I have just had word from DAW about Riven Shield:
THE RIVEN SHIELD will be put out for distribution Friday, so that should
start appearing at vendors in the next ten days or so.
As I’ve mentioned previously, DAW, while being distributed by one of the ‘Big Six’, is actually a small, privately owned publisher, with the attendant number of staff. Getting new books into production, catalogues, and stores eats up about 140% of their time, and the other 10% (because no one expects to work in publishing at less than 60 hours a week) is left for things like digitizing the backlist.
Hunter’s Oath and Hunter’s Death have started to appear as ebooks in the wild. Riven Shield should join them soon, followed by Broken Crown and then the rest of the series in order.
When I realized Riven Shield was no longer available, I asked (where asked is the euphemistic form for ‘begged, pleaded, whined, cried, demanded’) that it be the priority in the Sun Sword universe, and I’m happy to say that it was bumped up in the “omg we have no time” queue.
ETA: Riven Shield will be available in ebook format; I realized that I had not made this sufficiently clear. At the moment, there are no plans in the near future to reprint it =/
Michelle West & Michelle Sagara 
Feb 16, 2012 @ 17:54:36
Oh huzzah! It’s the one I’m missing. (Since I came to reading you late in the game, so to speak.)
Thank you so much, Michelle! And happy and productive writing to you. :)
Feb 16, 2012 @ 18:00:35
I have it, thanks to you. But I’m so very happy for so many others. I think the whole series is tops, but Riven Shield I believe is the best.
Feb 16, 2012 @ 18:21:30
Great!! Now when are the ebooks going to be available? [Wink]
Feb 16, 2012 @ 18:24:36
It’s important to know, also, that DAW only accepts and prints the very best. I am simply happy to have a steady stream of good books to read crafted by the best authors.
Feb 16, 2012 @ 21:50:53
Thanks to this blog and the commenters here I was able to get a printed copy, but thanks so much Michelle for pushing this!
Feb 16, 2012 @ 22:16:17
Yay! I’m so glad because I was having a horrible time trying to find it. This is a great relief and I’m so anxious and excited about starting the series and will be able to read all in a row without a huge wait. I’ve held off until I knew i would be able to get all of them. Thanks so much!!
Feb 16, 2012 @ 22:16:23
By the way, _Hunter’s Death_ and _Hunter’s Oath_ are available in the Nook store and the Kindle store.
Feb 17, 2012 @ 10:03:14
AWESOME!! Just went to B&N and purchased Hunter’s Oath and Hunter’s Death. Eagerly awaiting the rest of the eb0ok releases. Yeah!!
Feb 17, 2012 @ 14:28:59
I was introduced to Michelle the Elantra series. Having read them all a few times, I decided to try the House War series. WOW! I get to Skirmish and then learn I should read the Sun Sword series. I lucked out, there’s a little second hand bookstore on the Lakeshore at 5th street in New Toronto. All second hand books, floor to ceiling and they had the whole series!!!!!! As an added bonus, they also had the Sacred Hunt Duology! I’ll have to go back to see if they’ve the Sundered Series. I am so looking forward to the hours of sheer enjoyment ahead of me! Thanks Michelle.
Feb 17, 2012 @ 16:08:26
Yes, Sacred Hunt Duology overlaps The Sun Sword which begins the House War and come to think of it, read the available short stories as well. While not all of them are directly connected if memory serves, at least 4 of them are and they are all good. Enjoy!
Feb 17, 2012 @ 16:44:07
Yes, you should read the short stories. Fortuitouslly, I read The Warlord before beginning The Shining Court, otherwise it would have been extremely confusing and hard to accept an unfettered Avander.
I also plan to read the Black Ospreys- read it in Women of War, but can’t recall the story. Think it was rather grim- before I go further with The Shining Court
Yea for Riven Shield availability. I may stop payment on my order of the Riven Sheild bec I think they lied when they said they had it. It’s been 3 weeks! Boo on Books-A- ______
Feb 17, 2012 @ 22:37:08
I agree. I would definitely recommend reading The Warlord. It really sheds a lot of light on Avandar and why/how he ended up with Jewel and her den. The House Name only gives you a little insight but the short story really puts things into perspective. I fully recommend reading that story before reading The Riven Shield.
Feb 17, 2012 @ 22:59:29
Yes, yes, yes! I’m in the middle of book 3, and I read fast so was expecting to need Riven Shield by the end of the long weekend. I was hoping I’d be able to find it in a local library, but an ebook will be great. I may just have to take a short break and read Hunter’s Oath and Hunter’s Death while waiting for it.
Feb 20, 2012 @ 18:33:00
Going to buy all the ebooks and download them in time for my hols in May. I read every single one of your books Michelle from the very beginning. Strange really because I live in Manchester, in the UK. However, Waterstones on Deansgate used to be the best book shop that I had ever been in and had the Hunter books and the follow ons from the date of publication in the US. With Skirmish however heaven alone knows what happened. I had to buy the hardback from the US and still cannot buy the ebook.
I have loved every single minute. Carry on writing and imagining please.
Mar 04, 2012 @ 15:10:51
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I have been begging B&N to beg the publisher to put the entire Sun Sword series into ebook format so I can read them, but I wasn’t aware that the knowledge within would affect the House series. Now I feel like I should wait to read the entire Sun Sword series before attempting to read Skirmish. What do you suggest?
Mar 15, 2012 @ 15:21:52
Skirmish picks up right where Jewel’s thread cuts of in The Sun Sword (last book in the Sun Sword series). You can get a gist of the events that lead up to Skirmish by reading the plot summaries that Michelle has written, but you’ll miss out on a few important elements:
1. Evolution of Jewel and Avandar’s relationship
2. The introduction of the “new” members of Jewel’s den
3. Tons of ancient lore about the Kialli, Firstborn, Gods, Wild Elements, Evayne, and mortals
4. Diora, Margaret, Kiriel, Teresa, Yollana, etc. – some of the best realized female characters that I’ve ever seen in fiction
5. The realization that the plot in Hunter’s Death/first House trilogy was *nothing* compared to the instigation, evolution, and climax of the war in the South
6. Isladar – ’nuff said
At the end of House Name, we had a bit of a denouement. While satisfying in its own right, you you’ll be missing the sense of urgency building from the Sun Sword.
Mar 15, 2012 @ 21:15:56
All good points…I would add:
7. A really good understanding of the lands to the south, clansman vs. Voyani, the Radann, the Sword of Knowledge, etc.
Ahh, Isladar. I wish you had your own book.
Mar 14, 2012 @ 14:20:12
Is it possible to get audio versions of the Elantra books for Nook users? I have the ebooks, but would like the audio books. Maybe I’m not asking the right questions, but they don’t seem to be available. Thanks for any help.
Bette
Mar 14, 2012 @ 17:36:42
Audible has audiobook versions of the Elantran books, is that what you’re looking for? I have no idea if they’re compatible with the Nook.
Mar 14, 2012 @ 14:32:11
Well I finally found an actual copy of The Riven Shield. So happy! And it didn’t cost me my soul :D Can’t wait to finish this quarter of school so I will have some more reading time. Thanks for keeping us all updated.
Mar 15, 2013 @ 19:07:05
Michelle Sagara’s ; Chronicles of Elentra has such Punch! Her books were new to me, and i was hooked from the first one I read. I could not stand to put it down I was so into reading it.
I would love some advice from Michelle and all you readers. Which books and series should I start with? I do not want to miss anything.
Michelle you are such a talented writer. I do not have the words to express how your books makes me feel..They take me outside of myself and into the realm of the book. I could go on and on, however, there is not enough room on here I am sure.
All advice and help would be much appriciated. Please help. leekastick@cfl.rr.com