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


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 McGuireNew 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

Upcoming UK Book Tour for Ben Aaronovitch’s STONE & SKY! [Updated]


In July, Ben Aaronovitch will embark on a UK book tour to mark the release of STONE & SKY, the tenth novel in his internationally-bestselling and widely-acclaimed Rivers of London series! Dates are in the above graphic, and you can buy tickets and find more details by visiting the tour’s website.

[Update: Due to popular demand, the July 3rd event’s venue has been moved to the French Protestant Church of London.]

The novel is due to be published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK (July 3rd) and DAW Books in North America (July 8th). 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…

Jasmine Wigham’s CRADLE OF SECRETS is Out Now!


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.’

New Chronicles of Amber Mini-Omnibus Out Now in Russia!


A new Chronicles of Amber omnibus is available now in Russia! Collecting THE COURTS OF CHAOS, Roger Zelazny‘s fifth novel in the series, and a selection of his acclaimed short stories, it’s published by Эксмо as Двор Хаоса. Амбер и амбериты, here’s the synopsis…

Номинация на премию «Хьюго».

Пятый роман «Хроник Амбера», грандиозной саги мастера фэнтези Роджера Желязны. Блистательный эпилог «Пятикнижия Корвина».

«Двор Хаоса»

Не только Амбер, но и все отбрасываемые им Тени на грани уничтожения. Король Оберон пытается исправить повреждения, которые принц Бранд нанес Образу Амбера своим кровавым ритуалом. К тому же Бранд заручился помощью демонических Лордов Хаоса, обитающих на противоположном полюсе бытия — в краю абсолютного беспорядка. Если Оберон погибнет, его безумный сын разрушит вселенную, чтобы заново создать ее по своему вкусу. Лишь Корвин способен противостоять брату, но для этого ему придется отправиться к месту финальной битвы — ко Дворам Хаоса.

Книга дополнена рассказами Роджера Желязны об Амбере, которые не только дополняют ранее известные сюжеты, но и начинают новые, так и не написанные романы. Помимо них издание дополняют карта Амбера, комментарии Желязны, ряд эссе и интервью, а также «весьма откровенная эротическая сцена», вырезанная из второго романа цикла.

Произведения публикуются в новой специальной редакции, а рассказы — в новом переводе. Приложения издаются на русском впервые.

THE COURTS OF CHAOS was first published in 1978. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Amber, the one real world of which all others – including our own Earth – are but Shadows…

For untold millennia, the cosmic Pattern sustained order in Amber and all the known worlds. But now the forces of Chaos have succeeded in disrupting the Pattern, unleashing destructive forces beyond measure… forces meant to reshape the universe.

To save Amber, Corwin, prince of the blood, champion of the perfect realm, must undertake the most perilous journey of his life. A journey that will take him through all the terrors of Shadows to the enemy’s last stonghold. A journey beyond the very edge of existence… to the Courts of Chaos.

The Chronicles of Amber series is published in the UK by Gollancz, collected into two omnibus editions.

ICYMI: Narrators Announced for J.R. Dawson’s THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD!


In case you missed the news, we wanted to share the narrators for J.R. Dawson‘s highly-anticipated next novel, THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD have been announced!

The novel will be read by Mara Wilson and Lindsey Dorcus!

The novel is due to be published by Macmillan Audio in the UK and North America; print and eBook editions will be published by Tor Books in both. Here’s the synopsis…

Love doesn’t die; people do…

At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, 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, every 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.

A devastating story of magic, family and those who leave us – but who might not remain lost.

Here are a few early responses to the novel…

‘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

‘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 DurstNew 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 WebberUSA 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 ThorneUSA Today bestselling author of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea

Adam Oyebanji’s ESPERANCE out in Three Weeks!


In three weeks (May 22nd), Arcadia are due to publish ESPERANCE, the highly-anticipated new speculative thriller from Adam Oyebanji! Check out 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 will also be available as an audiobook, released on the same day, read by Délé Ogundiran.

ESPERANCE had already received this great review, from author Mike Mammay: ‘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.’

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

‘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.

German Paperback Edition of Lavie Tidhar’s MAROR out in Three Weeks!


A new, German paperback edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed, best-of-2024 novel MAROR is out in three weeks! Due to be published by Suhrkamp, on May 19th, 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 received an incredible amount of praise since it was published. Here’s just a small selection…

‘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

Ben Aaronovitch’s KSIĘŻYC NAD SOHO Out Now!


MOON OVER SOHO by Ben Aaronovitch, the second Rivers of London novel, is now available in a new Polish edition! Published by Zysk i S-Ka, as KSIĘŻYC NAD SOHO. Translated by Agnieszka Kalus, here’s the synopsis…

Kontynuacja przygód funkcjonariusza policji Petera Granta w pełnym magii Londynie

Body and Soul. Melodia.To właśnie zauważa londyński policjant i uczeń czarownika Peter Grant, gdy bada ciało Cyrusa Wilkinsona, saksofonisty jazzowego, który zmarł w pubie na zawał. Z nieboszczykawydobywają się dźwięki solo na saksofonie – klasycznej melodii z lat trzydziestych. Dla Granta oznacza to jedno – przyczyna śmierci wcale nie była naturalna.

Z pomocą swojego przełożonego, detektywa Thomasa Nightingale’a, oraz pięknej miłośniczki jazzu, Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter zaczyna badać przypadki podobnych zgonów w Soho. Jednak dochodzenie szybko staje się także jego prywatną sprawą, bo wiąże się z historią pewnego genialnego muzyka, który zmarnował swój talent – Richarda „Lorda” Granta, czyli ojca Petera.

MOON OVER SOHO is published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK, and JABberwocky in North America. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Body and Soul. The song. That’s what London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho’s 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body – a sure sign that something about the man’s death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.

Body and soul – they’re also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace – one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard “Lord” Grant – otherwise known as Peter’s dear old dad.

The next novel in the Rivers of London series is STONE & SKY, due out in July — to be published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK and DAW Books in North America!

Cierra Block’s BARCELONA BLOCK BY BLOCK Out in Three Weeks!


Just a quick reminder that, in three weeks, OH Editions are due to publish the latest book by Cierra Block‘s acclaimed Block by Block series: BARCELONA BLOCK BY BLOCK! Arriving in stores on May 15th, 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.

Brandon Sanderson’s ELANTRIS Turns 20; New UK Hardcover Out Now!


ELANTRIS turns 20! To celebrate this milestone, Brandon Sanderson‘s acclaimed debut novel is available now in a new hardcover edition in the UK! Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

To mark its 20th anniversary, Brandon Sanderon’s debut novel is now available in hardback for the very first time!

Elantris was built on magic – and it thrived. But when that magic began to fade, the city began to decay. Now its shattered citizens face domination by a powerful Imperium motivated by entrenched religious views, and all hope is lost.

Or so the people think.

But it’s always darkest before the dawn, and there’s always hope if someone is willing to search it out. Can a young princess unite the people of Elantris, rediscover the lost magic and lead a rebellion against the imperial zealots?

Gollancz has published most of Sanderson’s novels in the UK, from across his Cosmere: the Mistborn series, the Stormlight Archive, the Reckoners series, the Secret Projects novels, and multiple stand-alone novels.

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

New Audio Editions of Tracy Townsend’s THIEVES OF FATE Duology out Tomorrow!


Tomorrow, W. F. Howes publish new audiobook editions of Tracy Townsend‘s Thieves of Fate duology: THE NINE and THE FALL. Both audiobooks are read by Alyssa Bresnaham.

Here’s the synopsis for THE NINE

In the dark streets of Corma exists a book that writes itself, a book that some would kill for…

Black market courier Rowena Downshire is just trying to pay her mother’s freedom from debtor’s prison when an urgent and unexpected delivery leads her face to face with a creature out of nightmares. Rowena escapes with her life, but the strange book she was ordered to deliver is stolen.

The Alchemist knows things few men have lived to tell about, and when Rowena shows up on his doorstep, frightened and empty-handed, he knows better than to turn her away. What he discovers leads him to ask for help from the last man he wants to see — the former mercenary, Anselm Meteron. Across town, Reverend Phillip Chalmers awakes in a cell, bloodied and bruised, facing a creature twice his size. Translating the stolen book may be his only hope for survival; however, he soon realizes the book may be a fabled text written by the Creator Himself, tracking the nine human subjects of His Grand Experiment. In the wrong hands, it could mean the end of humanity.

Rowena and her companions become the target of conspirators who seek to use the book for their own ends. But how can this unlikely team be sure who the enemy is when they can barely trust each other? And what will happen when the book reveals a secret no human was meant to know?

And here’s the synopsis for THE FALL

An apothecary clerk and her ex-mercenary allies travel across the world to discover a computing engine that leads to secrets she wasn’t meant to know — secrets that could destroy humanity.

Eight months ago, Rowena Downshire was a half-starved black market courier darting through the shadows of Corma’s underside. Today, she’s a (mostly) respectable clerk in the Alchemist’s infamous apothecary shop, the Stone Scales, and certainly the last girl one would think qualified to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders a second time. Looks can be deceiving.

When Anselm Meteron and the Alchemist receive an invitation to an old acquaintance’s ball — the Greatduke who financed their final, disastrous mercenary mission fourteen years earlier — they’re expecting blackmail, graft, or veiled threats related to the plot to steal the secrets of the Creator’s Grand Experiment. They aren’t expecting a job offer they can’t refuse or a trip halfway across the world to rendezvous with the scholar whose research threw their lives into tumult: the Reverend Doctor Phillip Chalmers. Escorting Chalmers to the Grand Library of Nippon with her mismatched mercenary family is just a grand adventure to Rowena until she discovers a powerful algebraic engine called the Aggregator. The Aggregator leads Rowena to questions about the Grand Experiment she was never meant to ask and answers she cannot be allowed to possess. With her reunited friends, Rowena must find a way to use the truths hidden in the Grand Library to disarm those who would hunt down the nine subjects of the Creator’s Grand Experiment, threatening to close the book on this world.

Here are a few of the reviews the series has received…

‘Townsend’s intriguing debut of nearly flawless writing follows an extremely flawed creation […] The most appealing characters are those who willingly travel to the scariest places, and all hopes are nerve-rackingly pinned on them.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE NINE

‘Tracy Townsend has written a dazzling debut which positively crackles with imagination and enigmatic charm.’ — Bibliosanctum on THE NINE

‘This story leaves all the normal story elements behind to give the reader a fresh look at a new world and story.’ — Crossroad Reviews on THE NINE

‘I could write for days about how much THE NINE drew me in and twisted me up with not just its richness and complexity, but its intensity and heart, too. I honestly can’t remember a debut novel as brilliant as this one, and the fact that it’s the start of a new series has me energized with not just its richness and complexity, but its intensity and heart, too.’ — Blackgate Magazine

‘A tense, fast-moving, and twisty caper, with divided loyalties, creepy monsters, and grand mysteries. More, please!’ — Max Gladstone, author of the Hugo Award-nominated Craft Sequence series, on THE NINE

‘George R.R. Martin and China Miéville have nothing on this audacious, intricate world-building, gritty politics, and compelling characters in this excellent debut.’ — Sam J. Miller, Nebula Award-nominated author of The Art of Starving, on THE NINE

‘Fans of genre-bending science fiction will want to take another journey to Townsend’s clockwork realms.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE FALL

‘[THE FALL] has a great blend of topics and characters and one killer story.’ — Crossroad Reviews

‘[THE FALL is] gorgeously written, unique and clever.’ — Fantasy Book Critic

‘Townsend weaves an intricate tapestry of human motivations, nonhuman races, world-shattering conspiracies and simple awe. The scope of her worldbuilding leaves me breathless.’ — Lawrence M. Schoen, author of The Moons of Barsk, on THE FALL

‘A richly imagined and complex world, full of political machination and philosophical magic, as intricate and beautifully wrought as a pocket watch. A remarkable book.’ — Cat Rambo, author of The Tabat Quartet, on THE FALL

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

ICYMI: THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD UK Edition on the way!


In case you missed it, J.R. Dawson‘s highly-anticipated new novel will be published in the UK by Tor Books. THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is due to arrive on July 31st. Here’s the synopsis…

Love doesn’t die; people do…

At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, 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, every 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 is due to be published in North America, also by Tor Books, on July 29th.

THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is already generating some fantastic pre-publication buzz, with a flood of positive blurbs and early reviews. Here are just a few of them…

‘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

‘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

‘I love J.R. Dawson’s writing, and with The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World, her magic is on full display—creating a world that is hopeless, broken, even brutal, yet with so much depth and understanding that the story becomes a lighthouse of its own.’Ryka Aoki, award-winning author of Light from Uncommon Stars

‘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! 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

‘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

MAN OF EARTH by Algis Budrys Out Now in Italy!


Very happy to report that MAN OF EARTH, one of Algis Budrys‘s classic sci-fi novels, is available in a new Italian edition! Published by Urania, as PIANETA DIFFICILE, here’s the synopsis…

La Terra, dopo un periodo di espansione nel sistema solare, con colonie su Venere e Plutone, sta vivendo una nuova chiusura, abbandonando i viaggi spaziali. Ma quando un uomo d’affari, Allen Sibley, deve sfuggire alla legge, si rivolge alla Doncaster Corporation, capace di trovare sempre una via d’uscita, soluzioni ingegnose per qualsiasi problema che non lasciano tracce né strascichi sulla Terra. Certo il prezzo è un po’ alto, ma nessuno dei clienti che si sono rivolti alla Doncaster è mai tornato a reclamare. Mai.

MAN OF EARTH was first published in 1958. It is available in the UK, published through Gollancz’s Gateway program. Here’s the English-language synopiss…

Allen Sibley was a frightened little man — frightened for his life. In the corrupt, swindling world of cutthroat big business in which he was an important and pseudo-respectable figure, Allen Sibley had made the unforgivable error — he had found out. And worse, someone had known this would happen, someone who waited quietly to collect Allen Sibley’s entire fortune in exchange for a gamble — but it was the only gamble which might save Sibley his life!

Next Week: Grady Hendrix’s WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS UK Book Tour!


Next week, Grady Hendrix will embark on a UK book tour, celebrating the release of his latest horror masterpiece, WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS! The details are in the image above, below, and also on the author’s website.

  • Sunday, April 27th — Mr B.’s Emporium, Bath — 7pm (SOLD OUT).
  • Tuesday, April 29th — Phoenix Arts Club, London — 5:30pm.
  • Wednesday, April 30th — Waterstones Cambridge — 6pm
  • Thursday, May 1st — Sevenoaks Bookshop — 7pm
  • Friday, May 2nd — Waterstones Liverpool — 6:30pm
  • Saturday, May 3rd — Waterstones Birmingham — 6:30pm
  • Sunday, May 4th — Waterstones Nottingham — 2pm
  • Tuesday, May 6th — Argonaut Books, Edinburgh — 7pm
  • Wednesday, May 7th — Topping & Company Booksellers, St. Andrews — 7:30pm
  • Friday, May 9th — Waterstones, Cardiff — 7pm.

The novel is published in the UK by Tor Nightfire, and is out now. Here’s the synopsis…

‘I did an evil thing to be put in here, and I’m going to have to do an evil thing to get out.’

They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.

Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. There, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to keep her baby and escape to a commune. Zinnia, a budding musician who plans to marry her baby’s father. And Holly, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.

Every moment of their waking day is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid… and it’s usually paid in blood.

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

New Paperback Edition of Gary Wigglesworth’s THE BOOK LOVER’S QUIZ BOOK out Next Month


In four weeks, Gary Wigglesworth‘s acclaimed THE BOOK LOVER’S QUIZ BOOK will be available in a new paperback edition. Due to be published by Robinson on May 8th, 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.