Author Archive

Acquisition Announcement: SORCERY AND SMALL MAGICS by Maiga Doocy

Maiga Doocy
Photo Credit: Dustin Yager

Orbit is delighted to announce that we’ve acquired Sorcery and Small Magics by debut author Maiga Doocy, the first in an enchanting cozy fantasy trilogy filled with troublesome curses, dangerous journeys, and an immensely charming slow burn rivals-to-lovers (queer!) romance that’s sure to melt even the coldest of hearts. This is the perfect read for fans of romantasy like A Marvellous Light and Legends and Lattes.

Desperate to undo the curse binding them to each other, an impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival venture deep into a magical forest in search of a counterspell—only to discover that magic might not be the only thing pulling them together. 

Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics.

He can summon butterflies with a song, or turn someone’s hair pink by snapping his fingers. Such minor charms don’t earn him much admiration from other sorcerers (or his father), but anything more elaborate always blows up in his face. Which is why Leo vowed years ago to never again write powerful magic.

That is, until a mix-up involving a forbidden spell binds Leo to obey the commands of his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is Leo’s complete opposite—respected, exceptionally talented, and an absolutely insufferable curmudgeon. The only thing they agree on is that getting caught using forbidden magic would mean the end of their careers. They need a counterspell, and fast. But Grimm casts spells, he doesn’t undo them, and Leo doesn’t mess with powerful magic.

Chasing rumors of a powerful sorcerer with a knack for undoing curses, Leo and Grimm enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws alike. To dissolve the curse, they’ll have to uncover the true depths of Leo’s magic, set aside their long-standing rivalry, and—much to their horror—work together.

Even as an odd spark of attraction flares between them.

We’re ecstatic to share Sorcery and Small Magics with readers in 2024! Please join us in welcoming Maiga to the Orbit list! She can be found on Instagram @maigadoocy and at www.maigadoocy.com.

 Orbit US executive editor Brit Hvide acquired World rights from Allegra Martschenko at Ladderbird Literary. Senior commissioning editor Emily Byron has acquired UK rights for Orbit UK.

Acquisition Announcement: THE KNIGHT AND THE MOTH by Rachel Gillig

Rachel Gillig

Rachel Gillig took the fantasy world by storm with her gorgeous, glittering dark gem of a debut: One Dark Window. So, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that we’ll be publishing not one, not two, but three new books from her! First up is a brand new duology starting with The Knight and the Moth—a romantic, twisting fantasy tale of entwined fates and dark omens.

 

Sybil Delling has spent nine years dreaming of having no dreams at all. Like the other foundling girls who traded a decade of service for a home in the great cathedral, Sybil is a Diviner. She sleeps, and dreams of seven unearthly figures known as Omens. From them, she can predict terrible things before they occur, and lords and common folk alike travel across the kingdom of Traum’s windswept moors to learn their futures by her dreams.

But just as she and her sister Diviners near the end of their service, a mysterious knight arrives at the cathedral, and Sybil dreams of a moth—the death Omen. Then, one by one, the Diviners begin to vanish.

To find them, Sybil enlists the knight’s help. But the world outside the cathedral’s cloister is wrought with peril. The seven Omens are not merely figures that visit her wakeless mind—they are real. Ancient, sorcerous, and cunning, Sybil must face each of them to recover the lost Diviners. And the knight, with whom she has become inextricably entangled, may be one of them.

 

Following that we’ll be publishing Rachel’s very first fantasy rom-com! A warm, whimsical tale of a woman cursed with bad luck who strikes up a deal with a trickster from an enchanted realm—Bad Luck incarnate himself!

Keep an eye out for The Knight and the Moth in Spring 2025, but in the meantime, read One Dark Window (US | UK) and make sure to pre-order the sequel Two Twisted Crowns (US | UK). Or visit Rachel Gillig at her website.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Praise for The Shepherd King duology:

“Thick fog, shifting alliances, and clever magic make the perfect backdrop for a sweeping romance—One Dark Window is enthralling from beginning to shocking end.” —Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf

“One Dark Window is an evocative tale of romance, mystery and alluring monsters, told in beautifully lush prose. Rachel Gillig has created a story which left me entranced.” —Lyndall Clipstone, author of Lakesedge

“[T]he steamy romance that emerges between Elspeth and Ravyn delights. Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Naomi Novak, and Hannah Whitten will want to check this out.” —Publishers Weekly

“An enchanting tale with sharp claws and teeth—Gillig’s prose will pull you in and won’t let you sleep. Pulse-pounding, darkly whimsical, and aglow with treacherous magic, One Dark Window is everything I love in fantasy and more.” —Allison Saft, author of A Far Wilder Magic

“A beautifully dark fairy tale of blood, rage and bitter choice, that whisked me away to mist-wreathed woods ripe with romance and menace.” —Davinia Evans, author of Notorious Sorcerer

“A finely detailed magical system enriches Gillig’s debut; fantasy readers will enjoy.” —Library Journal

“Readers will be enthralled with Elspeth’s—and Nightmare’s—riveting adventure.” —Booklist

Acquisition Announcement: THE HONEY WITCH by Sydney J. Shields

Sydney Shields
Photo Credit: Will F. H. Jones

Warm, sun-dappled queer love stories, masquerade balls, and folk magic, you say? A story about a honey witch cursed never to fall in love? To that, we say yes! A million times yes!

When we first heard this pitch on TikTok we knew immediately that we had to read the manuscript, and it was everything we’d dreamed of and more. Redhook is thrilled to have bought The Honey Witch, Sydney J. Shields’s debut novel about a honey witch cursed never to find love and the woman who she’ll risk anything to save. For fans of Practical Magic and Bridgerton we’re so excited for this book to sweep you off your feet in Summer 2024.

 

Twenty-one-year-old Marigold Claude is entering another season without any intentions of accepting a proposal. When her eccentric grandmother Althea visits and finally provides an explanation for Marigold’s strange magical abilities, they return to the Lake Isle of Innisfree where she begins training as a Honey Witch—an apothecary and alchemist who uses her magical connection with the bees to create enchanted honey for her spells. While this lovely power leaves her especially adept at helping others find love, it also comes with an ancient curse that none have been able to break: no one can fall in love with the Honey Witch.

When Lottie Burke, a notorious grumpy skeptic who doesn’t believe in magic, accompanies her best friend to the cottage for a love spell, Marigold can’t resist the challenge to prove to her that magic is real. She invites Lottie and her best friend, August Owens, to stay with her for the summer to prove her abilities, but Marigold begins to care for Lottie in a way she never expected. She longs to break the curse and escape her lonely fate, but when darker magic awakens and threatens to destroy her home, she must fight for much more than her freedom—at the risk of losing her magic and her heart.

 

While you wait, feel free to reach out and say “hi” to Sydney at her website, on Instagram @sydneyjshields, or on TikTok @sydneyjshields.

Acquisition Announcement: THE FALSE GODDESS TRILOGY by Amy Leow

Amy Leow
Photo Credit: Alina Lee

Orbit is thrilled to announce we’ve acquired The False Goddess Trilogy, an explosive new political epic fantasy by debut author Amy Leow. Perfect for fans of The Bone Shard Daughter and The Jasmine Throne, this dark, heart-thumping tale follows a young “living goddess” sitting on the throne who hides a deadly secret—she doesn’t channel a goddess, but a demon—and she’ll do anything to hold onto her power. Full of scheming demons, cut-throat priests, and morally gray heroines, this delicious tale of power and corruption will captivate from beginning to end.

 

Binsa is a vessel for a goddess who dispenses both mercy and punishment within the city of Bakhtin. However, her reign is marred by a dangerous secret—rather than the immortal deity she claims to carry, she actually holds a demon.

 Were the truth to come out, she’d be killed by the very people she rules.

Following a prolonged drought, Binsa’s sanctity as the goddess’s vessel comes into question and a new girl, Medha, is selected to take over her position. But Binsa refuses to succumb to the sad fate of the vessels who came before her. She refuses to be discarded and forgotten.

Her demon, with agendas of his own, proposes a deal. She will sacrifice human lives in exchange for his ability to read minds and control nature. Now, she has the opportunity to fulfill her thirst for power.

But how much of her humanity is she willing to give for her throne?

 

We can’t wait to share The False Goddess Trilogy with you in Summer 2024! In the meantime, please join us in welcoming Amy to Orbit. You can find her on Twitter @LeowAmy and at her website.

Orbit US executive editor Brit Hvide acquired World English rights from Alice Sutherland-Hawes at ASH Literary. Editorial director Jenni Hill has acquired UK rights.

Acquisition Announcement: THESE DEATHLESS SHORES by P. H. Low

All children, except one, grow up. But what happens when you leave Neverland behind?

Orbit is delighted to announce we’ve acquired a gorgeous, devastating Peter Pan-inspired fantasy from debut author P. H. Low! These Deathless Shores is a richly imagined, gender-bent retelling of Captain Hook’s origin story set in a world reminiscent of Southeast Asia, perfect for fans of Jade City and dark fairytales. In this propulsive and twisty debut, the Lost Boys are all grown up, and they want revenge.

 

Jordan was once a Lost Boy, convinced she would never grow up. Now, she’s twenty-two and exiled to the real world, still suffering withdrawal from the addictive magic Dust of her childhood. With nothing left to lose, Jordan returns to the Island and its stories—of pirates and war and the cruelty of youth—intent on facing Peter one last time, on her own terms.

If that makes her the villain… so be it.

 

These Deathless Shores will be landing on bookshelves in 2024. Meanwhile, say hi to P. H. on Twitter @_lowpH and Instagram @_lowph. Find out more on their website.

Orbit US executive editor Brit Hvide acquired North American rights from Savannah Brooks at KT Literary.

Acquisition Announcement: SHIELD MAIDEN by Sharon Emmerichs

Sharon EmmerichsHere at Orbit we love sword-wielding warrior women, slow burn romances, powerful dragons, and epic, feminist myth retellings. What if we told you we just bought a book that has all four? Orbit is thrilled to announce that we’ll be publishing Shield Maiden by Sharon Emmerichs in the US. Get ready for a lush, epic fantasy tale about a young woman reclaiming her power that will upend everything you think you know about Beowulf.

 

Fryda has grown up hearing tales of her uncle, King Beowulf, and his spectacular defeat of the monstrous Grendel. Her one desire is to become a shield maiden in her own right, but a terrible accident during her childhood has thwarted this dream. Yet still, somehow, she feels an uncontrollable power begin to rise within herself.

The last thing Fryda wants is to be forced into a political marriage, especially as her heart belongs to her lifelong friend, Theow. However, as foreign kings and chieftains descend upon her home to celebrate Beowulf’s fifty years as the king of Geatland, the partnership begins to seem inevitable.

That is, until, amidst the lavish gifts and drunken revelry, a discovery is made that threatens the safety of Fryda’s entire clan—and her own life. Incensed by this betrayal, Fryda resolves to fight for her people no matter the cost. As a queen should. As a shield maiden would.

And as the perilous situation worsens, Fryda’s powers seem only to grow stronger. But she is not the only one to feel the effects of her new-found battle-magic. For, buried deep in her gilded lair, a dragon is drawn to Fryda’s untamed power, and is slowly awakening from a long, cursed sleep…

 

Get excited for the book to publish in Fall 2023, and in the meantime, make sure to say hello to the author Sharon Emmerichs on Twitter @Dragonwriter1, on Facebook, or on her website.

Acquisition Announcement: Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Orbit is thrilled to announce our acquisition of Children of Memory (US), the unmissable follow-up to the highly acclaimed Children of Time and Children of Ruin, by Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky. In this modern classic of space opera, humanity continues to battle for survival in the stars.Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Earth failed. In a desperate bid to escape, the spaceship Enkidu carried its precious human cargo to a potential new paradise. Generations later, this fragile colony has managed to survive, eking out a hardy existence. Yet life is tough, and much technological knowledge has been lost.

 Then strangers appear. They possess unparalleled knowledge and thrilling technology—and they’ve arrived from another world—to help humanity’s colonies. But not all is as it seems, and the price of the strangers’ help may be the colony itself.

 

Children of Memory (US) will be on shelves in January 2023. While you wait, check out Children of Time and Children of Ruin. And if you want more Adrian Tchaikovsky, look no further than his new space opera trilogy, The Final Architecture—Shards of Earth and Eyes of the Void available now.

Children of Time by Adrian TchaikovskyChildren of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Shards of Earth by Adrian TchaikovskyEyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Praise for Adrian Tchaikovsky:

“Brilliant science fiction and far-out worldbuilding.” —James McAvoy on Children of Time

“One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction.” —Christopher Paolini

“A novel of sublime plot twists and spectacular set pieces, all underpinned by great ideas.” —Stephen Baxter on Children of Ruin

“Children of Time is a joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising, and unexpectedly human.” —Patrick Ness

 

*Children of Memory is published by Pan Macmillan in the UK.

Acquisition Announcement: The Devoured Worlds Trilogy by Megan E. O’Keefe

Megan E. O'Keefe (Photo Credit: Joey Hewitt)
Photo: Joey Hewitt

Known for her bold plot twists, break-neck pacing, and heart-breaking characters, Megan E. O’Keefe is an incredible and undeniable new voice in space opera! Orbit is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Megan E. O’Keefe’s next big thing: a glorious new space opera trilogy that follows two enemies stranded on a dead planet. If you love wide-screen epics about secret identities, space empires and their revolutionaries, alien intelligences, and forbidden love, then The Devoured Worlds trilogy is for you.

When a spy is stranded on a dead planet with her mortal enemy, she must first figure out how to survive before she can uncover the conspiracy that landed them both there in the first place.

She’s a revolutionary. Humanity is running out of options. Habitable planets are being destroyed as quickly as they’re found and Naira Sharp knows the reason why. The all-powerful Mercator family has been controlling the exploration of the universe for decades, and exploiting any materials they find along the way under the guise of helping humanity’s expansion. But Naira knows the truth, and she plans to bring the whole family down from the inside.

He’s the heir to the dynasty. Tarquin Mercator never wanted to run a galaxy-spanning business empire. He just wanted to study rocks and read books. But Tarquin’s father has tasked him with monitoring the mining of a new planet, and he doesn’t really have a choice in the matter.

Disguised as Tarquin’s new bodyguard, Naira plans to destroy his ship before it lands. But neither of them expects to end up stranded on a dead planet.  To survive and keep her secret, Naira will have to join forces with the man she’s sworn to hate. And together they will uncover a plot that’s bigger than both of them.

Make sure to snag the first book The Blighted Stars (US | UK) when it publishes in May 2023! And, in the meantime, say hi to the author on Twitter @MeganEOKeefe, and check out her phenomenal debut space opera series The Protectorate Trilogy!

Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O'Keefe Chaos Vector by Megan E. O'Keefe Catalyst Gate by Megan E. O'Keefe The First Omega by Megan E. O'Keefe

Acquisition Announcement: The Whisper Between Worlds by Amanda Foody

Amanda Foody
Photo: Diane Brophy Photography

Orbit US is thrilled to announce that it has just acquired New York Times bestselling author Amanda Foody’s adult fantasy debut! Warm, rich, and wonderful, this portal fantasy trilogy is for fans of TJ Klune and Alix Harrow. In The Whisper Between Worlds, a magical lighthouse stands at the edge of the worlds, guiding voyagers and maintaining the balance of the universe. But when the Lighthouse Master vanishes, his young, inexperienced assistant must find out what happens before the worlds begin to fail. Read on to find out more about this gorgeous novel, make sure to follow Amanda on Instagram @amandafoody, and get excited for Amanda’s novel to come in Summer 2024!

 

A lighthouse stands at the edge of the worlds, guiding voyagers between them and maintaining the balance of the universe. When the Lighthouse Master vanishes without warning, his duties pass to his assistant, Dillon Havelock, and though Dillon shares his mentor’s power—the greatest magic in all the realms—he utterly lacks the charisma and charm needed to navigate the tumultuous political affairs of each world. And despite Dillon’s every effort to find the Lighthouse Master, the trail has quickly gone cold.

Until disgraced socialite Cassidy Leighton is shipwrecked upon the Lighthouse’s island. She comes from a world with no knowledge of other realms or magic. To her, the Lighthouse is a romantic figment from her father’s stories, and she gave up on such whimsical, childish notions the day her father was murdered.

Except the other worlds are real. Magic is undeniably, marvelously real. And somehow, her father’s death is connected to the Lighthouse Master’s disappearance.

In an entanglement of secret societies, fantastical wanderlust, and grandiose destiny, Dillon and Cassidy must find the key Cassidy’s father died to protect… before each of the worlds begin to fall.