Via Lactea is doing something no English publisher of danmei has ever done.
The publisher previously announced in February that it would debut Gu Xue Rou’s (the other pen name for Fei Tian Ye Xiang who has written To Rule in a Turbulent World, Joyful Reunion, and Legend of Exorcism) latest work first in English before the Chinese serialization–an unprecedented move as it’s usually the other way around. Although Gu Xue Rou will write the chapter in Chinese, Via Lactea’s project team, which consists of translators Sina and Viv, and editor Pengie, will release it on their Patreon in English first. The author will also reply to some comments on chapter posts and interact with readers. Three chapters are now available as of this article’s publishing, and the first volume is titled “So Close, Yet So Far.”
According to Via Lactea, if this approach works well, they will be “able to bring more authors and do the same in the future.” Eternal Gate will later on be available for a physical print release although it likely will have to happen after the translation is completed.
The tagline is: “His love had been built upon a foundation of lies.” In tiny print letters around the border of the cover reads:
His love had been built upon a foundation of lies. Zion was his god’s most devout servant, yet his pious heart was set ablaze by a slave named Tetsu. An ardent passion flared in secret under the very eyes of the divine. However, reality ruthlessly rent this false life asunder. As the flames of war sparked to life, Tetsu showed his true allegiance and pointed his blade at the very god Zion believed in.
The Patreon page does post a more detailed description, published on June 21:
Previously, Via Lactea had indicated the chapters would be available on Wattpad but has since moved to Patreon. New chapters will be released every Tuesday and Friday at 10 AM EST on Patreon.
Source: Via Lactea
