Tor launches new romantasy and horror imprints: Bramble and Nightfire 

Tor Books — part of Pan Macmillan’s Pan division — is launching two new imprints: Tor Bramble, a new romantasy imprint, and Tor Nightfire, a new horror imprint. 

Tor Bramble will publish between six and eight new hardback titles each year. The list will launch on 14th November with the debut adult novel from YA bestseller Mary E Pearson, acquired by Tor publisher Gillian Green, from Kerry Nordling, vice-president/director of sub-rights for Flatiron/Macmillan US. The Courting of Bristol Keats is described by the publisher as “reading group meets fantasy romance — a fae Fourth Wing [Pitakus] and literary page turner”. It follows the story of a young woman who is plunged into an unexpected world of gods, fairies and monsters. It is the first in a planned series. 

Tor Nightfire “will showcase the entire genre from literary to gothic to ghost stories and commercial fiction” the publisher said. It will publish between four and six books a year and will launch in January 2025 with cult horror author Grady Hendrix’s new novel Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. UK rights were acquired from Stevie Finegan at the Zeno Agency. Sophie Robinson, editorial director for Tor, described it as “a Southern gothic horror set in a maternity home for unwed girls. Compulsive, sharp, and gleefully horrifying, this is Grady at his absolute best and what a joy to welcome him to Tor Nightfire UK”. 

Nightfire will also become the home of Pan’s heritage horror authors including James Herbert. 

Both imprints will be led by Tor publisher Gillian Green with the Tor team commissioning across Tor and the new lists. While they share the names of existing imprints at Tor’s sister company in the US — part of Macmillan USA — and will share many authors, including TikTok star Carissa Broadbent, Bramble and Nightfire in the UK will be run independently with their team of editors commissioning widely across both lists. 

Green said: “Tor celebrated its fifth consecutive year of growth last year, outperforming the already impressive science fiction and fantasy (SFF) market value growth of 25% in 2023 (versus 33% value growth at Tor) and Bella [Pagan] and I have ambitious plans to grow Tor further.  

“Bramble and Nightfire will showcase the best of the best of romantasy, fantasy romance and horror on our lists as well as new Tor talent. While we share many of our beloved authors with our sister company in the US — and will now share the Bramble and Nightfire names — our publishing will be distinct. We’re delighted to be welcoming Mary and Grady to Tor and there’s so much more to come from Tor, Bramble and Nightfire and the whole team.”