News - Zeno Agency Ltd.

New LEGENDS & LATTES Kickstarter is Live… And Fully Funded!

Posted on Friday, August 4th, 2023

Fans of Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed and best-selling debut novel, LEGENDS & LATTES will be pleased to learn (if they haven’t already) that there is a Kickstarter for a deluxe edition of the novel! To be produced by Wraithmarked, it has a gorgeous new cover — and, as it happens, is fully funded already! There are 19 days left to go, if you’d like to take part in the project and get one of these deluxe editions!

The “regular” editions of LEGENDS & LATTES are published by Tor Books in the UK and North America.

Here’s the synopsis…

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.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is a cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts – perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Katherine Addison and T. Kingfisher.

Travis’s next book is BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, a prequel to his debut! It’s due to be published in November, also by Tor Books in the UK and North America.

J.T. Greathouse’s THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023

THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD, the thrilling conclusion to the J.T. Greathouse‘s acclaimed Pact and Pattern series is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

THE PACTS HAVE BEEN BROKEN. THE REBELLION HAS FAILED.

Foolish Cur has fallen into a trap. By resorting to forbidden magic when he failed to overthrow the Emperor, he has done exactly as the gods wanted. Now they are free to wage their war, twisting the world into new forms, as strange and terrible beasts walk the earth.

To fix what he has caused will take every ounce of Foolish Cur’s cunning. But mending the pattern of the world is too large a task for one man alone. As the Empire, rebellion and the landscape itself crumble, he and those still fighting for freedom will be drawn together to end the struggle against Emperor Tenet and the gods for good.

But Foolish Cur does not know what such a task will ask of him. And, powerful though he may be, the costs may be more than he is willing to pay . . .

The breath-taking conclusion to the Pact and Pattern series, this British Fantasy Award-nominated story is filled to the brim with magic, mystery and political intrigue.

The first two books in the series, THE HAND OF THE SUN KING and THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE, are also published in the UK by Gollancz— available now in paperback!

The series has received many great reviews already, and here are just a few of them…

‘THE HAND OF THE SUN KING fundamentally explores the right to make our own choices in life, to make sacrifices to serve the greater good and to use power to uplift the oppressed. Greathouse delivers a debut full of complexities, passion and grace, and I’m already longing for more.’ — Fantasy Hive

‘An excellent mix of classic and modern fantasy with a grimdark undertone of despair.’ — Grimdark Magazine on THE HAND OF THE SUN KING

‘Add in a very cool magic system with weighty consequences, a cast of meaningful, well-developed characters, and a lush world that carefully considers its lore, economic struggles, and religious history, it’s easy for me to call THE HAND OF THE SUN KING one of my top reads of 2021.’ (10/10) — Fantasy Book Review

‘JT Greathouse shows no first-time jitters wit his impressive and compelling debut novel… Greathouse casts an engrossing spell, establishing himself as an exciting new voice in epic fantasy.’ — SFX Magazine on THE HAND OF THE SUN KING

‘HAND OF THE SUN KING is an exotic, original fantasy filled with magic and culture, the story of a character torn between two names, two loyalties, and two definitions of good and evil.’ — Kevin J. Anderson

‘In short, THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE is a worthy read for those who like their fantasy epic. I think it is one of the best fantasy series I have read recently, and is therefore worthy of your attention.’ — SFFWorld

‘Broader in scope, seeped in electrifying magic and topped with a heart stopping finale, this is a sequel not to be missed.’ — The Fantasy Hive on THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE

‘Wild twists and shocking revelations will leave you begging for the finale.’ — Under the Radar SFF Books on THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE

‘[A]n absolutely amazing piece of fantasy fiction that somehow manages to expand on an already richly described world with great characters and a driving plot, and I for one, cannot wait to see how this story ends.’ — Fantasy Book Nerd on THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE

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

MAROR Paperback Edition Out Tomorrow!

Posted on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023

The paperback edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed MAROR is out tomorrow! Published by Head of Zeus, here’s the 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.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received since it was first published…

‘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

‘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 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

‘A bloody beast of a book… MAROR is to Israeli history what Tarantino is to American movie culture’ — Daily Mail

‘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

‘Who can forget the savage, musical James Ellroy prose circa the L.A. Quartet books? Now we have a successor … Lavie Tidhar, a marvelous multi-genre author who never fails to delight, has now penned his noir opus. MAROR is a heady, nonstop brew of terror, violence, and mayhem, while also exuding swathes of coursing humanity.’ — Read Listen Watch

‘An unforgettably powerful saga … a sweeping portrayal of violence, corruption and chaos threaded through by veins of humanity… It is difficult to do justice to such a monumental work. So many aspects of MAROR attract superlatives but they fail to convey the range and breathtaking insight of this epic crime novel. A book for all lovers of great literature.’ — Queensland Reviewers Collective

‘This is crime writing in the tradition of Balzac and Dickens and a major achievement, full of sound, fury, drugs and blood… An earthquake of a book.’ — Crime Time

‘MAROR is a profane, irreverent, scathing, sometimes blackly humorous and often compassionate fever-dream history of Israel… possibly his best yet.’ — NewTown Review of Books

Lavie’s highly-anticipated next novel is ADAMA, due to be published by Apollo/Head of Zeus on September 14th.

New Edition of Roger Zelazny’s HERR DES LICHTS Out Next Month!

Posted on Monday, July 31st, 2023

A new German edition of Roger Zelazny‘s LORD OF LIGHT is due out in one month! To be published on August 31st by Piper Verlag, as HERR DES LICHTS, here’s the synopsis…

Roger Zelazny war einer der einflussreichsten Autoren der Science-Fiction, der viele bedeutende Autoren wie George R. R. Martin und Neil Gaiman geprägt hat. Für seine Werke gewann er zahlreiche Preise, darunter den Hugo Award für „Herr des Lichts“. Nun ist das Meisterwerk endlich wieder auf Deutsch verfügbar – in einer neu überarbeiteten, hochwertigen Ausgabe mit einem Nachwort von George R. R. Martin.

In diesem Roman ist die Erde schon lange verlassen. Auf einem Kolonieplaneten hat eine Gruppe Siedler eine Reinkarnationstechnologie erfunden, mit deren Hilfe sie als gottgleiche Wesen eine tyrannische Herrschaft aufgebaut haben. Als Vorbild dient ihnen das hinduistische Götterpantheon. Nur einer wagt es, sich ihnen entgegenzustellen: Mahasamatman, genannt „Sam“. Der Herr des Lichts.

The Hugo Award-winning novel is available in the UK, published as part of Gollancz‘s SF Masterworks series. George R.R. Martin has said that LORD OF LIGHT is ‘One of the five best SF novels ever written.’ Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Imagine a distant world where gods walk as men, but wield vast and hidden powers. Here they have made the stage on which they build a subtle pattern of alliance, love, and deadly enmity. Are they truly immortal? Who are these gods who rule the destiny of a teeming world?

Their names include Brahma, Kali, Krishna and also he who was called Buddha, the Lord of Light, but who now prefers to be known simply as Sam. The gradual unfolding of the story – how the colonization of another planet became a re-enactment of Eastern mythology – is one of the great imaginative feats of modern science fiction.

Travis Baldree’s BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST Wins Earphones Award!

Posted on Friday, July 28th, 2023

The novel’s not even out, yet, but Travis Baldree‘s BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST has already won an award! The audiobook edition, narrated by the author, has won the Earphones Award from AudioFile Magazine! Here’s what they had to say about the novel/audiobook…

‘Baldree introduces some delightful new characters and reprises others. He draws from a universe of gnomes, elves, skeletons, and other species and provides a perfect voice for each. Using accents, tone, and pacing, he creates a world full of interesting personalities. He unfolds the story and relationships in a natural style without artifice and theatrics.’

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is due to be published by Tor Books in North America and in the UK, in November 2023. Here’s the 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 second-hand 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.

Travis’s first novel, the acclaimed, award-nominated LEGENDS & LATTES is out now, also published by Tor Books in North America and in the UK.

Brandon Sanderson’s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, July 27th, 2023

Brandon Sanderson‘s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND is out now in the UK! Published in hardcover by Gollancz, it’s the second novel from the author’s smash-success Secret Projects Kickstarter. A blend of Jason Bourne, epic fantasy, and time travel, here’s the synopsis…

An amnesiac wizard’s only hope of survival in medieval England lies in recovering his missing memories.

A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the “real world” should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive?

In addition to Sanderson’s Mistborn, Stormlight Archive and Skyward series, Gollancz also publishes the first book in the Secret Projects range, TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA, in the UK.

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

ICYMI: Three New Cosy Fantasy Novels by Travis Baldree on the Way!

Posted on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023

In case you missed the excellent news, three more cosy fantasy novels by Travis Baldree have been bought by Tor Books in the UK and in North America! The deals were announced in the Bookseller and on Tor.com. Both deals were negotiated by Zeno’s Stevie Finegan.

The first book from this deal is expected to be published in late 2025 (around November). Here’s Travis’s response to the deals: ‘It would be a vast understatement to say that I have been humbled and grateful for the incredible support, enthusiasm and kindness that I’ve received from Tor and Macmillan as we’ve worked together on my first two books. It has been a joy to get to know the fabulous team there. I’m beyond delighted to announce that I’ll be writing a further three books to be published by Tor as well. Thank you so much to everyone who has responded to my stories in such a positive way, and made this improbable journey possible. You have all changed my life.’

Tor UK publisher Bella Pagan had the following to say: ‘Immersive, compelling and wonderfully cosy, it’s no wonder that Travis’s books have an army of fans all around the world. It’s a privilege to be publishing Travis in the UK.’

Executive Editor of Tor US Lindsey Hall had this to say about the deal: ‘Working with Travis Baldree and getting to know Viv the orc in her many forms through Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust has been a balm and a pleasure. In his books about orcs, dwarves, necromancy, and magic swords, Baldree also speaks to the deepest truths of humanity, centering the small but meaningful joys of life—like warm drinks, good books, and old friends—that make it all worthwhile. I can’t wait to see where his stories take us in the future.’

LEGENDS & LATTES, originally a smash-hit as a self-published novel, went on to be re-issued by Tor Books in the UK and North America (where it landed on the New York Times Bestseller list). The author’s second novel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, is due to be published in the UK and North America in November 2023.

New Edition of RZEKI LONDYNU Out Now in Poland!

Posted on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023

RIVERS OF LONDON, the first of Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, best-selling Peter Grant/Rivers of London novels, is available in a new Polish edition! Published by Zysk I S-Ka Wydawnictwo as RZEKI LONDYNU, and translated by Małgorzata Szypuła, here’s the synopsis…

Pierwszy tom bestsellerowego cyklu o magicznym Londynie, który pokochali czytelnicy na całym świecie. Peter Grant, młody funkcjonariusz londyńskiej policji, marzy o zostaniu detektywem. Jednak po odebraniu zeznań świadka, który okazał się… duchem, Grant zwraca na siebie uwagę detektywa Thomasa Nightingale’a zajmującego się przestępstwami związanymi z wszel kimi przejawami niesamowitości. Tak zaczynają się jego przygody w pełnym magii mieście, w którym duchy, bogowie i wampiry żyją tuż obok zwykłych mieszkańców, a pradawne zło powraca wraz z falą dziwnych, brutalnych morderstw. Rzeki Londynu to niesamowita i dowcipna podróż w świat magicznych przygód, czarujących postaci i kryminalnych zagadek, która nie pozostawi obojętnym żadnego czytelnika.

RIVERS OF LONDON has been published far and wide, all around the world. Here are just a few of the editions that have been published so far…

RIVERS OF LONDON and the rest of Ben’s series is published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion; and in North America by JABberwocky (#1-3), DAW Books (#4-), and Subterranean Press (novellas).

Ben was recently in Poland for a literary festival, and he was interviewed about his books. Check out the interview, below…

Cierra Block’s NEW YORK BLOCK BY BLOCK Out in September!

Posted on Monday, July 24th, 2023

The second book from the acclaimed author and illustrator Cierra Block is due out in September! NEW YORK BLOCK BY BLOCK is due to be published by Welbeck Publishing’s OH! Editions on September 14th. Here’s the synopsis…

Whether you’re a fast-talking, swift-walking local or a tourist visiting the Big Apple for the first time, this book is for you.

Arguably the most iconic city in the world, New York has more places to eat and things to see than you could manage in a lifetime. In New York Block by Block, artist Cierra Block reveals the best of the city, covering everything from secret leafy streets to inspiring bookstores, world-class museums to the best pizza, all accompanied by 40 vibrant maps. Featuring the most notable places to eat, what to see, where to walk and what to do, this is a guide like no other. Wander around Brooklyn like a local, grab the best bagels in town or see priceless masterpieces; the possibilities are endless. That’s the wonderful thing about New York – there’s always more to explore!

Block’s previous book, the acclaimed LONDON BLOCK BY BLOCK is also published by OH! Editions; it is also available in Spain, published by Lunwerg Editores.

UK Paperback Edition of THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, July 20th, 2023

The UK paperback edition of Silvia Moreno-Garcia‘s acclaimed THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU is out now! Published by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

A dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.

‘The deeply atmospheric novel blends horror, science fiction, and historical events’ Time, 100 ‘Must Read Books of 2022’

Carlota Moreau: growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatan peninsula, she is the only daughter of an eccentric, and dangerous, genius. His experiments, a motley group of hybrid monstrosities, are blindly loyal to their creator.

Into Carlota’s strange but perfectly balanced world comes Eduardo Lizalde, the charming, careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patrons. In the sweltering heat of the jungle, amidst her father’s secrets and her own awakening feelings, Carlota will begin asking questions that could ignite a conflagration.

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

‘Genius . . . combine[s] contemporary political awareness with the appeal of a creepy gothic romance’ — Guardian

‘An evocative slow-burn SF drama about colonialism, heredity and scientific hubris, couched in lush prose’ — Financial Times

‘The imagination of Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a thing of wonder, restless and romantic, fearless in the face of genre, embracing the polarities of storytelling’ — New York Times

‘Paints a vivid picture that is as alluring as it is unsettling, filled with action, romance, and monsters’ — Booklist

‘She deftly combines fantasy, adventure, and even romance; the result is hard to classify but definitely a lot of fun. This isn’t the first book to riff on H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), but it’s definitely one of the better ones. A fun literary remix’ — Kirkus

‘Cements Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s incredible versatility as an amazing writer who moves between genres effortlessly’ — S.A. Cosby, bestselling author of Blacktop Wasteland

Zeno represents Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

J.T. Greathouse’s THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD Out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Wednesday, July 19th, 2023

THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD, the thrilling conclusion to the J.T. Greathouse‘s acclaimed Pact and Pattern series is due out in two weeks! Due to be published by Gollancz in the UK, here’s the synopsis…

THE PACTS HAVE BEEN BROKEN. THE REBELLION HAS FAILED.

Foolish Cur has fallen into a trap. By resorting to forbidden magic when he failed to overthrow the Emperor, he has done exactly as the gods wanted. Now they are free to wage their war, twisting the world into new forms, as strange and terrible beasts walk the earth.

To fix what he has caused will take every ounce of Foolish Cur’s cunning. But mending the pattern of the world is too large a task for one man alone. As the Empire, rebellion and the landscape itself crumble, he and those still fighting for freedom will be drawn together to end the struggle against Emperor Tenet and the gods for good.

But Foolish Cur does not know what such a task will ask of him. And, powerful though he may be, the costs may be more than he is willing to pay . . .

The breath-taking conclusion to the Pact and Pattern series, this British Fantasy Award-nominated story is filled to the brim with magic, mystery and political intrigue.

Gollancz also publishes the first two books in the series: THE HAND OF THE SUN KING and THE GARDEN OF EMPIRE — both are out now!

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