News - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Upcoming Catelyn Wilson Event at Waterstones Leeds!

Posted on Wednesday, October 16th, 2024

On October 28th, Waterstones in Leeds will be ‘hosting a spooky panel’ with Catelyn Wilson!

Catelyn will be joining Frances White, Sarah Pinborough, and Sunyi Davis for a discussion about their novels and more!

This is a ticketed event, so be sure to book as soon as you can! Full details, etc., here.

ALL THE DEVILS is published in the UK by Michael Joseph Books. Here’s what Waterstones has to say about the book…

A deliciously macabre slice of dark academia set at the sinister Ravenswood Academy, All the Devils sees a plethora of deadly lies, cover-ups and ancient magic conspire to thwart Andy’s investigation into her sister’s mysterious demise.

And the official synopsis is as follows…

STEP INSIDE THE DARK ACADEMIA NOVEL WHICH HAS EVERYONE TALKING THIS SPOOKY SEASON

Hell is empty and all the devils are at Ravenswood Academy…

Mourning the sudden death of her sister, Andy Emmerson knows she must come to terms with a life without Violet. But on the day of the funeral Andy is shocked to discover one thing: the person in that casket is not her sister.

Is Violet alive?

Convinced her sister’s elite boarding school is covering up the truth, Andy enrols at Ravenswood Academy to discover what really happened and find Violet.

The school is as beautiful and haunting as the students within it and Andy learns that it’s not just good grades that drives these pupils.

Something much darker is at play.

After discovering a cryptic note from her sister, Andy must follow a set of clues to unlock the truth. This will bring her into contact with secret societies, ancient magic, demons and monsters. And a charming senior named Jae Han who has his own reasons for finding out what happened to Violet…

Soon Andy realizes the price she must pay to bring her sister home is darker and more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.

‘ALL THE DEVILS is eerie, intense, and mysterious with immersive world building and mythology. The fast pace kept me turning pages, and I’d follow Jae pretty much anywhere.’ — Stacia Stark, bestselling author of the Kingdom of Lies series

‘A deliciously dark and atmospheric read. I tore through this gothic tale of a sister’s love and the monsters she will face to unearth the shocking truth.’ — Frances White

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

New Audiobook Edition of Roger Zelazny’s JACK OF SHADOWS Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024

Today, Tantor Media publishes the new audiobook edition of JACK OF SHADOWS by Roger Zelazny! It’s the latest in a slew of new audiobook editions from Roger Zelazny’s extensive, acclaimed backlist. (With more on the way!) JACK OF SHADOWS includes an introduction by Joe Haldeman, and is read by Eric Jason Martin. Here’s the synopsis…

In a world half of light, half of darkness, where science and magic strive for dominance, there dwells a magical being who is friendly with neither side. Jack, of the realm of shadows, is a thief who is unjustly punished. So he embarks on a vendetta. He wanders through strange realms, encountering witches, vampires, and, finally, his worst enemy: the Lord of Bats. He consults his friend Morningstar, a great dark angel. He is pursued by a monstrous creature called the Borshin. But to reveal any more would be to spoil some of the mind-boggling surprises Jack of Shadows has in store.

First published in 1971and long out-of-print, Jack of Shadows is one of fantasy master Roger Zelazny’s most profound and mysterious books.

Only Two Weeks to go until New Baldree Special Editions are Released!

Posted on Monday, October 14th, 2024

In two weeks, Tor Books are due to release the North American special hardcover editions of Travis Baldree‘s best-selling, widely-acclaimed LEGENDS & LATTES and its prequel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST!

Both books are only going to be available in a limited print run (other editions — paperback, eBook, and author-narrated audiobooks will remain available, of course). The new hardcovers feature new chapter art, beautiful new endpapers, and special stenciled edges.

Here’s the synopsis for LEGENDS & LATTES…

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.

And here’s the synopsis for the #1 best-selling BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST…

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.

Both novels are published in the UK by Tor Books, and are also available in an ever-growing number of translated editions around the world. Below are the regular-edition US covers and UK covers…

Zeno Titles on the Frankfurt Book Fair Hot List!

Posted on Friday, October 11th, 2024

Just a very quick post to draw your attention to the Zeno client titles that were included in The Bookseller’s Frankfurt Book Fair hotlist!

Represented by John Berlyne…

SIX LIVES by Lavie Tidhar (published in the UK by AdAstra/Head Of Zeus)

“A grand tour” of six lives, connected through blood and history, each “rooted in the dirt of their inheritance”.

Represented by Stevie Finegan…

THESE SHATTERED SPIRES by Cassidy Ellis Salter

Queer, gothic fantasy (“perfect for fans of The Atlas Six”) in which four young Arcanists plot to overthrow the crown, while contending with the daily apocalypse, undead nuns and their obsessive love-hate relationship.

NO SUCH THING AS A CAT PALADIN by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

Sri Lankan-inspired swords and sorcery fantasy where a duo aim to set the world to rights, one a disgraced Paladin and the other is stuck in the form of a talking cat.

TEACHERS IN LOVE by M A Wardell

Male/male romance, which begins when a child joins his class in the middle of the year and teacher Marvin can’t help but notice a very hot dad.

Represented by Bianca Gillam…

WITCHLAND by Juno Goldstone

“‘Bridgerton’ meets Fourth Wing” story that tells of a witch, cursed to kill the man she marries, being matched with a suitor she hates. But what happens when she begins to fall for him?

MY BROTHER’S KEEPER UK Paperback edition Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, October 10th, 2024

MY BROTHER’S KEEPER, the latest acclaimed and Locus Award finalist novel by Tim Powers, is now available in a new UK paperback edition! Published by AdAstra/Head of Zeus, here’s the synopsis…

Howarth, 1846.

In a parsonage at the edge of the moors, a widowed rector lives with his family: three daughters and their dissolute brother, Bramwell.

Though the future will celebrate Charlotte, Emily and Anne, right now they are unknown, their genius concealed. In just a few short years they will all be dead, and it will be middle sister Emily’s chance encounter with a grievously wounded man on the moor that sets them on the path to their doom.

For there is an ancient pagan secret haunting the moors, a dark inheritance in the family bloodline and something terrible buried under an ogham-inscribed slab in the church. Not only are their lives at stake, but their very souls.

My Brother’s Keeper is an atmospheric gothic novel that mixes diabolical hatred and vengeance with the supreme power of love to conjure dark magic from the tragic fate of the Brontë sisters.

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

‘[A]n impressive mash-up of literary biography and werewolf lore… Through all the supernatural drama, the shifting family dynamic remains the heart of the story and their domestic travails prove just as harrowing as any paranormal showdown. The result is a treat for Powers’s fans and Brontë lovers alike.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘MY BROTHER’S KEEPER is at its strongest when deftly mixing real-world biography with the stuff of horror… an eerie period piece perfectly well-suited to darkening October nights.’ — Wall Street Journal

‘… a joltingly good read… It’s all here: the wuthering wind, the vicarage, the three genius daughters and their useless brother… Powers brilliantly weaves through the hallowed family history a tale of ancient Irish curses, consumptive ghosts, fairylands and a werewolf cult that is blighting the North Country. It’s gruesome, gripping stuff as the fearless Emily, aided by her dog Pilot, forces her family to confront uncomfortable truths and lay a curse to rest.’ — Daily Mail (UK)

‘Combines the Brontës, a mysterious cult and werewolves… run, don’t walk, to your bookstore for this decadent Gothic bonbon.’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia

‘A masterly, compelling, and moving tale that places Tim Powers among the greatest fantasy writers of his or any generation. Countless novels have involved the Brontë family, but none would so surely please and enchant them as this one. MY BROTHER’S KEEPER is a pure delight.’ — Dean Koontz

‘The world of the Brontes and the supernatural feel like natural bedfellows the way that Powers writes them… has the feel of a good Sherlock Holmes tale.’ — SF Book Review

Tim Powers is the author of a great many acclaimed science fiction and fantasy novels. The author’s Fault Lines trilogy is published by Gollancz, as part of their Fantasy Masterworks series; other novels of his have been published in the UK by Corvus.

Thai Edition of Travis Baldree’s LEGENDS & LATTES Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024

The Thai edition of Travis Baldree‘s best-selling and critically-acclaimed LEGENDS & LATTES is out now! Published by Words Wonder as ตำนาน และลาเต้, it was translated by ณัฐชยา หิรัญญสมบัติ (Natchaya Hiranyasombat). Here’s the synopsis…

เรื่องราวของวีฟ ออร์กหญิงผู้หนึ่งซึ่งเบื่อหน่ายการสู้รบและการเป็นนักล่าค่าหัว จึงเกษียณตัวเองมาเปิดร้านกาแฟอยู่ในเมืองใหญ่ที่ยังไม่มีใครรู้จักเลยว่ากาแฟคืออะไร

วีฟทำร้านกาแฟแห่งนี้โดยมีแทนดรี้ ปีศาจแฝงฝันเป็นผู้ช่วย ทั้งสองต้องช่วยกันโฆษณาร้านและกาแฟให้คนรู้จัก

ซึ่งในขณะเดียวกันนั้นเธอก็มีเพื่อนร่วมอุดมการณ์มากขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ รวมทั้งความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างเธอและแทนดรี้ก็ดีขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ เช่นกัน

วีฟรู้สึกว่าตัวเองโชคดี หรือจะเพราะว่าเธอมี “หินนำโชค” อยู่ในมือกันนะ?

The novel is available in the UK and North America, published by Tor Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

A cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts, Legends & Lattes is perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Katherine Addison and T. Kingfisher. From the Hugo Award-winning author, Travis Baldree.

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…

The novel has received an incredible amount of praise since it was originally self-published. Here are just a few examples…

‘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

‘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)

‘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

Travis has also written an internationally-best-selling prequel novel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, which is also published by Tor Books in the UK and North America.

Yah Yah Scholfield’s ON SUNDAY SHE PICKED FLOWERS Acquired by Simon & Schuster!

Posted on Tuesday, October 8th, 2024

We’re very happy to report that ON SUNDAY SHE PICKED FLOWERS, the folk horror debut by Yah Yah Scholfield has been acquired by Simon & Schuster, after a three-way auction, for publication in early 2026! Stevie Finegan represents the author for Zeno Agency, in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Valentina Sainato at the JABberwocky Literary Agency. The news was broken by BookBrunch late last week.

The news included the following description of the novel…

On Sundays She Picked Flowers is a Black, queer folk horror novel for fans of Our Wives Under the Sea and The Reformatory. It tells the story of a Black woman haunted by violence who must now contend with the ghosts and traumas of her past as well as a new, dangerous love.

When Judith Rice killed her mother and ran away from the home she grew up in, she thought she’d put an end to the woman’s abusive hold on her. For years, she lives a quiet life deep in the forest, kept company only by the mysterious beast that drops meat on her doorstep in exchange for flowers. In her isolated home, ghosts rattle the furniture, possess her to sleepwalk into the woods, and, inexplicably, the kitchen is an exact duplicate of the one she murdered her mother in. But here Jude finally feels free.

When an enigmatic stranger shows up at the cabin, the peace Jude has built for herself is threatened. Caught between her desire for this woman and the violence that broils just beneath her skin, Jude’s past and present clash with teeth and nails as she reckons with the anniversary of her mother’s murder.

The author had the following to say about the deal and book…

‘On Sundays She Picked Flowers is my baby and my passion. I’m humbled to have the chance to show it to the world, to have others see the impact Black women authors like Toni Morrison and Tananarive Due have had on me and my craft. This book is dedicated to all the off-putting, unsettling Black girls out there—stay strange, stay gothic, and let’s keep haunting these narratives!’

The deal also includes a second book by Scholfield, to be published at a later date.

‘Yah Yah is such a stunning new talent in horror. On Sundays She Picked Flowers burrows into you in creepy ways you just can’t shake,’ said Finegan. ‘I can’t wait to see what Yah Yah writes next.’

Zeno represents Yah Yah Scholfield in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the Jabberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Roger Zelazny’s SIGN OF CHAOS available in Turkey!

Posted on Monday, October 7th, 2024

Roger Zelazny‘s SIGN OF CHAOS, the eighth novel in the classic Chronicles of Amber series, is now available in Turkey! Published by İthaki Yayınları as KAOS İMGESİ, it was translated by Niran Elçi. Here’s the synopsis…

“TÜM YOLLAR AMBER’E ÇIKAR…”

Amber Kanı’nın heyecan dolu sonunun ardından Merlin, Çılgın Şapkacı’nın kokteyl servis ettiği ve kendini Sırıtan Kedi’yle içki içerken bulduğu, gerçeküstü Alice Harikalar Diyarında benzeri bir barda mahsur kalır. Bunun normal olmadığını hissetmekten kendini alamaz. Jabberwock ortaya çıktığında, Luke’un uyuşturucudan esinlenen halüsinasyonuna yakalandığını anlayacak kadar aklı başına gelir.

Var olan en güçlü, büyülü ve öldürücü yaratıklardan biri olan Ateş Meleği, Merlin’i öldürmek için geldiğindeyse, bir an önce bir şeyler yapması gerektiğini, yoksa hem kendisinin hem de Luke’un sonunun geleceğini anlar. Jabberwock, Ateş Meleği ile savaşında beklenmedik bir müttefik olur. Kaçmayı başaran Merlin yeni aile üyeleriyle tanışır, içlerinden biriyse onu öldürmeye niyetlidir.

First published in 1987, the novel is available in THE SECOND CHRONICLES OF AMBER, published by Gollancz as part of the SF Masterworks series. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Merlin is a Prince of Chaos and Amber, Corwin’s son and heir. He has grown up knowing that his legacy is to one day follow in his father’s footsteps, live up to his father’s legend.

When Corwin goes missing, that day comes far sooner than he could ever have expected. Merlin must find his own identity as the ruler of the worlds, and discover what kind of King he wants to be. Will he be a warrior like his father, or embrace his own path as a hacker-magician?

A generation after Corwin’s rise to the throne, Merlin is aided by powers beyond anything Corwin could have imagined. The epic magic from The Chronicles of Amber is wielded alongside sentient computers, a vorpal sword, and the ghosts of those who came before.

Featuring the Locus award-winning Trumps of Doom, the Locus nominated Blood of Amber and Sign of Chaos, and the final two novels Knight of Shadows and Prince of Chaos, the Second Chronicles of Amber continues the epic story of Amber and the Shadow worlds.

Ben Aaronovitch’s BROKEN HOMES Out Now in Slovakia!

Posted on Friday, October 4th, 2024

BROKEN HOMES, the fourth novel in the internationally-bestselling Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch, is available in a new Slovakian edition! Published by Slovart, as ZNIČENÉ DOMOVY, it was translated by Oľga Kralovičová. Here’s the synopsis…

Začne sa to krvou v havarovanom aute. Neskôr sa nájde mŕtvola, urbanista z obecnej rady spácha samovraždu a pochybný zlodejíček príde o život v dôsledku pôsobenia mágie. Strážmajster Peter Grant, čarodejnícky učeň v službách londýnskej polície, má opäť roboty vyše hlavy, lebo všetky prípady sa zrazu začnú podozrivo podobať na prácu nepolapiteľného muža bez tváre, s ktorým už mal do činenia. Vyšetrovanie ho nakoniec dovedie k vežiaku Skygarden, dielu extravagantného architekta nemeckého pôvodu. Čo je na tom dome zvláštne? Peter aj s kolegyňou Lesley sa doň dočasne nasťahujú a pre istotu si vezmú aj „merač mágie” psa Tobyho.

BROKEN HOMES is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by DAW Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

A mutilated body in Crawley. Another killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil – an associate of the twisted magician known as the Faceless Man? Or just a common garden serial killer?

Before PC Peter Grant can get his head round the case, a town planner going under a tube train and a stolen grimoire are adding to his case-load. So far so London.

But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening in Elephant and Castle, on an housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans and inhabited by the truly desperate. Is there a connection? And if there is, why oh why did it have to be south of the River?

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

‘BROKEN HOMES, continues in the same rich vein of his brilliant supernatural crime series. Writing about his native London, Aaronovitch has crafted a novel that renders the city in a very different light.’ — BSFA

‘… opens with Aaronovitch’s trademark rapidity and subversive joy with the acronyms and minutiae of modern policing… an enormously fun, fast-paced, witty novel…’ — Tor.com

‘Aaronovitch has a very witty, casual voice, with a tendency toward sarcasm and humor, which is threaded throughout BROKEN HOMES. And a few crazy plot twists will devastate and delight fans in equal measure.’ — RT Book Reviews

‘… delivers the same humour and mischief of the previous books… Its creative juxtapositions of the supernatural and magical and real grit London echoes books such as Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere and China Mieville’s Kraken. Fans of those authors should check out Aaronovitch straight away.’ — Culture Fly

‘PC Peter Grant and his co-worker Lesley, two of the few policemen in London who can practice magic, are still working under Nightingale, who must be the oldest police officer in England… not that he looks it. A low-income housing tower gone awry, an old enemy with a bone to pick… and a shocker of an ending – BROKEN HOMES is a delight.’ — Charlaine Harris

New Jacksonville Rays UK Covers!

Posted on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024

In case you missed it, the first two novels in Emily Rath‘s Jacksonville Rays series — PUCKING AROUND and PUCKING WILD have been given new covers in the UK! The new design matches that of the third novel, PUCKING SWEET. Published by Penguin in the UK, here’s the synopsis for the first book in the best-selling and highly-acclaimed series…

I can’t fall for a player, let alone three…

My name is Rachel Price, and two months ago, I walked away from the perfect man. We shared one magical night. No names. No strings. I never thought I’d see him again. I was wrong.

It turns out my perfect man is actually the playboy grinder for the Jacksonville Rays, the NHL’s hottest new hockey team… and I’m his new physical therapist.

This fellowship is going to be the longest ten months of my life. Mr. Perfect will do anything to get back on my good side. Meanwhile, his best friend, the surly new equipment manager, is always riding my case. Worst of all, I’ve got an uncooperative goalie who thinks I can’t tell he’s hiding an injury!

These man are ready to test my limits, but this is my chance to prove myself, and I’m not risking it for anything. I can’t fall for a player, let alone three. But if love is a game, these guys are playing to win.

Here’s the cover for PUCKING SWEET, too…

All three novels are out now, in print and eBook editions.

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

Brandon Sanderson’s YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER is out now in new UK Paperback Edition!

Posted on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024

Brandon Sanderson‘s third, best-selling Secret Projects novel, YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER is now in the UK in a new paperback edition! Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

From Number 1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson – creator of The Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn Saga, and countless bestselling works of science fiction and fantasy – comes this gripping story set in the Cosmere universe told by Hoid, where two people from incredibly different cultures must work together to save their worlds from certain disaster.

Yumi has spent her entire life in strict obedience, granting her the power to summon the spirits that bestow vital aid upon her society – but she longs for even a single day as a normal person. Painter patrols the dark streets dreaming of being a hero – a goal that has led to nothing but heartache and isolation, leaving him always on the outside looking in. In their own ways, both of them face the world alone.

Suddenly flung together, Yumi and Painter must strive to right the wrongs in both their lives, reconciling their past and present while maintaining the precarious balance of each of their worlds. If they cannot unravel the mystery of what brought them together before it’s too late, they risk forever losing not only the bond growing between them, but the very worlds they’ve always struggled to protect.

‘This was utterly brilliant and satisfying. YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER will be the best of the secret project novels, and it is easily one of Sanderson’s finest books in his career’ — Novel Notions

Gollancz has published all four of Sanderson’s Secret Projects novels in the UK: TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA and THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND (available now in paperback), and THE SUNLIT MAN (available in hardcover).

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

Aliette de Bodard’s IN THE SHADOW OF THE SHIP is Out Now!

Posted on Monday, September 30th, 2024

Aliette de Bodard‘s highly-anticipated new Xuya masterpiece, IN THE SHADOW OF THE SHIP is out now! Published by Subterranean Press in North America (cover above), and JABberwocky in the UK (below), here’s the synopsis…

Nightjar, sentient ship and family matriarch, looms large in Khuyên’s past. Disappearances drove teenage Khuyên from it, but death will steer her back.

Now an adult and a magistrate, Khuyên came for her maternal grandmother’s funeral but finds herself unwittingly reliving her past on the decaying Nightjar. Children are still disappearing as her childhood friends once did; and worse, her beloved Cousin Anh vanishes after pleading for her help.

Khuyên sets out to save Anh alongside Thảo, a beautiful and mysterious woman who seems to know more than she should about Khuyên and the ship. But saving Anh requires doing what Khuyên couldn’t do before: face her family, face the ship, face her own hopes and fears for the future—a future that might well include Thảo, but only if Khuyên can stop listening to the critical voice in her head.

A voice that sounds an awful lot like Nightjar’s…

Here are just a couple of early reviews the book has received…

‘For all its brevity, this is a dense and emotionally complex piece, carrying grief and hope, pain and potential, in equal measure. The ashes of the past meeting the chance to build something different for the future. I always enjoy de Bodard’s work, and IN THE SHADOW OF THE SHIPis no exception: a sharp-edged and glittering science-fictional gem.’ — Locus

‘Incredible … This is a world of dizzying tech, gorgeous illusions and twisty political thrills.’ — New York Times

‘Beautifully written and deeply imagined… highly recommended.’ — Kate Elliott

Out Now: THE WILDING by Ian McDonald!

Posted on Thursday, September 26th, 2024

THE WILDING, Ian McDonald‘s highly-anticipated new novel (a stand-alone) is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

Five kids are on a sleepover in a restored wilderness project in Ireland. With them, three teachers and one Ranger: Lisa. She is 26, longing to leave her job, out of her depth and soon to find herself mired in a nightmare.

Strange things have been happening at Lough Carrow, a vast rewilding project on the site of a former commercial peat-bog. Livestock mutilations. Rumours, myths from the neighbouring villages. Strange, unidentifiable tracks. On the trek in to the sleepover site they sight animals that have not yet been introduced to the park – wolves, wolverines, things older. Things thought long extinct.

As they near the centre of the wilding a boy realises he’s forgotten his meds. A teacher volunteers to take him back to the visitor centre. Sure, what could go wrong?

That night the camp is attacked. A teacher is dragged away. Lisa’s group is marooned in the wild. It is night, the four remaining kids are terrified, they need to get back to the ARK, but the wilderness seems to be playing with time and distance and something is out there. Something hungry and hunting…

THE WILDING was recently reviewed by the Irish Times, called ‘a sharp thriller with a healthy dose of folk horror… With strong characterisation, a deep sense of place and real wit… entertaining and often surprising.’

Ian McDonald is the author of a great many acclaimed and award-winning novels and series. His most recent works are the stand-alone novel HOPELAND, and the Luna series — both published by Gollancz in the UK, and Tor Books in North America.

Emily Rath’s PUCKING SWEET Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024

Emily Rath‘s PUCKING SWEET is out now! Specifically, the eBook edition is out today (print edition officially out on Thursday). Published by Penguin, it’s the third novel in the author’s acclaimed, internationally-bestselling Jacksonville Rays series. Here’s the synopsis…

The lines between work and play get blurred in this super sexy, inclusive ‘why choose’ hockey romance from the TikTok sensation

My name is Poppy St. James and I’ve just landed my dream job as the Director of Public Relations for the NHL’s hottest new team, the Jacksonville Rays.

But if I want to stay beyond my one-year contract, I’ll have to prove myself.

Easy. PR is in my blood. What’s not so easy are the hockey players.

They’re a real handful – especially party boy defenseman Lukas Novikov.

I don’t care how well Lucas plays hockey. Off the ice, he’s a PR nightmare. The players can all call me PR Barbie all they want, but I’m getting the job done.

I am poised, powerful, and always professional… until the fateful night my phone rings.

One little phone call from home that leads to one drunken mistake, and my carefully balanced life is knocked off-kilter. Now I’m staring down at a little blue plus sign and I have no strategy, no idea what’s next.

All I know is that nothing will ever be the same.

Tropes/Themes:
– Sports romance
– Reverse Harem
– LGBT
– Spicy

The first two novels in the series, PUCKING AROUND and PUCKING WILD, are also available in the UK, published by Penguin.

Here are some advance reviews of PUCKING SWEET…

‘I DEVOURED it in less than 24 hours!’ 5* Reader Review

‘This was everything I’d hoped for and more. These characters have my heart! Their love story is beautiful and I fell for each of them’ 5* Reader Review

‘This will be the easiest 5 star read I give for the whole year’ 5* Reader Review

‘I love the way each spicy scene flowed organically with the story. It’s never spice just for spice. Each encounter shows you more of their relationship, dynamic, and emotional development. It was beautifully done’ 5* Reader Review

‘I absolutely loved it, I bawled my eyes out, laughed out loud, and at one point screamed at the pages’ 5* Reader Review

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

Travis Baldree’s LEGENDS & LATTES gets a Thai Edition!

Posted on Monday, September 23rd, 2024

This month, Words Wonder are due to publish the Thai edition of Travis Baldree‘s best-selling and critically-acclaimed LEGENDS & LATTES! To be published as ตำนาน และลาเต้, here’s the synopsis…

This edition was translated by ณัฐชยา หิรัญญสมบัติ (Natchaya Hiranyasombat). The novel is available in the UK and North America, published by Tor Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

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

Travis has also written an internationally-best-selling prequel novel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, which is also published by Tor Books in the UK and North America.