Sir Cade expected an easy afternoon’s guiding job. She didn’t expect it to end up sneaking her client over a border to avert a war, whilst being trailed by a bored dragon. And becoming haunted by the ghost of her best friend and sword-brother, that was definitely a surprise.
But if it’s all her responsibility, well, that means it’s all down to her to fix it. Whatever the cost.
Right?
"Song, Stone, Scale, Bone" is a deceptively rich and fulfilling work that blends together explorations of grief, friendship, obligation, and mutual support. With its combination of classic fantasy motifs, some lightly crafted magic, and a nuanced sense of where the personal and familial can meet the machinations of leadership and politics, I found Song an intriguing, well-constructed, and satisfying read." — Andi C. Buchanan, author of Sanctuary
Buy Song, Stone, Scale, Bone now on Amazon UK (ebook/print), Amazon US (ebook/print), or order from your local bookshop.
The final book in the Marek Series — buy now from your preferred online retailer.
The city of Marek is newly independent from their neighbour Teren — but Selene, representative of Teren, has threatened to return, and this time, with sorcerers and demons in tow. Last year, the sorcerers of Marek narrowly defeated a single Teren-summoned demon; how might they fare against a dozen or more?
Meanwhile, the common people of Marek grow increasingly fervent in their own demands for representation – for a say in how the city is run, and for whom it is run. Marcia, Fereno-Heir, agrees with the Lower City; they deserve a better say. But the Council won’t hear of it – then Selene arrives to make good on her threat. Marcia must convince the Council to believe in Selene's magical threats, whilst her sorcerer brother, Cato, rushes to build some sort of defence.
Because if Teren’s demons can pass the Cityangel’s wards, it’ll be the end of them all.
“The City Revealed” is an absorbing fantasy set in a richly imagined world. A lovingly drawn and diverse set of characters struggle both personally and politically with the consequences of their own and others’ actions, and strive for cooperation without sacrificing principles. A thoroughly satisfying read. – Una McCormack, New York Times bestselling science fiction author.
“Eminently satisfying epic fantasy where the personal, the political and the magical are multilayered and interlocked.” – Juliet E. McKenna, Author of the Green Man series and the Tales of Einarinn series.
Cover artwork by Tony Allcock
The Rising Flood, Book III of The Marek Series
"Fantasy politics with real nuance and believable uncertainty, characters whose richness and depth has developed over three books, and a growing threat that starts pulling together threads across the series make The Rising Flood a fantastic read, while Marek is a textured place that is a joy to return to.” — Malka Older, Hugo Award finalist author of the Centenal Cycle series
There's darkness in the heart of Teren. Refugees, fleeing demons unleashed by the Academy, arrive in Marek; but Marek, dreaming of independence, is increasingly unstable.
Marcia, Heir to House Fereno — expecting a child and with her relationship in ruins — battles to manage threats internal and external, while rebels from the lower city demand change in rabble-rousing pamphlets, and Marek’s two remaining sorcerers, Marcia's brother Cato and her ex-lover Reb, struggle to train more. Teren's many demons threaten, and no one is ready.
Menaced by the distant capital, by dissension from within, and by out-of-season storms rampaging across the Oval Sea by nature itself — will the rising flood lift all boats? Or will they be capsized?
"I found The Rising Flood an engrossing read, the fullness of the prose transporting me to a world that is complex and well-realised, but also emotionally and politically recognisable. It’s a novel that appreciates the weight and complexity of adult decision making, and the nuances of how personal relationships sometimes have to be politically navigated." — Andi C. Buchanan, author of From A Shadow Grave
Buy now from your favourite e-book retailer! (Paperback out Dec 7th 2021.)
The sequel to The Deep And Shining Dark — buy it now from your preferred online retailer.
Marcia wants to make changes in Marek after the events of the summer, but now distant Teren is making a play for political power in the city. Meanwhile, Tait, a young Teren sorcerer on the run, sees Marek and its cityangel Beckett as a place of safety; which will be true only until Beckett discovers there's a demon chasing Tait. Are the demon and the machinations of the Teren Lieutenant connected? Are Marcia's political goals worth the risk of facing down a demon? And can Marcia's sorcerer brother Cato avoid getting involved?
"Shadow and Storm is an absolute delight to read, the literary equivalent of sinking into the embrace of a dear friend. Warm and cosy but never short on adventure and intrigue, Kemp's second entry into this series won't disappoint. The characters are real, full of depth, and richly drawn, and you'll wish you had even more time with them by book's end. A fantastic read!" — Rivers Solomon, Locus, Tiptree, and Lambda Award finalist
Buy Shadow and Storm as an ebook now! (Paperback available from your local bookshop, or direct from Elsewhen.)
The Deep And Shining Dark (Elsewhen Press, 2018)
"A rich and memorable tale of political ambition, family and magic, set in an imagined city that feels as vibrant as the characters inhabiting it." — Aliette de Bodard, Nebula-award winning author of The Tea Master and the Detective
"A novel that’s one part high fantasy, one part political fantasy, and one part old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery – without the swords or the lack of realistic diversity to which old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery was often prone." — Liz Bourke, Locus
Juliet Kemp's The Deep And Shining Dark (Elsewhen) was one of the best debuts of the year, set in a chewy and thought-provoking secondary world that one hopes to see more of." — Graham Sleight, Locus Recommended Reading List 2018
"an entertaining and well written fantasy novel with subtle complexity, good worldbuilding and fluent characterisation" — Rising Shadow
A Starbound Solstice (Robot Dinosaur Press, 2021)
A festive space queer romance that will melt your heart and warm your exosuit.
Linn and xyr crew are halfway through their long journey from Earth to Cetalla; what better time to celebrate a solstice? Bid farewell to Sol and hello to a new homestar. Traditions around mistletoe—not to mention Linn’s totally non-existent crush on xyr crewmate Taye—have nothing to do with it.
Explaining paperchains to xyr alien crewmate and plotting present-giving keeps Linn busy enough, but then something goes wrong with Heron, the ship’s AI. Tracing the cause to a giant hullbreach onto needlespace, Linn and Taye have no idea what to do about it, or the stranger who came through it.
Can they save their ship and get to their new home before the pressures of needlespace damage Heron beyond repair? And is Linn ever going to get that kiss under the mistletoe?
"This is such a sweet science fiction holiday story set on an interstellar ship, with just enough natural tension to be fun but with an overriding message of hope and kindness and a real feeling of light - just perfect for the theme of a solstice celebration." — Stephanie Burgis, author
A Glimmer Of Silver (The Book Smugglers, 2018)
“A Glimmer Of Silver, from @booksmugglers, is bloody brilliant. A really interesting, well told, fascinating piece of ecological fiction. Plus, one pronoun for all, and it's xe!” — D Franklin
"a warm and delightful SF YA novella - it reminds me in the best way of what it might be like if Robin McKinley wrote science fiction." — Stephanie Burgis
"A Glimmer of Silver reminds us that, sometimes, the most potent barriers exist not between species, but between ourselves. But in its insistence that these barriers are not insurmountable, it speaks to the possibilities—and the hopes—of translation and coexistence, at the meeting points of sentience." ‐ Gautum Bhatia, Strange Horizons