Tag: fantasy

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Solaris to publish The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau for the UK

Solaris is delighted to announce the acquisition of The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau for the UK, a Malaysian Chinese-inspired epic fantasy novel for fans of Squid Game and The Witcher in which a debt-ridden slumdog joins an illegal monster-fighting arena.

Lythlet and her only friend Desil are shackled to a life of debt and poverty that she fears they will never escape. Desperate for money, they sign up as conquessors: arena combatants who fight sun-cursed beasts in the seedy underworld of the city.

Match-master Dothilos is initially enamoured of Desil’s brawling reputation, but after seeing Lythlet lead the pair to triumph with her quick cunning, he takes her under his wing, scorning Desil. Ambition takes root in Lythlet’s heart as a life of fame and wealth unfolds in her imagination.

But Lythlet isn’t the only one out for coin and glory, and she soon finds herself playing an entirely different game—a game of politics and deception. As the cost of her ambition grows, she will have to decide if sacrificing her honour, and only friendship, is worth the chance to shape her own fortune.

UK/BC, excluding Canada, English Language Rights were acquired by Amanda Rutter from Keir Alekseii at Azantian Literary Agency.

The Serpent Called Mercy will be released in January 2025.

Author Roanne Lau on the acquisition:

“I am beyond delighted to be working with Solaris in bringing my debut The Serpent Called Mercy over to the UK and the Commonwealth. From day one, Amanda Rutter’s enthusiasm for my book has been nothing short of serotonin-boosting, and with her keen editorial eye and the brilliant Solaris team behind her, I have no doubt my book is in safe hands.”

Acquiring Editor Amanda Rutter:

“From the first time I read The Serpent Called Mercy, I knew that this was an exceptionally special book, which explores brilliant themes of friendship and the price of honour. Roanne’s writing is sublime, and I know readers will eat up Lythlet’s world.”

Roanne Lau is a speculative fiction author whose works are informed by her experiences living in Malaysia, Australia, Taiwan, and Japan and being the descendant of Chinese immigrants. She was selected for the Pitch Wars mentorship program in 2021. The Serpent Called Mercy is her debut novel.

For press enquiries please contact Jess Gofton, PR & Marketing Manager: jess.gofton@rebellion.co.uk.

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Solaris acquires Vajra Chandrasekera’s award-winning fantasy novel The Saint of Bright Doors for the UK

Against a black background with white stars and the white Solaris logo in the top right corner, two blue circles. In the larger circle, white text "Acquisition Announcement. Vajra Chandrasekera. THE SAINT OF BRIGHT DOORS. June 2024." In the smaller circle, an author photo of R. T. Ester.

Solaris is delighted to announce the acquisition of Vajra Chandrasekera’s The Saint of Bright Doors and Rakesfall in a two-book deal for the UK.

The winner of the Crawford Award and a finalist for the Nebula Award, The Saint of Bright Doors sets the high drama of divine revolutionaries and transcendent cults against the mundane struggles of modern life, resulting in a novel that is revelatory and resonant.

Fetter was raised to kill, honed as a knife to cut down his sainted father. This gave him plenty to talk about in therapy.

He walked among invisible powers: devils and anti-gods that mock the mortal form. He learned a lethal catechism, lost his shadow, and gained a habit for secrecy. After a blood-soaked childhood, Fetter escaped his rural hometown for the big city, and fell into a broader world where divine destinies are a dime a dozen.

Everything in Luriat is more than it seems. Group therapy is recruitment for a revolutionary cadre. Junk email hints at the arrival of a god. Every door is laden with potential, and once closed may never open again. The city is scattered with Bright Doors, looming portals through which a cold wind blows. In this unknowable metropolis, Fetter will discover what kind of man he is, and his discovery will rewrite the world.

UK/BC, excluding Canada, English Language Rights were acquired by Amanda Rutter from Chris Scheina at Tordotcom.

The Saint of Bright Doors will be released on 6th June 2024. Preorder here.

Author Vajra Chandrasekera on the acquisition:

“I’ve long been a fan of the wonderful work that Solaris publishes, and I’m utterly delighted that they will be bringing my books to readers in the UK.”

Acquiring Editor Amanda Rutter:

“I am so thrilled to be publishing Vajra’s work for a UK audience – his books are vital and challenging, and I adored every word when I read them both. New readers can expect stunning prose, vivid characters, and utter originality, and I can’t wait to see what people think!”

Vajra Chandrasekera is from Colombo, Sri Lanka and is online at vajra.me. His debut novel The Saint of Bright Doors was a New York Times Notable Book of 2023, and his short fiction, anthologized in The Apex Book of World SF, The Gollancz Book of South Asian Science Fiction, and The Best Science Fiction of the Year among others, has been nominated for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award. His second novel Rakesfall is out in 2024.

For press enquiries please contact Natalie Sorrell Charlesworth, Digital Marketing and Social Media Executive: natalie.charlesworth@rebellion.co.uk.

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OUT NOW: Redsight by Meredith Mooring

We’re wishing Redsight by Meredith Mooring a very happy book birthday!

A blind priestess must learn to take control of the power she never knew she had in this own voices science fantasy debut for fans of Dune and Sisters of the Vast Black.

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Heresy is power. Chaos is divine.

Korinna has simple priorities: stay on the Navitas, stay out of trouble, and stay alive. She may be a Redseer, a blind priestess with the power to manipulate space-time, but she is the weakest in her Order. Useless and outcast. Or so she has been raised to believe.

As she takes her place as a navigator on an Imperium ship, Korinna’s full destiny is revealed to her: blood brimming with magic, she is meant to become a weapon of the Imperium, and pawn for the Order that raised her. But when the ship is attacked by the notorious pirate Aster Haran, Korinna’s world is ripped apart.

Aster has a vendetta against the Imperium, and an all-consuming, dark power that drives her to destroy everything in her path. She understands the world in a way Korinna has never imagined, and Korinna is drawn to her against her better judgment.

With the Imperium and the justice-seeking warrior Sahar hot on her heels, Korinna must choose her side, seize her power and fulfil her destiny–or risk imperiling the future of the galaxy, and destroying the fabric of space-time itself.

“Redsight combines the vastness of Dune and Childhood’s End with a visceral, reality-warping journey of self-discovery to create a beautiful, bloody testament to the possibilities of compassion and love.” —Ryka Aoki, author of Light From Uncommon Stars

“Redsight is a stellar debut, born from a collision between epic space opera and bewitching cosmic horror. Meredith Mooring weaves echoes of classic sci-fi into a breathtakingly original tapestry — an intoxicating blend of the visceral and the romantic, the monstrous and the mythical.” —Ren Hutchings, author of Under Fortunate Stars

“A brutal, vivid, emotional gut punch of a book. With stakes both deeply personal and universe-altering, Redsight is a cutting examination of the complexities of duty, faith, and moral obligation, helmed by a trio of compellingly flawed characters wielding immense cosmic power. This fresh, high-concept SFF is perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Sisters of the Vast Black.” —J. S. Dewes, author of The Last Watch

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Solaris Nova to publish Regency fantasy trilogy by Natania Barron

We’re delighted to announce the latest addition to the Solaris Nova family: Netherford Hall by Natania Barron.

The first in a brand new trilogy combining the Regency era with witchcraft, Netherford Hall is a sapphic historical fantasy in which Gentlewitch Edith Rookwood and her family return to their ancestral seat of Netherford Hall in Kent, England following a mysterious fire in their London home. It’s there Edith faces a new threat in the form of her tenant: the chaotic and lovely Poppy Brightwell.

The women can’t deny the attraction growing between them, but Edith needs to marry for money to save her new home from usurpers—and Poppy’s very soul is at risk when she discovers the bargain her parents made with a being they thought was a witch.

Netherford Hall will hit shelves in August 2024!

World All Languages Rights were acquired by David Moore from Stacey Graham at 3 Seas Literary Agency.

For press enquiries please contact Jess Gofton, PR & Marketing Manager: jess.gofton@rebellion.co.uk

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Solaris snaps up Karin Lowachee’s dragon novella trilogy The Crowns of Ishia

Solaris is delighted to announce the acquisition of The Crowns of Ishia trilogy, including The Mountain Crown, The Desert Talon and a sequel, by Karin Lowachee.

Meka’s nomadic people, the Ba’Suon, were driven from their homeland by the Kattakans. Decades later, under a fragile truce, Meka returns for an ancient and necessary rite: culling a king dragon of the Crown Mountains to maintain balance in the wild country.

Accompanied by an imprisoned dragon, a Kattakan veteran of war and a Ba’Suon traitor, Meka soon discovers the survival of the Ba’Suon people, their dragons, and the land itself will depend on the choices she and her companions make in this gunslinging fantasy of colonialism and resistance.

World English Rights were acquired by Amy Borsuk from Tamara Kawar at DeFiore & Company.

The Mountain Crown will be released in October 2024.

Author Karin Lowachee on the acquisition:

“I am absolutely thrilled to be a new part of the team at Solaris with The Mountain Crown and its sequels. I know my stories will thrive in the hands of Solaris as we work together to shepherd them into fruition. My heartfelt gratitude to Amy Borsuk and everyone at Solaris who are just as excited as I am to dive in!”

Acquiring Editor Amy Borsuk:

“I am absolutely thrilled to be working with Karin Lowachee on this incredible series. At long last, I get to work on an epic dragon fantasy! I loved this series from the first page and I’m so excited to bring it to fantasy readers across the globe. Karin is able to pack a full world rich with dragons, personal traumas, intense cultural histories and politics of colonialism and empire into the novella form with such ease. Come for the dragons, stay for the beautiful storytelling, compelling characters and gunslinging flavour.”

Karin Lowachee was born in South America, grew up in Canada, and worked in the Arctic. She has been a creative writing instructor, adult education teacher, and volunteer in a maximum security prison. Her novels have been translated into French, Hebrew, and Japanese, and her short stories have been published in numerous anthologies, best-of collections, and magazines. When she isn’t writing, she serves at the whim of a black cat.

For press enquiries please contact Jess Gofton, PR & Marketing Manager: jess.gofton@rebellion.co.uk.

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Solaris to publish The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery for the UK

Solaris is delighted to announce the acquisition of The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery for the UK, a lush, romantic fantasy for fans of Kushiel’s Dart and Gods of Jade and Shadow.

Tirne is one of four humans rigorously selected to usher the turn of the seasons into the mortal world. Every year, she escorts the taciturn god Autumn between the godly and human realms. Autumn’s seasonal stay among mortals brings cooler weather, changing leaves, and the harvest of apples and gourds until Winter takes his place.

This year, the enchanted Mirror that separates their worlds shatters after Tirne and Autumn pass through, trapping both of them in the human realm. As the endless autumn stretches on, crops begin to fail and the threat of starvation looms. Away from the magic of the gods’ home, Tirne suffers debilitating headaches that return with a vengeance. Worse, Autumn’s extended stay in the human realm turns him ever more mortal and vulnerable, stirring a new, forbidden attraction to Tirne.

While the priesthood scrambles to find a way to reassemble the Mirror, Tirne digs into the temple’s secrets and finds an unlikely ally–or enemy–in the enigmatic sorcerer and master of poisons, Sidriel. Thrown into a world of mystery, betrayal, and espionage as she searches for the truth, might Tirne lose her morals, her hard-earned position, and the illicit spark between her and Autumn?

UK/BC, excluding Canada, English Language Rights were acquired by Amy Borsuk from Brent Taylor at Triada US Inc. on behalf of Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency.

The Longest Autumn will be released in January 2025.

Author Amy Avery on the acquisition:

“I’m so thrilled and honored to be working with Solaris and Amy Borsuk on The Longest Autumn! I can’t wait for the UK to meet my flawed, messy priestess and experience her world of unending autumn. It’s a joy to call Solaris my home across the pond.”

Acquiring Editor Amy Borsuk:

“I’m so excited to be bringing The Longest Autumn to UK readers. This lush fantasy has such an evocative world, and some deliciously messy romance. I was transported by the story from page one, and with a story about the god of Autumn and a priestess trying to find her way in two worlds, how can you not be?”

Amy Avery is a graphic designer and a lifelong lover of fantasy living in Wichita, Kansas. In her spare time, she co-hosts the writing craft podcast And It’s Writing. She can also be found watching cooking shows with her husband, mixing cocktails, or catering to the whims of a rather demanding tuxedo cat.

For press enquiries please contact Jess Gofton, PR & Marketing Manager: jess.gofton@rebellion.co.uk.

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Solaris to publish O. O. Sangoyomi’s Masquerade for the UK

A black starred background, blue-purple circles. Acquisition Announcement, O. O. Sangoyomi, MASQUERADE, Summer 2024. The White Solaris Logo is in the top right corner.

Solaris is excited to announce the acquisition of Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi, and a second novel, for the UK.

Set in an alternate version of 15th century West Africa, Masquerade is a luscious literary speculative tale of power and freedom inspired by the myth of Persephone.

Òdòdó’s hometown of Timbuktu has been conquered by the the warrior king of Yorùbáland. Already shunned as social pariahs, living conditions for Òdòdó and the other women in her blacksmith guild grow even worse under Yorùbá rule.

Then Òdòdó is abducted. She is whisked across the Sahara to the capital city of Ṣàngótẹ̀, where she is shocked to discover that her kidnapper is none other than the vagrant who had visited her guild just days prior. But now that he is swathed in riches rather than rags, Òdòdó realizes he is not a vagrant at all; he is the warrior king, and he has chosen her to be his wife.

In a sudden change of fortune, Òdòdó soars to the very heights of society. But after a lifetime of subjugation, the power that saturates this world of battle and political savvy becomes too enticing to resist. And as tensions with rival states reveal elaborate schemes and enemies hidden in plain sight, she must re-forge the shaky loyalties of the court to her favor, or risk losing everything—including her life.

UK/BC, excluding Canada, English Language Rights were acquired by David Moore from Chris Scheina at Forge Books.

Masquerade will be released on 4th July 2024.

Author O.O. Sangoyomi on the acquisition:

“I am delighted that my debut novel has found a home at Solaris. I cannot wait to introduce my Medieval West African retelling to the United Kingdom.”

Acquiring Editor David Moore:

“I’m delighted to be bringing this wonderful book to the British market. Masquerade is a visceral, powerful, gorgeously written book that will introduce readers to a world they know too little about.”

O.O. Sangoyomi (she/her) is a Nigerian American author with a penchant for African mythology and history. During a childhood of constantly moving around within the U.S., she found an anchored home in the fictional worlds of books. Sangoyomi is a graduate of Princeton University, where she studied English and African American Studies. Masquerade is her debut novel.

For press enquiries please contact Jess Gofton, PR & Marketing Manager: jess.gofton@rebellion.co.uk.

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Saint Death’s Daughter wins World Fantasy Award!

Photo credit: Carlos Hernandez

Saint Death’s Daughter by C. S. E. Cooney has won the 2023 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel!

Following the kooky and creepy adventures of necromancer Lanie Stones as she fights to keep her home in the wake of her parents’ murders, and the found family she makes in the aftermath of loss, Saint Death’s Daughter is a whimsically Gothic delight for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Nettle and Bone.

The Solaris team are beyond thrilled that this warm hug of a debut novel has received such a prestigious award. The sequel, Saint Death’s Herald, will be released in Spring 2025!

Discover all of the wonderful winners and nominees of this year’s World Fantasy Awards here, and head on over to C. S. E. Cooney’s website to read her acceptance speech.

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Revealing the cover of Queen of None by Natania Barron

We’re so delighted to reveal the stunning cover of Queen of None by Natania Barron, designed by Nat Mackenzie!

In the first instalment of her stunning Queens of Fate trilogy, Natania Barron gives a voice to King Arthur’s oft-forgotten sister, Anna Pendragon, in a feminist historical fantasy for fans of The Cleaving and My Name is Morgan.

Anna will be remembered. May 2024.

When Anna Pendragon was born, Merlin prophesied: “Through all the ages, and in the hearts of men, you will be forgotten.”

Married at twelve, and a mother soon after, Anna – the famed King Arthur’s sister – did not live a young life full of promise, myth, and legend. She bore three strong sons and delivered the kingdom of Orkney to her brother by way of her marriage. She did as she was asked, invisible and useful for her name, her status, her dowry, and her womb.

Twenty years after she left her home, Anna returns to Carelon at Arthur’s bidding, carrying the crown of her now-dead husband, Lot of Orkney. Past her prime and confined to the castle itself, she finds herself yet again a pawn in greater machinations and seemingly helpless to do anything about it.

Anna must once again face the demons of her childhood: her sisters Morgen, Elaine, and Morgause; Merlin and his scheming Avillion priests; and Bedevere, the man she once loved. To say nothing of new court visitors, like Lanceloch, or the trouble concerning her own sons.

Carelon, and all of Braetan, is changing, though, and Anna must change along with it. New threats, inside and out, lurk in the shadows, and a strange power begins to awaken in her. As she learns to reconcile her dark gift, and struggles to keep the power to herself, she must bargain her own strength, and family, against her ambition and thirst for revenge.

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Solaris to publish The Spear Cuts Through Water for the UK

Solaris is delighted to announce the acquisition of The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez for the UK.

Shortlisted for an Ignyte Award, British Fantasy Award and the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize, The Spear Cuts Through Water is a stunning and ambitious fantasy saga told as a story within a story that explores identity, legacy and belonging, in a tale of a god who escapes from their prison beneath a despotic emperor’s palace.

The Spear Cuts Through Water will be released in March 2024. UK/BC Rights were acquired by Amanda Rutter from Rachel Kind at Del Rey.

Author Simon Jimenez on the acquisition:

“I’m thrilled to be working with the Solaris team on the UK release for The Spear Cuts Through Water, and so excited to share the book with the new readership.”

Acquiring Editor Amanda Rutter:

“At London Book Fair, I was bowled over to realise that the UK rights to the most beautiful novel I have read in years, possibly ever, were still available. I immediately started the work to bring The Spear Cuts Through Water to a new readership, and I am delighted that Simon agreed to be published by Solaris. I am honoured to think that this breath-taking, clever and epic novel is going to be a part of our list. It deserves every single award nomination and plaudit it has received!”

Simon Jimenez is a Filipino-American writer of speculative fiction. His debut novel was The Vanished Birds and The Spear Cuts Through Water is his second novel. Jimenez’s works have received critical praise, with his debut novel being nominated for the 2021 Locus Award for Best First Novel and the 2021 Arthur C. Clarke Award. Jimenez himself was nominated for the 2021 Astounding Award for Best New Writer.

For press enquiries please contact Jess Gofton, PR & Marketing Manager: jess.gofton@rebellion.co.uk.