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For three thousand years the Old Demon walked this world, shaping it as he pleased.

When he began so long ago, many dark powers contested for the rule of our world. The Imperium of the Dark Elderborn, which ruled from ocean to ocean. The soliphage, who feasted upon the souls of mortals. The Trichirabi, whose mastery of necromancy made the High Lords of Old Dracaryl seem as feeble children. The San-keth, worshippers of the serpent god. The princes of the deep waters and the lords of the burning realms, and a score of others, each powerful and fell. Yet the Old Demon overcame them all, banishing them from his sight and locking them away in desolate places and the underworld, forcing them to creep through the shadows.

He did this not out of benevolence nor kindness, but only that they should not hinder his plans. For the Old Demon raised up generation upon generation of Demonsouled, leading them to their doom so that one day he might feast upon their power and become a god. For thirty centuries the Old Demon moved unchallenged through the world, making kings and nations and empires dance upon his strings, until at last he was ready.

Yet at the very moment of his triumph, in the instant he reached out his hand to claim the power and become the new god, the Old Demon was defeated and slain, and mankind saved from his malicious grasp.

But his old enemies remain, watching the realms of men with hungry, covetous eyes.

For the Old Demon was the darkest horror of the old world…but with him slain, who left has the strength to vanquish the other creatures of dark power?

-JM