Ravenloft novels a go?

[Alzrius]

So, a while back Ari Marmell said that his Ravenloft novel(s) had been canceled. While there was nothing concrete, this was speculated as being the end of the novel line, since WotC was canceling a lot of novels left and right.

Flash forward to yesterday, when a friend of mine emailed me to say that he'd just bought a copy of a new Ravenloft novel named [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Heavens-Bones-Novel-Samantha-Henderson/dp/0786951117/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220558217&sr=8-1]Heaven's Bones[/ame] by Samantha Henderson, with the series line being "A Novel of the Mists."

Moreover, he also sent along a list of future titles that the book listed. None of these had release dates, but he looked them up on Amazon and found out more info:

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Mithras-Court-Novel-Ravenloft-Dominion/dp/0786950684/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220559141&sr=1-1]Mithras Court[/ame], by David A. Page, due on November 4, 2008.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Madness-Harmony-Walter-H-Hunt/dp/0786951354/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220559196&sr=1-1]Madness in Harmony[/ame], by Walter H. Hunt, due on April 7, 2009.

Black Damask, by Scott Fitzgerald Gray, no Amazon entry or release date given.

And of course, then there's several other titles that seem to be in limbo, having differing information depending on where you look and who you ask.

[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clockwork-Angels-Ravenloft-Samantha-Henderson/dp/0786950277/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220560262&sr=8-1]Clockwork Angels[/ame], by Samantha Henderson - this book isn't on Amazon at all, but is on Amazon.co.uk, with an ISBN# (0786950277 ) which is different from that of Heaven's Bones. I mention that because the book supposedly came out August 5th, but there's no mention of it, and I wonder if it's some sort of alternate title for the same book.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Reason-Ravenloft-Dominion/dp/0786949937/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220560298&sr=8-1]The Sleep of Reason[/ame], by C. A. Suleiman - this one is on Amazon, but not Amazon.co.uk, due on February 3, 2009.

And, finally, there's Ari's novels, which are presumably still canceled, like he said (I'm listing this third one because I'm not sure if it's Ravenloft or not):

[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Crusade-Ravenloft-Ari-Marmell/dp/0786948787/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220560347&sr=8-1]Black Crusade[/ame], by Ari Marmell - Not listed on Amazon, but on Amazon.co.uk with a release date of March 4, 2008.

A Crown of Ashes, by Ari Marmell - This one isn't listed on either Amazon site, but is listed in Heaven's Bones.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Wizards-Coast-Discovery-Novels/dp/0786949090/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1220560387&sr=11-1]Shades of Grey[/ame], by Ari Marmell - I'm not certain if this is a Ravenloft novel or not. This is listed on Amazon.com (though I had to search for its ISBN# - 0786949090 - to find it) as coming out on July 7, 2009. However, Amazon.co.uk lists it as coming out on August 5, 2008.

Needless to say, there's still a lot that's nebulous regarding this novel line (though that seems somehow apropos for "Novels of the Mists"). Can anyone shed any light on these books?

 

[Mouseferatu]

The Ravenloft line was canceled. Heaven's Bones (and possibly one of the others) were far enough along in the process that they're coming out anyway. But the line is still dead.

As is the Discoveries line, of which Shades of Grey was a part.

 

[Ratenef]

I was able to email C. A. Suleiman and was able to verify that Sleep of Reason has also been cancelled.

I would further speculate that since Mithras Court is the only one not confirmed cancelled and has a publishing date within 2008, that it will be the one we get to see.

I know that WoTC advertised that as of 2009 they will only be publishing Forgotten Realms and Magic novels, so these latter novels in the Ravenloft line will not see the light of day (ironically).

The truly unfortunate part is that the first one of the Ravenloft books I could find was Black Crusade (renamed to Crown of Ashes), yet it seems to be first confirmed to be cancelled.

Ari, if you're still following this thread, I'm going to guess that since it was work for hire that WoTC will 'bury' this novel and we'll not get to see it released in any format?

I've put some requests out to other boards and to my local book store to determine if further infomation on the (non) status of these books can be confirmed. I'll try and pass along what I find when I can.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I know that WoTC advertised that as of 2009 they will only be publishing Forgotten Realms and Magic novels, so these latter novels in the Ravenloft line will not see the light of day (ironically).

Well, not quite. It's Magic and various lines of D&D. Eberron novels aren't going away, for instance. But yeah, other than that, you've got the right of it.

Ari, if you're still following this thread, I'm going to guess that since it was work for hire that WoTC will 'bury' this novel and we'll not get to see it released in any format?

To the best of my knowledge, nope, it's not going to see any sort of release.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

AW, poor Ravenloft, I miss you already

 

[El Mahdi]

AW, poor Ravenloft, I miss you already

Alas poor Ravenloft, we hardly knew you (but that's mostly because we were scared of you).