Gollancz swoops for fantasy novel from 'master world-weaver' Clayton

Gollancz has swooped for The Beauty Trials by "master world-weaver" Dhonielle Clayton. 

Senior commissioning editor Bethan Morgan acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, and digital and audio rights from Christina Faubert at Disney-Hyperion. The novel will be published simultaneously in the US and the UK on 14th February 2023. 

The Beauty Trials is a new novel set in the world of The Belles and The Everlasting Rose, which were both published by Gollancz. All three books will get a "luscious" new cover as part of The Beauty Trials publication. 

The synopsis reads: "Sophia, the dangerous and erratic former queen, has been imprisoned, restoring peace to Orléans. Now her sister, Charlotte, sits on the throne and has decided to invoke the ancient tradition of the Beauty Trials―a series of harrowing tests meant to find the true ruler of Orléans. Edel, who has always aspired to be more than a Belle, decides to enter and, after promising to bind her arcana to keep from having an unnatural advantage, joins a few dozen other hopefuls intent on becoming the next Queen of Orléans. But the Trials are far worse than any of them bargained for. As the women are put through tasks that test their strength, confidence, composure and bravery, many perish, and Edel is mysteriously attacked by one of the other competitors―forcing her to use her powers just to survive. Will her subterfuge cost her the crown, or is there a larger conspiracy at play?"

Clayton said: “I’m thrilled to be in partnership with the fantastic Gollancz team again as I return to the world of The Belles. I can’t wait to welcome incredible UK readers back into Orléans so they can enter this deadly and decadent tournament of queens.” 

Morgan added: “It’s a profound honour to have won the UK editorial mantle of this beloved series, originally brought to the Gollancz list by Rachel Winterbottom, and its terrifyingly familiar yet irresistibly opulent realm that makes a jewel of every word and a magpie of every reader with the precision of a master world-weaver. The Beauty Trials takes everything we know and love about these characters and says ‘hold my Belle-rose tea’.”