Ben Aaronovitch’s STONE & SKY is Out Now!


The wait is finally over! STONE & SKYBen Aaronovitch‘s highly-anticipated, tenth Rivers of London novel is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz/Orion, here’s the synopsis…

‘This isn’t London. The rules are different up here, and so are the allegiances.’

Detective Sergeant Peter Grant takes a much-needed holiday up in Scotland. And he’ll need one when this is over…

If more’s the merrier, then it’s ecstatic as his partner Beverley, their young twins, his mum, dad, his dad’s band and their dodgy manager all tag along. Even his boss, DCI Thomas Nightingale, takes in the coastal airs as he trains Peter’s cousin Abigail in the arcane arts.

And they’ll need them too, because Scotland’s Granite City has more than its fair share of history and mystery, myth… and murder.

When a body is found in a bus stop, fresh from the sea, the case smells fishy from the off.

Something may be stirring beyond the bay – but there’s something far stranger in the sky…

The novel is available in hardcover, eBook, and as an audiobook — the latter read once again by the ever-excellent Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Shvorne Marks! Next week (July 8th), the novel is due to be published by DAW Books in North America, and DTV in Germany.

As a reminder, Ben is also currently on book tour in the UK to celebrate the release of STONE & SKY!

LIVROS & OSSOS by Travis Baldree is Out Now!


The Portugese edition of Travis Baldree‘s internationally-best-selling and widely-acclaimed BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is out today! LIVROS & OSSOS is published by Intrínseca, and was translated by Flora Pinheiro. Here’s the synopsis…

Ambientada no universo do best-seller Cafés & Lendas, a prequel Livros & Ossos é uma jornada de alta fantasia, primeiros amores e muitos livros antigos

Viv é uma jovem orc que tem sede de batalhas e de vitória, mas sua carreira com os notórios Corvos de Rackam, um bando de mercenários velhos de guerra, vai de mal a pior. 

Depois de ser ferida durante uma caçada a uma poderosa necromante, Viv é enviada contra sua vontade para Murk, uma cidadezinha litorânea, para se recuperar. Para sua tristeza, o máximo de aventura que ela deve conseguir por ali é observar as ondas quebrando na costa. 

Esquecida pelos companheiros de guerra, Viv se distrai passando os dias na livraria Thistleburr, e se surpreende com o fato de que os livros (e a dona mal-humorada do lugar) sejam tão divertidos. Mas essa pode ser justamente a mudança de que precisa para enfim dar um novo rumo à sua vida. 

Só que as façanhas que Viv tanto deseja talvez não estejam tão distantes… Em meio a viajantes misteriosos, gnomos ranzinzas, crushes de verão e um número preocupante de esqueletos à solta, a orc vai descobrir que há muito mais na tranquila Murk do que ela poderia supor.

Emocionante e com um toque de humor, Livros & Ossos reflete sobre a importância da vida em comunidade e a busca por um propósito em meio às peripécias do destino. Situado no mesmo universo de Cafés & Lendas, o livro narra as aventuras da jovem orc antes de ela decidir aposentar sua espada e abrir a própria cafeteria

LEGENDS & LATTES, Travis’s acclaimed debut, is also available via Intrínseca: CAFÉS & LENDAS.

BOOKSHOP & BONEDUST and LEGENDS & LATTES are published by Tor Books in North America and in the UK. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn’t always what we seek.

Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree’s Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and secondhand books.

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk — so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Ben Aaronovitch’s DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON – Reihe III is Out Now!


A third omnibus edition of Rivers of London novels — collecting books 7-9 by Ben Aaronovitch — is out now in Germany! DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON – Reihe III is published by DTV, and translated by Christine Blum. Here’s the synopsis, which has a bit about each included novel…

DIE GLOCKE VON WHITECHAPEL:

Constable und Zauberlehrling Peter Grant steht vor seiner größten Herausforderung: Das Schicksal Londons steht auf dem Spiel. Der gesichtslose Magier, verantwortlich für grauenvolle übernatürliche Verbrechen, ist zwar endlich demaskiert und auf der Flucht. Doch er verfolgt einen perfiden Plan, der ganz London in den Abgrund stürzen könnte. Um den Gesichtslosen zu stoppen, muss Peter all seine magischen Kräfte aufbieten – und einen bösen alten Bekannten kontaktieren: Mr. Punch, den mörderischen Geist des Aufruhrs und der Rebellion.

EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET: 

Peter Grant, unser Londoner Lieblings-Bobby und Zauberlehrling, steht vor völlig neuen privaten Herausforderungen. Welche ihn zu gleichen Teilen mit Panik und Begeisterung erfüllen. Beruflich bekommt er es mit der Serious Cybernetics Corporation zu tun, dem neuesten Projekt des Internet-Genies Terrence Skinner. Und prompt holt die Magie ihn wieder ein. Denn in den Tiefen der SCC ist ein Geheimnis verborgen, eine geheime magische Technologie, die zurückreicht bis weit ins 19. Jahrhundert, das Zeitalter von Ada Lovelace und Charles Babbage. Und die brandgefährlich ist für die Welt.

DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE: 

Peter Grant, der Londoner Bobby und Zauberlehrling (sowie neuerdings Praktikantinnenausbilder), hat einen neuen Fall. In den Silberkammern in der Chancery Lane hat es einen merkwürdigen Todesfall gegeben. Der Tote weist eine große Wunde im Brustkorb auf – als hätte man ihm das Herz herausgerissen. Die Ermittlungen führen zu einem zweiten Toten. Und dann zunehmend weiter über London hinaus – in völlig unerwartete räumliche, zeitliche und extradimensionale Gefilde. Dabei hat Peter eigentlich schon mehr als genug damit zu tun, sich auf ein ganz bestimmtes freudiges Ereignis vorzubereiten, das allmählich die Züge eines hochmagischen und illustren Großevents annimmt …

LIES SLEEPING, FALSE VALUE, and AMONGST OUR WEAPONS are published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion, and DAW Books in North America. Here’s the English-language synopsis for LIES SLEEPING

In London, the past is never dead. It only lies sleeping…

Martin Chorley – aka the Faceless Man – wanted for multiple counts of murder, fraud and crimes against humanity, has been unmasked and is on the run. Peter Grant, Detective Constable and apprentice wizard, now plays a key role in an unprecedented joint operation to bring Chorley to justice.

But even as the unwieldy might of the Metropolitan Police bears down on its foe, Peter uncovers clues that Chorley, far from being finished, is executing the final stages of a long-term plan. A plan that has its roots in London’s two thousand bloody years of history, and could literally bring the city to its knees.

To save his beloved city Peter’s going to need help from his former best friend and colleague – Lesley May – who brutally betrayed him and everything he thought she believed in. And, far worse, he might even have to come to terms with the malevolent supernatural killer and agent of chaos known as Mr Punch…

New UK Audiobook Edition of William Gibson’s COUNT ZERO is Out Now!


William Gibson‘s acclaimed COUNT ZERO is out now in a new UK audiobook edition! The second novel in the Sprawl series, which began with the classic NEUROMANCER, it is published by W. F. Howes, and read by Alix Wilton Regan, Kyle Soller, and Sebastián Capitán Viveros. Here’s the synopsis…

They set a Slamhound on Turner’s trail in New Delhi, slotted it to his pheromones and the colour of his hair.When the Maas Biolabs and Hosaka zaibatsus fight it out for world domination, computer cowboys like Turner and Count Zero are just foot soldiers in the great game: useful but ultimately expendable.When Turner wakes up in Mexico — in a new body with a beautiful woman beside him — his corporate masters let him recuperate for a while, then reactivate his memory for a mission even more dangerous than the one that nearly killed him: the head designer from Maas Biolabs says he wants to defect to Hosaka, and it’s Turner’s job to deliver him safely.

Count Zero is a rustbelt data-hustler totally unprepared for what comes his way when the designer’s defection triggers war in cyberspace. With voodoo gods in the Net and angels in the software, he can only hope that the megacorps and the super-rich have their virtual hands too full to notice the amateur hacker with the black market kit trying desperately to stay alive.

COUNT ZERO and the other novels in the Sprawl series — NEUROMANCER, MONA LISA OVERDRIVE, and BURNING CHROME — are available in print and eBook in the UK, published by Gollancz.

NEUROMANCER is also available in a couple of other SF Masterworks editions, also published by Gollancz.

Zeno represents William Gibson in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of to Nell Pierce at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Katy Nyquist’s A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED is Out Now!


Katy Nyquist‘s A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED, the highly-anticipated first novel in the Scandals of the Gifted series, is out today! Published by Podium, here’s the synopsis…

A Holy Maiden should never drink, get kidnapped, nor kiss a Dark Lord, but Ysabel is breaking all the rules to escape her fate as a human sacrifice.

In a world where magical powers are commonplace, Holy Maiden Ysabel is revered as a goddess among her people. She’s the only one able to heal the sick and injured with a simple touch. But her spectacular gift comes at a steep price. For each person she saves, she loses a day of her own conscripted life. To add insult to injury, she’s supposed to maintain a pure image even though she’d rather drink and play dominatrix until her sorrows fade away.

After the corrupt Head Cardinal Jiang abuses her gift, forbids her from leaving the city, and takes her brother hostage, Ysabel doesn’t dare drag anyone else into her problems — especially since it won’t change her fate. But when Dark Lord Kaine arrives at her clinic doorstep grievously wounded, she’s touched by his refusal to accept her healing lest it cost her another day of her life.

The mysterious and sexy Dark Lord awakens forbidden desires in Ysabel, and the nagging survival instinct she tried to drown with booze and drugs comes back with a vengeance. She’s less impressed, however, when he threatens to sack her city in return for his injuries. Fortunately, she can flirt her way to an alliance against the Head Cardinal instead.

Armed with only a ferociously loyal female bodyguard named Alzira, Ysabel attempts to make the most of her mere months left to live, protect the refugees around her city, prevent a war, and hide her face blindness. But before her life flickers to its sad end, she must decide: either die a proper Holy Maiden or risk it all to run off with Kaine.

With a cover by Mario Teodosio, the novel is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook (read by Hollie Jackson).

“[A Holy Maiden’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped features] a protagonist with a strong voice and unique character facets like face blindness and a healing gift . . . and some nice worldbuilding, both in broad strokes and specific detailing.’Elayne Audrey Becker, author of the Forestborn duology

‘I… absolutely fell in love with Ysabel and Kaine… The ‘opposites attract’ trope worked so well for this story… The stakes are high throughout… Great craft and storytelling!’April L. Wood, author of the Season of the Witch series

‘Both [Ysabel and Kaine are] strongly drawn and very relatable.’Bogi Takács, author of Power to Yield

Out Now: LÉGENDES & LATTES, LA SAGA by Travis Baldree!


Today, Ynnis Éditions publish a special French omnibus edition of Travis Baldree‘s Legends & Lattes series! Translated by Stéphanie Chaptal, it collects the novels LEGENDS & LATTES and BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, and the stories PAGES TO FILL and GOBLINS & GREATCOATS. Here’s the synopsis…

Cet ouvrage contient le roman Légendes et Lattes et sa suite, Sagas et Sable d’os, la nouvelle Des pages à remplir, ainsi que la nouvelle inédite Gobeline et Gabardine. Avec de toutes nouvelles illustrations et des extraits de journal intime de Viv et du carnet de notes de Pitts.

Une tasse de fantasy, des tranches de vie savoureuse et un zeste de romance !

Rencontrez Viv, une orc mercenaire au passé tumultueux, qui décide de changer de vie. Elle se lance dans une entreprise audacieuse : la création d’un café. Un pari risqué, car dans la ville de Tuine, les elfes, lutins et autres ratelins ignorent tout de ce breuvage peu ragoûtant… Son chemin croisera celui de personnages hauts en couleur, qui vivront avec elle des aventures où la magie n’est jamais très loin.

Aux côtés d’une succube très perspicace, d’un hobgobelin mutique et de divers alliés improbables, Viv devra réussir à se tailler une place dans un monde qui lui est inconnu, tout en protégeant coûte que coûte ce qui compte le plus pour elle.

The internationally-bestselling and highly acclaimed LEGENDS & LATTES and BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST are published by Tor Books in the UK and North America. Here’s the English-language synopsis for LEGENDS & LATTES…

A cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts.

High fantasy, low stakes – with a double-shot of coffee.

After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sets her sights on a new dream – for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the past behind her, she can’t go it alone. And help might arrive from unexpected quarters. Yet old rivals and new stand in the way of success. And Thune’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more.

But the true reward of the uncharted path is the travellers you meet along the way. Whether bound by ancient magic, delicious pastries or a freshly brewed cup, they may become something deeper than Viv ever could have imagined…

‘This is a warm hug of a book’T. Kingfisher, bestselling author of Nettle & Bone

‘The most fun I’ve ever had in a coffee shop’Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London

‘This sapphic triumph is an absolute must’Rebecca Thorne, bestselling author of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea

‘This is a story about following your dreams, even when they take you away from who you thought you had to be. It’s sweet, beautiful and, most of all, kind. I hugely recommend this book’Seanan McGuire, author of the Wayward Children series

‘A gentle little cozy set against an epic fantasy backdrop… This charming outing will please anyone who’s ever wished to spend time in a fantasy world without all the quests and battles.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘This slice-of-life cozy fantasy novel has everything you’ve been searching for.’ — Buzzfeed

‘With its mysterious encounters, summer flings and a growing number of skeletons, Baldree’s fantastical novel is the perfect winter indulgence.’ — HuffPost Books (“Best Books We Read in 2023)

‘What I love about Travis Baldree is that set against an epic world of adventure, he writes about the small victories that make life worthwhile. BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST does this and it is glorious’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘… a lovely coming-of-age story about a character trained for war who learns that there’s more to life than endless battles. What makes the story special is the way that so many stock fantasy archetypes are cast against type and find new modes of prospering that don’t involve big weapons and bigger wars… This prequel is the perfect place for readers to start Baldree’s cozy fantasy series where folks band together for good, and evil is conquered through cleverness and friendship.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review), SFF Pick of the Month

‘Baldree’s prequel to Legends and Lattes (2022) cements his talent for cozy fantasy, engaging characters, and anachronistic references that would be at home in a Discworld novel… Knowing where a character ends up often drains tension from a prequel, but Baldree avoids that pitfall because the joy of reading here isn’t a simple uncertainty over who lives or dies but rather watching friendships blossom and characters grow. Folks who enjoyed the camaraderie and settings of this year’s Dungeons & Dragons movie—as well as anyone who likes the idea of an orc warrior becoming a devotee of the power of reading and its ability to broaden your horizons—should check out Viv’s adventures.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘Bestseller Baldree’s cozy standalone sequel to LEGENDS & LATTES shows that even a battle-hungry orc can find happiness in life’s simple pleasures… The innocent joy of Viv and Fern’s love is delightful and Baldree’s formula of placing low-stakes stories in high-fantasy settings remains good fun. Series fans will eat this up.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘This prequel gives readers a glimpse of Viv as a young orc, still committed to the fighter’s life, just taking an enforced break in a charming town populated by compelling, richly drawn characters, and the slightest hint of danger in the wind. Despite the lurking necromancer, the vibes are decidedly warm and cozy, and the plot is just as much about saving the bookstore and building relationships as it is about protecting the town from the man in gray. As a prequel, it can stand alone, but will certainly satisfy fans as well. Warm and wonderful.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

M.A. Wardell’s TEACHER OF THE YEAR Out Now in the UK!


M. A. Wardell Week continues: the new UK paperback edition of TEACHER OF THE YEAR is out now! (North American edition was published on Tuesday.) It’s the first novel in the author’s acclaimed Teachers in Love series, and is published by Penguin in the UK. Here’s the synopsis…

Love: Not as easy as ABC.

They were supposed to keep things casual. Who’d expect they’d be schooled in love?

Those who can, teach. Marvin Block is one of the best kindergarten teachers out there. And despite his anxiety, Marvin’s life is sweet. He knows what he wants. And what he wants is the Teacher of the Year Award. Not just for himself – his school needs him to win.

Returning from break, the New Year finds Marvin all set to welcome a new pupil to his class. But when Illona walks in with her cute-as-hell single dad beside her, Marvin’s focus starts to slide.

Sure, his students always come first, but he deserves to have a life outside the classroom, too, right?

As their friendship starts to deepen, Marvin realizes Olan has the potential to teach him things about love he never thought possible. But with the Teacher of the Year award and his school’s future on the line, now’s not the time for anything complicated.

Education has always been Marvin’s world. And he needs to keep a cool head if he wants to win the award and save his school. But will it be worth it if he loses Olan in the process?

With Olan’s past and Marvin’s present colliding, their experiment in love hangs in the balance. Marvin knows what he wants out of life. But now he’s forced to consider what he wants out of love.

Will Marvin chalk the relationship up to experience? Or can they revise their story into a textbook romance?

Penguin are also due to re-issue Wardell’s MISTLETOE AND MISHIGAS and NAPKINS AND OTHER DISTRACTIONS in September and October, respectively. (The eBook and audiobook editions are available now — in the UK and North America.)

Papberback Edition of Lavie Tidhar’s SIX LIVES is Out Tomorrow!


The new UK paperback edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed SIX LIVES is out tomorrow! To be published by Apollo/Head of Zeus, here’s the synopsis…

SIX LIVES
Six lives, connected through blood and history, each rooted in the dirt of their inheritance, look to the future, and what it might hold.

THE GUANO MERCHANT
In 1855, Edward Feebes travels to the guano islands of South America to investigate an irregularity in the accounts of the House of Feebes & Co.

MOMENTO MORI
In 1912, post-mortem photographer and reluctant blackmailer Annie Connolly plots her escape from Ireland to America on board the Titanic.

THE COUNTRY HOUSE MURDER
In 1933, idealistic Edgar Waverley faces a choice of the heart when he becomes embroiled in a country house murder.

THE SPY
In 1964, hapless KGB agent Vasily Sokolov makes his career conjuring valuable information from worthless detritus.

ZABBALEEN
in 1987, actor Mariam Khouri looks back at Black Dirt, the movie that lifted her from the streets of Cairo.

NEW YORK
In 2012, Isabelle Feebes attempts to break with her poisonous heritage once and for al. Can she forge a new life for herself in the New World? Can you ever truly escape your past?

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘Lavie Tidhar’s SIX LIVES is a magnificent matryoshka of a novel. Presenting six stories about fascinating individuals who are bound by blood and a shared desire to be free from the ties of birth, Tidhar’s writing is alchemical, smouldering with his characters’ passions, ambitions and frustrations as it shifts genres, from murder mystery to spy thriller, and more… Spellbinding and smart, measured and fierily evocative, SIX LIVES is an immensely satisfying achievement.’ — LoveReading

‘I was blown away… Despite covering subjects as diverse as the Victorian guano trade, the KGB’s Cairo operations, post-mortem photography and an Agatha Christie-esque English country house murder, Tidhar manages to brilliantly realise each one.’ — Jewish Chronicle

‘The work is a tour de force, showcasing the author’s versatility in entering the heads of such disparate characters in such disparate settings in time and place. Each story is beautifully crafted, sometimes light-heated, often tragic. If there is a theme, it is the precariousness of human life and the vanity of human wishes; poverty is bad but wealth seldom brings happiness.’Historical Novel Society

M.A. Wardell’s TEACHER OF THE YEAR Out Now in North America!


Today’s the day! M. A. Wardell‘s TEACHER OF THE YEAR is out now in a new North American paperback edition! The first novel in the author’s Teachers in Love series, it is published by Forever. Here’s the synopsis…

This steamy friends-to-lovers gay romance explores what happens when a kindergarten teacher falls for a student’s single father—while overcoming trauma and dealing with anxiety—perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Anita Kelly. 

Those who can, teach. Marvin Block is one of the best kindergarten teachers out there. And despite his anxiety, Marvin’s life is sweet. He knows what he wants. And what he wants is the Teacher of the Year Award. Not just for himself – his school needs him to win.​

Returning from break, the New Year finds Marvin all set to welcome a new pupil to his class. But when Illona walks in with her cute-as-hell single dad beside her, Marvin’s focus starts to slide. Sure, his students always come first, but he deserves to have a life outside the classroom, too, right?​

As their friendship starts to deepen, Marvin realizes Olan has the potential to teach him things about love he never thought possible. But with the Teacher of the Year award and his school’s future on the line, now’s not the time for anything complicated.​ Education has always been Marvin’s world. And he needs to keep a cool head if he wants to win the award and save his school. But will it be worth it if he loses Olan in the process?​

With Olan’s past and Marvin’s present colliding, their experiment in love hangs in the balance. Marvin knows what he wants out of life. But now he’s forced to consider what he wants out of love. Will Marvin chalk the relationship up to experience? Or can they revise their story into a textbook romance?

Now with bonuses including a new epilogue and artwork of the characters.

Forever are also due to re-issue Wardell’s MISTLETOE AND MISHIGAS and NAPKINS AND OTHER DISTRACTIONS in September and October, respectively. (The eBook and audiobook editions are available now.)

Travis Baldree’s 本屋をたてなおす Out Now!


The Japanese edition of Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed, best-selling BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is out now! Published by 東京創元社, as 本屋をたてなおす, it was translated by 原島 文世. Here’s the synopsis…

戦闘中に大怪我をした傭兵ヴィヴ。治るまでと置いていかれたのは美味しいパンやスコーンを売るベーカリーもある小さな町だった。痛む脚で町を歩いていたヴィヴは潰れそうな本屋に入ってみた。まったく本に縁のないヴィヴだったが、店主の小鼠人が薦める本を読むうちに物語の虜になり、店主の尻をたたいて本屋の建て直しに着手する。友人たちの協力も得て、立て直しは順調に進んでいたが……。大人気の『伝説とカフェラテ』前日譚。

東京創元社 have also published LEGENDS & LATTES in Japan, as 伝説とカフェラテ.

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is published by Tor Books in the UK and North America, and is out now. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn’t always what we seek.

Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree’s Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and secondhand books.

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Out Now: DIRECT DESCENDANT by Tanya Huff!


In case you missed it: the latest novel from Tanya Huff, DIRECT DESCENDANT is out now! Published in the UK in an audiobook edition, by W. F. Howes, it is narrated by Savannah Thomas. Here’s the synopsis…

This cozy horror novel set in modern-day Toronto includes phenomenal characters, fantastic writing, and a queer romance — the perfect balance of dark and delightful

Generations ago, the founders of the idyllic town of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force. In exchange for their service, the town will stay prosperous and successful, and keep outsiders out. And for generations, it’s worked out great. Until a visitor goes missing, and his wealthy family sends a private investigator to find him, and everything abruptly goes sideways.

Now, Cassidy Prewitt, town baker and part-time servant of the dark force (it’s a family business) has to contend with a rising army of darkness, a very frustrated town, and a very cute PI who she might just be falling for… and who might just be falling for her. And if they can survive their own homegrown apocalypse, they might even just find happiness together.

Queer, cozy, and with a touch of eldritch horror mixed in just for fun, this is a charming love story about a small-town baker, a quick-witted PI, and, yes, an ancient evil.

Zeno represents Tanya Huff in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

ESPERANCE by Adam Oyebanji Out Now in the UK!


ESPERANCE, the highly-anticipated new speculative thriller from Adam Oyebanji, is out today! Published in the UK by Arcadia, here’s the synopsis…

The history-bending speculative fiction from Adam Oyebanji, award-winning author of BRAKING DAY.

An impossible death: Detective Ethan Krol has been called to the scene of a baffling murder: a man and his son, who appear to have been drowned in sea-water. But the nearest ocean is a thousand miles away.

An improbable story: Hollie Rogers doesn’t want to ask too many questions of her new friend, Abi Eniola. Abi claims to be an ordinary woman from Nigeria, but her high-tech gadgets and extraordinary physical abilities suggest she’s not telling the whole truth.

An incredible quest: As Ethan’s investigation begins to point towards Abi, Hollie’s fears mount. For Abi is very much not who she seems. And it won’t be long before Ethan and Hollie find themselves playing a part in a story that spans cultures, continents… and centuries.

An extraordinary speculative thriller about the scars left by the Atlantic slave-trade, by a master of the genre.

The novel is available from today in print, eBook, and audiobook (read by Délé Ogundiran).

Here are some of the great reviews the novel prior to publication…

‘This mixture of mystery, SF, and historical fiction is highly recommended for readers who love intricately blended genre stories that ask big questions. Those who fell hard for Rivers Solomon’s The Deep or Leslye Penelope’s Daughter of the Merciful Deep will find a kindred story here.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘Oyebanji dextrously blends genres in this suspenseful sci-fi mystery … yielding a satisfying, if grim, solution. Rob Hart and Blake Crouch fans should check this out.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘In this brilliant story, Oyebanji makes the reader question perceptions of guilt and innocence, of vengeance and justice, of time itself–all the while asking what makes us truly human. A tour de force and most highly recommended.’ — Julie E. Czerneda, author of To Each This World

‘A tightly wound plot told from two divergent points of view that will keep you guessing in the best ways. If you’re a fan of SF mystery, ESPERANCE merges the best from both genres.’ — Michael Mammay, author of the Planetside series

‘A police procedural genetically modified to include the best of science fiction, mystery, action, and suspense. With plot lines rooted in Africa, Britain, and North America—all three legs of the brutal Triangular Trade—this page-burner earns its moral heft by engaging with one of the ugliest mass human abuses in the history of our planet and considering what enslavement might have looked like through another planet’s eyes.’ — Donna Glee Williams, author of The Night Field

‘A gripping mystery about an impossible murder combines with a marvellous story of a strange, possibly alien, odyssey around our present-day world, with all its problems and heritage. Guess the murder solution and you’re a better reader than I, though the solution is both satisfying and resonant. Thrilling and sparky writing, extremely readable: a gem of a thriller.’ — Adam Roberts, author of Lake of Darkness

‘A gripping, intricately plotted mystery which unravels its themes of justice, choices and consequence with huge assurance and flair.’ — E. J. Swift, author of The Coral Bones

Arcadia also publishes Oyebanji’s acclaimed debut, BRAKING DAY in the UK — out now in paperback and eBook.

Zeno represents Adam Oyebanji in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

New Paperback Edition of Lavie Tidhar’s MAROR Out Now in Germany


The new, German paperback edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed, best-of-2024 novel, MAROR, is out today! Published by Suhrkamp, it was translated by Conny Lösch. Here’s the synopsis…

Eine Autobombe in den Seitenstraßen von Tel Aviv. Ein Diamantenraub in Haifa. Bürgerkrieg im Libanon. Rebellenkämpfer im kolumbianischen Dschungel. Ein Doppelmord in Los Angeles.

Wie hängt all dies zusammen? Das weiß nur Cohen, ein Mann, der sein Land liebt. Ein vernünftiger Mann für unvernünftige Zeiten.

Maror ist die Geschichte eines Krieges um die Seele eines Landes ‒ es ist eine wahre Geschichte. All diese Dinge sind passiert.

MAROR is published in the UK by Head of Zeus/Apollo.

Here’s MAROR‘s English-language synopsis…

How do you build a nation?

It takes statesmen and soldiers, farmers and factory workers, of course. But it also takes thieves, prostitutes and policemen.

Nation-building demands sacrifice. And one man knows exactly where those bodies are buried: Cohen, a man who loves his country. A reasonable man for unreasonable times.

A car bomb in the back streets of Tel Aviv. A diamond robbery in Haifa. Civil war in Lebanon. Rebel fighters in the Colombian jungle. A double murder in Los Angeles.

How do they all connect? Only Cohen knows.

Maror is the story of a war for a country’s soul – a dazzling spread of narrative gunshots across four decades and three continents.

It is a true story. All of these things happened.

The novel, which was a Guardian and Economist Best Book of 2022, has been praised far and wide since it was first published. Here are just a small number of the great responses/reviews…

‘Some write in ink, others in song, Tidhar writes in fire… MAROR is a kaleidoscopic masterpiece, immense in its sympathies, alarming in its irreverences and altogether exhilarating.’ — Junot Díaz

‘One of the boldest, most visionary writers I’ve ever read creates both a vivid political exploration and a riveting crime epic. It’s like the Jewish Godfather!’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia

‘A masterpiece of the sacred and the profane … a literary triumph.’ — Guardian

‘Amos Oz’s A Tale of Love and Darkness… Fade[s] into oblivion compared with Lavie Tidhar’s magnificent novel MAROR, a panoramic look at four decades of the dark, despicable side of Israel, of death, corruption, violence and drugs… It’s a brilliant undertaking.’ — Jewish Chronicle

‘One of the sensational novels of 2022, a violent rollercoaster and drug-fuelled ride into Israel’s history’ — Jewish Chronicle (as part of ADAMA review)

MAROR blends the page-turning wit of a hard-boiled detective noir with the stirring intrigue of a multi-national political epic. An ambitious achievement that weaves a tapestry of both story and statement.’ — Kevin Jared Hosein

‘A bloody beast of a book… MAROR is to Israeli history what Tarantino is to American movie culture’ — Daily Mail

‘Comparisons to James Ellroy and Marlon James are valid… On every page we feel we’re among real, breathing people… [a] compelling, unflinching roman-fleuve.’ — Times Literary Supplement (joint review of ADAMA and MAROR)

‘Radiant with all the brutally elegant atmosphere of crime noir, and the richly nuanced complexity and style of Marlon James’ A Brief History of Seven Killings, it’s a genre-busting novel that will catch your breath … At once illuminating, thrilling and thought-provoking, this tale of corruption, killings, sacrifice and the souls that make up a nation is a symphonic feat of fiction.’ — LoveReading

Cierra Block’s BARCELONA BLOCK BY BLOCK is Out Now!


The latest book by Cierra Block‘s acclaimed Block by Block series, BARCELONA BLOCK BY BLOCK is out now! Published by OH Editions, here’s the synopsis…

For anyone who loves Barcelona – whether you’re a first-time tourist or a lifetime local – this is the book for you.

From museums and markets to bakeries and boutiques, artist Cierra Block unlocks the secrets of the city in Barcelona Block by Block. Vibrantly illustrated and packed with insider-knowledge on the most notable places to eat, what to see, where to walk and what to do, this is a guide like no other.

Discover the masterpieces of Gaudí, explore breathtaking beaches or indulge in churros con chocolate – the options are endless! Find out how to navigate the Gothic Quarter like a pro, immerse yourself in iconic architecture and track down the very best tapas in town with Barcelona Block by Block, a stunning guide to one of the most loved cities in the world.

OH Editions has published the other books in Block’s series, all of which are out now: LONDON BLOCK BY BLOCK, PARIS BLOCK BY BLOCK, and NEW YORK BLOCK BY BLOCK.

Gary Wigglesworth’s THE BOOK LOVER’S QUIZ BOOK Paperback Edition is Out Now!


The new paperback edition of Gary Wigglesworth‘s acclaimed THE BOOK LOVER’S QUIZ BOOK is out today! Published by Robinson in the UK, here’s the synopsis…

This is a literary quiz book with a difference. Rather than basic sets of questions, The Book Lover’s Quiz Book mirrors the format of Gary’s live quizzes, at the Betsey Trotwood in London and elsewhere. So, there are lots of multiple-choice questions, some amusing answers, clever red herrings, little-known facts about authors and some of the much-loved Say What You See picture round.

Also, there are fixed and variable rounds – fixed ones include ‘Blankety Books’ (one word missing from the title – always with a theme), ‘Literary Links and lists’ (what connects/next in the list etc.) and ‘2 of a Kind’ (name the character and the author that share the same initials). The changeable rounds keep the quizzes fresh and include ‘What the Dickens?’ (real or made-up Dickens names), ‘RomeNo or JuliYess’ (real or made-up Shakespearian insults) and ‘Book Bingo!’ (identify the correct number). There are also more standard rounds such as ‘First Lines’, ‘Working Titles’ and ‘Banned Books’.

The aim of all Gary’s quizzes, and this book, is that people should have fun and be able to guess (if they don’t know) as much as possible.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the book has received…

‘I love a quiz, so the book I’m most hoping to find in my Christmas stocking is this ingenious book of literary questions, red herrings and conundrums. Much more than a straightforward question-and-answer book, it promises the kind of variety that will enliven evenings with family and friends. (And I might know some of the answers!)’Val McDermid

‘This is the ultimate literary quiz book and Gary Wigglesworth is the quizmaster to end all quizmasters.’David Quantick, author of Night Train, and writer for The Thick of It and Veep

‘Outside of a dog, The Book Lover’s Quiz Book is every bookworm’s best friend — inside of a dog… well, if you know the rest, you’re going to love this book.’Peter Hanington, author of A Dying Breed

‘What a wonderful, joyous, fun book this is. For book lovers every answer jogs a warm memory, while every unknown signposts a future literary treat.’Stuart Turton, author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water

‘My favourite quiz, now in book form!’ — Anne Miller, QI elf and author of Mickey and the Animal Spies

Robinson has also published Wigglesworth’s THE BOOK LOVER’S QUIZ BOOK 2, which is out now in hardcover.