PRH signs 'captivating' YA urban fantasy duology from WriteNow mentee Holness

Penguin Random House Children’s has signed a two-book deal with WriteNow mentee Nevin Holness with her debut, King of Dead Things, launching a YA urban fantasy duology “steeped in Afro-Caribbean folklore that’s set in a magical contemporary London”.

Naomi Colthurst, editorial director, and India Chambers, editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Isobel Gahan of Curtis Brown. Kristie Choi at Atheneum acquired the North American rights and the title will be published simultaneously in the UK and US in March 2024.

Penguin said: “In a testament to her brilliantly immersive writing, Holness joined WriteNow – Penguin’s award-winning programme to seek out, nurture and publish new writers from communities that are underrepresented on the nation’s bookshelves – on the basis of a single paragraph.

“That paragraph eventually became King of Dead Things, the first in a YA urban fantasy duology steeped in Afro-Caribbean folklore that’s set in a magical contemporary London."

The story is inspired by the stories and myths that were passed to Holness by her Jamaican grandparents and features an "unforgettable" cast of Black British characters.

The blurb reads: “Eli, a talented thief, doesn’t know who he is or where he came from. What he does know is that he can pluck the magic from a soul like a petal from a flower – and that there is nothing he wouldn’t borrow, steal or destroy in order to discover his past.

“Malcolm knows he can raise the dead with a wave of his hand but all he really wants is to be able to save his mother.

“When Eli is tasked with tracking down a legendary magical artefact, the teens’ paths collide, and they soon find themselves in a race against time to complete the job – before an ancient and malevolent power comes back to life.”

Holness said: “I’m so excited to be working with PRH on my debut Young Adult fantasy novel. Inspired by West Indian mythology and set in my home town, north London, I can’t wait to share the magic of this adventure with readers.”

Chambers commented: “We are always looking to expand our flourishing YA list with fresh cultural perspectives, and King of Dead Things offers something truly original and exciting. Moreover, in a market that’s often dominated by US writers, it’s a delight to be able to bring a remarkable homegrown talent like Nevin to UK readers. We couldn’t be more thrilled to publish her captivating debut novel.”

Holness is a London-based writer with a degree in fashion journalism from the London College of Fashion. She took part in the Penguin Random House WriteNow mentorship programme in 2018 and is particularly interested in writing stories that explore magic within the Jamaican diaspora.