Posts Tagged ‘contemporary fantasy’

Cover Launch: An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka

Million-copy-bestseller Benedict Jacka is BACK this October! And today we can share with you the glitteringly gorgeous new cover to his brand new fantasy series.

This cover for AN INHERITANCE OF MAGIC is designed by the talented Ella Garrett at Little, Brown UK.

When it comes to writing fantasy, Benedict is known as the ‘master of magical London’, and his new series holds all of the excitement, adventure and magical mayhem of the Alex Verus series his fans know and love: with a richly dark academic twist. Read on below for more about AN INHERITANCE OF MAGIC . . .

the book cover for An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka, with heraldry showing a gold shield with three gold keys and gold flourishes underneath, on a dark blue background

 

ANYONE CAN USE MAGIC – IF THEY CAN AFFORD THE PRICE . . .

In a world where everything magical is bought up and controlled by the super rich – Stephen Oakwood has inherited a rare natural talent for magic. Plunged by his father’s disappearance into a glittering world of scheming dynasties, warring patriarchs and vicious scions, Stephen must navigate magical high society and learn to control his gifts.

Dangerous enemies await the Oakwood heir, and even more dangerous allies: if Stephen cannot master his magic quickly and learn to distinguish friend from foe, his name may end up on the missing persons list, just like his father.

‘Jacka has drawn a potent new world of magic controlled by a privileged few, and Stephen Oakwood is the sigl-wielding rebel we didn’t know we needed’ New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill.

AN INHERITANCE OF MAGIC is book one in a new fantasy series of super rich magical dynasties and warring heirs – from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus series. For readers of contemporary fantasy who enjoy the methods and magicians of dark academia.

Acquisition Announcement: AN INHERITANCE OF MAGIC by Benedict Jacka

We’re excited to announce that Orbit UK has acquired a new series by Benedict Jacka, author of the vastly popular Alex Verus novels! This new dark academia-inspired fantasy is set in a world where anyone can use magic – if they can afford the price.

Benedict Jacka author of The Alex Verus series and An Inheritance of Magic.
Photo credit: Chris Murray Photography

The series sees magical power bought and sold by aristocratic dynasties and vast mega-corporations. It tells the story of Stephen, who has a minimum wage job and a cat, but who has inherited an unusual talent for magic from his father, and realises that unlocking that potential will take money and training. The first book – An Inheritance of Magic – will be out in October 2023, with the dates for the next two books as-yet undisclosed.

Jacka said: “With the Alex Verus series complete, I decided for my next series to try something different: a story where the mundane and supernatural worlds were integrated through trade and where you could buy magical powers out of a catalogue.”

Acquiring editor Jenni Hill said: “An Inheritance of Magic shows us a world where the super-rich control everything – including magic. There’s a lot to love here for fans of Benedict’s previous series, as well as fans of dark academia.”

See more info on the Bookseller, and look out for An Inheritance of Magic this October! It’s available for pre-order now.

Cover launch: ONE FOOT IN THE FADE by Luke Arnold

We’re excited to launch the newest cover for the Fetch Phillips series! A world recovers from losing its magic in this brilliantly-voiced contemporary fantasy series by Luke Arnold – perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch or Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.

AN ANGEL FALLS IN SUNDER CITY…

In a city that lost its magic, an angel falls in a downtown street. His wings are feathered, whole – undeniably magical – the man clearly flew, for all that he plummeted to his death moments after.

The mystery will set Fetch – in his quest to bring magic back to his beloved city – on a journey involving necromancers, djinn and shadowy secret societies. Fetch will search Sunder’s wildest forests and dingiest dive bars for the answer, and when he finds it, nothing will ever be the same again.

The Book cover for One Foot in the Fade, a fantasy by Luke Arnold. Cover shows a corss section of a fantasy map

 

banner showing the three Fetch Phillips covers so far

The new cover art is by Patrick Knowles, and was designed at Little, Brown Book Group by Matt Byrne.

Praise for this series:

‘Verve and charm in abundance’ Andrew Caldecott, author of Rotherweird

‘The first instalment of an effortlessly readable series that could be the illegitimate love child of Terry Pratchett and Dashiell Hammett’ Kirkus

‘[A] standout debut . . . winningly combining the grit of Chinatown with the quirky charm of Harry Potter, this series opener is sure to have readers coming back for more’ Publishers Weekly

‘This book was a marvellous noir voice; Luke Arnold has captured the spirit of the genre perfectly and wrapped it around a fantasy setting with consummate skill’ Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones

‘Sunder City [is] an evocative creation, it has echoes of Ankh-Morpork, but also a broken melancholy all of its own’ SFX

 

neon sign advertising character as a P.I.

Cover Launch: WILDWOOD WHISPERS by Willa Reece

Discover your next magical read! Willa Reece’s lush debut novel, WILDWOOD WHISPERS, is a beautifully-crafted tale of hope after traumatic loss, folk magic, and the strong, and often healing, bonds between women. Landing at your nearest bookstore in August 2021, check out the gorgeous cover below and make sure to say hi to Willa on Twitter @ReeceWilla.

Cover Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio; Cover photographs by Mike Heath, Arcangel, Getty Images and Shutterstock

A heartwarming novel of hope, fate, and folk magic unfolds when a young woman travels to a sleepy southern town in the Appalachian Mountains to bury her best friend. 

Mel Smith has always known life isn’t easy. After all, she was abandoned as an infant and raised in foster care. But still, when the only bright spot in her life, her best friend Sarah Ross, unexpectedly dies, it’s a heartbreak unlike any other.

A final promise to lay Sarah to rest in the Ross wildwood garden draws Mel to Morgan’s Gap, a small town nestled in the shadows of the Appalachian Mountains. Yet Morgan’s Gap is more than a land of morning mists and deep forest shadows.

There are secrets that call to Mel, in the gaze of the gnarled and knowing woman everyone calls “Granny,” who seems to have expected her; in a salvaged remedy book filled with healing tinctures and salves; in the strange connection she feels to the Ross homestead and the wilderness around it. In fulfilling her promise, Mel might end up finding home—and remain connected to Sarah—in a way she least expected.

The wildwood is whispering. It has secrets to reveal—if you’re willing to listen…

 

 

 

Acquisition Announcement: Introducing WILDWOOD WHISPERS by Willa Reece

Looking for your next magical read? I sure hope so! Redhook, Orbit’s sister imprint, has acquired an utterly captivating novel from author Willa Reece. WILDWOOD WHISPERS invites you into the Appalachian Mountains and once there, an enchanting tale of magic and dark secrets unfolds when a young woman travels to a sleepy Southern town to bury her best friend.

Lush and atmospheric, we can’t wait to share it with you next year. And, I’m really happy to share a short message from Willa on what inspired her to write Wildwood Whispers:

I live at the edge of a sprawling wild wood. What began as fear of the unknown has grown into a fascination with the flora, fauna, and history of the Appalachian region. But nothing fascinates me more than the women who’ve built lives in and around the tangle—learning from their environment and being inspired by the wild to resist the constant taming of the often too-patriarchal society found in the mountains. Their hushed voices have been channeled into the wide variety of arts and crafts and, yes, the kitchen magic I wove into Wildwood Whispers

Hand work is heart work and it is hard work, but it’s also powerful. You can see the power in callused hands weaving baskets and muscled forearms kneading dough, in berry-stained fingernails and needle-pricked fingers. It was easy to imagine a community where that kind of power finds a connection with nature and how that connection is feared by evil men who prefer to divide and conquer. [A wise woman’s wildwood garden is a celebration of empowerment and unity and the hope of finding rejuvenation together. It’s a personal hope of mine, especially now, and I’m thrilled to be able to share it with readers.]

WILDWOOD WHISPERS publishes Summer 2021, and, in the meantime, please join us in welcoming Willa Reece! You can find her at https://www.willareece.com/ and on Twitter at @ReeceWilla.

Orbit US editor Nivia Evans acquired North American rights from Lucienne Diver at The Knight Agency.

Cover Launch: COMPETENCE by Gail Carriger

Gail Carriger is back with another delightful Custard Protocal book. This time we follow Primrose Tunstell who’s been accidentally abandoned in Singapore! Thankfully she’s got a gorgeous cover to console her.

The action and adventure kick off on July 17th  Pre-order your copy of COMPETENCE today, and say hello to Gail Carriger on Twitter or head on over to her Facebook to see if she will be stopping by your hometown for a visit.


Design by Lauren Panepinto
Art by Larry Rostant
Pre-order at: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | GooglePlay | More Stores

Catch up on the whole series!

 

Cover Launch: DREADFUL COMPANY by Vivian Shaw

DREADFUL COMPANY is the second riveting contemporary fantasy novel in the world of STRANGE PRACTICE (US | UK | AUS), featuring Dr. Greta Helsing, whose family has been keeping the supernatural community not-alive and well for generations.

If you can’t wait for the release of DREADFUL COMPANY in July 2018, here’s a sneak peek at Will Staehle’s amazing cover!

When Greta Helsing, doctor to the undead, is unexpectedly called to Paris to present at a medical conference, she expects nothing more exciting than professional discourse on zombie reconstructive surgery and skin disease in bogeymen — and hopefully at least one uneventful night at the Opera.

Unfortunately for Greta, Paris happens to be infested with a coven of vampires — and not the civilized kind. If she hopes to survive, Greta must navigate the darkest corners of the City of Lights, the maze of ancient catacombs and mine-tunnels underneath the streets, where there is more to find than simply dead men’s bones.

Praise for Strange Practice:

“In Vivian Shaw’s Strange Practice, a charmingly unusual doctor and her charges keep the city of London from grave danger. In the process, they peel back the covers of familiar (and according to them, somewhat “libelous”) stories to find that reality—especially with the undead—is more poignant and complex than it seems at first glance. An excellent adventure.”
—Fran Wilde, award-winning author of Updraft, Cloudbound, and Horizon

“Strange Practice is written with elegance, wit, and compassion. The prose is gorgeous, the wit is mordant, and the ideas are provocative. Also, there are ghouls.”
—Laura Amy Schlitz, Newbery Medal winner

“A satisfying and surprising read, with rich imagery, nuance, and real compassion for its characters—give Strange Practice a shot!”
—Elliott James, author of Charming

“A darkly delicious adventure featuring a quirky new heroine. Strange Practice breathes new life into the undead.”
—James Bennett, author of Chasing Embers

“An exceptional and delightful debut, in the tradition of Good Omens and A Night in the Lonesome October.”
—Elizabeth Bear, Hugo-award winning author

“Shaw balances an agile mystery with a pitch-perfect, droll narrative and cast of lovable misfit characters. These are not your mother’s Dracula or demons … Strange Practice is a super(natural) read.”
—Shelf Awareness

“An appropriately dark breath of fresh air.”
—Booklist on Strange Practice

“Readers will look forward to more of Greta’s adventures. An imaginative, delightfully droll debut.”
—Kirkus

“A book to settle into. A warm quilt of a thing that’s made for curling up with … I miss this newest Helsing already.”
—NPR

“This book is a joy to read, unlocking every bit of delicious promise in the premise.”
—B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

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: WINTER OF THE GODS by Jordanna Max Brodsky

Brodsky_WinterOfTheGods_HC

Manhattan has many secrets. Some are older than the city itself.

Winter in New York: snow falls, lights twinkle, and a very disgruntled Selene DiSilva prowls the streets looking for prey.

But when a dead body is discovered sprawled atop Wall Street’s iconic Charging Bull statue, it’s clear the NYPD can’t solve the murder without help. The murder isn’t just the work of another homicidal cult — this time, someone’s sacrificing the gods themselves.

While raising fundamental questions about the very existence of the gods, Selene must hunt down the perpetrators, tracking a conspiracy that will test the bonds of loyalty and love.

Winter of the Gods is the second novel in the Olympus Bound trilogy.  Myth blends with reality in this sequel to The Immortals that sets Greek gods against a modern Manhattan backdrop.

 Praise for THE IMMORTALS: 

Brodsky_TheImmortals_HC.jpg“The Immortals is a lively re-imagining of classical mythology with an engaging premise, a page-turning plot, and an eye for the arresting and uncanny in contemporary urban life.” —Deborah Harkness, New York Times bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches

“…Brodsky knows her myth, and revels in depicting the erstwhile gods struggling with their fading powers and assuming, with varying degrees of success, the mantle of humanity.” —The Guardian

If you want a modern day murder mystery, steeped in myth with a dash of magic, this is a must read . . . Ms. Brodsky is definitely an author to watch.—Fantasy Faction
Cover Design by Kirk Benshoff.

Introducing OlympusBound.com and THE IMMORTALS by Jordanna Max Brodsky

  • Buy the Book
  • US
  • UK

THE IMMORTALS (US | UK | AUS) is an extraordinary novel combining myth and the modern era in a pulse-pounding story, and we couldn’t be more thrilled by the buzz surrounding it. Visit OlympusBound.com to learn about the fascinating lives the ancient gods and goddess have been living since the fall of the Greek and Roman empires and read an excerpt. We know that once you’ve read the first chapter, you’ll be absolutely hooked.

The Immortals will be available next week in print, digital, and audio formats.

Praise:

“The Immortals is a lively re-imagining of classical mythology with an engaging premise, a page-turning plot, and an eye for the arresting and uncanny in contemporary urban life.”―Deborah Harkness, New York Times bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches

“Brilliantly conceived and tautly plotted, The Immortals is a pulse thrumming, fascinating novel. Selene is a perfect heroine for our times.”―Eliot Schrefer

Releases in the UK on Feb. 18th.
Releases in the UK on Feb. 18th.

“Imaginative and fast-paced, The Immortals is pulse-pounding entertainment.”―Kevin O’Brian, New York Times bestselling author of No One Needs to Know

“Brodsky’s writing has claws…They sink in with the first word and don’t let go until you are finished with the book.”―Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author

“Irresistible…a page-turner that deftly weaves action, romance, and a dash of intellectual heft into one seamless whole.”―Dustin Thomason, New York Times bestselling author

“Painstakingly researched, intellectually complex, and deeply rooted in the history and mythology of Ancient Greece, THE IMMORTALS is a richly imaginative, multi-layered tale that stimulates the heart and the mind in equal measure.”―Ian Caldwell, New York Times bestselling author

“Plays with more modern mythology, employing New York’s own secret places and storied history to great effect. This intelligent, provocative fantasy breathes exciting new life into old, familiar tales.”―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This series launch is a wonderful choice for fans of Greek myths and urban fantasy readers looking for something different.”―Library Journal (starred review)