The Stormdancer map I illustrated for Tormenta, the Spanish edition of Stormdancer, the first book of Jay Kristoff’s acclaimed Lotus War series, is one of the projects that has given me the most satisfaction. The series stands out for its intricate mix of fantasy and steampunk, and Stormdancer has become one of my favourite reads in the genre.
Stormdancer map
Illustrating a map for a steampunk fantasy novel
When the publisher asked me to create the map, they described the book as a novel set in a “steampunk feudal Japan”. That description fired my imagination straight away. A steampunk setting in feudal Japan, full of mythological creatures and social unrest, was all I needed to dive into the project with enthusiasm.
What Patrick Rothfuss said
Patrick Rothfuss famously summed up the appeal of the book in a blurb: once he heard “Japanese steampunk”, along with mythological creatures, civil unrest and a strong heroine, he did not need to hear anything else. I felt exactly the same.
From base map to finished Stormdancer map
The first step was in-depth research into Japan, steampunk aesthetics and my own illustration preferences. The publisher provided a base map that at first looked fairly simple and functional, along with a list of translated place names and four symbols I had to redraw in more detail. From that base, my job was to enrich the map with detailed, decorative illustration that captured the essence of the novel.
The Stormdancer map required not only technical skill but also a deep understanding of the world described in the book. The design process included visual elements that reflect the steampunk atmosphere and the unique feel of the Shima Imperium, a land transformed by machines powered by the smoke of the blood lotus.
I think the final result works well, but you can judge for yourselves. Even the author himself shared it:
Awesome map of Shima for the Spanish Edition of STORMDANCER by Pablo Uria Diez. http://t.co/xZ6lNnsOi8. http://t.co/KypOOHlcpq
— Jay Kristoff (@misterkristoff) October 6, 2013
Synopsis of Stormdancer
A dying land. The Shima Imperium, an island nation, was once a fertile land, cradle of centuries-old traditions and myths. Now its skies are red and its earth is poisoned by machines that run on the smoke of the blood lotus.
An impossible request. The hunters of the Shima imperial court are ordered to capture a thunder tiger, a mythological creature that is half eagle, half tiger. But thunder tigers have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the emperor is death.
A secret talent. Yukiko, a young woman of the Fox clan, has a gift that could get her executed if discovered. When the thunder tiger crosses her path and she learns how to use it, she will challenge an entire empire and change the fate of its people forever.
Why the Lotus War needed a map
Stormdancer moves between islands, cities, mountains and polluted wastelands, and much of its tension comes from the contrast between the poisoned heart of the empire and the wild places that remain. The Stormdancer map helps readers follow Yukiko’s journey and understand the geography of a nation consumed by its own industry. You can read more about what makes a good book map in my guide What is an illustrated map.
The novels of the series are published in Spanish by Editorial Hidra.
Do you need an editorial illustration for your project?
If you are working on a novel and need an editorial illustration for your book, whether a cover or a map, feel free to get in touch. I also create children’s and young adult illustrations for all kinds of projects. See other maps such as The Witcher map or the Shadowmarch maps, visit my map illustration page, or contact me here to start working together on an illustration that brings your story to life.
