Archive for Covers

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!

 

 

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

Cover Launch: INK & SIGIL by Kevin Hearne

From New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne comes the start of a hugely entertaining new series set in the world of the Iron Druid Chronicles – about an eccentric master of magic solving an uncanny mystery in Scotland . . .

We’ll be publishing Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne in August 2020, and are delighted to show you the stunning UK cover illustrated by Sarah J. Coleman.

Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne

Available for pre-order now! Read on for a taste of what’s in store . . .

Al MacBharrais is both blessed and cursed. He is blessed with an extraordinary white moustache, an appreciation for craft cocktails – and a most unique magical talent. He can cast spells with magically enchanted ink and he uses his gifts to protect our world from rogue minions of various pantheons, especially the Fae.

But he is also cursed. Anyone who hears his voice will begin to feel an inexplicable hatred for Al, so he can only communicate through the written word or speech apps. And his apprentices keep dying in peculiar freak accidents. As his personal life crumbles around him, he devotes his life to his work, all the while trying to crack the secret of his curse.

But when his latest apprentice, Gordie, turns up dead in his Glasgow flat, Al discovers evidence that Gordie was living a secret life of crime. Now Al is forced to play detective – while avoiding actual detectives who are wondering why death seems to always follow Al. Investigating his apprentice’s death will take him through Scotland’s magical underworld, and he’ll need the help of a mischievous hobgoblin if he’s to survive.

‘You are in for a great treat. Ink and Sigil is great escape reading, and I loved every word’ Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse books

‘Will transport you right in the Scottish realm of fey and fairies . . . The magic is both familiar and new, believable and extraordinary’ Charlie Holmberg, author of The Paper Magician

‘Vividly blends Kevin Hearne’s unique take on urban fantasy with the grit of Scottish magic’ Adam Christopher, author of Empire State

‘Ink & Sigil is filled to the brim with the Hearne-anigans we’ve all grown to love. Fans of ribald humor, literary puns and the odd hobgoblin will be enchanted by this paranormal mystery’ Jaye Wells, author of the Prospero’s War series

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.

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)

Cover Launch: THE THOUSAND DEATHS OF ARDOR BENN by Tyler Whitesides

We’re thrilled to announce that THE THOUSAND DEATHS OF ARDOR BENN (US | UK) is getting a stunning new cover – and two more books to complete the trilogy!

In the Kingdom of Grit series, master con artist Ardor Benn is hired to pull off a string of wildly complex heists, that starts with stealing a crown and escalates to saving the whole damn world. What could be easier? But he won’t manage it on his own: Ard will need the skills and quick fingers of Quarrah, who has made a name for herself as an up-and-coming thief in the city, and the brawn and brains of his longtime best friend Raek. If you like your fantasy full of elaborate quests, fast-talking thieves, plot twist upon plot twist, explosive magic, dragons, and nonstop action – starring a rogue with a heart of gold – then this is the trilogy for you.

And you’re not going to need to wait years for this epic trilogy to be completed: the fantasy saga will be entirely published before the end of this year. The new paperback edition of THE THOUSAND DEATHS OF ARDOR BENN, which features the phenomenal cover art by Ben Zweifel, will be on sale in October, followed by book two in November and book three in December.

Oct. 6th, 2020

Nov. 3rd, 2020

Dec. 1st, 2020

Liar. Thief. Legend.

Ardor Benn is no ordinary thief. Rakish, ambitious, and master of wildly complex heists, he styles himself a Ruse Artist Extraordinaire.

When he gets hired for his for the most daring ruse yet, Ardor knows he’ll need more than quick wit and sleight of hand. Assembling a dream team of forgers, disguisers, schemers, and thieves, he sets out to steal a crown from the most powerful king the realm has ever known.

But it soon becomes clear there’s much more at stake than fame and glory – Ard and his team might just be the last hope for human civilization.

Want to know more? Listen to an excerpt read by the author!

Design by Lauren Pane pinto
Illustration by Ben Zweifel

Cover Launch: KING OF THE RISING by Kacen Callender

Did you get swept away last year by QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED, Kacen Callender’s captivating tale of colonialism, conquest and revenge? Then you’re in for a treat!

We’re excited to reveal the cover of KING OF THE RISING, the searing conclusion to the Islands of Blood and Storm series.

Designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio

A revolution has swept through the islands of Hans Lollik and former slave Loren Jannik has been chosen to lead the survivors in a bid to free the islands forever.

But the rebels are running out of food, weapons and options. And as the Fjern inch closer to reclaiming Hans Lollik with every battle, Loren is faced with a choice that could shift the course of the revolution in their favor-or doom it to failure.

Praise for Queen of the Conquered:

“A brilliant analysis of power and privilege set against an alternately beautiful and brutal background….A book that will stick with you long after the last page.” –Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author

“Queen of the Conquered represents the scope and spectacle of the fantasy genre with a vengeance.” –NPR Books

“A heart-stopping masterpiece.” –Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand

“A fascinating exploration of how power corrupts and drives a person toward self-betrayal.” –Kirkus (starred review)

“Callender’s first adult novel draws race relations, conquest, magic, and politics into an imaginative, layered story that will keep readers twisting until the end.” –Library Journal (starred review)

KING OF THE RISING publishes in December 2020 and is available for preorder, but in the meantime, go say hi to Kacen at their website and on Twitter at @kacencallender

 

 

Cover Launch: DEAD LIES DREAMING by Charles Stross

A new adventure begins in the world of the Laundry Files . . . 

DEAD LIES DREAMING (UK|ANZ), a brand new novel from Hugo Award-winning author Charles Stross, is out in October 2020. But if you can’t wait that long take a look at the spectacular – or perhaps tentacular – cover design below and read on for a taste of what’s in store.

The cover for Dead Lies Dreaming

In a world where magic has gone mainstream, a policewoman and a group of petty criminals are pulled into a heist to find a forbidden book of spells that should never have been opened. 

Praise for the Laundry Files:

‘Brilliantly disturbing and funny at the same time’ Ben Aaronovitch

‘Stross at the top of his game – which is to say, few do it better’ Kirkus

‘Alternately chilling and hilarious’ Publishers Weekly

‘Ferociously enjoyable’ SFX

Cover design by Crush Creative.