Archive for Orbit US

Cover Launch: WILDWOOD WHISPERS by Willa Reece

Discover your next magical read! Willa Reece’s lush debut novel, WILDWOOD WHISPERS, is a beautifully-crafted tale of hope after traumatic loss, folk magic, and the strong, and often healing, bonds between women. Landing at your nearest bookstore in August 2021, check out the gorgeous cover below and make sure to say hi to Willa on Twitter @ReeceWilla.

Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio; Cover photographs by Mike Heath, Arcangel, Getty Images and Shutterstock

A heartwarming novel of hope, fate, and folk magic unfolds when a young woman travels to a sleepy southern town in the Appalachian Mountains to bury her best friend. 

Mel Smith has always known life isn’t easy. After all, she was abandoned as an infant and raised in foster care. But still, when the only bright spot in her life, her best friend Sarah Ross, unexpectedly dies, it’s a heartbreak unlike any other.

A final promise to lay Sarah to rest in the Ross wildwood garden draws Mel to Morgan’s Gap, a small town nestled in the shadows of the Appalachian Mountains. Yet Morgan’s Gap is more than a land of morning mists and deep forest shadows.

There are secrets that call to Mel, in the gaze of the gnarled and knowing woman everyone calls “Granny,” who seems to have expected her; in a salvaged remedy book filled with healing tinctures and salves; in the strange connection she feels to the Ross homestead and the wilderness around it. In fulfilling her promise, Mel might end up finding home—and remain connected to Sarah—in a way she least expected.

The wildwood is whispering. It has secrets to reveal—if you’re willing to listen…

 

 

 

Cover Launch: THE LIGHT OF THE MIDNIGHT STARS by Rena Rossner

Looking for an immersive fairytale-inspired novel to sweep you off of your feet? Rena Rossner, author of THE SISTERS OF THE WINTER WOOD (US | UK) , returns with a dazzling new book full of magic, history, and Jewish folklore: THE LIGHT OF THE MIDNIGHT STARS. Hitting shelves in April 2021, behold the gorgeous cover and then head over to Hypable to read an excerpt!

Cover Illustration by Tran Nguyen and Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto

Deep in the Hungarian woods, the sacred magic of King Solomon lives on in his descendants. Gathering under the midnight stars, they pray, sing and perform small miracles – and none are more gifted than the great Rabbi Isaac and his three daughters. Each one is blessed with a unique talent – whether it be coaxing plants to grow, or predicting the future by reading the path of the stars.

When a fateful decision to help an outsider ends in an accusation of witchcraft, fire blazes through their village. Rabbi Isaac and his family are forced to flee, to abandon their magic and settle into a new way of life. But a dark fog is making its way across Europe and will, in the end, reach even those who thought they could run from it. Each of the sisters will have to make a choice – and change the future of their family forever.

Previous praise for Rena Rossner

“With luscious and hypnotic prose, Rena Rossner tells a gripping, powerful story of family, sisterhood, and two young women trying to find their way in the world. I gulped it down!”
— Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe

“Intricately crafted, gorgeously rendered…full of heart, history, and enchantment.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The Sisters of the Winter Wood is a graceful, poetic, deeply moving novel. A simply gorgeous book in every sense.”
— Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches

“Rossner’s debut weaves a richly detailed story of Jewish identity and sisterhood… emotionally charged, full of sharp historical detail and well-deployed Yiddish phrases…Ambitious and surprising.”
— Kirkus

Cover Launch: VOIDBREAKER by David Dalglish

Your favorite monster-hunter is back and better than ever. Devin Eveson is the Soulkeeper, honor-bound to protect humanity from monsters once thought to be only legend. Devin’s saga began with  SOULKEEPER (US | UK) and its sequel RAVENCALLER (US | UK), and now finds its explosive conclusion in VOIDBREAKER (US | UK). In a world overrun by monsters, Devin will have to face his most dangerous enemy yet—his own sister. Their battle is front and center in VOIDBREAKER’S brilliant cover—check it out!

If you haven’t yet caught up on Devin’s adventures make sure to get in on the action and pick up Soulkeeper and Ravencaller!

When magical creatures storm the gates of Londheim and declare it for themselves, Devin, a warrior priest, must decide who the true monsters are in the final book of USA Today bestseller David Dalglish’s epic fantasy trilogy.

Monsters have retaken the capital city of Londheim and claimed it for themselves. Humanity, fearful of being pushed out for good, has reacted with violence and destruction, and peace between the two races seems all but impossible. Devin will need to bring all his skills to bear in order to find a solution. But the greatest threat to humanity’s safety may well be closer than he expects. Because his sister is the most powerful priestess the world has ever seen… and she’s fighting for the monsters.

The fate of all races, human and magical, rests in their hands, and the only person standing in their way is each other. (more…)

Cover Launch: A RADICAL ACT OF FREE MAGIC by H. G. Parry

Enjoy history as you’ve never seen it before! A RADICAL ACT OF FREE MAGIC is the ambitious sequel to H. G. Parry’s A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAGICIANS (US | UK), which Publishers Weekly gave a starred review and called a “poetic tale of justice, liberation, and dark magic.” While you wait in anticipation for its July 2021 release, feast your eyes on the brilliant cover designed by Orbit’s own Lisa Marie Pompilio.

The Concord has been broken, and a war of magic engulfs the world.

In France, the brilliant young battle-mage Napoleon Bonaparte has summoned a kraken from the depths, and under his command the Army of the Dead have all but conquered Europe. Britain fights back, protected by the gulf of the channel and powerful fire-magic, but Wilberforce’s own battle to bring about free magic and abolition has met a dead end in the face of an increasingly fearful and repressive government. In Saint Domingue, Fina watches as Toussaint Louverture navigates these opposing forces to liberate the country.

But there is another, even darker war being fought beneath the surface: the first vampire war in hundreds of years. The enemy blood magician who orchestrated Robespierre’s downfall is using the Revolutionary Wars to bring about a return to dark magic to claim all of Europe. Across the world, only a few know of his existence and the choices they make will shape the new age of magic.

Praise for A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAGICIANS

“A rich, sprawling epic full of history and magic, Declaration is Jonathan Strange with international politics and vampires. I loved it.”  —Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

“A witty, riveting historical fantasy…. Parry has a historian’s eye for period detail and weaves real figures from history-including Robespierre and Toussaint L’Ouverture-throughout her poetic tale of justice, liberation, and dark magic. This is a knockout.”  —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Impeccably researched and epically written, this novel is a stellar start to what promises to be a grand new fantasy series.”  —Booklist (starred review)

“I absolutely loved it. It held my attention from the beginning and throughout. It’s a beautiful tapestry of words, a combination of carefully observed and researched history and a well-thought-out and fascinating system of magic. An absolute delight to read; splendid and fluid, with beautiful and complex use of language.”  —Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library

“Magnificent…[turns] the part of history class you might have slept through into something new, exciting and deeply magical.” —BookPage

“Fans of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell will be enchanted by this sprawling epic of revolution and dark magic.”   —Locus

“It’s no simple task to wrangle fifteen years of tumult in a few hundred pages, but Parry manages it with a deft hand. Her alternate history puts a human face on the titans of the past, while weaving in supernatural elements that add a whole new dimension. I stayed up well past my bedtime to find out what happens next.” —Marie Brennan, author of the Memoirs of Lady Trent series

“Impressively intricate; fans of the magic-and-history of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell will be delighted.”  —Alexandra Rowland, author of A Conspiracy of Truths

Acquisition Announcement: THE BODY SCOUT by Lincoln Michel

If you’re looking for something truly one-of-a-kind to add to your TBR, scroll no further. Orbit is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Columbia University and Sarah Lawrence MFA instructor Lincoln Michel’s sci-fi thriller THE BODY SCOUT, a diamond-sharp and savagely wry portrait of an all-too-possible future where the human body is just another product.

Set in a future New York ravaged by climate change and repeat pandemics, The Body Scout follows hard-boiled cyborg scout Kobo. Kobo has some problems. His cybernetics are a decade out of date, he’s got a pair of twin sister loan sharks knocking on his door, and his work scouting for a baseball league run by pharmaceutical companies is about to go belly-up. Things couldn’t get much worse. Then his childhood best friend–Monsanto Mets slugger J.J. Zunz–is murdered at home plate. Determined to find the killer, Kobo plunges into the dark corners and glittering cloud condos of a world where genetic editing and advanced drugs mean you can have any body you want-as long as you can afford it. But even among the philosophical Neanderthals, zootech weapons, and genetically modified CEOs who decorate their offices with living bio-sculptures, there’s a curveball he never could have called, and a sordid secret he’ll have to risk everything to uncover.

This is a truly can’t-miss literary thriller that explores the gloriously weird intersection of biopunk, baseball, and the human condition—follow the author on Twitter so you don’t miss any updates!

Read an excerpt from THE UNBROKEN by C. L. Clark

Orbit is so excited to share the cover and a short preview for C.L. Clark’s incredible debut fantasy, THE UNBROKEN.  In a crumbling kingdom inspired by the deserts of North Africa, two women’s lives will become irrevocably changed—one a solider haunted by the past, the other a dethroned princess who saves her from certain death.

Io9 unveiled the striking cover for The Unbroken, designed by Lauren Panepinto with stellar art by Tommy Arnold.

The Unbroken will be out in print, ebook, and audio on March 23, 2021. Read on for the description of this unmissable epic!

Touraine is a soldier. Stolen as a child and raised to kill and die for the empire, her only loyalty is to her fellow conscripts. But now, her company has been sent back to her homeland to stop a rebellion, and the ties of blood may be stronger than she thought.

Luca needs a turncoat. Someone desperate enough to tiptoe the bayonet’s edge between treason and orders. Someone who can sway the rebels toward peace, while Luca focuses on what really matters: getting her uncle off her throne.

Through assassinations and massacres, in bedrooms and war rooms, Touraine and Luca will haggle over the price of a nation. But some things aren’t for sale.

Read the first two chapters now!

2020 World Fantasy Award Nominees

We’re thrilled to announce Orbit has three books on the shortlist for the 2020 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel!

  • QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED by Kacen Callender (Orbit)
  • THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY (US | UK) by Alix E. Harrow (Redhook)
  • THE RAVEN TOWER (US | UK) by Ann Leckie (Orbit)

 

This is the first nomination in this category of the award for all three authors. Locus has published the full list of nominees.

The winners will be announced at this year’s (virtual) World Fantasy Convention, which will take place October 29 – November 1.

Acquisition Announcement: Orbit has acquired a new trilogy from R. S. Ford!

Are you looking for the next big epic fantasy series? Orbit is thrilled to announce the acquisition of a brand-new trilogy from author R. S. Ford. With a unique magic system inspired by inventors and artificers, and a compelling cast of characters, this new series follows one family as they struggle to stop a dark revolution from tearing their country – and their family – apart.

The nation of Torwyn is ruled by the Guilds – a powerful group of families who control the country’s varying magical and mechanical industries. Over centuries the influence of the Guilds has grown, and now the people of Torwyn revere these idols of industry more than their history. But the once powerful Draconate Ministry has a new leader, and he is determined to restore the power of his faith. When a foreign emissary travels to Torwyn to broker peace, Lady Rosomon, matriarch of the Hawkspur Guild, is summoned to the capital with her children. Before she knows it, her heirs – an artificer, a mage-turned-diplomat, and a military captain – are sent to the far reaches of the nation, each with their own personal quest to defend Torwyn from those who would see it burn. 

This trilogy is truly epic in scale, engineering a brilliant tale of impending revolution, prophesied draconic gods, magical artifice creations, loyalty, family, and more—a real doorstopper. You don’t want to miss out on this one, publishing in early 2022. Follow the author on Twitter to learn more about the lore.

Orbit US editor Bradley Englert acquired the trilogy for World rights from John Jarrold.

 

Orbit at Comic-Con @ Home!

This year, San Diego Comic-Con will take place online as “Comic-Con @ Home,” and it will be fully open to the public. If you’ve always wanted to attend SDCC, this is your chance!

Join Orbit at our “New Voices in Science Fiction & Fantasy” panel on Thursday, July 23 at 5 PM Pacific (8 PM Eastern). This panel features some of our 2020 debut authors: K.S. Villoso, Luke Arnold, Constance Sayers, Devin Madson, Andrea Stewart, Essa Hansen, and M.A. Carrick. Plus, there will be guest appearances from other, beloved Orbit authors.

Register to watch | Watch on YouTube 

Redhook author Alix E. Harrow will also appear on the “Personal, Political, Fictional, and Factual” panel on Saturday, July 25th at 12 PM Pacific (3 PM Eastern). This panel features authors who address serious, important topics in science fiction, fantasy, and graphic novels. It’s a great fit for Harrow’s THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES (Redhook; October), which tackles the women’s suffrage movement, in the 100th anniversary year of the 19th Amendment.

Register to watch | Watch on YouTube

Acquisition News: Orbit to publish a new science fiction trilogy from Adrian Tchaikovsky!

We are thrilled to announce that we have acquired three new science fiction novels by Adrian Tchaikovsky, the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of CHILDREN OF TIME and CHILDREN OF RUIN, for publication in the US. The books were acquired from Pan Macmillan, who will publish the novels on the Tor imprint in the UK, by Orbit senior editor Brit Hvide.

The new far-future science fiction trilogy begins with SHARDS OF EARTH, which will be published worldwide in spring 2021. The novel is set fifty years after a war that nearly extinguished humanity, when the enemies of the human race reappear after a long silence.

Adrian Tchaikovsky says: “I am absolutely delighted to launch this new space opera. I had a blast writing the first volume and I’m looking forward to everywhere the series is going to go.”

Tchaikovsky’s next work is THE DOORS OF EDEN, which will be published by Orbit in the US on September 22, 2020.

Praise for Adrian Tchaikovsky: 

“Children of Time is a joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human.” —Patrick Ness

“Brilliant science fiction and far out world building” —James McAvoy

“A refreshingly new take on post-dystopia civilizations, with the smartest evolutionary worldbuilding you’ll ever read” — Peter F Hamilton

“A magnificently imaginative space opera.” — B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

“Like a Stephen Baxter novel with an epic sweep of history, added to a broad cast of a Peter Hamilton Space Opera and the narrative drive of, say, a David Brin or a Greg Bear old style SF novel, Children of Time soon got me hooked.” — SFF World

“Children of Time has that essence of the classic science fiction novels, that sense of wonder and unfettered imagination but combined with this is the charm of a writer who really knows how to entertain, how to spin a good story. Essential science fiction, a book not to be missed.” — SF Book

“The novel’s clever interrogation of the usual narrative of planetary conquest, and its thoughtful depiction of two alien civilisations attempting to understand each other, is an exemplar of classic widescreen science fiction.” —New Scientist

“This is superior stuff, tackling big themes – gods, messiahs, artificial intelligence, alienness – with brio.” —Financial Times

“An entertaining and thought provoking novel of post humanity, survival and legacy.” — SF Signal

“Tchaikovsky’s prose is superb, and his world-building was exceptional, brilliantly realized on the page, and both fascinating and original.” — Civilian Reader