Gollancz snaps up Bedi’s South Asian fantasy epic inspired by post-colonial India 

Gollancz has signed Kavithri by début author Aman J Bedi, “an action-packed epic inspired by post-colonial India full of magic, mayhem and political machinations”.

Editor Brendan Durkin acquired world English language rights in a two-book deal from Ernie Chiara at Fuse Literary. Kavithri will be published in hardback on 14th March 2024.

The synopsis reads: “Kavi is a Taemu, an outcast people at the very bottom of Raayan society. With nothing but her determination and wits, she intends to break into the secretive mage academy, face the Jinn within its walls, and gain the power to drag her people out of the darkness forever. This is an action-packed epic inspired by post-colonial India, full of magic, mayhem and political machinations. Kavithri pulls no punches and its fierce and empowering narrative will have fans of great epic fantasy hooked.”

Bedi said: “Earlier this year, when the book was still on submission, Ernie sent me a message from Brendan that I will never forget. He wrote that the book ‘channels a distinct feeling of anger that completely captures you in its net’, and I knew, instantly, in one of those goosebump-inducing moments, that Brendan got it.

“Publishing with Gollancz is a dream come true – most of the books on my shelves are published by them – and I am so grateful for Ernie’s relentless optimism and belief that brought the book this far. Both Ernie and Brendan connected with its heart, and I know there are readers out there who will feel the same.”

Durkin said that from the moment he started reading Kavithri, he knew Bedi’s “was a voice unlike any I’d read before”.

“Brimming with character and atmosphere, this is a powerful fantasy that readers are going to devour,” he said.

Chiara added: “There was quite a bit of interest in Kavithri, and I was so pleased Brendan and the team at Gollancz shared Aman’s passion and vision for this story. This stunning début is loaded with fantastic world building, propulsive action, and a character brimming with grit, snark and determination. Kavithri grabbed me by the heart and never let go, and I couldn’t be more excited for readers to feel that for themselves.”