Archive for Orbit US

THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS by Constance Sayers

Were you captivated by Constance Sayers’s enchanting debut, A WITCH IN TIME, earlier this year? Then you’re in for a treat as Connie is back with an equally bewitching novel that is sure to sweep you away. Her new novel, THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS, is a magical tale of family secrets, sacrifice, and lost love spanning from Jazz Age Paris to modern-day America.

Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio; Cover Art by Arcangel and Shutterstock

Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder–a world where women weave illusions of magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. Bound to her family’s circus, it’s the only world Cecile Cabot knows until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2004: Lara Barnes is on top of the world, but when her fiancé disappears on their wedding day every plan she has for the future comes crashing down. Desperate, Lara’s search for answers unexpectedly lead to her great-grandmother’s journals.

Swept into a story of a dark circus and ill-fated love, secrets about Lara’s family history come to light and reveal a curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations. A curse that might be tied to her fiancé’s mysterious fate.

Look out for THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS in March 2021 and make sure to say hi to Connie on Twitter @constancesayers and check out her website!

 

 

THE MINISTRY FOR THE FUTURE is available now for pre-order!

From legendary science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson comes a vision of climate change unlike any ever imagined.

THE MINISTRY FOR THE FUTURE (US | UK) is now available for pre-order. Learn more about this new project from the author at Newsweek and reserve a signed copy for yourself exclusively from Barnes & Noble.

Pre-order in the US:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble (exclusive signed edition) | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo | More Stores

Pre-order in the UK:
Amazon | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo | Waterstones | More Stores

Established in 2025, the purpose of the new organization was simple: To advocate for the world’s future generations and to protect all living creatures, present and future. It soon became known as the Ministry for the Future, and this is its story.

The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all over the decades to come. Its setting is not a desolate, postapocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us — and in which we might just overcome the extraordinary challenges we face.

It is a novel both immediate and impactful, desperate and hopeful in equal measure, and it is one of the most powerful and original books on climate change ever written.

Praise for Kim Stanley Robinson:

“A sweeping, optimistic portrait of humanity’s ability to cooperate in the face of disaster. This heartfelt work of hard science-fiction is a must-read for anyone worried about the future of the planet.” —Publishers Weekly (starred)

“Robinson has established himself as the great humanist of speculative fiction.”—Village Voice

“One of the world’s finest working novelists, in any genre.”—Guardian

“If I had to choose one writer whose work will set the standard for science fiction in the future, it would be Kim Stanley Robinson.”—New York Times

“Kim Stanley Robinson is generally acknowledged as one of the greatest living science-fiction writers. . . . He is also, for my money, one of the most important political writers working in America today.”—New Yorker

“One of the finest writers of his generation.”—Locus

“Another stellar effort from one of the masters of the genre.”—Booklist

“[A] near—perfect marriage of the technical and the psychological.”—NPR Books

Acquisition Announcement: Introducing WILDWOOD WHISPERS by Willa Reece

Looking for your next magical read? I sure hope so! Redhook, Orbit’s sister imprint, has acquired an utterly captivating novel from author Willa Reece. WILDWOOD WHISPERS invites you into the Appalachian Mountains and once there, an enchanting tale of magic and dark secrets unfolds when a young woman travels to a sleepy Southern town to bury her best friend.

Lush and atmospheric, we can’t wait to share it with you next year. And, I’m really happy to share a short message from Willa on what inspired her to write Wildwood Whispers:

I live at the edge of a sprawling wild wood. What began as fear of the unknown has grown into a fascination with the flora, fauna, and history of the Appalachian region. But nothing fascinates me more than the women who’ve built lives in and around the tangle—learning from their environment and being inspired by the wild to resist the constant taming of the often too-patriarchal society found in the mountains. Their hushed voices have been channeled into the wide variety of arts and crafts and, yes, the kitchen magic I wove into Wildwood Whispers

Hand work is heart work and it is hard work, but it’s also powerful. You can see the power in callused hands weaving baskets and muscled forearms kneading dough, in berry-stained fingernails and needle-pricked fingers. It was easy to imagine a community where that kind of power finds a connection with nature and how that connection is feared by evil men who prefer to divide and conquer. [A wise woman’s wildwood garden is a celebration of empowerment and unity and the hope of finding rejuvenation together. It’s a personal hope of mine, especially now, and I’m thrilled to be able to share it with readers.]

WILDWOOD WHISPERS publishes Summer 2021, and, in the meantime, please join us in welcoming Willa Reece! You can find her at https://www.willareece.com/ and on Twitter at @ReeceWilla.

Orbit US editor Nivia Evans acquired North American rights from Lucienne Diver at The Knight Agency.

Cover Launch: THE IKESSAR FALCON by K. S. Villoso

Queen Talyien is back and looking more badass than ever in this stunning cover for THE IKESSAR FALCON (US | UK), the sequel to the critically acclaimed THE WOLF OF OREN-YARO (US | UK), which Library Journal gave a starred review and called “a new fantasy epic that readers will clamor for.”

In book two of The Chronicles of the Bitch Queen, Talyien discovers a dark conspiracy that would wrest the throne away from her and see her son dead. With the few allies she has left, Talyien must race back to Jin-Sayeng and confront the warlords, dark magic, and mad dragons who threaten her country’s fragile peace.

Art by Simon Goinard. Design by Lauren Panepinto.

The spiral to madness begins with a single push.

 Abandoned by her people, Queen Talyien’s quest takes a turn for the worst as she stumbles upon a plot deeper and more sinister than she could have ever imagined, one that will displace her king and see her son dead. The road home beckons, strewn with a tangled web of deceit and impossible horrors that unearth the nation’s true troubles – creatures from the dark, mad dragons, and men with hearts hungry for power.

To save her land, Talyien must confront the myth others have built around her: Warlord Yeshin’s daughter, symbol of peace, warrior and queen, and everything she could never be.

The price of failure is steep. Her friends are few. And a nation carved by a murderer can only be destined for war.

Praise for THE WOLF OF OREN-YARO:

“The Wolf of Oren-yaro is intricate, intimate, and intensely plotted. Full of subtle poignancy and remarkably genuine characters-even the rotten ones. I loved this book.”   — Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

“A powerful new voice in epic fantasy. Villoso deftly creates an intricate and compelling world of high fantasy intrigue and adventure dominated by a crafty, whip-smart heroine determined to unite her kingdom at any cost.”   — Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade

“Intimate and epic. It compels you to read on, because it’s a story about people not characters, civilizations not settings, and deadly power plays not sanitized throne-room politics.”   — Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons

“Deeply compelling and wonderfully entertaining, The Wolf of Oren-yaro feels at once timely and timeless. K. S. Villoso’s lush and finely crafted world envelops readers from the first page, as she takes us on an adventure full of heartache, hope, and triumph. It’s a fabulous read!”   — Josiah Bancroft, author of Senlin Ascends

“A tale balanced on the blade’s-edge between intrigue and action – and then Villoso twists the knife.”   — Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer

“Delivers complex and intriguing characters, and an action-packed plot full of surprising twists and deep, vivid world building.”    — Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage

“[A] remarkable tale of nonstop tension, action, and betrayal . . . This excellent work will appeal to all readers of epic fantasy.”   — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Readers will be swept in by this strong protagonist and stunning worldbuilding, with a plot full of questions and surprises. Villoso’s cunning, exciting debut is a new fantasy epic that readers will clamor for.”   — Library Journal (starred review)

“Villoso’s debut draws on Filipino culture and myths to create a detailed fantasy world and uses the first person narrative of a beleaguered queen to explore a tale of secrets, lies, betrayal, and treason.”   — Booklist

“K.S. Villoso’s The Wolf of Oren-yaro is a fascinating read, driven by a well-drawn cast of characters in a beautifully imagined world.”   — Book Page

“The Wolf of Oren-yaro is a high-fantasy thrill ride that fans of the genre will appreciate, particularly those thirsting for a strong female main character.”   — Ars Technica

“K.S. Villoso dismantled the heavily stereotyped strong female character within epic fantasy and built it anew. Queen Talyien is flawed, beautifully so, making her one of the more realistic female characters I’ve read to date.”    — Hypable

Cover Launch: THE TROUBLE WITH PEACE by Joe Abercrombie

A LITTLE HATRED arrived on the epic fantasy battlefield with much more than a little fanfare. The first book in Abercrombie’s latest trilogy, The Age of Madness, proved once again that he is “a master of his craft” (Forbes).

Yesterday, Forbes unveiled the cover for, THE TROUBLE WITH PEACE. And if you’ve read A Little Hatred, then you know there will, indeed, be trouble… (if you haven’t had a chance yet, well…what better time than now!).

Art by Sam Weber. Design by Lauren Panepinto.

The hardcover, ebook, and audio book all publish on September 15th.

Learn more at Forbes and read their review of A Little Hatred.

As we gear up for the publication of The Trouble with Peace, we’ll also be publishing the paperback edition of A Little Hatred on August 11th. We’ve slightly redesigned the cover for this new edition. Check it out below!

Art by Sam Weber. Design by Lauren Panepinto.

Praise for The Age of Madness Trilogy:

“Abercrombie squeezes your heart till it matches his beat. No one writes with the seismic scope or primal intensity of Joe Abercrombie.” – Pierce Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Abercrombie continues to do what he does best . . . . A vivid and jolting tale.” – Robin Hobb, New York Times bestselling author

“Highly recommended – a funny, finely-wrought, terrifically energetic work of high fantasy. Seek it out.” – Joe Hill, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Rife with emotion with wit to spare, both honed to an effortlessly fine edge. A Little Hatred is the joy of watching a master of the craft with his tools at their sharpest.” – Sam Sykes, author of Seven Blades in Black

“A Little Hatred is Abercrombie at his very best: witty, wise, and whip-smart. Masterfully plotted . . . . I had high hopes for this book, and it exceed them all.” – Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

“Brutal, unforgiving, and terribly fun. Everything awesome readers have come to expect from Joe Abercrombie.” – Brian McClellan, author of Sins of Empire

“Joe Abercrombie’s powerful voice raises the bar in any literary genre. Fantasy fans are beyond fortunate he chose this one.” – Myke Cole, author of The Armored Saint

“With expert craft, Abercrombie lays the groundwork for another thrilling trilogy.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say that he’s a master of his craft.” – Forbes

“Abercrombie unerringly juggles a large cast of multifaceted, morally ambiguous characters, each embroiled in their own complicated story.” – Booklist (starred review)

“A critical, compelling epic fantasy loaded with wonderfully drawn characters, the bloodletting tempered with sharp social commentary and a touch of satire . . . . It doesn’t feel like a stretch to say Abercrombie’s on his way to writing another masterpiece of epic fantasy.” – B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

“A Little Hatred may be the most accomplished work from a writer who many already consider a master.” – SFF World

“[Abercrombie] might have his most important series of novels yet.” — Locus

ICYMI: We Lie With Death by Devin Madson

Devin Madson’s propulsive epic fantasy, WE RIDE THE STORM (US |UK), is out next month. And hot on its heels is the equally captivating sequel, WE LIE WITH DEATH  in January 2021. Eager to learn more about it? Check out the stunning cover with art by Nico Delort and designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio and hop over to The Fantasy Inn to read the synopsis (mind the spoilers!).


We’re also thrilled to present the covers for Devin’s Vengeance Trilogy, a bold, fast-paced epic fantasy series that tells the story of Kisia, an empire on the edge of war. If you’ve raced through We Ride the Storm and would love to know more about Emperor Kin and Hana Otako these are the books for you!

They call him the Usurper.

Once the Kisian empire was ruled by gods. Now Kin Ts’ai, a man of common blood, sits on the Crimson Throne. At his command, the last Otako emperor was executed and a new era began. But claiming an empire is easier than holding it.

In the north where loyalty to the Otako name runs deep, a rebellion grows. And Emperor Kin will learn that killing one Otako, doesn’t mean you’ve killed them all.

Vengeance is coming.

The Blood of Whisperers (US | UK), The Gods of Vice (US | UK), and The Grave at Storm’s End (US | UK) publish in August and are available for preorder.

Cover Launch: THE MASK OF MIRRORS by M. A. Carrick

Today, we are so excited to welcome you to Nadežra, known as the City of Dreams, with the cover launch for M. A. Carrick’s spectacular new fantasy, THE MASK OF MIRRORS.

Nadežra is a city of dark intrigue and glimmering magic. A place where szorsas can read your fate in the face of a pattern card, and creatures of shadow and claw can devour your nightmares. In Nadežra, a mask might hide the face of a beautiful con artist, a daring vigilante, a charming criminal…or someone far more sinister. And we think this stunning cover, illustrated by Nekro, designed by Lauren Panepinto, is the perfect embodiment of all the secrets the city contains.

Releasing in January 2021, THE MASK OF MIRRORS is the highly anticipated start of the Rook & Rose trilogy by M. A. Carrick, the pseudonym for the dazzling author duo of Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms. You can read the first excerpt on io9 here, and preorder it now in the US or from your favorite UK retailer.

This is your past, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither.

Arenza Lenskaya is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadežra, she fled that world to save her sister.

This is your present, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither.

Renata Viraudax is a con artist recently arrived in Nadežra. She has one goal: to trick her way into a noble house and secure her fortune.

This is your future, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither.

As corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the City of Dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled–with Ren at their heart. And if she cannot sort the truth from the lies, it will mean the destruction of all her worlds.

Acquisition Announcement: FOR THE WOLF by Hannah Whitten

“The First Daughter is for the throne. The Second Daughter is for the Wolf.”

From the first lines, we knew that Hannah Whitten’s debut fantasy FOR THE WOLF was special. Dark, lush, romantic, and epic, it’s the kind of fantasy that sweeps you off your feet and never puts you back down again, destined to join the ranks of books like Spinning Silver and The Bear and the Nightingale. And, we are thrilled to have acquired world rights to the novel and its sequel in a pre-empt. Here’s a little bit more about the novel:

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose—to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods. 

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood—and her world—whole.

Get excited for FOR THE WOLF to publish in summer 2021, and in the meantime go say “hello” to the author Hannah Whitten on her website hannahfwhitten.com, on Twitter @hwhittenwrites, or on Instagram @hwhittenwrites!

Cover Launch: OUT PAST THE STARS by K. B. Wagers

It’s almost time for our favorite gunrunner empress, Hail Bristol, to go on her final adventure. Full of nonstop action and intrigue, intergalactic battles, and warring alien species, OUT PAST THE STARS is the dazzling conclusion to the Farian War.

While you have to wait until February 2021 to see how Hail’s journey ends, you can check out the spectacular cover now!

Art by Stephan Martiniere and designed by Lauren Panepinto

When Hail confronts the Farian gods, the last thing she expected was to discover they were part of an alien race called the Hiervet who’d attacked the galaxy long before humanity’s ancestors had crawled out of the sludge of Earth’s oceans.

The discovery carries with it dire news: The Hiervet are returning and this time they won’t stop until everyone bends to their will. Now the fate of the galaxy is on the line and Hail will have to make one final gamble to leverage chaos into peace. But success may cost her everything – including her life.

Haven’t picked up this action-packed space opera yet? Go check out THERE BEFORE THE CHAOS (US | UK) and DOWN AMONG THE DEAD (US | UK)!

Praise for the Farian War trilogy:

“Twisty and clever and magnificent, full of political maneuvers, space action, and genuine feeling.” –Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger

“An exciting dose of space opera and political intrigue peppered with hard choices. Highly recommended for fans of science fiction with assertive female characters.” –Booklist

“A perfect blend of political intrigue and realistically-conveyed action…. Kick-butt women, space battles, complex relationships, and fiendish plots abound.” – Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

“Action- and emotion-packed, folding political tension, personal relationships, and trauma into a vivid space opera that does not pull any punches.” –Library Journal (starred review)

Press Release: THE GIRL WHO COULD MOVE SH*T WITH HER MIND optioned for TV

Exciting news! THE GIRL WHO COULD MOVE SH*T WITH HER MIND by Jackson Ford @realjacksonford (who has just revealed his secret identity) is being developed for a TV series by none other than the production company behind the Star Trek TV franchise! See an excerpt from the press release sent out below:

In a competitive situation, rights for the Jackson Ford novel The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with her Mind have been optioned by Secret Hideout, the CBS Television Studios production company behind the Star Trek television franchise, who plan to develop it for television. The deal was brokered by Emily Hayward Whitlock at the Artists Partnership in association with Ed Wilson at Johnson & Alcock.

Described by author Maria Lewis as ‘Alias meets X-Men in a grimy LA setting’ and by the Guardian as a ‘madcap adventure, with some terrific jokes and plenty of tension’ that moves at ‘breakneck speed’, The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with her Mind tells the story of a woman with telekinetic abilities who works as a secret government operative. It is published worldwide by Orbit UK and Orbit US.

Jackson Ford is a pseudonym for the author Rob Boffard, a South African author currently living in Vancouver. He has previously released four science fiction novels with Orbit under the name Rob Boffard, and was a journalist for over a decade, writing articles for publications and sites including The Guardian, the BBC, Wired Magazine and io9. 

Now’s the perfect time to check out THE GIRL WHO COULD MOVE SH*T WITH HER MIND (UK|US|ANZ) if you haven’t done so already. And we’re pleased to say the sequel RANDOM SH*T FLYING THROUGH THE AIR (UK|US|ANZ) is coming this July!

Follow Jackson Ford here on Twitter and Instagram.