Cover Launch: MISTRESS OF LIES by K.M. Enright

Fate is a cruel mistress. Enter the decadent world of Aeravin, where knowledge is dangerous and blood is power. We’re thrilled to reveal the gorgeous cover for Mistress of Lies, publishing in the US and UK in August 2024.

The beautiful cover was designed by Ella Garrett and illustrated by Felix Abel Klaer. Read on for a taste of what’s in store. . .

Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright. A woman's bust, wearing a luscious red and gold brocade dress, holds an ornate dagger, she's surrounded by red and white roses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.


Praise for Mistress of Lies:

‘A dark, delicate, beauty of a novel, with all the edges of sharpened steel’ K.S. Villoso, author of The Wolf of Oren-Yaro

‘Mistress of Lies is a honey trap of romance and royaltycore that leaves no corroded stone unturned when delving into the corruption at the heart of monarchy’ Ladz, author of The Fealty of Monsters

‘A cunning and clawed fantasy romance. Whether manoeuvring cutthroat society parties or scorching bedroom alliances, Enright’s characters crackle with chemistry, pitting loyalty against clashing ideals in a twisting murder mystery that will leave you breathless to the very end’ S. A. MacLean, author of The Phoenix Keeper

 

Acquisition Announcement: THE LAST VIGILANT by Mark A. Latham

Mark A. LathamCorruption plagues the land. Children are disappearing from their homes. These are dark times. Only the legendary Vigilants can bring salvation, and they haven’t been seen in decades. But when a soldier investigating dead ends in a backwater town finds himself face-to-face with the last member of the ancient order, he realizes that she could be the answer he’s looking for. If only he can convince her to help…

We’re thrilled to announce the acquisition of The Last Vigilant by Mark A. Latham, the first book in a gripping new epic fantasy trilogy. Perfect for fans of The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan and The Pariah by Anthony Ryan, this fantasy mystery is packed with ancient magic, intricate conspiracies, and unforgettable characters. We can’t wait to bring you The Last Vigilant in early 2025—in the meantime, please join us in welcoming Mark A. Latham to Orbit!

Read on for a taste of what’s in store:

 

Shunned by the soldiers he commands, haunted by past tragedies, Sargent Holt Hawley is a broken man. But the child of a powerful ally has gone missing, and war between once peaceful nations is on the horizon. So, he and his squad have been sent to find a myth: the Vigilant. They are a rumored last survivor of an ancient order capable of performing acts of magic, and they’ve been lost to the world for decades. No one truly expects Hawley to succeed.

When he is forced to abandon his men, he stumbles upon a woman who claims to be the Last Vigilant. Enelda Drake is wizened and out of practice, and she seems a far cry from the heroes of legend. But they will need her powers, and each other, to survive. For nothing in the town of Scarfell is as it seems. Corrupt soldiers and calculating politicians thwart their efforts at every turn.

And there are dark whispers on the wind threatening the arrival of an ancient and powerful enemy. The Last Vigilant is not the only myth returning from the dead.

 

Mark A. Latham is a writer, editor, history nerd, proud dogfather, frustrated grunge singer and amateur baker from Staffordshire, UK. An immigrant to rural Nottinghamshire, he lives in a very old house (sadly not haunted), and is still regarded in the village as a foreigner. 

Formerly the editor of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf magazine, Mark is now a full-time writer and narrative consultant, and still dabbles in tabletop games design while writing strange, fantastical and macabre tales. 

Visit Mark’s website at mark-latham.com.

Jennie Goloboy at the Donald Maass Literary Agency sold World rights to Orbit US Senior Editor Bradley Englert for The Last Vigilant plus two additional novels in the series. Senior Commissioning Editor James Long acquired for Orbit UK.

Cover Launch: THE SLAIN DIVINE by David Dalglish

Cover launch! Take a look at the cover of The Slain Divine (US | UK) by David Dalglish. You can pick up the final installment in The Vagrant Gods trilogy in January 2024.

The Slain Divine by David Dalglish

Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto; Cover Illustration by Chase Stone

In the thrilling conclusion to USA Today bestselling author David Dalglish’s new epic fantasy trilogy, a usurped prince must master the magic of shadows in order to reclaim his kingdom and his people.

The Everlorn Empire’s grip on Thanet is tighter than ever. The God-Incarnate himself has arrived on its shores to crush the struggling rebellion and carry out his final, sinister plan: he will sacrifice the entire island in order to rise, reincarnated from its ashes.

The rebellion is struggling to separate allies from enemies, and to figure out a way to stop the slow destruction of everything and everyone they care for. Meanwhile, Cyrus is disappearing deeper beneath the vicious mask of the “Vagrant”. Under the mantle of the legendary assassin, he may be strong enough to take down the Empire, but at what cost?

The Vagrant Gods
The Bladed Faith (US | UK)
The Sapphire Altar (US | UK)

Cover Launch: GODDESS OF THE RIVER by Vaishnavi Patel

Cover launch! Take your first look at the cover of Goddess of the River (US | UK) by Vaishnavi Patel. You can pick up this standalone novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi (US | UK) in Summer 2024.

Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel

Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

A powerful reimagining of the story of Ganga, goddess of the river, and her doomed mortal son, from Vaishnavi Patel, author of the instant New York Times bestseller Kaikeyi.

A mother and a son. A goddess and a prince. A curse and an oath. A river whose course will change the fate of the world.

Ganga, joyful goddess of the river, serves as caretaker to the mischievous godlings who roam her banks. But when their antics incur the wrath of a powerful sage, Ganga is cursed to become mortal, bound to her human form until she fulfills the obligations of the curse.

Though she knows nothing of mortal life, Ganga weds King Shantanu and becomes a queen, determined to regain her freedom no matter the cost. But in a cruel turn of fate, just as she is freed of her binding, she is forced to leave her infant son behind.

Her son, prince Devavrata, unwittingly carries the legacy of Ganga’s curse. And when he makes an oath that he will never claim his father’s throne, he sets in motion a chain of events that will end in a terrible and tragic war.

As the years unfold, Ganga and Devavrata are drawn together again and again, each confluence another step on a path that has been written in the stars, in this deeply moving and masterful tale of duty, destiny, and the unwavering bond between mother and son.

Cover Launch: LAKE OF SOULS by Ann Leckie

Cover launch! Take your first look at the cover of Lake of Souls (US | UK) by Ann Leckie! You can pick up this collection of short fiction featuring a brand new novelette in Winter 2024.

Lake of Souls by Ann Leckie

Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto

Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke award-winner Ann Leckie is a modern master of the SFF genre, forever changing its landscape with her groundbreaking ideas and powerful voice. Now, available for the first time comes the complete collection of Leckie’s short fiction, including a brand new novelette, Lake of Souls.

Journey across the stars of the Imperial Radch universe.

Listen to the words of the Old Gods that ruled The Raven Tower.

Learn the secrets of the mysterious Lake of Souls.

And so much more, in this masterfully wide-ranging and immersive short fiction collection from award-winning author Ann Leckie.

Acquisition Announcement: GREENTEETH by Molly O’Neill

Orbit is delighted to announce the acquisition of GREENTEETH, a heartwarming fantasy novel of fae, folklore and found family by debut author Molly O’Neill. It tells the story of Jenny Greenteeth – a lake-dwelling monster from British myth – and the magical quest she goes on after her peaceful existence is shattered by a witch being thrown into her lake. Packed full of adventure, magic and heart, this utterly charming debut is perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Megan Bannen and Olivia Atwater.

Read on for a taste of what’s in store:

‘The witch looked surprised to see me, her eyes blinking furiously at me through murky waters. I don’t know why she was so astonished. It was my lake she’d been thrown into; she should have expected I’d come and see if there was anyone worth eating.’

Beneath the still surface of a lake lurks a monster with needle-sharp teeth. Hungry and ready to pounce. Jenny Greenteeth has never spoken to a human before, but when a witch is thrown into her lake, something makes Jenny decide she’s worth saving.

Temperance doesn’t know why her village has suddenly turned against her, only that it has something to do with the malevolent new pastor. Though they have nothing in common, these two must band together on a magical quest to defeat the evil that threatens Jenny’s lake and Temperance’s family – as well as the very soul of Britain.

Molly O’Neill is a fantasy author and engineering geologist. She was born and raised in the Cotswolds and moved to Australia in 2019. She now lives in Sydney, on the land of the Gadigal People. Molly writes fantasy books inspired by the beautiful landscapes of her two countries, and by the folklore of the British Isles. She particularly loves the darker Arthurian legends and the Welsh myths of the Mabinogion and often uses them as a foundation for her stories. When not furiously scribbling ideas into a notebook Molly can be found looking intensely at rocks, paddling on the Sydney beaches, or searching for the perfect taco. Greenteeth is her debut novel.

We can’t wait to share Greenteeth with readers in 2025! In the meantime, please join us in welcoming Molly to Orbit. She can be found on Twitter @MollyONeill21

Orbit UK senior commissioning editor Emily Byron acquired World English rights from Sam Edenborough at Greyhound Literary.

Cover launch: BREAKS, an enemies-to-lovers comic by Emma Vieceli and Malin Rydén

As launched today at Bleeding Cool News, we’re excited to share the cover of upcoming Orbit graphic novel, Breaks: Volume One!

With millions of views and thousands of subscribers on webcomic platforms, Breaks is ‘a high school love story, but a little bit broken’.

In 2024, Orbit UK are proud to be bringing the complete three volumes from Emma Vieceli and Malin Rydén into print for the first time. Look out for vol. 1 in February, and the others to follow later in the year.

Before Heartstopper, there was Breaks . . . the enemies-to-lovers queer comic book sensation.
Cortland Hunt has made some dangerous mistakes. Now he’s waiting quietly for those mistakes to catch up with him. Ian Tanner coasts through life denying the spark of anger beneath his laid back exterior. When school politics and personal lives become a battleground, the pair find that what they share may just be their only safe haven. Breaks is the story of two young men discovering who they were, who they are, and who they will become.

This gorgeous cover is drawn by Breaks artist Emma Vieceli, with art direction by Ella Garrett (Little, Brown Book Group).


The cover for the romance comic BREAKS: Volume One

Cover Launch: THE BITTER CROWN by Justin Lee Anderson

Cover launch! Take your first look at the cover of The Bitter Crown (US | UK) by Justin Lee Anderson! If you haven’t had a chance to pick up The Lost War (US | UK) yet, you still can before The Bitter Crown arrives in December 2023.

The Bitter Crown by Justin Lee Anderson

Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto, Cover Illustration by Jeremy Wilson

A war once held in the shadows now escalates into full-scale revolution in the second novel of Justin Lee Anderson’s epic Eidyn Saga.

The fog of war is lifted and the conspiracy at the heart of Eidyn finally exposed. Now that they know the truth, Aranok and his allies must find a way to free a country that doesn’t know it’s held captive. But with divided loyalties and his closest friendship shaken, can their alliance hold against overwhelming odds? The quest to retake the country begins here.

“An eclectic cast of characters traverse a war-ravaged kingdom as Anderson’s cleverly constructed plot winds its way towards a truly unexpected denouement. Rich in action and intrigue, this fantasy adventure with a Scottish flavor is sure to please fans of David Gemmell.” —Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author​

Cover Launch: HOW TO MAKE A HORROR MOVIE AND SURVIVE by Craig DiLouie

Cover launch! Take your first look at the cover of How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive (US) by Craig DiLouie! You can pick up a copy in Summer 2024.

How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie

Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

From Bram Stoker Award‑nominated author Craig DiLouie comes a darkly humorous horror novel that sees a famous 80s slasher director set out to shoot the most terrifying horror movie ever made using an occult camera that might be (and probably is) demonic.

Horror isn’t horror unless it’s real.

Max Maury should be on top of the world. He’s a famous horror director. Actors love him. Hollywood needs him. He’s making money hand over fist. But it’s the 80s, and he’s directing cheap slashers for audiences who only crave more blood, not real art. Not real horror. And Max’s slimy producer refuses to fund any of his new ideas.

Sally Priest dreams of being the Final Girl. She knows she’s got what it takes to score the lead role, even if she’s only been cast in small parts so far. When Sally meets Max at his latest wrap party, she sets out to impress him and prove her scream queen prowess.

But when Max discovers an old camera that filmed a very real Hollywood horror, he knows that he has to use this camera for his next movie. The only problem is that it came with a cryptic warning and sometimes wails.

By the time Max discovers the true evil lying within, he’s already dead set on finishing the scariest movie ever put to film, and like it or not, it’s Sally’s time to shine as the Final Girl.