Posts Tagged ‘historical fiction’

Acquisition Announcement: THE BLACK HUNGER by Nicholas Pullen

Orbit is thrilled to have acquired The Black Hunger from debut author Nicholas Pullen, a spine-tingling and sprawling gothic journey into the heart of horror, perfect for fans of The Historian and The Terror.

Orbit UK Commissioning Editor Nadia Saward bought World English rights in two novels from Natasha Mihell at The Rights Factory, with Senior Editor Bradley Englert acquiring for Orbit US. Publication is planned for Autumn 2024.

A photo of Nicholas Pullen wearing a pink shirt and grey blazer

John Sackville will soon be dead. Shadows writhe in the corners of his London cell and the gnawing hunger is growing impossible to ignore. 

They will say he’s gone insane, but John knows he must write his last testament before it is too late.
 
It is a story steeped in history and myth, a journey from occult ruins in Scotland, to the barren wilderness of Russia where otherworldly creatures stalk the night, ending in the icy peaks of Tibet and Mongolia, where an ancient evil stirs. . .

Praise for The Black Hunger:

‘A terrifying gothic journey to the place where the very cruellest, hungriest creatures hide in the snow, and wear our faces. This is a magisterial debut’ Michael Rowe, author of Wild Fell

Acquiring editor Nadia Saward said: ‘Nicholas Pullen has crafted a gothic masterpiece that is at once an unsettling, sinister horror and a heartrending romance with a blistering end that still has me reeling. I can’t wait to terrify and bring readers to tears with The Black Hunger.’

Author Nicholas Pullen said: ‘In Orbit, The Black Hunger has found the perfect home, and in Nadia Saward and Bradley Englert it has found its perfect editors. I couldn’t be more excited to work with both Nadia and Bradley, and am profoundly grateful to Orbit for bringing The Black Hunger to the world. Here we go!’

Agent Natasha Mihell said: ‘The first time The Black Hunger gave me nightmares, I knew I had found something, and someone, special. Pullen’s erudite blend of the historical and the horrifying creates an enticingly rich, cosmically dark tale, shimmering with queer splendour. Captivating, adrenaline-inducing, and constructed with industrious care, The Black Hunger is one of those books you feel smarter for having read, and one that promises to linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading it. An exceptional harnessing of madness—and one wild ride.’

US editor Bradly Englert said: ‘Great horror makes you care for the characters. The best kind of horror makes you love the characters and then haunts you as all of the terrifying events unfold. Nicholas Pullen has achieved both in The Black Hunger. It’s the kind of gothic horror that pulls you into the world of its characters before letting loose with full-tilt terror. As a diehard fan of horror, this is a novel that I love and one that readers are going to be obsessed with.’

About the author: Nicholas Pullen was born and raised in Toronto, and educated at Oxford and McGill. A writer since early childhood, Nicholas now fashions stories out of shadows, madness, and historical truths. Outside of writing, his professional life has been spent working toward Truth and Reconciliation in the Canadian Public Service, as a treaty negotiator with Indigenous Peoples. He speaks fluent French, is an enthusiastic amateur of the guitar and mandolin, and to relax, enjoys scuba diving on shipwrecks in Georgian Bay. Nicholas is a Canada Council for the Arts Grant Recipient and his short fiction has appeared in the Toronto Star (Famous Blue), the Copperfield Review (Hellulandsaga), and Anti-Heroin Chic (Relapse/Grindr). The Black Hunger is his first novel.

You can find Nicholas on Twitter at @thenajpullen, go say hello!

 

Cover Launch: HOUSE OF ODYSSEUS by Claire North

We’re proud to present the stunning cover for HOUSE OF ODYSSEUS (UK|US), the new novel in the Songs of Penelope trilogy by Claire North, coming August 2023.

Book cover for HOUSE OF ODYSSEUS by Claire North, featuring three Greek women in white robes on a blue background
Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

Following the critically acclaimed Ithaca comes House of Odysseus, the second novel in Claire North’s Songs of Penelope trilogy – an exquisite, gripping tale that breathes life into ancient myth. This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before.

On the island of Ithaca, queen Penelope maintains a delicate balance of power. Many years ago, her husband Odysseus sailed to war with Troy and never returned. In his absence, Penelope uses all her cunning to keep the peace – but this is shattered with the arrival of Orestes, King of Mycenae.  

Orestes, son of Agamemnon, is mad. Wracked with guilt for putting his own mother to death, he grows ever more unhinged. But a king cannot be seen to be weak. To keep him safe from the ambitious men of Mycenae, his sister Elektra brings him to Ithaca to recover under the protection of Penelope. But no sooner has Orestes arrived then his uncle Menelaus, the blood-soaked king of Sparta, comes looking for him. Menelaus hungers for Orestes’ throne – and if he can seize it, no one will be safe from his violent whims.

Caught between Sparta and Mycenae, Penelope must protect Ithaca from two mad kings on the edge of war. Her only allies are Elektra, desperate to protect her brother, and Helen of Troy, Menelaus’ wife. Each woman has a secret, and their secrets will shape the world . . .

Praise for the Songs of Penelope series:

‘Darkly fascinating, raw and breathtaking’ Jennifer Saint, author of Sunday Times bestseller Ariadne

‘Richly poetic . . . This is an impassioned plea for the lost, disenfranchised queens of ancient Greece, a love letter to the silenced women of history’ Booklist

‘Everything I’ve wanted in a retelling: a vibrant cast, full of suspense, told with a phenomenal narrative voice – this is an absolute masterpiece’ Sarah Bonner, author of Her Perfect Twin

‘Conjures up a world in which women, abandoned by their men, must weave their own destinies‘ The Times

‘Claire North has set a new standard for Ancient Greek retellings. Absolutely sublime’ Hannah Lynn, author of Athena’s Child

HOUSE OF ODYSSEUS by Claire North is available for pre-order now (UK|US).

Cover Launch: SISTERSONG by Lucy Holland

Redhook is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Lucy Holland’s gorgeous and haunting historical fantasy SISTERSONG.

Inspired by the traditional murder ballad “The Twa Sisters”, set against the rich backdrop of ancient Britian, Sistersong is a dark and lyrical tale of siblings and sorcery from a spellbinding new voice. And if that description isn’t enough to fully captivate you, check out the beautiful cover, designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio.

 

Sistersong will release in the US in October and is available for pre-order now (US). Read more about the book below, and don’t forget to share your cover love with Lucy on Twitter, @silvanhistorian!

In the ancient kingdom of Dumnonia, there is old magic to be found in the whisper of the wind, the roots of the trees, the curl of the grass. King Cador knew this once, but now the land has turned from him, calling instead to his three children. Riva can cure others but can’t seem to heal her own deep scars. Keyne battles to be seen for who he truly is—the king’s son. And Sinne dreams of seeing the world, of finding love and adventure.

All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold, their people’s last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. However, change comes on the day ash falls from the sky. It brings with it Myrdhin, meddler and magician. And Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear them apart.

Riva, Keyne and Sinne—three siblings entangled in a web of treachery and heartbreak, who must fight to forge their own paths.

Their story will shape the destiny of Britain.

 

Acquisition Announcement: THE GREAT WITCH OF BRITTANY

Witches of the world rejoice! We’re delighted to announce Orbit’s sister imprint, Redhook, has acquired a gorgeous new novel from author Louisa Morgan. Set during a time of witch burnings and revolution, THE GREAT WITCH OF BRITTANY follows young Ursule Orchière as she discovers a magic within her that will change the course of her life and reshape her family for generations to come.

Here are a few words from the author about what inspired her to write The Great Witch of Brittany:

For a writer, creating a character is like meeting a complete stranger who you get to know really well. When several readers of A Secret History of Witches asked to know more about the “great witch Ursule,” ancestress to the Orchière witches, I was intrigued by the idea and began to wonder what her story might be. 

In my own life, I’m inspired by the women I have watched endure and rise above the most difficult circumstances, women who may not be physically prepossessing, but are so strong spiritually and morally that they are unbreakable. Ursule turned out to be all those things. It was fascinating to me to ‘discover’ her roots and to witness the triumphs and tragedies which shaped her, and the challenges she met with the strength of her character, enhanced by the magic of the Orchière line. 

At the end of this process, I hated saying goodbye to Ursule. She was everything I had hoped she would be–not only as a great witch, but as a woman. I hope the readers who asked about her will be as pleased as I was to learn her story.

While you wait for this wonderful book to hit shelves, you can read Louisa’s previous standalone novels: A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES (US | UK), THE WITCH’S KIND (US | UK), and THE AGE OF WITCHES (US | UK). You can find her on Twitter at @WriterLouisa and https://www.louisemarley.com.

Orbit US editor Nivia Evans acquired World All Languages rights from Peter Rubie at FinePrint Literary Management. Orbit UK will publish in the UK.

 

 

 

Acquisition Announcement: A WITCH IN TIME by Constance Sayers

Orbit’s sibling imprint, Redhook, has acquired World English rights to a beautiful debut novel by Atlantic Media executive Constance Sayers from Roz Foster at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. In A Witch in Time, a young woman in Belle Epoque France is cursed to relive a doomed love affair through many lifetimes, as both troubled muse and frustrated artist. If you loved A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES (US | UK), Outlander, and The Time Traveler’s Wife, this is your next magical read.

Look out for A Witch in Time in January 2020, and meanwhile, please give a warm welcome to Constance on Twitter @constancesayers and check out her website!

New Acquisition: THE WITCH’S KIND by Louisa Morgan

As announced in Publishers Weekly, Louisa Morgan, author of the much-loved A Secret History of Witches, is back with a brand new book! We have acquired world rights to two more beautiful witch novels by Louisa, from Peter Rubie at FinePrint Literary Management. The first of them, The Witch’s Kind, comes out in Spring 2019.

The Witch’s Kind is an absorbing tale of love, sacrifice, family ties, and magic, set in the Pacific Northwest in the aftermath of World War II. If you loved Practical Magic, The Witch’s Daughter, and A Discovery of Witches, don’t miss Louisa’s wonderful new novel.

Barrie Anne Blythe and her aunt Charlotte have always known that the other residents of their small coastal community find them peculiar—two women living alone on the outskirts of town. It is the price of concealing their strange and dangerous family secret.

But two events threaten to upend their lives forever. The first is the arrival of a mysterious abandoned baby with a hint of power like their own. The second is the sudden reappearance of Barrie Anne’s long-lost husband—who is not quite the man she thought she married.

Together, Barrie Anne and Charlotte must decide how far they are willing to go to protect themselves—and the child they think of as their own—from suspicious neighbors, the government, and even their own family…

Can’t wait until next year? Make sure you’ve checked out A Secret History of Witches, and say hi to the author on Twitter @WriterLouisa.

(US | UK)