The Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen Novel.
Alright, this is it, the big project I mentioned in my update post.
This is a project that I have been working on for a very long time. As of today, well over 4 years from the original concept start date, starting even before Crystal Dynamics got the rights to this IP. This is a rewrite and update of the first Legacy of Kain game in its entirety, incorporating in 90% of the original script (leaving out certain dialogue such as Kain screaming Vae Victus every five seconds, or unnecessary gameplay information only) and following all aspects of the original game.
It was my goal to make as faithful of a remake as possible, drawing inspiration from the notes of Amy Henning, and delving deep into the original source material and lore of the series. The only changes I made were to add to the story instead of taking anything away. Originally, this was just a writing exercise; however, it has grown into probably the most ambitious project I've ever done.
As it stands right now, this book is in the ballpark of 200k words, 412 pages in its second draft before the final edit, and went through a public beta reading phase where it received 764 readers, all giving helpful advice and leaving critically acclaimed reviews. (To which, I am highly thankful for and humbled by.)
Because this book is under copyright license, along with all Legacy of Kain material, I cannot, and will not publish it... That is, unless I get proper permission to do so.
I have contacted the Crystal Dynamics legal team directly, and although they cannot give out individual permissions for publishing (which is completely understandable, the legal side of things like this is a nightmare) they DID encourage me to find a publisher who can get the rights. And so, I reached out to BitBot Media.
I was able to get in contact with them, and they have taken an interest. However; they informed me that for something like this to be published, it could take until all the way in 2028. I have not gotten a "yes" or "no" at this stage, only a promise that they will review the draft of the novel. Unfortunately, I have no more information.
So what does this mean?
Basically, this means that the novel is in a holding phase at this moment. I can't publish, I can't reveal, all I can do is wait patiently to see what the response will be. I know this sucks, but things such as this can take a very long time.
Although, I will say this: IF I get a "no" then I will publish this book under the policies of Crystal Dynamics use for fan related content, and it will be free to read. Unfortunately this means no physical copies, and very little accessibility for the people who do want this.
I want this to be for everyone, but either way, the book will exist in some form.
What can you do?
On the technical side of things; not a lot. This project has been made by me, by myself, and I have to keep seeing this through. I can handle it, it's the waiting that's the hardest part.
However, what you can do, if you would like to help, is spread the news. Tell people about this, share it to other social media, comment, like it on the platform. I know it gets annoying when creators say that all the time, but the truth is it's the only way to get things like this noticed on an algorithm that caters to popularity. And, by that same token, the more people are talking about it, the more likely that Crystal Dynamics will be willing to see this manuscript. If there's people behind a project willing to back it once it's out, then the big companies will be more willing to release it.
I want to say thank you to everyone here, and everyone who has followed this project from day one. You guys have really encouraged me to keep going, and I will keep doing my best to make this project happen.
Now, let's see if we can make this book a reality and get a green light. It's a shot in the dark, but with your help, I may not be reaching for the stars alone.
