Cover launch: The World Gives Way by Marissa Levien

THE WORLD GIVES WAY by Marissa Levien is getting a refresh for its paperback release on May 3rd! Check out the new stunning cover that perfectly captures this portrait of a world in freefall, and the fierce drive to live even at the end of it all.

Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

 

A New York Times Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Novel of 2021
A Fortune Magazine Best Book of 2021

“A staggering marvel.”—The New York Times

“The World Gives Way has a sweeping world rich in lore and an electric plot.”—Brandon Taylor, Booker Prize-nominated author of Real Life

In a near-future world on the brink of collapse, a young woman born into servitude must seize her own freedom in this glittering debut with a brilliant twist.

In fifty years, Myrra will be free.

Until then, she’s a contract worker. Ever since she was five, her life and labor have belonged to the highest bidder on her contract—butchers, laundries, and now the powerful, secretive Carlyles.

But when one night finds the Carlyles dead, Myrra is suddenly free a lot sooner than she anticipated—and at a cost she never could have imagined. Burdened with the Carlyles’ orphaned daughter and the terrible secret they died to escape, she runs. With time running out, Myrra must come face to face with the truth about her world—and embrace what’s left before it’s too late.

A sweeping novel with a darkly glimmering heart, The World Gives Way is an unforgettable portrait of a world in freefall, and the fierce drive to live even at the end of it all.

Cover launch: It Rides a Pale Horse

From Andy Marino, a new star in horror fiction, comes IT RIDES A PALE HORSE: a terrifying novel of obsession, creation, and the shocking actions we’ll take to protect those we love, all set in a small town filled with dark secrets.

Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

Peter Larkin—Lark to his friends—is a local hero in the small town of Wofford Falls. The one who went to the big city, became a famous sculptor, then returned home to settle down. He’s the kind of guy who becomes fast friends with almost anyone. His sister, Betsy, is even more gifted. And eccentric. Unlike Lark, she keeps to herself.

When Lark delivers his latest piece to a fabulously rich buyer, it seems like a regular transaction. Even being met at the gate of the sprawling, secluded estate by an intimidating security guard seems normal. Until the guard plays him a live feed: Betsy being abducted in real time.

Lark is informed that she’s safe for now, but her well‑being is entirely in his hands. He’s given a book. Do what the book says, and Betsy will go free.

It seems simple enough—an instruction manual for a sculpture. But as Lark begins to work he realizes: the book’s writer is unhinged. The sculpture is impossible. And his sister’s captors are not what they seem.

All the while, his town and those within it are changing. And the only way out is through.

Cover launch: The Bladed Faith by David Dalglish

A usurped prince prepares to take up the mantel of a deadly assassin and reclaim his kingdom, his people, and his slain gods in this epic fantasy from USA Today bestselling author, David Dalglish.

Cyrus was only twelve years old when his gods were slain, his country invaded, and his parents—the king and queen—beheaded in front of him. Held prisoner in the invader’s court for years, Cyrus is suddenly given a chance to escape and claim his revenge when a mysterious group of revolutionaries comes looking for a figurehead. They need a hero to strike fear into the hearts of the imperial and to inspire and unite the people. They need someone to take up the skull mask and swords and to become the legendary “Vagrant”—an unparalleled hero and assassin of otherworldly skill.

But all is not as it seems. Creating the illusion of a hero is the work of many, and Cyrus will soon discover the true price of his vengeance.

Design by Lauren Panepinto, Illustration by Chase Stone

Cover launch: Drive, and The Sins of Our Fathers by James S. A. Corey!

In November, we launched the phenomenal final novel in the Expanse, Leviathan Falls. In March, James S. A. Corey has one more Expanse story for you . . .  The Sins of Our Fathers (US | UK). This novella will be included in the story collection, Memory’s Legion, but it will also be available as a digital novella. We’re thrilled to be sharing the cover of that digital edition with you today:

Cover design by Lauren Panepinto

Along with that, we’ll be re-releasing another short story set in the universe of the Expanse, Drive (US | UK). This short story is included in Memory’s Legion. And we’re also sharing the fantastic cover for that edition today!

Cover design by Lauren Panepinto

Mark your calendars because both of these stories, and the collection of all of the stories set in the Expanse, Memory’s Legion (US | UK), hit shelves on March 15th, 2022!

Cover design by Lauren Panepinto

Cover launch: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

The Princess Bride meets You’ve Got Mail in THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY by Megan Bannen, an enchantingly quirky enemies to lovers fantasy rom-com.
Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

Hart Ralston is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the wasteland of Tanria, hunting for drudges. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness.

Mercy Birdsall never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat – despite definitely not being a son – in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart Ralston, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest.

After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born.

If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most – Mercy. As the unlikely pen pals grow closer, so does the danger posed by the drudges. And suddenly their old animosity seems so small compared to what they might be able to do: end the drudges forever. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares – each other?

Cover launch: THE HUNGER OF THE GODS by John Gwynne

Sharpen your axes – it’s time to return to the Battle-Plain!

Orbit is thrilled to reveal the cover for THE HUNGER OF THE GODS, the action-packed second novel in John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn series, which began with THE SHADOW OF THE GODS (UK/US). Prepare to continue this sweeping adventure of myth, magic and bloody vengeance . . .

Design by Bekki Guyatt, art by Marcus Whinney

 

Publishing in April 2022, THE HUNGER OF THE GODS is available for pre-order now (UK/US)

Here’s a little taste of what to expect . . .

 

Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest.

As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own – and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance.

Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her.

Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon.

Their only hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead . . . and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth.

 

 

Praise for The Bloodsworn series:

‘A masterfully crafted, brutally compelling Norse-inspired epic’ Anthony Ryan

‘Visceral, heart-breaking and unputdownable’ Jay Kristoff

‘A world stunning in its immensity’ Robin Hobb

‘A masterclass in storytelling . . . epic, gritty fantasy with an uncompromising amount of heart’ FanFiAddict

‘Quintessential Gwynne honed to perfection . . . The Shadow of the Gods is absolutely stunning, one hell of an epic series opener and a spectacular dose of Viking-flavoured fantasy’ The Tattooed Book Geek

‘Reminds me of all that I love in the fantasy genre. The Shadow of the Gods is an action-packed cinematic read’ Fantasy Hive

 

John Gwynne studied and lectured at Brighton University. He’s played double bass in a rock ‘n’ roll band and travelled the USA and Canada. He is married with four children and lives in Eastbourne, where he is part of a Viking re-enactment group. When not writing he can often be found standing in a shield wall with his three sons about him.

Follow John on Twitter and Instagram.

Cover launch: ONE FOOT IN THE FADE by Luke Arnold

We’re excited to launch the newest cover for the Fetch Phillips series! A world recovers from losing its magic in this brilliantly-voiced contemporary fantasy series by Luke Arnold – perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch or Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.

AN ANGEL FALLS IN SUNDER CITY…

In a city that lost its magic, an angel falls in a downtown street. His wings are feathered, whole – undeniably magical – the man clearly flew, for all that he plummeted to his death moments after.

The mystery will set Fetch – in his quest to bring magic back to his beloved city – on a journey involving necromancers, djinn and shadowy secret societies. Fetch will search Sunder’s wildest forests and dingiest dive bars for the answer, and when he finds it, nothing will ever be the same again.

The Book cover for One Foot in the Fade, a fantasy by Luke Arnold. Cover shows a corss section of a fantasy map

 

banner showing the three Fetch Phillips covers so far

The new cover art is by Patrick Knowles, and was designed at Little, Brown Book Group by Matt Byrne.

Praise for this series:

‘Verve and charm in abundance’ Andrew Caldecott, author of Rotherweird

‘The first instalment of an effortlessly readable series that could be the illegitimate love child of Terry Pratchett and Dashiell Hammett’ Kirkus

‘[A] standout debut . . . winningly combining the grit of Chinatown with the quirky charm of Harry Potter, this series opener is sure to have readers coming back for more’ Publishers Weekly

‘This book was a marvellous noir voice; Luke Arnold has captured the spirit of the genre perfectly and wrapped it around a fantasy setting with consummate skill’ Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones

‘Sunder City [is] an evocative creation, it has echoes of Ankh-Morpork, but also a broken melancholy all of its own’ SFX

 

neon sign advertising character as a P.I.

Acquisition Announcement: Empire of Exiles

Photo credit: Kevin Goodier

Enter a world where the history of a broken empire is sealed inside the mysterious Imperial Archives, where mages and librarians unearth the secrets of magical artifacts, historic tomes, and powerful relics. And what they uncover just may be the key to revealing a conspiracy that could topple the empire once and for all.

We’re thrilled to announce the acquisition of EMPIRE OF EXILES by Erin M. Evans. EMPIRE OF EXILES has everything you’re looking for in your next epic fantasy read – a stunning tale of revolution, wonderfully unique fantasy races and cultures, wise-cracking apprentices and fierce librarian-sorcerers, and a mystery around every corner of the lush world.

We can’t wait to bring you EMPIRE OF EXILES next year—in the meantime, please join us in welcoming Erin M. Evans to Orbit! Follow along for updates on Twitter at @erinmevans.

Twenty-seven years ago, a Duke with a grudge led a ruthless coup against the empire of Semilla, killing thousands. He failed. The Duke was executed, a terrifyingly powerful sorcerer was imprisoned, and an unwilling princess disappeared.

The empire moved on.

Now, when Quill, an apprentice scribe, arrives in the capital city, he believes he’s on a simple errand for another pompous noble: fetch ancient artifacts from the magical Imperial Archives. He’s always found his apprenticeship to be dull work. But these aren’t just any artifacts — these are the instruments of revolution, the banners under which the Duke lead his coup.

Just as the artifacts are unearthed, the city is shaken by a brutal murder that seems to have been caused by a weapon not seen since the days of rebellion.

Since Quill is the only reliable witness to the murder, and no one in power believes his story, he must join with a young mage, a seasoned archivist, and a disillusioned detective to find the truth of the attack. And what they uncover will be the key to saving the empire – or destroying it for good.

 

Orbit US editor Bradley Englert acquired North American rights from Bridget Smith of JABberwocky Literary Agency.

Acquisition Announcement: The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft

Orbit is thrilled to announce the acquisition of a brand new series from author Josiah Bancroft, the brilliant mind behind Senlin Ascends and The Books of Babel, the phenomenon fantasy series described as “future classics” (Los Angeles Times).

The Hexologists introduces us to a new world and the dynamic duo of Hexologists Iz and Warren Wilby: two private investigators who solve magical problems with magical solutions. While their usual quests are never more alarming than the occasional incubi infestation or mournful ghost haunting, their latest mission has given them an impossible task: save the king himself.

While you eagerly await the arrival of this newest arcane mystery series, you can find out more about Josiah Bancroft at his website thebooksofbabel.com.

For an early peek at Iz and Warren’s first adventure, read on!

Iz and Warren Wilby are quite accustomed to helping desperate clients with the bugbears of city life. Aided by hexes and a bag of charmed relics, the Wilbies have recovered children abducted by chimney-wraiths, removed infestations of barb-nosed incubi, and ventured into the Gray Plains of the Unmade to soothe a troubled ghost. Well-acquainted with the weird, the Hexologists never shy away from a challenging case.

But when they are approached by the royal secretary and told the king pleads to be baked into a cake—going so far as to wedge himself inside a lit oven—the Wilbies soon find themselves embroiled in a mystery that could very well see the nation turned on its head. Their effort to expose a royal secret buried under forty years of lies brings them nose to nose with a violent antiroyalist gang, avaricious ghouls, alchemists who draw their power from a hell-like dimension, and a bookish dragon who only occasionally eats people.

Armed with a love toughened by adversity and a stick of chalk that can conjure light from the darkness, hope from the hopeless, Iz and Warren Wilby are ready for whatever springs from the alleys, graves, and shadows next.

 

Orbit US editor Bradley Englert acquired World English rights to the books from Ian Drury of Sheil Land Associates. Orbit UK editor Emily Byron has secured UK rights.

Cover Launch: QUANTUM OF NIGHTMARES by Charles Stross

A new adventure begins, set in the bestselling world of the Laundry Files . . .

We’re thrilled to reveal the cover for QUANTUM OF NIGHTMARES, the second book in the New Management series by Hugo Award-winning author Charles Stross:

Cover for Quantum of Nightmares by Charles Stross. Depicts black shadowed figures walking up staircases towards bright green doors. Large tentacles are reaching out from the background.

Design by Crush Creative

Publishing in hardback in January 2022, QUANTUM OF NIGHTMARES is available for pre-order now.

Read on for a preview of what’s to come:

It’s a brave new Britain under the New Management. The Prime Minister is an eldritch god of unimaginable power. Crime is plummeting as almost every offense is punishable by death. And everywhere you look, there are people with strange powers, some of which they can control, and some, not so much.

Hyper-organised and formidable, Eve Starkey defeated her boss, the louche magical adept and billionaire Rupert de Montfort Bigge, in a supernatural duel to the death. Now she’s in charge of the Bigge Corporation, just in time to discover the lethal trap Rupert set for her long ago . . .

Wendy Deere is investigating unauthorised supernatural shenanigans. She swore to herself she wouldn’t again get entangled with Eve Starkey’s bohemian brother Imp and his crew of transhuman misfits. Yeah, right.

Mary Macandless has powers of her own. Right now she’s pretending to be a nanny in order to kidnap the children of a pair of famous, Government-authorised adepts. These children have powers of their own, and Mary Macandless is in way over her head.

All of these stories will come together, with world-bending results . . .

Praise for the Laundry Files:

‘Brilliantly disturbing and funny at the same time’ Ben Aaronovitch

‘Stross at the top of his game – which is to say, few do it better’ Kirkus

‘Alternately chilling and hilarious’ Publishers Weekly

‘Ferociously enjoyable’ SFX