Archive for Covers

Cover Launch: THE LIAR’S KNOT by M. A. Carrick

Welcome, readers, to the cover launch of THE LIAR’S KNOT, the second book in the dark and dazzling Rook & Rose trilogy by M.A. Carrick!

Take a deep breath and prepare for your return to Nadežra, the city where magic dwells in both dreams and nightmares, where thieves and noblemen both are liars, and everyone hides behind a mask. Nadežra, where a stubborn and quick-witted con artist, a charmingly ruthless criminal, and a legendary vigilante will risk everything in order to protect a world that is determined to fall apart. Nadežra, where nothing is quite as it seems…

Check out the stunning cover of THE LIAR’S KNOT below, and make sure to pre-order (US | UK)! And if THE MASK OF MIRRORS (book one of the trilogy) is still on your TBR pile, good news: THE LIAR’S KNOT is hitting shelves in December, giving you plenty of time to catch up! This is an epic fantasy series you don’t want to miss. But don’t take our word for it—read on for a taste of all the fantastic praise it’s received.

Illustrated by Nekro. Designed by Lauren Panepinto

Trust is the thread that binds. And the rope that hangs.

In Nadežra, peace is tenuous as a thread. Corrupt House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city’s filthy back alleys and jewel-bright gardens, visible to those who know where to look.

Derossi Vargo, Grey Serrado, and Ren, daughter of no clan, all know. Caught in a knot of secrets and lies, they struggle to decide who to trust and who to turn from—a precarious position indeed, even for a ruthless criminal, a notorious vigilante, and a brilliant con artist.

Because the power they are fighting is more ancient than they can fathom, and they have yet to discover just how deeply rooted its poison is. And in the end, it will take more than wits and knives to cut themselves and their city free.

Praise for The Mask of Mirrors

“Lush, engrossing, and full of mystery and dark magic.” —BookPage

“Immersive…a feast to savor slowly.” —BuzzFeed News

“Utterly captivating.” —S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass

“This novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping.” —Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars

“Wonderfully immersive—I was unable to put it down.” —Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

“Exactly the fantasy adventure novel you’re craving.” —Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

“A fantastically twisty read.” —Fran Wilde, author of the Bone Universe trilogy

“A tightly laced plot dripping with political intrigue. Carrick has built a strong foundation for things to come.” —Publishers Weekly

“An excellent fantasy novel.” —Los Angeles Review of Books

“An intricate, compelling dream of a book.” —Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage

“A sheer delight!” —Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness

“For those who like their revenge plots served with the intrigue of The Goblin Emperor, the colonial conflict of The City of Brass, the panache of Swordspoint, and the richly detailed settings of Guy Gavriel Kay.” —Booklist (starred review)

Cover Launch: KAIKEYI by Vaishnavi Patel

Earlier this year, Redhook announced the acquisition of a very special debut: KAIKEYI by Vaishnavi Patel. Today, we are so excited to reveal its gorgeous cover!

This stunning novel reimagines the life of Kaikeyi, the vilified queen from the Indian epic the Ramayana. It is a tale of fate and family, of courage and heartbreak, centering Indian mythology and giving voice to a woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come. If you love books like Circe, Ariadne, and The Witch’s Heart, add this to your TBR right now!

We knew such an extraordinary debut deserved a show-stopping cover to match, and Orbit designer Lisa Marie Pompilio delivered. KAIKEYI won’t hit shelves until April 2022, but you can find the book on Goodreads here! And say hi to author Vaishnavi Patel on Twitter and Instagram at @vaishnawrites.

 Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

 

In the kingdom of Kekaya, Kaikeyi is raised on grand stories about the might and benevolence of the gods: how they churned vast oceans to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they offer the devoted and the wise magnificent boons, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land prospers. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, her own worth measured by how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.

Desperate for independence, she turns to the ancient texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. She uses it to transform herself from overlooked princess into warrior, diplomat, and most-favorite queen, determined to forge a better world for herself  than the one that gods and men have granted.

But when darkness threatens the cosmic order, the path the gods have chosen for Kaikeyi’s family—especially that of her beloved son, Rama—challenges all she has built. She must decide if her resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak…and what legacy she intends to leave behind.

Cover Launch: WILD AND WICKED THINGS by Francesca May

Welcome to Crow Island. You’re invited to enter a world of dangerous witchcraft and glamorous parties in Francesca May’s lush debut, WILD AND WICKED THINGS. Get swept into a vision of 1920s England where magic is real but illegal, where young women have dark powers bubbling inside of them, and where the boundaries of wickedness are tested with dire consequences. If you loved The Year of the Witching and Mexican Gothic, you’ll want to read this deliciously gothic fantasy next!

 

Landing in bookstores March 2022, WILD AND WICKED THINGS is available for preorder now (US | UK) and, while you anxiously wait, feast your eyes on its gorgeous cover below.

Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio.

On Crow Island, people whispered real magic lurked just below the surface. But Annie Mason never expected her enigmatic new neighbor to be a witch.

 

When she witnesses a confrontation between her best friend Bea and the infamous Emmeline Delacroix at one of Emmeline’s extravagantly illicit parties, Annie is drawn into a glittering, haunted world. A world where magic can buy what money cannot; a world where the consequence of a forbidden blood bargain might be death.

…

Francesca May grew up in the middle of England, where she spent her childhood devouring fantasy books and brewing potions in her back garden. She currently lives in Derby with her family, three giant dogs, and two black cats. By day, Fran works as a bookseller at Waterstones. By night, she accidentally kills every house plant she touches and writes novels about gothic mansions, witchcraft, and queer love. You can find her on Twitter @franwritesstuff or her website.

Cover Launch: ONE DARK WINDOW by Rachel Gillig

We couldn’t be more thrilled to reveal the gorgeously eerie cover for Rachel Gillig’s debut gothic fantasy, ONE DARK WINDOW, now available for preorder! A darkly fantastical story perfect for fans of FOR THE WOLF (US | UK) and The Year of the Witching, this folk-inspired tale now has an equally bewitching cover—scroll on for the reveal and more about the book!

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

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

He and Elspeth have until Solstice to gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly, darkly, taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

You can preorder ONE DARK WINDOW now, coming your way in 2022! In the meantime come celebrate with us and author Rachel Gillig on Instagram @rmgillig and Twitter @rachelgillig!

Cover Launch: THE GREAT WITCH OF BRITTANY by Louisa Morgan

A new Louisa Morgan novel is on the way! Transporting readers to the 18th century, THE GREAT WITCH OF BRITTANY is the charming tale of Ursule Orchiere and how the discovery of her magical abilities will not only change the course of her life, but every generation that comes after her.

Landing at your nearest bookstore in February 2022, check out the stunning cover below and make sure to say hi to Louisa on Twitter at @WriterLouisa.

Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio; Cover images by Trevillion

Brittany, 1741

There hasn’t been a witch born in the Orchière clan for generations. According to the elders, that line is dead, leaving the clan vulnerable to the whims of superstitious villagers and the prejudices of fearmongering bishops.

Ursule Orchière has been raised on stories of the great witches of the past. But the only magic she knows is the false spells her mother weaves over the gullible women who visit their fortune-telling caravan. Everything changes when Ursule comes of age and a spark of power flares to life. Thrilled to be chosen, she has no idea how magic will twist and shape her future.

Guided by the whispers of her ancestors and an ancient grimoire, Ursule is destined to walk the same path as the great witches of old. But first, the Orchière magical lineage must survive. And danger hovers over her, whether it’s the bloodlust of the mob or the flames of the pyre.

Cover Launch: THE WISDOM OF CROWDS by Joe Abercrombie

Last week we revealed the stunning cover for the final book in The Age of Madness trilogy, THE WISDOM OF CROWDS. You can rewatch the cover reveal here, where author Joe Abercrombie was joined by cover artist Sam Weber and Orbit’s Creative Director, Lauren Panepinto, to chat about the trilogy and answer fan questions! The Wisdom of Crowds comes to bookshelves near you this September.

Chaos. Fury. Destruction.
 
The Great Change is upon us . . .

Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry, and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds.

With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch. And in the bloody North, Rikke and her fragile Protectorate are running out of allies . . . while Black Calder gathers his forces and plots his vengeance.

The banks have fallen, the sun of the Union has been torn down, and in the darkness behind the scenes, the threads of the Weaver’s ruthless plan are slowly being drawn together . . .

Praise for The Age of Madness:

“A master of the genre.” — Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“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

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

“Abercrombie continues to do what he does best . . . Buckle your seat belts for this one . . . . A vivid and jolting tale.” — Robin Hobb, New York Times bestselling author

“Abercrombie’s satisfying plotting and expert subversion of genre expectations are sure to please. Readers will be gripped.” —Publishers Weekly

 

Cover Launch: A MASTER OF DJINN by P. Djèlí Clark

With less than a week to go until the release of the ebook of P. Djèlí Clark’s debut novel, A MASTER OF DJINN (UK|ANZ), we’re thrilled to share the final cover. Anyone wanting to get their hands on a physical copy will have to wait a little longer, as the paperback won’t be hitting the shops until August. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the beautiful design created by Little, Brown’s very own Matthew Burne.

 

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

Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.

So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, Al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world fifty years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be Al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage.

Alongside her Ministry colleagues and a familiar person from her past, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city – or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems . . .

‘Clever, wickedly fun . . . with an excellent balance of humour and heart. I loved it’
S. A. Chakraborty, bestselling author of The City of Brass

‘A Master of Djinn has all the tricky twists I want in a police procedural and all the djinns, magic and wonder I want from fantasy’
Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo and Nebula award-winning author of The Calculating Stars

‘An epic tale of magic and mystery, this is sure to wow’
Publishers Weekly

‘A Master of Djinn is everything you might expect from Clark: cinematic action, a radical reimagining of real history, and magic on every page. I loved it’
Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

‘The kind of book you don’t want to put down’
Marie Brennan, World Fantasy and Hugo Award-nominated author

 

Cover Launch: THE FALL OF BABEL by Josiah Bancroft

THE FALL OF BABEL is the incredible final book in the word of mouth phenomenon fantasy series that began with Senlin Ascends. “The “Books of Babel” are something you hope to see perhaps once a decade — future classics, which may be remembered long after the series concludes.” (Los Angeles Times)

The final book in the Books of Babel series is nearly here, and the good folks over at The Fantasy Inn launched the cover last week. For those who pre-order the book, keep your receipts! There’s a special digital surprise coming soon for those who order early. Follow the author on Twitter at @BancroftJosiah and @orbitbooks for more info.

Book cover for The Fall of Babel by Josiah Bancroft. A golden figure emerges from the a shattering city. Mechanical legs are visible beneath the figure's armor.

Credits: Illustration by Ian Leino, design by Lauren Panepinto

As Marat’s siege engine bores through the Tower, erupting inside ringdoms and leaving chaos in its wake, Senlin can do nothing but observe the mayhem from inside the belly of the beast. Caught in a charade, Senlin desperately tries to sabotage the rampaging Hod King, even as Marat’s objective grows increasingly clear. The leader of the zealots is bound for the Sphinx’s lair and the unimaginable power it contains.

In the city under glass at the Tower’s summit, Adam discovers a utopia where everyone inexplicably knows the details of his past. As Adam unravels the mystery of his fame, he soon discovers the crowning ringdom conceals a much darker secret.

Aboard the State of Art, Edith and her crew adjust to the reality that Voleta has awoken from death changed. She seems to share more in common with the Red Hand now than her former self. While Edith wars for the soul of the young woman, a greater crisis looms: They will have to face Marat on unequal footing and with Senlin caught in the crossfire.

And when the Bridge of Babel is finally opened, and the Brick Layer’s true ambition revealed, neither they nor the Tower will ever be the same again.

Book jacket for Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft. The cover shows a man scaling the rings of a tiered city as clouds drift by. Book jacket for The Arm of the Sphinx by Josiah Bancroft. A blue mechanical arm reaches up through the rings of a many tiered city. Book jacket for The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft. A woman falls through the rings of a many tiered city. Cracks in the city walls are visible.

Praise for The Books of Babel

“Josiah Bancroft is a magician. His books are that rare alchemy: gracefully written, deliriously imaginative, action‑packed, warm, witty, and thought‑provoking. I can’t wait for more.” — Madeline Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Circe

“It’s rare to find a modern book that feels like a timeless classic. I’m wildly in love with this book.” — Pierce Brown, author of Red Rising

“Senlin Ascends is one of the best reads I’ve had in ages . . . I was dragged in and didn’t escape until I’d finished two or three days later.” — Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns

“Deeply compelling . . . A classic in the making.” — B&N Sci‑Fi & Fantasy Blog

“Wonderfully unique and superbly well written. I loved every page.” — Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

“Senlin is a man worth rooting for, and his strengthening resolve and character is as marvelous and sprawling as the tower he climbs.” — The Washington Post

“I loved it, and grabbed the next one as soon as I turned the last page.” — Django Wexler, author of The Thousand Names

“Brilliant debut fantasy . . . This novel goes off like a firework and suggests even greater things in the author’s future.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Cover Launch: INTO THE DYING LIGHT by Katy Rose Pool

Hearts will shatter, cities will fall, and a god will rise in INTO THE DYING LIGHT (UK|ANZ),  the spectacular conclusion to Katy Rose Pool’s Age of Darkness trilogy.

You’ll have to wait until September to get your hands on this YA fantasy blockbuster packed with magic, prophecy and adventure, but, in the meantime, feast your eyes on the stunning cover below.

 

Katy Rose Pool

 

Praise for the the Age of Darkness:

‘Masterful . . . Katy Rose Pool is a writer to watch’ Sebastien De Castell, author of Traitor’s Blade

‘Adventurous relic-hunting, mind-blowing twists, budding love and terrible betrayals feature in this multiple-narrator, character-driven study of power, agency and identity’ Kirkus (starred review)

‘Unforgettable . . . feels both utterly original and like the best of classic fantasy’ Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand

‘Solidifies Katy Rose Pool’s status as one of the best fantasy writers of the 21st century’ Popsugar

‘Katy Rose Pool combines lovable characters, a gorgeously tangible world and an intricate puzzle-box plot to create a story that will pull you inexorably toward the explosive end’ Sarah Holland, New York Times bestselling author of Everless

If you haven’t discovered this remarkable series yet, there’s still time to dive in before book three arrives!

Katy Rose Pool

 

Cover Launch: FAR FROM THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN by Tade Thompson

We’re thrilled to announce that Arthur C. Clarke winner Tade Thompson is making a triumphant return to science fiction with FAR FROM THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN (US | UK: link coming soon), an unforgettable vision of humanity’s future among the stars. If you can’t wait until October 2021, head on over to io9 to see the spectacular cover and read an exclusive excerpt.

The colony ship Ragtime docks in the Lagos system, having travelled light years from home to bring one thousand sleeping souls to safety among the stars.

Some of the sleepers, however, will never wake – and a profound and sinister mystery unfolds aboard the gigantic vessel. Its skeleton crew are forced to make decisions that will have repercussions for all of humanity’s settlements – from the scheming politicians of Lagos station, to the colony planet of Bloodroot, to other far flung systems and indeed Earth itself.

Praise for Tade Thompson:

‘Tade Thompson is a writer of enormous heart and talent. Just brilliant’ Dave Hutchinson

‘Smart. Gripping. Fabulous!’ Ann Leckie on Rosewater

‘A magnificent tour de force, skilfully written and full of original and disturbing ideas’ Adrian Tchaikovsky on Rosewater

‘Mind-expanding and utterly addictive’ Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, on Rosewater

You can find Tade Thompson on Twitter @tadethompson.