The Blood Mirror Release Date
by
LOTS OF BIG NEWS
There’s great news, and there’s good or bad news depending on how you look at it–and there’s an apology. The great news first, we’re optimists here.
The Blood Mirror will be published October 25th of this year US/27th UK. You’ve already seen the gorgeous cover at left.
But I goofed, and I need to apologize for something that I thought was true when I said it… but isn’t.
J. R. R. Tolkien once said, “The story grew in the telling.” Famously, he had his too-long novel The Lord of the Rings broken up into three novels. Robert Jordan believed he had only a single volume left in The Wheel of Time, but when Brandon Sanderson took on the job, he quickly saw that it needed to be three more books. Tad Williams jokes about his four-book trilogies.
Now it’s happened to me. So the bad (?) news: There will be five books in the Lightbringer Series, not four.
In my judgment, this is the way I can best tell this story. This is what my story needs. But it requires me to go back on something I’d told you readers: I said The Blood Mirror would be the final book in this series, and it won’t be.
I’m sorry. I’m already working to make every page worth it to you.
(And because I know the first question I’ll get will be, “So when does book five come out?”: I’m not going to make promises—that’s turned out poorly for SFF writers much bigger than I am. THAT SAID… I will be working hard to pleasantly surprise you long-suffering fantasy fans with how quickly the next book arrives.)
Last, if you want to get a sneak peek at a couple Blood Mirror chapters, sign up to the mailing list above! I send maybe four updates a year to that list, with extra info and special offers. (If you hate mailing lists, don’t worry, you can see those chapters in a couple of months on my extras page.)
To pre-order, click your preferred vendor below:
How could you possibly think that having more of your books to read is a bad thing???? I’m ecstatic about this news! Also a release date for one of my favorite books series’ new books! All around great news 😛
That’s exactly what I was thinking! 😀
Could not agree more!
But I have to say, waiting is pain!
You have obviously not found the torment of waiting for Doors of Stone. #ItsBeen6YearsAndStillNoWord #IDontDeserveIt
Whilst waiting is a pain and Doors of Stone has been a long wait….
Pat Rothfuss is one of the “densest” writers in modern fantasy. The guy likes poetry within his sentences, paragraphs, chapters, books and series.
Part of the reason his books are so successful, good and rich is that he takes do much time to make it perfect. He took 12 years to write the first book and people want him to write the second and third books in year or two.
I empathise with your pain but I am happy to wait AS LONG AS DOORS OF STONE IS AS GOOD!
@JR
I would argue that Brent Weeks is also fantastically dense, in a different way. Patrick Rothfuss details and foreshadows; he writes poetry and character, and he is fantastic at what he does, and the meticulousness of his writing is the stuff of legend.
However I would put Brent Weeks up against any author out there for the amount of content in a page. More character development can take place in several of his paragraphs than takes place in many authors’ chapters. The motivations, intrigue, and reveals taking place in a single conversation can be staggering, and I posit that is it more difficult to put down one of his books mid-read (mid-chapter, chapter end, even arc end, your pick) than anyone else out there.
I agree completely. Tell us it will be 10 books and I’ll still be thrilled. Sad during the waits, but thrilled during the reading. 🙂
although having more books is awesome there also needs to be a balance.
Do not complain about having more to this story! I was having a hard time understanding how you’d wrap up everything in a final book.
Fantastic news!! I hate it when I world I’ve entered into suddenly comes to an end… Keep going.. Push for a 6th lol
Not going to lie I am both Excited and Upset by this news… I love the lightbringer series and just want MORE but having to wait even longer for the stories conclusion is going to drive me insane
“So when does the box with all five books in it come out?”
Hey, great idea! 🙂
Excellent idea!! I want to know this as well.
Not upset at all! Awesome news imo!
It is better that the books are split up so that the ending does not feel rushed. To many authors have rushed their endings to try to meet a deadline and it just felt like a hot mess spilled onto the page. That said, I am dying to know how this part of the story conclude (something tells me that like Way of the Shadows it will be open ended enough that revisiting the world will be possible in the future)
More Lightbringer = great news.
Does that mean you aren’t going to write a Night Angel book next ? You will skip it for Lightbringer no5 ?
Peter, Brent still plans to return to the Night Angel world as soon as the Lightbringer Series is finished — so keep an eye out for that after Lightbringer #5! 🙂
And he lived happily ever after!
You say bad news, but I am loving the idea. I was so sad it was going to end so soon. You’ve taken me on quite the ride with the Lightbringer Series and I’ve loved every part of it. Just as I did The Night Angel Trilogy.
As long as you don’t dance of dragons on us (yes that’s a verb it a synonym of to winds of winter) I’m happy I wondered how heavy blood mirror was going to be seems like there’s a lot left to tell. Good luck and I look forward to it. (Wasn’t this a trilogy at one point ?)
More books bad news? Not at all! The more books the merrier! Yes, we will need to wait longer to know the end, but if it means more books, that is only a plus in my book (pun intended).
I would be happy if there were 20 more books! Just write the story how it needs to be 🙂
See, this is what makes Brent better than the likes of George “Rail Road” Martin and Jim “Meh…when I feel like it” Butcher. He actually tries to make things less painful on readers by offering his best hope for quick releases of the rest of his series.
We writers always have more story in us, don’t we? This is good news. Best of everything as you craft this next volume.
Two books?? TWO!!! Oh praise Jesus baby!!!
I’am affraid that in my country -Poland it will be far in 2017 :(((
Worth to wait!
Having another book is okay. I mean, if you really need to, you could write that fifth, then maybe a sixth, and then a seventh… I can guarantee you that none of us will be disappointed!
Yeah don’t particularly see how more story is bad, especially when the story is this good. Love the characters and the way light is used in a form a magic (not something I’ve seen before in fantasy aside from illusions) so yeah can’t wait.
Well I listen to these on graphic audio but I plan on buying the books as well I have to wait a bit longer but it’s so worth it and 5 books is great more more please I’ll tell you this I can’t wait to see if Gavin joins the color prince after he gets out and if breaker learns his powers and uses them more awesome Brent just awesome you need to put out a short story between books 4 and 5 though so I won’t be in withdraw haha
It’s time to celebrate!
This is definitely a great news.
The only bad news is that I will have to wait longer for more Night Angel. I love the Lightbringer books, but Kylar, Logan, and Vi have a special place in my heart.
SPOILERS
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As long as Gavin doesn’t spend the entire time in the prison, I’m happy. A whole book of waiting for him to break out of various slave holds was hard enough, I couldn’t stand another two books of him in a blue gray hell.
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END SPOILERS
Regardless, here’s one very excited fan.
More of this amazing story; Only good news!
Love this and am very excited for the release =D
My wife is already crying over waiting until October to read your next book. She’ll wail in agony when she flies through book four in two days, then has to wait for yet another. We love your stuff, dude. Always happy to read more of it.
I was wondering how you were going to conclude the story in one more novel. Was acctually nervous too much would happen in Blood Mirror that it would bot be “neatly” wrapped up. Glad to hear you have extended it into a 5th book, I can’t wait!
Yes!!! The more the merrier! Do you think we like getting so attached to a world, a history, a system of magic and intrigue and belief and possibility only to have to leave it when the books are done? It’s difficult every time. While I cannot wait to see what happens in a favorite series, when all is almost said and done I get sad and almost do not want to finish the story. Almost. On occasion I even put it off for awhile. So if you can extend the time between the opening of a new book in this series and that final page, please do. (That isn’t to say I want to wait for the last book in the series to come out. The sooner the better!)
Love this series and one more book will only make it better!
I agree with quite a few of these comments. Happy for the next book, sad we are still waiting for a conclusion, by it’s so much better to have the series done “right” and not have it rushed. Thanks for the update Brent! 🙂
I can’t wait to reed this. But you need to write another book in the night angel series.
Don’t worry, Brent plans to write another novel set in the Night Angel world after he’s completed the Lightbringer Series! 🙂
I’m all for another book, especially since you average a book every two years as opposed to 5-7 years. Thanks for all your hard work! Can’t wait for Blood Mirror!
This is great news!
But question, when is the planned release in Australia???
Five books instead of four?! I think what you meant to say instead of good news bad news, is best news ever! We get to read more of your story in the way you intended. That’s the best news I’ve heard in a while!!
Yasssss!!
Not gonna lie, I was sad that Blood Mirror would be the last book. This is the first series I’ve actually enjoyed reading. I picked The Black Prism thinking it was stand alone book…boy was I surprised haha but I’ve loved every minute of it so far and I trust your instincts, especially if they give me more Lightbringers 🙂
I was curious as to how you’d wrap up so much in one more book. You can always shoot for six, or seven…
If anything this is a god thing!
Not surprising. I read the books recently and thought “how is he going to finish the story in one book? If feel like there is too much *preceded to list all the story-lines*”. So I am glad and I await the books. Happy writing! Thank you for the updates.
Great news. I do have to ask though: How soon, after release, will the Kindle edition become available, please? (For those of us unable to hold a book, for very long &/or sight issues – Before somebody asks “Why in that format?!?”.)
The Kindle edition will be available the same day the hardcover book launches! (Unless there’s some kind of snafu at Amazon.)
Couldn’t ask for much more than the next book of a series I love to be released on my birthday!
so wait…There’s gonna be 5 books instead of 4; book 4 is coming out almost a month early from the supposed publisher listed release date…and a week after my b-day no less?
HOW IN THE **** IS IT AT ALL BAD? XD
I’m a natural pessimist, and the only bad thing that went through my head was, “crap, now I gotta schedule my reading vacation a month early”.
Even though I’m part of the mailing list, and I got the new chapters, I’m not reading them. I’m going in cold. If I start the reading now, I’m gonna be foaming at the mouth, and my eyeballs, by the time October gets here.
I swear, sometimes I think Brent is a natural troll…#Driveby
Brent with your storytelling capability, I don’t think anyone is mad about a 5th book. Please take your time, id rather have the story come together organically rather than rushed because it had to be fit into a certain space.
Every Light Casts a Shadow,
Every Shadow hides a Secret,
Every secret holds a truth,
Every Truth Shines a Light,
Yah you are kind of screwed for the 5th book caption now
Damn, good point!
It makes me so happy that you are taking the time to end your story properly. Most authors write their books to a set number and then rush the ending and leave out much needed character development and a lot of times it looks like it wasn’t even written by the same author. So I am uncontrollably excited over it. Thank you Mr.Weeks for everything.
I think everyone has already said it but but it is worth saying again having 5 books from one of my favorite authors is the opposite of bad news, that and i am sure everyone can agree that they would rather have two more books rather than missing some of the story to fit it down into on, though from the ending of book three i did kinda see this coming as i couldn’t see how you were going to tie everything up in one book.
None the less i eagerly await the next book.
Thanks Brent Weeks for the amazing world you have pulled us all into.
Nathan ford
I’m looking forward for those extra books!! I love the previous books and I will love the rest, that’s for sure. So no problem at all. I can’t wait to read the blood mirror 🙂
I think Mr Weeks should run for president. Just saying… I’d vote for him. Pumped for 2 more books!
As an omnivorous bibliophile I’ve suffered the agonies of waiting for the “next” book of exceptional writers for years. Weeks is Definitely in that company. But I’m still beating a hole in the wall with my forehead……
When will The Blood Mirror be released in Australia??? So excited 😀
I would like to go on record of supporting both Brent’s decision to extend the story (which I think is a wise decision given the breadth of content still left to complete) and to publish blood mirror as a solid 4th book rather than trying to wrap things up in a single book. A story should be told at its own pace, with as much space as it needs. Sometimes that makes people (readers) sad, but in most cases the final product is worth it, and its hard to imagine that Brent will deliver anything less than an outstanding ending to the story.
I don’t want this series to end! More books! I want more books!
You don’t have to apologize for giving us more. You are the storyteller and I trust where you are taking me on this journey.
Thanks for the update Brent and no need to apologise, two years between books is a whole lot better than some I can name.
Delighted there will be a 5th book to finish things off 🙂
I’m happy for this series to continue into a fifth installment. Keep up the fine work Brett, and don’t rush for us, we can wait for the goodness to hit the shelves
*Brent* sorry
Seriously, another book?! How in the world is that bad news? Why in the world are you apologizing to fans who want to stay in this world longer? Brent, that is not necessary and I think many fans will agree that that may be the greatest news. I, for one, am excited to hear that.
Another book in the series!? That’s the best news I’ve heard in months! I completely agree with Terry, I don’t think any of your fans will be upset Brent. Just keep up the great work and we’ll all sit quietly waiting to read the new one when it comes out…well, maybe not all of us…
Yeeeeess!!! More books the better! This is one of the only book series I read
Good news and (bad? Nope!), just more good news! I can’t wait to read the fourth and fifth books in this trilogy ;). Just make sure you turn that durzo blint novella into a full fledged series when you’re done because you’ve created an addict.
Hey Mr. Weeks- Please, don’t say that a fifth book is a bad thing (the onset of carpal tunnel might be)- but from the fan’s point of view, this is absolutely amazing. I cannot wait to read The Blood Mirror, keep it up!
You’re right!!!!!
I’m excited!!!!
Very excited now that I know when I’ll get my next good marathon read in.
Also glad because my vision of a rainbow colored box set for Lightbringer is one book closer to possible!
Pre-order CHECK. So excited.
Great news on the release date of Blood Mirror in October this year and I am really looking forward to another great story. Another book in the offing is also welcome!!
Thank you for the update! I am glad to see a fifth book. More is better, at least from you. However, I really appreciate the feeling that accompanies the completion of a long series and it seems that my favorite authors cannot complete books as quickly as I can read them. I don’t want you to sacrifice quality, but I really enjoy your stories and am hungry for more.
Also, any idea how long after release before an audio version may be available?
An audio book version (with Simon Vance as the vocal artist) should be released concurrently with the hardcover. Doubtless Graphic Audio will also release their dramatic audio version a month or two later! (Their productions take substantially more time to put together.)
Awesome- Simon is such an awesome reader. I just finished re-listening to the series when I got this news. Is there any chance book 1 ever gets re-done and read by Simon
I really hope so. The book 1 reader makes Gavin sound like Spicolli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
The 1st book has been redone and is available on Audible. Older version was been taken down. As far as I could tell there was no free replacement offered.
As others have already said, I was wondering how on earth the series could possibly be finished in just one more book, so I’m pretty ok with it being extended to 5.
Just don’t pull a Jordan and publish a bunch of mediocre books that fail to advance the plot at all before dying and leaving us with an unfinished series, ok? It goes without saying that you’d never do that of course (although I just said, so I guess I proved myself wrong before I even made the claim that I proved wrong), but it’s too important to take any chances.
Prepare to be smited by a great big green bouncy ball of doom!
Book four just a few months away. – Good news!
An additional fifth book now planned for one of my favorite fantasy series? – Outstanding news!!!
And though you made no promises, thank you for acknowledging the feelings of your readers regarding length of time between books and letting us know that you will be “… working hard to pleasantly surprise you long-suffering fantasy fans with how quickly the next book arrives”.
Looking forward to everything!
Thank you for being so timely with your releases Brent. This news just made my day!
After a brief moment of mild panic, I was almost hoping for a Douglas Adams part 6 in the trilogy, love your books and I am eagerly anticipating book 4 and 5 with some luck also in the Night Angel trilogy.
Hope you keep enjoying your writing as much as I enjoy reading your work!
What?you mean there’s going to be a 5th book to an already great story which will only make the story that much more epic,nope I won’t be buying one…ill be buying two Hardcover and Ebook muahhahahaha*laughs evilly*
Um.. please make it 6 books!!
Aside from the site listed above, any chance for a signed copy pre-order??
Brent will likely release some signed copies through Shawn Speakman’s The Signed Page — stayed tuned to our social media and website for more details!
No need to feel bad at all Brent. Like many have said, two years is not a bad wait whatsoever. I’m used to three or four at least and I doubt anyone can be like George R.R. Martin with six year wait between books lol.
I was a little sad when you said the fourth will be your last in the series, so don’t apologize! I love good character and story development, you can’t rush it, nor can you drag it on too long. But, for a story like this five will be just right.
Keep up the good work, Brent!
And maybe come to Salt Lake Comic Con sometime, I’d love to get some books autographed 😉
Awesome news all around! Thank you so much for all you do Brent. So excited for this next volume… and another! Absolutely beaming mate!!!
Hi Brent,
I was very happy to know that there would be another book in the lightbringer series. To tell you the truth I always wondered how you would tie up all the plotlines in just one book. Please send me the sample chapters.
Oh, no! You mean we’re going to have to read yet ANOTHER well-written book filled with an intriguing plot and characters we’ve come to care about? The horror!!
Seriously, I always hate it when a good series ends, so this is in no way bad news. Can’t wait to read them!!
I was whining earlier this year that I was both super-excited for this book and dreading it. I am, along with most it seems, a-okay with a 5th book. We’ll deal somehow. ;P
No worries. You know you’ve arrived as a SFF god when your trilogy explodes into four then five book series. You are in good company but well-deserved. Take the time you need to keep it great and to enjoy your life. Thank you for your honesty and thinking of us, your impatient but loyal readers.
Yay all good news! Keep it up and don’t worry about how long it takes, you’re still better than many and any real fantasy enthusiast is waiting on enough books that they all sort of fill the gaps and keep you satisfied. See yah on the other side.
I don’t know about everyone else but I’m stoked for you adding another installment. Sure the waiting can feel difficult, like a man in the desert craving water or maybe not as intense. However, anything worth something is worth waiting for. Can’t lie, I won’t be the least bit sad if you say it needs to be 6 books in a few years. This world you have created is fantastic. Do what you gotta do.
That last line in chapter 2? I hate you so much for that, I won’t be able to sleep well until I’ve read the whole book, and that’s not for months. Damn!
How dare you! You extend this series and DARE to apologize. (Sigh) This is not something you apologize for; but say, your getting another book, shut up and be happy. While we sit here giddily clapping our hands, as if we were little school girls–see that, even the schoolgirls are acting like schoolgirls at the news.
That is the most exciting bad news I’ve read since I’ve finished The Broken Eye!
The journey grows longer, and we’re happy you take us on it, Brent!
Wait, what? a 5th book?! could you by any chance turn that book into a 6th as well?
To be honest the story is so good that I’m happy there will simply be more to read, even if it does mean waiting for it! Don’t be sorry 🙂 Happy writing Brent.
Sadly, I haven’t been back on your website for a few months – work, responsibilities and you know, adult stuff, has sadly kept me away – but I am absolutely delighted with this piece of news. There’s so much left to tell in this story and while I hate saying it and Night Angels forgive me, Kylar will just have to wait a tad longer. Best of luck with the writing Brent and congratulations on making what was no doubt a difficult decision!
Hey Brent,
Lightbringer is awesome. Delightfully packed with everything a good fantasy is, complex characters, a well designed magic system, action packed, and a sweet strategy game that only the smartest minds can master. when I read that you will be splitting the final book into two it made me very excited. There have been few series that I never want to end and lightbringer is one of them. thank you!
I’d much rather it be done right than be rushed and have everything crowded into one book just because that’s what you said you were going to do.
Bad news?! That’s the best news I heard in a while. More epicness 🙂 Can’t wait for book 4!
So… We are getting another book set in this incredible world you’ve created… How is that a bad thing? LOL! I’m happy, I love the series and it’s only gotten better with each book.
Indeed… no bad news at all. If you feel, you have a longer story to tell, do so! I love the story so far, and I really don’t mind seeing it grow. More to read for this word-greedy bastard called me. 😉
You may want to update your FAQ to reflect this and avoid confusion.
Thanks for the great work, looking forward to the next 2 books.
I am really looking forward to the “Blood Mirror”. o_o What’s strange is that there are already 4 different Lightbringer books in my shelf (“Schwarzes Prisma” “Die blendende Klinge” “Sphären der Macht” and “Schattenblender” being the german titles), so “Blood Mirror” would be the 5th. And if you plan on writing one more after that, then that would make it the 6th.
I wouldn’t mind at all though! I love reading your books and am really looking forward to seeing many more of your creations.
So what’s the 5th book going to be called? Or is that too much of a plot give away?
Not again! No! Shit! Mr. Weeks you’re like my favorite author stop doing this to me! Also, hell yes, five lightbringer books bitches!
I’m super excited for the next two books… Just don’t pull a Patrick Rothfuss or George R R Martin on us and I’m sure everyone will be happy.
When will an audiobook be released for this? Its often difficult for me to read books so I often need to listen to audiobooks instead.
I am also happy that there will be a fifth book as well, I enjoy the series and how it unfolds and would not like it to end before the full story is told =)
Hi Michael,
Glad you’re enjoying the series!
The audiobook should be released at the same time as the hardcover. There may be a day or two delay, but no more.
Hi, The news are very bad for me. There will be only 5 books?!!! No way… You crrated one of the best worlds and you are my favorite writer among with Sanderson and Erikson!
Brent, i have read and reading 1-3 again for 4th time, recommended it to friends — this IS ONE OF THE BEST SERIES..IF NOT THE BEST SERIES OF BOOKS AND STORY I HAVE EVER READ IN MY WHOLE LIFE…I LOVE IT THANK YOU…..GOT ME THROUGH A DIVORCE XX
GREETING FROM AUSTRALIA
Mr. Weeks,
I have been patiently awaiting the next book in this series. Now I hear that there will be another book in series and I couldn’t be happier. Should the series end with 5 books or even 6 I won’t complain. The more that is written, the more that I get to enjoy reading.
Ugh no, not another book!
I’m only kidding (sort of). Mainly because I like to start series right before final book publication so I can read the story start to finish without losing details to time. I am, however, greatly enjoying your books and will undoubtedly return to the series in a few years time to read the conclusion. I appreciate that you are doing what is right for your story.
Another book, really…That is amazing.
There is seriously no need to apologize, I was so looking forward to book 4 but was already sad that the story was almost over. I have reread the first three books, at least 5 or 6 times now. The fact that there will be two more books instead of just one is amazing news!
So happy, both for the release date and the fact there will be a 5th issue.
Kinda wish your stories never ended !
Keep up the good work !
Thanks a lot for the update Brent! As a fantasy fan, if i find a catching world, i like to stay in it as long as possible, and go back, if i can. So i’m glad, that my adventure in the Chromeria does not end in this year. And I still keep a secret dream, that once i will be able to hear about the promised duel between The Nightangel and Garuwashi, or just anything about that world.
Best regards: A fan from Hungary