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Acquisition Announcement: Hannah Whitten’s THE FOXGLOVE KING

Hannah Whitten’s debut novel FOR THE WOLF was a smash hit, instantly launching her onto the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. Her fans adore her lush writing, dark magic, smoldering love interests and indomitable heroines. And Orbit is thrilled to announce that we’ve just signed up a brand new series with her. This new epic fantasy trilogy, starting with THE FOXGLOVE KING, is a glittering, gothic tale of a young woman from the streets who suddenly finds herself swept up into a world of courtly intrigue, forbidden romance, and the dangerous death magic of Mortem. Get ready!!

When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

 

If you haven’t checked out FOR THE WOLF yet, what are you waiting for?! Grab a copy today: US | UK

Acquisition Announcement: THE STARS UNDYING by Emery Robin

In the first year of the Thirty-Third Dynasty, when He came to the planet where I was born and made of it a wasteland for glory’s sake, my ten-times-great grandfather’s king and lover Alekso Undying built on the ruins of the gods who had lived before Him Alectelo, the City of Endless Pearl, the Bride of Szayet, the Star of the Swordbelt Arm, the Ever-Living God’s Empty Grave.

He caught fever and filled that grave, ten months later. You can’t believe in names.

 

Clear your schedules—THE STARS UNDYING is about to be your new obsession.

Orbit is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Emery Robin’s stunning space opera debut and its sequel, which recasts the fates of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony among the stars. Perfect for fans of Ancillary Justice and A Memory Called Empire, this is space opera by way of Madeline Miller—timeless, epic, and completely enthralling.

Set in a world of sunken cities and sweeping starscapes, THE STARS UNDYING tells the story of Altragracia Patramata, a usurped princess and prophet determined to reclaim her throne at any cost. But when her path collides with that of ambitious commander Matheus Ceilha (and his beautiful but volatile lieutenant, Anita), she’s quickly torn between an alliance that fast becomes more than political and the wishes of the god—or machine—that whispers in her ear. To save her world, and herself, she’ll have to become a queen as history has never seen before—even if it breaks an empire.

We can’t wait to bring you THE STARS UNDYING next year—in the meantime, please join us in welcoming Emery Robin to Orbit! Follow along for updates on Twitter at @emwrobin.

 

Angeline Rodriguez acquired World English rights at auction from Isabel Kaufman at Fox Literary. Orbit UK editor Jenni Hill has secured UK rights.

Cover Launch: A SH*TLOAD OF CRAZY POWERS by Jackson Ford

TEAGAN FROST IS BACK!

And so is Annie, and Reggie, and Tanner, and the Batmobile, and burgers, and fried chicken, and explosions, and swear words . . .

Yes that’s right! This is the latest instalment in Jackson Ford‘s insanely awesome Frost Files series, A SH*TLOAD OF CRAZY POWERS (May 2022) . And we sh*t you not, this is Teagan’s awesomest adventure yet.

The spectacular cover was designed by Sophie Harris, and you can read on to find out what’s in store for Teagan and the China Shop crew.

Teagan Frost has enough sh*t to deal with, between her job as a telekinetic government operative and a certain pair of siblings who have returned from the dead to wreak havoc with their powers. But little does she know, things are about to get even more crazy . . .

Teagan might have survived the flash flood of the century, but now she’s trapped in a hotel by a bunch of gun-toting maniacs. And to make matters worse, her powers have mysteriously disappeared. Faced with certain death at every turn, Teagan will need to use every resource she has to stop a plot that could destroy Los Angeles – maybe even the entire world.

A SH*TLOAD OF CRAZY POWERS publishes in May 2022. If you haven’t had the impeccable honour of meeting Teagan Frost yet, then you can remedy that right now. Find links to the first three books below and you can follow Jackson Ford on Twitter here.

Buy THE GIRL WHO COULD MOVE SH*T WITH HER MIND (UK |US | ANZ)

Buy RANDOM SH*T FLYING THROUGH THE AIR (UK |US | ANZ)

Buy EYE OF THE SH*T STORM (UK |US | ANZ)

    

Praise for the Frost Files series:

‘Proceeds at breakneck speed through almost 500 pages of madcap adventure’ Guardian

‘Fast-paced and a lot of fun to read . . . a modern action movie that just happens to be in book form’ The Fantasy Inn

‘A drunken back-alley brawler of a book’ Robert Brockway, author of The Unnoticeables

‘Ford’s breakneck pace keeps the tension high, and the thrills coming the whole way through’ BookPage

‘A fast-paced, high-adrenaline tale’ Kirkus

Cover launch: The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings

Today, we’re so excited to reveal the cover of THE BALLAD OF PERILOUS GRAVES, a spectacular new debut fantasy by author Alex Jennings!

This imaginative novel is a love letter to New Orleans. It is a story of perseverance and survival, of love and joy after the darkest storms, highlighting African American music, folk magic, and history. We hope you’re ready to fall in love with New Orleans as you’ve never seen it before!

While you must wait until June 2022 for THE BALLAD OF PERILOUS GRAVES to land in bookstores, here is the stunning cover, designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio, to whet your appetite. You can preorder the book now, and don’t forget to say hi to author Alex Jennings on Twitter!

 

Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

 

Nola is a city full of wonders. A place of sky trolleys and dead cabs, where haints dance the night away and Wise Women keep the order, and where songs walk, talk and keep the spirit of the city alive. To those from Away, Nola might seem strange. To failed magician, Perilous Graves, it’s simply home. Then the rhythm stutters. 

 Nine songs of power have escaped from the magical piano that maintains the city’s beat, and without them, Nola will fail. Unexpectedly, Perry and his sister, Brendy, are tasked with saving the city. But a storm is brewing, and the Haint of All Haints is awake. Even if they capture the songs, Nola’s time might be coming to an end.

 

Alex Jennings is a teacher, author, and performer living in New Orleans. His debut collection, Here I Come and Other Stories published in 2012, and his writing has appeared in Strange Horizon, Obsidian Lit, and in numerous anthologies. He also serves as MC and co-producer of Dogfish, a monthly literary readings series.

Cover launch: FOR THE THRONE by Hannah Whitten

In case you missed it, readers were at the edge of their keyboards for Hannah Whitten’s cover reveal for FOR THE THRONE this past Wednesday on Twitter. FOR THE THRONE is the sequel to Hannah’s instant New York Times-bestselling debut For the Wolf. And, with the help of over 500 readers, we all got to witness the glory of her new cover! With design by Lisa Marie Pompilio, this cover is full of amazing details that hint at the story to come: twisting vines, a royal crown, and a deep sense of looming danger. We are so excited for you to read the book when it finally comes out in Summer 2022! In the meantime, you can pre-order your copy now: US | UK. And, if you haven’t had a chance to check out For the Wolf, order a copy here: US | UK!

Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

 

The First Daughter is for the Throne
The Second Daughter is for the Wolf…

Red and the Wolf have finally contained the threat of the Old Kings but at a steep cost. Red’s beloved sister Neve, the First Daughter, is lost in the Shadowlands, an inverted kingdom where the vicious gods of legend have been trapped for centuries and the Old Kings have slowly been gaining control. But Neve has an ally–though it’s one she’d rather never have to speak to again–the rogue king Solmir. 

Solmir wants to bring an end to the Shadowlands and he believes helping Neve may be the key to its destruction. But to do that, they will both have to journey across a dangerous landscape in order to find a mysterious Heart Tree, and finally claim the gods’ dark, twisted powers for themselves.

Cover Launch: THE CITY OF DUSK by Tara Sim

Life, Death, Light, and Darkness—all converge on the city of dusk…

We are so excited to share with you the stunning cover for The City of Dusk, Tara Sim’s adult fantasy debut—or, as the author puts it (quite perfectly), “the queer goth metal fantasy of her dreams.”

Set in a lush and intricate world of bone and shadow magic, of vengeful gods and defiant chosen ones, we knew this epic story needed an equally epic design. Orbit associate art director Lisa Marie Pompillio and illustrator Ben Zweifel certainly delivered! But don’t take our word for it. Take Tara’s, who says: “The first time I saw this cover, I gasped. From the foreshadowing design elements to the incredible depiction of Nexus, I couldn’t ask for a more perfect way to capture the book’s atmosphere.”

Feast your eyes on the gorgeous cover below, and prepare to enter the city of dusk next March by preordering the book here, and by following Tara Sim on twitter, @EachStarAWorld!

Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

City illustration by Ben Zweifel

For every realm, there is a god.

For every god, there is an heir.

For every heir, there is a price.

Nexus was once a thriving and vibrant city. But 500 years ago, the gods withdrew their favor, sealing the four realms away from each other. And now, all the realms are dying.

Unwilling to stand by and watch the destruction, the four heirs to the divine power—Angelica, an elementalist with her eyes set on the throne; Risha, a necromancer fighting to keep the peace; Nik, a soldier who struggles to see the light; and Taesia, a shadow-wielding rogue with a reckless heart—will sacrifice everything to save the city.

But their rebellion will cost them dearly.

Cover launch: TERMINAL WORLD by Alastair Reynolds

One of Alastair Reynolds’ most imaginative visions of the future is getting a fresh new look to match his other brilliant space operas. Terminal World is an adventure like no other—set in humanity’s only surviving city, an ex-spy gets sucked into a dangerous quest that will take him beyond the city walls when a mysterious winged man turns up dead in his morgue. Check out Terminal World available on December 21st! 

Cover design by Lauren Panepinto

Spearpoint, the last human city, is an enormous atmosphere-piercing spire. Clinging to its skin are the zones, a series of semi-autonomous city-states, each of which enjoys a different—and rigidly enforced—level of technology. 

 

Following an infiltration mission that went tragically wrong, Quillon has been living incognito, working as a pathologist in the district morgue. But when a near-dead angel drops onto his dissecting table, Quillon’s world is wrenched apart one more time, for the angel is a winged posthuman from Spearpoint’s Celestial Levels—and with the dying body comes bad news.

 

If Quillon is to save his life, he must leave his home and journey into the cold and hostile lands beyond Spearpoint’s base, starting an exile that will take him further than he could ever imagine. But there is far more at stake than just Quillon’s survival, for the limiting technologies of the zones are determined not by governments or police, but by the very nature of reality—and reality itself is showing worrying signs of instability . . .

 

Check out Alastair Reynolds’ Inhibitor Trilogy!

Acquisition Announcement: SOME DESPERATE GLORY by Emily Tesh

Orbit UK is  delighted to announce the acquisition of  World Fantasy Award-Winning author Emily Tesh’s highly anticipated debut novel, SOME DESPERATE GLORY. A thrillingly told queer space opera full of complex characters and boundless imagination. By turns epic and intimate, it’s coming-of-age story about what empires and systems of war do to the young soldiers in their care. It’s about overcoming indoctrination and who you must become when every choice is stripped from you.

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

Kyr lives in the bowels of Gaea Station alongside the last scraps of humanity, training for the day she can avenge the destruction of planet Earth at the hands of the all-powerful, reality-shifting weapon known as the Wisdom. She trusts and even loves Command, but when they assign the wrong missions – her beloved brother Magnus to a useless suicide and her to bear sons until she dies trying – she knows she has to take humanity’s revenge into her own hands.

But she soon learns that not everything she’s been raised to believe is true and the Wisdom is far more complex and dangerous than she could ever have imagined.

 

Emily Tesh, a two-time Astounding Award finalist, is the author of the World Fantasy Award-winning Greenhollow Duology. She grew up in London and studied Classics at Trinity College, Cambridge, followed by a Master’s degree in Humanities at the University of Chicago. She now lives in Hertfordshire, where she passes her time teaching Latin and Ancient Greek to schoolchildren who have done nothing to deserve it. She has a husband and a cat. Neither of them knows any Latin yet, but it is not for lack of trying.

We can’t wait to share Some Desperate Glory with you next year! In the meantime, please join us in welcoming Emily to Orbit. You can find her on Instagram and at emilytesh.net.

Cover launch: THE BOOK OF GOTHEL by Mary McMyne

What does every beautiful, gothic fairytale reimagining need? An equally beautiful, fairytale inspired cover! Feast your eyes on the cover of The Book of Gothel. Designed by Lisa Marie Pompillio, it perfectly evokes the witchcraft and magic, crumbling towers, dark woods and otherworldly secrets of this gorgeous debut novel that spins the familiar story of Rapunzel on its head by centering its villain. Get excited for The Book of Gothel to publish in Summer 2022. And in the meantime, say hello to Mary McMyne on Twitter @MaryMcMyne and at her website.

 

Haelewise has always lived under the shadow of her mother, Hedda—a woman who will do anything to keep her daughter protected. For with her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it.

But when her mother dies, Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the tower of legend—a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing.

But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It’s also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that just might explain why Haelewise keeps hearing her mother’s voice.

Orbit US is hiring!

Orbit US is looking for a Marketing Manager to join our New York office. This position offers a great opportunity to join a dynamic and successful team publishing a wide range of award-winning and bestselling Science Fiction and Fantasy authors.

If you love science fiction and fantasy and are excited about developing creative and exciting marketing campaigns, you can apply through the Hachette Book Group job board. This is an in-house position based in our office in New York City.