Harper Fire pre-empts Melissa Poett's YA romantasy debut in 'significant' deal

Harper Fire has bought the YA romantasy and medieval legend reimagining The Enemy’s Daughter by debut author Melissa Poett in a major pre-empt. 

Senior commissioning editor Megan Reid bought world rights, excluding North America, from Catherine Cho at Paper Literary in a “significant” pre-emptive deal, the publisher said. North American rights were acquired by Karen Chaplin, executive editor at Quill Tree, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books US. 

Scheduled for summer 2025, The Enemy’s Daughter is “a stunning reimagining of the medieval Tristan and Isolde legend, set in a dystopian world woven with magic,” according to HarperCollins.  

“An incredibly addictive debut YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy, The Enemy’s Daughter is perfect for fans of Sarah Underwood, Tahereh Mafi and Shelby Mahurin,” the publisher added. “An untitled sequel will publish in summer 2026. After civilisation crumbles, all that’s left of the Republic is the five clans and their enemy, Kingsland. Isadora, daughter of a clan leader, is a healer, desperate to bring back the medicine of the old world to help her people.  

“Tristan is the young assassin-prince of Kingsland, determined to get revenge on the clans. When Isadora is shot with a poisoned arrow, only Tristan can save her, in a magical ceremony that will bind them together forever. As she recovers in enemy territory, she begins to question the truth of their violent history... Isadora must decide which truth to believe.”  

Poett said: “I am thrilled to be working with Megan and Karen and the amazing publishing teams at Harper Fire and Quill Tree. Their enthusiasm for this story and belief in me as a debut author has been overwhelming, and to be published by such rockstars is a huge honour I don’t take lightly.  

“I wrote The Enemy’s Daughter as an epic romantasy, but almost as equally it became my love letter to a generation of girls who are finding their way in this world. I’m so grateful to HarperCollins for this opportunity, and to my agent, Catherine, for picking me out of the slush pile and taking me on this journey.” 

Reid commented: “With a gorgeous forbidden lovers romance, exquisite magic, high-stakes adventure and the most immersive, addictive prose, I fell completely in love with The Enemy’s Daughter from the first captivating meeting between Isadora and Tristan. Melissa is an incredible new talent, and I am thrilled to be welcoming her to Harper Fire.”