Author Archive

Cover Launch: JADE LEGACY by Fonda Lee

After many entertaining guesses from fans of Fonda Lee’s Green Bone Saga, we’re thrilled to reveal the actual title and cover of the final volume of the series that began with the World Fantasy Award-winning JADE CITY (US | UK) and continues in the newly-published and much-anticipated JADE WAR (US | UK)…

Check out the gorgeous cover for JADE LEGACY, designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio:

To tell you a little more about the book:

Jade, the mysterious and magical substance once exclusive to the Green Bone warriors of Kekon, is now known and coveted throughout the world. Everyone wants access to the supernatural abilities it provides, from traditional forces such as governments, mercenaries, and criminal kingpins, to modern players, including doctors, athletes, and movie studios. As the struggle over the control of jade grows ever larger and more deadly, the Kaul family, and the ancient ways of the Kekonese Green Bones, will never be the same.

The Kauls have been battered by war and tragedy. They are plagued by resentments and old wounds as their adversaries are on the ascent and their country is riven by dangerous factions and foreign interference that could destroy the Green Bone way of life altogether. As a new generation arises, the clan’s growing empire is in danger of coming apart.

The clan must discern allies from enemies, set aside aside bloody rivalries, and make terrible sacrifices… but even the unbreakable bonds of blood and loyalty may not be enough to ensure the survival of the Green Bone clans and the nation they are sworn to protect.

In the meantime, catch up on all the latest happenings in Kekon with Jade War, and go tell Fonda how much you love her new cover at her website and on Twitter @FondaJLee!

Cover Launch: THE OBSIDIAN TOWER by Melissa Caruso

Toll the bells! We’re thrilled to tell you more about the first book in Melissa Caruso’s brilliant new epic fantasy trilogy, which Orbit is publishing in Summer 2020!

THE OBSIDIAN TOWER features a mage with deadly, broken magic, and her disastrous encounter with a powerful artifact that could destroy the world. If you’re a fan of Robin Hobb or Victoria Aveyard, this will be your new favorite series.

It’s a long way to 2020, so in the meantime, we’re delighted to share a sneak peek at The Obsidian Tower’s beautiful cover, designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio, with art by Peter Bollinger.

The mage-marked granddaughter of a ruler of Vaskandar, Ryx was destined for power and prestige at the top of Vaskandran society. But her magic is broken; all she can do is uncontrollably drain the life from everything she touches, and Vaskandar has no place for a mage with unusable powers.

Then, one night, two terrible accidents befall her: Ryx accidentally kills a visiting dignitary in self-defense, activating a mysterious magical artifact sealed in an ancient tower in the heart of her family’s castle.

Ryx flees, seeking a solution to her deadly magic. She falls in with a group of unlikely magical experts investigating the disturbance in Vaskandar—and Ryx realizes that her family is in danger and her domain is at stake. She and her new colleagues must return to the family stronghold to take control of the artifact that everyone wants to claim—before it destroys the world.

Melissa Caruso is the Gemmell Award-nominated author of the Swords and Fire epic fantasy. You can find her on Twitter @melisscaru and at melissacaruso.net.

Cover Launch: THE AGE OF WITCHES by Louisa Morgan

Did you adore A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES (US | UK) or THE WITCH’S KIND (US | UK)? Are you ready for Louisa Morgan’s most romantic tale of witchcraft and wonder yet? Her next book, THE AGE OF WITCHES, is another riveting tale of family, magic, and love that spans generations—this time set in Gilded Age New York and London.

We are publishing The Age of Witches in Spring 2020, but here’s an early peek at the beautiful cover, designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio:

Harriet Bishop, descended from a long line of witches, uses magic to help women in need—not only ordinary women, but also those with powers of their own. She must intervene when a distant cousin wields dangerous magic to change the lives of two unsuspecting young people… one of whom might just be a witch herself.

Frances Allington has used her wiles and witchcraft to claw her way out of poverty and into a spectacular marriage with one of New York’s wealthiest new tycoons. She is determined to secure the Allingtons’ position amongst the city’s elite Four Hundred families by any means necessary—including a scheme to make a glorious aristocratic match for her headstrong and reluctant step-daughter, Annis, using the same strange power with which she ensnared Annis’s father.

To save Annis from this dark magic, Harriet reveals to her Frances’ misuse of their shared birthright and kindles in Annis her own nascent powers. Together, Harriet and Annis must resist her stepmother’s agenda, lest she— and the dashing young lord she suspects she could come to love—lose their freedom, and possibly their lives.

Cover Launch: REALM OF ASH by Tasha Suri

REALM OF ASH (US | UK) is a spellbinding fantasy novel set in the Mughal India-inspired world of Tasha Suri’s award-winning EMPIRE OF SAND (US | UK), in which a young widow with hidden powers and an illegitimate prince dabbling in forbidden magic must save the realm—and each other—from darkness. If you loved City of Brass, The Wrath & the Dawn, or Red Queen, this is your next unmissable read!

This captivating book publishes in November 2019 but—as announced on Book Riot—here is an early preview of its beautiful cover, designed by Lauren Panepinto, to tide you over!

Some believe the Ambhan Empire is cursed. But Arwa doesn’t simply believe it—she knows it’s true.

Arwa is the sole survivor of the infamous, unnatural massacre at Darez Fort—saved only by the strangeness of her blood, which she had been taught all her life to suppress. She makes common cause with a disgraced, illegitimate prince who has turned to forbidden occult arts to find a cure to the darkness hanging over the Empire. Using the power in Arwa’s blood, they seek answers in the realm of ash: where mortals can find the ghostly echoes of their ancestors’ dreams. But the Emperor’s health is failing, and a terrible war of succession hovers on the horizon—not just for the throne, but for the magic underpinning the Empire itself.

THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP by H. G. Parry

We’re delighted to present the beautiful cover for THE UNLIKELY ESCAPE OF URIAH HEEP (US|UK|ANZ), designed by Orbit’s amazing Lisa Marie Pompilio. If you loved The Magicians, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, or The Invisible Library, don’t miss this ultimate book-lover’s fantasy, which features a young scholar with the power to bring literary characters into the world.

 

 

For his entire life, Charley Sutherland has concealed a magical ability he can’t quite control: he can bring characters from books into the real world. His older brother, Rob – a young lawyer with an utterly normal life – hopes that this strange family secret will disappear with disuse, and he will be discharged from his duty of protecting Charley and the real world from each other.

But then, literary characters start causing trouble in their city, making threats about destroying the world, and for once, it isn’t Charley’s doing. There’s someone else out there who shares his powers and it’s up to Charley and a reluctant Rob to stop them – before anyone gets to The End.

Praise for The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep:

“Many have tried and some have succeeded in writing mashups with famed literary characters, but Parry knocks it out of the park . . . Just plain wonderful.”—Kirkus

“A delightful blend of adventure and mystery and marvel, a story in which the fantastical becomes real…. Beautifully-written.”—Louisa Morgan

“With vibrant characters and a passion for story that shines through every word, this engaging read establishes Parry as a writer to watch.”—Kat Howard

“Daring…. Parry writes with the keen insight of Sherlock Holmes, the generous heart of David Copperfield, and the haunting soul of Dorian Grey.”—Jordanna Max Brodsky

“A joyous adventure through all the tales you’ve ever loved. Funny, charming, clever and heartfelt.”—Tasha Suri

“Clever, emotionally compelling, and teeming with witty allusions…. Reminiscent of the literary world-bending adventures of Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next.”—Cass Morris

“Engaging and intelligent… kept me turning the pages.”—Rowenna Miller

“A rollicking adventure that thrills like Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere mashed up with Penny Dreadful in the best post-modern way…. One of your most fun reads this year.”—Mike Chen

Introducing QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED by Kacen Callender

We’re thrilled to announce Orbit’s acquisition of award-winning author Kacen Callender’s first novel for adults, QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED, from Beth Phelan at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency! It’s the first of two books set in a Caribbean-inspired fantasy world embattled by colonial oppression, where an ambitious young woman with the power to control minds seeks vengeance against the royals who murdered her family.

If you’re a fan of V. E. Schwab, Kiersten White, or the latest Marlon James, you’ll love QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED. It drops this November, but to whet your appetite now, here is its stunning cover, designed by the fabulous Lisa Marie Pompilio.

Click here to find out more. 

Acquisition Announcement: Hostage of Empire trilogy by S. C. Emmett

We’re delighted to announce that Orbit has acquired a sweeping new fantasy trilogy by S. C. Emmett, Hostage of Empire, from Miriam Kriss at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency! In this epic story, the lady-in-waiting to the princess of a vanquished kingdom must survive the innumerable hidden agendas of their captors’ treacherous imperial court, where two queens, two concubines, and six princes vie for the throne of a vast empire.

Sound tempting? The first volume, THE THRONE OF THE FIVE WINDS, publishes this October. Meanwhile, we’re thrilled to present the gorgeous cover, illustrated by Miranda Meeks and designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio.

The Emperor’s palace—full of ambitious royals, sly gossip, and unforeseen perils—is perhaps the most dangerous place in Zhaon. The lady Komor Yala has only her wits and her hidden blade to protect herself and her princess Mahara, sacrificed in marriage to the enemy, a hostage for her conquered people’s good behavior, to secure a tenuous peace.

But the Emperor is aging, and the Khir princess and her lady-in-waiting soon find themselves pawns in the six princes’ deadly schemes for the throne—and a single spark could ignite fresh rebellion in Khir.

When the Emperor falls ill, a far bloodier game begins…

Acquisition Announcement: A WITCH IN TIME by Constance Sayers

Orbit’s sibling imprint, Redhook, has acquired World English rights to a beautiful debut novel by Atlantic Media executive Constance Sayers from Roz Foster at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. In A Witch in Time, a young woman in Belle Epoque France is cursed to relive a doomed love affair through many lifetimes, as both troubled muse and frustrated artist. If you loved A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES (US | UK), Outlander, and The Time Traveler’s Wife, this is your next magical read.

Look out for A Witch in Time in January 2020, and meanwhile, please give a warm welcome to Constance on Twitter @constancesayers and check out her website!

EMPIRE OF SAND optioned for TV

As announced exclusively in Variety, Tasha Suri’s debut novel, the Mughal India-inspired fantasy Empire of Sand, has been optioned for TV by production companies Kronicle Media, Amyale and Rebel Maverick, with Sadia Ash to write the pilot.

Haven’t read Empire of Sand yet? Now’s the perfect time to start.

Purchase in the US:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Google Play | iBooks | Indiebound | Kobo | Chapters

Purchase in the UK: Amazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Waterstones | More Stores

A nobleman’s daughter with magic in her blood. An empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods.

The Amrithi are outcasts; nomads descended of desert spirits, they are coveted and persecuted throughout the Empire for the power in their blood. Mehr is the illegitimate daughter of an imperial governor and an exiled Amrithi mother she can barely remember, but whose face and magic she has inherited.

When Mehr’s power comes to the attention of the Emperor’s most feared mystics, she must use every ounce of will, subtlety, and power she possesses to resist their cruel agenda.

Should she fail, the gods themselves may awaken seeking vengeance…

Tasha Suri was born in London to Punjabi parents. She studied English and Creative Writing at Warwick University, and is now a cat-owning librarian in London. A love of period Bollywood films, history, and mythology led her to write South Asian-influenced fantasy. Visit her on Twitter @tashadrinkstea and on her website at https://tashasuri.com/.

 

 

Cover Launch: FRAY by Rowenna Miller

Did you love Rowenna Miller’s French Revolution-inspired epic fantasy debut, TORN? Can’t wait to dive back into her enchanting world of magical ballgowns, reluctant royals, and ardent revolutionaries? The sequel, FRAY, publishes this summer.

While you’re waiting, check out FRAY’s beautiful cover, with art by Peter Bollinger and design by Lisa Marie Pompilio.

What would you risk for love and for country?

Open revolt has been thwarted—for now—but unrest still simmers in the kingdom of Galitha. Sophie Balstrade, despite having built a thriving business on her skill at both dressmaking and magic, has not escaped unscathed from her misadventures in the workers’ rebellion that saw her brother exiled and her friends murdered. Her dangerous foray into curse casting has rendered her powers unpredictable, and her increasingly visible romantic entanglement with the Crown Prince makes her a convenient target for threatened nobles and malcontented commoners alike.

With domestic political reform and international alliances—and her own life—at stake, Sophie must discern friend from foe… before her magic grows too dark for her to wield.

Praise for Torn:

“One of the best novels I’ve read this year! Torn is masterfully written—full of fascinating politics and compelling characters in a vividly rendered, troubled city. Sophie is a believable, layered, and wonderful heroine. I absolutely loved this book!”
—Sarah Beth Durst, author of The Queen of Blood

“Miller places immigrant ambition and women’s lives at the heart of her magical tale of politics and revolution. I was utterly enchanted by this unique, clever and subtly fierce fantasy.”

—Tasha Suri, author of EMPIRE OF SAND (US | UK)

“A gorgeous weave of romantic fantasy and urgent politics.”
—Anna Smith Spark, author of THE COURT OF BROKEN KNIVES