Out Now: DIRECT DESCENDANT by Tanya Huff!


In case you missed it: the latest novel from Tanya Huff, DIRECT DESCENDANT is out now! Published in the UK in an audiobook edition, by W. F. Howes, it is narrated by Savannah Thomas. Here’s the synopsis…

This cozy horror novel set in modern-day Toronto includes phenomenal characters, fantastic writing, and a queer romance — the perfect balance of dark and delightful

Generations ago, the founders of the idyllic town of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force. In exchange for their service, the town will stay prosperous and successful, and keep outsiders out. And for generations, it’s worked out great. Until a visitor goes missing, and his wealthy family sends a private investigator to find him, and everything abruptly goes sideways.

Now, Cassidy Prewitt, town baker and part-time servant of the dark force (it’s a family business) has to contend with a rising army of darkness, a very frustrated town, and a very cute PI who she might just be falling for… and who might just be falling for her. And if they can survive their own homegrown apocalypse, they might even just find happiness together.

Queer, cozy, and with a touch of eldritch horror mixed in just for fun, this is a charming love story about a small-town baker, a quick-witted PI, and, yes, an ancient evil.

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

ESPERANCE by Adam Oyebanji Out Now in the UK!


ESPERANCE, the highly-anticipated new speculative thriller from Adam Oyebanji, is out today! Published in the UK by Arcadia, here’s 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 is available from today in print, eBook, and audiobook (read by Délé Ogundiran).

Here are some of the great reviews the novel prior to publication…

‘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.

New Paperback Edition of Lavie Tidhar’s MAROR Out Now in Germany


The new, German paperback edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed, best-of-2024 novel, MAROR, is out today! Published by Suhrkamp, 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 been praised far and wide since it was first published. Here are just a small number of the great responses/reviews…

‘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

Cierra Block’s BARCELONA BLOCK BY BLOCK is Out Now!


The latest book by Cierra Block‘s acclaimed Block by Block series, BARCELONA BLOCK BY BLOCK is out now! Published by OH Editions, 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.

Gary Wigglesworth’s THE BOOK LOVER’S QUIZ BOOK Paperback Edition is Out Now!


The new paperback edition of Gary Wigglesworth‘s acclaimed THE BOOK LOVER’S QUIZ BOOK is out today! Published by Robinson in the UK, 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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

Andrew Cartmel’s UNDERSCORE is Out Now!


UNDERSCORE, the highly-anticipated eighth Vinyl Detective novel by Andrew Cartmel is out today! Published by Titan Books in the UK and North America, here’s the synopsis…

Some of the greatest (and grooviest) music ever committed to vinyl has come out of Italy.

And some of the greatest music to come out of Italy can be found on the soundtracks composed for its lurid, gruesome and some might say nonsensical thrillers known as gialli. The maestros who composed for these include Ennio Morricone, Piero Piccioni, Armand Trovajoli…

… And Loretto Loconsole.

No one disputes that Loconsole was a genius, but was he also a murderer?

The composer’s mistress was killed in 1969 while the pair were on location in Cool Britannia for the shoot of lurid giallo Murder in London – also known as Bikini of Blood and sometimes even The Black Dog Murders (don’t ask). There wasn’t enough evidence to lead to a prosecution, but the stink of scandal never went away. Loconsole’s career never recovered, the mastertapes of his work were destroyed and he died with a dark stain on his legacy.

Now, his granddaughter Chloe has come to England to hire the Vinyl Detective. Not only does she want him to find immaculate vinyl copies of all her grandpa’s soundtracks for a series of reissues she’s putting together to resurrect his musical reputation, but she wants him to clear his name too.

Can the Vinyl Detective and the usual gang – Nevada, Tinkler and Agatha – find out the truth of what happened in Swinging London more than half a century ago? Or might there be someone out there who’d prefer the events of the past to be left well alone, and is prepared to kill to keep their secrets safely in the Sixties?

Titan Books also publishes the first seven novels in the series, in the UK and North America: WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX, THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, FLIP BACK, LOW ACTION, ATTACK AND DECAY, and NOISE FLOOR.

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

‘This charming mystery feels as companionable as a leisurely afternoon trawling the vintage shops with a good friend.’ — Kirkus on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘… fast-paced, lighthearted adventure… marvelously inventive and endlessly fascinating…’ — Publishers Weekly on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘Author Cartmel has combined the tropes of the several genres into a surprising, refreshing story centered around old-fashioned records… the story delivers multiple chuckles per chapter… Based on this volume, the series will be a hit.’ — New York Journal of Books on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘… entertaining second record-spinning mystery… Cartmel treats music and records seriously, plays his strange characters for laughs, and provides a bit of danger and some unexpected twists in this affectionate nod to the vagaries of rock stardom.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

THE RUN-OUT GROOVE does a fantastic job of making its fictional history of music so fascinating and authentic that you’ll forget it isn’t all true… This a follow-up every bit the equal of its highly memorable predecessor, presenting a mystery you’ll be eager to solve and characters whose company you won’t want to leave. Written with infectious charm, the Vinyl Detective has more than proven he’s no one-hit-wonder.’ (9/10) — Alternative Magazine Online on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

‘Cartmel at his best… an exciting and atmospheric mystery and a good addition to the Vinyl Detective’s casebook.’ — Blue Book Balloon on VICTORY DISC

‘This book was such a blast! It was a great addition to this hilarious series and I’m so impressed at how entertaining these books are.’ — Divine World of Books on VICTORY DISC

‘… an interesting and intriguing history for the series’ latest MacGuffin… the writing is sharp, funny and engaging throughout, and the main characters have never been more likeable… it’s wonderful; it’s a book filled with warmth and good humour – despite a touch of murder – that often feels like reacquainting yourself with old friends… The latest Vinyl Detective novel continues the series’ fine tradition of telling fictional stories that seem entirely plausible. There hasn’t been a dud note in the Vinyl Detective’s oeuvre to date and FLIP BACK is no exception; in fact, it might just be his greatest whodunnit yet.’ 9/10 — Alternative Magazine Online on FLIP BACK

ICYMI: Megan Chee’s THE GOD OF MINOR TROUBLES on It’s Storytime w. Wil Wheaton!


In case you missed it, THE GOD OF MINOR TROUBLES by Megan Chee is the latest story featured on It’s Storytime with Wil Wheaton! This is a new, weekly podcast launched by Wheaton, ‘featuring stories that Wil loves, pulled from the pages of Uncanny, Lightspeed, On Spec, and others. You’re going to meet authors you don’t yet know you love, including some who are being narrated for the very first time. Listeners will travel through time, meet some gods, watch people fall in and out of love, and more, brought to life by Wil’s remarkable narrative voice.’

Readers can subscribe to the podcast via most podcast services.

Congrats, Megan, for being the fourth story read on the podcast!

Complex Chinese Edition of Travis Baldree’s LEGENDS & LATTES!


Very happy to report that LEGENDS & LATTES by Travis Baldree is available in a Complex Chinese edition! Published by ECUS Publishing House, as 傳奇拿鐵 咖啡廳, the cover is above. Here’s the synopsis…

「咖啡」是什麼鬼啊?這是獸人威芙在小鎮遇到的第一個難題,或許也是最困難的。

過去,她的雙手沾滿血腥,過著露宿風餐的日子。難道這輩子只能這樣了嗎?不,她決定,要結束冒險生活。威芙想起過去曾在另一座城喝過香醇的咖啡,流過喉頭的悸動,驅使她前往新的地點,打算開一家溫暖的咖啡廳。

這座小鎮的居民不曾品過咖啡。威芙必須從頭來過:重建裝潢、把咖啡泡得更好喝……同時,鎮上還有收保護費的傳聞,加上過去一起冒險時的夥伴時而來找碴,都讓開店變得更加未知。

不過,當一個人懷有夢想,全世界都會成為助力。作者說,這是一個「並沒有重重危機,比起油炸下酒菜更像是雞湯的故事」。

咖啡廳像是有魔力似的,吸引各路好手加入,魅魔幫忙沖泡咖啡、招攬客人;鼠人默默烘烤美味的糕點,研發更多獨特風味的甜品;霍布妖將店面打造得愈來愈舒適;吟遊詩人的歌曲,讓客人忘了時間的流逝……儘管不定時出現的巨貓看來不好惹,卻似乎總在威芙有難時來臨。

隨著更多糕點出爐,咖啡的熱氣蒸騰,威芙與魅魔的曖昧也更加濃烈。

LEGENDS & LATTES is published by Tor Books in the UK and in North America. Here’s the English-language 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…

The internationally best-selling prequel novel (#1 in the US!), BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, is also available — published by Tor Books in the UK and North America.