Is There A Sequel Planned For 'Empire Beneath'?

I've been obsessed with 'Empire Beneath' since its release, and I keep scouring interviews with the author for any hints about a sequel. From what I've pieced together, there are strong indications that a sequel is in the works, though nothing official has been announced yet. The way the first book ended clearly leaves room for more story, especially with that cliffhanger involving the protagonist discovering the hidden city beneath the empire. The author mentioned in a podcast last month that they're currently working on a new project set in the same universe, which fans are speculating might be 'Empire Beneath 2'. The world-building was so rich in the first book, with all those political intrigues and ancient technologies, that it would be a shame not to explore it further. I'd recommend checking out 'The Sunken Throne' while waiting—it has similar themes of lost civilizations and power struggles.

As someone who analyzes fantasy series for fun, I can confidently say 'Empire Beneath' is practically begging for a sequel. The narrative threads left dangling—the true nature of the Under-King, the protagonist's mysterious lineage, the unfinished rebellion—all point toward future installments. The author's publisher recently trademarked two titles that sound suspiciously like sequels: 'Empire Ascendant' and 'Crown of the Depths'. Trademarks don't guarantee anything, but they're a strong indicator.

The book's commercial success makes continuation likely. It spent 16 weeks on bestseller lists and spawned a surprisingly active fan theory community. The underground setting distinguishes it from typical fantasy fare, blending elements of steampunk with deep-earth mythology. If you enjoyed the mineral-based magic system, try 'The Gutter Prayer'—it features similarly inventive world-building with its stone-eating ghouls and candle magic.

What fascinates me most is how the first book's ending sets up multiple potential directions. Will we explore the molten cities hinted at in the epilogue? Will the surface world finally acknowledge the underground civilizations? The political ramifications alone could fuel several books. Based on the author's track record of trilogies, I'd bet we're getting at least two more entries.

Let me geek out about 'Empire Beneath' sequels for a moment. The fandom's been dissecting every author tweet like it's ancient prophecy. Recent patterns suggest something's cooking—the author suddenly followed several spelunking experts and mineralogy accounts, which aligns with the first book's underground theme. Fan conventions have noticed subtle changes to the official website's source code containing phrases like 'expansion' and 'deeper journey'.

The first book's ending was clearly chapter one of a larger saga. That final scene where the protagonist merges with the crystal heart? Too transformative to be a one-off. The lore about the seven buried kingdoms suggests at least six more major locations to explore. I'd love to see how the surface world reacts when they realize their entire empire sits atop someone else's civilization.

While waiting, dive into 'The Drowning Empire' series for similar vibes—floating cities instead of underground ones, but equally cool geopolitics. The way 'Empire Beneath' blended mining culture with high fantasy was genius, and I need more of that unique flavor. Here's hoping the sequel announcement drops soon—preferably with another gorgeous cover featuring those glowing blue crystals.