Posts Tagged ‘romance’

Cover Launch: THE PHOENIX KEEPER by S. A. MacLean

Take your first look at the cover for The Phoenix Keeper (US) by S. A. MacLean, coming August 2024!

The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean

Cover Design by Rachael Lancaster (Orion Books); Cover Illustration by Niall Grant

Set in a magical zoo teeming with mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper is a fierce joy of a cozy fantasy novel with a soul-restoring queer romance at its heart, for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Legends and Lattes.

As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila’s childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There’s just one glaring caveat: her zoo’s breeding program hasn’t functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins.

But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons… Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. But mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo’s most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible.

Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the face of a goddess who’s convinced that Aila’s beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than as a passive conservation exhibit. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila’s success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job…

She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species—and her love life—now rests on her shoulders.

Acquisition Announcement: LONG LIVE EVIL by Sarah Rees Brennan

Sarah Rees Brennan, the author of Long Live Evil, stands in a yellow dress, matching her yellow and black pixie haircut, holding a pen with her hand on her hip. She wears a necklace that reads ‘antagonist’Time to prepare for your villain era – in the best possible way. We’ve just added the first adult novel from Sarah Rees Brennan to our list for 2024, and it’s her most villainous yet!

Orbit pre-empted world rights in three fantasy novels from cult favourite YA author Sarah Rees Brennan. Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary sold world rights to Editorial Director Jenni Hill at Orbit UK, and Nivia Evans has acquired for Orbit US.

The first adult novel from Sarah is Long Live Evil, in which a young woman wakes in the dangerous fictional world of her favourite fantasy novel. The book will appeal to fans of romantic fantasy and has already won praise from authors such as Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black. Orbit plan to publish in summer 2024.

Long Live Evil is a fantasy novel for everyone who ever rooted for the bad guy.

Editorial Director, Jenni Hill says: “I’ve followed Sarah’s career for a long time and admired her fantasy worldbuilding, her audacious wit and her ability to create romances you can’t tear yourself away from. If you’ve ever been too obsessed with a fantasy TV show, read fanfiction, or wished that a fictional man was real, Long Live Evil is the book for you.”

Agent Suzie Townsend says: “Long Live Evil is clever, funny, romantic and page-turning. It’s one of those perfect books for anyone who loves fantasy tropes and enjoys seeing them subverted. Most of all, it’s a fun ride and is simply a joy to dive into amid everything going on in real life. This novel was a joy to share with editors and I am so thrilled that Jenni and the Orbit team love these characters as much as Sarah and I do.”

Sarah Rees Brennan says: “After a life-threatening illness and during Europe’s longest lockdown, I had to write about escaping into the wild joys and perils of fiction. In my first adult work a dying young woman is offered the chance to live by stepping into the world of her favourite fantasy novel, where she must unite its villains in a scheme that will challenge our perception of evil. Long Live Evil asks why we laugh and weep with villains, why we desire them… and why we become them. I’ve read ground-breaking books from Orbit ever since I learned to read, and couldn’t be more thrilled to be published by the perfect partners.”

 

And now hear from some happy readers – whose names you may recognise!

‘Funny, audacious, and supremely satisfying, LONG LIVE EVIL is the chosen one we’ve been waiting for… Get ready to laugh out loud, cry in public, and cheer on the villains as Brennan smashes through tropes with witty, wild glee in this delicious, subversive treat of a book’ Leigh Bardugo

‘Utterly brilliant. I can’t stop thinking about LONG LIVE EVIL, which has rocketed to the top of my list of all time favorite fantasy novels. Pick this up immediately’ C.S. Pacat

‘Brennan’s brilliant Long Live Evil harnesses clever banter, delightful turns of phrase, and epic backdrops in the service of exploring the nature of stories and the freedom that comes with embracing being named a villain — and maybe actually becoming one’ Holly Black

 

About the author: Sarah Rees Brennan was born in Ireland by the sea. After world travel and surviving stage 4 cancer, she settled there in the shadow of a 300 year old library. Writing young adult fiction, she was a Lodestar, Mythopoeic and World Fantasy finalist, Carnegie nominee and New York Times bestseller. Long Live Evil is her first adult work.

 

Acquisition Announcement: A DOWRY OF BLOOD by S. T. Gibson

We are delighted to announce that we’ve acquired S. T. Gibson’s A Dowry of Blood, a deliciously dark retelling of Dracula; a story of desire, obsession and the lengths to which we’ll go to protect the ones we love. It was previously published by independent press Nyx Publishing and has already established a dedicated fan base; Orbit plans to build on the novel’s cult success and break it out to a wide commercial fiction readership.

Orbit UK and US will publish simultaneously in October 2022, with a further book from S. T. Gibson set in the same world as A Dowry of Blood following in 2023. This stunning cover was designed by Duncan Spilling.

A book cover with a dark background and a woman with a smear of blood across her eyes

This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession. . .

Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things.

Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband’s dark secrets. With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.

S. T. Gibson said: ‘I’m absolutely elated to be working with the talented team at Orbit to bring A Dowry of Blood to life on a grand scale. From the first editorial call, I knew that this book had found its perfect home. A Dowry of Blood was my refuge and comfort during a tough period in my life, and Constanta’s story is near and dear to my heart. By writing this book I was able to dive headfirst into themes of love and marriage, abuse and tenderness, and life and death. I hope readers enjoy the chills and thrills of this dark, dramatic story of obsession.’

Praise for A Dowry of Blood:

‘Dark, lush and heartrendingly romantic’ Lyndall Clipstone, author of Lakesedge

‘A dizzying nightmare of a romance that will leave you aching, angry and ultimately hopeful’ Hannah Whitten, author of For the Wolf

‘Atmospheric and lush. . . it will haunt you in the best possible way’ Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart

Tara Gilbert at the Jennifer De Chiara Agency sold World English rights in a two-book deal to Assistant Editor Nadia Saward at Orbit UK. Associate Editor Angeline Rodriguez at Orbit US has secured North American rights.

We can’t wait to make this the next big obsession in October, but in the meantime please join us in welcoming S. T. Gibson to Orbit! Follow for updates on Twitter at @s_t_gibson, Instagram at @stgibsonauthor and TikTok at @saint.machina

 

 

 

 

Cover Reveal: THE CHAOS OF LUCK

Below is the out-of-this-world cover for THE CHAOS OF LUCK by Catherine Cerveny. The Chaos of Luck is the sequel to The Rule of Luck, an exhilarating science fiction romance from our sister imprint Redhook. Cover design by Wendy Chan. Cerveny_ChaosOfLuck_EB.jpg

Felicia Sevigny makes her own luck. So it’s no surprise that her new life on the Red Planet is off to a good start. She’s making a living reading the fortunes of the fabulously wealthy, and making a home with Alexei, the dangerous, handsome love of her life. 

Then Alexei is called off planet expectedly, mines in the astroid belt start collapsing, and an ex-lover walks back into Felicia’s life. Felicia’s readings predict that there is something bigger going on. Something darker and far more insidious that threatens everything she has come to love. 

And as luck would have it, the cards are right for things to go horribly wrong.

The Chaos of Luck will be publishing this fall in ebook ($2.99). And if you haven’t already met Felicia and Alexei, pick up The Rule of Luck and fall in love with this series today.

“A fascinating premise. Cerveny’s future world is richly drawn, and Felicia’s and Alexei’s adventure is definitely an edge-of-your-seat ride.” — Linnea Sinclair, award-winning author of the Dock Five Universe series

Cover Launch: THE RULE OF LUCK by Catherine Cerveny

Take a peek at THE RULE OF LUCK and fall in love with Felicia and Alexei, in this exhilarating science fiction romance from our sister imprint Redhook. It’s out in January, and you can pre-order your copy now. To tempt you, we’re proud to reveal Wendy Chan’s sexy cover design right here.

TheRuleOfLuck_Quote_B[5].jpg

“A fascinating premise. Cerveny’s future world is richly drawn, and Felicia’s and Alexei’s adventure is definitely an edge-of-your-seat ride.” — Linnea Sinclair, award-winning author of the Dock Five Universe series

As a famed tarot card reader, all is well in luck and love for Felicia Sevigny, until Russian crime leader Alexei Petriv walks into her shop and demands a reading.

Petriv’s future looks dark and full of danger, which wouldn’t be Felicia’s problem, except that it’s also aligned with hers. Felicia discovers she is the key pawn in Petriv’s plot to overthrow the all-knowing government, and she must decide if she will trust with him with her heart, body and soul, before the future of the entire human race collapses around her.

The Final Alexia Tarabotti Adventure!

Sadly, it is that time. It is Alexia’s last—and latest—madcap adventure. Alexia began her adventures with SOULLESS (US/UK/ANZ) and now finishes her adventures with TIMELESS (US/UK/ANZ). More about her adventure below.

Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire’s second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell’s acting troupe’s latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a damper on Alexia’s enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

If you want more of Alexia — please do check out SOULLESS, THE MANGA, VOL 1 (US/UK/ANZ), which is also out now!

Check out the whole series of novels below:

 

The cover for the steampunk romance urban fantasy, SOULLESS by Gail CarrigerThe cover for the steampunk romance urban fantasy Changeless by Gail Carriger

The cover for the steampunk urban fantasy romance BLAMELESS by Gail Carriger