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Martha Wells is releasing a Witch King sequel: Queen Demon is coming in 2025

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Martha Wells is releasing a Witch King sequel: Queen Demon is coming in 2025

As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for immersive fantasy tales and a soft spot for unconventional heroes, I can barely contain my excitement at the announcement of Martha Wells’ upcoming sequel to “Witch King,” titled “Queen Demon.” Having devoured “Witch King” last year, I was content to imagine that the story had reached its conclusion, but now I find myself eagerly anticipating the continuation of Kaiisteron’s journey.

Delightful update for fans of Martha Wells’ “Murderbot” series! Last year, Wells published a fantasy novel titled “Witch King,” centering around the demon Kaiisteron and his eccentric group of companions who work together to expose a plot that nearly cost Kaiisteron his life. The novel, “Witch King,” was self-contained, providing a complete story for Kai, Ziede, and their associates upon finishing the last page. I found “Witch King” captivating, and have been eagerly awaiting more content since then. However, as it was billed as a standalone, I had accepted that I might not get to explore this world further. But now, thanks to recent news, it seems there may be more adventures with these characters in the future!

Well, surprise, because this week Tor Books announced that Wells is releasing a sequel to Witch King! (Alright, technically the eagle-eyed Redditors at r/murderbot knew about it a month ago, but for many readers this is the first we’re hearing of the sequel.) Titled Queen Demon, the book will release in 2025, which is right around the corner!. We even have a cover for it, which you can see in the tweet below from Tor:

Since the image is rather compact, I’ve included a full-sized version of the “Queen Demon” cover to allow for a closer look and increased excitement.

Martha Wells is releasing a Witch King sequel: Queen Demon is coming in 2025

The cover is remarkably similar to that of “Witch King,” boasting a captivating design. Similar to the first book, “Queen Demon” showcases artwork by Cynthia Shepherd and design by Christine Foltzer. Additionally, the cover unveil provided some intriguing details about the upcoming book, only fueling my anticipation for its release.

From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes the remarkable sequel to the USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling novel, Witch King. A fantasy of epic scope, Queen Demon is a story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.

Dahin believes he has clues to the location of the Hierarchs’ Well, and the Witch King Kai, along with his companions Ziede and Tahren, knowing there’s something he isn’t telling them, travel with him to the rebuilt university of Ancartre, which may be dangerously close to finding the Well itself.

Can Kai stop the rise of a new Hierarch?

And can he trust his companions to do what’s right?

I won’t delve deeply into the summary of “Witch King,” to avoid spoilers, but the question, “Can he trust his companions to make the right decisions?” is thought-provoking. In “Witch King,” we come across Kai, who has amassed a group of found family, each an outcast in their own right, with hidden pasts. They’ve banded together for a shared purpose and have grown exceptionally close along the way. However, unlike traditional heroes, Kai is a demon, and his most trusted ally is Ziede, a witty witch. So, as they approach a perilous goal, the concept of their limits being tested seems promising with an air of mystery.

One question I have about Queen Demon is how it might influence the overall tone of the series. Since Witch King was described as a solo work, its narrative had a particular structure that didn’t prompt me to consider potential sequels. Given that Queen Demon appears to follow after it, I’m intrigued to know whether it will read like another standalone book or a traditional sequel that continues and builds upon the established storylines from earlier in the series.

You can expect the release of “Queen Demon” by Tor Books on July 8, 2025! Pre-orders are already being accepted.

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2024-10-11 21:43

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