Archive for Orbit UK

ICYMI: THE BODY SCOUT by Lincoln Michel

Orbit is thrilled to share the cover for Lincoln Michel’s diamond-sharp sci-fi neo-noir, THE BODY SCOUT. When his brother is murdered at home plate, a hardboiled baseball scout will have to plumb the underbelly of a New York transformed by climate change body modification to get revenge—but this is a game far bigger and more dangerous than he could have imagined.

Lithub unveiled the striking cover for The Body Scout, designed by Orbit’s own Lauren Panepinto, along with an early excerpt—click through for a sneak peek of the first chapter!

The Body Scout will be out in print, ebook, and audio in October. Read on for a short description of this unmissable near-future thriller:

In the future you can have anybody you want–as long as you can afford it.

In a New York ravaged by climate change and repeat pandemics, Kobo is barely scraping by. He scouts the latest in gene-edited talent for Big Pharma-owned baseball teams, but his own cybernetics are a decade out of date and twin sister loan sharks are banging down his door. Things couldn’t get much worse.

Then his adoptive brother—Monsanto Mets slugger J.J. Zunz—is murdered at home plate.

Determined to find the killer, Kobo plunges into a world of genetically modified CEOs, philosophical Neanderthals, and back-alley body modification, only to quickly find he’s in a game far bigger and more corrupt than he imagined. To keep himself together while the world is falling apart, he’ll have to navigate a time when both body and soul are sold to the highest bidder.

Diamond-sharp and savagely wry, The Body Scout is a timely science fiction thriller set in an all-too-possible future.

 

 

Cover Launch: WE CRY FOR BLOOD by Devin Madson

Devin Madson’s bold and brutal epic fantasy series continues with the action-packed third novel, WE CRY FOR BLOOD. If you like your fantasy with “feudal political maneuvering, shifting alliances, and visceral descriptions of combat and its aftermath” (Booklist), you’ll want to snap this up when it publishes in August 2021!

Cover illustration by Nico Delort; Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

Ambition and schemes have left the Kisian Empire in ashes. Empress Miko Ts’ai will have to move fast if she hopes to secure a foothold in its ruins. However, the line between enemies and allies may not be as clear-cut as it first appeared.

After failing to win back his Swords, former Captain Rah e’Torin finds shelter among the Levanti deserters. But his presence in the camp threatens to fracture the group, putting him on a collision course with their enigmatic leader.

Assassin Cassandra Marius knows Leo Villius’s secret—one that could thwart his ambitions to conquer Kisia. But her time in Empress Hana’s body is running out and each attempt they make to exploit Leo’s weakness may be playing into his plans.

And, as Leo’s control over the Levanti emperor grows, Dishiva e’Jaroven is caught in his web. To successfully challenge him, she’ll have to decide how many of her people are worth sacrificing in order to win.

 

Don’t forget to check out the first two books in the Reborn Empire series if you haven’t already!

You can find Devin at her website and on Twitter.

 

Cover Launch: AZURA GHOST by Essa Hansen

NOPHEK GLOSS  (US | UK) stunned readers with its widescreen adventure, boundless imagination, bubble universes, alien species, and warm characters. Alastair Reynolds called it “A sucker punch to the senses…. A killer story with real heart and soul.” Now, its sequel AZURA GHOST  has a cover just as breathtaking as the story itself. Keep an eye out for Azura Ghost publishing November 2021 from Orbit US and UK!

Design by Lauren Panepinto, Illustration by Mike Heath/Magnus Creative 

Following Nophek Gloss comes the second book in this imaginative new space opera trilogy by debut author Essa Hansen – an action-packed adventure perfect for fans of Star Wars, Children of Time and A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet.

​Caiden has been on the run for ten years with his unique starship in order to keep his adversary, Threi, imprisoned. But when an old friend he’d once thought dead reappears, he is lured into a game of cat and mouse with the one person whose powers rival Threi’s: Threi’s sister Abriss. Now with both siblings on the hunt for Caiden and his ship, Caiden must rescue his long-lost friend from their clutches and uncover the source of both his ship’s power and his own origins in order to stop Abriss’s plan to collapse the multiverse.

 

Cover Launch: THE SHADOW OF THE GODS by John Gwynne

Last week saw the reveal of the dragon-tastic cover for THE SHADOW OF THE GODS, John Gwynne’s new Norse-inspired epic fantasy. If you missed it, then behold the cover below in all its awesomeness!

Illustration by Marcus Whinney, design by Bekki Guyatt

But that’s not all. Check out the full illustration for the complete ‘Wow, that’s a big dragon’ experience!

 

Set in a brand-new, Norse-inspired world, and packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance, THE SHADOW OF THE GODS begins an epic new fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne.

A century has passed since the gods fought and drove themselves to extinction. Yet their bones remain, promising great power to those brave enough to seek them out.

As whispers of war echo across the land of Vigrið, fate follows in the footsteps of three warriors. And all three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods . . .

THE SHADOW OF THE GODS – book one of the Bloodsworn Saga – publishes in May 2021. Pre-order: UK / US/ ANZ

Praise for John Gwynne:

‘John Gwynne is one of the modern masters of heroic fantasy’ Adrian Tchaikovsky

‘Reminds me of why I became a fantasy enthusiast in the first place’ Robin Hobb

‘John Gwynne writes fantasy with the heart of a hero and the inventiveness of a master mage’ Sebastien de Castell

‘Extraordinarily good . . . Gwynne is setting a new benchmark in fantasy’ Giles Kristian

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. His dogs think he is their slave.

Find John online at his website, on Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

 

Acquisition Announcement: THE GREAT WITCH OF BRITTANY

Witches of the world rejoice! We’re delighted to announce Orbit’s sister imprint, Redhook, has acquired a gorgeous new novel from author Louisa Morgan. Set during a time of witch burnings and revolution, THE GREAT WITCH OF BRITTANY follows young Ursule Orchière as she discovers a magic within her that will change the course of her life and reshape her family for generations to come.

Here are a few words from the author about what inspired her to write The Great Witch of Brittany:

For a writer, creating a character is like meeting a complete stranger who you get to know really well. When several readers of A Secret History of Witches asked to know more about the “great witch Ursule,” ancestress to the Orchière witches, I was intrigued by the idea and began to wonder what her story might be. 

In my own life, I’m inspired by the women I have watched endure and rise above the most difficult circumstances, women who may not be physically prepossessing, but are so strong spiritually and morally that they are unbreakable. Ursule turned out to be all those things. It was fascinating to me to ‘discover’ her roots and to witness the triumphs and tragedies which shaped her, and the challenges she met with the strength of her character, enhanced by the magic of the Orchière line. 

At the end of this process, I hated saying goodbye to Ursule. She was everything I had hoped she would be–not only as a great witch, but as a woman. I hope the readers who asked about her will be as pleased as I was to learn her story.

While you wait for this wonderful book to hit shelves, you can read Louisa’s previous standalone novels: A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES (US | UK), THE WITCH’S KIND (US | UK), and THE AGE OF WITCHES (US | UK). You can find her on Twitter at @WriterLouisa and https://www.louisemarley.com.

Orbit US editor Nivia Evans acquired World All Languages rights from Peter Rubie at FinePrint Literary Management. Orbit UK will publish in the UK.

 

 

 

Cover Launch: CHAINS OF THE EARTH by David Mealing

David Mealing’s intricate and epic fantasy trilogy comes to a close with the highly anticipated finale: CHAINS OF THE EARTH. In a tale filled with epic scale battles and intricate magic systems, our heroes Sarine, Arak’Jur, and Erris d’Errant will break all the rules and fight the gods themselves in order to save their world from eternal darkness. Haven’t caught up yet? Check out the other books in The Ascension Cycle. And in the meantime, check out this gorgeous cover!

Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio
Cover Images by Shutterstock

Praise for The Ascension Cycle trilogy:

“A great epic fantasy debut. Memorable characters, intriguing magic systems and a well-realised world”―James Islington

“Soul of the World is a magical book, almost overflowing with originality.”―The Quill to Live

“A riveting debut. It’s got everything I could possibly want in a fantasy book.”―Powder & Page Book Reviews

“The magic systems in this book are epic and the comparison to Sanderson and Rothfuss is quite deserved.”―On Starships and Dragonwings Book Reviews

Cover Launch: WILD SIGN by Patricia Briggs

We’re thrilled to reveal the gorgeous cover for WILD SIGN (UK|ANZ), the sixth book in the Alpha and Omega series from the queen of urban fantasy Patricia Briggs.

Mated werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham are back, and they must discover what could make an entire community disappear – before it’s too late.

Check out the fantastic cover designed by Duncan Spilling below. Read on for a taste of what’s in store for Charles and Anna next. . .

Book cover for WILD SIGN by Patricia Briggs - Alpha and Omega 6

In the wilds of the Northern California mountains, all the inhabitants of a small town have gone missing. It’s as if the people picked up and left everything they owned behind. Fearing something supernatural might be going on, the FBI taps a source they’ve consulted in the past: the werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham. But Charles and Anna soon find a deserted town is the least of the mysteries they face.

Death sings in the forest, and when it calls, Charles and Anna must answer. Something has awakened in the heart of the California mountains, something old and dangerous – and it has met werewolves before.

Praise for Patricia Briggs:

‘Patricia Briggs is an incredible writer’ Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling series

‘Patricia Briggs is amazing . . . Her Alpha and Omega novels are fantastic’ Fresh Fiction

‘I love these books!’ Charlaine Harris

‘The best new fantasy series I’ve read in years’ Kelley Armstrong

WILD SIGN is publishing in March 2021, you can pre-order your copy here: UK|ANZ.

Excitingly, this is also the first time we’ll be releasing a book in the Alpha and Omega series in hardback!

Don’t forget to follow Patricia Briggs on Twitter @Mercys_Garage and on Facebook @OfficialPatriciaBriggs.

The Alpha and Omega series:

The Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs (UK covers)

Acquisition Announcement: David Dalglish’s the VAGRANT GODS trilogy

Fantasy readers rejoice! Orbit has just bought a new trilogy from one of its most prolific authors: David Dalglish. The deal marks Dalglish’s fifteenth book with Orbit. That’s fifteen books filled with action packed battles, palace intrigue, monsters, mayhem, and magic galore!

We are thrilled that this new series will introduce readers to a world unlike any they’ve ever seen before. Filled with otherworldly assassins, dying gods, and false emperors the VAGRANT GODS trilogy is sure to be a favorite with fans of Brent Weeks, RJ Barker, and Scott Lynch.

The Reborn Empire murdered Prince Cyrus’s family. They conquered his nation, killed his goddess, and swept through his kingdom, imprisoning and executing any dissidents. They even tried to kill him. 

 But after faking his death, young Cyrus is smuggled into the care of the crumbling resistance, and offered a chance at revenge. The people need to believe they can win against the overwhelming forces of the empire. Cyrus can be that hope. He can become an assassin and a symbol. Hiding his face behind a skull mask with a silver crown, he can become the vagrant prince unwilling to surrender even beyond death.

 Cyrus won’t fight alone though. Legends will fight at his side. Stasia, a dual-ax wielding berserker. Mari, a god-whisperer who can shapeshift into the form of slain deities. Rayan, loyal paladin and defender of the throne who blames himself for the death of Cyrus’s parents. Arn, a heretical knight betraying the empire to redeem his many sins committed in its name.

 Ax, Lioness, Paladin, Heretic, and Vagrant: these five will be the spark of a new resistance. A new war. One that will go beyond a small, conquered nation, break the hold of an empire, and threaten the eternal life of the God-Emperor himself.

ICYMI: THE JASMINE THRONE by Tasha Suri

On the hunt for a gorgeous fantasy epic featuring powerful, morally grey lesbians; an intense, slow-burn romance; a wild and darkly magical forest; and a stunning exploration of the weight of inheritance and the cost of power? Look no further than THE JASMINE THRONE!

THE JASMINE THRONE is the first in the Burning Kingdoms trilogy by award-winning author Tasha Suri, and it is coming to your nearest bookstore in June 2021. Feast your eyes on the spectacular cover below, first revealed on SciFiNow–and be sure to say hi to Tasha on Twitter @tashadrinkstea after adding it to your preorder list!

Cover design by Lauren Panepinto, Illustration by Micah Epstein

A vengeful princess seeking to steal a throne.

A hidden priestess with ties to a mysterious forest.

Apart, they are dangerous. Together, they will set an empire ablaze.