March Update
Memories of Prophecies is available for preorder! That’s the big news from this newsletter. The mysteries surrounding Cinder’s past and his strange visions deepen. The dangers faced by the cadets of the Third Directorate heighten. And the prophecies are not always helpful, providing both clarity and confusion. Meanwhile, Anya must make decisions about the best path forward for her life.
I’m excited about this one, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. To me, it strikes a nice note. There’s further depth of worldbuilding, but I made sure not to sacrifice characters or plot.
Here’s the blurb:
The memories of the past may be forgotten, but prophecies linger.
Cinder Shade and his fellow cadets have survived a brutal mission in the vast wilds of the Dagger Mountains. Laying to rest many of their brother warriors, they return to the Third Directorate, battered, bruised, and weary of soul.
But the world turns, and new challenges press. Cinder must set aside his grief, especially when granted a task by Anya Aruyen, the elven princess with whom he shares an inexplicable bond. She urges him to further master his skills as a warrior and become worthy of fighting at her side.
Others have also taken note of Cinder. His name is spoken in the high halls of elven palaces. The empress watches him, wondering at his unmatched abilities. So, too, do the dwarves. They fear Cinder, worrying that he is the embodiment of their darkest prophecies.
And in the distant north, shadows gather. They whisper of their fallen god, Shet, dead three thousand years now. Whispering of his rebirth.
But when the prophecies speak conflicting portents and none can decipher the truth, what path can even a consummate warrior take?
Happy reading!
41 Comments
Submit a Comment
Sign up to receive the first chapters!
Subscribe to Davis Ashura's newsletter and receive special offers as well as updates on new and upcoming books. You also get the first several chapters for download on PDF and audiobook. Enjoy!
Can’t wait. The first book I read of yours was testament. At which point I ripped through all of castes and outcastes. Really looking forward to this.
Looking forward to this. Started with Testament and then went back to read all of Castes and Outcastes.
Jeez! That’s a lot of reading! You’re definitely all caught up.
I found A testament of steel completely by chance 4 days ago on my suggested reads for kindle unlimited, I’ve since read both books and I have to say they’re the best read I’ve had in a while! I came here to find out when the 3rd book will be out, without realising number 2 was recently published so I’m a bit disappointed but absolutely can not wait to find out what happens next. I’m just about to go and find the rest of the anchored world books as I also didn’t realise they existed haha. Thanks for writing such a brilliant series! Ps also a huge fan of the wheel of time!
Hi Kirsten,
Best read in a while is wonderful praise! Happy reading, and thank you for giving the books a chance!
Davis
When will this be available in audiobook format? 🙂
Hi Augusta,
I’m not exactly sure when the audiobook will be out, but my best guess based on what I’ve been told is an early summer release. Hopefully that means in June sometimes.
Davis
I am ridiculously excited for the 25th, I think I have re-listened to testament 2 times in the past two weeks, and re-read all of the Lord of Mourning trying to get hints. Although I have no idea if the timeline changed at all. But I am definitely going to find out in less than a week! To put my excitement into another context, I even stopped counting down the days until Mark Lawrence’s new book! Thanks for all your novels Davis.
Ridiculously excited is how I felt whenever a new Wheel of Time novel was released. Happy reading!
Davis
Good day Sir
I have read all the books and eagerly await the next. The characters have developed in such relatable ways. Being of Indian descent, there are so many relatable…. Everything. I enjoy that you are not repetitive with your words. It does not feel like you are just filling up the pages. For that, I thank you.
I eagerly look forward to the release of A Necessary Heresy.
Regards
Sershan Nydoo
Hi Sershan,
I love my Indian ancestry, and I wanted to highlight aspects of it without simply stealing from it. I wanted to offer something back, and in this case, it was to display what I loved, such as familial lineages and food as well as the sublime, such as open-hearted religious attitudes toward the divine.
Davis
I tried to drag out my reread of the first book, but it was just as gripping and exciting the second time through. Now I still have 4 more days to wait until the second book comes out 🙁
Haha! I’ve done the same thing so many times. And as always, here’s to hoping the next book is worth the wait!
Davis
In what order should the anchored world books be read? I’ve read testaments of steel and loved it but there seems to be back stories from other books?
Hi Joseph,
Sorry about the slow reply, but I would read the Anchored Worlds starting with the Castes and the OutCastes, next I would read William Wilde, and last would be Instruments of Omens.
After reading book one of Instrument of Omens, I went and read the Castes and Outcastes series (and thoroughly enjoyed it) while waiting for this book! After beginning this book (and loving it!), I stopped about 20% in and started reading your William Wilde series!!! After finishing that I’ll go back to Memories of Prophecies.
Note: It should be said that one can very happily read the Instruments of Omens books without reading the other two series 🙂 I just like understanding/figuring out where Cinder Shade and the world of Seminal fits in, in the grand scheme of things.
Really enjoying your books, and the character development, and the themes of love and forgiveness, and the worlds, and the magic system, and everything really!
Please keep writing them! I will keep reading them 🙂
Hi Anna,
Glad you’re enjoying the Anchored Worlds. I didn’t intend it to be so complicated. Honest. It just kinda got away from me, lol. I am pretty happy with the complexity, though. It’s a fun puzzle to create.
Davis
Oh no….just finished Memories of Prophecy. I don’t guess A Necessary Heresy is coming all that quickly. Ya gotta write quicker – I’m 79 and counting. Love your work.
Hi Priscilla,
I’ll write faster! Honest. Necessary Heresy is coming along… as of today, I feel like I’m getting a handle on it. I’m 1/4 of the way done!
Davis
I’ve just finished Memories of Prophecies, and wow. I have listened to Castes and Outcastes twice but I’ve not read any of the William Wilde books but after finishing this I realise that I really need to, so that’s next on my list.
I know you have said on a comment above that your around a quarter of the way through A Necessary Heresay, but what I really want to know is do you think we will be looking at a release this year or do you think it will be 2022 when we see the next installment?
I’m hopping along, trying to write as fast and well as I can. If there aren’t too many delays, I may finish it by the end of the year. That’s the goal. Fingers crossed I reach it.
Davis
Whens the audible book expected to come out
There was an unavoidable production delay with the audiobook for Memories of Prophecies, so the audiobook will be released in December 2021. It’s not ideal, but there really is no way around it.
Davis
So i know this is probably to soon but how long until the next one comes out and btw i think your series would make a great tv series maybe animated i get some real anime feels when im reading your books i read the first one because im a huge nick podel fan and man am i glad i did keep up the great books
Hi Ethan,
Thank you for reaching out to me, and I’ll have to let Nick know how many people love his narration. As for book 3, it will hopefully be out in the latter part of this year. And a TV series based on the Anchored Worlds universe (any of the series, really) would be an absolute dream if it was done right.
Davis
Love your books, Davis. After reading the first two books of the Instrument of Omen series, I went back and read both the William Wilde and Caste and Outcastes series’. Your character development and world-building are wonderful, and you can easily grow attached to some of the characters. I’m curious about future projects. Will you delve further into some of the current characters (Sign, Farn, Jaresh, Bree, etc.), or start a series with completely new characters? I also approve of the above comment of a series. 🙂
Hi Andy,
Thank you for reaching out to me. It always makes me happy when someone comments about the characters. For me, they are the heart of the story. In terms of side stories with Sign, Jaresh, etc., I’m not sure. They may or may not be involved in the follow up series/continuation of the Castes and the OutCastes. No promises there, though. I will likely write a sequel to William Wilde to give some closure to William, Serena, and Selene. There is also Shokan’s and Sira’s story in Earth’s past and a couple of unrelated series.
Sigh. There is so much I want to write and so little time.
Davis
Couldn’t keep book down!
Hi Brei,
That’s always a wonderful thing to read. Glad you liked it!
Davis
When is A Necessary Heresy coming out?
Hi Brenda,
I’m hoping to have it out by the later part of this year or early next year.
Davis
Love the 2 books, but have one of those questions where the answer is usually NO but if you don’t ask it always is. 🙂 I buy the paperback copies of books because I look at a computer screen all day and want to rest my eyes by not looking at a kindle or some other screen. Are there any discounts on your paperback books for your other series (I have both of the Instrument of Omens books)?
Hi Keith,
If you have both Instrument of Omens paperbacks, that certainly earns my attention and my gratitude. As far as your question is concerned, the short answer right now is ‘no’, I don’t have any discounted versions of the books. That may eventually change when I set up sales on the website for signed copies, although those will be in hardcover.
Davis
I just finished your Instrument of Omens series, and the only thing I can possibly say is wow. The depth of each character, I felt like I was talking to them individually, everytime they came about. I felt like I was in their world the entire ride. I hope many current and aspiring writers read this and take detailed notes on how to make an amazing idea into an amazing story
Hi AJ,
I never know what to say whenever I’m sent such a wonderful message other than ‘thank you’. So, thank you for giving my books a chance, and thank you for letting me know how much you enjoyed them. It’s gratifying and touching.
Sincerely,
Davis
Just finished Memories of Prophecies last night. Stayed up reading till dawn as I could not put it down! Ok… Any projected date for the release of A Necessary Heresy? I cannot wait!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE this series! I had gone though so many on Kindle Unlimited looking for a good one… reading a few chapters (or pages) and returning. SO much bad out there! These are great! Love the face paced style with just the right amount of narrative! SO looking forward to more from you!
Hi Bonnie,
That’s always a good sign, isn’t it? Staying up late to read a book, I mean. Love hearing that! As for A Necessary Heresy, I’m hoping to have it ready by the end of this year or early next year.
Davis
I am positively, absolutely waiting on A Necessary Heresy. I’ve read all of your books so far. I love Cinder Shade. I also loved William Wilde!! ❤️ Love that they all have a connection! Thanks for being an awesome author!
Hi Jessica,
Wow! Thank you so much for giving the books a try, and I’m always elated when someone lets me know how much they liked them.
Sincerely,
Davis
Hi I’m a third of the way through the William wilde books (read the others) is the cinder shade that is a knight the same cinder shade that was in testament if steel because I didn’t know he could bend to metal or that he was a slave from the elven forest?
Hi Jim,
By ‘read the others’, you mean you read the Castes and the OutCastes and Instrument of Omens? That is… mind-boggling and humbling. Thank you for giving the books a try. And in answer to your question, yes, the Cinder Shade that is the knight is the same as the one from Testament of Steel. He can’t yet bend metal and the slave part is yet to be explained.
Davis