On May 7th, Gollancz is due to published the debut novel by Nick Martell, THE KINGDOM OF LIARS! Already generating some great buzz and pre-release reviews, here’s the synopsis for the first book in the Legacy of the Mercenary Kings series…

Michael was branded a traitor and his family exiled from courtly life after his father, David Kingman, murdered the king’s nine-year-old son.

Now he survives by conning, cheating and duelling minor royals in a weak attempt to strike back at the world that abandoned him and his family, sure all the while that his father must be innocent… and aware that some powerful secret lurks in the hot white emptiness of his mind.

So when the opportunity arrives to return to court, via the most dangerous of the King’s royal council, Michael takes it, hoping for clues to unlock his hidden past. Instead, he’s going to find a royal family spiralling into a self-serving dictatorship, as beyond the walls gun-wielding rebels clash against magically trained militia.

But if he can find his way to the truth, he could completely reverse the injustices which rule the Hollows… if Michael and his family can survive long enough to see it…

Here are just a few of the great pre-publication review the novel has been receiving…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zeno represents Nick Martell in the UK & Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.