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Orbit pre-empts 'thrilling' fantasy début from A S Tamaki
Orbit, an imprint of Little, Brown, has pre-empted the fantasy début from Japanese-American author A S Tamaki, The Book of Fallen Leaves.
Orbit UK senior commissioning editor James Long agreed the deal with John Baker of the Bell Lomax Moreton agency. Orbit US senior editor Bradley Englert will be leading the North American publication.
The Book of Fallen Leaves is a fantasy retelling of 900-year-old Japanese samurai saga The Tale of the Heike, following two friends—one the heir to a disgraced warrior clan, the other a lowly servant—who form an unlikely friendship during a civil war.
The Book of Fallen Leaves will publish internationally in April 2026.
Long said: “I was sold on this novel as soon as I read the ‘Game of Thrones with samurai’ pitch. Never have I wanted so much for a manuscript to live up to its billing. I was thrilled to find that Alex’s brilliant novel not only delivers on this premise, but offers so much more besides. This is a gripping story that is both intimate and epic, and is full of heartbreak and betrayal and sacrifice, all wrapped up in Alex’s vivid, atmospheric writing. It’s ’Shogun’ with added monsters, and I’m here for it.”
Baker said: “Alex’s début is the kind of epic fantasy masterpiece that I’ve always dreamed of working on. Gorgeously written, heartfelt and heartbreaking, The Book of Fallen Leaves is a modern classic. There couldn’t be a more perfect home for Alex’s series than with James and Bradley and I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it.”
Tamaki said: "The Book of Fallen Leaves is the book of my heart. It’s an epic tale of family, honour, love, revenge, and dark magic inspired by my own heritage, featuring characters that have been in my mind for years - think one part A Song of Ice and Fire, one part ’Shogun’, and one part ’Princess Mononoke’—and I’m truly thrilled to be working with James, Bradley and the entire Orbit team to help share it with the world."
