The Lord Collector
A novella.
Author's Note - The following story takes place in the same world as my novel Blood Song, the first volume in the Raven’s Shadow trilogy. I wrote it because I wanted to more fully explore characters who appear in Blood Song and the sequels Tower Lord and Queen of Fire. Readers familiar with my work are sure to recognise a certain pale-eyed, raspy voiced Sword Master of the Sixth Order and those curious as to the origins of the Tower Lord of the Southern Shore will find answers here. The tale takes place at the mid-point of the timeline described in Blood Song, a time when King Janus, with typical ruthlessness, is in the process of fully consolidating his grip on the Unified Realm.
'The Lord Collector by Anthony Ryan: a grim introduction to our protagonist, Jehrid, leader of an Excise Guard unit (think a kind of investigative military) to kick this story off. Jehrid is tasked by his Tower Lord with working with Brother Sollis of the Sixth Order and two others with finding a passenger from a month-old shipwreck. But Jehrid has another agenda: vengeance. A story told with standard Anthony Ryan style. Enjoyable, violent, somber at times and galloping like a horse at others.' - Adrian Collins, Grimdark Magazine
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Anthony Ryan
Anthony Ryan’s name has become synonymous with epic fantasy that doesn’t just create worlds, but breathes life into them. Known for his intricate storytelling and deeply complex characters, Ryan’s works resonate with readers who crave more than just escapism—they want a story that challenges their perceptions and stays with them long after the final page.
Born in 1970 in Scotland, Ryan’s path to becoming a full-time writer was far from conventional. He worked in the British Civil Service for many years, but his passion for storytelling was never far from the surface. It wasn’t until 2011, when he self-published his debut novel Blood Song, that Ryan’s writing career truly began to take off. The book quickly found an enthusiastic audience, and its success led to a three-book deal with Penguin Books just a year later, marking the beginning of his rise in the fantasy world.
Raven's Shadow
Raven's Shadow consists of three primary books, and includes four additional books that complement the series but are not considered mandatory reads — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Main series Vaelin Al Sorna
