When you describe your main character as both a “wolf” and a “bitch queen,” we sit up and take notice. And then, in the first sentence, that same character exiles her king and kills a man who’s wronged her . . . well, all aboard the hype train. Next stop, badass fantasy book.

We’re absolutely thrilled to announce our acquisition of K. S. Villoso’s THE WOLF OF OREN-YARO. Originally a self-published title, it gathered strong word-of-mouth online, and after reading the novel, it was obvious that we needed to publish this book.

Queen Talyien is a take-no-prisoners, rough-and-tumble, certifiably awesome character. Villoso has imbued Talyien with a voice that grabs you from word one. She drags you into her story and world, and you’re going to be very glad she did.

“A powerful new voice in epic fantasy. Villoso deftly creates an intricate and compelling world of high fantasy intrigue and adventure dominated by a crafty, whip-smart heroine determined to unite her kingdom at any cost.” — Kameron Hurley

The eBook is out now, and the paperback will hit shelves in February 2020. Check out the cover below with Talyien looking appropriately epic. Art by Simon Goinard. Design by Lauren Panepinto.

“They called me the Bitch Queen, the she-wolf, because I murdered a man and exiled my king the night before they crowned me.”

Born under the crumbling towers of Oren-yaro, Queen Talyien was the shining jewel and legacy of the bloody War of the Wolves that nearly tore her nation apart. But her upcoming marriage to the son of her father’s rival heralds peaceful days to come.

His sudden departure before their reign begins puts a quick end to those dreams, and the kingdom is fractured beyond repair.

Years later, Talyien receives a message, one that will send her across the sea. What’s meant to be an effort at reconciling the past spirals into an assassination attempt. Stranded in a land she doesn’t know, with no idea who she can trust, Talyien will have to embrace her namesake.

A Wolf of Oren-yaro is not tamed.

Orbit has acquired World rights for three books in the Chronicles of the Bitch Queen trilogy from Hannah Bowman of Liza Dawson Associates. Follow K. S. Villoso on Twitter.