The Traitor (US | UK) is the final novel in The Covenant of Steel trilogy, an epic fantasy series of action, intrigue, and magic from Anthony Ryan, a master storyteller who has taken the fantasy world by storm. Take a look at the stunning cover below and pick up a copy in July 2023.
Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto; Cover Illustration by Jaime Jones
The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma is first in a debut fantasy trilogy, coming August 2023. In a kingdom where fire is magic and the dunes hide secrets, an assassin and a princess face an ancient prophecy that would burn the world to ash. Take a look at the stunning cover below.
Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio
The first in a sensational, action-packed debut epic fantasy trilogy in which an assassin and a princess navigate a world teetering on the edge of war and contend with an ancient prophecy that could remake the world.
Yassen Knight was the Arohassin’s most notorious assassin until a horrible accident. Now, he’s hunted by the authorities and his former employer, both of whom want him dead. But when he seeks refuge with an old friend, he’s offered an irresistible deal: defend the heir of Ravence from the Arohassin, and earn his freedom once and for all.
Elena Ravence is preparing to ascend the throne. Trained since birth in statecraft, warfare, and the desert ways, Elena knows she is ready. She only lacks one thing: the ability to hold Fire, the magic that is meant to run in her family’s blood. And with her coronation only weeks away, she must learn quickly or lose her kingdom.
Leo Ravence is not ready to give up the crown. There’s still too much work to be done, too many battles to be won. But when an ancient prophecy threatens to undo his lifetime of work, Leo wages war on the heavens themselves to protect his legacy.
Justin Lee Anderson’s sensational epic fantasy debut, The Lost War (US | UK), follows an emissary for the king as he gathers a group of strangers and embarks on a dangerous quest across a war-torn land. Take a look at the stunning cover below and pick up a copy in May 2023.
Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto; Cover Illustration by Jeremy Wilson
The war is over, but the beginnings of peace are delicate.
Demons continue to burn farmlands, violent mercenaries roam the wilds, and a plague is spreading. The country of Eidyn is on its knees.
In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first mage to be named King’s Envoy. And his latest task is to restore an exiled foreign queen to her throne.
The band of allies he assembles each have their own unique skills. But they are strangers to each other, and at every step across the ravaged land, a new threat emerges, lies are revealed, and distrust threatens to destroy everything they are working for. Somehow, Aranok must bring his companions together and uncover the conspiracy that threatens the kingdom—before war returns to the realms again.
We’re also excited to reveal the title of book two in The Eidyn Saga, The Bitter Crown coming October 2023!
Dive into the curious correspondence of Sylvie Cathrall’s delightful debut novel, A Letter to the Luminous Deep. Perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light and TJ Klune, A Letter to the Luminous Deep is a whimsical epistolary fantasy set in a mystical underwater world with mystery and heart-warming romance.
Orbit UK Commissioning editor Nadia Saward acquired World rights in the Sunken Archive duology from Natasha Mihell at The Rights Factory, with Senior Editor Priyanka Krishnan acquiring for Orbit US. Publication is planned for Spring 2024.
A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.
Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.’s home, and she and Henerey vanish.
A year later, E.’s sister Sophy, and Henerey’s brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery of their siblings’ disappearances with the letters, sketches and field notes left behind. As they uncover the wondrous love their siblings shared, Sophy and Vyerin learn the key to their disappearance – and what it could mean for life as they know it.
Acquiring editor Saward said: ‘I knew from the first paragraph I needed to acquire this book. The gorgeous underwater setting is unlike anything else I’ve seen in fantasy, and the epistolary romance between the two main characters, a brilliant but reclusive young woman and a renowned scholar, will break your heart and put it back together again.’
Author Sylvie Cathrall said: ‘Like a letter sent by chance to the perfect recipient, my epistolary fantasy found its ideal match in the Orbit team. I’m grateful for the opportunity to unlock the sunken archive that is A Letter to the Luminous Deep and share this curious correspondence with readers.’
Agent Natasha Mihell said: ‘The joy infusing A Letter to the Luminous Deep is sublime and propulsive, and the prose is handled with extraordinary grace. It is a story that will leave you with a deep trust in the beauty of life. Cathrall reminds us that, though we may sometimes feel disillusioned by our circumstances, we are all of us entitled to our own magical adventure. And we can own every aspect of ourselves, every step of the way.’
US editor Priyanka Krishnan said: ‘I want to say that reading this book felt like a breath of fresh air, but it doesn’t quite feel like the right analogy given the gorgeous underwater setting! However, it’s true—A Letter to the Luminous Deep is unlike anything I’ve read recently, and I adore it. It captured my attention with its unique world, its whimsical epistolary structure, and its charming letter banter (is there anything sexier than flirtation by post?) And it captured my heart with its emotional depth, the way it gently addresses trauma and mental health concerns, and its beautiful exploration of relationships (both romantic and familial). I love this book and am thrilled Orbit will be publishing it!’
About the author: Sylvie Cathrall writes stories of hope and healing with healthy doses of wonder and whimsy. She holds a graduate degree in odd Victorian art and has handled more than a few nineteenth-century letters (with great care). Sylvie married her former pen pal and lives in the mountains, where she dresses impractically and dreams of the sea.
You can find Sylvie on Instagram @sylviecathrall – go give her a follow!
Andrea Stewart brings us the final book in her unmissable, action-packed, magic-laced epic fantasy trilogy, The Bone Shard War (US | UK). Take a look at the stunning cover below and pick up a copy when it arrives in bookstores April 2023.
Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto; Cover Illustration by Sasha Vinogradova
With the help of the Shardless Few, Jovis and Lin have defeated the construct army and the treacherous Ragan. But not all alliances are easy. The leader of the Shardless Few has debts to pay and a world to make over. And this new world does not need or want an Emperor.
But this is not the only thing to threaten the fragile peace. Now that fewer people are undergoing the Tithing Festival, the Alanga are returning, and not all of them are peaceful. While Jovis and Lin find allies in unlikely places, other Alanga begin to choose sides–and many are none too happy with the current regime or with the commoners.
With enemies on all sides, Empress Lin must decide if she should follow in the destructive steps of her forebears to save the Empire’s citizens and bring peace.
The Combat Codes (US | UK) is the first book in a debut, action-packed and character-driven science fiction trilogy set in a far future world where the fate of nations is determined by battle-hardened warriors who are trained to compete in brutal single combat. Take a look at the stunning cover below and pick up a copy when it arrives in bookstores June 2023.
Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto; Cover Illustration by Peter Bollinger
Hundreds of years ago on a planet once ravaged by war, the nations swore an armistice never to use weapons of mass destruction again. Today, battle-hardened warriors known as Grievar Knights train to represent their nations’ interests in brutal hand-to-hand combat.
Murray Pearson was once a famed Knight until he suffered a loss that crippled his nation—but now he’s on the hunt to find and train the next champion.
In underground and ruthless combat rings, an orphaned boy called Cego is making a name for himself. Murray believes Cego has what it takes to make it in the world’s most prestigious combat academy—but Cego has to fight his way out of the underground first.
We’re thrilled to share the cover for BEYOND THE REACH OF EARTH (UK) by Ken MacLeod, the second book in the Lightspeed trilogy, a gripping tale of first contact and dark conspiracies set among the stars.
BEYOND THE REACH OF EARTH hits shelves in March 2023, and is available for pre-order now. You can check out the stunning cover, designed by Duncan Spilling L,BBG below and read on for a taste of what’s in store. . .
With the invention of faster-than-light travel there is nowhere that humanity cannot go. New worlds are discovered, but with them come new dangers.
At the heart of the discovery is the Fermi, mysterious beings that have survived on alien worlds for longer than humanity has existed. But now the Fermi are awakening, and they do not seem pleased to find humans in their midst.
But for Lakshmi Nayak and the crew of the Fighting Chance, danger is a lot closer to home. Their search for answers will take them to places, and worlds, they never expected.
Praise for Ken MacLeod:
‘An exceptional blend of international politics, hard science, and first contact’ Michael Mammay, author of the Planetside series on Beyond the Hallowed Sky
‘MacLeod is up there with Banks and Hamilton as one of the British sci-fi authors you absolutely have to read’ SFX
‘Prose as sleek and fast as the technology it describes. . . watch this man go global’ Peter F. Hamilton on Star Fraction
‘Ken MacLeod has an enviable track record of extrapolating from current trends to produce mind-bending novels of ideas’ Guardian
Orbit is delighted to announce we’ve acquired Kat Enright’s debut fantasy Mistress of Lies, the first in a dark romantic fantasy trilogy with a villainous, bloodthirsty heroine, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Dowry of Blood.
Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency sold World English rights to Commissioning Editor Nadia Saward at Orbit UK. Senior Editor Priyanka Krishnan has acquired for Orbit US and publication is planned for 2024.
The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.
Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he’s drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he’s worked so hard to avoid – and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.
Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan’s plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.
You can find Kat on Twitter @katenright, go give them a follow!
About the author: Kat Enright is a Filipino-American writer of romantic fantasy for teens and adults. When not writing, Kat can be found playing too many video games, cooking, or listening to Broadway musicals. They currently live in New Jersey with their spouse and their black cat, Zuko.
We’re proud to present the stunning cover for HOUSE OF ODYSSEUS (UK|US), the new novel in the Songs of Penelope trilogy by Claire North, coming August 2023.
Following the critically acclaimed Ithaca comes House of Odysseus, the second novel in Claire North’s Songs of Penelope trilogy – an exquisite, gripping tale that breathes life into ancient myth. This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before.
On the island of Ithaca, queen Penelope maintains a delicate balance of power. Many years ago, her husband Odysseus sailed to war with Troy and never returned. In his absence, Penelope uses all her cunning to keep the peace – but this is shattered with the arrival of Orestes, King of Mycenae.
Orestes, son of Agamemnon, is mad. Wracked with guilt for putting his own mother to death, he grows ever more unhinged. But a king cannot be seen to be weak. To keep him safe from the ambitious men of Mycenae, his sister Elektra brings him to Ithaca to recover under the protection of Penelope. But no sooner has Orestes arrived then his uncle Menelaus, the blood-soaked king of Sparta, comes looking for him. Menelaus hungers for Orestes’ throne – and if he can seize it, no one will be safe from his violent whims.
Caught between Sparta and Mycenae, Penelope must protect Ithaca from two mad kings on the edge of war. Her only allies are Elektra, desperate to protect her brother, and Helen of Troy, Menelaus’ wife. Each woman has a secret, and their secrets will shape the world . . .
Praise for the Songs of Penelope series:
‘Darkly fascinating, raw and breathtaking’ Jennifer Saint, author of Sunday Times bestseller Ariadne
‘Richly poetic . . . This is an impassioned plea for the lost, disenfranchised queens of ancient Greece, a love letter to the silenced women of history’ Booklist
‘Everything I’ve wanted in a retelling: a vibrant cast, full of suspense, told with a phenomenal narrative voice – this is an absolute masterpiece’ Sarah Bonner, author of Her Perfect Twin
‘Conjures up a world in which women, abandoned by their men, must weave their own destinies‘ The Times
‘Claire North has set a new standard for Ancient Greek retellings. Absolutely sublime’ Hannah Lynn, author of Athena’s Child
HOUSE OF ODYSSEUS by Claire North is available for pre-order now (UK|US).
Brent Weeks returns to the New York Times-bestselling world of the Night Angel in Night Angel Nemesis, book one of the Kylar Chronicles.
Behold the cover for the hardcover edition, coming in April 2023.
And to celebrate the return of the Night Angel, in January 2023 Orbit will release the original trilogy in trade paperback with stunning new covers!
Brent appeared on Daniel Greene’s Fantasy News channel to talk about the covers and the new book.
And here’s more about Night Angel Nemesis.
Brent Weeks returns to the New York Times bestselling world of the Night Angel in Night Angel Nemesis, following master assassin Kylar on a new adventure as the High King Logan Gyre calls on him to save his kingdom and the hope of peace.
After the war that cost him so much, Kylar Stern is broken and alone. He’s determined not to kill again, but an impending amnesty will pardon the one murderer he can’t let walk free. He promises himself this is the last time. One last hit to tie up the loose ends of his old, lost life.
But Kylar’s best–and maybe only–friend, the High King Logan Gyre, needs him. To protect a fragile peace, Logan’s new kingdom, and the king’s twin sons, he needs Kylar to secure a powerful magical artifact that was unearthed during the war.
With rumors that a ka’kari may be found, adversaries both old and new are on the hunt. And if Kylar has learned anything, it’s that ancient magics are better left in the hands of those he can trust.
If he does the job right, he won’t need to kill at all. This isn’t an assassination—it’s a heist.
But some jobs are too hard for an easy conscience, and some enemies are so powerful the only answer lies in the shadows.
