Contemporary fantasy / Low fantasy

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBLACKWELL’S BOOK OF THE YEAR A WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALIST DAILY MAIL BEST BOOK OF 2022 ‘Absolutely phenomenal. One of the most brilliant, razor-sharp books I've had the pleasure of reading that isn't just an alternative fantastical history, but an interrogative one; one that grabs colonial history and the Industrial Revolution, turns it over, and shakes it out’Shannon Chakraborty, bestselling author of THE EMPIRE OF GOLD ‘A masterpiece that resonates with power and knowledge. BABEL is a stark picture of the cruelty of empire, a distillation of dark academia, and a riveting blend of fantasy and historical fiction – a monumental achievement’Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE ‘A masterpiece. Through a meticulously researched and a wholly impressive deep dive into linguistics and the politics of language and translation, Kuang weaves a story that is part love-hate letter to academia, part scathing indictment of the colonial enterprise, and all fiery revolution’Rebecca Roanhorse, NYT bestselling author of BLACK SUN ‘Kuang has outdone herself. BABEL is brilliant, vicious, sensitive, epic, and intimate; it's both a love letter and a declaration of war. It's a perfect book’Alix E. Harrow, bestselling author of A THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY ‘A book that confirms Kuang as a major talent’SFX ‘Brainy, brilliant, and fuelled by righteous anger, Babel is a towering tour-de-force of fantasy’DAILY MAIL ‘BABEL has earned tremendous praise and deserves all of it. It’s Philip Pullman’s THE GOLDEN COMPASS by way of N.K. Jemisin’s THE FIFTH SEASON: inventive and engaging, passionate and precise’NEW YORK TIMES

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Book SynopsisJohn Gwynne studied and lectured at Brighton University. He's been in a rock 'n' roll band, playing the double bass, travelled the USA and lived in Canada for a time. He is married with four children and lives in Eastbourne, running a small family business rejuvenating vintage furniture. Malice is his debut novel.Trade ReviewInfluenced by Gemmell's Rigante and GRR Martin's Game of Thrones - two good strands of DNA. Great characters and plot - it gets faster and more fascinating by the page. All I want now is for the author to put everything else aside, including his health - and write two or three more as fast as humanly possible. Hell of a debut: Highly recommended -- Conn IgguldenWith all manner of battles, betrayals and revelations. I particularly enjoyed the battle scenes and duels ... If it sounds like your thing, then it probably is -- Mark LawrenceWith its warring clans, sleeping giants, Banished Lands and omens and portents . . . is a strong contender for the “if you like Game of Thrones, why not try this?” award. * Independent blog *It’s exciting when you find a strong new voice ringing out through the halls of fantasy, and John Gwynne hits all the right spots in his epic tale of good vs evil, the first in the Faithful & The Fallen series . . . there’s a lot of pleasure to be had in this debut novel; Gwynne is definitely one to watch. * SFX *Malice is easily one of the best fantasy novels I read this year, and one which will appeal to most fans of the genre. * Iwillreadbooks.com *With three-dimensional characters, a gripping plot, and a world that became real to me, John Gwynne’s Malice is a great debut. In short, this is the kind of fantasy I love to read and I truly can’t wait for the next volume in The Faithful and the Fallen! * Fantasy Book Critic *

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Book SynopsisFrom legendary storyteller Stephen King, comes this No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller, now with a stunning new cover look for Summer 2024.WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE OF HAPPILY EVER AFTERCharlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student.But when Charlie is seventeen, he meets a dog named Radar and her aging master, Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house at the top of a big hill, with a locked shed in the backyard. When Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a cassette tape telling a story no one would believe - inside the shed is a portal to another world.Stephen King goes into the deepest well of his imagination in this spellbinding novel about a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher - for their world or ours.Trade ReviewThere is a splendid climactic battle . . . King's delight in the world he has created is infectious and there's much to revel in here * Daily Telegraph *With ogres and castles, maidens and pots of gold, this is a fairy story through-and-through. Because it's Stephen King's, it's a Once-Upon-A-Time tale like no other * Daily Mail *Fairy Tale is a multiverse-traversing, genre-hopping intertextual mash-up, with plenty of Easter eggs for regular King devotees . . . allusions and homages abound . . . a page-turner driven by memorably strange encounters and well-rendered, often thrilling action * New York Times Book Review *Fairy Tale is vintage, timeless King, a transporting, terrifying treat born from multiple lockdowns which, in true King style, puts its finger right on that tender point which is the threshold between childhood and growing up * Guardian *The latest addictive thriller from King * The List *King's reputation precedes him, and his spellbinding new novel is magnificent and terrifying * Living North Magazine *The hailed King of masterful writing has pierced the page with mighty words once again, releasing a whopping fantasy novel, reminiscent of the haunting magnificence of those Brothers Grimms . . . Fairy Tale soars, allowing you to bask happily ever after in its unforgettable spell * Buzz Magazine *A blazing flash of creativity . . . King's best book in over a decade * Esquire *A really enjoyable and enthralling read, both exciting and enchanting, and yet another captivating tale from the pen of Stephen King * The Afterword *A fantasy gem . . . King tells this wonderfully fantastical tale with such effortless skill that the reader cannot help but fully invest in Charlie and all the characters, his evocation of late 20th-century small-town USA and its people pitch perfect, and his descriptions of the parallel world of Empis . . . vividly terrifying * Irish Independent *Some brilliantly written escapism . . . featuring a loyal dog, a grieving hero and childhood fears and dreams made real . . . King at his finest * Evening Standard *A spellbinding tale that bursts with imagination * Woman's Own *Stephen King is the world's greatest storyteller. Fairy Tale had me enchanted from page one. I remain in total awe at his genius * David Walliams *Magnificent . . . a doorstop chronicle of small-town America, and the battle between good and evil. Classic King, and clearly written with joy . . . He is one of the best writers on childhood and teenagers, which continues in Fairy Tale * Richard Osman, The Sunday Times *The master storyteller returns with a spellbinding story of mysterious houses, parallel worlds and reluctant heroes as an ordinary high school kid discovers a portal to a universe populated by classic fairy tale archetypes * Waterstones *If you've ever enjoyed classic King - coming-of-age stories grounded as much in suburban neighbourhoods as in supernatural fairylands - you will enjoy this * Literary Review *A dark, dazzlingly inventive fantasy novel * Daily Mirror, Best Books of 2022 *In her new leading role, Holly shines. She's tough, relentless, and compassionate while at the same time being vulnerable and prone to lapses of confidence. The story is the kind of thing King excels at, too - dark, mysterious, and deeply unsettling. This is the novel Holly deserves * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisThe Atlas Six by Olivie Blake is the runaway TikTok sensation – a must-read fantasy novel with gorgeous illustrations. If you loved Ninth House and A Deadly Education, you’ll love this.Secrets. Betrayal. Seduction.Welcome to the Alexandrian Society.When the world’s best magicians are offered an extraordinary opportunity, saying yes is easy. Each could join the secretive Alexandrian Society, whose custodians guard lost knowledge from ancient civilizations. Their members enjoy a lifetime of power and prestige. Yet each decade, only six practitioners are invited – to fill five places.Contenders Libby Rhodes and Nico de Varona are inseparable enemies, cosmologists who can control matter with their minds. Parisa Kamali is a telepath, who sees the mind’s deepest secrets. Reina Mori is a naturalist who can perceive and understand the flow of life itself. And Callum Nova is an empath, who can manipulate the desires of others. Finally there’s Tristan Caine, whose powers mystify even himself.Following recruitment by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they travel to the Society’s London headquarters. Here, each must study and innovate within esoteric subject areas. And if they can prove themselves, over the course of a year, they’ll survive. Most of them.'As much a delicious contest of wit, will, and passion as it is of magic, this book is half mystery, half puzzle, and wholly a delight' – Holly Black, author of The Cruel PrinceThe story continues in The Atlas Paradox, the heart-stopping sequel.Reader reviews:‘I don’t think anything will ever compare with this’‘To say I can't wait for the sequel is an understatement. Do yourself a favour and buy this immediately!’‘I had to convince myself magic isn’t real’Originally a self-published sensation, this edition has been fully edited and revised.Trade ReviewLethally smart. Filled with a cast of brilliantly realized characters, each entangled with one another in torturously delicious ways, The Atlas Six will grip you by the throat and refuse to let go. Olivie Blake is a mind-blowing talent -- Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent DelightsThe Atlas Six introduces six of the most devious, talented, and flawed characters to ever find themselves in a magical library, and then sets them against one another in a series of stunning betrayals and reversals. As much a delicious contest of wit, will, and passion as it is of magic, this book is half mystery, half puzzle, and wholly a delight -- Holly Black, author of Book of Night and the Folk of the Air seriesCompelling, entertaining, and addictive. This is academic Darwinism – survival of the smartest -- T. L. Huchu, author of The Library of the DeadWith a fascinating magic system explored through the lens of philosophy and morality, narrated by dynamic, enthralling characters, The Atlas Six is a tour de force. I read this book in two sittings – once I picked it up, I found it almost impossible to put down -- Christine Lynn Herman, author of All of Us VillainsThis chilling story of ambition and magic will make you question your own morals as you grow to love (and hate) its fascinating, ruthless cast of characters. I utterly devoured this book -- Amanda Foody, author of All of Us VillainsThe Atlas Six will thrill those who love twisted plots, twisted relationships, and morally grey characters ready to kill for knowledge and power. Dark, ambitious, and engaging -- H. G. Parry, author of The Unlikely Escape of Uriah HeepWith a cast of complicated hate-to-love-them characters and enough delicious philosophizing to satisfy even the pickiest dark academia heart, this book will drag you into its undertow and refuse to let you go 'til morning -- Victoria Lee, author of A Lesson in VengeanceCoolly horrific, brilliantly brainy and utterly compelling -- Daily MailDense with ideas, with a compelling premise . . . a richly satisfying head-trip -- SFX MagazineRich characters and richer prose, The Atlas Six is a fun, twisty page-turner that left me wanting more. Olivie Blake is an author to look out for! -- Susan Dennard, author of The Luminaries

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Book SynopsisThe fourth in The Faithful and the Fallen series, Wrath by John Gwynne is the breathtaking, pulse-pounding conclusion to an epic series.It’s time to brave the final battle . . .Events are coming to a climax in the Banished Lands, as the war reaches new heights. King Nathair has seized the fortress at Drassil, and now possesses three of the Seven Treasures. And with Calidus and Queen Rhin, Nathair will do anything to obtain the rest. They will allow him to open a portal to the Otherworld - so Asroth and his demon-horde can break into the Banished Lands and finally become flesh.Meanwhile Corban has been captured by the Jotun, warrior giants who ride enormous bears into battle. His warband scattered, Corban must make new allies to survive. But can he bond with competing factions of warlike giants? Somehow he must, to counter the threat Nathair represents. His life hangs in the balance - and with it, the fate of the Banished LanTrade ReviewA breathtakingly perfect finale to a series that has grown from strength to wonderful strength. Poignant, pulse-pounding and phenomenally paced, Wrath is a satisfying – and heart-breaking – climax that Tolkien himself would be proud to have penned * Fantasy Faction *A masterpiece in modern fantasy and a breathtaking finale to what is my all-time favourite fantasy series * The Tattooed Book Geek *Unpredictable, exhilarating * Fantasy Book Review *Engrossing . . . excellent writing * Sunday Sport *Masterpiece . . . damn near perfection * Booknest *

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Book SynopsisTJ Klune is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of Under the Whispering Door, The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, Wolfsong and more. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important now more than ever to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.Trade ReviewWolfsong is so well written that I'm in awe of TJ Klune's talent. The primary character, Ox, has huge feelings he can't articulate. But we know all of them, and we love him. The complex and startling world of Green Creek is the perfect setting -- Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse seriesBeautiful, poetic, unbelievably compelling. ALL the stars -- Juliette Cross, author of the Stay a Spell seriesFans will be delighted -- Publishers WeeklyAn exciting start to the [Green Creek] series -- Library JournalI loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect -- V. E. Schwab, author of the Shades of Magic series on The House in the Cerulean SeaThe House in the Cerulean Sea is a modern fairy tale about learning your true nature and what you love and will protect. It’s a beautiful book -- Charlaine Harris, author of Dead Until DarkUnder the Whispering Door is a kind book, full of faith in the goodness of people . . . It broke my heart with its unflinching understanding that grief never goes away, never empties, only settles into the room of your soul like a strange souvenir. And then it healed me in the next breath -- Cassandra Khaw author of Nothing But Blackened TeethA whimsical, warm-hearted fantasy that suggests it is never too late to make a positive change in life – or afterwards -- The Guardian on Under the Whispering DoorTJ Klune is doing powerful work that inspires and impresses. He is a gift to our troubled times, and his novels are a radiant treat to all who discover them -- Locus Magazine on Under the Whispering Door

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Book SynopsisDiscover The Atlas Paradox, the electric dark academia sequel to viral sensation The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake – a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller. Inside the Alexandrian Society alliances will be tested, hearts will be broken and all must pick a side.Six magicians were offered the opportunity of a lifetime.Five are now members of the Society.And two paths lie before them.In this thrilling next instalment, the secret society of Alexandrians is unmasked. Its newest recruits realize the institute is capable of raw, world-changing power. It’s also headed by a man with plans to change life as we know it – and these are already under way. But the cost of this knowledge is as high as the price of power, and each initiate must choose which faction to follow. Yet as events gather momentum and dangers multiply, which of their alliances will hold? Can friendships hold true and are enemies quite what they seem?Reader reviews for The Atlas Paradox:‘Olivie Blake has done it again’‘More of everything I loved from the first book’‘I was completely shocked. NOW I NEED BOOK 3’Trade ReviewAs much a delicious contest of wit, will, and passion as it is of magic, this book is half mystery, half puzzle, and wholly a delight -- Holly Black , author of Book of Night on The Atlas SixLethally smart. Filled with a cast of brilliantly realized characters, each entangled with one another in torturously delicious ways, The Atlas Six will grip you by the throat and refuse to let go. Olivie Blake is a mind-blowing talent -- Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights on The Atlas SixThe Atlas Six will thrill those who love twisted plots, twisted relationships, and morally grey characters ready to kill for knowledge and power. Dark, ambitious, and engaging -- H. G. Parry, author of The Magician's Daughter on The Atlas SixBlake brilliantly uses fantasy trappings, and plenty of cliff hangers and twists, to tell a story that leaves readers questioning everything they believe to be true in the world she has created -- Library JournalSet in The Alexandrian Society, a secret group with responsibility for the long famous long-lost library, this is a story of magic, love, competition, and betrayal. This series is a serious obsession for #booktok and fantasy lovers -- GlamourCoolly horrific, brilliantly brainy and utterly compelling -- Daily Mail on The Atlas Six

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Book SynopsisThe instant Sunday Times bestseller, Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel is a story of parallel worlds and possibilities that plays with the very line along which time should run. 'So wise, so graceful, so rich' - Naomi Alderman, author of The Power'Ingenious' - GuardianLives separated by time and space have collided, and an exiled Englishman, a writer trapped far from home, and a girl destined to die too young, have each glimpsed a world that is not their own. Travelling through the centuries, between colonies on the moon and an ever-changing Earth, together their lives will solve a mystery that will make you question everything you thought you knew to be true.From the award-winning author of Station Eleven.A Best Book of the Year - Guardian, Oprah Daily, Barack Obama'Brilliant and fiercely original' - Observer'One of her finest novels' - New York Times'Transcendent' - Wall Street JournalTrade ReviewBrilliant . . . a fiercely original creation * Observer *It is heaven to be immersed in the waters of Mandel's imagination . . . so wise, so graceful, so rich . . . I loved Sea of Tranquility -- Naomi Alderman, Women's Prize-winning author of The PowerA spiralling, transportive triumph of storytelling - sci-fi with soul -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The MerciesA cunning time-travel narrative . . . unputdownable . . . distinctive, remarkable work from one of the genre’s major voices * Guardian, Best Books of the Year *One of her finest novels and one of her most satisfying forays into speculative fiction yet * New York Times *A time travel epic: a soaring story of connections through the ages . . . profound and life-affirming * Vogue *Even more boldly imagined than Station Eleven. Exciting to read, relevant, and satisfying. * Kirkus *Ingenious, hugely ambitious . . . graceful and beguiling * Guardian *Bold and exciting . . . Sea of Tranquility is Mandel’s most ambitious novel yet. Inventing and mind-bending * The Economist *Destabilizing, extraordinary, and blood-boiling . . . a speculative epic * New Yorker *Extraordinary . . . An expertly crafted time-travel tale . . . supremely satisfying and moving . . . You won’t be able to shut up about this book * Irish Times *Readers of Mandel’s Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel will not be disappointed, a generous and elegant novel about art and family and time travel * LitHub *The feeling of something lovely glimpsed and lost is everywhere in these pages * New York Times *Mind-blowing * Washington Post *Mandel remains an instant-buy writer * Glamour *Wonderfully inventive . . . genuinely impressive, subtle and nuanced . . . a story with love and longing for connection at its heart, moving and thought-provoking in equal measure * Big Issue *An ambitious time-travelling panorama of pandemics and parallel worlds * Guardian *A story like a tone poem, uncannily lovely and profound * EW *A trippy, wistful story * Wired *An inventive, haunting, and tender time-travel story that underscores the importance and resilience of art * Vulture *Poignant, ingeniously constructed and deeply absorbing * NPR *Sensational . . . masterfully plotted and deeply moving * Esquire *Emily St. John Mandel, who, like an ingenious origami artist, seems determined with each new work to add yet another fold to our perception of what is real and one further twist to what we think of as time . . . Transcendent * Wall Street Journal *Mandel illustrates how hope and humanity are flames that can never be fully extinguished * Elle *World builder is a phrase that's rightly used to describe Emily Mandel's immersive powers as a novelist. I didn't just read Station Eleven, The Glass Hotel or Sea of Tranquility. I lived in those novels -- Maureen Corrigan * NPR *

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Book SynopsisTHE #2 SUNDAY TIMES AND #1 NYT BESTSELLEROne for Philip Pullman fans'THE TIMESThis one is an automatic buy'GLAMOURAmbitious, sweeping and epic'EVENING STANDARDRazor-sharp'DAILY MAILAn ingenious fantasy about empire'GUARDIANTraduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.Oxford, 1836.The city of dreaming spires.It is the centre of all knowledge and progress in the world.And at its centre is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. The tower from which all the power of the Empire flows.Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Babel seemed like paradise to Robin Swift.Until it became a prisonBut can a student stand against an empire?An incendiary new novel from award-winning author R.F. Kuang about the power of language, the violence of colonialism, and the sacrifices of resistance.''A masterpiece that resonates with power and knowledge. BABEL is a stark picture of the cruelty of empire, a distillation of dark academia, and a rivetingTrade ReviewBLACKWELL’S BOOK OF THE YEAR A WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALIST DAILY MAIL BEST BOOK OF 2022 ‘Absolutely phenomenal. One of the most brilliant, razor-sharp books I've had the pleasure of reading that isn't just an alternative fantastical history, but an interrogative one; one that grabs colonial history and the Industrial Revolution, turns it over, and shakes it out’Shannon Chakraborty, bestselling author of THE EMPIRE OF GOLD ‘A masterpiece that resonates with power and knowledge. BABEL is a stark picture of the cruelty of empire, a distillation of dark academia, and a riveting blend of fantasy and historical fiction – a monumental achievement’Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE ‘A masterpiece. Through a meticulously researched and a wholly impressive deep dive into linguistics and the politics of language and translation, Kuang weaves a story that is part love-hate letter to academia, part scathing indictment of the colonial enterprise, and all fiery revolution’Rebecca Roanhorse, NYT bestselling author of BLACK SUN ‘Kuang has outdone herself. BABEL is brilliant, vicious, sensitive, epic, and intimate; it's both a love letter and a declaration of war. It's a perfect book’Alix E. Harrow, bestselling author of A THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY ‘A book that confirms Kuang as a major talent’SFX ‘Brainy, brilliant, and fuelled by righteous anger, Babel is a towering tour-de-force of fantasy’DAILY MAIL ‘BABEL has earned tremendous praise and deserves all of it. It’s Philip Pullman’s THE GOLDEN COMPASS by way of N.K. Jemisin’s THE FIFTH SEASON: inventive and engaging, passionate and precise’NEW YORK TIMES

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Book SynopsisFor fans of BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD, fairy tale and magic are weaved together in sparse language that belies a flooring emotional punch.'Strange and beautiful. Imagine the offspring of The Wind-up Bird Chronicle with The Virgin Suicides' GUARDIAN'Genuinely affecting. A story of empathy, collaboration and sharing truths' FINANCIAL TIMESTranslated by Philip Gabriel, a translator of Murakami_______________________________Would you share your deepest secrets to save a friend?In a tranquil neighbourhood of Tokyo, seven teenagers wake to find their bedroom mirrors are shining.At a single touch, they are pulled from their lonely lives to a wondrous castle filled with winding stairways, watchful portraits and twinkling chandeliers. In this new sanctuary, they are confronted with a set of clues leading to a hidden room where one of them will be granted a wish. But there's a catch: if they don't leave the castle by five o'clock, they will be punished.As time passes, a devastating truth emerges: only those brave enough to share their stories will be saved.Tender, playful, gripping, LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR is a mesmerizing tale about the importance of reaching out, confronting anxiety and embracing human connection.Readers love LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR:***** 'This book has become one of my favourite Japanese reads of all time . . . A magical heartfelt read that will stay with you'***** 'Unexpected, beautiful and heart-breaking . . . this is a work of fiction which reaches into the heart of a modern problem and has valuable insight'***** 'Rich and vivid.This book is a symbol that 'there is always hope'Trade ReviewA surge of Japanese women are redefining their nation's literature * VOGUE *Strange and beautiful. Imagine the offspring of The Wind-up Bird Chronicle with The Virgin Suicides * GUARDIAN *A moving, reflective and surprising novel... anyone who has ever struggled with feeling isolated, had difficulties at school, or had mental health struggles, will find this novel to be a cleansing balm. * CULTUREFLY *Neat twists and a genuinely affecting denouement. A story of empathy, collaboration and sharing truths, this is 'a modern, all-ages fairy tale' that should appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman and Studio Ghibli animations * FINANCIAL TIMES *There's a warmth to her writing, and Tsujimura has a mature ability to allow the story to speak for itself without narrative * JAPAN TIMES *An original and tender blend of social commentary and magical realism * THE JAPAN SOCIETY REVIEW *

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Book SynopsisAre you looking for a book with bite?'OUTRAGEOUS, SMART, FUN' Bonnie Garmus, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry'BRILLIANT' StylistOne day, the mother was a mother but then, one night, she was quite suddenly something else...At home full-time with her two-year-old son, an artist finds she is struggling. She is lonely and exhausted. Her husband, always travelling for his work, calls her from faraway hotel rooms. One more toddler bedtime, and she fears she might lose her mind.Instead, she starts gaining things, surprising things that happen one night when her child will not sleep. New appetites, new instincts. And from deep within herself, a new voice...'INCREDIBLE' Carmen Maria Machado'I TORE THROUGH IT' Lisa McInerney'FUNNY AND UNNERVING AS HELL' Jenny Offill'The spiritual successor to Angela Carter' Evening StandardTrade ReviewOutrageous, gritty, smart, fun -- BONNIE GARMUS * Sunday Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry *Yoder's voice is precise and funny, pitch-perfect... This is a terrifically alive and imaginative tale... an important contribution to the engagement with motherhood that rightly dominates contemporary feminism. -- Lara Feigel * Observer *I've been waiting my whole adult life for a read like this. Nightbitch is truly imaginative, utterly original, brave and brilliant - I devoured it. * Elaine Feeney, author of AS YOU WERE *A deliciously untamed satire on mothering and collapsed ambition... Yoder's descriptions of wild self-release are thrilling. -- Catherine Taylor * Financial Times *Yoder's commentary on the assorted neuroses of modern womanhood is graceful and coolly incisive... She infuses new life into the cold, furry flesh of the monstrous femme. -- AK Blakemore * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2016 David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Novel.The third in The Faithful and the Fallen series, Ruin by John Gwynne continues the gripping battle of good vs evil.The Banished Lands are engulfed in war and chaos. The cunning Queen Rhin has conquered the west and High King Nathair has the cauldron, most powerful of the seven treasures. At his back stands the scheming Calidus and a warband of the Kadoshim, dread demons of the Otherworld. They plan to bring Asroth and his host of the Fallen into the world of flesh, but to do so they need the seven treasures. Nathair has been deceived but now he knows the truth. He has choices to make; choices that will determine the fate of the Banished Lands. Elsewhere the flame of resistance is growing - Queen Edana finds allies in the swamps of Ardan. Maquin is loose in Tenebral, hunted by Lykos and his corsairs. Here he will witness the birth of a rebellion in Nathair's own realm. Trade ReviewMythical, magical, intense, brutal, poignant . . . utterly brilliant. * Fantasy Book Review *The battles are brutal and bloody, just as they should be (especially when you chuck giants, bears, draigs and huge wolf like beasts into the mix). All through the book it builds, the smaller battles leading towards bigger and bigger ones and leading to a climax that will knock you for six . . .don’t expect to come out of it with your heart in one piece. * Ebookwyrm *Triumphant . . . A masterful thrill ride of a book. * Dominish Fantasy Reviews *Dark, thrilling and bloody. But Ruin’s strongest point is, for me, its characters. The author takes character relationships crafted throughout the first two novels – between friends, family, loved ones and, especially, animals – and brings them beautifully to the fore without overstating them, whilst also forging new ones along the way. * Half Strung Harp Reviews *This was an incredible follow-up . . . Ruin is probably the strongest novel in the series so far. Gwynne did an incredible job leading things to their logical conclusions for massive payoffs, while shuffling things up just enough to make me both dread and anticipate the finale. * Reading Lamp Reviews *

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Book SynopsisThe irreverant, hilarious, touching and philosophical caper about the end of the world.''Still makes me laugh 25 years later'' Ben AaronovitchThere is a hint of Armageddon in the air. According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (recorded, thankfully, in 1655, before she blew up her entire village and all its inhabitants, who had gathered to watch her burn), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. So the Armies of Good and Evil are massing, the four Bikers of the Apocalypse are revving up their mighty hogs and hitting the road, and the world''s last two remaining witchfinders are getting ready to Fight the Good Fight. Atlantis is rising. Frogs are falling. Tempers are flaring, and everything appears to be going to Divine Plan.Except that a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon are not particularly looking forward to the coming Rapture. They''ve lived amongst Humanity for millennia,Trade ReviewThe Apocalypse has never been funnier. - Clive BarkerWickedly funny. - Time OutA superbly funny book. Pratchett and Gaiman are the most hilariously sinister team since Jekyll and Hyde. If this is Armageddon, count me in. - James HerbertHilarious Pratchett magic tempered by Nail Gaiman's dark steely style; who could ask for a better combination? - Fear

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Book SynopsisWitty, haunting and kind, Under the Whispering Door is a gift for troubled times. TJ Klune brings us a warm hug of a story about a man who spent his life at the office – and his afterlife building a home.From the author of joyous New York Times bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea.Welcome to Charon’s Crossing. The tea is hot, the scones are fresh and the dead are just passing through.When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own sparsely-attended funeral, Wallace is outraged. But he begins to suspect she’s right, and he is in fact dead. Then when Hugo, owner of a most peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace reluctantly accepts the truth.Yet even in death, he refuses to abandon his life – even though Wallace spent all of it working, correcting colleagues and hectoring employees. He’d had no time for frivolities like fun and friends. But as Wallace drinks tea with Hugo and talks to his customers, he wonders if he was missing something.The feeling grows as he shares jokes with the resident ghost, manifests embarrassing footwear and notices the stars. So when he’s given one week to pass through the door to the other side, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in just seven days.Fans of A Man Called Ove and The Good Place will fall for this queer love story by TJ Klune.Praise for TJ Klune:'I loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect' – V. E. Schwab, author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue'A modern fairy tale about learning your true nature and what you love and will protect. It's a beautiful book' – Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse series'A whimsical, warm-hearted fantasy' – Guardian'Fans of queer fantasy won't want to miss this' – Publishers WeeklyTrade ReviewUnder the Whispering Door is a kind book, full of faith in the goodness of people . . . It broke my heart with its unflinching understanding that grief never goes away, never empties, only settles into the room of your soul like a strange souvenir. And then it healed me in the next breath -- Cassandra Khaw, author of Nothing But Blackened TeethA whimsical, warm-hearted fantasy that suggests it is never too late to make a positive change in life – or afterwards * Guardian *Tenderness, wit, and skillful worldbuilding elevate this delightful tale. Fans of queer fantasy won’t want to miss this * Publishers Weekly *TJ Klune is doing powerful work that inspires and impresses. He is a gift to our troubled times, and his novels are a radiant treat to all who discover them * Locus Magazine *Enchanting * Daily Mail *I loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect -- V. E. Schwab on The House in the Cerulean Sea

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Book SynopsisJohn Gwynne studied and lectured at Brighton University. He's been in a rock 'n' roll band, playing the double bass, travelled the USA and lived in Canada for a time. He is married with four children and lives in Eastbourne, running a small family business rejuvenating vintage furniture. His first novel, Malice, won the David Gemmell Morningstar award for best debut fantasy. Valour is his second novel.Trade ReviewThe prose is sharp, the pace works wonderfully well and when added to a whole cast of complex character that bring not only the world in which they inhabit to life but bring their own thoughts and desires to the reader with space to spare. All round, this series is building into one of favourites of the last few years and to have an author who can produce a second book of high quality in good time and schedule shows that this author has a bright future. Great stuff. * Falcata Times *Valour is hands down, the best fantasy I have read in an age. I thought Providence of Fire might have claimed it, but Valour came swooping in and stole the title . . . may be becoming one of my all time favourite fantasy series . . . I’d probably class it with early Eddings, Gemmell and Goodkind, but with more maturity, stronger characters.. And more Omph! (technical term) * Bookfrivolity *Valour manages to surpass what was already a very strong debut, somehow managing to be even better than Malice . . . John Gwynne is a writer good enough to create characters you can love, and confident enough to kill them off when the time is right . . . A great read. Real characters in a well crafted world you can really immerse yourself in to. * Dominish Reviews *The ‘Chosen-One’ offspring of George R R Martin and J K Rowling, raised on the bedtime stories of Tolkien and whipped into fighting shape by David Gemmell . . . but still 100% Gwynne . . . John Gwynne wades in with a depth of world building that’d see most newbie authors flounder. * Written With a Sword Reviews *I really enjoyed the parts of the story that were set in the Celtic-influenced areas. The settings are beautiful and vivid, and the forests and mountains and castles distinctly brought to my mind the time I’ve spent in Wales and Scotland. * Half Strung Harp Reviews *A real gem . . . the traditional good versus evil tale in with very nontraditional twists. * Power and Page Reviews *

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Book SynopsisEmpire in Black and Gold is the first instalment in the critically-acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky.The days of peace are over . . .The Lowlands’ city states have lived in peace for decades, hailed as bastions of civilization. Yet that peace is about to end. A distant empire has been conquering neighbours with highly trained soldiers and sophisticated combat techniques. And the city states are its desirable new prize.Only the ageing Stenwold Maker – spymaster, artificer and statesman – foresees the threat, as the empires’ armies march ever closer. So it falls upon his shoulders to open the eyes of the cities’ leaders. He sees that war will sweep through their lands, destroying everything in its path.But to warn his people, he must stay alive.Empire in Black and Gold is followed by the second book in the Shadows of the Apt series, Dragonfly Falling.Trade ReviewBrimming with imagination -- SciFiNowThe Shadows of the Apt series is simply one of the best epic fantasy series out there -- LEC Book ReviewsSuper worldbuilding, great characters and extreme inventiveness -- Fantasy Book CriticEpic fantasy at its best. Gripping, original and multi-layered storytelling from a writer bursting with lots of fascinating ideas -- Walker of WorldsFull of sparking, speculative innovation -- Stephen Baxter on The Doors of EdenBreathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth Powell on Children of RuinA joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of Time

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Book Synopsis'I'm sorry? A fantasy romcom that is ACTUALLY funny and has a Black woman lead? And there's buckets of nachos? And a lesbian centaur? Give me a million books in the series, please.' Goodreads reviewAll I wanted to do was live my life in peace. Maybe get a cat, expand my spice farm. Really anything that doesn't involve going on a quest where an orc might rip my face off. But they say the Goddess has favourites. If so, I'm clearly not one of them.After saving the demon Fallon in a wine-drunk stupor, all he wanted to do was kill an evil witch enslaving his people.I mean, I get it, don't get me wrong. But he's dragging me along for the ride, and I'm kind of peeved about it. On the bright side, he keeps burning off his shirt.'This book is pure, sexy, dirty joy' Goodreads reviewTrade Review[P]erfect entertainment for my stressed out brain, and I was definitely rooting for those two wacky kids to have their HEA * Smart Bitches, Trashy Books *From the title I was convinced I would love this book and I did, it was funny and spicy and it was almost like talking to myself. The [heroine] was relatable with very real world problems, I too would like not to be dragged on adventures when I could just quietly farm cinnamon. * Amazon reveiw *This book had me laughing out loud . . . cannot wait to continue with the series * Amazon review *This was so stinking cute!! The banter, between not only the love interests but everyone, was phenomenal and I found myself actually laughing out loud at parts. Can't wait to read the next one * Amazon review *One of the freshest voices in fantasy romance! This book has it all: spice, humor, and a world I want to get lost in! * Katee Robert *A hilarious, down-to-earth romance with magic, adventure, and intrigue. What's not to love? * Talia Hibbert *Hilarious, hot and full of heart, That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon is exactly what you need in your life. Right now. Go pick it up because it is the cure to any reading funk and might even clear up acne. I'm serious. It's that good. * Avery Flynn *Delightfully spicy and full of heart, this is the perfect escapist fantasy rom-com -- a must-read series for readers who always roll to seduce when they play D&D. Cosy fantasy fans look no further. * Nadia El-Fassi, author of Best Hex Ever *Hilarious, hot and full of heart, That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon is exactly what you need in your life. Right now. Go pick it up because it is the cure to any reading funk and might even clear up acne. I'm serious. It's that good * Avery Flynn, author of Butterface *

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Book Synopsis'Dark, strange, thick with mystery and twists Book of Night is everything delicious and frightening I've come to expect from Holly Black.' Leigh Bardugo, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ninth House'Black is a master at world-building.' The New York Times Book Review_______________________________________________________________________#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies.Charlie Hall has never found a lock she couldn't pick, a book she couldn't steal, or a bad decision she wouldn't make. She's spent half her life working for gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows to peer into locked rooms, strangle people in their beds, or worse. Gloamists guard their secrets greedily, creating an underground economy of grimoires. And to rob their fellow magicians, they need Charlie.Now, she's trying to distance herself from past mistakes, but going straight isn't easy. Bartending at a dive, she's still entirely too close to the corrupt underbelly of the Berkshires. Not to mention that her sister Posey is desperate for magic, and that her shadowless and possibly soulless boyfriend has been keeping secrets from her. When a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie descends back into a maelstrom of murder and lies. Determined to survive, she's up against a cast of doppelgängers, mercurial billionaires, gloamists, and the people she loves best in the world - all trying to steal a secret that will allow them control of the shadow world and more.'I will never forget my first time reading Holly Black . . . Such a beautiful writer.' Daisy Johnson, Man Booker Prize finalist and author of SistersBook of Night, Sunday Times bestseller w/e 15th May 2022.Trade ReviewWith a gripping, perfectly paced story and a killer ending, this dark fantasy feels like an instant classic * Guardian *Dark, strange, thick with mystery and twists -- a story so believable in its magic, you'll be keeping one eye on your shadow as you turn the pages. * Leigh Bardugo, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ninth House *If Neil Gaiman channelled Stephen King, the result might be this book . . . scintillating prose, whiplash twists, and a voice of character that demands to be heard from again. * James Rollins, New York Times bestseller of The Starless Crown *Holly Black is a master of fantasy with the Midas touch -- there is no story she cannot turn to gold. * V.E. Schwab, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue *Superb, entangling magic and mystery around the gritty horrors of human nature, neglectful parenting and the scourge of severe income inequalities . . . Will have you frantically turning pages and finishing in less time than you thought possible. Everything you could want from a modern fantasy. * SFX *A gripping ride from start to finish. Book of Night invites you to reckon with the shadows of your past. * Olivie Blake, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six *Fuelled by Holly Black's wonderfully limitless imagination, Book of Night is a whip-smart and mysterious novel * CultureFly *Heart, soul, and a bit of kink -- Book of Night is smart, decadent fun. * Kelly Link, Pulitzer Prize Finalist *A delicious, dark, adrenaline rush of a book. I'm already dying to see Charlie Hall's next con. * Alix E. Harrow, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Once and Future Witches *A deliciously clever page-turner. * Paolo Bacigalupi, New York Times Bestselling author of The Water Knife *A dark romp full of danger and shadows with a razor-sharp heroine and vivid magic. * Zoraida Córdova, bestselling author of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina *Black is a master at world-building. * The New York Times *The many mysteries keep the suspense sizzling as Charlie guides readers through this slippery world. Black's adult fans and readers looking for dark urban fantasy will be thrilled. * Publishers Weekly *Book of Night delivers hot sex, a breathless plot, perfect characters, and some of the most gorgeous writing I've read in years, sharp as a razor blade, clear as a one-way glass. * Ellen Kushner, award-winning author of Swordspoint *...[T]he story builds to an exciting climax that will certainly leave you crossing your fingers for a sequel. * Paste Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANTLY INVENTIVE WRITERS OF THIS, OR ANY, COUNTRY'' INDEPENDENTShortlisted for the Booker and James Tait Black Memorial Prizes''Spellbinding''INDEPENDENT''Exceptional''LITERARY REVIEW''Beautifully precise''GUARDIAN''Marvellous''OBSERVER''Constantly entertaining''EVENING STANDARDThe captivating second novel from the critically acclaimed author of Ghostwritten and Cloud AtlasAs Eiji Miyake''s twentieth birthday nears, he arrives in Tokyo with a mission - to locate the father he has never met. So begins a search that takes him into the seething city''s underworld, its lost property offices and video arcades, and on a journey that zigzags from reality to the realm of dreams. But until Eiji has fallen in love and exorcised his childhood demons, the belongingTrade ReviewDazzling * Independent on Sunday *A delirious mix of thriller, tragedy, fantasy, video games and a portrait of uneasy modern Japan * Guardian *Wildly inventive * Sunday Times *An extraordinary literary cabaret of dreams, visions and pastiches, from video-game rides and gangster rumbles to suicide submariners. Endlessly ingenious and hugely enjoyable - but oddly moving as well. A rich showcase for 21st-century fiction -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Exceptional . . . More than a surreal detective story or coming-of-age novel, more than a portrait of Tokyo or stream of adolescent consciousness, it is unique: clever, unusual, gripping and beautifully written * Literary Review *I haven't enjoyed a novel so much in ages; wild, bristling with strangeness -- Books of the Year * Independent *Mitchell catches the multicoloured atmosphere of Tokyo brilliantly . . . He is a wonderfully amphibious writer, happy in all manner of elements, and seems able to produce an endless parade of interesting characters. number9dream resounds to the same marvellous chatter of different voices that marked out Ghostwritten, his outstanding first novel -- Robert Macfarlane * Observer *The wonderfully energetic prose is constantly entertaining, filled with daring imaginative stunts and the crackling rhythms of the digital age . . . Mitchell's Tokyo is a deliciously confusing virtual reality, a maze of bewildering information. Most impressive of all, though, is the fact that when you reach the end, wondering if it was all just a dream, you don't feel cheated in the least * Evening Standard *Ghostwritten's range of voices was astonishing. Each narrator revealed anew the author's dexterity and his ability to imagine lives. His second novel is more ambitious and more impressive . . . the main plot drives one urgently onwards, and Mitchell's delight in his inventiveness is infectious * Daily Telegraph *Generally speaking, the second novel confronts two pitfalls: rehashing the first novel or eliminating all trace of it for fear of rehashing it. In number9dream, Mitchell negotiates both dangers, retaining what is best of Ghostwritten and creating an original and in many ways more complex work * Times Literary Supplement *The external action of the novel is always engaging. But such is Mitchell's beautifully precise style that he can make inaction just as pleasurable . . . The prose bespeaks a kind of observational rapture that offers the smell of Tokyo streets or even the movements of a cockroach as tiny, cherishable shards * Guardian *Dangerously addictive . . . Mitchell's writing displays the kind of literary acrobatics and metaphysical depth that won him such huge accolades for his first novel . . . a brave novel, all the more admirable for his ability to push back the boundaries of the imagination * Big Issue *The diversity and sheer pace of the narrative sets it well apart from most contemporary British fiction and Mitchell is an original with a flair for fantasy . . . oozing panache, this cosmopolitan and fresh odyssey engages and entertains * Irish Times *He is a very energised and original sentence architect who elevates the steaming, fizzing city of Tokyo into a city of the imagination . . . a gifted and unusual writer * The Times *Superlative * Sunday Telegraph *A novel as accomplished as anything being written. Funny, tenderhearted and horrifying, often all at once, it refashions the rudiments of the coming-of-age novel into something completely original * Newsweek *number9dream, with its propulsive energy, its Joycean eruption of language and playfulness, represents further confirmation that David Mitchell should be counted among the top young novelists working today . . . He writes like a dream, the kind you don't want to end * San Francisco Chronicle *Delirious - a grand blur of overwhelming sensation * Entertainment Weekly *Mitchell's new novel has been described as a cross between Don DeLillo and William Gibson, and although that's a perfectly serviceable cocktail-party formula, it doesn't do justice to this odd, fitfully compelling work * New Yorker *

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Book Synopsis'Has the energy of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the inventiveness of Alice in Wonderland' Sunday TimesThe Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is .Trade Review'Has the energy of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the inventiveness of Alice in Wonderland...It has also an intelligent wit and a truly original grim and comic grasp of the nature of things' * The Sunday Times *'Our best comic novelist' * New Scientist *I'm addicted to Terry Pratchett' * A.S. Byatt *

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Book Synopsis'Kimberly Lemming is doing god's work, I swear. Finally, well written, funny, steamy (the sex scenes, whoa) fantasy romance with heroines who look like me. Finally!' Amazon reviewAnyone else ever thrown a drink at someone's head, only to miss entirely and hit a stranger behind them? Then have that stranger fall madly in love with you because it turned out that drink you threw was a love potion? No, just me? Well, damn.Dealing with a pirate ship full of demons that just moved into town was hard enough. Now on top of it, I have to convince a werewolf that I'm not his fated mate, he's just drugged. Easier said than done.Though I have to say, having a gorgeous man show up and do all of your chores while telling you you're beautiful isn't the worst thing to happen to a girl.'[P]erfect entertainment for my stressed out brain, and I was definitely rooting for those two wacky kids to have their HEA' Smart Bitches, Trashy Books on That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a DemonTrade ReviewThe one thing you can expect from Lemming is superb banter, humor, and sexy time. I thought I was going to be able to just read a few pages before bed, nope I devoured book 2 * Goodreads review *Lighthearted, spicy as hell, and legitimately laugh-out-loud funny, I would absolutely recommend for anyone looking to escape for a couple of hours into a romantic romp involving cheese puns, banter, and even a giant lobster! * Goodreads review *This book, this series. Phenomenal. A perfect blend of a modern girl in a fantasy world * Amazon review (of the US edition) *One of the freshest voices in fantasy romance! This book has it all: spice, humor, and a world I want to get lost in! * Katee Robert on THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND SAVED A DEMON *

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Book SynopsisThe irreverant, hilarious, touching and philosophical caper about the end of the world.''Still makes me laugh 25 years later'' Ben Aaronovitch There is a hint of Armageddon in the air. According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (recorded, thankfully, in 1655, before she blew up her entire village and all its inhabitants, who had gathered to watch her burn), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. So the Armies of Good and Evil are massing, the four Bikers of the Apocalypse are revving up their mighty hogs and hitting the road, and the world''s last two remaining witchfinders are getting ready to Fight the Good Fight. Atlantis is rising. Frogs are falling. Tempers are flaring, and everything appears to be going to Divine Plan.Except that a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon are not particularly looking forward to the coming Rapture. They''ve lived amongst Humanity for millennia, and have growTrade ReviewThe Apocalypse has never been funnier - Clive BarkerWickedly funny - TIME OUTA superbly funny book. Pratchett and Gaiman are the most hilariously sinister team since Jekyll and Hyde. If this is Armageddon, count me in - James HerbertHilarious Pratchett magic tempered by Neil Gaiman's dark steely style; who could ask for a better combination? - FEAR

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Book SynopsisTHE NO. 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERI devoured this' V.E. SchwabA vampire-themed Handmaid's Tale, with effective thrills that are intensified by social commentary' GuardianA gorgeous new fantasy horror a book about stories and fairy tales with family and love at its dark heartHidden across England and Scotland live six old Book Eater families.The last of their lines, they exist on the fringes of society and subsist on a diet of stories and legends.Children are rare and their numbers have dwindled, so when Devon Fairweather's second child is born a dreaded Mind Eater a perversion of her own kind, who consumes not stories but the minds and souls of humans she flees before he can be turned into a weapon for the family or worse.Living among humans and finding prey for her son, Devon seeks a cure for his hunger. But time is running out for her family want her back, and with every soul her son consumes he loses a little more of himselfThis is a story of escape, a mother's savage devotion and a queer love that will electrify readers looking for something beguiling, thrilling, strange and new.Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Susanna Clarke, and Let the Right One InTrade Review‘A gripping and beautifully plotted story told with verve and deliciously dark wit’Daily Mail ‘An exciting blend of gothic horror and action, smart and haunting’ Laura Purcell, bestselling author of The Silent Companions "Some novels are intended to be devoured in one sitting. Such is the case with Sunyi Dean’s The Book Eaters. Innovative, unique, poignant, and told with a voice as original as the story itself. I finished this novel in that one sitting, yet I’ll be pondering it for a long time to come. This is the debut of a new master of the modern fantasy. Don ’t miss it’James Rollins, #1 NYT bestselling author of The Starless Crown ‘A delightfully weird exploration of motherhood, queerness, and escaping patriarchal norms’Buzzfeed ‘Raw and imaginative, this gritty, gothic anti-fairytale knows the truth: love will make a villain out of anyone’Olivie Blake, NYT bestselling author of The Atlas Six ‘Sunyi Dean’s The Book Eaters is a darkly sweet pastry of a book about family, betrayal, and the lengths we go to for the ones we love. Great reading for a rainy morning, with tea or coffee on, a cat in your lap, and nowhere to be but lost in a delicious modern fairy tale’Christopher Buehlman, author of The Blacktongue Thief ‘A riveting tale that consumed me as earnestly as I devoured it. Full of grit and humanity, Sunyi Dean expertly weaves the complexities of motherhood, loyalty, and found family in a world not far from our own. Dean's debut has already established her as a master of craft. If I were a book eater, this novel would be one to savour’Saara El-Arifi, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of THE GREATCOATS: seven war mages with dark pasts must come together to fight an unknown enemy - but the stakes are higher than anyone can imagine . . . and someone's setting the seven up for a fall. Picture a wizard. Go ahead, close your eyes. There he is, see? Skinny old guy with a long straggly beard. The hat's a must, too, right? Big, floppy thing. Wouldn't want a simple steel helmet or something that might, you know, protect the part of him most needed for conjuring magical forces from being bashed in with a mace (or pretty much any household object). Yep. Behold the mighty wizard. Now open your eyes and let me show you what a real war mage looks like . . . but be warned: you're probably not going to like it, because we're violent, angry, dangerously broken people who sell our skills to the highest bidder and be damned to any moral or ethical considerations. My name is Cade Ombra, and though I currently make my living as a mercenary wonderist, I used to have a far more noble-sounding job title - until I discovered the people I worked for weren't quite as noble as I'd believed. Now I'm on the run and my only friend, a homicidal thunder mage, has invited me to join him on a suicide mission against the seven deadliest mages on the continent. Time to recruit some very bad people to help us on this job . . .Trade ReviewThere is no way you can read this book without a grin on your face * Financial Times *Chaotic energy, clever ideas and characters that stay with you after the final page * SFX *Brilliant and vivid world-building . . . riveting * Chad Stahelski, director of John Wick *With a contemporary style, relentless pace, and a unique and exciting magic system, The Malevolent Seven is an action-packed adventure that not only questions the true nature of heroes but the very meaning of good and evil * Michael J. Sullivan *Irreverent, foul-mouthed fun * Track of Words *A dark, comedic and bleak fantasy . . . breakneck and filled with twists and turns * Grimdark Magazine *A novel that wears its anti-hero credentials proudly on its sleeve * Geek Dad *de Castell doesn't get bogged down in the philosophizing. He lets his characters express the complexity and themes of the book through a propulsive and very fast-paced plot . . . this would make for a perfect summer beach read * The Fantasy Review *If you enjoy fantasy with clever plots, witty dialogue and characters with a keen sense of humour, you should keep The Malevolent Seven on your radar * Bibliosanctum *A march through mayhem. A unique mix of murderous mages, polymorphic angels, cunning demons, found family, and much more . . . one of my favourite books of the year, no question * FanFiAddict *This is de Castell without any restraints and writing complete chaos. It was a pleasure to read * Just Geeking By *A great time with bad people. The magic is fun, the cast is funny, and the quest is hopeless. I highly recommend you strap in and watch this diverse cast of rogues fall upward toward their goal with as much cursing and calamity as possible * The Quill to Live *Suffice to say if you enjoy your characters, magic and world on the darker side, aren't afraid of a little blood and enjoy found families who try to kill each other... this is the book for you * Becky's Book Blog *Full to the brim with magic, mayhem and danger. If you're looking for a book that will keep you guessing and keep you hooked right to the very last page, this one should definitely be on your wishlist * The Bibliophile Chronicles *This pulled me in from the first moments; it just felt like it was going to be fun - and it was * British Science Fiction Association *

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Book SynopsisThe Air War is the eighth book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky.An empress demands her birthright . . . All is in turmoil as the world moves towards war. In Solarno, spies eye one another and ready their knives – while the people of Myna watch troops gather at its borders. Emotions run high as old fears reawaken. And in Collegium students argue politics, too late to turn the tide.At the heart of the Empire, new pilots complete their secretive training, generals are recalled to service and armies are readied to march. Their Empress, heir to two worlds, intends to claim her birthright. For nothing – either within the Empire or beyond it – will stand in her way. The Air War is followed by the ninth book in the Shadows of the Apt series, War Master’s Gate.Trade ReviewBrimming with imagination -- SciFiNowThe Shadows of the Apt series is simply one of the best epic fantasy series out there -- LEC Book ReviewsSuper world-building, great characters and extreme inventiveness -- Fantasy Book CriticEpic fantasy at its best. Gripping, original and multi-layered storytelling from a writer bursting with lots of fascinating ideas -- Walker of WorldsFull of sparking, speculative innovation -- Stephen Baxter on The Doors of EdenBreathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth L. Powell on Children of RuinA joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of Time

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Book SynopsisThis might be his biggest coup yet! Legendary master thief Gideon Sable is on the hunt for the ghost of an alien-possessed man in this fast-paced supernatural heist thriller.The Preserve in Bath - the British Area 51 - is the secret government dumping ground for all things supernatural and out of space. It is one of the most heavily-guarded places in the world. However, it''s not what protects it that makes it so dangerous but the things that are inside . . . Gideon Sable - master thief, con artist and self-proclaimed vigilante - faces a challenge he can''t refuse. His client, the former Head of the British Rocketry Group, Professor Neil Sharpe, wants him to break into the Preserve. Once inside, Gideon and his crew of supernatural misfits can get any mystical artefact they desire out of the Preserve''s collection. The catch? To reach it, they must go through the treacherous Box Tunnel complex and not only face trained guards and booby traps but steal so

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Book SynopsisThe crowning achievement of an astonishing career, Boneland' concludes the story that began over fifty years ago in The Weirdstone of Brisingamen'.If the sleeper wakes, the dream diesProfessor Colin Whisterfield spends his days at Jodrell Bank, using the radio telescope to look for his lost sister in the Pleiades. At the same time, and in another time, the Watcher cuts the rock and dances, to keep the sky above the earth and the stars flying.Colin can't remember; and he remembers too much. Before the age of twelve years and nine months is a blank. After that he recalls everything: where he was, what he was doing, in every minute of every hour of every day.But Colin will have to remember what happened when he was twelve, if he wants to find his sister. And the Watcher will have to find the Woman. Otherwise the skies will fall, and there will be only winter, wanderers and moonTrade Review‘From Harry Potter to The Hunger Games, adults have been enthusiastically been reading children’s books over recent years. Garner predates the cross over phenomenon by decades, but he has never been just a children’s writer: he’s far richer, odder and deeper than that’ Guardian ‘He deploys short, accurate words better than anyone else writing in English today, and he makes it look simple. Boneland is the strangest, but also the strongest of Garner’s books. It feels like a capstone to a career that has taken him, as a writer, to remarkable places, and returned him to the same place he started, to the landscape of Alderley Edge and to the sleepers under the hill’ The Times ‘Boneland hooks into the mind, haunting, provoking…This novel functions like a dream, containing hints at insights that, once we wake, we yearn to grasp again’ Telegraph ‘There is much left unexplained. However, this is a novel for all the children who loved ‘The Weirdstone Of Brisingamen’ but who have now grown up.’ Four out of Five stars. Sarah Kingsford, Express

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Book Synopsis'This book is pure, sexy, dirty joy' Goodreads reviewer on That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a DemonWhen I was a little girl, my Ma used to read me stories every night. Some were epic adventures with high stakes and exciting twists, while others were of princesses trapped in towers guarded by fierce dragons. The pitiful princess would be stuck inside all day pining for her prince charming to come and rescue her. I always hated those stories. I couldn't imagine why the lazy thing didn't just get up and leave. Ironic since I was now stuck in that same situation. Turns out, when a dragon holds you hostage, he doesn't just let you get up and leave. Who knew? When I thought I saw hope on the horizon, that hope was smashed to bits by - you guessed it - another damn dragon.'[P]erfect entertainment for my stressed out brain, and I was definitely rooting for those two wacky kids to have their HEA' Smart Bitches, Trashy Books on That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a DemonTrade ReviewA fated mates road-trip romance that only Kimberly Lemming could deliver. It's got all the crackling wit, moments of absurdity, and captivating love story to fulfill every promise she's made to her readers with the first two books! Cherry is hilarious resilience goals and Dante is the secretly-dirty sad boy of my dreams! If I could eat this with a shovel it still wouldn't be enough * Melody Carlisle of the Heaving Bosoms podcast *She did it again. Sexy, funny, and full of surprises. I couldn't put this book down the minute I started reading * Mea Monique, author of THE GRIM REAPER'S LAWYER *

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Book Synopsis'Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.''Twas the night before Hogswatch and all through the house . . . something was missing.Superstition makes things work in the Discworld and undermining it can have consequences. When Death realizes that belief in the Hogfather is dangerously low, he decides to take on the job. But it's just not right to find a seven-foot skeleton creeping down your chimney and trying to say 'ho, ho, ho'.It's the last night of the year, the time is turning, and if Susan, gothic governess and Death's granddaughter, doesn't sort everything out by morning, there won't be a morning. Ever again . . .'Has the energy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the inventiveness of Alice in Wonderland' Sunday TimesHogfather is the fourth book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order. Trade Review'Has the energy of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the inventiveness of Alice in Wonderland...It has also an intelligent wit and a truly original grim and comic grasp of the nature of things' * The Sunday Times *'Our best comic novelist' * New Scientist *'I'm addicted to Terry Pratchett' * A.S. Byatt *

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Book SynopsisHari has spent his whole life faithfully ‘running the Wheel’ for his colony, generating power for the Light to help outsiders find their way back home. It is the only life he has known, safe and secure under the protection of the Guardians. Only – nobody has even seen any outsider return. When strange events begin to occur which the Guardians seem to cover up, Hari begins to question the life he is leading, and soon finds himself on an unfamiliar journey with his partner Heti to uncover the truth – and a great danger which will threaten the lives of everyone he knows and loves.

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Book SynopsisSeal of the Worm is the tenth and final book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky.An ancient enemy stirs once more . . .The Empire has vanquished its enemies at last, but at a terrible price. With her chief rival cast into the abyss, Empress Seda must face the truth of what she’s unleashed in her hunger for power. Now the Seal has been shattered, the ancient Worm stirs towards the light for the first time in a thousand years. Already it is striking at the surface, consuming everything in its voracious path. Unchecked, it will ravage the world.As her victory seems hollow indeed, Seda knows that only the most extreme solution can lock the Worm in the dark once more. But if she’ll go to such horrific lengths to save them all from the Worm, who’ll save the world from her?Start the epic journey with Empire in Black and Gold, the first book in the Shadows of the Apt series.Trade ReviewBrimming with imagination -- SciFiNowThe Shadows of the Apt series is simply one of the best epic fantasy series out there -- LEC Book ReviewsSuper world-building, great characters and extreme inventiveness -- Fantasy Book CriticEpic fantasy at its best. Gripping, original and multi-layered storytelling from a writer bursting with lots of fascinating ideas -- Walker of WorldsFull of sparking, speculative innovation -- Stephen Baxter on The Doors of EdenBreathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth L. Powell on Children of RuinA joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of Time

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Book SynopsisThe Sea Watch is the sixth book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky.Danger lurks beneath dark waters . . . A shadow is falling over Collegium. Despite the tenuous peace, Stenwold Maker knows that the Empire will return for his city. Even as he tries to prepare for the resurgence of the black and gold army, a hidden threat is working against his people. Ships that sail from Collegium's harbour are being attacked, sunk by pirates. Some just go missing . . . Lulled by the spread of lies and false promises, Stenwold's allies are falling away. He faces betrayal on every side, and the Empire is just waiting for the first sign of weakness to strike. But they are not the only power that has its eyes on Collegium. And even with all their military strength and technology, they may not be powerful enough to stave off the forces massing in the darkness.The Sea Watch is followed by the seventh book in the Shadows of the Apt series, Heirs of the Blade.Trade ReviewBrimming with imagination -- SciFiNowThe Shadows of the Apt series is simply one of the best epic fantasy series out there -- LEC Book ReviewsSuper worldbuilding, great characters and extreme inventiveness -- Fantasy Book CriticEpic fantasy at its best. Gripping, original and multi-layered storytelling from a writer bursting with lots of fascinating ideas -- Walker of WorldsFull of sparking, speculative innovation -- Stephen Baxter on The Doors of EdenBreathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth Powell on Children of RuinA joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of Time

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Book SynopsisThis mischievous Malaysian-set novel is an adventure featuring family, ghosts and local gods - from Hugo Award winning novelist Zen Cho.'A sharp and bittersweet story of past and future, ghosts and gods and family, that kept me turning pages into the dark hours of the night' – Naomi Novik, author of UprootedHer grandmother may be dead, but she's not done with life . . . yet.As Jessamyn packs for Malaysia, it’s not a good time to start hearing a bossy voice in her head. Broke, jobless and just graduated, she’s abandoning America to return ‘home’. But she last saw Malaysia as a toddler – and is completely unprepared for its ghosts, gods and her eccentric family’s shenanigans.Jess soon learns her ‘voice’ belongs to Ah Ma, her late grandmother. She worshipped the Black Water Sister, a local deity. And when a business magnate dared to offend her goddess, Ah Ma swore revenge. Now she’s decided Jess will help, whether she wants to or not.As Ah Ma blackmails Jess into compliance, Jess fights to retain control. But her irrepressible relative isn’t going to let a little thing like death stop her, when she can simply borrow Jess’s body to make mischief. As Jess is drawn ever deeper into a world of peril and family secrets, getting a job becomes the least of her worries.‘This may be Zen Cho's best work yet’ – Karen Lord, author of The Best of All Possible Worlds‘A compelling and deftly written ghost story' – Kate Elliott, author of Cold MagicTrade ReviewZen Cho's brilliant and distinct voice brings worlds to life on the page. A sharp and bittersweet story of past and future, ghosts and gods and family, that kept me turning pages into the dark hours of the night -- Naomi Novik, author of UprootedTold with love and humour, Black Water Sister is both ode and accusation to all the ties that bind - to family, duty and home. Thrilling and terrifying, honest and hopeful, this may be Zen Cho's best work yet -- Karen Lord, author of The Best of All Possible WorldsA creepily atmospheric and surprisingly heartwarming tale of gangsters, family, and spirits -- Aliette de Bodard, author of The House of Shattered WingsZen Cho’s Black Water Sister is a perfect blend of ghosts, gods, and the eternal bonds of family ties. Set in the gorgeous backdrop of Penang, Jess reunites with her extended family and navigate the world of spirits and gangsters. This novel is perfect for readers craving an otherworldly, atmospheric fantasy -- Roselle Lim, author of Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and FortuneZen Cho’s Black Water Sister is the diaspora fantasy of my dreams – funny, creepy, and heartfelt. Jessamyn Teoh never wanted to be haunted by her sassy, score-settling grandmother, but when she moves from America to her parents’ hometown in Malaysia, she must navigate family, gods, ghosts and old grudges in this compelling and heartwarming ghost story -- Vanessa Len, author of Only a MonsterA thrilling modern fantasy tale packed to the brim with deliciously petty spirits, intriguing family secrets, and an achingly tender personal journey for our thoroughly relatable heroine. I absolutely loved it -- Sarah Kuhn, author of the Heroine Complex seriesA compelling and deftly written ghost story of a young woman's passage through the grudges and tragedies of her family's past to find a path into a future she chooses for herself -- Kate Elliott, author of Cold MagicGhosts, gods, and supernatural vengeance collide in vividly-depicted modern day Malaysia to create a contemporary fantasy story that’s full of voice and heart. At turns suspenseful, poignant and hilarious, Black Water Sister is an addictive tale of personal identity, family secrets, and culture clash -- Fonda Lee, author of Jade CityCho’s multifaceted characters, like her masterful plot, are never quite what they first appear. Unpredictable twists keep the pages turning while the comic but endearing relationship between Jess and her sassy grandmother provides the story’s heart. This is must-read fantasy -- Publishers WeeklyClever, funny and compulsively readable – I loved it! -- Lavie Tidhar on The True QueenAn enchanting cross between Georgette Heyer and Susannah Clarke, full of delights and surprises. Zen Cho unpins the edges of the canvas and throws them wide -- Naomi Novik on Sorcerer to the CrownA captivating debut . . . tells an entertaining story with wit and consummate skill -- Guardian on Sorcerer to the Crown

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Book SynopsisBlood of the Mantis is the third novel in Adrian Tchaikovsky's richly imagined Shadows of the Apt series, following Dragonfly Falling. Stenwold must rally his allies for battle against the Empire, even as it seeks a dangerous artifact of enormous power.A dread ritual casts a deadly shadow . . .Achaeos the seer has finally tracked down the stolen Shadow Box. But he has only days before this magical artefact will be lost to him forever. Meanwhile, the Empire's dread forces are mustering for their next great offensive. Stenwold and his followers have only a short time to gather allies, before the enemy's soldiers march again – to conquer everything in their path. If Stenwold cannot hold them back, the hated black and gold flag will fly over every city in the Lowlands before the year's end.Yet a more insidious threat awaits. Should the Shadow Box fall into the hands of the power-mad Emperor, nothing will save the world from his relentless ambition.Blood of the Mantis is followed by Salute the Dark, the fourth book in the Shadows of the Apt series.Trade ReviewBrimming with imagination -- SciFiNowThe Shadows of the Apt series is simply one of the best epic fantasy series out there -- LEC Book ReviewsSuper worldbuilding, great characters and extreme inventiveness -- Fantasy Book CriticEpic fantasy at its best. Gripping, original and multi-layered storytelling from a writer bursting with lots of fascinating ideas -- Walker of WorldsFull of sparking, speculative innovation -- Stephen Baxter on The Doors of EdenBreathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth Powell on Children of RuinA joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of Time

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Book SynopsisIn the little town of Palomo Grove, two great armies are amassing; forces shaped from the hearts and souls of America.In this New York Times bestseller, Barker unveils one of the most ambitious imaginative landscapes in modern fiction, creating a new vocabulary for the age-old battle between good and evil. Carrying its readers from the first stirring of consciousness to a vision of the end of the world, The Great and Secret Show is a breathtaking journey in the company of a master storyteller.Trade ReviewPraise for Clive Barker: ‘An invocation of both magic and the imagination… A majestic maze of mythmaking’WASHINGTON TIMES ‘Passionate and ingenious… A ride with remarkable views’TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT ‘A fabulous, engrossing war of the worlds’PEOPLE MAGAZINE ‘Barker dislocates your mind’MAIL ON SUNDAY

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Book Synopsis The Nommo Award Winner.The Nebula Award Finalist.The World Fantasy Award Finalist.The British Science Fiction Award Nominee.A contemporary fantasy filled with the mythos of Nigeria, featuring Yoruba gods liberating an artefact from the depths of the British Museum. Shigidi is a disgruntled nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering the prayers of his few remaining believers to satisfy the demands of the company board. When he meets Nneoma, a sort-of succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes.Together, they attempt to break free of their constraints and live on their owns terms. But the elder gods have other plans for Shigidi, and the Orisha Spirit Company is not so easy to leave. The chairman has a final job for Shigidi and Nneoma, one that will take them to the very heart of the British Museum.From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the rooftop bars Trade ReviewFast and sharp as talons, Shigidi is a high-stakes art heist love story with Nigerian gods and demons and some Succession-level corporate politics and Alan Moore-ish deep dives into occult lore and mythologies. If you thought Killmonger was right or loved American Gods and Akata Witch, this one is very much for you * Lauren Beukes *A high octane thriller that is simply unputdownable. Talabi deftly weaves different mythos spanning centuries across continents and borders to create a truly fantastical story. Gods, demons, magicians, giants, all jostling for power and prestige within an all too human story. This remarkable debut rocked my world * T.L. Huchu, author of The Library of the Dead *Shigidi is a richly written story of love between immortals, a high stakes supernatural heist, and a sweeping adventure across time, space, and perhaps realms of existence. This is godpunk, done with style. And I'm absolutely here for it! * P. Djeli Clark, Nebula Award-winning author of Master of Djinn *For those who feel as if they've been waiting years for a novel by Wole Talabi, Shigidi surpasses expectations. It's fast-paced and fun, clever and beautiful. Filled with characters you want to spend time with in a world that is fresh and exciting. * Temi Oh, author of Do You Dream of Terra-Two *Shigidi is a tale that will excite any lover of contemporary African fantasy. What better thrill than two globetrotting, timetrotting, worldtrotting beings caught between a love story, a heist and a ghastly contract with a spirit company? Talabi's imagination, already obvious in previous works, shines through, offering us a world of deities and monstrosities trading in belief and supplication. An innovative addition to the godpunk roster-if you loved David Mogo, you'll love this! * Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author of the Nameless Republic trilogy *A heist caper with sex, violence, and superpowers popping off every technicolor page . . . Readers are in for a rollicking thrill ride * Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) *A captivating and entertaining story of a nightmare god and his succubus lover, Nneoma, pulling a heist across two worlds * Lightspeed Magazine *Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon is an explosion made of other explosions. As soon as I read the opening-taut, rollicking, rooted in physicality and emotion-I was charmed. This book is incantation, a sorcerous working that bound me to its story and drew me along as it sped toward its destination. Wole Talabi is a brilliant short fiction writer, and now he is revealed as a brilliant novelist, as well * Alex Jennings, author of The Ballad of Perilous Graves *[A] delightfully entertaining novel . . . a defiantly ambitious work . . . [and] also an action-packed thrill ride . . . Talabi's snarky narration keeps the tone light, while leaving room for a sweet love story * The Washington Post *Talabi keeps in balance his kinetic mix of noir heist fiction, erotic romance, political intrigue, and supernatural fireworks without distracting too much from the genuinely affecting relationship between Nneoma and Shigidi, who are a pair we wouldn't mind seeing again, and won't forget anytime soon * Locus *Talabi weaves a high-stakes, fast-paced tale of corporate greed, an interdimensional heist, and warring deities entrenched in Yoruba culture. Perfect for fans of the Ocean's film franchise and Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), this book will have readers holding their breath as Shigidi and Nneoma try to accomplish the impossible * Booklist *A smart, sexy, postcolonial book about two freelance gods running from their past and stealing from the British Museum. I had so much fun with these characters and I can't wait for the next book in the series. Perfect for fans of American Gods * Thomas D. Lee, Sunday Times bestselling author of Perilous Times *[A] debut fantasy novel that's everything at once: love story, adventure story, spirit world story . . . Talabi excites the reader with the beauty of his language * Aurealis *Complex, entertaining, and absolutely *fun* - and beyond that, heartwarming in its characters and in its conclusions. A story which left me wanting to believe in it * Genevieve Cogman, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Invisible Library series *Pure post-colonial magic and huge, heisty fun * Daily Mail *The universe is anchored in African beliefs, but with a global perspective and modern twists * SFX, 5* *Exuberant writing and ebullient imagination made this a lot of fun * K.J. Charles *A thoroughly entertaining read which balances a confident sense of its Nigerian identity with an awareness of contemporary fantasy * ParSec Magazine *A vivid, entertaining tale of love, power and revenge * The Guardian *Wole Talabi treats his readers to a journey steeped in mysticism... The book draws on centuries of African history and legends, as well as Nigeria's modern colonial past * Geek Dad *

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Book SynopsisIn this world, two souls inhabit a sole body, one by day, one by night. But though they live alongside one another, their ends do not always align. For Special Inspector Morden, whose hunt for a dangerous witch takes him far away, this will be a problem... Christophor Morden lives by night. His day-brother, Alexsander, knows only the sun. They are two souls in a single body, in a world where identities change with the rising and setting of the sun. Night-brother or day-sister, one never sees the light, the other knows nothing of the night. Early one evening, Christophor is roused by a call to the city prison. A prisoner has torn his eyes out and cannot say why. Yet worse: in the sockets that once held his eyes, teeth are growing. The police suspect the supernatural, so Christophor, a member of the king's special inspectorate, is charged with finding the witch responsible. Night-by-night, Christophor's investigation leads him ever further from home, toward a backwards village on the far edge of the kingdom. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more his day-brother's actions frustrate him. Who is Alexsander protecting? What does he not want Christophor to discover? And all the while, an ancient and apocalyptic ritual creeps closer to completion... Reviews for Equinox: 'Clever, original and beautifully crafted, half the fun here lies in getting to grips with the ramifications of this complex world, but the story holds like a vice' Daily MailTrade ReviewClever, original and beautifully crafted, half the fun here lies in getting to grips with the ramifications of this complex world, but the story holds like a vice * Daily Mail *Spellbinding fantasy... This innovative work is sure to please * Publishers Weekly *A dark fantasy that isn't afraid to delve. It delivers high-concept gothic gore – weird, wicked, and soaked in dread... A striking concept that allows a pacy mystery to develop -- Ian Green, author of The Gauntlet and the Fist BeneathTowsey has crafted a high concept fantasy noir packed with deep characterisation, and visceral shocks * SciFiNow *There are more layers to Equinox than your average fantasy novel and any fan of the genre will enjoy unpeeling them * SF Book *Original and intelligent * SFFWorld *A fascinating concept [which] Towsey skilfully explores * SFX Magazine *This novel makes you think about who we are * SF Crows Nest *An excellent and unique fantasy which has a lot to recommend it * ParSec Magazine *A highly original and innovative work of fantasy horror * Geek Dad *A magical crime story with an unexpected dimension * Birmingham SF Group *The many, many problems of two distinct people, sharing one body are readily apparent, and Towsey skillfully highlights more of them as we read * Occult Detective Magazine *

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Book SynopsisA Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick‘Alix E. Harrow is an exceptional, undeniable talent’ - Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas SixStep into Starling House – if you dare . . . Alix E. Harrow reimagines Beauty and the Beast in this gorgeously modern Gothic fantasy, perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Naomi Novik.Nobody in Eden remembers when Starling House was built. But the town agrees it’s best to let this ill-omened mansion – and its last lonely heir – go to hell. Stories of the house’s bad luck, like good china, have been passed down the generations.Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses, or brooding men. But when an opportunity to work there arises, the money might get her brother out of Eden. Starling House is uncanny and full of secrets – just like Arthur, its heir. It also feels strangely, dangerously, like something she’s never had: a home. Yet Opal isn’t the only one interested in the horrors and the wonders that lie buried beneath it.Sinister forces converge on Eden – and Opal realizes that if she wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it. Even if it involves digging up her family’s ugly past to achieve a better future. She’ll have to go down, deep down beneath Starling House, to claw her way back to the light . . .This is a romantic and spellbinding Gothic fairytale from Hugo, Nebula and Locus Award-shortlisted Alix E. Harrow.'Starling House is Alix E. Harrow’s greatest work yet' - Ava Reid, author of Juniper and ThornTrade ReviewThis book has everything you could possibly want this fall . . . a cursed town, a haunted house, a vivid and eerie setting—plus, characters willing to risk everything -- Reese Witherspoon, Reese’s Book Club October 2023 PickAlix E. Harrow is an exceptional, undeniable talent, and Starling House, with its gentle reassurances of the homes we make and the love we deserve, is more than satisfying. It’s pure loveliness in book form -- Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas SixGorgeous, poignant, and honest—an unforgettable read -- Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard DaughterThe gaudy, dark seam between horror and romance. Starling House is Alix E. Harrow’s greatest work yet – if you can survive its slow belly-crawl into hell -- Ava Reid, author of Juniper and ThornThis is gothic fairy tale at its best and truest: dark and romantic, angry and hopeful . . . I loved it -- H.G. Parry, author of The Magician's DaughterThis book is as knife-edged and sharp as its protagonist, a rich and strange exploration of home and need and want . . . A smart, spectacular contemporary Gothic -- Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of MagiciansThis is one you’re going to love -- Glamour MagazineTender and triumphant . . . Starling House will no doubt take its place alongside fiction’s most memorable haunted houses -- Publishers Weekly, Starred ReviewHarrow’s mash-up of twisted fairy tales and Southern gothic fiction is a haunting story of longing, lies, and generational curses -- Library Journal, Starred ReviewAlix E. Harrow is a fantasy author who just does not miss. This magical, heartfelt haunted house tale is no different -- Paste MagazineDevastating, eerie and upbeat -- SFXA spooky story about how hidden truths always come back to haunt you -- Kirkus, Starred Review

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Book Synopsis''Fairy Tale is vintage, timeless King, a transporting, terrifying treat'' - Guardian''A blazing flash of creativity . . . King''s best book in over a decade'' - EsquireLegendary storyteller Stephen King goes into the deepest well of his imagination in this spellbinding novel about a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher - for their world or ours. Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a hit-and-run accident when he was seven, and grief drove his dad to drink. Charlie learned how to take care of himself - and his dad. Then, when Charlie is seventeen, he meets a dog named Radar and her ageing master, Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house at the top of a big hill, with a locked shed in the backyard. SometTrade ReviewThere is a splendid climactic battle . . . King's delight in the world he has created is infectious and there's much to revel in here * Daily Telegraph *With ogres and castles, maidens and pots of gold, this is a fairy story through-and-through. Because it's Stephen King's, it's a Once-Upon-A-Time tale like no other * Daily Mail *Fairy Tale is a multiverse-traversing, genre-hopping intertextual mash-up, with plenty of Easter eggs for regular King devotees . . . allusions and homages abound . . . a page-turner driven by memorably strange encounters and well-rendered, often thrilling action * New York Times Book Review *Fairy Tale is vintage, timeless King, a transporting, terrifying treat born from multiple lockdowns which, in true King style, puts its finger right on that tender point which is the threshold between childhood and growing up * Guardian *The latest addictive thriller from King * The List *King's reputation precedes him, and his spellbinding new novel is magnificent and terrifying * Living North Magazine *The hailed King of masterful writing has pierced the page with mighty words once again, releasing a whopping fantasy novel, reminiscent of the haunting magnificence of those Brothers Grimms . . . Fairy Tale soars, allowing you to bask happily ever after in its unforgettable spell * Buzz Magazine *A blazing flash of creativity . . . King's best book in over a decade * Esquire *A really enjoyable and enthralling read, both exciting and enchanting, and yet another captivating tale from the pen of Stephen King * The Afterword *A fantasy gem . . . King tells this wonderfully fantastical tale with such effortless skill that the reader cannot help but fully invest in Charlie and all the characters, his evocation of late 20th-century small-town USA and its people pitch perfect, and his descriptions of the parallel world of Empis . . . vividly terrifying * Irish Independent *Some brilliantly written escapism . . . featuring a loyal dog, a grieving hero and childhood fears and dreams made real . . . King at his finest * Evening Standard *A spellbinding tale that bursts with imagination * Woman's Own *Stephen King is the world's greatest storyteller. Fairy Tale had me enchanted from page one. I remain in total awe at his genius * David Walliams *Magnificent . . . a doorstop chronicle of small-town America, and the battle between good and evil. Classic King, and clearly written with joy . . . He is one of the best writers on childhood and teenagers, which continues in Fairy Tale * Richard Osman, The Sunday Times *The master storyteller returns with a spellbinding story of mysterious houses, parallel worlds and reluctant heroes as an ordinary high school kid discovers a portal to a universe populated by classic fairy tale archetypes * Waterstones *If you've ever enjoyed classic King - coming-of-age stories grounded as much in suburban neighbourhoods as in supernatural fairylands - you will enjoy this * Literary Review *A dark, dazzlingly inventive fantasy novel * Daily Mirror, Best Books of 2022 *

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Book SynopsisTJ Klune is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the Green Creek series for adults, the Extraordinaries series for teens and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important now more than ever to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.Trade ReviewWolfsong is so well written that I'm in awe of TJ Klune's talent. The primary character, Ox, has huge feelings he can't articulate. But we know all of them, and we love him. The complex and startling world of Green Creek is the perfect setting -- Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse seriesBeautiful, poetic, unbelievably compelling. ALL the stars -- Juliette Cross, author of the Stay a Spell series on WolfsongFans will be delighted -- Publishers WeeklyAn exciting start to the [Green Creek] series -- Library Journal on WolfsongI loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect -- V. E. Schwab, author of the Shades of Magic series on The House in the Cerulean SeaThe House in the Cerulean Sea is a modern fairy tale about learning your true nature and what you love and will protect. It’s a beautiful book -- Charlaine Harris, author of Dead Until DarkUnder the Whispering Door is a kind book, full of faith in the goodness of people . . . It broke my heart with its unflinching understanding that grief never goes away, never empties, only settles into the room of your soul like a strange souvenir. And then it healed me in the next breath -- Cassandra Khaw, author of Nothing But Blackened TeethA whimsical, warm-hearted fantasy that suggests it is never too late to make a positive change in life – or afterwards -- The Guardian on Under the Whispering DoorTJ Klune is doing powerful work that inspires and impresses. He is a gift to our troubled times, and his novels are a radiant treat to all who discover them -- Locus Magazine on Under the Whispering Door

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Book SynopsisMaster thief, rogue and chancer Gideon Sable is back for another fast-paced supernatural heist - and this time he has the vault of a Las Vegas casino in his sights.Judi Rifkin is one of the world''s most successful collectors of the weird and unnatural. In a London underworld filled with criminals with very special talents, Judi is a force to be reckoned with.And Gideon Sable - thief, rogue and chancer - owes her a very large favour.Judi makes him an offer he can''t refuse: steal her the legendary Masque of Ra, kept safe in a Las Vegas casino, and she''ll wipe the slate clean.This isn''t Gideon''s first heist by a long shot. But with old grudges threatening to cloud his judgment, an unpredictable crew who don''t entirely trust each other and a formidable supernatural security team guarding his target, this job might be a gamble too far . . .A Matter of Death and Life is the sequel to The Best Thing You Can Steal,

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Book Synopsis"Lebbon is a master of drip-feeding horror and suspense" - The Guardian on Relics A gripping dark fantasy from the author of The Silence, now a major film on Netflix. There exists a secret and highly illegal trade in mythological creatures and their artifacts. Certain individuals pay fortunes for a sliver of a satyr's hoof, a gryphon's claw, a basilisk's scale, or an angel's wing. Embroiled in the hidden world of the Relics, creatures known as the Kin, Angela Gough is now on the run in the United States. Forty years ago the town of Longford was the site of a deadly disease outbreak that wiped out the entire population. The infection was contained, the town isolated, and the valley in which it sits flooded and turned into a reservoir. The truth-that the outbreak was intentional, and not every resident of Longford died-disappeared beneath the waves. Now the town is revealed again. The Kin have an interest in the ruins, and soon the fairy Grace and the Nephilim leader Mallian are also drawn to them. The infection has risen from beneath silent waters, and this forgotten town becomes the focus of the looming battle between humankind and the Kin.Trade Review"A deftly crafted and inherently riveting action/adventure fantasy novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality and reader engaging narrative storytelling...an unreservedly popular addition to community library collections, "The Edge" is a thoroughly entertaining read from cover to cover and very highly recommended to the attention of all dedicated fantasy adventure fans." - Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisQuentin and his friends are now the kings and queens of the magical land of Fillory. But he finds himself growing restless.So when a mystery at the heart of the kingdom is uncovered, Quentin and his old friend Julia charter a sailing ship and set off to the wild outer reaches.But their voyage will take them much further than they imagined and leave them with a choice that could have devastating consequences - for Fillory and for magic itself.Praise for The Magicians Trilogy'The best fantasy trilogy of the decade.' Charles Stross'The most entertaining and compelling fantasy I've read in a long time.' The Times'Lev Grossman has conjured a rare creature: a trilogy that simply gets better and better as it goes along... Literary perfection.' Erin Morgenstern'May just be the most subversive, gripping, and enchanting fantasy novel I've read this century.' Cory Doctorow'Dark and dangerous and full of twists. Hogwarts was never like this.' George R. R. Martin'Sad, hilarious, beautiful, and essential to anyone who cares about modern fantasy.' Joe Hill'A darkly cunning story about the power of imagination itself.' The New Yorker'The Magicians ought to be required reading... a terrific, at times almost painfully perceptive novel of the fantastic.' Kelly Link'Brilliantly explores the hidden underbelly of fantasy and easy magic, taking what's simple on the surface and turning it over to show us the complicated writhing mess beneath.' Naomi NovikTrade ReviewThe best fantasy trilogy of the decade. -- Charles StrossLev Grossman has conjured a rare creature: a trilogy that simply gets better and better as it goes along... Literary perfection. -- Erin Morgenstern * author of The Night Circus *Lev Grossman's novel is full of magic ... stupendous urban fantasy ... The Magician King is Harry Potter for grown-ups who have learned to hate Harry Potter * The Guardian *The most entertaining and compelling fantasy I've read in a long time. * The Times *A story about extraordinary deeds, heroism, magic and love -- all the stuff that makes escapism go. It's a fantastic trick that makes this into a book that entertains and disturbs at the same time * Boing Boing *

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Book SynopsisDragonfly Falling is the second book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Children of Time.Every hero must be tested . . .The Wasp Empire’s armies are on the move – and the city of Tark will be first to feel their might. Salma and Totho prepare for battle, alongside their Ant-kinden brethren. And within Tark’s walls, they’ll face a force greater than any Lowlander has ever seen. Stenwold Maker predicted this threat, and the Empire's secret service now deems him too dangerous to live. So he’s to be eliminated, and his beloved city of Collegium destroyed. For if this centre of learning is lost, it will crush Lowland resistance.As the Empire's troops continue their relentless advance, their young Emperor pursues another, even darker goal. And his success would trigger a reign of blood lasting a thousand years.Dragonfly Falling is followed by the third book in the Shadows of the Apt series, Blood of the Mantis.Trade ReviewBrimming with imagination -- SciFiNowThe Shadows of the Apt series is simply one of the best epic fantasy series out there -- LEC Book ReviewsSuper worldbuilding, great characters and extreme inventiveness -- Fantasy Book CriticEpic fantasy at its best. Gripping, original and multi-layered storytelling from a writer bursting with lots of fascinating ideas -- Walker of WorldsFull of sparking, speculative innovation -- Stephen Baxter on The Doors of EdenBreathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth Powell on Children of RuinA joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of Time

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Book SynopsisThe Bear and the Serpent is the second book in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s epic fantasy trilogy, Echoes of the Fall, following The Tiger and the Wolf.‘Addictively brilliant’ – John Gwynne on The Tiger and the WolfAs the south is in turmoil, an old terror emerges in the north . . .Maniye, child of both Wolf and Tiger clans, has been named Champion of her people. But they’re unsure if she’s an asset – or a threat. To buy time, she joins Prince Tecuman’s warband of outcasts and heads south, to help him gain his crown. She wants to discover her true place in the world, but instead heads into the jaws of a fierce new conflict.Civil war threatens as Tecuman and his twin sister battle for the throne, for only one can rule. Yet whoever triumphs will carry a heavy burden, as a great doom has been foreseen that will fall across their whole world. And soon Maniye finds herself at the heart of a political storm.Danger is also shadowing her old home, where Loud Thunder and his Bear clan are attempting to unite the northern tribes. But only extreme peril will end age-old rivalries. An adversary from the most ancient of times is preparing to strike, putting their lands and their very souls in danger. And neither north nor south will be spared the terror to come.Complete this sweeping coming-of-age fantasy trilogy with The Hyena and the Hawk.Trade ReviewA classically brilliant fantasy writer, a pusher of boundaries, a great storyteller -- Paul CornellOne of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction -- Christopher PaoliniIt's addictively brilliant! The protagonist is vivid and sympathetic - and I love both the story and the world Adrian has created. It's meticulously thought out and utterly believable -- John Gwynne on The Tiger and the WolfEqually deft in the realms of science fiction and fantasy adventure, Adrian Tchaikovsky knows how to take you to a place, no matter the setting -- SciFiNow on The Tiger and the WolfA joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of Time

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Book SynopsisThe incredible finale of the page-turning, high-octane Sandman Slim series filled with an explosive ending and intense kick-ass action from New York Times bestselling author Richard Kadrey.It's been three months since Stark stopped a death cult and a potential ghost apocalypse, and he's at loose ends. His personal life is a mess. His professional life isn't much better. And the worldwell, the world is going to shit. L.A. is gripped by a viral epidemic that has everyone wearing masks and keeping their distance from each other. But what's even more frightening is the Shoggot gang and their leader, King Bullet, who revels in the city's collapse.Who is King Bullet? No one knows. He seemingly came from nowhere with nothing but a taste for mayhem and an army of crazed killers who follow his every command. What king wants seems simple on it face: Chaos. Destruction. A city in flames. But there's more to the king and his plans for L.A. and what Stark discovers will change Heaven, Earth, and StTrade ReviewPraise for SANDMAN SLIM: ‘The best B movie I’ve read in at least twenty years. An addictively satisfying, deeply amusing, dirty-ass masterpiece, SANDMAN SLIM swerves hell-bent through our culture’s impacted gridlock of genres…it’s like watching Sergio Leone and Clive Barker co-direct from a script by Jim Thompson and S. Clay Wilson’William Gibson ‘If Simon R. Green wrote an episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter, it would read much like SANDMAN SLIM – violent, vivid, non-stop action of the supernatural kind. I couldn’t put it down’Charlaine Harris

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Book SynopsisOne of the Washington Post's top ten feel-good novels of the year: a perfect gift for book lovers everywhere!During a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy Hart found solace in books, especially Jack Masterson's Clock Island series. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher's aide, she has shared her love of reading with bright, orphaned seven-year-old Christopher Lamb. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he's finally written a new book. Even better, he's holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack "the Mastermind" Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.'Clever, dark, and hopeful' -V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueTrade ReviewMeg Shaffer's beautiful novel is part Willy Wonka, part magical realism, and wholly moving. It broke my heart and patched it over and reminded me that even as an adult, if you look hard enough, you can find the child still inside you * Jodi PIcoult *Our list of must-read fiction books wouldn't be complete without a novel that reminds readers of the power books hold between their pages. Meg Shaffer's The Wishing Game may not contain any magic--this is a whimsical tale, but it's grounded in reality--yet there's something magical about the book * Readers Digest *A heartwarming, page-turning story of found family, love triumphing over indifference, and the world-changing power of a good book * Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood *A dreamy, inventive novel about how books can not only change lives but save them too. Full of the power of imagination, it's one of my favorite books of the year. * Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Other Birds *A magical ode to storytelling, imagination, and the mystery of the creative life . . . Wildly imaginative, clever, and inspiring, The Wishing Game is for anyone who has found light in a story just when they need it * Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea *Meg Shaffer's debut establishes her as one of the best. The Wishing Game sees the secret child hidden inside all of us, and it takes us on the thrilling, magical journey we all long for--where we might end up with everything we want but only if we risk it all * Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds *Shaffer blends tragedy and triumph in a whimsical and gratifying debut about what makes a family. This is wish fulfillment in the best way * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *A meditation on the power of hope when all else seems lost * Kirkus *A work by turns clever, dark, and hopeful, Shaffer's debut is a love letter to reading and the power childhood stories have over us long after we've grown up * V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue *

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Book SynopsisFrom New York Times bestselling author Ann Aguirre comes the magical town of St. Claire, where anything is possible...Iris Collins is the messy one in her family. The "chaos bunny." Her sisters are all wildly successful, while she can't balance her budget for a single month. It's no wonder she's in debt to her roommates. When she unexpectedly inherits a house from her great aunt, her plan to turn it into a B&B fails-as most of her plans do. She winds up renting rooms like a Victorian spinster, collecting other lost souls...and not all of them are "human."Eli Reese grew up as the nerdy outcast in school, but he got rich designing apps. Now he's successful by any standards. But he's never had the same luck in finding a real community or people who understand him. Over the years, he's never forgotten his first crush, so when he spots her at a café, he takes it as a sign. Except then he gets sucked into the Iris-verse and somehow ends up renting one of her B&B rooms. As the days pass, Eli grows enchanted by the misfit boarders staying in the house...and even more so by Iris. Could Eli have finally found a person and a place to call "home"?

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