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Cover Launch: HOPE AND RED by Jon Skovron

The Orbit offices in both the US and the UK haven’t stopped talking about this fantastic adventure fantasy since it first came in a year ago.  And we’re delighted to introduce it to you! Thanks very much to Lauren Panepinto and artist Bastien Deharme for the awesome cover.

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Here is a bit of a sneak peek as HOPE AND RED (US | UK) will be out this June:

A KILLER FANTASY ADVENTURE

HOPE, the lone survivor of a village massacred by the emperor’s forces, secretly trains asa  warrior and dreams of vengeance.

RED, an orphan adopted by a notorious matriarch of the criminal underworld, learns to be an expert thief and con artist.

TOGETHER THEY WILL TAKE DOWN AN EMPIRE.

If you’d like to know more — please visit the author’s website and sign up there! New newsletter subscribers will receive the first chapter in their inboxes this Monday.

Cover Launch: THE TOWER OF SWALLOWS

The Witcher returns in THE TOWER OF SWALLOWS, the fourth book in the New York Times bestselling series that inspired The Witcher video games. Here is an early look at the remarkable cover, illustrated by Bartłomiej Gaweł, Paweł Mielniczuk, Marcin Błaszczak, Arkadiusz Matyszewski, Marian Chomiak and designed by Lauren Panepinto.

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The world has fallen into war. Ciri, the child of prophecy, has vanished. Hunted by friends and foes alike, she has taken on the guise of a petty bandit and lives free for the first time in her life.

But the net around her is closing. Geralt, the Witcher, has assembled a group of allies determined to rescue her. Both sides of the war have sent brutal mercenaries to hunt her down. Her crimes have made her famous.

There is only one place left to run. The tower of swallows is waiting…

THE TOWER OF SWALLOWS is out May 2016, with the next book in the Witcher series, LADY OF THE LAKE, coming in Summer 2017.  Check out the previous novels and collections in the Witcher Saga today.

Cover launch: THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF HOPE by Claire North

THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF HOPE by Claire North, author of THE FIRST FIFTEEN LIVES OF HARRY AUGUST

Today we can unveil the cover for an astonishing new book. It’s from Claire North, author of the word-of-mouth phenomenon THE FIRST FIFTEEN LIVES OF HARRY AUGUST (UK | US | ANZ),  and the critically acclaimed TOUCH (UK|US|ANZ).

THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF HOPE (UK|US|ANZ) is the extraordinary tale of a girl with a very unique problem . . .

You might have met Hope Arden before. In fact, you might have met her a hundred times.

But there’s no way that you’ll remember who she is. Because Hope’s unique problem . . . is that she’s the girl the world forgets.

It all started when she was sixteen years old. A slow declining, a kind of isolation, one piece at a time. Her father forgetting to drive her to school. Her mother setting the table for three, not four. A teacher forgeting to chase her missing homework. A friend looking straight through her and seeing a stranger.

No matter what Hope does – the words she says, the people she hurts, the crimes she commits – you will never remember who she is. That makes her life tricky. But it also makes her dangerous.

THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF HOPE (UK|US|ANZ) is the tale of a girl no one remembers, but her story will stay with you for ever.

It will be released in hardback, ebook and audio this May from Orbit in the UK and Redhook in the US – and it’s available for pre-order now! And in case you haven’t checked out Claire North’s novels yet, here are a few reminders why you should:

Praise for Claire North’s novels:

‘Little short of a masterpiece’ INDEPENDENT

‘North’s talent shines out’ SUNDAY TIMES

‘Poignant and intensely gripping’ GUARDIAN

‘A masterful literary thriller’ io9

‘Will seduce even scifi sceptics, and keep readers absolutely hooked to the dramatic conclusion’ SUNDAY MIRROR

‘As intriguing and breathless as it is brilliantly original’ LOVE READING

‘Bold, magical and masterful’ M. R. Carey, author of THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS

‘Utterly readable, utterly believable and compelling . . . one of the fiction highlights of the decade’ Judy Finnigan, Richard and Judy Book Club

AN AFFINITY FOR STEEL: The Aeon’s Gate Omnibus

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Sam Sykes is in the middle of his brilliant new Bring Down Heaven trilogy, which began with THE CITY STAINED RED and continues with THE MORTAL TALLY (coming March 29th!). For those who’d like to go back to the beginning, Orbit has just released AN AFFINITY FOR STEEL, an omnibus of his first trilogy, The Aeons’ Gate, available in ebook now with a paperback edition to follow on June 7th.

There are only a few productive things a man can do once he picks up a sword.

And the very lowest of these is to become an adventurer, like Lenk and his companions.

For the right price, no deed is too dirty, no task is too dangerous, no foe too ferocious. Not even a demon.

From wars ancient and terrible, wounds are bleeding. From seas deep and fathomless, demons are rising. From the mouth of hell, the Kraken Queen is calling. And all that stands between the damned and the mortal world are a pack of degenerates and the steel they carry.

Seas will rise. Heaven will fall.

And if you won’t take my word for it, listen to what these masters of fantasy have to say about Sam Sykes:

“Action fantasy with soul — albeit a small, dirty, funny soul.”―Brent Weeks on The City Stained Red

“Insouciant, unrepentant and irrepressible adventures in a powder keg of a city. And that’s just how the story begins.”―Robin Hobb on The City Stained Red

“Sam Sykes continues to reinvent the fantasy adventuring party in a vibrant world of rude magic and good intentions gone bad. Bold and exuberant, never cynical, Sykes fights the good fight on behalf of rich fantasy that nonetheless refuses to apologize for being kick-ass fun.”―Scott Lynch on The City Stained Red

“Sykes has put the fun back in fantasy with fantastic creatures and a lovable crew of malcontents. The City Stained Red is like David Eddings meets Conan the Barbarian.”―Brian McClellan on The City Stained Red

Cover Design by Kirk Benshoff; Photo-Illustration by Gene Mollica and Michael Frost

New Acquisition – THE DRAGON LORDS: FOOL’S GOLD by Jon Hollins

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We’ve acquired three novels in the The Dragon Lords series by Jon Hollins, thoroughly modern epic fantasy filled with a sly humor, lovable characters and a gripping plot that is pure fun.

Jon Hollins has created a world where dragons run the show, enforcing their strict laws and collecting taxes. Fighting against this oppression is a group of misfits that has banded together to reclaim as much of the taxed gold as they possibly can without getting themselves burnt to a crisp. Or starting a revolution.

These are dragons as you’ve never seen them before.

THE DRAGON LORDS: FOOL’S GOLD will hit shelves summer 2016! Check out its terrific cover by Karl Simon!

Cover Launch: SHADOW AND FLAME by Gail Z. Martin

The epic fourth and final volume in Gail Z. Martin’s Ascendant Kingdoms saga, SHADOW AND FLAME (US | UK | AUS), comes out in March, with a suitably epic cover, illustration by Larry Rostant.

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Blaine McFadden and his allies have brought magic back under mortal command and begun to restore order to the beleaguered kingdom of Donderath. Now, new perils and old enemies gather for a final reckoning.
Foreign invaders, a legendary dark mage, and vengeful immortals fight Blaine’s battered forces for control of the continent. Blaine’s weary army is the only thing standing between a kingdom struggling to rise from the ashes and a descent into fury and darkness.

“The perfect conclusion to a truly epic tale.” —Michael J. Sullivan

“Gail Z. Martin is the one of the finest storytellers writing today. Her fascinating characters and mastery of atmospherics gives readers stories that have to be savored. Her characters display the sort of quick wit and heart that make them a joy to follow through their adventures.” —Michael A. Stackpole

If you haven’t yet read this series, you are in luck: the first three volumes are all available now, so you have plenty of time to catch up before the final book arrives.

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Cover Launch: Ian Irvine’s THE SUMMON STONE

The Summon Stone: epic fantasy by Ian Irvine

THE SUMMON STONE is the start of a brand new epic fantasy series from bestseller Ian Irvine, set in the world of his fan-favourite View from the Mirror series. Today we’re delighted to launch the cover, designed by the fantastic Jack Smyth from the Little, Brown design team.

The Merdrun, cruel warriors blooded by thousands of years of slaughter, are gathering in the void between the worlds.
Their long-hidden summon stone is waking, corrupting good people as well as bad, and turning arcane places into magically polluted wastelands. If it is not destroyed it will create a portal and call this marauding army out of exile.
In a nightmare, a nine-year-old girl sees the Merdrun leader – and he sees her. If Karan and Llian are to save their daughter and their world, they must find a way to stop the greatest warrior in the void.

We’re really excited to share this one with you, and we know there’s a lot of love for Ian out there:

‘Compelling . . . Truly original’ Locus

‘He knows how to spin an epic yarn and tell it with real gusto’ SFX

‘The sort of book you’d pick up if you were prepared to be late for your next appointment’ Bookbag

With over 600,000 copies sold worldwide, plenty of fans of the View from the Mirror series have been eagerly waiting to return to this world and characters, but if you’re a fantasy reader completely new to Ian’s writing, THE SUMMON STONE is a great entry point. Although as it’s not coming out until 17th May, you’ve got plenty of time to catch up and find out what has got those those View from the Mirror fans so excited . . .

The Book about Video Gaming that became a Video Game: Christopher Brookmyre’s BEDLAM

Three years ago Orbit published BEDLAM, a science fiction novel by Scottish crime legend Christopher Brookmyre, with a protagonist who gets trapped in a video game. Fans of the book included Iain M. Banks, Charles Stross and comedian Ed Byrne.

Chris has been hard at work with Brighton-based games company Redbedlam to bring his dreams into reality (well, virtual reality) and now the video game they’ve designed has been unleashed! You can play Bedlam on PS4, Xbox One or download on Steam for PC.

The game takes place in the same world as the novel, with a brand new protagonist, Heather Quinn, voiced brilliantly and acerbically by Scottish actress Kirsty Strain. Read all about BEDLAM at the game’s official website, check out the reviews below or watch Chris himself taking the This Is Xbox team through the game in this video:

‘BEDLAM’s world and story are immensely likeable. It has a rare, caustic wit we don’t usually see in video games thanks to Brookmyre’s sense of humour, and Heather is the sort of leading lady we should see more of’ Gamesradar

The writing ‘provided a veritable Halloween-candy-stash-sandwiched-between-sofa-cushions-for-eight-months of unexpected treats’ Kotaku

‘Heather Quinn earns a spot as one of the best video game heroines ever, by virtue of tremendous writing and some stellar voice acting’ Venturebeat

‘BEDLAM plays just like shooters of old – you skate at high speeds through levels, circle-strafing enemies and even performing the occasional rocket-jump. There are countless name-checks of and references to familiar franchises’ Gameranx

The Duellists Trilogy – and 3 reasons why having 3 books out in 3 months is great

Warlords and Wastrels by Julia Knight, book three of the Duellists trilogy
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This week, we’ve released the superb WARLORDS AND WASTRELS (UK|US|ANZ) by Julia Knight. This is the third and final book in her Duellists trilogy, which is a fast and furious fantasy adventure full of ruffians, scoundrels and rogues . . .

This release follows hot on the heels of SWORDS AND SCOUNDRELS (UK | US | ANZ) and LEGENDS AND LIARS (UK | US | ANZ), which were published in October and November 2015. Yes that’s right – we published 3 books in the space of 3 months!

To celebrate, we just wanted to state 3 reasons why 3 books being released in 3 months is great:

  1. 1. No waiting to find out what happens next! When it comes to a series like the Duellist series, featuring a tension-filled relationship between a constantly sparring brother and sister and edge-of-your-seat sword-wielding action, you simply do not want to have to wait to find out what happens next. With all books out in 3 months, you can binge away to your hearts content – and dammit you won’t stop until you know just who comes out on top.

2. No forgetting what happened in the last book! We all often have to wait at least a year until the next book in our favourite fantasy series comes out. Even though it’s usually worth the wait, I’m sure we all have the issue of forgetting what happened in the last book – exactly who stuck who with their sabre or stiletto – and exactly what reason the traitor gave for betraying the kingdom…When you can read the whole series like Speedy Gonzalez, the events will be fresh in your mind and you wont have the need for a recap!

3. Great for Christmas gifting! The gift of a book at Christmas is one of the most wonderful things for all involved. But if you give a book that’s as much a page turner as a Duellist book by Julia Knight, then I guarantee you, the recipient will be finished in no time. The weather outside at this time of year is rather frightful to have to go outside and buy the new one (if print books are your bag instead of digital). So why not save your fantasy-reading friends and family the time this year and just get them all three in one go?

Swords and Scoundrels, Legends and Liarsa and Warlords and Wastrels - the Duellists Trilogy by Julia Knight

And here are just a few more reasons why you should get stuck in!

‘With roguish highwaymen and all the intrigue of a bloody revolution, this book will keep you guessing until the end. I can’t wait to read the sequel!’ (Anne Lyle, author of THE ALCHEMIST OF SOULS)

‘Will hold readers in suspense and eager for the next two books’ (RT BOOK REVIEWS)

‘As Knight launches her Duellists trilogy, she skillfully reveals the backstories of the siblings and Egimont, and how Reyes has come to the brink of revolution, illuminating a complex and intriguing world. The accelerating pacing as the present and past converge will hold readers in suspense and eager for the next two books’ (BOOKLIST)

‘For readers who are looking for a fast and fun read, Swords and Scoundrels is perfect . . . quick pacing, witty dialogue, and plenty of adventurous action . . . Great entertainment . . . I’m definitely on board for another Duellist adventure’ (Bibliosanctum)

‘Swordplay, politics, sorcerers and more….The action is nonstop’ (Journey of a Bookseller)

New Acquisition: Forsaken Skies by D. Nolan Clarke

Forsaken Skies, the first book in a space opera trilogy by D. Nolan Clarke, brilliantly brings the premise of Seven Samurai to a war-torn galaxy of factional disputes, unpredictable characters, and battles against the odds.

This is the unmissable start to a new epic space adventure that will thrill fans of John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War and James S. A. Corey’s Expanse.

A silent, shadowy armada has emerged from the depths of space.

Its target is a backwater planet, where a religious sect lives in peaceful exile far from the politics of mankind. Faced with imminent destruction, these acolytes must now seek help from the very civilization they left behind.

When their pleas for assistance are ignored, they have little choice but to put their faith in a ragtag group of pilots – each of whom is already battling their own demons. These pilots are among the very best the universe has to offer, but even they cannot hope to defeat an entire armada. 

Yet sometimes the few must stand against the many.

Acquired by Orbit in a three-book deal for World English language rights from Russell Galen of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, book one, Forsaken Skies, will hit shelves in Fall 2016.