A common refrain from people dispensing advice about writing is:
“If you want to traditionally publish something, DO NOT self-publish it first! Publishers don’t want to touch something that is already out there, so if you query a book you’ve self-published, it will be auto-rejected.”
Then, a self-published author lands a big deal with a publishing company and seems to put the lie into that piece of wisdom. It happens every once in a while: Andy Weir with The Martian, Michael J. Sullivan with his Riyria books, and, more recently, Evan Winter with The Rage of Dragons.
Still, there are a few things to consider before you rush to self-publish in the hope of following in their footsteps:
- These authors didn’t query their self-published books. Publishing companies approached them after they were already hugely successful.
- For each self-published author who gets an offer like this, there are tens of thousands who don’t. And you can’t plan on being the unicorn.
So The Rage of Dragons is good enough to sell really well as a self-published novel, get great reviews, then get picked up by Orbit Books. What about it makes this book so special?
First, it is hitting at exactly the right time, hitting an intersection of two current trends in fantasy: grittier, darker stories with morally complex protagonists, and fantasy settings that draw inspiration from places other than Medieval Europe (in this case, from Africa).
Next is the quality of the story itself. This is the quality of debut authors dream of having. It is very action-heavy, but the action is balanced well with worldbuilding, romance, intrigue, and mystery.
In this story, we follow Tau, a young commoner who is disenchanted with the militaristic nature of his culture. But when tragedy and injustice strike, he puts aside his previous misgivings and throws himself into military training in an effort to seek out revenge. But will any amount of training be enough against the biologically superior nobles he hates?
As he prepares, Tau is faced with choices. Is he willing to cast aside love for the sake of his vengeance? Friends? Family? Country? His own life?
We the readers watch as justifiable anger at injustice turns into a poisonous desire for vengeance. We hope alongside Tau’s friends and loved ones that his path won’t destroy him.
If you as a reader are looking for fantasy that is: military fantasy, action-packed, a page-turner, not based on Europe, gritty, and/or new, definitely check out this book.
If you prefer fantasy that has a slow build, sprawling worlds, and/or is already complete, then maybe give this one a pass.
Aspiring fantasy writers, however, should really check this one out. If you do, pay attention to its non-standard setting, its fascinating magic system, excellent pacing, and tight storytelling. It is definitely one worth learning from.
The Rage of Dragons is book 1 in The Burning series. Book 2, The Fires of Vengeance, will be released July, 2020.
Have you read The Rage of Dragons? If you did, what did you think of it? If not, does it sound like a book you want to read? Let me know in the comments down below!