Rook Song - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Naomi Foyle’s GAIA CHRONICLES to be Published This Year in North America!

Posted on Tuesday, January 5th, 2021

This year, Quercus is due to publish North American editions of Naomi Foyle‘s acclaimed Gaia Chronicles series. Starting ASTRA on January 19th, ROOK SONG will follow in April, and BLOOD OF THE HOOPOE and STAINED LIGHT will follow later in the year (dates to be confirmed).

The series is already available in the UK, published by Jo Fletcher Books. Here’s the synopsis for the first book in the series…

Is-land is a Gaian paradise in the middle of a blasted world — but its success comes at a dark price.

Like every child in Is-Land, all Astra Ordott has ever wanted is to get her Security Shot, do her National Service and defend her Gaian homeland from Non-Lander ‘infiltrators’. But when one of her Shelter mothers, the formidable Dr Hokma Blesser, tells her the shot will limit her chances of becoming a scientist and offers her an alternative, Astra agrees to her plan.

Then the orphaned Lil arrives to share Astra’s home and Astra is torn between jealousy and fascination. Lil’s father taught her some alarming ideas about Is-Land and the world, but when she pushes Astra too far, the heartache that results goes far beyond the loss of a friend.

If she is to survive, Astra must learn to deal with devastating truths about Is-Land, Non-Land and the secret web of adult relationships that surrounds her… or her actions could bring the whole community toppling down.

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

‘A complex and daring literary story’ — Upcoming4.me

‘A friend recommended ASTRA as an invigorating sort of escapism. She was right. My first experience of SF enchanted and stimulated me’ — Dervla Murphy, author of Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle

‘Foyle has built a fascinating portrait, often reminiscent of Ursula K. Le Guin in its layered complexity, and threaded into a fascinating coming of age story. Gripping’ — Love Reading

‘I enjoyed ASTRA immensely. The novel’s plot is fascinating… all of it set down in Foyle’s smooth and flowing writing style’ — A Fantastical Librarian

‘It’s hard-hitting, but it’s poignant and incredibly thought-provoking… Naomi Foyle has a mastery of plotting and a way with words that’s truly remarkable’ — Over the Effing Rainbow

‘This ambitious, thought-provoking take on a dystopian future paints a depressingly credible picture of environmental collapse… as events go hurtling towards the book’s dramatic conclusion, I couldn’t put it down…’ — Brain Fluff

‘This is excellent Science Fiction and I heartily recommend it… reminiscent of Le Guin’ — Birmingham SF Group

Naomi Foyle’s ROOK SONG Paperback Out Tomorrow

Posted on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016

ROOK SONG, the second novel in Naomi Foyle‘s Gaia Chronicles, is out tomorrow in paperback! Published by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

Astra Ordott has escaped her old enemies, IMBOD. But in this new, disorientating world, can she trust anyone?

Astra Ordott is in exile. Evicted from Is-Land for a crime she cannot regret, she has found work in an ancient fortress in Non-Land: headquarters of the Council of New Continents, the global body charged with providing humanitarian aid to the inhabitants of this toxic refugee camp.

Recovering from a disorienting course of Memory Pacification Treatment, Astra struggles to focus on her overriding goals — to find her Code father and avenge the death of her Shelter mother, Hokma.

But can the CONC compound director, the ambiguous Major Thames, protect her from the hawk-eyed attentions of her old enemies? And who in this world of competing agendas can she trust? The deeper Astra ventures into this new world, the more she realises her true quest may be to find herself.

Jo Fletcher Books also publishes the first in the series, ASTRA. The third novel, THE BLOOD OF THE HOOPOE, is due to be published in May 2016. JFB also publishes Naomi’s stand-alone novel, SEOUL SURVIVORS. Here are just a handful of reviews the series has received…

‘ROOK SONG is brave and unexpected… if you like your SF intelligent and stimulating do yourself a favour and pick up both ASTRA and ROOK SONG. You won’t regret it.’ — Upcoming4me

‘The second instalment of the Gaia Chronicles, ROOK SONG continues to develop Astra’s story, taking the reader through many illuminating, horrifying and overwhelming avenues… once the story really starts, it doesn’t let up. The highly politicised narrative is an enthralling and absorbing read… Where the first book offered a shocking, but somewhat aspirational alternative way of living, ROOK SONG delves further into the political influence that enables the way of life the Gaian’s are privileged to inhabit… Offering plenty of twists and surprises, ROOK SONG outdoes its predecessor with a more developed story and plenty of conspiracies that pull the reader in. Book one was a comment on how society should live to protect the planet, book two is a comment on how people should prevent international conflict and wars. We can only wait with bated breath to see what book three will campaign for.’ — Starburst

‘Foyle has built a fascinating portrait, often reminiscent of Ursula K. Le Guin in its layered complexity, and threaded it into a fascinating coming of age story. Gripping.’ — Love Reading

‘It’s hard-hitting, but it’s poignant and incredibly thought-provoking at the same time… Naomi Foyle has a mastery of plotting and a way with words that’s truly remarkable.’ — Over The Effing Rainbow

Naomi Foyle Interviewed by Writers Forum

Posted on Tuesday, May 5th, 2015

In the May issue of Writers Forum, Naomi Foyle has been interviewed about her novels and writing (you can read the interview, above, by clicking on the image).

To coincide with the interview, Naomi has written an article for the Jo Fletcher Books blog, which you can read here.

Naomi is the author of the critically-acclaimed SEOUL SURVIVORS, ASTRA and ROOK SONG. She is published in the UK and US by Jo Fletcher Books. Here’s the synopsis for ROOK SONG, the second novel in her Gaia Chronicles sci-fi series…

Astra Ordott is in exile. Evicted from Is-Land for a crime she cannot regret, she has found work in an ancient fortress in Non-Land: headquarters of the Council of New Continents, the global body charged with providing humanitarian aid to the inhabitants of this toxic refugee camp.

Recovering from a disorienting course of Memory Pacification Treatment, Astra struggles to focus on her overriding goals – to find her Code father and avenge the death of her Shelter mother, Hokma.

But can the CONC compound director, the ambiguous Major Thames, protect her from the hawk-eyed attentions of her old enemies? And who in this world of competing agendas can she trust? The deeper Astra ventures into this new world, the more she realises her true quest may be to find herself.

Here’s just a small sample of the great reviews Naomi’s novels have received…

‘Foyle’s strengths are her impeccable plotting, her rendering of a futuristic Seoul and the depiction of Sydney Travers’ gradual inveiglement in the nightmare of Dr Kim’s cloning experiment.’ — Guardian on SEOUL SURVIVORS

‘It’s a beautiful story, unique and daring, which serves as a solid foundation for everything else to come.’ — Bibliosanctum on ASTRA

‘An enthralling and absorbing read… Offering plenty of twists and surprises, ROOK SONG outdoes its predecessor with a more developed story and plenty of conspiracies that pull the reader in. Book one was a comment on how society should live to protect the planet, book two is a comment on how people should prevent international conflict and wars. We can only wait with bated breath to see what book three will campaign for.’ — Starburst on ROOK SONG

New Books by Ian McDonald and Naomi Foyle Out Tomorrow in the UK

Posted on Wednesday, February 4th, 2015

The paperback edition of Ian McDonald‘s EMPRESS OF THE SUN is published in mass market paperback tomorrow. The third novel in his YA science-fiction Everness trilogy, it is published by Jo Fletcher Books. Here’s the synopsis…

When Everett Singh’s dad was randomly sent to one of the many parallel worlds in the multiverse, Everett discovered a way to find him on the quarantined planet E1, home of the terrifying Nahn. Now he, along with the crew of the airship Everness, has followed a trail to the next world and his father.

But this is a world where dinosaurs have had sixty-five million years to evolve, where death is the key to the throne and where the Empress of the Sun has a plan to wipe out every other creature on her planet and then take her conquest to Earth. All she needs is Everett’s infundibulum…

The Everness trilogy – which also includes PLANESRUNNER and BE MY ENEMY – is published in the UK by Jo Fletcher Books and in the US by Pyr Books. The trilogy has been stunningly well-received and -reviewed, from all corners of the press and SFF community. Here are just a couple of the great reviews EMPRESS OF THE SUN has received…

‘McDonald lets his imagination run rampant without abandoning credibility, tackling real scientific concepts such as confirmation bias, a feature lacking in far too much science fiction… the three storylines weave themselves together nicely, setting up another sequel with hints of forthcoming romance. Endlessly fascinating and fun.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

‘YA or not, the Everness series may be the most enjoyable ongoing series that SF currently has to offer.’ — Locus (Jan.2014)

Also published by Jo Fletcher Books tomorrow are ROOK SONG and the mass market paperback of ASTRA by Naomi Foyle. The second and first novels in the Gaia Chronicles, respectively, here is the synopsis for ROOK SONG…

Astra Ordott is in exile. Evicted from Is-Land for a crime she cannot regret, she has found work in an ancient fortress in Non-Land: headquarters of the Council of New Continents, the global body charged with providing humanitarian aid to the inhabitants of this toxic refugee camp.

Recovering from a disorienting course of Memory Pacification Treatment, Astra struggles to focus on her overriding goals – to find her Code father and avenge the death of her Shelter mother, Hokma.

But can the CONC compound director, the ambiguous Major Thames, protect her from the hawk-eyed attentions of her old enemies? And who in this world of competing agendas can she trust? The deeper Astra ventures into this new world, the more she realises her true quest may be to find herself.

Here are couple of the great reviews for ASTRA…

‘Shocking though it might be in some respects, ASTRA certainly provides food for thought… the story quickly becomes engrossing. The ending is abrupt, but it makes you crave the second instalment of the Gaia Chronicles. ASTRA will certainly not be everyone’s cup of tea, but personally I am looking forwards to the next book with curiosity and excitement.’ — Starburst Magazine

‘ASTRA is just as thought-provoking as SEOUL SURVIVORS… I enjoyed ASTRA immensely. The novel’s plot is fascinating, with an intricate web of relationships between Astra and those around them and the adults amongst themselves and some compelling political shenanigans going on in the background, all of it set down in Foyle’s smooth and flowing writing style.’ — Fantastical Librarian

Cover Reveal: ROOK SONG by Naomi Foyle

Posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2014

Here is the striking cover for Naomi Foyle‘s ROOK SONG. Due to be published by Jo Fletcher Books on February 5th, 2015, this is the sequel to the critically-acclaimed ASTRA, and the second book in the Gaia Chronicles.

Here’s the synopsis…

Astra Ordott is in exile. Evicted from Is-Land for a crime she cannot regret, she has found work in an ancient fortress in Non-Land: headquarters of the Council of New Continents, the global body charged with providing humanitarian aid to the inhabitants of this toxic refugee camp.

Recovering from a disorienting course of Memory Pacification Treatment, Astra struggles to focus on her overriding goals – to find her Code father and avenge the death of her Shelter mother, Hokma.

But can the CONC compound director, the ambiguous Major Thames, protect her from the hawk-eyed attentions of her old enemies? And who in this world of competing agendas can she trust? The deeper Astra ventures into this new world, the more she realises her true quest may be to find herself.

Here is just a small amount of the aforementioned critical acclaim…

‘This is excellent Science Fiction and I heartily recommend it … reminiscent of LeGuin.’ — Birmingham SF Group

‘Shocking though it might be in some respects, ASTRA certainly provides food for thought… the story quickly becomes engrossing. The ending is abrupt, but it makes you crave the second instalment of the Gaia Chronicles. ASTRA will certainly not be everyone’s cup of tea, but personally I am looking forwards to the next book with curiosity and excitement.’ — Starburst Magazine

‘I have been shocked and disturbed by some of the ideas in her books, but likewise there have been times where the touching beauty of her writing has bought me to tears. Her stories might not necessarily read like heart-pounding thrillers or page-turners, but no matter what, they always pack a powerful punch… a bold dystopian tale…I didn’t even realize how completely immersed I’d been until I reached the end, and tears started coming to my eyes while reading a scene that was particularly touching. I don’t know if that would have hit me so hard emotionally if the book hadn’t been so well-written overall… an intensely deep, complex and thought-provoking narrative of the main character’s life. It’s a beautiful story, unique and daring, which serves as a solid foundation for everything else to come.’ — Bibliosanctum