Bringing back the weird… Art by Benjamin Carre.
That’s Brynd, for any of you wondering. There’s a little more work to be done to the face apparently, but this is pretty much it. City of Ruin, the second book in the Legends of the Red Sun series.
My draft attempt at a blurb:
Villiren: a city of sin that is being torn apart from the inside. Its underworld is violent and surreal. Hybrid creatures shamble through shadows and there is a trade in bizarre goods. The city’s inquisition is rife with corruption. Barely human gangs fight turf wars and interfere in political upheavals. The most influential of the gang leaders, Malum, has nefarious networks spreading to the city’s rulers, and as his personal life falls down around him, he begins to embrace the darkness within.
Amidst all this, Commander Brynd Lathraea, commander of the Night Guard, must plan the defence of Villiren. A race that has broken through from some other realm and already slaughtered hundreds of thousands of the Empire’s people. As the enemy gather on the next island, Brynd must muster the populace – including the gangs. Importing soldiers and displacing civilians, this is a colossal military operation, and the stress begins to take its toll.
After a Night Guard soldier is reported missing, it is discovered that many citizens have also been vanishing from the streets of Villiren. They’re not fleeing the city, they’re not hiding from the terrors in the north – they’re being murdered. A serial killer of the most horrific kind is on the loose, taking hundreds of people from their own homes. A killer that cannot possibly be human.
It is whispered that the city of Villiren is about to fall – but how can anyone save a city that is already a ruin?
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22 responses so far ↓
1 hagelrat // Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
This makes me happy.
2 Neil // Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Did anyone guess the title? It seems like a good fit and the cover fits nicely with the previous one. There’s a petronas tower vibe going on in the background, is that going to be in the book or is it just artistic license?
I like the sound of Malum already and think it could be very interesting to see whether Mark has us debating whether the city is even worth saving in the first place.
3 Mark C Newton // Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Hagelrat: me too!
Neil: Nope, no one guessed. Ah, I see what you mean – and I think with all city depictions there’ll be some artistic license.
Malum is by far and away my favourite character – the most complex one I’ve written. I hope he’s received well, because he’s not that likeable…
4 NextRead » Cover P0rn: Tor UK shows off New Neal Asher, Col Buchanan and Mark Charan Newton // Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
[...] blurb for City of Ruin can be found on his blog. Categories: cover p0rn Tags: Mark Charan Newton, Tor [...]
5 Neil // Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
I’m one of the odd individuals who really liked Dartun, so I think there’s a good chance of me liking this Malum fellow.
6 edifanob // Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I would prefer name of author and title in the same style and colors as on Nights of Villjamur cover.
Good characters must not be likeable.
The readers of your blog know one more detail about the serial killer.
7 Mark C Newton // Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
edifanob – ah yes. Actually the prologue starts with the detail in question. If readers don’t know before they pick up the book, they will after a minute or two!
8 Don // Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I like this cover. Brynd is exactly as I imagined him.
However, I’ve got a question Mark. I seem to recall reading somewhere that each book about the empire would be a standalone story. Has this changed, or am I imagining that?
9 Mark C Newton // Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Hey Don. Well, hmm. Tough one. Yes they’re each (I hope) able to stand on their own without any knowledge of the others. But in my head they link together so you can see the final, big picture.
I think comparing them to Erikson’s strategy isn’t too far off. In the rewrites of this one, I’m trying to give it more of a series feel though.
Then again what I think and what readers think tend to be very different!
So glad you think this looks like Brynd. His role is pretty dominant in City of Ruin.
10 Alex Carnegie // Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 1:17 am
Marvellous, looking forward to getting stuck into book 2!
I like the artwork – seems half drawn, half photomanipulation. Reminds me a little of the work of Carl Beu (www.demonhand.com / http://www.demonhand.blogspot.com) whose art I’d love on my own covers if I ever get that far!
The muted shades set a nice grim tone (paradox unintended; you know what I mean) for what looks to be a much darker followup to Villjamur.
11 Alec // Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
You got me with the blurb even though its a draft. There is something about logistics that is so very appealing…
Also the hair reminds me of Sephiroth for anyone who ever played FF7.
Props Mark, can’t wait.
12 Neil // Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Alec: That’s who he reminds me of! I thought there was an anime look about him but couldn’t place it. Luckily it isn’t Cloud with his gravity defying hair gel.
13 Mark C Newton // Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Thanks, Alec. You know, the whole anime angle really grows on me. I think it’s interesting to see this on a book cover. I like such comparisons.
Next book I’ll make sure that we get a dude(ette) with gravity defying hair gel on the cover. I’ll write one in especially.
14 Neil // Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
An added touch for the dude(ette) would be to have him look like a girl but with a masculine voice or vice versa. A gunblade is a must also, unless they have them trademarked. Bladegun maybe?
15 Cover Art & Synopsis | City of Ruin by Mark Charan Newton | A Dribble of Ink // Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
[...] Charan Newton, author of Nights of Villjamur (REVIEW), has revealed the title, synopsis and cover art for the second volume in his Legend of the Red Sun [...]
16 Dave // Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Hey Mark, the blurb sounds amazing! I’m now seriously itching to read this! I have to say that the cover took me by surprise – I honestly thought it was a fan-cover and didn’t pay attention that much, and I’m a bit ambivalent about it, but I’m sure it’ll grow on me.
I can already tell, though, that City of Ruin is going to be much more intense than Villjamur! Can’t wait!
17 Mark C Newton’s City of Ruin and New Angry Robot Author-Announcement! « Davebrendon’s Fantasy & Sci-Fi Weblog // Thursday, September 10th, 2009 at 6:08 am
[...] C Newton’s City of Ruin and New Angry Robot Author-Announcement! Mark has unveiled the blurb and cover for his sequel (highly, highly anticipated!) to Nights of Villjamur – [...]
18 City of Ruin: Author Notes // Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
[...] RSS ← City of Ruin [...]
19 Night of Villjamur Interview Part One: Randur Estevu « Davebrendon’s Fantasy & Sci-Fi Weblog // Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
[...] once again to Mark for playing along. Don’t forget, the sequel to Nights of Villjamur, City of Ruin, has a blurb and a cover (that might just be growing on me, not sure [...]
20 paul // Saturday, September 19th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Nearly finished the first book and enjoying it!
Brynd is very similar physically to The Witcher?
21 Mark C Newton // Saturday, September 19th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Hey, Paul – thanks! I suspect there are some similarities, yeah. Although in my head Brynd is not so aggressive-looking, and more refined. A gentleman soldier.
22 Christopher Teague // Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Second mass-market book and already your name *above* the title…
Stunning artwork; I’m sure the words’ll be just has good.
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