Tag: Fantasy

ICYMI: Travis Baldree and Lavie Tidhar on Best of 2023 Lists!

Posted on Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

Even though 2023 is now behind us, and most are looking forward to what 2024 will bring (especially all of the great books that are in the pipeline!), we just wanted to take a moment to recognize some appearances on Best of 2023 lists.

After a truly spectacular year, Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed and #1 best-selling second novel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST not only ended 2023 back on the best-seller lists (at #9 in the US!), but was also selected by the Los Angeles Public Library as one of the best fiction books of the year! Published by Tor Books in North America and in the UK, here’s the 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.

Travis’s debut novel, LEGENDS & LATTES — also published by Tor Books in North America and in the UK — was also selected by Huffington Post as one of the best Books of 2023!

The LAPL also selected Lavie Tidhar‘s THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE WORLD as one of their best fiction books of 2023! Here’s what they had to say about the novel…

‘This novel is an homage to the golden age of science fiction; the authors who provided the genesis of the genre; and the fans who turned their love of the literature into a sub-culture. The author weaves rational thought, a bit of fanaticism, madness and mysticism into a tapestry that will fascinate contemporary readers and would have made the writers who came before him proud.’

THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE WORLD was also selected as a Publishers Weekly Best of 2023. The novel is published by Tachyon Publication. Here’s the synopsis…

Caught between realities, a mathematician, a book dealer, and a mobster desperately seek a notorious book that disappears upon being read. Only the author, a rakish sci-fi writer, knows whether his popular novel is truthful or a hoax. In a story that is cosmic, inventive, and sly, multi-award-winning author Lavie Tidhar (Central Station) travels from the emergence of life to the very ends of the universe.

Delia Welegtabit discovered two things during her childhood on a South Pacific island: her love for mathematics and a novel that isn’t supposed to exist. But the elusive book proves unexpectedly dangerous. Oskar Lens, a science fiction-obsessed mobster in the midst of an existential crisis, will stop at nothing to find the novel. After Delia’s husband Levi goes missing, she seeks help from Daniel Chase, a young, face-blind book dealer.

The infamous novel Lode Stars was written by the infamous Eugene Charles Hartley: legendary pulp science-fiction writer and founder of the Church of the All-Seeing Eyes. In Hartley’s novel, a doppelganger of Delia searches for her missing father in a strange star system. But is any of Lode Stars real? Was Hartley a cynical conman on a quest for wealth and immortality, creating a religion he did not believe in? Or was he a visionary who truly discovered the secrets of the universe?

Coming Soon: SERVITEUR DES ENFERS by Aliette de Bodard!

Posted on Thursday, January 4th, 2024

This March, Mnémos is due to publish a new French edition of Aliette de Bodard‘s debut novel, SERVANT OF THE UNDERWORLD! To be published as SERVITEUR DES ENFERS, it was translated by Laurent Philibert-Caillat. Here’s the synopsis…

A Tenochtitlan, la capitale des Aztèques, les sacrifices humains sont les seules choses qui maintiennent le soleil dans le ciel et la terre fertile. Quand une prêtresse disparaît, Acatl, grand prêtre des morts, enquête. Il découvre que son ancien frère est impliqué, et, en creusant, est entraîné dans les intrigues politiques et magiques des nobles, des soldats, des prêtres et des dieux eux-mêmes.

The Obsidian & Blood trilogy is published in English by JABberwocky: SERVANT OF THE UNDERWORLD, HARBINGER OF THE STORM, and MASTER OF THE HOUSE OF DARTS. Here’s the English-language synopsis for the first book…

Year One-Knife, Tenochtitlan the capital of the Aztecs. Human sacrifice and the magic of the living blood are the only things keeping the sun in the sky and the earth fertile.

A Priestess disappears from an empty room drenched in blood. It should be a usual investigation for Acatl, High Priest of the Dead — except that his estranged brother is involved, and the the more he digs, the deeper he is drawn into the political and magical intrigues of noblemen, soldiers, and priests-and of the gods themselves…

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

‘A gripping mystery steeped in blood and ancient Aztec magic. I was enthralled.’ — Sean Williams

‘Part murder mystery, part well-researched historical novel and part fantasy… The fantasy element blends neatly with the other parts. 4*’ — SFX Magazine

‘An Aztec priest of the dead tries to solve a murder mystery, and finds that politics may be even more powerful than magic. A vivid portrayal of an interesting culture in a truly fresh fantasy novel.’ — Kevin J. Anderson (New York Times bestselling author)

‘Amid the mud and maize of the Mexica empire, Aliette de Bodard has composed a riveting story of murder, magic  and sibling rivalry.’ — Elizabeth Bear

‘From page one I was drawn into Acatl’s world… a remarkable historically-based fantasy, using the myths and legends of the Aztec people as a background to a twisting murder mystery.’ — Speculative Book Review

‘The world-building is exquisite and we *believe* we are transported to the 15th century Tenotichtlan and together with the superb voice they formed the main reason I enjoyed this book so much… Highly recommended… Ms. de Bodard is a writer to watch.’ — Fantasy Book Critic

‘SERVANT OF THE UNDERWORLD is a highly original debut novel. Thanks to a solid mystery plot and Aliette de Bodard’s extensive research into pre-Conquest Meso-America, this novel should strike a chord with more than just fantasy readers.’ — FantasyLiterature.com

‘The book starts out a slow, steady pace and builds momentum from there. It’s not some huge action scene that hooks you. It’s the atmosphere. The blood spilled to gain favor from the gods. The cultural details Bodard infuses in each moment.’ — Examiner.com

Aliette’s latest novel is the widely-acclaimed A FIRE BORN OF EXILE, which is published by Gollancz (UK) and JABberwocky (elsewhere in English).

DIE CHRONIKEN VON AMBER Audiobook Out Now in Germany!

Posted on Friday, December 29th, 2023

There’s a new Chronicles of Amber omnibus audiobook edition available in Germany! Published by DAV, it collects the first five novels in Roger Zelazny‘s classic, beloved fantasy series. The audiobook is narrated by Stefan Kaminski. Here’s the synopsis for DIE CHRONIKEN VON AMBER…

In der Welt, die Roger Zelaznys Bestsellerreihe zugrunde liegt, herrscht Chaos. Den einzigen Fluchtpunkt der dunklen Unendlichkeit stellt Amber dar, eine mittelalterliche Stadt, die als »wirkliche Stadt« des Universums gilt. Um dieses Zentrum herum konstituieren sich Nachbildungen von Amber als Schattenwelten, die, je ferner von der wahren Stadt entfernt, frei von physikalischen Gesetzen sind. Nur der mächtigen Königsfamilie um Herrscher Oberon ist es möglich, die verschiedenen Realitäten der Schattenwelten zu manipulieren – zu denen auch die Erde gehört. »Die Chroniken von Amber« sind ein Meilenstein der Literaturgeschichte und machen Roger Zelazny zu einem der einflussreichsten Fantasy-Autoren des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts. Nach der erfolgreichen Neuauflage der Buchreihe, sind nun auch die Hörbücher zu den ersten fünf Bänden, dem »Corwin-Zyklus«, als ungekürzte Lesungen bei DAV erhältlich.

Band 1: »Die neun Prinzen«

Corwin erwacht in einer dubiosen Privatklinik und kann sich weder vergangener Ereignisse, noch seiner eigenen Identität entsinnen. Nach und nach findet er heraus: Sein Bruder Eric hat ihn in die Schattenwelt verbannt. Denn Corwin ist Teil der Königsfamilie von Amber – und damit in einen unerbittlichen Machtkampf um den Königsthron verstrickt.

Band 2: »Die Gewehre von Avalon«

Corwin bricht aus der Gefangenschaft seines Bruders aus und kehrt erneut zurück zur Erde. Dort lässt er Waffen fertigen und schart Truppen um sich, mit deren Hilfe er Eric endlich vom Thron stürzen will. Doch als er mit seiner Armee die Schattenwelten durchquert, muss er herausfinden, dass grausame Kreaturen ganz Amber zu vernichten drohen…

Band 3: »Im Zeichen des Einhorns«

Nach einem erfolgreichen Kampf ist Corwin Herrscher von Amber. Doch als sein Bruder Cain ermordet wird, weisen alle Zeichen auf Corwin als Täter – bis er kurz darauf selbst Opfer eines perfiden Anschlags wird. Wer steckt wirklich hinter den grausamen Verbrechen?

Band 4: »Die Hand Oberons«

»Das Muster« ist ein Labyrinth, das den Prinzen Ambers die Kraft verleiht, durch die Schattenwelten zu reisen. Wer es betritt, muss das Muster bis zu seinem Zentrum beschreiten – sonst droht ein grausamer Tod. Doch als die Prinzen diesmal dorthin zurückkehren, müssen sie feststellen, dass das Muster beschädigt ist. Corwins Bruder Brand steckt dahinter und will das Muster zerstören, aber das hätte fatale Folgen.

Band 5: »Die Burgen des Chaos«

Das Vernichten des Musters bedeutet das Ende von Amber – und mit ihm das Ende aller Schattenwelten, wie auch der Erde. Corwin will seinen Bruder aufhalten und eine Kopie des Labyrinths anfertigen – ein Vorhaben, das in einem finalen Kampf der beiden Brüder endet, welcher über das Schicksal Ambers entscheiden wird…

The first five novels are also available in print and digital, published by Die Hobbit Presse, an imprint of Klett-Cotta. The novels are also available in a Gold Edition collected eBook. The series was translated into Germany by Thomas Schlück.

The Chronicles of Amber series is available in the UK, published by Gollancz as part of their SF Masterworks series; the ten novels are collected into two omnibus editions. Here’s the English-language synopsis for the first collection (which also includes books 1-5)…

Amber is the one real world, casting infinite reflections of itself – Shadow worlds, that can be manipulated by those of royal Amberite blood. But the royal family is torn apart by jealousies and suspicion; the disappearance of the Patriarch Oberon has intensified the internal conflict by leaving the throne apparently up for grabs.

In a hospital on the Shadow Earth, a young man is recovering from a freak car accident; amnesia has robbed him of all his memory, even the fact that he is Corwin, Crown Prince of Amber, rightful heir to the throne – and he is in deadly peril…

The five books, Nine Princes in Amber, The Guns of Avalon, Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon and The Courts of Chaos, together make up The Chronicles of Amber, Roger Zelazny’s finest work of fantasy and an undisputed classic of the genre.

Dutch Edition of LEGENDS & LATTES Coming Soon!

Posted on Wednesday, December 27th, 2023

We’re very happy to report that Travis Baldree‘s acclaimed and bestselling debut novel, LEGENDS & LATTES will soon be available in a Dutch edition! Due to be published as LEGENDES & LATTES by Z&K on May 1st, 2024, it is translated by Erica Disco. Here’s the synopsis…

De avontuurlijke ork Viv is toe aan iets nieuws. Na een leven als huurling vol gevechten en bloedvergieten, besluit ze haar zwaard in te ruilen voor een koffiebar in een klein dorpje. Maar dat is een flinke uitdaging… Rivalen proberen haar plannen te dwarsbomen en dan is er ook nog het kleine detail dat niemand in het dorp ooit van koffie heeft gehoord. Gelukkig staat Viv er niet alleen voor. Met nieuwe vrienden, vertrouwen en geluk lijkt haar niets meer in de weg te staan. Of is ze zelf haar grootste vijand?

‘Legendes & lattes’ van Travis Baldree is een heerlijk avontuurlijk cozy fantasyboek, voor zowel de fantasy- als de feelgoodlezers!

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

Legends & Lattes from Hugo Award-winning Travis Baldree is a cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts…

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 New York Times #1 bestselling prequel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, is also available in the UK and North America, published by Tor Books.

Coming Soon: New UK Paperback Edition of TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA!

Posted on Thursday, December 21st, 2023

The UK paperback edition of Brandon Sanderson‘s TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA is due out next year! The first of Sanderson’s Secret Projects novels, it is due to be published by Gollancz, on April 2nd, 2024. The cover is the same as the re-issued UK hardcover edition. Here’s the synopsis…

Brandon Sanderson brings us deeper into the Cosmere Universe with a standalone adventure that will appeal to fans of The Princess Bride.

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

Gollancz also publishes the other three Secret Projects novels: THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER, and THE SUNLIT MAN (March 2024).

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

SOHO ÜZERİNDE AY by Ben Aaronovitch Out Now in Turkey!

Posted on Friday, December 15th, 2023

MOON OVER SOHO, the second Rivers of London novel by Ben Aaronovitch, is out now in a new Turkish edition! Published by Epsilon, as SOHO ÜZERİNDE AY, it was translated by Handan Haktanır. Here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant geri döndü. Bir kez daha fantastik kurgu ve polisiye karışımı, sürükleyici bir üslup. Karanlık, büyülü, tüyler ürpertici, esprili, ilgi çekici ve benzersiz…

Ben Aaronovitch, açıkça taptığı bir şehrin sevimli ayrıntılarını yüzeye çıkarmada Londra Nehirleri`nin başarılı formülünü sürdürüyor.

Londra`nın Soho semtindeki Groucho Kulübü`nün tuvaletinde bir gazeteci vahşice öldürülmüştür. Soruşturmaya yardım etmesi için Londra Polis Teşkilatı Memuru Peter Grant çağrılır. Aynı zamanda Peter, performans sergiledikten kısa bir süre sonra meydana gelen amatör caz müzisyenlerinin bir dizi ölümünden rahatsızdır. Görünüşe göre doğal ölüm nedenlerine rağmen her vücut, Peter`ın ölümlerin doğal olmaktan uzak olduğuna inanmasına neden olan sihirli bir imza taşımaktadır.

 Daha fazla araştırma, muhteşem bir performansın hemen ardından ölen tek caz sanatçısının Cyrus olmadığını ortaya koyar. Bu yetenekli adamların peşine düşen bir tür doğaüstü canlı var gibi görünmektedir ve Peter bunun nedenini, nasıl ve kim olduğunu bulmaya kararlıdır.

 Eski biz caz sanatçısı olan Peter`ın babası tehlikede mi? Peter`ın kendisi tehlikede mi? Her durumda katiller kim ve Peter daha fazla zarar vermeden onların izini sürebilecek mi?

Soho Üzerinde Ay bu soruları yanıtlıyor ve kitabı okumanın keyfi, paranormal bir gizemi çözme süreci kadar Peter`ın anlatımında da kendini gösteriyor. Hikâye, esrarengiz konuları ele alırken zekâ ve mizahla harmanlanıyor.

MOON OVER SOHO is published in the UK by Gollancz, and is published in North America by JABberwocky. 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.

‘… enormous storytelling gusto… exhilarating and emotionally affecting…’ — SF Reviews

‘The excitement and entertainment hasn’t stopped in the slightest… this book once again blew my mind, and kept me reading well into the late night/early morning. You needn’t pick up RIVERS OF LONDON, Aaronovitch’s first in this series, but you’d regret it by the time you got to the end of MOON OVER SOHO and found out how good it was.’ — Fantasy Book Review

‘… as funny as it is fantastic… [The plot] hops along happily to a toe-tapping time signature, with a sweet solo here and an awesome cacophony of noise there… vast amounts of fun…’ — Speculative Scotsman

‘A fantastic follow-up to MIDNIGHT RIOT. Aaronovitch does a great job of bringing even minor characters to life. One of Grant’s fellow cops, Leslie, plays a minor role throughout the story – but her involvement is an emotional cornerstone that brings a surprisingly bittersweet element into play… MOON OVER SOHO is an excellent addition to the paranormal police genre.’ — Examiner

‘MOON OVER SOHO is very good. Ben Aaronovitch continues the successful formula of RIVERS OF LONDON in bringing to the surface the endearing minutae of a city that he clearly adores. He also demonstrates the “real world” problems of a ritual magician trying to have some sort of ‘normal’ life… Grant continues to observe his world(s) in a detached way – a narrative voice that lends itself well to dry humor (and fits less neatly with the book’s few over-the-top action scenes). Mr. Aaronovitch is, in short, writing the best contemporary occult detective series on the shelf today, and that’s by a substantial margin.’ — Pornokitsch

Brandon Sanderson’s THE SUNLIT MAN UK Edition Out in March!

Posted on Monday, December 11th, 2023

In case you missed the reveal a little while back, we wanted to share the details for the fourth and final book in Brandon Sanderon‘s Secret Projects series: THE SUNLIT MAN! Due to be published on March 5th, 2024, here’s the synopsis…

Years ago he had comrades in arms and a cause to believe in, but now the man who calls himself Nomad knows only a life on the run. Forced to hop from world to world in the Cosmere whenever the relentless Night Brigade gets too close, Nomad lands on a new planet and is instantly caught up in the struggle between a tyrant and the rebels who want only to escape being turned into mindless slaves-all under the constant threat of a sunrise whose heat will melt the very stones. Unable to understand the language, can he navigate the conflict and gain enough power to leap offworld before his mind or body pay the ultimate price?

In addition to many of Brandon’s best-selling and acclaimed series and stand-alone books, Gollancz has also published the other three books from the Secret Projects (all out now):

  1. TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA
  2. THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND
  3. YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER.

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

A Couple Great Reviews of JAMES P. BLAYLOCK’s PENNIES FROM HEAVEN

Posted on Friday, December 8th, 2023

Just a quick post, today, to draw your attention to two recent reviews of James P. Blaylock‘s latest novel, PENNIES FROM HEAVEN. The novel is published by PS Publishing in the UK (above, left), and JABberwocky (above, righ) in North America. Before the reviews, though, here’s the synopsis…

With a 100-year storm threatening the southern California coast, Jane Larkin is approached by a strange, audacious woman who wants to invest much-needed money in Jane’s Old Orange Co-op. Meanwhile Jane’s husband Jerry discovers an ancient excavation beneath the Larkin home. On that ominous morning in autumn, shadows descend over the deceptively quiet neighborhoods of Old Orange, ushering in a flood of chaos, terror, and murder.

Ian Hunter had this to say about the novel, for the British Fantasy Society (who also included a nice mention for Tim Powers, who we also represent in the UK and Commonwealth)…

‘I would urge you to check both Blaylock and [Tim] Powers out if you haven’t already, as what we get here is another fantastic treat… Blaylock delivers a tale that is fun, fast and as furious as the storm that is gathering, populated by a great cast of main and supporting characters, ingenious plotting, a well-rounded sense of place, punctuated by desperate measures, dastardly deeds and a seasoning of black humour, oh, and a cute dog, which all adds up to an entertaining read. If you haven’t read Blaylock before – and he has published novels regularly since the early 1980s – this might be the perfect place.’

And here’s Paul Di Filippo, for Locus Magazine…

‘A new novel from Blaylock is a major occasion… With PENNIES, Blaylock is back in contemporary times, in the setting he loves so deeply and limns so well, small-town California… authentic pathos, romance, and comedy… The supernatural elements in the book are vital and well done (the eventual capture of the ghost is colorful and ingenious), but the spook stuff takes a backseat to the human dynamics, the caper aspect and the interpersonal hijinks. Blaylock has always had an affection for eccentrics, misfits and visionaries, and while Jane and Jerry are more “normal” and wholesome than his typical cast, they qualify as non-whitebread souls. As for Phibbs, Blaylock succeeds in creating a true monster. PENNIES is very cinematic… until Hollywood smartens up and drops bushels of money on Blaylock, you can run this great screwball caper as often as you want, in your own head!’

If you prefer your fiction delivered through your ears, PENNIES FROM HEAVEN is also available as an audiobook, published by W.F. Howes.

Deluxe UK Editions of Brandon Sanderson’s STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, December 7th, 2023

You may have seen these books announced on Twitter, but we’re happy to report that the new, deluxe UK editions of Brandon Sanderson‘s first four Stormlight Archive are out now! Published by Gollancz, each book has sprayed edges and embossed hardcovers.

  1. THE WAY OF KINGS
  2. WORDS OF RADIANCE
  3. OATHBRINGER
  4. RHYTHM OF WAR

In case you are new to the series, here’s the synopsis for this new edition of THE WAY OF KINGS…

The Gollancz Emporium exclusive edition of The Way of Kings by fantasy superstar Brandon Sanderson. Available in a single volume and featuring an array of special finishes, this is the premium way to enter one of the most imaginative fantasy worlds ever conceived.

The Way of Kings, Book One of the Stormlight Archive, begins an incredible saga of epic proportion. Set in a high fantasy world like no other, the magic, history and scope of imagination will take your breath away.

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar’s niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan’s motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.

Speak again the ancient oaths:

Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before Destination.

… and return to men the Shards they once bore.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

Here are some reviews of each of the four novels, as well as close-ups of the new editions…

‘Sanderson is a master […] Fans and lovers of epic fantasy will find the ending satisfying, yet will eagerly await the next volume.’ — Library Journal on THE WAY OF KINGS

‘Sanderson is […] absolutely amazing at worldbuilding. The level of detail is just astonishing […] Kaladin and Shallan’s stories are compelling and readable.’ — RT Book Reviews on THE WAY OF KINGS

‘A classic story of intrigue, magic and war, with a large cast of characters and multiple settings lovingly detailed in a way only possible in volumes of this size […] There’s wit, magic and erudition […] Readers will plunge into it.’ — Booklist on THE WAY OF KINGS

‘Balancing fascinating worldbuilding with a page-turner of a plot, this is a series fantasy fans won’t want to miss.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review) on WORDS OF RADIANCE

‘Brandon Sanderson’s reputation is finally as big as his novels.’ — New York Times on WORDS OF RADIANCE

‘Sanderson has used the room afforded by a book of this size to build it in loving detail […] the characterization is on the whole as as meticulous as the world-building. A very impressive continuation.’ — Booklist on WORDS OF RADIANCE

‘Sanderson’s skill at world building is unmatched, and in the Stormlight Archive series he has developed an innovative magical system and combined it with rich, complex characters to create a compelling story. His eagerly awaited sequel to The Way of Kings exceeds expectations. This developing epic series is a must-read for all fantasy fans.’ — Library Journal on WORDS OF RADIANCE

‘Fans of the Stormlight Archive series will enjoy this book, which brings back favorite characters and deepens a well-drawn fantasy world.’ — Kirkus on OATHBRINGER

‘The much-anticipated third Stormlight Archive epic fantasy installment is classic Sanderson, with multiple story lines and unexpected twists and turns […] Sanderson successfully balances introducing new elements and satisfactorily resolving some threads, leaving fans to eagerly await the next in the series.’ — Publishers Weekly on OATHBRINGER

‘OATHBRINGER is everything I expected it to be. Not only does it make good on the promises of the first two volumes, it elevates the Stormlight Archive to new heights of epic magic, exceptional worldbuilding, and satisfying action. With each new novel, Sanderson proves himself to be the true heir to Robert Jordan’s throne. He’s writing big, meaty, contemplative epic fantasy, and showing no signs of slowing down.’ — B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog

‘[RHYTHM OF WAR] certainly delivers the dense fantasy epic long-time readers will expect.’ — Booklist

‘It is the sign of a skilled author if they can draw laughter and tears from you in the space of a few chapters or even a few lines, and well Sanderson [is] the master of emotions.’ — Fantasy Hive on RHYTHM OF WAR

‘Storms, this was a fantastic book. Highs and lows, laughter and tears, joy and grief—it was all there.’ — Tor.com on RHYTHM OF WAR

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

Elizabeth Helen’s BEASTS OF THE BRIAR Series Out Tomorrow in the UK!

Posted on Monday, December 4th, 2023

We’re very happy to report that Elizabeth Helen‘s acclaimed Beasts of the Briar trilogy is out tomorrow in the UK! Published as one of the lead titles of Magpie — a newly-launched imprint of Harper Collins — all three novels will be available from December 5th:

  1. BONDED BY THORNS
  2. WOVEN BY GOLD
  3. FORGED BY MALICE

The series has been a huge hit on TikTok, already, and we can’t wait for more readers to fall in love with the books! Here’s the synopsis for the first book…

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. Known as the daughter of Crazy George she tries to keep her head down. But George isn’t crazy, he’s searching for his wife who disappeared, and is convinced she was stolen by fae.

When George goes missing, Rosie goes after him and finds herself in a new world, the Enchanted Vale, the world of the fae and her father has been imprisoned in Castletree by the Winter Prince. Rosie has no choice but to make a deal to take her father’s place, meaning she must remain in Castletree forever.

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

If the Princes can each find their mate, they will break their curse and free their realm. Rosie is determined to help the Princes find their mates so that she can return home. 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.

RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS Out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Friday, December 1st, 2023

The collected paperback and digital editions of HERE BE DRAGONS is out in two weeks! The eleventh story-arc in Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel‘s Rivers of London comic series, this one is also co-authored by James Swallow. Series artwork, and the cover by José María Beroy.

HERE BE DRAGONS is due to be published by Titan Comics, on December 12th. Here’s the synopsis…

CSI meets Harry Potter in this graphic novel from Ben Aaronovitch – writer of the bestselling Rivers of London supernatural police procedural crime novel series, Andrew Cartmel author of the Vinyl Detective and New York Times best-selling author, James Swallow creator of the Marc Dane series, and writer of five best-selling Warhammer 40,000 novels. After a rash of strange UFO sightings above the capital, a Met Police helicopter night patrol is attacked by what can only be described as a dragon!

Wizard in training Peter Grant and his mentor, Thomas Nightingale, the Met’s only sanctioned wizard, takes to the skies to investigate.

As the mystery deepens, Peter and Thomas find themselves caught between two groups of hunters – one human, one fae – and he uncovers the legacy of events that extend all the way back to the late ‘60s and one of London’s most famous residents – a certain “Experienced” rock star – who made a pact with the Demimonde that was never fulfilled.

To save the skies of the city, Peter will have to face the enraged beast – but can he end things peacefully… Or will he be forced to destroy the last wyvern?

Collecting together the critically acclaimed original four-issue mini-series.

With exclusive bonus material, included a script to art comparison, covers gallery and a collection of the backup articles from the four comics.

The continuing comic-book adaptation of Ben Aaronovitch’s hugely successful and award-winning 10-book novel series first published in 2011.

An all-new original adventure starring the Peter Grant the wizard-in-training hero of the first Rivers of London Novel, ‘Rivers of London’, also known as Midnight Riot in the US.

The first ten story-arcs in the Rivers of London comic series are also available in print and digital, published by Titan Comics. The comics feature characters created by Ben, and featuring in his internationally-bestselling Rivers of London/Peter Grant series of novels and novellas. To see how the comics and prose books fit together, check out the handy graphic, below…

Croatian Edition of Ben Aaronovitch’s RIVERS OF LONDON Out Now!

Posted on Monday, November 27th, 2023

There is a new Croatian edition of RIVERS OF LONDON, the first novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s internationally-bestselling Peter Grant/Rivers of London series! Published by Fokus, as RIJEKE LONDONA, it was translated by Igor Rendić. Here’s the synopsis…

Ispod površine sumornog i prometom zagušenog Londona čuči pravi čarobni svijet pun nadnaravnih pojava. Policajac Peter Grant o tome pojma nema. No kad mu se jedne večeri obrati duh, i to kao potencijalni svjedok ubojstva, shvatit će da zločinci doista dolaze u svakom obliku.
Najprije će pomisliti da je skrenuo.

S duhovitim prevratima i nevjerojatnim situacijama, Rijeke Londona vode nas kroz Peterovu preobrazbu iz običnog policajca u detektiva koji se bavi nadnaravnim.

The novel is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by JABberwocky, and widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

My name is Peter Grant, and I used to be a probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the Filth.

My story really begins when I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was already dead…

Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. After taking a statement from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost, Peter comes to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.

Suddenly, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.

The latest novel (#9) in the series is AMONGST OUR WEAPONS (published by Orion in the UK, DAW Books in North America), and the latest novella in the series is WINTER’S GIFTS (published by Orion in the UK, and Subterranean Press in North America).

Bulgarian Edition of Travis Baldree’s LEGENDS & LATTES Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, November 23rd, 2023

Travis Baldree‘s conquest of the book world continues: there is now a Bulgarian edition of his best-selling, highly-acclaimed debut novel, LEGENDS & LATTES! Published by Artline Studios as Легенди и лате, here’s the synopsis…

Легендите разказват за камък, пропит с древна магия, който ще донесе истинско щастие на притежателя си.

В тази надежда се вкопчва и Вив – неустрашим орк, прекарал живота си в битки и кръвопролития. Сега тя е решена да загърби миналото и да отвори кафене на някое ново и спокойно място – като например град Тун. За целта обаче може да разчита единствено на двете си ръце… е, и на щипка магия.

Ала мечтата на Вив далеч не е толкова достижима, колкото е смятала, защото на пътя й застават стари и нови съперници. Да не говорим, че никой в града дори не е вкусвал кафе.

Макар да е грижливо пазен, камъкът бързо привлича врагове, готови на всичко да се доберат до него. И ето че един ден неизбежното се случва – той изчезва. Сега на Вив й предстои да се сблъска със страховитите последици от липсата му и да се пребори за собственото си щастие…

LEGENDS & LATTES is published by Tor Books in the UK and North America. The author’s second novel, a prequel — BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST — is also out now.

Here’s the English-language synopsis for LEGENDS & LATTES…

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…

Here are just a few of the many 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 McGuire, New 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

‘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

Four Zeno Titles Among Waterstones’ Best of 2023!

Posted on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

We’re very happy to report that four titles by Zeno clients have been selected by Waterstones as some of the Best of 2023! Announced late last week, here are the books…

WINTER’S GIFTS by Ben Aaronovitch, the latest novella set in the author’s Rivers of London universe, is a Best Sci-Fi of the year. Published by Orion in the UK (and Subterranean Press in North America), here’s the synopsis…

THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY ACROSS THE POND…

When retired FBI Agent Patrick Henderson calls in an ‘X-Ray Sierra India’ incident, the operator doesn’t understand. He tells them to pass it up the chain till someone does.

That person is FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Leaving Quantico for snowbound Northern Wisconsin, she finds that a tornado has flattened half the town – and there’s no sign of Henderson.

Things soon go from weird to worse, as neighbours report unsettling sightings, key evidence goes missing, and the snow keeps rising – cutting off the town, with no way in or out…

Something terrible is awakening. As the clues lead to the coldest of cold cases – a cursed expedition into the frozen wilderness – Reynolds follows a trail from the start of the American nightmare, to the horror that still lives on today…

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, the widely-acclaimed new novel from Travis Baldree (and prequel to his best-selling LEGENDS & LATTES), is a Best Romantic Fantasy of the year. Published in the UK by Tor Books (and in North America), here’s the synopsis…

A standalone cosy fantasy about the power of good bookshops, great friends and the unexpected choices along the way from the bestselling author of BookTok sensation Legends & Lattes.

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…

Brandon Sanderson has two novels among Waterstones’ selection! YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER, the third of the author’s Secret Projects novels, is a Best Fantasy fo 2023. Published in the UK by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

From Number 1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson – creator of The Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn Saga, and countless bestselling works of science fiction and fantasy – comes this gripping story set in the Cosmere universe told by Hoid, where two people from incredibly different cultures must work together to save their worlds from certain disaster.

Yumi has spent her entire life in strict obedience, granting her the power to summon the spirits that bestow vital aid upon her society – but she longs for even a single day as a normal person. Painter patrols the dark streets dreaming of being a hero – a goal that has led to nothing but heartache and isolation, leaving him always on the outside looking in. In their own ways, both of them face the world alone.

Suddenly flung together, Yumi and Painter must strive to right the wrongs in both their lives, reconciling their past and present while maintaining the precarious balance of each of their worlds. If they cannot unravel the mystery of what brought them together before it’s too late, they risk forever losing not only the bond growing between them, but the very worlds they’ve always struggled to protect.

And last, but by no means least — Sanderson’s fourth Skyward novel, DEFIANT is a Best Sci-Fi of 2023! Also published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

The final book in an epic series about a girl who will travel beyond the stars to save the world she loves from destruction.

Spensa made it out of the Nowhere, but what she saw in the space between the stars has changed her forever. She came face to face with the Delvers, and finally got answers to the questions she’s had about her own strange Cytonic gifts.

The Superiority didn’t stop in it’s fight for galactic dominance while she was gone, though. Spensa’s team, Skyward Flight, was able to hold Winzik off, and even collect allies to help with the cause, but it’s only a matter of time until humanity – and the rest of the galaxy – falls.

Defeating them will require all the knowledge Spensa gathered while in the Nowhere. But being Cytonic is more complicated than she ever could have imagined. Now, Spensa must ask herself: how far is she willing to go for victory, if it means losing herself – and her friends – in the process.

The final book in the Skyward series will free humanity, or see it fall forever.

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

THE COLLECTED STORIES OF ROGER ZELAZNY Out Now!

Posted on Monday, November 13th, 2023

New editions of The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny are out now! A fascinating, superb collection of Roger Zelazny‘s short and longer fiction, the six volumes are published by NESFA.

The stories in this series are enriched by editors’ notes and Zelazny’s own words, taken from his many essays, describing why he wrote the stories and what he thought about them in retrospect.

Here are the titles and synopses for each volume (full tables of contents are available on NESFA’s website)…

Volume 1: THRESHOLD

The first in a six-volume series, Volume 1: Threshold contains all of Zelazny’s short works from his early years through the mid 1960s — a period of experimentation and growth that flowered into gems such as “A Rose for Ecclesiastes,” “The Graveyard Heart,” “The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth,” and “He Who Shapes.”

Volume 2: POWER & LIGHT

The second in a six-volume series, Volume 2: Power & Light covers the mid 1960s, Zelazny’s most prolific period, where he continued to incorporate mainstream literary qualities and added a wealth of mythological elements into powerful stories such as “The Furies,” “For a Breath I Tarry,” “This Moment of the Storm,” “Comes Now the Power,” “Auto-Da-Fé,” and the Hugo-winning novel …And Call Me Conrad.

Volume 3: THIS MORTAL MOUNTAIN

The third in a six-volume series, Volume 3: This Mortal Mountain contains Zelazny’s short works from the late 1960s and early 1970s, Zelazny’s breadth of interests developed into a variety of styles displayed in such rich stories as “This Mortal Mountain,” “The Steel General,” “Damnation Alley,” “The Man Who Loved the Faioli,” and the Hugo and Nebula-nominated “The Engine at Heartspring’s Center”.

Volume 4: LAST EXIT TO BABYLON

The fourth in a six-volume series, Volume 4: Last Exit to Babylon contains Zelazny’s short works from the late 1970s and early 1980s when Zelazny’s popularity opened new markets for his work. He continued to produce highly-crafted stories, such as the popular “The Last Defender of Camelot,” the Hugo-winning “Unicorn Variation,” and the Hugo and Nebula-winning “Home is the Hangman.”

Volume 5: NINE BLACK DOVES

The fifth in a six-volume series, Volume 5: Nine Black Doves contains Zelazny’s short works from the 1980s, when Zelazny’s mature craft produced the Hugo-winning and Nebula-nominated stories, “24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai” and “Permafrost,” and other entertaining stories such as “Kalifriki of the Thread,” “Dilvish, the Damned,” and his first two Wild Cards stories about Croyd Crenson, “The Sleeper” and “Ashes to Ashes.”

Volume 6: THE ROAD TO AMBER

The last in a six-volume series Volume 6: The Road To Amber, the last in the series, covers the final five years of Zelazny’s career in the early 1990s, when he reached for new ideas and continued familiar themes with stories such as “Godson” and “Godson: A Play in Three Acts,” two more Wild Cards stories (“Concerto for Siren and Serotonin” and “The Long Sleep”), and a linked sequence of five Amber stories leading to planned but unwritten Amber novels.

Roger Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber novels area avilable now in the UK, published in two volumes as part of Gollancz‘s SF Masterworks series.