I’ve learned a few things about myself as a writer while finishing up Shadowborn. I think the biggest is that low fantasy is just not the fantasy I enjoy writing best. Skyborn started out fairly low fantasy (at least compared to the stuff I normally write). Sure, there’s people flying around on wings, and there are some elements shooting around killing people, but that is it. Come Fireborn, I started straining against the limits I’d imposed upon myself. But with Shadowborn, though? I tossed all limitations out the window.
The start really began near the end of Fireborn, where I introduced the gigantic namesake monster merged together with the bones of the dead. That was not originally in my outline when I first set up this series, but I had tired of constant cat-and-mouse skirmishes with the quick, tiny fireborn. I wanted to try something else, so then came the giant version. Once I had that behemoth speak, pieces of Shadowborn just tumbled into place in my head. These demonic entities became something more versatile, unpredictable, and dangerous. I wrote the first chapter of Shadowborn almost immediately after finishing Fireborn, to test out my alternate path. I created ancient war machines, cannons, and gun platforms. I merged iceborn into giants and sent them in waves. No limits. Anything goes. And I had a ball.
This is usually how I write, by the way. For good or ill, if I think it would be an awesome image or scene or battle I toss it in and see if it works. Kael’s shield is a prime example of that in Fireborn, an out-of-nowhere addition while writing the chapter. So with Shadowborn I reworked the outline to give myself far more freedom. The Spear of God nuking an entire town out of existence? Let’s do it. Cannons laying waste to the islands? All for it. Kael’s shield growing in power? Giants the size of towns climbing frozen pillars to reach the islands? Liam getting a Metroid-style arm cannon? Let’s freaking go.
As usual, the success or failure of this gambit is up to the reader. Obviously I hope you very much enjoyed it. If not, well … come on, you have to admit some of it was cool.
There are a few common questions I’ll likely get asked, so here’s an attempt to head them off.
Yes, writing Bree’s death scene, and Kael’s ensuing sky funeral, was brutal and terrible and I might have shed a few tears. Not that you can prove I did.
No, I do not expect to return to this world in the foreseeable future. There’s stuff I could do with it but I think nothing would really top the total chaos and destruction of these first three books.
Yes, Kael and Clara live happily ever after and have a litter of children who also grow up to be Archons and Seraphim. Not too many of my characters get to have happy endings. Consider theirs set in stone.
With all that said, I hope you enjoyed this trilogy. I’ve stretched my wings (pun intended) when it comes to world building, magic systems, and unique combat. I loved these characters, and I hope you loved them, too. And no matter what the sales are or how good or bad the reviews, I still got amazing covers by Tommy Arnold for the Orbit releases. Those alone made this all worthwhile. Also, really quick, obligatory thanks to my agent, Michael; my new editor, Brit; the awesome people at Orbit; and anyone else I may have forgotten. You know who you are even if I currently don’t.
Most important, thank you, dear readers. You continue to let me live a dream, one I pray does not end for many, many years. I’ll see you at the end of my next book, in a brand-new world with brand-new people to love and hate.
David Dalglish
December 7, 2016