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Acquisition Announcement: TONIGHT, I BURN by Katharine J. Adams

Katharine J. Adams (Photo Credit: Tara Lemana)
Photo Credit: Tara Lemana

Orbit is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Tonight, I Burn by Katharine J. Adams! In this dark and decadent debut fantasy, a witch with the power to walk between the realms of Life and Death finds herself at the center of a magical rebellion—and a dangerous romance—that could destroy her coven and her soul.

Lush and romantic, witchy and wonderful, it’s perfect for fans of Hannah Whitten and Rachel Gillig. Tonight, I Burn is hitting shelves November 2023 and is sure to become your next autumn obsession!

Senior Editor Priyanka Krishnan acquired World English rights from Ernie Chiara at Fuse Literary, with Jenni Hill, Editorial Director at Orbit UK, taking UK rights. Kate Stephenson, Senior Publisher, acquired for Moa Press, Hachette New Zealand’s new imprint, and Jeanmarie Morosin acquired for Hachette Australia.

Learn more about the book below, and join us in welcoming Katharine to the Hachette family! You can find her on Twitter and Instagram: @katharinejadams.

 

Thorns, Tides, Embers, Storms, and Ores. All five covens are bound in servitude to the tyrant High Warden of Halstett.

Penny Albright is a daughter of the thorn coven, forced to patrol the veil between the realms of Life and Death, keeping it safe and whole. Each night, one thorn witch—and only one—must cross the veil by burning at the stake. Each morning, that witch returns with the help of their magical lifeline. Failure to follow the rules of Death risks them all.

 But one morning, Penny’s favorite sister Ella doesn’t return. And that night, determined to find her, Penny breaks the rules. She burns in secret.

 What she finds in Death is a manor that shouldn’t exist, home to the devastating Lord Malin, who shouldn’t be there. Malin offers Penny a dangerous deal: Ella’s freedom in exchange for information about the High Warden. 

 But all isn’t as it seems in Life or Death. Penny’s bargain leads her to Alice, a mysterious captive prophet… and to a rebellion brewing in the shadows of their city. And as Penny’s world splits between her growing love for the ethereal Alice in Life and her attraction to the seductive Malin, in Death, she’ll face a devastating choice.

 Because it’s not just her sister’s life that hangs in the balance. It’s the fate of all magic.

All it takes is one witch—and one spark—to set the world ablaze.

Cover Launch: THE MIDNIGHT KINGDOM by Tara Sim

The Midnight Kingdom (US) is the second installment of Tara Sim’s Dark Gods trilogy—“a glorious tapestry of magic and murderous gods” (Buzzfeed News)—coming August 2023. Check out the stunning cover below!

The Midnight Kingdom by Tara Sim

Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

In The Midnight Kingdom, each heir walks a dangerous path, attempting to undo the damage the gods have wrought across the four realms. But they live on borrowed time. The divine will have their war—and not all of them will survive it.

A cataclysmic battle to save the city of Nexus has left the four noble heirs scattered across the realms.

Taesia, the shadow-wielding rebel of House Lastrider, and Nikolas, the reluctant soldier of House Cyr, have been cast into Noctus, the realm of eternal night. But they are not alone. The dangerous and unpredictable god of light has traveled with them, and he will do anything in his power to destroy Noctus in his bid for cosmic control.

Risha, the peacekeeping necromancer of House Vakara, must navigate her way through Mortri, the realm of death. But still she cannot help the wayward spirits, nor does she have any idea how to return home. All she knows is that no mortal can survive for long in Mortri. And the creatures that prowl the realm of death don’t take kindly to the living.

Angelica, the stubborn elementalist of House Mardova, is on her own in Vitae, trying to keep Nexus from unraveling. But Angelica secretly suffers from an illness that her god left in her veins. And when she is sent on a delicate diplomatic mission, she knows that any weakness will have disastrous repercussions for her family, her kingdom, and her dreams of the throne.

All will encounter old friends and new enemies as they attempt to restore the balance of the universe. But the gods grow stronger. And their descendants will need more than their magic and their wits to survive the war that is coming…

Acquisition Announcement: THE CITY OF STARDUST by Georgia Summers

Georgia Summers

We’re delighted to announce Orbit’s sister imprint, Redhook, has acquired Georgia Summers’ rich and evocative fantasy debut, The City of Stardust.

Set in a world with the whimsy and darkness of a fairytale, The City of Stardust follows a woman who discovers her family owes a blood debt to a powerful being, and must venture into a hidden realm of magic, gods, and monsters to escape her fate. Perfect for readers of Alix E. Harrow and Erin Morgenstern, The City of Stardust will transport you to a world you’ll want to visit over and over again.

 

The Everly family is cursed. Every generation is destined to lose their best and brightest, taken by a woman named Penelope, who never ages, never sickens, and never forgives a debt.

When her mother vanishes in the middle of the night, the curse falls on Violet Everly—unless she can break it first. To do so, she must descend into a seductive, magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods, and monsters bent on revenge. And at the edges of the world, she’ll find the City of Stardust, where the Everly story began.

 

We can’t wait to share The City of Stardust with you in early 2024! And, in the meantime, please join us in welcoming Georgia to Orbit/Redhook. You can find her on Twitter @ge_summers.

Georgia Summers is half-British, half-Trinidadian, and spent most of her life living across the world, including Russia, Colombia, and the US. When she’s not doing bookish things, she’s planning her next great adventure. She currently lives in London, but she dreams of one day living in a haunted château with a ghost that cleans.

Cover Launch: THE FAITHLESS by C.L. Clark

In case you missed it, meet the cover of The Faithless (US | UK), the sequel to The Unbroken by C.L. Clark! You can take a closer look at the cover and read an exclusive first chapter excerpt here at io9. This next volume in The Magic of the Lost trilogy is coming March 2023. Read further for a synopsis and a cover comparison!

The Faithless by C.L. Clark

Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto; Cover Illustration by Tommy Arnold

In the second installment of C.L. Clark’s Magic of the Lost trilogy, soldier Touraine and princess Luca must return to Balladaire to reclaim Luca’s throne and to face the consequences of dismantling an empire.

The rebels have won, and the empire is withdrawing from Qazal. But undoing the tangled web that binds the two nations will not be easy, and Touraine and Luca will face their greatest challenge yet.

Luca needs to oust her uncle from the Balladairan throne once and for all and take her rightful place as Queen. But he won’t let go of power so easily. When he calls for a “Trial of Competence” and Luca’s allies start disappearing from her side, she will need to find a way to prove her might. And she knows someone who can help…

Touraine has found a home in the newly free country of Qazal. But she soon realizes that leading a country and leading a revolution are two very different tasks. And, even more importantly, if Luca’s uncle doesn’t ratify the treaty, the Qazali could end up right back where they started.

Together, the two women will have to come overcome their enemies, their history, and their heartbreak in order to find a way to secure Luca’s power and Touraine’s freedom.

The Unbroken and The Faithless by C.L. Clark

Cover Launch: TWO TWISTED CROWNS by Rachel Gillig

Two Twisted Crowns (US | UK) is the dark and luscious sequel to One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. The next volume in The Shepherd King is coming October 2023. Take a look at the stunning cover below!

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio; Cover Images by Trevillion Images and Shutterstock

One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Cover Launch: THE TRAITOR by Anthony Ryan

The Traitor (US | UK) is the final novel in The Covenant of Steel trilogy, an epic fantasy series of action, intrigue, and magic from Anthony Ryan, a master storyteller who has taken the fantasy world by storm. Take a look at the stunning cover below and pick up a copy in July 2023.

The Traitor by Anthony Ryan

Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto; Cover Illustration by Jaime Jones

Cover Launch: THE PHOENIX KING by Aparna Verma

The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma is first in a debut fantasy trilogy, coming August 2023. In a kingdom where fire is magic and the dunes hide secrets, an assassin and a princess face an ancient prophecy that would burn the world to ash. Take a look at the stunning cover below.

The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma

Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

The first in a sensational, action-packed debut epic fantasy trilogy in which an assassin and a princess navigate a world teetering on the edge of war and contend with an ancient prophecy that could remake the world. 

Yassen Knight was the Arohassin’s most notorious assassin until a horrible accident. Now, he’s hunted by the authorities and his former employer, both of whom want him dead. But when he seeks refuge with an old friend, he’s offered an irresistible deal: defend the heir of Ravence from the Arohassin, and earn his freedom once and for all.

Elena Ravence is preparing to ascend the throne. Trained since birth in statecraft, warfare, and the desert ways, Elena knows she is ready. She only lacks one thing: the ability to hold Fire, the magic that is meant to run in her family’s blood. And with her coronation only weeks away, she must learn quickly or lose her kingdom.

Leo Ravence is not ready to give up the crown. There’s still too much work to be done, too many battles to be won. But when an ancient prophecy threatens to undo his lifetime of work, Leo wages war on the heavens themselves to protect his legacy.

Cover Launch: THE LOST WAR by Justin Lee Anderson

Justin Lee Anderson’s sensational epic fantasy debut, The Lost War (US | UK), follows an emissary for the king as he gathers a group of strangers and embarks on a dangerous quest across a war-torn land. Take a look at the stunning cover below and pick up a copy in May 2023.

The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson

Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto; Cover Illustration by Jeremy Wilson

The war is over, but the beginnings of peace are delicate.

Demons continue to burn farmlands, violent mercenaries roam the wilds, and a plague is spreading. The country of Eidyn is on its knees.

In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first mage to be named King’s Envoy. And his latest task is to restore an exiled foreign queen to her throne.

The band of allies he assembles each have their own unique skills. But they are strangers to each other, and at every step across the ravaged land, a new threat emerges, lies are revealed, and distrust threatens to destroy everything they are working for. Somehow, Aranok must bring his companions together and uncover the conspiracy that threatens the kingdom—before war returns to the realms again.

 

We’re also excited to reveal the title of book two in The Eidyn Saga, The Bitter Crown coming October 2023!

The Bitter Crown by Justin Lee Anderson (Coming October 2023)

Acquisition Announcement: A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP by Sylvie Cathrall

Dive into the curious correspondence of Sylvie Cathrall’s delightful debut novel, A Letter to the Luminous Deep. Perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light and TJ Klune, A Letter to the Luminous Deep is a whimsical epistolary fantasy set in a mystical underwater world with mystery and heart-warming romance.

Orbit UK Commissioning editor Nadia Saward acquired World rights in the Sunken Archive duology from Natasha Mihell at The Rights Factory, with Senior Editor Priyanka Krishnan acquiring for Orbit US. Publication is planned for Spring 2024.

A red, white and black graphic that frames a portrait photo of debut author Sylvie Cathrall. The photo is in black and white, with Sylvie in profile. The text on the graphic reads: Acquisition Announcement, A Letter to the Luminous Deep, Sylvie Cathrall

A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.

Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.’s home, and she and Henerey vanish.

A year later, E.’s sister Sophy, and Henerey’s brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery of their siblings’ disappearances  with the letters, sketches and field notes left behind. As they uncover the wondrous love their siblings shared, Sophy and Vyerin learn the key to their disappearance – and what it could mean for life as they know it.

Acquiring editor Saward said: ‘I knew from the first paragraph I needed to acquire this book. The gorgeous underwater setting is unlike anything else I’ve seen in fantasy, and the epistolary romance between the two main characters, a brilliant but reclusive young woman and a renowned scholar, will break your heart and put it back together again.’

Author Sylvie Cathrall said: ‘Like a letter sent by chance to the perfect recipient, my epistolary fantasy found its ideal match in the Orbit team. I’m grateful for the opportunity to unlock the sunken archive that is A Letter to the Luminous Deep and share this curious correspondence with readers.’

Agent Natasha Mihell said: ‘The joy infusing A Letter to the Luminous Deep is sublime and propulsive, and the prose is handled with extraordinary grace. It is a story that will leave you with a deep trust in the beauty of life. Cathrall reminds us that, though we may sometimes feel disillusioned by our circumstances, we are all of us entitled to our own magical adventure. And we can own every aspect of ourselves, every step of the way.’

US editor Priyanka Krishnan said: ‘I want to say that reading this book felt like a breath of fresh air, but it doesn’t quite feel like the right analogy given the gorgeous underwater setting! However, it’s true—A Letter to the Luminous Deep is unlike anything I’ve read recently, and I adore it. It captured my attention with its unique world, its whimsical epistolary structure, and its charming letter banter (is there anything sexier than flirtation by post?) And it captured my heart with its emotional depth, the way it gently addresses trauma and mental health concerns, and its beautiful exploration of relationships (both romantic and familial). I love this book and am thrilled Orbit will be publishing it!’

About the author: Sylvie Cathrall writes stories of hope and healing with healthy doses of wonder and whimsy. She holds a graduate degree in odd Victorian art and has handled more than a few nineteenth-century letters (with great care). Sylvie married her former pen pal and lives in the mountains, where she dresses impractically and dreams of the sea.

You can find Sylvie on Instagram @sylviecathrall – go give her a follow!

Cover Launch: THE BONE SHARD WAR by Andrea Stewart

Andrea Stewart brings us the final book in her unmissable, action-packed, magic-laced epic fantasy trilogy, The Bone Shard War (US | UK). Take a look at the stunning cover below and pick up a copy when it arrives in bookstores April 2023.

The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart

Cover Design by Lauren Panepinto; Cover Illustration by Sasha Vinogradova

With the help of the Shardless Few, Jovis and Lin have defeated the construct army and the treacherous Ragan. But not all alliances are easy. The leader of the Shardless Few has debts to pay and a world to make over. And this new world does not need or want an Emperor.

But this is not the only thing to threaten the fragile peace. Now that fewer people are undergoing the Tithing Festival, the Alanga are returning, and not all of them are peaceful. While Jovis and Lin find allies in unlikely places, other Alanga begin to choose sides–and many are none too happy with the current regime or with the commoners.

With enemies on all sides, Empress Lin must decide if she should follow in the destructive steps of her forebears to save the Empire’s citizens and bring peace.