The Shield of Daqan Hints at a New Descent: Journeys in the Dark

I first wrote about Aconyte, the fiction imprint for Asmodee Entertainment, in April 2019, with a follow-up post in December 2019 that highlighted the brand's publication schedule starting in May 2020.

As with so many things in 2020, that schedule has been modified due to current events, which means that, for example, the July 2020 release date for Robbie MacNiven's novel Descent – Journeys in the Dark: The Doom of Fallowhearth has been changed to October 6, 2020.

Aconyte has been continuing to prepare work for publication in addition to announcing new titles, such as The Shield of Daqan: A Descent: Journeys in the Dark Novel paperback from David Guymer that bears a publication date of February 2, 2021. What might grab game fans about this novel, however, is this emboldened phrase from the book description:

Quote:

Mighty warriors fight to save the realm from blood magic and evil, in this battle-soaked epic fantasy novel, introducing the brand new edition of the hugely popular game, Descent: Legends of the Dark.

The once-glorious Barony of Kell is a ruin of its former self, assailed by banditry and famine; its noble Baron Frederick caught between saving his people and defending his borders. Yet worse is to come… for a Dark tide is rising. Sadistic warrior-priestess, Ne'Krul, spying an opportunity to wreak magical mayhem on behalf of her demonic masters, leads her Uthuk warband into a brutal invasion. Kell's only hope lies in holy warrior, Andira Runehand, and legendary hero, Trenloe the Strong, both drawn to Kell to defeat an alliance of evil unprecedented in Terrinoth. They must not fail.

The second edition of Descent: Journeys in the Dark was released in 2012, seven years after the game's first appearance in 2005, so 2021 wouldn't be out of line for a third edition of the game. I've asked game publisher Fantasy Flight Games about this information and will update this post if I receive a response.

(HT: Ian Short for bringing this to my attention)

Board Game: Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)

Time for a replacement?

Update: Almost immediately after I posted this item, I reloaded the Amazon.com listing for this novel to discover that the description has changed:

But the Amazon.co.uk listing for the novel still features this teaser description — at least for now:

Update, July 13: In response to my question — "The description of The Shield of Daqan suggests that a new edition of Descent: Journeys in the Dark is in the works. Can you confirm that this is happening?" — Aconyte's Anjuli Smith responded:

Quote:

Sorry, no idea. Our Descent novels are set in the world of the current edition, Descent: Journeys in the Dark — and very good they are too. Do let me know if you'd like more information about our fiction.