Posts Tagged ‘epic fantasy’

Cover Launch: THERE WILL COME A DARKNESS by Katy Rose Pool

THE AGE OF DARKNESS APPROACHES.

FIVE LIVES STAND IN ITS WAY.

WHO WILL STOP IT . . . OR UNLEASH IT?

 

We’re thrilled to reveal the Orbit cover for THERE WILL COME A DARKNESS (UK|ANZ) by Katy Rose Pool – an unmissable fantasy debut that weaves a captivating tale of prophecy and intrigue, packed with unforgettable characters.

 

Cover design by Duncan Spilling – LBBG

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

For generations, the Seven Prophets guided humanity. Using their visions of the future, they ended wars and united nations – until they disappeared, one hundred years ago.

But they left behind one final, secret prophecy, foretelling an Age of Darkness and the birth of a new Prophet who could be the world’s salvation . . . or the cause of its destruction.

As a dark new power begins to make war on the magically gifted, five souls are set on a collision course that will determine the fate of their world:

An exiled prince
A ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand
A leader torn between his duty and his heart
A reckless gambler with the power to find anything
And a dying girl on the verge of giving up

ONE OF THEM – OR ALL OF THEM – COULD BREAK THE WORLD. WILL THEY BE SAVIOUR OR DESTROYER?

 

The UK paperback will hit the shops early next year and the incredible reviews are already pouring in:

 

‘A masterful fantasy debut. Katy Rose Pool is a writer to watch’  Sebastien de Castell, author of Traitor’s Blade

‘A beautiful woven fantasy of prophecy, intrigue and unforgettable characters. There Will Come a Darkness feels both utterly original and like the best of classic fantasy’  Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand

‘This epic fantasy novel revels in rich worldbuilding [and] deftly plays with genre expectations . . . A well-crafted, surprising and gripping start to a new trilogy’  Kirkus (starred review)

‘A brilliantly woven story with compelling characters, surprising twists and a prophecy driven not by distant fate but by hard, human choices. There Will Come a Darkness was a pleasure to read and left me eager for more!’  Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage

‘Even in a world filled with graces and prophets, the real magic of There Will Come a Darkness is in how Pool has crafted her heroes―messy, flawed, and so beguilingly human. I dare you not to fall madly in love with all of them’  Laura Sebastian, New York Times bestselling author of Ash Princess

‘A sweeping, ambitious fantasy that pulled me into a world of corruption, dark prophecy and, ultimately, hope. The breathlessly paced story gripped me until the very last pages’  Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

‘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

 

Katy Rose Pool was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in history, Katy spent a few years building websites by day and dreaming up prophecies by night. Currently, she resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she can be found eating breakfast sandwiches, rooting for the Golden State Warriors and reading books that set her on fire. There Will Come a Darkness is her first novel.

Follow Katy on Twitter: @KatyPool.

Cover Launch: REALM OF ASH by Tasha Suri

REALM OF ASH (US | UK) is a spellbinding fantasy novel set in the Mughal India-inspired world of Tasha Suri’s award-winning EMPIRE OF SAND (US | UK), in which a young widow with hidden powers and an illegitimate prince dabbling in forbidden magic must save the realm—and each other—from darkness. If you loved City of Brass, The Wrath & the Dawn, or Red Queen, this is your next unmissable read!

This captivating book publishes in November 2019 but—as announced on Book Riot—here is an early preview of its beautiful cover, designed by Lauren Panepinto, to tide you over!

Some believe the Ambhan Empire is cursed. But Arwa doesn’t simply believe it—she knows it’s true.

Arwa is the sole survivor of the infamous, unnatural massacre at Darez Fort—saved only by the strangeness of her blood, which she had been taught all her life to suppress. She makes common cause with a disgraced, illegitimate prince who has turned to forbidden occult arts to find a cure to the darkness hanging over the Empire. Using the power in Arwa’s blood, they seek answers in the realm of ash: where mortals can find the ghostly echoes of their ancestors’ dreams. But the Emperor’s health is failing, and a terrible war of succession hovers on the horizon—not just for the throne, but for the magic underpinning the Empire itself.

Cover Launch: BLOOD OF EMPIRE by Brian McClellan

Brian McClellan’s incredible epic of gods and gunpowder is coming to a close this year in BLOOD OF EMPIRE (US | UK). The enemy have their hands on a godstone, and as the final battle approaches a sellsword, a spy, and a general must find unlikely and dangerous allies in order to turn the tides of war. Blood of Empire publishes this winter, but we’ve already got a sneak peek of the book’s spectacular cover by Thom Tenery and designed by Lauren Panepinto.

Need to catch up before Blood of Empire publishes? Purchase SINS OF EMPRIE (US | UK) and WRATH OF EMPIRE (US | UK) today!

US: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Google Play | iBooks | Indiebound | Kobo | Chapters

UK:  Amazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Waterstones | More Stores

Acquisition Announcement: Hostage of Empire trilogy by S. C. Emmett

We’re delighted to announce that Orbit has acquired a sweeping new fantasy trilogy by S. C. Emmett, Hostage of Empire, from Miriam Kriss at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency! In this epic story, the lady-in-waiting to the princess of a vanquished kingdom must survive the innumerable hidden agendas of their captors’ treacherous imperial court, where two queens, two concubines, and six princes vie for the throne of a vast empire.

Sound tempting? The first volume, THE THRONE OF THE FIVE WINDS, publishes this October. Meanwhile, we’re thrilled to present the gorgeous cover, illustrated by Miranda Meeks and designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio.

The Emperor’s palace—full of ambitious royals, sly gossip, and unforeseen perils—is perhaps the most dangerous place in Zhaon. The lady Komor Yala has only her wits and her hidden blade to protect herself and her princess Mahara, sacrificed in marriage to the enemy, a hostage for her conquered people’s good behavior, to secure a tenuous peace.

But the Emperor is aging, and the Khir princess and her lady-in-waiting soon find themselves pawns in the six princes’ deadly schemes for the throne—and a single spark could ignite fresh rebellion in Khir.

When the Emperor falls ill, a far bloodier game begins…

Cover Launch: FRAY by Rowenna Miller

Did you love Rowenna Miller’s French Revolution-inspired epic fantasy debut, TORN? Can’t wait to dive back into her enchanting world of magical ballgowns, reluctant royals, and ardent revolutionaries? The sequel, FRAY, publishes this summer.

While you’re waiting, check out FRAY’s beautiful cover, with art by Peter Bollinger and design by Lisa Marie Pompilio.

What would you risk for love and for country?

Open revolt has been thwarted—for now—but unrest still simmers in the kingdom of Galitha. Sophie Balstrade, despite having built a thriving business on her skill at both dressmaking and magic, has not escaped unscathed from her misadventures in the workers’ rebellion that saw her brother exiled and her friends murdered. Her dangerous foray into curse casting has rendered her powers unpredictable, and her increasingly visible romantic entanglement with the Crown Prince makes her a convenient target for threatened nobles and malcontented commoners alike.

With domestic political reform and international alliances—and her own life—at stake, Sophie must discern friend from foe… before her magic grows too dark for her to wield.

Praise for Torn:

“One of the best novels I’ve read this year! Torn is masterfully written—full of fascinating politics and compelling characters in a vividly rendered, troubled city. Sophie is a believable, layered, and wonderful heroine. I absolutely loved this book!”
—Sarah Beth Durst, author of The Queen of Blood

“Miller places immigrant ambition and women’s lives at the heart of her magical tale of politics and revolution. I was utterly enchanted by this unique, clever and subtly fierce fantasy.”

—Tasha Suri, author of EMPIRE OF SAND (US | UK)

“A gorgeous weave of romantic fantasy and urgent politics.”
—Anna Smith Spark, author of THE COURT OF BROKEN KNIVES

Acquisition Announcement: new Melissa Caruso series

We’re thrilled to announce that we have acquired a new trilogy by Melissa Caruso from Naomi Davis of BookEnds Literary! Melissa returns to Raverra and Vaskandar with the story of Ryx, the granddaughter of a Vaskandran Witch Lord, who is born with magic so lethal as to be unusable. She seeks help in Raverra, only to become embroiled in an international magical conflict that threatens to call up destruction from the very depths of Hell. The first book in this series will be published in 2020.

Did you love THE TETHERED MAGE (US | UK)? Bereft at the thought of leaving Raverra at the end of THE UNBOUND EMPIRE? Melissa has you covered with her new series. If you haven’t read her work and you’re hungry for gorgeous epic fantasy full of deadly magic, twisty intrigue, and dangerously complicated families—pick up the Swords and Fire trilogy now, starting with THE TETHERED MAGE and THE DEFIANT HEIR (US | UK).

  

Don’t forget to pre-order the final book of the Swords and Fire trilogy, THE UNBOUND EMPIRE, now!

Pre-order in the US: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo | Chapters

Pre-order in the UK: Amazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Waterstones | More Stores

Melissa Caruso is the Gemmell Award-nominated author of the Swords and Fire epic fantasy trilogy. Follow her on Twitter @melisscaru and find out more at melissacaruso.net.

Design credit: Lisa Marie Pompilio; Art credit: Crystal Ben & Arcangel

Cover Launch: THE GUTTER PRAYER by Gareth Hanrahan

Set in a world of dark gods and dangerous magic, Gareth Hanrahan’s remarkable debut, THE GUTTER PRAYER (UK|US|ANZ), is set to be a must-read for fantasy fans in 2019. It will hit the shops early next year, and we’re thrilled to reveal the striking cover below.

 

Illustration by Richard Anderson
Design by Steve Panton

 

This thrilling and visceral debut is already generating some brilliant early buzz:

‘A gripping tale that meshes beautifully with its fascinating, darkly inventive setting’
James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost

‘A ground-breaking and extraordinary novel . . . Hanrahan has an astonishing imagination’
Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones

‘Laced with the blackest of humour and packed with magic and mayhem, this is fantasy turned up to 11’
Anna Stephens, author of Godblind

‘An absolutely stunning debut . . . I loved it! Highly recommended ’
Michael R. Fletcher, author of Beyond Redemption

‘Beautifully written. Gripping. Guerdon is the city of my dreams’
Anna Smith Spark, author of The Court of Broken Knives

 

READ ON FOR A TASTE OF WHAT’S IN STORE:

In the ancient city of Guerdon, three thieves – an orphan, a ghoul and a cursed man – are accused of a crime they didn’t commit. Their quest for revenge exposes a perilous conspiracy, the seeds of which were sown long before they were born.

A centuries-old magical war is on the verge of reigniting and in the tunnels deep below the city, a malevolent power stirs. Only by standing together can the three friends prevent a conflict that would bring total devastation to their city – and the world beyond.

Cover Launch: SOULKEEPER by David Dalglish

Magic and monsters. Heroes and vindictive gods. Dragons, fairies, enormous, murderous wolf-spiders, and everything in between. At Orbit, we love big, epic, monster-filled fantasy novels, and David Dalglish’s Soulkeeper has them all. Check out the cover by Samuel Araya for this brand new series and get excited to meet the Soulkeeper in both the US and the UK in January 2019!

 

When magic returns to the world, one man must lay aside his words of peace and take up the sword to defend humanity in the first book of this bold new trilogy by USA Today Bestselling author David Dalglish.

Devin Eveson is a Soulkeeper, traveling through remote villages as a preacher and healer. But when a mysterious black water washes over the world, the veil is torn, flooding the land with ancient magic and forgotten races: fire that dances as if alive, corpses that walk, and creatures that can manipulate time itself. And not all the creatures that have re-awakened remember humanity fondly.

As the land grows more dangerous and more chaotic, Soulkeepers are turning up dead, their bodies transformed into macabre works of art. Devin must set aside his words of peace and accept his new role: slayer of monsters and protector of the human race.

Illustration by Samuel Araya. Design by Lauren Panepinto.

New Acquisition: THE GUTTER PRAYER by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan

The Gutter Prayer

It’s time to start getting excited, because Orbit has acquired a gripping new epic fantasy from debut author Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan.

THE GUTTER PRAYER is a visceral tale of revenge and betrayal, set in a world of dark gods and dangerous magic.

It follows the story of three friends, who find themselves betrayed by the thieves’ brotherhood – set up to take the fall for a crime they didn’t commit. Their quest for revenge finds them at the heart of a conspiracy to reignite a centuries-old magical war. A war that would bring devastation to their city. And the world beyond.

Buzz is already building for this wildly original debut with some fantastic early reviews:

‘A ground breaking and extraordinary novel . . . Ryder-Hanrahan has an astonishing imagination’
Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones

‘Beautifully written. Gripping. Guerdon is the city of my dreams’
Anna Smith Spark, author of The Court of Broken Knives

‘Laced with the blackest of humour and packed with magic and mayhem, this is fantasy turned up to 11’
Anna Stephens, author of Godblind

THE GUTTER PRAYER will hit shelves in January 2019, with the second book in the series following a year later. We’re thrilled to welcome Gareth to the Orbit family! Say hello to him on twitter @Mytholder.

Author photo by Edel Ryder-Hanrahan.

Cover Launch: SEVEN BLADES IN BLACK by Sam Sykes

We’re delighted to unveil the stunning cover for the new novel by Sam Sykes, SEVEN BLADES IN BLACK, an unforgettable epic fantasy that introduces an outcast magician caught between two warring empires.
Design by Lauren Panepinto
Illustration by Jeremy Wilson

 

Among humans, none have power like mages. And among mages, none have will like Sal the Cacophony. Once revered, now vagrant, she walks a wasteland scarred by generations of magical warfare.

 

The Scar, a land torn between powerful empires, is where rogue mages go to disappear, disgraced soldiers go to die and Sal went with a blade, a gun and a list of names she intended to use both on.

 

But vengeance is a flame swift extinguished. Betrayed by those she trusted most, her magic torn from her and awaiting execution, Sal the Cacophony has one last tale to tell before they take her head.

 

All she has left is her name, her story and the weapon she used to carved both.

 

Vengeance is its own reward.

 

Preorder Now!

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