In four weeks, Arcadia is due to publish the first novel in Emily Rath‘s new Tuonela duology, NORTH IS THE NIGHT! Arriving on shelves on January 9th, here’s the synopsis…

With the dark, mythical magic of the Winternight trilogy, and the slow-burn romance of Spinning Silver, NORTH IS THE NIGHT is a feminist fantasy adventure that shows the power of female friendship and how love — both romantic and familial — can conquer even death itself.

In the harsh interior of the Finnish wilderness, best friends Aina and Siiri are inseparable despite their opposite natures: Aina is gentle and cautious while Siiri is headstrong and brave. But their friendship is put to the test when Aina is kidnapped by a death goddess and taken to the mythical underworld Tuonela.

Determined to save her friend, Siiri embarks on a dangerous journey north to seek out Väinämöinen, the only mystical shaman to travel to Tuonela and return alive. As the dark winter looms, Siiri uses all the strength she possesses to survive her journey, which is plagued by trappers, a band of roving wolves, and a cunning snow witch with her own quest for power. But finding Väinämöinen is only the beginning. Siiri must convince him to share his magic so she can sneak into Tuonela and save Aina.

In Tuonela, Aina is forced to play the sadistic games of Tuonetar, the cruel queen of the underworld, alongside other captured maidens. But Aina’s kindness allows her to make allies in the dark, harsh environment. She soon discovers that Tuoni, the god of death and king of Tuonela, is also a victim of Tuonetar’s spells that can only be broken when he remarries. To save him and the other girls, Aina offers herself as his bride.

As she spends more time in the underworld, Aina falls in love with Tuoni and must make a decision that will alter the course of her fate forever… not knowing her fearless friend is on the way and plotting a daring escape.

An extraordinary story of love, of courage, of friendship and of magic, NORTH IS THE NIGHT is the stand-alone first novel in an incredible duology.

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

‘Rich, vivid, and brimming with emotion, NORTH IS THE NIGHT pays touching homage to Finnish culture and mythology while forging a unique path all its own. Rath writes with an intensity that imbues every scene, so that you weep and cheer for Siiri and Aina as they find their strength and claim their power’ — Vaishnavi Patel, author of Kaikeyi

‘In NORTH IS THE NIGHT, Emily Rath recreates a folkloric Finland rife with magic and mayhem, where witches, goddesses, and two irrepressible human girls clash in epic battles of wit and heart. The best fiction transports its reader to another world. Rath’s world is one I did not want to leave. Prepare to be captivated!’ — Lauren J. A. Bear, author of MEDUSA’S SISTERS

‘Wintry, dark and enchanting – I was completely engrossed by NORTH IS THE NIGHT‘ — Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

‘NORTH IS THE NIGHT casts a wintry spell of myth and magic, love and despair, dread and wonder. A compelling, immersive ride with characters I adored and a story that kept me turning pages!’ — Melissa Caruso, author of The Last Hour Between Worlds

‘Rath seamlessly weaves together stories of life, death, and love, to create an epic and wondrous world. Just incredible’ — Phoenecia Rogerson, author of HERC

‘Phenomenal – I was totally blown away. Mesmerising and utterly engrossing from the first chapter, NORTH IS THE NIGHT draws you into its worlds with such depth that you can’t put it down and don’t want it to end. Rath’s imagery, fast-paced plot, and compelling characters make for an incredibly satisfying read. This is a must read for fans of both mythology and fantasy books. I will be telling everyone to buy it!’ — Hannah Lynn, author of Athena’s Child

‘A romantic, adventure-filled tale that will enrapture readers with a transportive saga of love, friendship and magic’ — Adreinne Young, author of Spells for Forgetting

Rath is also the author of the acclaimed Jacksonville Rays series, published by Penguin in the UK.

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