Finding North: Cover Reveal!

Issue 3.5: The Isles of the Gods cover reveal 🎉

Note: The recording above is a reading of this newsletter — there’s no different content, and it’s not produced, so you’ll hear the occasional stumble, or sounds of daily life in the background. If you’re someone who needs or prefers to hear their news, then I hope it’s helpful.

Hi, my friends.

I’m dropping into your inboxes with a quick special edition of the monthly letter, because I have something to share that can’t wait — the cover for The Isles of the Gods is finalised!

It will go up on social media in about 24 hours, but I always want to share things here, with you, first. Please don’t share it publicly until 24 hours after you receive this newsletter, or you see it go up on my social media accounts.

Now, here we go… Behold her beauty, then read on for some behind-the-scenes peeks at how she was made.

I thought I’d better put the cover up the top, because I know I’d just scroll until I saw it! Isn’t it beautiful?

Who’s that on the cover?

That’s Selly — I often joke that she’s my grumpy protagonist, but of course she’s so much more than that. She’s strong-willed, determined to overcome the setbacks life has dealt her, and to prove herself. She’s single-minded, and has little patience for those who find her abrasive. After all, she’s just talking common sense. Right?

She’s also loyal, and brave, and when she’s put to the test, what she finds will be enough to change the world.

The ship is the Lizabetta, one of her father’s fleet, and the ship Selly grew up on. She plans to captain her one day — but for now, she’s stuck running every errand from bilge to bowsprit, under the command of a captain she hates.

But Selly — and the Lizabetta — are about to go on an adventure.

Tell me more about what happens in this book, please.

If you insist! Here we go…

Magic, romance, and slumbering gods clash in the start of a riveting fantasy series that spans gangsters’ dens, forgotten temples, and the high seas from the New York Times bestselling author of the Aurora Cycle and the Illuminae Files.

Selly has salt water in her veins. So when her father leaves her high and dry in the port of Kirkpool, she has no intention of riding out the winter at home while he sails off to adventure. But any plans to follow him are dashed when a handsome stranger with tell-tale magician’s marks on his arm commandeers her ship. He is Prince Leander of Alinor  and he needs to cross the Crescent Sea without detection so he can complete a ritual on the sacred Isles of the Gods. Selly has no desire to escort a spoiled prince anywhere, and no time for his entitled demands or his good looks. But what starts as a leisure cruise will lead to acts of treason and sheer terror on the high seas, bringing two countries to the brink of war, two strangers closer than they ever thought possible and stirring two dangerous gods from centuries of slumber…

What was the cover process like?

We went through so many iterations on the way to this cover, setting aside some truly beautiful pieces of art along the way. Every team at my publisher ended up weighing in on the decision, everyone wanting to get it right. At times we all collectively wanted to tear our hair out, because we knew we were close, and we couldn’t find it, but it was such a supportive experience — rather than frustration, for me it was one of gratitude, that everyone was so invested in finding exactly the right match for this book.

Who was involved?

The artwork is by Aykut Aydoğdu — we knew from the very start that it would be. His style uses beautiful, organic colours that match the world of this story so well, and the touch of magic in every one of his illustrations was exactly what we needed.

Angela Carlino was the art director — she navigated the twists and turns behind the creation of this cover so deftly, and with great good humour. I have told my editor that we’d better find out before I meet her whether Angela is a hugger, because gosh, am I coming for her if she is!

Will this be the cover internationally?

I can confirm that this will be the cover in the UK and Australia! There might be small tweaks to the font and so on, but the art you see here is the art you’ll see in those countries. Other markets will be a little further behind, as they’ll be translating the book first, but as I find out, I’ll share that information here.

It must be mine. Where do I preorder it?

I thought you’d never ask. I’m actually going to hit ‘publish’ to share the cover on social media on the morning of my birthday, so if you’d like to get me a present that’s really a gift for you…

US preorder links - click here!

UK - you can order now from Waterstones, and I’ll share more links as they come online.

Aussies - you can preorder directly from Allen & Unwin by clicking here, and I’ll share retailer sites in the new year.

You can also add The Isles of the Gods on Goodreads by clicking here.

And that’s it!

I’ll be back at the start of December with my next monthly letter — in the meantime, take care, and happy reading!