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THE END OF THE DAY – ‘poignant and cathartic and deeply meaningful’

END OF THE DAY by Claire North
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Rarely have we seen such moving, heartfelt and extraordinary reader reviews as we have done for THE END OF THE DAY (UK|US|ANZ) by Claire North. We wanted to share a few of them with you here:

“It jerked me about and sat on me and beat me up . . . Clear, wide-ranging, brilliant, and glorious to behold.”

“I found it poignant and cathartic and deeply meaningful”

“Ten Stars. Incredible and extraordinary, a masterpiece.”

“It confused me, scared me, made me teary, made me laugh, and made me think. I loved it.”

“I found myself with tears in my eyes”

“A book to sink into and leave the world behind”

 “Overall just total total magic. Magic on the page”

 “I feel honoured to have had the chance to read this book. I will surely return to it again, and again in the future.”

“This book is plainly beautiful. Mind-blowingly amazing. Wonderful. Emotional. Moving. It’s a deep dive into one’s conscious and it makes you think. About everything. About death, and about life. About people, and humanity. It opens up your eyes and makes you see”

“This is sublime, beautifully affecting fiction . . . Read this book as soon as soon as is humanly possible. You can thank me later”

“My favorite book of 2017 so far. Read it your first opportunity. You won’t be disappointed”

THE END OF THE DAY (UK|US|ANZ)  is out now in paperback.

If you’re in London today, you can hear Claire speaking about the book at this event at Blackwells.

Cover Launch: BLACKFISH CITY by Sam J. Miller

We’re thrilled to reveal the cover for BLACKFISH CITY by Sam J. Miller, courtesy of Little, Brown’s very own designer, Ellen Rockell. Feast your eyes on this beauty:

Blackfish City

 

Publishing in April 2018, BLACKFISH CITY is a mesmerising, fearlessly imagined novel from an exciting new voice in science fiction.

After the climate wars, a floating city was constructed in the Arctic Circle. Once a remarkable feat of mechanical and social engineering, it has started to crumble under the weight of its own decay – crime and corruption have set in, a terrible new disease is coursing untreated through the population, and the contradictions of incredible wealth alongside deepest poverty are spawning unrest.

Into this turmoil comes a strange new visitor – a woman accompanied by an orca and a chained polar bear. She disappears into the crowds looking for someone she lost thirty years ago, followed by whispers of a vanished people who could bond with animals. Her arrival draws together four people and sparks a chain of events that will lead to unprecedented acts of resistance.

‘Blackfish City is an exhilarating tour of a post-catastrophe future that’s both fantastical and eerily convincing . . . A saltwater-splashed refuge for misfits and cutthroats, teeming with mystery and intrigue, Blackfish City is a place you might never want to live in – but as a reader, you won’t want to leave’
Adam Sternbergh, author of The Blinds

‘Miller gives us an incisive and beautifully written story of love, revenge, and the power (and failure) of family in a scarily plausible future. Blackfish City simmers with menace and heartache, suspense and wonder.’
Ann Leckie, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Clarke Awards

 

Sam J. Miller is a writer and a community organizer. His debut novel The Art of Starving, was called ‘Funny, haunting, beautiful, relentless and powerful . . . a classic in the making’ by Book Riot, and received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly. His stories have been nominated for the Nebula, World Fantasy and Theodore Sturgeon Awards and have appeared in over a dozen ‘year’s best’ anthologies. He’s a graduate of the Clarion Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Workshop, and a winner of the Shirley Jackson Award. He lives in New York City.

The end of Shannara has begun…THE BLACK ELFSTONE is out now

The release of THE BLACK ELFSTONE (UK | ANZ) marks an important moment in the fantasy calendar, and for millions of fans around the world, it’s a bittersweet occasion.

It was in 1977 that Terry Brooks released what was to become one of modern fantasy’s most popular novels ever, The Sword of Shannara. It kick-started a fantasy phenomenon which has lasted for 40 years and over 28 novels, and today Terry’s Shannara books are still as popular as ever. He is lauded as one of the true masters of modern fantasy, with bestselling authors such as Brent Weeks, Patrick Rothfuss, Philip Pullman, Christopher Paolini and Peter V. Brett all citing him as a powerful influence on their writing and the genre as a whole.

And now with THE BLACK ELFSTONE – the first book in the Fall of Shannara series – it is with both excitement and sadness that fans will see Terry start to bring the world to a conclusion.

In an interview with UNBOUND WORLDS, Terry had this to say:

“This four book set is intended to give readers new and old, but especially those who have stayed with me all these years, one last look at the Four Lands and a cast of characters who will write the final story to how things turn out in my lifetime, anyway, for this world. It does not tie up all the loose ends nor does it answer all questions. But it does look forward, it does hearken back, and it does spin one last tale of characters that will hopefully resonate with readers. Much of what you will read will remind you of things that happened in early books and of what I think were my strengths in writing epic fantasy for 50 years”

You can read the rest of the interview here, and THE BLACK ELFSTONE (UK | ANZ) is available in all good bookshops now.

New series alert! THE ETERNITY WAR by Jamie Sawyer

Conspiracy, terrorism and traitors.

Humanity is facing its greatest threat.

This is THE ETERNITY WAR.

Pariah, book one of THE ETERNITY WAR by science fiction author Jamie Sawyer

Presenting a new series from the rising SF talent, Jamie Sawyer: this is THE ETERNITY WAR.

Jamie is coming to be known for his visceral action scenes and the relentless pace of his storytelling – and this series has more excitement that you can shake a very dangerous plasma weapon at.

Think brutal deep-space battles. Deadly alien biomechs. A conspiracy threatening humanity. And a team of elite super-soldiers who are no strangers to death. But Lieutenant Jenkins and her team still have a lot to learn . . .

Jamie’s previous series THE LAZARUS WAR has earned high praise from the likes of Michael Cobley, Neal Asher, Jack Campbell and many others – and fans of the series will be pleased to hear that this new trilogy is set in the same world.

THE ETERNITY WAR is also a great jumping-off point for brand new readers, so if you enjoy the space opera of James S. A. Corey and Peter F. Hamilton – or military science fiction of any kind – this is a series you should check out.

Check out the blurb below for book one, PARIAH (UK | US | ANZ), coming in September and available for pre-order now.

 

The soldiers of the Simulant Operations Programme are mankind’s elite warriors. Veterans of a thousand battles across a hundred worlds, they undertake suicidal missions to protect humanity from the insidious Krell Empire and the mysterious machine race known as the Shard.

Lieutenant Keira Jenkins is an experienced simulant operative and leader of the Jackals, a team of raw recruits keen to taste battle. They soon get their chance when the Black Spiral terrorist network seizes control of a space station.

Yet no amount of training could have prepared the Jackals for the deadly conspiracy they soon find themselves drawn into – a conspiracy that is set to spark a furious new war across the galaxy.

Visit Jamie Sawyer’s website: jamiesawyer.com . Follow Jamie Sawyer on Twitter: @JSawyerAuthor

Cover launch: SUCCESSOR’S PROMISE by Trudi Canavan

If you’re already a fan of Trudi Canavan, then you’ll know what kind of a thrill ride you can expect from her latest series, Millennium’s Rule. Judging from the awesome reader reviews, fantasy fans around the world have been enthralled by the first two books in the series THIEF’S MAGIC and ANGEL OF STORMS.

And now the time is here to unveil the cover for the third book, SUCCESSOR’S PROMISE.

Successor's promise by Trudi Canavan, book 3 of Millennium's Rule

This dramatic third novel is set in a time of chaos. Worlds are at war, torn apart by deadly machines and power-hungry sorcerers. And the loyalties of Rielle and Tyen will be tested to their limits. Trust us fantasy fans – you do not want to miss this one. Look out for this thrilling new novel in September 2017.

Pre-order SUCCESSOR’S PROMISE now

Cover launch: SILENCE FALLEN, the new Mercy Thompson novel by Patricia Briggs

We’re very excited to present the UK cover for SILENCE FALLEN, the new Mercy Thompson novel by Patricia Briggs.

Waiting for the next book in this thrilling series can be a trial for urban fantasy fans, as we’re all desperate to find out what’s in store for our favourite kick-ass shapeshifter. Well, we’re happy to say that it’s coming in March 2017 and is available for pre-order now!

Silence Fallen cover

Read on for a taste of what’s to come:

Coyote shapeshifter Mercy Thompson is attacked and abducted in her home territory. Fighting off a crazed werewolf, she manages to escape, only to find herself alone in the heart of Europe, without money, without clothing and on the run from the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world.

Unable to contact her pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, but first she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy needs to be at her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves – and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise . . .

 

Cover photograph by Sorted.tv
Cover design by Nick Castle

 

Cover launch: CHASING EMBERS by James Bennett

Chasing Embers by James Bennett, a contemporary fantasy novel perfect for fans of Ben AaronovitchDo you ever feel like there’s something more to your city than meets the eye?

Have you ever sensed a touch of magic simmering beneath the streets?

Do you ever wonder about the myths intertwined in our folklore – and whether there’s any truth to them?

You could just be right. Because this Autumn, something’s about to be let loose…

Today we can reveal the cover for CHASING EMBERS (UK/US/ANZ), a spectacular debut fantasy novel coming in September from author James Bennett.

If you’re a fan of the books of Ben Aaronovitch, Benedict Jacka, Jim Butcher and Kevin Hearne, this contemporary fantasy is about to sweep you off your feet . . .

Get ready to meet Red Ben Garston. He’s a rascal, a rogue and an anti-hero who will stand shoulder to shoulder (and likely end up in a tussle) with the likes of Harry Dresden, Alex Verus, Peter Grant and Atticus O’Sullivan. He’s got a chip on his shoulder and a very big secret hiding under his skin.

Intrigued? See the below info and stay tuned for more soon . . . It’s available for pre-order now.

Behind every myth there is a spark of truth.

There’s nothing special about Ben Garston. He’s just a guy with an attitude in a beaten-up leather jacket, drowning his sorrows about his ex in a local bar.
Or so he’d have you believe.

What Ben Garston can’t let you know is that he’s also known as Red Ben. He can’t let you know that the world of myth and legend isn’t as make-believe as you think, and it’s his job to keep that a secret. And there’s no way he can let you know what’s really hiding beneath his skin . . .

But not even Ben knows what kind of hell is about to break loose. Because a centuries-old rivalry has just resurfaced, and the delicate balance between his world and ours is about to be shattered.

Something’s been hiding in the heart of the city – and it’s about to be unleashed.

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

THE RISING by Ian Tregillis – the follow-up to the acclaimed THE MECHANICAL

THE RISING by Ian Tregillis, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed THE MECHANICAL
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THE RISING (UK | US |ANZ) by Ian Tregillis has just been released worldwide. It’s the new book in the Alchemy War series, which tells the gripping tale of a mechanical man who was created to serve human kind but has thrown off the bonds of slavery.

It’s the follow-up to THE MECHANICAL (UK | US | ANZ), which was released early in 2015 to superb critical acclaim:

‘The first thing readers will say after finishing this splendid book is: “Wow.” The second thing will probably be: “When can I read the next one?’ Booklist

‘One of the sharpest, most intelligent, hugely compelling works I’ve read this year’ The Mechanical, Alchemy Wars 1 by Ian TregillisForbidden Planet International

‘As intricate and exquisite as the clockwork wonders it brings to life’ NPR

‘His characters are as convincing as ever, the plotting is beautifully articulated . . . readers with an interest in dark, intelligent fantasy will find much to admire here’ Kirkus

‘A hugely entertaining novel’ SFX

‘Absolutely fascinating, and unapologetically clever’ Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviews

‘So absorbing that readers will be dying for the next entry in this new series’Library Journal

‘This book is truly unlike anything I’ve ever read before . . . I can’t wait to see what the next installment in The Alchemy Wars will bring’ Bibliosanctum

As well as getting this critical praise from reviewers, THE MECHANICAL has also been featured in:

Waterstones Best Fantasy Books of 2015,

Barnes and Noble’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy on 2015,

Amazon’s UK’s Best Books of 2015: Science Fiction and Fantasy,

and Amazon’s US’s Best Books of 2015: Science Fiction and Fantasy.

So on the release date of THE RISING (UK | US |ANZ), we just wanted to say hurrah for booksellers! Thanks so much for supporting this fantastic series, and we’re glad you agree that Ian Tregillis is one of the most original and important new voices in speculative fiction.

Presenting STAKED, the new Iron Druid novel from Kevin Hearne!

On 26th January, Atticus is back!

Presenting the UK cover for STAKED (UK | ANZ), the next awesome instalment of The Iron Druid Chronicles by the legendary (not to mention New York Times bestselling…) Kevin Hearne.

Kevin is one of the freshest and downright funniest voices in fantasy. And his next instalment featuring the druid-with-skillz Atticus is going to make fans of the series squeeee with excitement…I kid you not!

This novel sees Atticus running into some major bloodsucking trouble. He needs a little help – but his allies Owen Kennedy and Granuaile have serious supernatural issues of their own. Check out the blurb for the book below…

And if you’re a fan of fast-paced, action-packed and witty-as-hell fantasy but haven’t checked out this bestselling series yet, what have you been doing with your life? It’s OK, you can pick up the series anywhere – but if you want to find out where it all began, try HOUNDED.

STAKED (UK | ANZ),  is available for pre-order now!

 

Iron Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, hero of Kevin Hearne’s epic New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series, has a point to make – and then drive into a vampire’s heart.

When a druid has lived for two thousand years like Atticus, he’s bound to run afoul of a few vampires. Make that legions of them. Even his former friend and legal counsel turned out to be a bloodsucking backstabber. Now the toothy troublemakers – led by power-mad Theophilus – have become a huge problem requiring a solution. It’s time to make a stand.

As always, Atticus wouldn’t mind a little backup. But his allies have problems of their own. Ill-tempered archdruid Owen Kennedy is having a wee bit of troll trouble: turns out when you stiff a troll, it’s not water under the bridge. Meanwhile, Granuaile is desperate to free herself of the Norse god Loki’s mark and elude his powers of divination – a quest that will bring her face to face with several Slavic nightmares.

As Atticus globetrots to stop his nemesis Theophilus, the journey leads to Rome. What better place to end an immortal than the Eternal City? But poetic justice won’t come without a price: In order to defeat Theophilus, Atticus may have to lose an old friend.