Hachette Children's pre-empts ' irresistibly compelling' YA fantasy trilogy from Jabès Corpora

Hachette Children’s has pre-empted an "epic" YA fantasy trilogy from Michelle Jabès Corpora. 

Lizzie Clifford, senior commissioning editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth English rights from Marleen Reimer, associate director of subsidiary rights at Sourcebooks. Annette Pollert-Morgan, executive editor at Sourcebooks Fire, acquired world English rights in a pre-empt and the author is represented by Allison Hellegers of Stimola Literary Studio. The Golden Reign, the first book in the deal, will launch the Children of Khetara series in summer 2025 with books two and three following in 2026 and 2027 respectively. 

Billed as Game of Thrones meets Ancient Egyptian mythology, The Golden Reign follows a princess caught in a web of murder and lust, a priestess haunted by blood-drenched dreams, a farmer’s daughter who sparks a rebellion and a tomb raider who comes across a long-buried secret and inadvertently awakens a monster. 

Clifford commented: “We are thrilled to have acquired rights for this irresistibly compelling, deftly layered YA fantasy epic in which the exquisite, fascinating world of Ancient Egypt is vividly brought to life...Three royal siblings of divergent ambitions, visions of blood and prophecy, and a superbly haunting awakening of a horrifying curse make this an inescapably spectacular fantasy – seldom has a narrative so utterly captivated me.” 

Jabès Corpora added: “I am absolutely delighted to be partnering with Lizzie Clifford and Hachette to share Children of Khetara with readers across the UK and the Commonwealth. Not only is this series dear to me on a personal level, it has also been the most fun I’ve ever had writing a book. There is so much magic, so much intrigue and brilliance and drama in the stories of Ancient Egypt—it has been an amazing experience recasting them into a world that lies just on the border of reality and fantasy. I cannot wait for readers to join me on this great adventure!”