Nick Martell


United Kingdom and British Commonwealth only: Represented in these territories on behalf of Jabberwocky Literary Agency.

Nick Martell was born in Guelph, Ontario, before moving to Huntington, New York a few years later. Nick started writing in 5th grade, beginning to explore the world that would fully emerge in The Kingdom of Liars.

Nick attended Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and a minor in French.

Since then, Nick has done a wide range of jobs that had nothing to do with his major in university from a Quality Insurance Tester for an engineering company in New York City to a volunteer on an organic farm in Ireland.

THE KINGDOM OF LIARS is his debut novel, and the first in the Legacy of the Mercenary Kings series.

For more on Nick, be sure to check out his website, follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Agent Contact: John Berlyne

titles



Legacy of the Mercenary Kings Series:

Published in the UK by Gollancz

  • THE KINGDOM OF LIARS (2020)
  • THE TWO-FACED QUEEN (2021)
  • THE VOYAGE OF THE FORGOTTEN (2022)

covers

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  • Legacy of the Mercenary Kings

reviews

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    • THE KINGDOM OF LIARS
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      An excellent fantasy debut, with engaging worldbuilding and a good mix between action and character. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, and look forward to following Nick’s sure-to-be lengthy writing career.’ Brandon Sanderson, #1 New York Times bestseller author of THE WAY OF KINGS, and The Mistborn Trilogy

      ‘A symphony of loyalty, greed, family, and betrayal set in an innovative culture!’ Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tempests and Slaughter, The Song of the Lioness Quartet

      ‘With a smartly plotted story, great world-building, flawed but fascinating characters and plenty of mystery, THE KINGDOM OF LIARS is a terrific debut.’James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost, The Licanius Trilogy

      ‘Nick Martell’s debut THE KINGDOM OF LIARS lives up to its name, with so many truths and lies interwoven that nothing is as it seems and surprises lurk across every turn of the page. Michael Kingman — son of a traitor, faithful friend, unfaithful sibling, at turns selfish and selfless as he tries to discover the truth about his father’s treason and clear his family name, Michael’s tale is nothing, if not thrilling. An epic fantasy debut with a lot of promise, I’m excited to see what the future holds for Nick and Michael Kingman!’ Ryan Van Loan, author of The Sin in the Steel

      ‘A richly rewarding fantasy that seethes with mysteries, fused with a Memento-style mindscrew of a magic system. This, dear readers, is the good stuff.’ Jeremy Szal, author of Stormblood

      ‘… impressive and highly ambitious epic fantasy debut… Martell’s portrayal of his protagonist’s growth, from a cocksure chancer to a mature adult sobered by his discoveries, is just as impressive as the twisty plot.’Guardian

      THE KINGDOM OF LIARS is a tale of family, loyalty and leaving a legacy that none shall forget. This is certainly a book that you won’t be able to put down, and will linger with you long after you’ve read the last page.’Fantasy Hive

      ‘Martell’s taut, clever debut tells of rebellion and regicide in a world where the use of magic comes at the cost of one’s memories… Though the abundance of characters becomes overwhelming at times, their political maneuvers and varied motivations form a satisfying web. This smart, briskly told high fantasy entertains all the way until the unexpected end.’Publishers Weekly

      ‘An obvious strength of this novel is Martell’s worldbuilding prowess as well as his utilization of magic, which is subtle but powerful… a knotty mystery… keeps the pages turning… a story full of relentless action and more than a few jaw-dropping plot twists… An impressive fantasy debut that creates a solid foundation for (hopefully) a much larger narrative to come.’Kirkus

      ‘… an exciting, action-focused fantasy thriller with intriguing mystery elements… The finale is stunning…’Grimdark Magazine

      ‘A fast-moving first-person story of magic, danger and skulduggery against a remarkable city setting.’ Concatenation

      THE KINGDOM OF LIARS is an ingenious and stunning debut fantasy novel. A magic system with harsh consequences, an intriguing array of characters… a must-read for 2020… really enjoyed the world-building and magic system… All in all, I absolutely loved this novel and I cannot wait to continue this series. Nick is officially an auto-read for me.’FanFi Addict

      ‘It’s an epic fantasy series, full of magic, politics, and the quest for the truth… a whirlwind of a read, introducing us to a world full of magic and politics. It’s a complex story, with plenty of twists and turns to throw at the readers. The magical system alone was fascinating and became all the more so as new elements were introduced…’Word of the Nerd

      ‘Martell does a good job of blending politics and mysteries into the plot…a good fantasy debut.’Little Book Owl

    • THE TWO-FACED QUEEN
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      ‘Simply put, this series is a masterclass in grand-scale storytelling. The future of epic fantasy is here—and this saga is it.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

      ‘In an ominous start to THE TWO-FACED QUEEN, Michael Kingman is presumed guilty of murdering the king, and is only alive because the Orbis Mercenary company claimed him as one of their own at the conclusion of The Kingdom of Liars (2020). Michael has information but is desperately seeking evidence regarding Prince Davey’s death a decade earlier to prove his family’s innocence. He’s also reconnecting with his mother after her stay in an asylum, and is dealing with recovered memories he had lost to a dark fabrication, learning how his nullification fabrications work. There are complications, though: the sudden appearance of his grandfather with a band of refugees; the return of a serial killer whom Michael’s mentor, Dark, had defeated years before; a hired assassin with an unclear target; and a Recorder who is convinced that the Kingman family’s history of protecting Hollow and the royal family is overstated. As Michael’s own knowledge expands, Martell weaves in hints about the broader world, offering the possibility of future books in this inventive fantasy setting.’Booklist

      THE TWO-FACED QUEEN delivers everything an awesome sequel should, far surpassing the first while expanding on the world in surprising and often gut-wrenching ways. Make sure it’s on your radars!’Jeremy Szal

      ‘A masterpiece. A true masterpiece…High tension action, gripping drama, and so many secrets.’FanFi Addict

      ‘For readers who love the intrigue and widening scope of epic fantasy like Sanderson’s Mistborn and Week’s The Black Prism, this is your next must-read fantasy series.’Broken Binding

      ‘Nick Martell is well on his way to becoming a huge talent in the world of fantasy fiction. These first two volumes of The Legacy of the Mercenary Kings series have already made quite a splash.’ — BiblioSanctum

      ‘The secrets, lies, [and] betrayals all make for a read that is one to pay attention to.’ — Tor.com