Music

The following files show the songs from the playlists I listened to while writing:

(My apologies for the ugly formatting; those are .txt files exported directly from iTunes, cleaned up somewhat for legibility.)

I also commissioned musician, writer, and poet Yoon Ha Lee to compose a theme song for the Onyx Court. The song is free to share; just make sure to credit Yoon Ha Lee as the composer and artist, and my series as the inspiration.

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I have a long-standing habit of making soundtracks for my novels. The titles below are designed to minimize spoilers, but still, proceed at your own risk. A playlist of many of these tracks can be found on Spotify.

In Ashes Lie

  • In Ashes Lie — “Anakin’s Betrayal,” John Williams, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
  • Prologue: The Spark — “Plantation Pyre,” Elliot Goldenthal, Interview with the Vampire
    Part One

  • Sir Antony Ware — “Give Me Your Pardon Sir,” Patrick Doyle, Hamlet
  • The Queen of the Onyx Court — “One Mistress, No Master,” David Hirschfelder, Elizabeth
  • Ollamh Eochu Airt — “Shivna,” Bill Whelan, Riverdance
  • The House of Commons — “‘Now Lords, for France!’,” Patrick Doyle, Henry V
  • The Madman — “Tonight I Think I Die,” David Hirschfelder, Elizabeth
  • Cerenel’s Oath — “The Immolation Scene,” John Williams, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
  • On Tower Hill — “Smoke N’Oakum,” Christopher Gordon, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
  • The Lord of Shadows — “Conspiracy,” David Hirschfelder, Elizabeth
  • The King in Parliament — “The Three Traitors,” Patrick Doyle, Henry V
  • Sunday: The Battle for the River — “Chain,” Yoko Kanno, Escaflowne
    Part Two

  • In the Garden — “The Passing of the Elves,” Howard Shore, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring [Complete Soundtrack]
  • Inkstains — “The Woman with No Name,” Patrick Doyle, Dead Again
  • All Hallows’ Eve — “The Purifiers End,” Graeme Revell, The Chronicles of Riddick
  • Imbas Forosna — “Caislean Oir,” Clannad, Macalla
  • Pride’s Purge — “Martial Law,” Bear McCreary, Battlestar Galactica: Season Two
  • The High Court of Justice — “The King Is Dead,” Ennio Morricone, Hamlet
  • Regicide — “Birth of Twins & Padme’s Destiny,” John Williams, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith [selection]
  • Flight from King Street — “Armand Rescues Louis,” Elliot Goldenthal, Interview with the Vampire
  • Spider in the Hall — “Marylebone Workhouse,” Trevor Jones, From Hell
  • Monday: The Battle for the Stone — “The Battle,” Harry Gregson-Williams, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
    Part Three

  • The Vale of the White Horse — “A Window to the Past,” John Williams, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  • Beneath the Cathedral — “Main Titles,” James Horner, The Name of the Rose
  • The Sealed Knot — “The Promised Womb,” Dead Can Dance, Aion
  • New Weapons — “Mark I,” Ramin Djawadi, Iron Man [selection]
  • Rose in Shadow — “New Memories,” John Powell, The Bourne Supremacy
  • Night Ride — “The Story Continues,” Patrick Doyle, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  • The Rising of the Onyx Hall — “The Chess Game,” John Williams, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
  • Love and Friendship — “Goodnight, Sweet Prince,” Patrick Doyle, Hamlet
  • Restoration — “Camelot,” Jerry Goldsmith, First Knight
  • Tuesday: The Battle for St. Paul’s — “The Fire Dragon,” Jerry Goldsmith, The 13th Warrior
    Part Four

  • Dr. Jack Ellin — “The Stowaway,” Harry Gregson-Williams, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
  • The Iron Box — “Naming Names,” Joe LoDuca, Brotherhood of the Wolf
  • Faerie Law — “Aftermath,” David Hirschfelder, Elizabeth
  • Black London — “Portrait of John Doe,” Howard Shore, Seven
  • Final Hours — “Ofelia,” Javier Navarrete, Pan’s Labyrinth
  • The Luck of the Wares — “And Will ‘A Not Come Again,” Patrick Doyle, Hamlet
  • Prince of the Stone — “Persephone (The Gathering of Flowers),” Dead Can Dance, Within the Realm of a Dying Sun
  • The Gyre-Carling of Fife — “Overture (Rob Roy; The Rieving Party),” Carter Burwell, Celtic Moods [selection]
  • The Breath of the Cailleach Bheur — “Falkirk,” James Horner, Braveheart [selection]
  • Wednesday: The Battle for London — “The Abduction and the Final Battle at the Gallows,” Michael Kamen, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
  • Epilogue: The Phoenix — “We’re Jungle Creatures,” John Barry, The Lion in Winter

Selections:

From “Birth of Twins & Padme’s Destiny,” I used the later portion, with the somber chorus.

From “Mark I,” I used the opening segment, with the hammer-blows, cutting out the later and faster part.

From “Overture (Rob Roy; The Rieving Party),” I used the second half, with the female vocalist.

From “Falkirk,” I cut off about a minute and a half of the beginning — the quieter part.

I should note that, between this and the Midnight Never Come soundtrack, I’ve used a fair percentage of the songs from certain albums (such as Elizabeth or Henry V.) If you’re inclined to hear this music for yourself, you could cover a goodly portion of it by picking up a few key CDs.