Ithaka Press secures 'scorching' feminist horror from C J Leede

Ithaka Press has acquired American Rapture by C J Leede. 

Serena Arthur, commissioning editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Chad Luibl at Janklow & Nesbit US. American Rapture will be published as a paperback original on 26th June 2025, as well as in e-book and audiobook.

Leede was dubbed by the Bonnier Books UK imprint as "a new voice in the feminist horror space [with] a scorching new apocalyptic novel". 

American Rapture is described as American Gods meets "The Last of Us", and is an epic and sweeping story about the end of the world as we know it. The novel follows Sophie, a good Catholic girl who has been kept separate from the world. She must traverse the apocalyptic hellscape of the Midwest to try to find her lost brother while learning the reality of her own sexuality in a suddenly lust-filled world.

Leede said: “It took me 10 years to write a draft of American Rapture that I was happy with, as the book deals with themes that are very personal and important to me, and I really wanted to get it right. I am so thrilled to get to call Ithaka Press my UK home for this book, and especially to get to work with Serena Arthur, whose brilliant vision I know will take it everywhere it needs to go.”

Arthur said: “As a huge fan of CJ’s debut novel, Maeve Fly, I was thrilled to see American Rapture in my inbox and am so honoured to now be publishing her. CJ’s novels all feel fresh and new in the horror/thriller space, utilising tropes of various genres to explore everything from first crushes to the stages of grief through her beautifully complex protagonists. American Rapture gripped me and wouldn’t let me go until its emotional end and I know it’ll do the same to readers here and around the world.” 

Luibl said: “Serena has a remarkable vision to publish bold, innovative and genre-breaking novels and I’m beyond excited to see American Rapture join her list.”