Faber Children's snaps up YA romantasy from 'voice in a generation' Callender

Faber Children’s has snapped up Infinity Alchemist, the first in a YA romantasy duology from Kacen Callender.

Editor Natasha Brown acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Witt Phlilips at Macmillan US. The novel will be published on 6th February 2024 simultaneously with US publications.

Beth Phelan, Callender’s agent at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency, said: "I’ve been lucky enough to work with Kacen for eight years now, and I’m always bowled over with every new story that they come up with. Infinity Alchemist is no exception."

With a cast of transgender and queer characters of colour, Infinity Alchemist follows Ash in his illegal pursuit to master alchemy. But when he is blackmailed into helping a college apprentice to find the Book of Source, the two must contend with dangerous rivals who are prepared to kill for it.

Callender is the author of the National Book Award-winning King and the Dragonflies (Scholastic) and is also known for Felix Ever After (Faber).

Callender said: "I spend a lot of time thinking about empowerment, especially in a world where it feels like so many have the ability to decide who is worthy and who isn’t. In Infinity Alchemist, Ash’s story explores self-empowerment as Ash and his two new companions attempt a near-impossible heist to find and destroy a book that shouldn’t exist – a trio that ends up in a fun but complicated romance.

"It’s hard to put into words just how much I loved creating this world and these characters, and how completely consumed I was when writing the story."

Brown added: "It’s been an immense honour to publish Kacen’s stunning romances and to see the importance of their books to queer teens. Infinity Alchemist is the romantasy their fans have been waiting for, centring a gorgeous Black trans, queer, polyamorous triad in one of the most epic and brilliantly realised fantasy novels I have ever encountered."