Oneworld seizes new fantasy duology by Afzal

Oneworld’s Rock the Boat has acquired Dancers of the Dawn, the first in a “sweeping” new fantasy duology by debut author and editorial assistant at John Murray Press’ Baskerville imprint Zulekhá A Afzal.

World English language rights to Dancers of the Dawn and its sequel, Dancers of the Dusk, were acquired by Katie Jennings, Rock the Boat’s senior commissioning editor, from Lauren Gardner at Bell Lomax Moreton. Rock the Boat will publish Dancers of the Dawn in hardback and trade paperback in June 2024.  

The series is described as “an epic story about loyalty, betrayal and the search for truth set in a rich fantasy world inspired by Zulekhá’s mixed cultural heritage".

Its synopsis reads: “In a world where dance can be deadly, a storm is brewing. Deep in the desert, under a blazing sun, an elite troupe of female dancers are trained to harness their magic. They are the queen’s most formidable weapons. Aasira has one of the rarest forms of magic – for she is a flame-wielder. Both feared and envied, she must use her power to execute enemies of the crown.

“On the eve of her graduation, all Aasira wants is to serve her queen and escape the legacy of her infamous mother: a traitor to her country. But as war looms on the horizon and secrets stir in the shifting dunes, she begins to question whether she was truly born to kill…"

Jennings said: “Zulekhá is such a fresh new voice in YA fantasy and her tale of dancing assassins and deadly secrets had me completely spellbound. With its evocative desert setting and tantalising slow burn romance, I hope that, just like me, readers will fall in love with the world of Dancers of the Dawn.”

Afzal said: “It’s a real dream to be bringing Dancers of the Dawn to life and it couldn’t have found a better home than with Katie and the team at Rock the Boat. Thank you also to my agent, Lauren, for believing in my idea of dancing warriors from the beginning. I’m incredibly excited to be sharing a story inspired by my love of ballet and can’t wait for Aasira to pirouette out into the world.”

Gardner added: “I am so pleased to have found Zulekhá and the incredible Dancers of the Dawn a home with Rock the Boat. Zulekhá has created a bold, beautiful and deadly new fantasy world, and I can’t wait for readers to discover Aasira’s magic in June next year.”