Last Chance to Vote in the 2017 Gemmell Awards!

Voting for the 2017 Gemmell Awards longlists closes this Friday at midnight (GMT), so now is your last chance to vote for the Legend (best novel), Morningstar (best debut) and Ravenheart (best cover art) awards.

Orbit is very well represented with books across all three categories, so be sure to vote for your favourite titles!

 

Legend Award 

DAUGHTER OF BLOOD by Helen Lowe

THE SPIDER’S WAR by Daniel Abraham

SHADOW AND FLAME by Gail Z. Martin

BLOODMAGE by Stephen Aryan

THE FALL OF THE DAGGER by Glenda Larke

THE SUMMON STONE by Ian Irvine

THE SORCERER’S DAUGHTER by Terry Brooks

A BLADE OF BLACK STEEL by Alex Marshall

THE WAKING FIRE by Anthony Ryan

THE OBELISK GATE by N. K. Jemisin

THE PATH OF THE HAWK by Ian Graham

THE GREAT ORDEAL by R. Scott Bakker

THE BLOOD MIRROR by Brent Weeks

FIREBORN by David Dalglish

A PLAGUE OF SWORDS by Miles Cameron

WRATH by John Gwynn

THE TOWER OF THE SWALLOW by Andrzej Sapkowski

THE MORTAL TALLY by Sam Sykes

THE DRAGON LORDS: FOOL’S GOLD by Jon Hollins

 

Morningstar Award

SNAKEWOOD by Adrian Selby

HOPE AND RED by Jon Skovron

 

Ravenstar Award

All of the above, plus CHAOSMAGE by Stephen Aryan!

 

Once voting on the longlists has closed, the resulting shortlists will be announced and voting opened at midday (GMT) on Friday 21st April. The presentation ceremony will take place on the evening of Saturday 15th July as part of Edge-Lit 6 at The Quad, Derby, UK.

Cover Launch: THE TETHERED MAGE by Melissa Caruso

THE TETHERED MAGE is a spellbinding fantasy debut from Melissa Caruso, set in a world where people born with magic are mortally bound to and controlled by non-magical people.

Our heroines, Zaira and Amalia, are bound together in this way, for better or worse, in this first book in an epic new series. If you loved The Queen of the Tearling or Red Queen, make sure to grab your copy in October 2017. Meanwhile, have a peek at this gorgeous cover!

 

CONTROL THE MAGIC, CONTROL THE WORLD

In the Raverran Empire, magic is scarce and those born with power are strictly controlled—taken as children and conscripted into the Falcon Army. Zaira has lived her life on the streets to avoid this fate, hiding her mage-mark and thieving to survive. But hers is a rare and dangerous magic, one that threatens the entire empire.

Lady Amalia Cornaro was never meant to be a Falconer. Heiress and scholar, she was born into a treacherous world of political machinations. But fate has bound the heir and the mage.

And as war looms on the horizon, a single spark could turn their city into a pyre.

Design credit: Lisa Marie Pompilio

Art credit: Crystal Ben & Arcangel

Cover Launch: INTO THE DROWNING DEEP

Gaze upon the magnificent cover for the new novel from New York Times bestselling author Mira Grant, INTO THE DROWNING DEEP, a journey into the unknown where human frailty meets the awesome power of nature and myths come to life. Look for it in November!

Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.

Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all.  Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves.

But the secrets of the deep come with a price.

Design by Lauren Panepinto
Cover image © Arcangel Images

 

Cover Launch: THE DRAGON LORDS: FALSE IDOLS

Witness the spectacular cover for THE DRAGON LORDS: FALSE IDOLS (US | UK | AUS), the second novel in this rollicking fantasy adventure series that takes us to a world where dragons run the show. Look for it in August!

The Dragons who once ruled over the land are dead. 

The motley crew that stumbled through that revolution are rich and praised as saviors. 

Everyone gets to live happily ever after, right? 

Right? 

Well, it might have worked out that way if the dragons in Kondorra had been the only ones. If they hadn’t been just the tip of the spear about to fall upon the whole world…

Praise for THE DRAGON LORDS: FOOL’S GOLD (US | UK | AUS):

“Ideal for fans of humorous capers and heist stories – such as Ocean’s 11, Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard Sequence series, and Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga.”—Booklist

“Hollins ladles on the humor while hardly skimping on the action, the unexpected plot swerves, or the glorious feels.”—B&N Science Fiction & Fantasy Blog

“Hollins’s seat-of-the-pants fantasy comedy snowballs wildly into a glorious disaster of fire, magic, multiple threats to people’s intestines, and fun — for the reader, if not the characters.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Design by Lauren Panepinto
Illustration by Crystal Sully

 

Cover Launch: AN ECHO OF THINGS TO COME by James Islington

James Islington exploded onto the fantasy scene last year with his blockbuster debut THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST [UK/US/ANZ]. Now this epic tale of adventure continues in AN ECHO OF THINGS TO COME [UK/US] – and we’re delighted to share the amazing cover with you!

Jacket design: Lauren Panepinto / illustration by Dominick Saponaro

DARKNESS FALLS ACROSS A LAND IN DESPERATE NEED OF HEROES

An amnesty has been declared for all Augurs – finally allowing them to emerge from hiding and openly oppose the dark forces massing against Andarra. However, as Davian and his new allies hurry north towards the ever-weakening Boundary, fresh horrors along their path suggest that their reprieve may have come far too late.

Meanwhile, Caeden continues to wrestle with the impossibly heavy burdens of his past. Yet as more and more of his memories return, he begins to realise that the motivations of the two sides in this ancient war may not be as clear-cut as they first seemed . . .

AN ECHO OF THINGS TO COME will be published in August!

Praise for the Licanius trilogy

‘A storytelling assurance rare for a debut . . . Fans of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson will find much to admire’ Guardian

‘Wonderful worldbuilding and terrific characters’ Boingboing.net

‘Will appeal to anybody looking for a coming-of-age fantasy tale with likeable characters and strong worldbuilding’ Fantasy Faction

‘Love the Wheel of Time? This is about to become your new favourite series’ Barnes & Noble SF and Fantasy Blog

N.K. Jemisin’s THE OBELISK GATE is up for a Nebula Award!

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Congratulations to the nominees for the 2016 Nebula Award — including our own N.K. Jemisin! THE OBELISK GATE (US | UK | ANZ) is on the shortlist for the Nebula Award for Best Novel. The full Best Novel slate:

  • All the Birds in the Sky, Charlie Jane Anders (Tor; Titan)
  • Borderline, Mishell Baker (Saga)
  • The Obelisk Gate, N.K. Jemisin (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
  • Ninefox Gambit, Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris US; Solaris UK)
  • Everfair, Nisi Shawl (Tor)

You can see the rest of the nominees at SFWA’s website.

THE OBELISK GATE is the sequel to Jemisin’s THE FIFTH SEASON (US | UK | ANZ), which was also nominated for the Nebula Award, and won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. The concluding volume of the trilogy, THE STONE SKY (US | UK) will be published in August.

Cover Launch: SOUL OF THE WORLD by David Mealing

Here, darkness looms on the horizon. An army marches towards war. And a figure stands on the precipice of destruction. Intrigued yet? Rich. Complex. Brilliant. SOUL OF THE WORLD (US | UK | AUS)  is a masterwork of world-building—an epic of intricate magics, world-ending battles, and matters of empire. Make sure to check out David Mealing’s breathtaking debut June 2017!


Three must fight. Three must die. Three must rise.

It is a time of revolution. In the cities, food shortages stir citizens to riots against the crown. In the wilds, new magic threatens the dominance of the tribes. And on the battlefields, even the most brilliant commanders struggle in the shadow of total war. Three lines of magic must be mastered in order to usher in a new age, and three heroes must emerge.

Erris is a brilliant cavalry officer trying to defend New Sarresant from an enemy general armed with magic she barely understands.

Arak’Jur wields the power of beasts to keep his people safe, but his strength cannot protect them from war amongst themselves.

Sarine is an artist on the streets of New Sarresant whose secret familiar helps her uncover bloodlust and madness where she expected only revolutionary fervor.

Each must learn the secrets of their power in time to guide their people through ruin. But a greater evil may be trying to stop them.

Design by Lauren Panepinto
Art © Arcangel-Images

Cover Launch: The Extinction Series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s The Extinction Cycle has exploded onto the self-publishing scene two years ago, and now we’re so excited to be welcoming him to the Orbit list! For the first time, Nick’s blockbuster series will be coming to a bookstore near you in Mass Market Paperback. In honor of the new partnership, we’ve got a whole new batch of kick-ass covers that will make any apocalypse fan swoon. Check out the series in eBook, now or pick up the first book, EXTINCTION HORIZON, on May 30th, 2017.

 When a top secret medical facility goes dark, an elite Delta Force team is called in to face their deadliest enemy yet—a virus that turns men into monsters.

“With Extinction Horizon, Nicholas Sansbury Smith delivers unrelenting, unmerciful action to his readers, and he weaves it seamlessly with just enough scientific know-how that after each chapter you’re left looking around and wondering not IF this is going to happen, but WHEN.”—D. J. Molles, author of The Remaining

“Nicholas Sansbury Smith combines plausible science with fast-paced military action in an epic juggernaut that races along at supersonic speed. Fans of the genre are sure to love it!”— Russell Blake, bestselling author of The Day After Never

“A blistering, high octane thrill ride to the brink of humanity’s extinction. Nicholas Sansbury Smith plunges the reader right into the middle of the action, alongside a cast of unforgettable characters, as they fight tooth and nail to survive one impossible mission after another-to stop an extinction level virus. The Extinction Cycle series is post-apocalyptic, military science fiction at its best. Highly addictive!”—Steven Konkoly, USA Today bestselling author of The Jakarta Pandemic

“Fast-paced military action meets cool, cutting-edge science. Extinction is no longer a Darwinian battle of the fittest. It’s a race for survival.” —E. E. Giorgi, author of Chimeras

“Extinction Horizon is a roller coaster ride of fear and adrenaline that you will not want to put down. Nicholas Sansbury Smith once again separates himself from the masses with a brilliantly entertaining post-apocalyptic thriller.” —W. J. Lundy, author of Only the Dead Live Forever

Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio
Illustration by Blake Morrow

Cover Launch: FORGOTTEN WORLDS by D. Nolan Clark

Behold, the marvelous cover for FORGOTTEN WORLDS by D. Nolan Clark, the action-packed second novel in the Silence trilogy, an epic space adventure tale of fighting against terrible odds – and the terror of realizing that we’re no longer alone in the unforgiving dark of the universe.

Forgotten Worlds

Aleister Lanoe has won a stunning victory against the alien armada that threatened Niraya, but it’s not enough to satisfy his desire for vengeance. He won’t rest until he’s located the armada’s homeworld and reduced it to ashes.

Yet his personal vendetta will have to wait. Lanoe now faces a desperate race against time, and the merciless Centrocor corporation, if he’s to secure the Earth’s future – and discover the truth he seeks.

The battle is over. But the war has only just begun.

Praise for FORSAKEN SKIES (US | UK | AUS):

“Unforgettable characters and is jam-packed with action [and] adventure… one readers will not want to miss.”—Booklist

“About as exciting an action story set in space as any this reviewer has seen in print in quite some time. It is worth the read… a terrific and thrilling novel.”—SciFi Magazine

“Gripping writing, a brilliantly realized future culture and sympathetic characters . . . an entertaining and compelling read.”—SFX Magazine

Design by Lauren Panepinto
Illustration by Victor Mosquera

Get ready for Valentines Day with the gods of Olympus!

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We’re four short days away from Valentines Day and the release of WINTER OF THE GODS (US | UK | AUS) by Jordanna Max Brodsky!  So we teamed up with the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus to bring you the most pun fun-filled Valentines Day cards of the season!

Download the printable sheets here.

For more about the series and to read an excerpt from WINTER OF THE GODS, visit olympusbound.com.

About WINTER OF THE GODS: 

Winter in New York: snow falls, lights twinkle, and the goddess Artemis prowls the streets looking for prey.

But when a dead body is discovered sprawled atop Wall Street’s iconic Charging Bull statue, it’s clear the NYPD can’t solve the murder without help. The killing isn’t just the work of another homicidal cult – this time, someone’s sacrificing the gods themselves.

While raising fundamental questions about the very existence of the gods, Artemis must hunt down the perpetrators, tracking a conspiracy that will test the bonds of loyalty and love.

Download these and others here!

Zeus ValentineArtemis Valentine Medusa Valentine