Brandon Sanderson's expansive Cosmere universe, known for its intricate magic systems and interconnected narratives across series like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, is expanding with the upcoming release of "The Fires of December." This new standalone novel is part of the Hoid's Travails series, which offers an accessible entry point into the Cosmere, with previous installments including "Tress of the Emerald Sea" and "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter." The only recurring element linking these stories is the enigmatic trickster character, Hoid.
"The Fires of December" is slated for a digital release on October 6 and a physical release on December 6. The book was funded through a BackerKit campaign last year that generated $11 million. This release marks Sanderson's only Cosmere book for the year, as his focus shifts to adapting Mistborn into a film, co-writing the modern fantasy novel "Songs of the Dead," and continuing his YA sci-fi Cytoverse series with "Blightfall."
The narrative follows a young woman who awakens with a full lifetime of memories, driving her on a quest along a river of paint-like demon blood to warn the king of an impending plague. Tor has provided Polygon with an exclusive excerpt from Chapter 5, offering a glimpse into the protagonist's encounter with a unique demon.
An Unconventional Encounter
The excerpt opens with the protagonist, December, waking and initially mistaking her surroundings for her familiar mountain hut before realizing she is on a barge. Her journey takes her along a river described as being thicker than water, with swirling colors of yellow, red, and blue resembling paint. This unusual river is home to a demon that takes the form of a vibrantly colored shorthair cat, appearing as if made of wet paint with shifting patterns.
Despite the common teachings about demons being dangerous and flammable, December's encounter with this small, cat-like creature is met with curiosity rather than immediate fear. She learns from another passenger, Amaal, that such small demons are common in the capital, Kingseat, drawn by a dying entity known as the Megalith. Amaal, a spiritual advisor, notes that while demons can be dangerous and capable of consuming souls, they often appear in harmless forms to lure mortals. The excerpt highlights the unexpected beauty of the demon, contrasting with its potentially dangerous nature, as it eventually leaps into the river and vanishes.
This preview offers a taste of the unique world-building and character introductions that "The Fires of December" will bring to Sanderson's Cosmere, blending familiar elements with new and intriguing concepts.