Tag: Fantasy

LIVROS & OSSOS by Travis Baldree is Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025

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.

J.R. Dawson’s THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is out in Four Weeks!

Posted on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025

J. R. Dawson‘s highly-anticipated new novel, THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is out in four weeks! Due to be published by Tor Books in North America (July 29th, cover above) and in the UK (July 31st, cover below), here’s the synopsis…

The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World is a powerful and poignant contemporary Queer fantasy perfect for fans of Hadestown and Under the Whispering Door

At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, there is a waystation for the dead. Every night, the newly-departed travel through the city to the Station, guided by its lighthouse. There, they reckon with their lives, before stepping aboard a boat to go beyond.

Nera has spent decades watching her father — the ferryman of the dead — sail across the lake, each night just like the last.

But tonight, something is wrong.

The Station’s lighthouse has started to flicker out. The terrifying, ghostly Haunts have multiplied in the city. And now a person — a living person — has found her way onto the boat.

Her name is Charlie. She followed a song. And she is searching for someone she lost.

The novel has racked up a load of great pre-publication reactions…

‘Greek myth, Jewish tradition, and slow-burning queer romance gracefully intertwine in this melancholy treasure from Dawson… the carefully crafted story doubles as an emotional love letter to Chicago and to life itself. The result is immersive, bittersweet, and wonderfully original.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Moving and tense… A grim, authentic exploration of death for those who appreciate mythology-infused fantasy, such as Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon or Joanne M. Harris’s Orfeia.’ — Library Journal

‘Dawson writes with vivid and evocative prose, and a measured sense of pacing… a gorgeous book, both ambitious and I think largely successful in its ambitions. I enjoyed it a great deal, and I recommend it without hesitation.’ — Locus (Liz Bourke)

‘Gripping… a heartwrenching story that shines a beacon of hope.’ — Booklist

‘An earnest, heartfelt read set in a moody, otherworldly Chicago steeped in loss and history.’ — Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When Among Crows

‘Gorgeous, lyrical, heartfelt, and true in all the ways that matter! This is an achingly beautiful book that is as much about life as it is about death. Haunting and healing and highly recommended!’ — Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

‘In the deft hands of J.R. Dawson, death is merely a transition point. THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a poignant story of love and grief, memory and myth, and what it truly means to be alive.’ — Rita Woods, award-winning author of The Edge of Yesterday

‘A poignant novel about seeing the dead, and the business of getting them to where they need to go. But more, it’s a novel for people who feel confused and lost, and who need to learn it isn’t their fault. That it takes more than light to face all kinds of darkness.’ — John Wiswell, Nebula Award-winning author of Someone You Can Build a Nest In

‘In turns heartbreaking, haunting, and hopeful, THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a powerful novel about the memories that can break a spirit and the love that can heal it again. It’s a moving reminder that after great loss, it’s still possible to find love, joy, and light when lost in grief’s darkness.’ — Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café

‘THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a stunning story focused around grief, life, and death, and I couldn’t be more impressed with how these tough topics are handled. For a book about death, it’s so full of life and love! Nera and Charlie have fantastic chemistry, and the mysteries of this book pull you into a web of curiosity tempered only by the Big Questions: why are we here, and what happens to us next? This book made me laugh, cry, and laugh some more. Absolutely one of my favorite reads this year!’ — Rebecca Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea

Dawson’s debut novel is the highly-acclaimed THE FIRST BRIGHT THING.

THE LAST WIZARDS’ BALL by Charlaine Harris is Out in Four Weeks!

Posted on Friday, June 27th, 2025

In four weeks, Piatkus are due to publish the final novel in Charlaine Harris‘s acclaimed Gunnie Rose series, THE LAST WIZARDS’ BALL! Hitting shelves on July 22nd, here’s the synopsis…

The sixth and final instalment in the critically acclaimed Gunnie Rose series as sisters Lizbeth Rose and Felicia must face their fates at the last Wizards’ Ball.

Lizbeth Rose’s sister Felicia attends the Grand Wizards’ Ball, and as one of the most powerful — and beautiful — death wizards in a generation, she is highly sought after as one of the belles of the ball.

However, war and violence are on the rise in Europe as German and Japanese wizards are also courting Felicia… and some are refusing to take no for an answer.

As the façade of genteel wizard society turns deadly, Lizbeth must learn to not only protect her sister, but also navigate the arcane world that is pulling her sister and husband into a dangerous dance with death that could change the world as they know it.

Piatkus has also published the first five novels in the series: AN EASY DEATH, A LONGER FALL, THE RUSSIAN CAGE, THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN, and ALL THE DEAD SHALL WEEP.

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

Shannon Mayer’s NEVERTHORN is out in Four Weeks!

Posted on Tuesday, June 24th, 2025

There are only four weeks until the publication of NEVERTHORN, the highly-anticipated new novel from Shannon Mayer! Due out on July 24th in the UK, it will be published by Michael Joseph Books. Here’s the synopsis…

Welcome to Neverthorn Academy.

Where a bunch of magical school misfits are about to save the world.

Or, more likely, die trying…

Since dropping out of Neverthorn Academy, after the death of her mother, Harlow Daygon has been working as an enchanted-jewel thief.

The last thing she expects is for the school to make an offer she can’t refuse: come back to Neverthorn and join seven others with secret magical abilities in House Phoenix. There, they’ll be trained in potions, rune casting and combat.

Because Nocta – a powerful dark wizard who has been plaguing the magical realm for decades – has the mortal world in his sights, and the students of House Phoenix are all that stand in his way.

But Harlow failed at Neverthorn once before. And nothing reminds her of this more than tall, brooding Typhon – Harlow’s old classmate and nemesis – who is now the professor tasked with unlocking her own, special power.

Except Harlow is sure that Typhon and the other professors are hiding a dark secret.

One she must figure out before Nocta arrives to bring about the end of the world…

NEVERTHORN will also be available in a Waterstone’s special edition, with fantastic sprayed edges…

The novel is already generating some great pre-publication buzz; here are just a few of the early responses…

‘If you like your heroes messy, your professors brooding, and your fantasies dark, NEVERTHORN is for you. Prepare to fall. Hard. Like, it’s gonna hurt’ — Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author of the Charley Davidson series

‘This is a super fun, action-packed magical Academy adventure ― perfect for readers of books like Fourth Wing and Zodiac Academy, but who want a main character who is a little bit older, seasoned, and absolutely hilarious!’ — C. N. Crawford, author of The Hallowed Games duology

‘Neverthorn is for the women who’ve lived, bled, and clawed their way to survive. Dark academia gets a savage, spellbinding twist ― and Harlow Daygon is the chaotic queen we didn’t know we needed’ — K. F. Breene, USA Today bestselling author of the Shadowspell Academy series

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

BEASTS OF THE BRIAR UK Paperbacks Out in Four Weeks

Posted on Thursday, June 19th, 2025

The new, paperback editions of Elizabeth Helen‘s Beasts of the Briar series are out in four weeks! BONDED BY THORNS, WOVEN BY GOLD, FORGED BY MALICE, and BROKEN BY DAYLIGHT are all due to be published by Magpie in the UK, on July 17th. Here’s the synopsis for the first novel…

🥀 Start the sizzling SUNDAY TIMES bestselling series, a scorching take on Beauty and the Beast 🥀

Four handsome fae princes.

One awkward bookworm.

An Enchanted Vale.

A beastly curse to break.

Rosalina O’Connell lives her life in Orca Cove as quietly as she can.

When her father turns up missing, Rosie goes after him and finds herself in the Enchanted Vale, the land of the fae. Where her father has been imprisoned and Rosie has no choice but to make a deal with four fae Princes to take his place.

As Rosie begins to learn more about the four Princes, she discovers that they have been cursed. The Princes must take on the form of demonic wolves every night and with every year that passes, more of their magic fades away.

If the Princes can each find their mate, they will break their curse and free their realm. Rosie is determined to help them…

The only problem is, the more time she spends with the Princes, the more she’s convinced that she’s the one they’re all meant to be with.

A spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling filled with enchanted fae, morally grey characters, a stupidly hot villain and a princess who has found her Prince Charming. All four of them.

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

MISTBORN SAGA eBook Collection Out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025

In three weeks (July 10th), Gollancz are due to publish a complete Mistborn collection! The eBook collects all seven, critically-acclaimed and best-selling novels in Brandon Sanderson‘s series, comprising both “eras” of the series.

Here’s the synopsis…

For the first time in eBook, collected here is the set of the novels making up the entire Mistborn saga, from fantasy superstar Brandon Sanderson.

From the epic quest of Kelsier and Vin as they seek to overthrow the tyrannical Dark Lord, to the fast-paced adventures of frontier lawman Waxillium Ladrian and Wayne, jump into the rich world of Scadrial and experience a high-stakes saga full of twists and turns.

Right from the start, all the way to the very end, this fantasy series brims with magic and is quintessential reading for anyone looking to experience the imagination of a master of the genre.

Contains:
THE FINAL EMPIRE
THE WELL OF ASCENSION
THE HERO OF AGES
THE ALLOY OF LAW
SHADOWS OF SELF
THE BANDS OF MOURNING
THE LOST METAL

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

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

Posted on Tuesday, June 17th, 2025

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

Ben Aaronovitch’s DIE MEERJUNGFRAUEN VON ABERDEEN is out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Monday, June 16th, 2025

STONE & SKY, the highly-anticipated tenth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Rivers of London series, is due out next month! In addition to the UK and North American edition, DTV will be publishing the novel in Germany! DIE MEERJUNGFRAUEN VON ABERDEEN, translated by Christine Blum, will be available from July 10th. Here’s the synopsis…

Eigentlich wollte Peter nur Urlaub in Schottland machen – besser gesagt: Beverley wollte das. Aber dank eines Schafs mit ungeklärter Todesursache landet wenig später ein Großteil der Londoner Magiepolizei sowie Peters Familie mit erweitertem Anhang (nicht zuletzt Cousine Abigail) im schönen Aberdeenshire. Und spätestens als die Obduktion einer männlichen Leiche sehr ungewöhnliche Ergebnisse liefert, ist es mit dem beschaulichen Badeurlaub an der schottischen Küste vorbei.

»Sei bloß vorsichtig«, sagte ich. »Hier in Schottland kann ich nichts für dich tun. Wenn du Probleme kriegst, bist du auf dich allein gestellt.« Und weil das Universum Ironie über alles liebt, kam in genau diesem Augenblick der Anruf von Abdul.

Es stellt sich heraus: Nicht nur in den Tiefen der See leben unbekannte Wesen, auch am Himmel ist magisch einiges los. Trotzdem hält keineswegs nur der spektakuläre Fall Peter auf Trab – die zweijährigen Zwillinge sind schwerer zu hüten als eine außer Kontrolle geratene Herde Schafe…

STONE & SKY is due to be published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK (July 3rd) and DAW Books in North America (July 8th). Here’s the English-language 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…

Coming Soon: THE TOWER OF THE TYRANT by J. T. Greathouse

Posted on Friday, June 13th, 2025

This winter, Gollancz is due to publish the next epic novel by J. T. Greathouse: THE TOWER OF THE TYRANT. A ‘rich standalone adventure for fans of Geralt and Ciri in The Witcher, for those who loved the mystery of The Tainted Cup, or for anyone looking to recapture the magic of The Wheel of Time’, it’s due out in the UK on November 6th. Here’s the synopsis…

A LAND DIVIDED. A HISTORY INKED IN BLOOD. ONE SORCERESS’S QUEST FOR ANSWERS.

The world beyond the City of the Wise is fraught with danger. But Fola, a talented sorceress who has left the safety of its walls, is unconcerned. She’s on the hunt for magical remnants left behind by the First Folk — ancient beings who are but the whisper of a memory. Only by finding them might she uncover the secret to their power and a way to pull the riven lands out of the darkness.

Danger lies ahead for Fola, however she feels about it. And when events conspire to drag her into a cursed kingdom to investigate the death of its king, she’s soon faced by threats from both the living and the dead.

Fola will need to rely on her wits, her magic and her unlikely friends if she’s going to survive. But there is always hope, no matter how dark things get. And three things remain true, above all else.

Fellowship is stronger than isolation.

The past will come back to haunt you.

Nothing stays secret forever.

Gollancz also publishes Greathouse’s acclaimed debut trilogy, the Pact & the Pattern: THE HAND OF THE SUN KING, THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE, and THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD.

Zeno represents J. T. Greathouse in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

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

Posted on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025

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)

Travis Baldree’s 本屋をたてなおす Out Now!

Posted on Friday, May 30th, 2025

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.

Katy Nyquist’s A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Monday, May 26th, 2025

In three weeks (June 17th), Podium are due to publish A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED by Katy Nyquist, the first novel in the highly-anticipated Scandals of the Gifted series! 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 will be published on June 17th 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

Next Week: Elizabeth Helen Event in Sydney!

Posted on Friday, May 23rd, 2025

On Monday, June 2nd, authors Elizabeth Helen will be having an event at Romancing the Novel in Sydney!

The authors’ Beasts of the Briar series is published in the UK and Commonwealth by Magpie: BONDED BY THORNS, WOVEN BY GOLD, FORGED BY MALICE, and BROKEN BY DAYLIGHT are all out now.

Here’s the synopsis for the first novel in the series…

Four handsome fae princes.

One awkward bookworm.

An Enchanted Vale.

A beastly curse to break.

Rosalina O’Connell lives her life in Orca Cove as quietly as she can.

When her father turns up missing, Rosie goes after him and finds herself in the Enchanted Vale, the land of the fae. Where her father has been imprisoned and Rosie has no choice but to make a deal with four fae Princes to take his place.

As Rosie begins to learn more about the four Princes, she discovers that they have been cursed. The Princes must take on the form of demonic wolves every night and with every year that passes, more of their magic fades away.

If the Princes can each find their mate, they will break their curse and free their realm. Rosie is determined to help them…

The only problem is, the more time she spends with the Princes, the more she’s convinced that she’s the one they’re all meant to be with.

A spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling filled with enchanted fae, morally grey characters, a stupidly hot villain and a princess who has found her Prince Charming. All four of them.

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

New French Paperback Edition of Travis Baldree’s LÉGENDES & LATTES Out Today!

Posted on Wednesday, May 7th, 2025

A new French pocket/paperback edition of LEGENDS & LATTES, Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed, best-selling debut novel is out now! Published by J’ai Lu, as LÉGENDES & LATTES, and translated by Stéphanie Chaptal, here’s the synopsis…

Viv, une orc mercenaire au passé sanglant, décide de changer de vie. À l’aide d’une pierre légendaire censée lui apporter la bonne fortune, elle se lance dans une entreprise audacieuse : la création d’un café. Un pari risqué car, dans la ville de Tuine, elfes, lutins et ratelins ignorent tout de ce breuvage peu ragoûtant. Et lorsque les hommes de main du Madrigal, la mafia locale, viennent s’en mêler, Viv sait que son aventure ne se déroulera pas sans embûches…

LEGENDS & LATTES is published by Tor Books in the UK and North America, and is available in an ever-growing number of translated editions available around the world. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.

The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone.

But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

The prequel novel in the seires, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, is also available in France — published by Ynnis Editions as SAGAS & SABLE D’OS.

BOOKSHOPS AND BONEDUST is published by Tor Books in the UK and North America, in November 2023.

Here are just a few of the great reviews LEGENDS & LATTES has received so far…

‘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, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart A Doorway

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

‘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

‘An orc retires from adventuring to start a fantasy city’s very first coffee shop. This setup combined with the positive messages of defying societal stereotypes, letting go of violence to build peace, and trusting in your friends feels like a premise from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld… LEGENDS & LATTES is a novel, and shop, that will delight anyone who enjoys coffee-shop alternate universes, slow-burn romances, and the vindication of friendship.’ — Booklist, starred review

‘A stunningly-well done story at every level’ — Fantasy Faction

‘If you like fantasy but you’re tired of reading about wars and general intensity, this is the book for you… Cozy fantasy at its best.’ — Literary Hub

‘LEGENDS & LATTES isn’t just a cosy, slice-of-life fantasy, it is a hug after a long day, it’s that first bite of chocolate you’ve been desperately craving or that first sip of coffee, it’s pyjamas and blankets and everything else which brings comfort and warmth. This is a tale so simple yet so wholesome and adorable, it has made me see just how versatile the fantasy genre can be… Believe the hype… this book deserves all the praise… Baldree delivers a tale to soothe the soul, a tale which had me smiling and crying with happiness from beginning to end.’ — Fantasy Hive

Jasmine Wigham’s CRADLE OF SECRETS is Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025

The wait is finally over! Jasmine Wigham‘s highly-anticipated new novel, CRADLE OF SECRETS is out today! The first in a new series, it’s published by Podium Entertainment in print, eBook, and audiobook (read by Tim Campbell). It is ‘a perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and paranormal mystery’, and will appeal to ‘fans of Bridgerton and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’.

Here’s the synopsis…

When an intrepid American with a dark past becomes a hired gun for a mysterious woman in London, he’s shocked to discover a world crawling with monsters.

Jem has lied and cheated his way out of America and into the most fashionable circles of Victorian London’s elite. He has almost everything he ever wanted: a beautiful, if gullible, tycoon’s daughter on his arm and a patron who’s willing to fund his lavish lifestyle. But none of it delivers the high he always thought it would. So when a mysterious woman called Felicity appears at a ball and asks him to demonstrate his legendary gunslinger skills, he can’t resist.

But Jem is about to realise the problem with inventing yourself an elaborate adventuring background: it doesn’t hold up very long when you’re confronted with real monsters risen from the grave.

Narrowly escaping with his life, Jem discovers Felicity isn’t all that she appears either. He tries to return to normality, but when tragedy strikes, he’s forced to seek her out at her home, Grimwood Manor, where he finds her surrounded by a motley crew of friends, none of whom seem exactly… human.

Swept up in a world of witches, werewolves, and other creatures that ought not to exist, Jem struggles to keep his dark past buried. But when a string of supernatural murders rocks the human world, he must confront his fears and join forces with his new friends to figure out who’s creating monsters out of men.

The novel is already generating some great pre-publication buzz, and recently received a great review from Kirkus Reviews:

‘High action and intricate plot twists are woven through the magical tapestry that Wigham conjures here, but the real sorcery comes from how she brings the characters and their relationships to vivid life. A spellbinding start to a promising new horror/fantasy series.’