Chicken House snares YA crime romantasy series by 'razor-sharp' debut author Jordan

Chicken House has snared a three-book YA crime romantasy series by "razor-sharp" debut author Amie Jordan.

Editorial director Rachel Leyshon acquired world rights excluding film for three books from Lydia Silver at Darley Anderson Children’s Books Agency. The first novel in the series, All The Hidden Monsters, will publish in May 2024, as Chicken House’s lead YA title for the season and at Frankfurt 2023, with the second book following in 2025.

The manuscript for the first book is now available for scouts and overseas publishers. Publication will be supported by a major PR and marketing campaign, beginning with an interactive murder-mystery-style proof package in early 2024 and early proofs being hidden around book events in autumn 2023.

Described as a book for fans of Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments (Walker Books) and Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London (Orion/ Gollancz), the synopsis says: "Sage is an ordinary girl and a werewolf, moving between worlds, desperate to make sense of her life. When her supernatural friend, Lucy, is found murdered in the human domain, she’s determined to join the investigation, led by handsome but arrogant warlock, Oren Rinallis.

"Sage is neither magical nor immortal, but she knows right from wrong, and can scent a killer like no other – unless she and Oren kill each other first."

All The Hidden Monsters was discovered through the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition, for which it was shortlisted in 2021 under the title The Vengeful Son. The competition is open to unpublished, unagented authors based anywhere in the world. It has kickstarted the careers of many children’s authors, including Costa Award-winning Jasbinder Bilan, Efua Traoré and Varsha Shah, author of Waterstones Prize-shortlisted Ajay and the Mumbai Sun (Chicken House).

Jordan commented: "Chicken House has been a dream to work with. Without their support, guidance and enthusiasm for the world I’m trying to create, this story would not be what it is today."

Leyshon added: "Every editor dreams of that instant moment of charisma and connection when reading an exciting new talent for the first time – and we have found that in spades with Amie Jordan. All the Hidden Monsters is the best kind of obsessive YA – a totally fresh mix of fantasy, crime and romance."

Silver commented: "From the moment I climbed down into Darkside, I was hooked on Sage and Oren’s story. Amie is such a natural storyteller, with a wonderful taste for darkness, and I’m delighted that she’s found such a brilliant and supportive home with Chicken House."

Updated 14th November 2023:

Chicken House has now sold all three books in the trilogy to France, Germany, USA and Canada and audio for "very significant" figures. Elinor Bagenal, rights director at Chicken House, sold all three novels to Carlsen Germany at an auction in the lead up to Frankfurt Book Fair before securing deals with Scholastic in the USA and Canada and audio rights with Bolinda at the fair and a pre-empt from Gallimard in France straight afterwards.