Last week, we shared the news that Aliette de Bodard‘s THE HOUSE OF BINDING THORNS had been nominated for the ESFS Award for Best Work of Fiction. Today, we are delighted to share the news that Aliette won!

THE HOUSE OF BINDING THORNS is the second novel in the Dominion of the Fallen fantasy series, published by Gollancz (UK), Roc Books (US), Pocket  (France), Knaur (Germany — only the first book is out at the moment), and Host (Czech). Here’s the synopsis for the novel…

As the city rebuilds from the onslaught of sorcery that nearly destroyed it, the great Houses of Paris, ruled by Fallen angels, still contest one another for control over the capital.

House Silverspires was once the most powerful, but just as it sought to rise again, an ancient evil brought it low. Phillippe, an immortal who escaped the carnage, has a singular goal — to resurrect someone he lost. But the cost of such magic might be more than he can bear.

In House Hawthorn, Madeleine the alchemist has had her addiction to angel essence savagely broken. Struggling to live on, she is forced on a perilous diplomatic mission to the underwater dragon kingdom — and finds herself in the midst of intrigues that have already caused one previous emissary to mysteriously disappear…

As the Houses seek a peace more devastating than war, those caught between new fears and old hatreds must find strength — or fall prey to a magic that seeks to bind all to its will.

Please join us in wishing Aliette a very happy congratulations on her definitely-deserved win!