Travis Baldree’s 本屋をたてなおす Out Now!


The Japanese edition of Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed, best-selling BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is out now! Published by 東京創元社, as 本屋をたてなおす, it was translated by 原島 文世. Here’s the synopsis…

戦闘中に大怪我をした傭兵ヴィヴ。治るまでと置いていかれたのは美味しいパンやスコーンを売るベーカリーもある小さな町だった。痛む脚で町を歩いていたヴィヴは潰れそうな本屋に入ってみた。まったく本に縁のないヴィヴだったが、店主の小鼠人が薦める本を読むうちに物語の虜になり、店主の尻をたたいて本屋の建て直しに着手する。友人たちの協力も得て、立て直しは順調に進んでいたが……。大人気の『伝説とカフェラテ』前日譚。

東京創元社 have also published LEGENDS & LATTES in Japan, as 伝説とカフェラテ.

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is published by Tor Books in the UK and North America, and is out now. Here’s the English-language 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 secondhand 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.

Katy Nyquist’s A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED out in Three Weeks!


In three weeks (June 17th), Podium are due to publish A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED by Katy Nyquist, the first novel in the highly-anticipated Scandals of the Gifted series! Here’s the synopsis…

A Holy Maiden should never drink, get kidnapped, nor kiss a Dark Lord, but Ysabel is breaking all the rules to escape her fate as a human sacrifice.

In a world where magical powers are commonplace, Holy Maiden Ysabel is revered as a goddess among her people. She’s the only one able to heal the sick and injured with a simple touch. But her spectacular gift comes at a steep price. For each person she saves, she loses a day of her own conscripted life. To add insult to injury, she’s supposed to maintain a pure image even though she’d rather drink and play dominatrix until her sorrows fade away.

After the corrupt Head Cardinal Jiang abuses her gift, forbids her from leaving the city, and takes her brother hostage, Ysabel doesn’t dare drag anyone else into her problems — especially since it won’t change her fate. But when Dark Lord Kaine arrives at her clinic doorstep grievously wounded, she’s touched by his refusal to accept her healing lest it cost her another day of her life.

The mysterious and sexy Dark Lord awakens forbidden desires in Ysabel, and the nagging survival instinct she tried to drown with booze and drugs comes back with a vengeance. She’s less impressed, however, when he threatens to sack her city in return for his injuries. Fortunately, she can flirt her way to an alliance against the Head Cardinal instead.

Armed with only a ferociously loyal female bodyguard named Alzira, Ysabel attempts to make the most of her mere months left to live, protect the refugees around her city, prevent a war, and hide her face blindness. But before her life flickers to its sad end, she must decide: either die a proper Holy Maiden or risk it all to run off with Kaine.

With a cover by Mario Teodosio, the novel will be published on June 17th in paperback, eBook, and audiobook (read by Hollie Jackson).

“[A Holy Maiden’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped features] a protagonist with a strong voice and unique character facets like face blindness and a healing gift . . . and some nice worldbuilding, both in broad strokes and specific detailing.’Elayne Audrey Becker, author of the Forestborn duology

‘I… absolutely fell in love with Ysabel and Kaine… The ‘opposites attract’ trope worked so well for this story… The stakes are high throughout… Great craft and storytelling!’April L. Wood, author of the Season of the Witch series

‘Both [Ysabel and Kaine are] strongly drawn and very relatable.’Bogi Takács, author of Power to Yield

Next Week: Elizabeth Helen Event in Sydney!


On Monday, June 2nd, authors Elizabeth Helen will be having an event at Romancing the Novel in Sydney!

The authors’ Beasts of the Briar series is published in the UK and Commonwealth by Magpie: BONDED BY THORNS, WOVEN BY GOLD, FORGED BY MALICE, and BROKEN BY DAYLIGHT are all out now.

Here’s the synopsis for the first novel in the series…

Four handsome fae princes.

One awkward bookworm.

An Enchanted Vale.

A beastly curse to break.

Rosalina O’Connell lives her life in Orca Cove as quietly as she can.

When her father turns up missing, Rosie goes after him and finds herself in the Enchanted Vale, the land of the fae. Where her father has been imprisoned and Rosie has no choice but to make a deal with four fae Princes to take his place.

As Rosie begins to learn more about the four Princes, she discovers that they have been cursed. The Princes must take on the form of demonic wolves every night and with every year that passes, more of their magic fades away.

If the Princes can each find their mate, they will break their curse and free their realm. Rosie is determined to help them…

The only problem is, the more time she spends with the Princes, the more she’s convinced that she’s the one they’re all meant to be with.

A spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling filled with enchanted fae, morally grey characters, a stupidly hot villain and a princess who has found her Prince Charming. All four of them.

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

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.’

ICYMI: Narrators Announced for J.R. Dawson’s THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD!


In case you missed the news, we wanted to share the narrators for J.R. Dawson‘s highly-anticipated next novel, THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD have been announced!

The novel will be read by Mara Wilson and Lindsey Dorcus!

The novel is due to be published by Macmillan Audio in the UK and North America; print and eBook editions will be published by Tor Books in both. Here’s the synopsis…

Love doesn’t die; people do…

At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, is a waystation for the dead. Every night, the newly departed travel through the city to the Station, guided by its lighthouse. There, they reckon with their lives before stepping aboard a boat to go beyond.

Nera has spent decades watching her father – the ferryman of the dead – sail across the lake, every night just like the last.

But tonight something is wrong.

The Station’s lighthouse has started to flicker out. The terrifying, ghostly Haunts have multiplied in the city. And now a person – a living person – has found her way onto the boat.

Her name is Charlie. She followed a song. And she is searching for someone she lost.

A devastating story of magic, family and those who leave us – but who might not remain lost.

Here are a few early responses to the novel…

‘Greek myth, Jewish tradition, and slow-burning queer romance gracefully intertwine in this melancholy treasure from Dawson… the carefully crafted story doubles as an emotional love letter to Chicago and to life itself. The result is immersive, bittersweet, and wonderfully original.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘Moving and tense… A grim, authentic exploration of death for those who appreciate mythology-infused fantasy, such as Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon or Joanne M. Harris’s Orfeia.’ — Library Journal

‘An earnest, heartfelt read set in a moody, otherworldly Chicago steeped in loss and history.’ — Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When Among Crows

‘Gorgeous, lyrical, heartfelt, and true in all the ways that matter! This is an achingly beautiful book that is as much about life as it is about death. Haunting and healing and highly recommended!’ — Sarah Beth DurstNew York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

‘In the deft hands of J.R. Dawson, death is merely a transition point. THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a poignant story of love and grief, memory and myth, and what it truly means to be alive.’ — Rita Woods, award-winning author of The Edge of Yesterday

‘A poignant novel about seeing the dead, and the business of getting them to where they need to go. But more, it’s a novel for people who feel confused and lost, and who need to learn it isn’t their fault. That it takes more than light to face all kinds of darkness.’ — John Wiswell, Nebula Award-winning author of Someone You Can Build a Nest In

‘In turns heartbreaking, haunting, and hopeful, THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a powerful novel about the memories that can break a spirit and the love that can heal it again. It’s a moving reminder that after great loss, it’s still possible to find love, joy, and light when lost in grief’s darkness.’ — Heather WebberUSA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café

‘THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a stunning story focused around grief, life, and death, and I couldn’t be more impressed with how these tough topics are handled. For a book about death, it’s so full of life and love! Nera and Charlie have fantastic chemistry, and the mysteries of this book pull you into a web of curiosity tempered only by the Big Questions: why are we here, and what happens to us next? This book made me laugh, cry, and laugh some more. Absolutely one of my favorite reads this year!’ — Rebecca ThorneUSA Today bestselling author of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea

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.

ICYMI: THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD UK Edition on the way!


In case you missed it, J.R. Dawson‘s highly-anticipated new novel will be published in the UK by Tor Books. THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is due to arrive on July 31st. Here’s the synopsis…

Love doesn’t die; people do…

At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, is a waystation for the dead. Every night, the newly departed travel through the city to the Station, guided by its lighthouse. There, they reckon with their lives before stepping aboard a boat to go beyond.

Nera has spent decades watching her father – the ferryman of the dead – sail across the lake, every night just like the last.

But tonight something is wrong.

The Station’s lighthouse has started to flicker out. The terrifying, ghostly Haunts have multiplied in the city. And now a person – a living person – has found her way onto the boat.

Her name is Charlie. She followed a song. And she is searching for someone she lost.

The novel is due to be published in North America, also by Tor Books, on July 29th.

THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is already generating some fantastic pre-publication buzz, with a flood of positive blurbs and early reviews. Here are just a few of them…

‘Gorgeous, lyrical, heartfelt, and true in all the ways that matter! This is an achingly beautiful book that is as much about life as it is about death. Haunting and healing and highly recommended!’Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

‘An earnest, heartfelt read set in a moody, otherworldly Chicago steeped in loss and history.’Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When Among Crows

‘I love J.R. Dawson’s writing, and with The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World, her magic is on full display—creating a world that is hopeless, broken, even brutal, yet with so much depth and understanding that the story becomes a lighthouse of its own.’Ryka Aoki, award-winning author of Light from Uncommon Stars

‘In turns heartbreaking, haunting, and hopeful, The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World is a powerful novel about the memories that can break a spirit and the love that can heal it again. It’s a moving reminder that after great loss, it’s still possible to find love, joy, and light when lost in grief’s darkness.’Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café

‘The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World is a stunning story focused around grief, life, and death, and I couldn’t be more impressed with how these tough topics are handled. For a book about death, it’s so full of life and love! This book made me laugh, cry, and laugh some more. Absolutely one of my favorite reads this year!’Rebecca Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea

‘In the deft hands of J.R. Dawson, death is merely a transition point. The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World is a poignant story of love and grief, memory and myth, and what it truly means to be alive.’Rita Woods, award-winning author of The Edge of Yesterday

‘A poignant novel about seeing the dead, and the business of getting them to where they need to go. But more, it’s a novel for people who feel confused and lost, and who need to learn it isn’t their fault. That it takes more than light to face all kinds of darkness.’John Wiswell, Nebula Award-winning author of Someone You Can Build A Nest In

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.

CRADLE OF SECRETS by Jasmine Wigham is out in Four Weeks!


Jasmine Wigham‘s highly anticipated new novel, CRADLE OF SECRETS (the first in a new series), is out in four weeks! Due to be published by Podium Entertainment in print, eBook, and audiobook (read by Tim Campbell) on May 6th, it’s ‘a perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and paranormal mystery’, and is sure to 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.’

Thai Edition of Travis Baldree’s BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST Out Now!


The Thai edition of Travis Baldree‘s BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, the internationally-bestselling prequel to LEGENDS & LATTES, is out now! Published by Words Wonder, as ร้านหนังสือกับผงกระดูก, it was translated by Natchaya Hiranyasombat. Here’s the synopsis…

ภาคต่ออันน่าประทับใจของ Legends & Lattes

เรื่องราวสมัยวัยสาวของวีฟ ออร์กสาวนักต่อสู้และนักรบรับจ้าง วีฟบาดเจ็บจากการต่อสู้กับกองทัพผีดิบของผู้ครองมรณะ จึงต้องพักรักษาตัวอยู่ที่เมืองเล็ก ๆ ริมชายทะเลแห่งหนึ่ง ระหว่างที่ทรมานกับการพักฟื้น วีฟได้รู้จักกับเฟิร์น หนูแรตคินตัวใหญ่เจ้าของร้านหนังสือที่กำลังจะเจ๊ง เฟิร์นทำให้วีฟรู้จักกับความมหัศจรรย์ของการอ่านหนังสือ และเมืองเล็ก ๆ นี้ก็ยังทำให้วีฟได้รู้จักกับความรักครั้งแรก

หนังสือ ผงกระดูก ผีดิบ ผู้ครองมรณะ ความรัก และขนมปังอุ่น ๆ จะทำให้คุณตกหลุมรักอีกครั้ง!

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

First loves. Second-hand books. Epic adventures.

Viv’s career with the renowned 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 struggling bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted. Even though it may be exactly what she needs. Still, adventure isn’t far away. A suspicious traveller in grey, 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.

Sometimes, right things happen at the wrong time. Sometimes, what we need isn’t what we seek. And sometimes, we find ourselves in the stories we experience together

Here are just a handful of the great reviews BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST has received so far…

‘What I love about Travis Baldree is that set against an epic world of adventure, he writes about the small victories that make life worthwhile. BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST does this and it is glorious’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘… a lovely coming-of-age story about a character trained for war who learns that there’s more to life than endless battles. What makes the story special is the way that so many stock fantasy archetypes are cast against type and find new modes of prospering that don’t involve big weapons and bigger wars… This prequel is the perfect place for readers to start Baldree’s cozy fantasy series where folks band together for good, and evil is conquered through cleverness and friendship.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review), SFF Pick of the Month

‘Baldree’s prequel to Legends and Lattes (2022) cements his talent for cozy fantasy, engaging characters, and anachronistic references that would be at home in a Discworld novel… Knowing where a character ends up often drains tension from a prequel, but Baldree avoids that pitfall because the joy of reading here isn’t a simple uncertainty over who lives or dies but rather watching friendships blossom and characters grow. Folks who enjoyed the camaraderie and settings of this year’s Dungeons & Dragons movie—as well as anyone who likes the idea of an orc warrior becoming a devotee of the power of reading and its ability to broaden your horizons—should check out Viv’s adventures.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘Bestseller Baldree’s cozy standalone sequel to LEGENDS & LATTES shows that even a battle-hungry orc can find happiness in life’s simple pleasures… The innocent joy of Viv and Fern’s love is delightful and Baldree’s formula of placing low-stakes stories in high-fantasy settings remains good fun. Series fans will eat this up.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘This prequel gives readers a glimpse of Viv as a young orc, still committed to the fighter’s life, just taking an enforced break in a charming town populated by compelling, richly drawn characters, and the slightest hint of danger in the wind. Despite the lurking necromancer, the vibes are decidedly warm and cozy, and the plot is just as much about saving the bookstore and building relationships as it is about protecting the town from the man in gray. As a prequel, it can stand alone, but will certainly satisfy fans as well. Warm and wonderful.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

‘This prequel gives readers a glimpse of Viv as a young orc, still committed to the fighter’s life, just taking an enforced break in a charming town populated by compelling, richly drawn characters, and the slightest hint of danger in the wind. Despite the lurking necromancer, the vibes are decidedly warm and cozy, and the plot is just as much about saving the bookstore and building relationships as it is about protecting the town from the man in gray. As a prequel, it can stand alone, but will certainly satisfy fans as well. Warm and wonderful.’ — Literary Hub

Peter V. Brett’s THE HIDDEN QUEEN Paperback Edition is Out Now in the UK!


The paperback edition of Peter V. Brett‘s acclaimed second Nightfall Saga novel, THE HIDDEN QUEEN, is out now in the UK! Published by Harper Voyager, here’s the synopsis…

Humanity thought the war with demonkind was over. Now, after humanity has had less than a generation to rebuild, the demon corelings have returned with a vengeance. The Spear of Ala — the fortress that stands at the gates of the demon’s hive — is the last bastion against the horde, and reports say it may already have fallen.

Olive Paper is expected to take the vanguard in the fight. Only an heir of Kaji can wield the artifact that opens the gates of the Spear of Ala, and as Ahmann Jardir’s child, Olive seems destined for a role as leader and savior. But Olive does not wish to follow in her father’s footsteps any more than she did her mother’s.

Darin Bales was born with supernatural senses that he struggles to process, but even those who love him believe he can barely take care of himself. Yet to save his mother from the clutches of Alagai Ka, the demon king, Darin will brave anything to mount a rescue.

Darin and Olive each strive to walk their own path but find themselves inextricably tied to the legacies of their parents and to a fated confrontation with the demon king and his new hatchling queen. If they fail, humanity may not survive.

The first book in the series, THE DESERT PRINCE, is also published by Harper Voyager (out now in paperback, eBook, and audiobook).

The Nightfall Saga is set after the events of Brett’s acclaimed, best-selling Demon Cycle novels and novellas, all of which are published in the UK by Harper Voyager (in paperback, eBook, and audiobook).

Zeno represents Peter V. Brett in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

ICYMI: Fairy Loot editions of Beasts of the Briar!


In case you missed it, Fairy Loot recently unveiled their upcoming, special editions of Elizabeth Helen‘s Beasts of the Briar series! The first book was published by Fairy Loot a while ago, but now the other three novels in the series are getting the special edition treatment: WOVEN BY GOLD, FORGED BY MALICE, and BROKEN BY DAYLIGHT!

Here are pictures of the reversible dust-jacket, and the artwork on the hardcovers themselves…

The Beasts of the Briar series is published in regular hardcover and eBook in the UK by Magpie. (Paperback editions out later this year.)

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

Coming Soon: A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED by Katy Nyquist!


This summer, Podium are due to publish A HOLY MAIDEN’S GUIDE TO GETTING KIDNAPPED by Katy Nyquist! The highly-anticipated first novel in a new series, the Scandals of the Gifted, here’s the synposis…

A Holy Maiden should never drink, get kidnapped, nor kiss a Dark Lord, but Ysabel is breaking all the rules to escape her fate as a human sacrifice.

In a world where magical powers are commonplace, Holy Maiden Ysabel is revered as a goddess among her people. She’s the only one able to heal the sick and injured with a simple touch. But her spectacular gift comes at a steep price. For each person she saves, she loses a day of her own conscripted life. To add insult to injury, she’s supposed to maintain a pure image even though she’d rather drink and play dominatrix until her sorrows fade away.

After the corrupt Head Cardinal Jiang abuses her gift, forbids her from leaving the city, and takes her brother hostage, Ysabel doesn’t dare drag anyone else into her problems — especially since it won’t change her fate. But when Dark Lord Kaine arrives at her clinic doorstep grievously wounded, she’s touched by his refusal to accept her healing lest it cost her another day of her life.

The mysterious and sexy Dark Lord awakens forbidden desires in Ysabel, and the nagging survival instinct she tried to drown with booze and drugs comes back with a vengeance. She’s less impressed, however, when he threatens to sack her city in return for his injuries. Fortunately, she can flirt her way to an alliance against the Head Cardinal instead.

Armed with only a ferociously loyal female bodyguard named Alzira, Ysabel attempts to make the most of her mere months left to live, protect the refugees around her city, prevent a war, and hide her face blindness. But before her life flickers to its sad end, she must decide: either die a proper Holy Maiden or risk it all to run off with Kaine.

With a cover by Mario Teodosio, the novel will be published on June 17th in paperback, eBook, and audiobook (read by Hollie Jackson).

“[A Holy Maiden’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped features] a protagonist with a strong voice and unique character facets like face blindness and a healing gift . . . and some nice worldbuilding, both in broad strokes and specific detailing.’Elayne Audrey Becker, author of the Forestborn duology

‘I… absolutely fell in love with Ysabel and Kaine… The ‘opposites attract’ trope worked so well for this story… The stakes are high throughout… Great craft and storytelling!’April L. Wood, author of the Season of the Witch series

‘Both [Ysabel and Kaine are] strongly drawn and very relatable.’Bogi Takács, author of Power to Yield