Edward Cox - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Cover: THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS by Edward Cox

Posted on Tuesday, March 31st, 2015

Above is the stunning cover for Edward Cox‘s second novel, THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS. The sequel to THE RELIC GUILD, the novel is due to be published by Gollancz in October 2015 (late September in eBook). Here’s the synopsis…

Divided, hunted and short on resources, the surviving members of the Relic Guild are in real trouble. Their old enemy, the Genii, and their resurrected master have infiltrated Labrys Town and taken over the police force.

So the Relic Guild must flee their home, and set off on a dangerous journey across the worlds of the Aelfir. One that will lead them to a weapon which might destroy the Genii. Or the whole universe…

And forty years before all this, the war which led to the fall of the Genii continues. And what happens to the Relic Guild during that conflict will change the course of their desperate flight.

And, in case the stunning cover and synopsis didn’t convince you, here is just a handful of the great reviews THE RELIC GUILD has received…

‘A terrific debut novel, with plenty of scope for expansion and some really good world-building. Most importantly, lots of fun. Looking forward to the next one.’ — Joanne Harris

‘Part science fantasy, part steampunk thriller, part horror novel… THE RELIC GUILD reads in places like a vividly-described high fantasy merged with Victorian penny dreadful ‘appening… colourful characters… Cox has written a mighty fine first novel… I was hooked…’ — Interzone

‘An exciting blend of steampunk, fantasy, horror, and pulp adventure… THE RELIC GUILD is an intriguing, original and enjoyable book, a daring mix of genres…’ — Starburst

‘THE RELIC GUILD is a formidable debut from an author with huge potential, and I will be one of the first clamouring for a copy of the sequel.’ — Fantasy Faction

‘THE RELIC GUILD, the debut novel from Edward Cox, is all kinds of magic… Stylistically it is a rich brew… always full of flavour… a high concept fantasy packed with ideas, weird and wonderful characters and a mix of styles, at times evoking noir, urban fantasy, flavours of steampunk (in the depiction of anachronistic technology) and grotesque body-horror David Cronenberg would be proud of. Thought you knew where modern fantasy was at? THE RELIC GUILD will challenge your assumptions.’ — British Fantasy Society

Edward Cox Event this Wednesday

Posted on Monday, November 17th, 2014

Just a quick post to inform you of an upcoming event with Edward Cox, author of the debut fantasy novel THE RELIC GUILD, which was published in the UK by Gollancz in September 2014. Here’s the synopsis…

In the sealed Labyrinth, a young woman must find a way to control her magic and escape her prison in this remarkable debut fantasy.

Magic caused the war. Magic is forbidden. Magic will save us.

It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls 100 feet high.

Now the Aelfir are a distant memory and the Thaumaturgists have faded into myth. Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh.

The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls.

Here are just some of the great reviews that keep pouring in for the novel…

‘A terrific debut novel, with plenty of scope for expansion and some really good world-building. Most importantly, lots of fun.’ — Joanne M Harris

‘THE RELIC GUILD is an intriguing, original and enjoyable book, a daring mix of genres that initially feels like it shouldn’t work, but is ultimately greater than the sum of its parts.’ — Starburst

‘This is smart, energetic fantasy that grips you from page one and delivers a genuinely memorable experience.’ — Eloquent Page

‘This is a fantastic debut, and one that worked for me on pretty much every level… I really enjoyed this, and definitely think Cox is an author to watch. This is a great first installment, and a must-read of 2014.’ — Civilian Reader

‘THE RELIC GUILD, the debut novel from Edward Cox, is all kinds of magic: alchemy, illusion, lycanthropy, necromancy, sorcery and thaumaturgy; this book has magic in its DNA… it is very much a characteristic of the book that no figure lacks colour, no scene lacks substance and no twist lacks spice… Stylistically it is a rich brew… a high concept fantasy packed with ideas, weird and wonderful characters and a mix of styles, at times evoking noir, urban fantasy, flavours of steampunk (in the depiction of anachronistic technology) and grotesque body-horror David Cronenberg would be proud of. Thought you knew where modern fantasy was at? THE RELIC GUILD will challenge your assumptions.’ — British Fantasy Society

Edward Cox’s THE RELIC GUILD Launch a Huge Success!

Posted on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014

THE RELIC GUILD Editor Marcus Gipps (left) and Edward Cox

On September 18th, Gollancz published Edward Cox‘s superb debut fantasy novel, THE RELIC GUILD. To mark the occasion, the publisher and Goldsboro Books hosted Edward for a great book launch event.

In addition, Gollancz organised an extensive blog tour to mark the publication of the novel…

15th September

– Interview on Geek Planet Online

– Guest Post: ‘Lies of the Father’ on Falcata Times – ‘how he smashed the ice when moving from a busy city to the country and how a lie can sometimes make a huge difference’

16th September

– Interview on Book Plank

– Guest Post: ‘A Deal’s Not a Deal Until the Deal is Done’ on Sci-Fi London – ‘I’ve been asked a few times about how I got signed by a major publisher. My answer always makes me sound flippant: I got an agent, and he got me a book deal. It’s a little more complicated than that, but it’s the truth. What’s also true is that it took me longer to convince my agent to represent my book than it took my agent to get the book signed by Gollancz.’

17th September

– THE RELIC GUILD Audio Clip on The Cult Den

– Guest Post: ‘The Feeling’ on Reader Dad – ‘The great question: why do I write? I’ve been asked this a number of times, and my answers have been varied. I’ve taken the pretentious route, proclaiming that no one chooses to be a writer, writing chooses you. I’ve tried to brush it off by saying that writing is the only thing I know how to do. The truth is, I definitely do know why I write, but it is difficult for me explain simply. It comes from an experience, a visceral reaction that I now call the Feeling.’

18th September

– Guest Post: ‘Writing and Teaching’ on Wondrous Reads – ‘During the 2012-2013 academic year, I lectured in creating writing at the University of Bedfordshire. It was my privilege to spend many hours in the company of keen-minded individuals, each of whom was eager to get better at what they did. Their passion fuelled my passion. They inspired me as I tried to inspire them… I’m very proud of the work I did there. However, I’ve known a lot of people who don’t trust writing courses of any kind, and their misgivings are not without some justification.’

– Interview with Alastair Stuart

19th September

– Guest Post: ‘Known Things’ on Fantasy Book Critic – ‘A certain kind of vindication, a validation, comes with signing a book deal. Someone like Gollancz doesn’t buy your novel unless they believe it is good enough to publish. Knowing this will patch up the shaky confidence of any writer, at least for a time. However, writing a novel good enough for Gollancz is only the beginning, because when you’ve signed up for a trilogy, you sort of have to do it again…’

– THE RELIC GUILD Audio Clip on Geek Native

20th September

– Interview on Fantasy Book Review (and review)

– Guest Post: ‘Writes & Wrongs’ on Civilian Reader – ‘I might have taken the longest route possible to getting an agent. I’m something of a blunderer by nature, and learning the hard way is the theme of my life. So much so that I sometimes wonder how I managed to get an agent at all…’

And, finally – THE RELIC GUILD, out now in Hardcover and Audiobook, is also available in eBook at just £1.99 until 25th September.

THE RELIC GUILD by Edward Cox is Out Today!

Posted on Thursday, September 18th, 2014

We are delighted to report that Edward Cox‘s epic debut fantasy, THE RELIC GUILD, is officially published today by Gollancz! The novel is the start of a superb, atmospheric and action-packed new series. Here’s the synopsis…

In the sealed Labyrinth, a young woman must find a way to control her magic and escape her prison in this remarkable debut fantasy.

Magic caused the war. Magic is forbidden. Magic will save us.

It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls 100 feet high.

Now the Aelfir are a distant memory and the Thaumaturgists have faded into myth. Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh.

The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls.

In case that doesn’t whet your appetite, here is just a small selection of the advance praise…

‘There are many things to love about THE RELIC GUILD… an excellent story… Cox’s characters are well-realised individuals, each with a story to tell… a highly successful magic system that doesn’t require a lot of explanation and complements the setting beautifully… clever and effective, and [I] appreciated the way Cox keeps his world’s history alive and relevant to current events… THE RELIC GUILD is a formidable debut from an author with huge potential, and I will be one of the first clamouring for a copy of the sequel.’ – Fantasy Faction

‘THE RELIC GUILD was a fast and pleasurable read… [Cox] knows how to craft a tale and to write engaging characters and I’ve also loved his use of the Labyrinth as a vehicle for setting a fully immersive dystopian (with a dash of noir) atmosphere. It is a magical creation and a true feat of imagination which I’m looking forward to exploring more… A promising debut…’ – Upcoming4Me

‘… a fantasy with plenty of original ideas, where the world is detailed and dark, where the characters intrigue and delight and where the plot draws you in and takes you on a magical journey… Edward Cox’s debut novel, THE RELIC GUILD is a real page-turner of a book and I’m already impatient for the next book in the series.’ – SF Crowsnest

For those who prefer to listen to your books, THE RELIC GUILD is also out today in unabridged audio, read by Imogen Church and published by Orion Audio.

Ed is currently taking a blog tour in celebration of the release, and you can find him at the following stops:

And, finally, if you’re in London this evening, be sure to pop by Goldsboro Books, who are hosting the official launch for the novel (they also have signed, first editions in stock…).

London Launch for THE RELIC GUILD Next Week!

Posted on Friday, September 12th, 2014

Edward Cox‘s THE RELIC GUILD has already been described as ‘a real page-turner’ (SF Crowsnest) and ‘a formidable debut from an author with huge potential’ (Fantasy Faction), with the buzz only increasing each week. With its UK publication fast approaching – September 18th, via Gollancz – we wanted to let you know about the book’s official launch, at Goldsboro Books. The event will be on Thursday September 18th, between 6:30-8:30pm. So, if you’re in London that evening, be sure to stop by!

Here’s the synopsis…

Magic caused the war. Magic is forbidden. Magic will save us.

It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls 100 feet high.

Now the Aelfir are a distant memory and the Thaumaturgists have faded into myth. Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh.

The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls.

Zeno Clients attending FantasyCon 2014!

Posted on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014

We’re very happy to report that a number of our clients will be attending this year’s British Fantasy Convention (FantasyCon), to be held between September 5th–7th 2014, at The Royal York Hotel. (This weekend!)

First up, we’re delighted that Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series of urban fantasy novels, will be a guest of honour at FantasyCon! Charlaine’s latest novel, MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD was published in the UK by Gollancz in May 2014.

Here are our other clients’ events during the convention, all of which occur on Saturday 6th…

10:00am – Anne Lyle and Kari Sperring take part in the ‘Does It Make Sense?’ panel – ‘Economics of fantasy systems. If Smaug holds all the gold and it gets liberated, what does that do to the economy?’
Noon – Charlaine Harris in Conversation – interviewed by Adele Wearing
Noon – Edward Cox will take part in the ‘Dead Parents, Burned Homesteads and Wicked Stepmothers’ panel – ‘Is it essential to write out the parents before youthful characters can head out on adventures? Are adult figures always unhelpful or malign? Should writers search for ways to keep parents around — or do fantasies of a world without parents fulfil a real need?’
3:00pm – Charlaine Harris will take part in the ‘She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Sister’ panel – ‘Kirk and Spock, Luke and Han, Frodo and Sam – epic friendships between men are common in fantasy, but friendships between women, or platonic relationships between men and women that stay that way – are much thinner on the ground. The panellists discuss why it matters and examine some of the rare exceptions.’
3:00pm – Edward Cox will take part in the ‘Icky Romance’ panel – ‘Love and sex are powerful motivators and sources of dramatic conflict. However when combined with the conventions of SFF, there’s a lot of potential for cliché, from damsels in distress to dangerous supernatural boyfriends. But how often do complaints about the place of romance in SFF come down to a fear of girl cooties?’
4:00pm – Charlaine Harris will take part in the FanFiction panel – ‘The Fan, the Pro and the Publishing Industry Writers on both sides of the fan/pro divide and writers who straddle it discuss fanfiction. After the success of E.L James, should publishers be searching for more hit writers on AO3 and Fanfic.net? What keeps talented writers away from traditional publishing?’
5:00pm – Stephen Volk will take part in the ‘Horror on the Small Screen’ panel – ‘TV is getting darker, and with the recent success of American Horror Story, Black Mirror and Being Human, are we entering a new golden age of terrifying TV?’
9:00pm – Edward Cox will give a reading from THE RELIC GUILD at the ‘Super Relaxed Fantasy Club’

On Sunday 7th, the British Fantasy Awards will be held at approximately 2:30pm. The full list of nominees can be found here.

Edward Cox is the author of THE RELIC GUILD, due to be published mid-September 2014 by Gollancz in the UK.

Anne Lyle is the author of the Nights Masque trilogy – THE ALCHEMIST OF SOULS, THE MERCHANT OF DREAMS, and THE PRINCE OF LIES – published by Angry Robot Books.

Kari Sperring is the author of LIVING WITH GHOSTS and THE GRASS KING’S CONCUBINE, both published by DAW Books.

Unlisted in the events, above, Simon Kurt Unsworth will also be in attendance, and may give a reading from his upcoming novel, THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, due to be published in 2015 by Del Rey (UK) and Doubleday (US) – check back later this week and also next week for more news about this exciting upcoming title.

Stephen Volk is a prolific author of horror short fiction, and two of his works are up for British Fantasy Awards this year – WHISTABLE is nominated for Best Novella, and is published by Spectral Press; and MONSTERS IN THE HEART, published by Gray Friar Press, is nominated for Best Collection.

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

Zeno Clients at Nine Worlds Geek Fest 2014

Posted on Friday, August 8th, 2014

Today marks the start of the 2014 Nine Worlds Geek Fest, and we’re happy to share with you our clients’ schedules. So, in alphabetical order, here is where you can find some of our great authors. Information is presented thusly: day, date – time – subject (venue). After each client name, we have linked to the digital schedule, for your convenience.

Aliette de Bodard (schedule)

Author of the Obsidian & Blood trilogy – SERVANT OF THE UNDERWORLD, HARBINGER OF THE STORM and MASTER OF THE HOUSE OF DARTS (Angry Robot), and multiple multi-award winning short stories and novellas

Sunday, August 10 – 11:45am – ‘Writing Historical Fiction and Fanfic: is RPF okay when the person is dead?’ (County B)
Sunday, August 10 – 1:30pm – ‘Food in Science Fiction’ (Room 32)

Edward Cox (schedule)

Author of the upcoming debut fantasy THE RELIC GUILD (Gollancz)

Friday, August 8 – 10:00am – ‘Urban Fantasy: Cities of Angels & Demons & Bug-Monsters’ (County C&D)
Friday, August 8 – 11:15am – ‘Ed Cox & Benedict Jacka’ (Comm West)
Saturday, August 9 – 1:30pm – ‘Food In Fantasy: A panel discussion with Esther Saxey, Ed Cox, Mark Newton and Gail Carriger’ (Room 32)
Saturday, August 9 – 8:00pm – ‘#PROMNADO: The Gollancz Prom Party!’ (County C&D)

Kari Sperring (schedule)

Author of THE GRASS KING’S CONCUBINE and LIVING WITH GHOSTS (DAW)

Friday, August 8 – 5:00pm – ‘Nine Fanwork Recs: nine people tell us about their favourite fanwork’ (County B)
Saturday, August 9 – 3:15pm – ‘Slash And Feminism: how can slash be a feminist activity?’ (County B)
Saturday, August 9 – 5:00pm – ‘How To Be A Better Beta: beta-reading, and teaching writing, in fandom’ (County B)

E.J. Swift (schedule)

Author of critically-acclaimed OSIRIS and CATAVEIRO (Del ReyUK)

Friday, August 8 – 10:00am – ‘Urban Fantasy: Cities of Angels & Demons & Bug-Monsters’ (County C&D)

David Tallerman (schedule)

Author of the Tales of Easie Damasco trilogy – GIANT THIEF, CROWN THIEF, and PRINCE THIEF (Angry Robot)

Friday, August 8 – 6:45pm – ‘Writing for Transmedia: ideas that cross formats and boundaries’ (County A)
Saturday, August 9 – 6:45pm – ‘Blurred Lines: boycotting & buying in’ (Royal A)
Sunday, August 10 – 3:15pm – ‘More-Than-Mild Peril: beyond sidekicks’ (Royal A)

You can find the full programme for the convention here. Are you attending? If you take photos with our authors, be sure to tag out Twitter feed, and we’ll share the best ones.

Zeno Clients to attend Fantasy in the Court Next Week!

Posted on Tuesday, August 5th, 2014

Next week, Goldsboro Books, Tor UK and Voyager Books are hosting in London a science fiction and fantasy extravaganza, Fantasy in the Court! A ticketed event, it is celebrates the SFF genres and offers fans an informal setting to meet some of today’s best authors of science fiction and fantasy. Tickets are available from Goldsboro Books, and more information can be found here. Zeno clients in attendance are Ben Aaronovitch, Edward Cox, E.J. Swift, and Lavie Tidhar.

Ben Aaronovitch is the author of the bestselling and critically-acclaimed Rivers of London series, the fifth book of which – FOXGLOVE SUMMER – is published later this year by Gollancz. Edward Cox is the debut author of THE RELIC GUILD, due out in September 2014 from Gollancz. E.J. Swift is the author of the Osiris Project science fiction series – the second book, CATAVEIRO, was published earlier this year by Del Rey UK. Lavie Tidhar is the author of OSAMA (winner of the World Fantasy Award), THE VIOLENT CENTURY, and the upcoming A MAN LIES DREAMING – to be published later this September by Hodder.

Upcoming Event: Gollancz Festival 2014

Posted on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

We are very pleased to share with you the news that two of Zeno’s clients will be participating in the inaugural Gollancz Festival! Jointly hosted by Gollancz and Waterstone’s Piccadilly, the event takes place on August 13th, from 6pm-9pm. The evening brings together some of Gollancz’s leading authors of science-fiction and fantasy to discuss the genre and their books.

The full schedule can be found here, but here are the Zeno-specific details…

Room 1: 7.15-7.45pm: Ben Aaronovitch takes part in the discussion, ‘Is fantasy by definition consolatory?’, chaired by Sarah Pinborough and also featuring Peter Higgins, James Barclay, and Joanne M. Harris.
Room 2: 6.45-7.15pm: Edward Cox takes part in the ‘Class of 2014’ panel, chaired by Gillian Redfearn and also featuring Den Patrick, Jon Wallace, and John Hornor Jacobs.

More details about the event will be released via the Gollancz Twitter feed, and also through the hashtag #gollanczfest.

Ben Aaronovitch is the critically-acclaimed best-selling author of the Peter Grant series. The next novel in the series, FOXTROT SUMMER, is due to be published in September 2014. Edward Cox is the author of the upcoming debut fantasy THE RELIC GUILD, also due to be published in September 2014.

Upcoming Event: Breaking the Sci-Fi Industry

Posted on Friday, July 4th, 2014

On July 13th, as part of the much-anticipated London Film & Comic Con, Zeno client Edward Cox will be participate in the ‘Breaking the Sci-Fi Industry‘ panel. Edward is the author of the superb gothic new fantasy novel, THE RELIC GUILD.

On the panel, Edward joins fellow Gollancz debut authors Den Patrick and Jon Wallace to discuss their experiences ‘writing their first novel, finding an agent, securing a publishing deal and starting the publishing adventure.’ Along with tips for aspiring writers, attendees will have the chance to win copies of each of the debut novels from these three talented genre writers. The panel will be moderated by Gollancz Publishing Director Gilllian Redfearn, and will take place on the Book Zone Stage, at 10.45am on Sunday 13th July. Tickets are free and can be collected at the Book Zone info point from 9am on Sunday morning.

The first in a trilogy, THE RELIC GUILD is due to be published in the UK by Gollancz in September 2014. Here’s the synopsis…

Magic caused the war. Magic is forbidden. Magic will save us.

It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls 100 feet high.

Now the Aelfir are a distant memory and the Thaumaturgists have faded into myth. Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh.

The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls.

Be sure to check out the Goodreads THE RELIC GUILD giveaway, too.

Be Among the First to Read Edward Cox’s THE RELIC GUILD!

Posted on Friday, June 27th, 2014

Would you like to be among the first people to read Edward Cox‘s debut fantasy novel, THE RELIC GUILD? Well, Goodreads is running a giveaway! In order to be in with a chance to win one of twenty available copies, head on over here. You will need a Goodreads account to enter, though. The giveaway closes on August 16th, 2014.

THE RELIC GUILD, the first in a trilogy, is due to be published by Gollancz on September 18th, 2014. Here’s the synopsis…

It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls a hundred feet high.

Now the Aelfir are a distant memory and the Thaumaturgists have faded into myth. Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh.

The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls.

If you aren’t lucky enough to win a copy, then there is other great news! THE RELIC GUILD is included in Gollancz’s 2014 Debut eBook Promotion, and will be available from e-vendors for just £1.99 until a week after publication.

Cover Reveal – Edward Cox’s RELIC GUILD!

Posted on Monday, March 17th, 2014

We’re delighted to finally be able to share with you all the amazing cover for Edward Cox‘s debut – THE RELIC GUILD! The first in a series of the same name, this is a brilliant, dark and brooding fantasy of magic and conspiracy in a wonderfully gothic world. THE RELIC GUILD is due to be published on September 14th, 2014, by Gollancz in the UK.

Here is the synopsis…

Magic caused the war. Magic is forbidden. Magic will save us.

It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls a hundred feet high.

Now the Aelfir are a distant memory and the Thaumaturgists have faded into myth. Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh.

The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls.

THE RELIC GUILD is also included in Gollancz’s 2014 Debuts eBook Promotion – all pre-orders of the novel in eBook, and also purchases in the first week following publication, will be priced only £1,99!

Some Early Buzz for Edward Cox’s Upcoming RELIC GUILD

Posted on Wednesday, January 8th, 2014

Back in April 2013, Gollancz announced that they had acquired the debut trilogy by Zeno client Edward Cox. The first book in the series, THE RELIC GUILD is scheduled for an September 2014 publication. That’s still a while away, of course, but this past week saw a pair of articles that featured the book. The first was on Gollancz’s own blog, which saw Ed’s novel described thus: ‘With its split time-line, superb characters and bewitching setting of a vast city cut off from the realms around it where magic is ruthlessly suppressed this is a dark and exciting fantasy set in a city which itself becomes a living, breathing character. It’s a remarkably original tale for any writer to have come up with, that it is Ed’s first novel is even more remarkable.’

The second piece was on Fantasy Faction, which included THE RELIC GUILD in a post outlining some hotly tipped novels and debuts coming in 2014. They also featured a synopsis, which we think will certainly whet your appetite:

It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls a hundred feet high. There is no escape, no way in, and magic in all its forms is banned. But the Relic Guild still exist, hunting down powerful artefacts and people born with magic in their souls. And they’re about to discover that the war may not be entirely over…

Expect more news about Ed and his novels over the course of the coming few months – we’ll be sure to share with you artwork when it is unveiled, and no doubt more interesting news and tidbits.