Sightwitch (The Witchlands 0.5)

I also learned about choice. Eridsyi had never been gifted with Sight, so she had made her own—just as I had done in the tomb and just as I was doing now.

You’ll understand once you’re Summoned? Well, I’d Summoned myself, and now I did understand: paths do not come to you. You have to find them for yourself, and sometimes, you have to carve new ones entirely.

That knowledge alone has given me power indeed.

Twisting my neck, I tossed a final glance to a tiny flicker of blue high atop the end of a hidden bridge.

This wasn’t forever. I would be back for Tanzi and Hilga and the rest of my Thread-family. I would be back when magic was healed and Sirmaya was no longer dying.

“I love you, Lazy Bug,” I said. Then I pivoted back to the door.

It was time. I was ready, and before another drop of quicksilver could fall, I steeled my spine and walked out of the Convent, out of the mountain, and into my new life.

I was the last Sightwitch Sister, and I had work to do.





Tanzi Lamanaya

Y17 D319



Threadsisters





THE SLEEPING GIANT




Rtes dol Sirmaya

The Weapon of the Giant that Cradles Us When We Sleep

A recent excavation at an early Marstoki fortress in the Sirmayan Mountains revealed a shrine beneath the pri-mary structure. Inside and perfectly intact was a relief of the Sleeping Giant constellation with the words Rtes dol Sirmaya underneath. Sirmaya, a deity worshipped by the earliest humans to inhabit the Witchlands, roughly translates into “The Giant That Cradles Us When We Sleep,” while Rtes dol means “the weapon of.”

Overtop the stars were remnants of painted lines, mostly eroded by the ebb of time, a bow-like shape made across the constellation as well as across six adjacent stars.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


For the Witchlanders: you all continue to be the reason I write this series. I think of you every time I hit a sticky spot. “What would the Witchlanders want? What would they think?” So thank you for being my muse, my audience, and my friends.

Thank you to Rhys Davies and Heather Saunders for the amazing design and illustrations. You two were so patient, so attentive to detail, and so incredible at bringing the world of Sightwitch to life. Thank you, thank you.

Huge thanks to my wifey extraordinaire, Rachel Hansen. The Witchlands wouldn’t be the Witchlands without your input, ideas, and constant calm in the face of my endless panic. Tu me manques.

To Melody Simpson and Sam Smith: I owe you eternal gratitude. Your feedback on Sightwitch was not only invaluable for the story, but it gave me, personally, a new lens through which to view the world.

Thank you to Melissa Lee and Cait Listro, whose cheerleading and critiques took this story (and my bruised ego) up a level. You each have a special spot in the Witchlands (pick a kingdom, any kingdom!).

Alex Bracken, Erin Bowman, Victoria Aveyard, Leigh Bardugo: I rely on you ladies so much. From real talk to craft talk, from venting to celebrating, you’ve been there for me. Thank you.

To Sébastien: I have no words to express my appreciation. Without you, I simply could not write books. You’re my best friend, my Heart-Thread, and my ever-willing partner in hilarious hijinks. Je t’aime.

Eternal thanks must go to Joanna Volpe, Devin Ross, and Hilary Pecheone, who have held my hand this past year … and every year. The whole New Leaf Literary gang has given me more support and love than I ever deserved. Thank you.

The same goes to my incredible team at Tor Teen: Alexis Saarela, Amy Stapp, Patty Garcia, Kathleen Doherty, Zohra Ashpari, Tom Doherty, Jim Kapp, Elizabeth Curione, Rafal Gibek, Cynthia Merman, Seth Lerner, Scott Grimando, Lucille Rettino, Theresa Delucci, Sumiya Nowshin, Rebecca Yaeger, Lauren Brantley, Megan Barnard, Alex Cameron, Jeremy Pink, and Megan Kiddoo. Thank you all so very much for all your hard work.

Last but never least, thank you to Whitney Ross. Advocate, editor, friend. I owe everything in this series to you and all you do behind the scenes. I am so, so glad the Witchlands brought us together, and here’s to many more years of this awesome partnership.