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Puffin snares new middle-grade trilogy Arkspire from Jamie Littler
Puffin has snared Arkspire, a new middle-grade fantasy adventure trilogy from the author and illustrator behind the Frostheart series.
Editorial director Naomi Colthurst bought world rights in three books from Jodie Hodges and Emily Talbot at United Agents. The first book in the series, Arkspire, will be published 6th July in paperback, audio and e-book.
The publisher said the epic adventure would introduce young readers to a new fantasy world and cast of characters centred around the magical and mysterious city of Arkspire.
Its synopsis reads: “Glorious, powerful, magic; a city of twists, turns and tricksters; extraordinary secrets which only one girl can uncover. Welcome to the world of Arkspire.
“Arkspire is a city obsessed by magic. The five Arcanists—a group of all-powerful magicians—have protected the great city for as long as anyone can remember. Within the hustle and bustle of these cobbled streets lives Juniper Bell, a thief who’d do anything for her family—even her unbelievably annoying sister Elodie. Then one night, something incredible happens. A mysterious stolen relic explodes, revealing a mysterious creature, Igna, who appears to ’bond’ with Juni. The only creatures like that are allegedly dangerous enemies of the Arcanists and it’s not long before they turn their attention to Juni.”
The acquisition follows the success of Littler’s debut series Frostheart, which became the bestselling middle-grade debut of 2019, according to the publisher. The series has sold more than 80,000 copies through UK TCM.
“In Arkspire, Littler’s skilled world-building, astonishingly immersive illustrations and endearing characters will undoubtedly capture the hearts and imaginations of young readers once again,” the publisher said. The launch will be backed with a creative and far-reaching PR and marketing campaign that will bring the world of Arkspire to life and connect Littler with hundreds of primary school children.
Littler said: “Having been able to tell the story of Frostheart has been a dream come true but nothing could’ve prepared me for the overwhelming joy at seeing readers’ reactions to it. Excited emails from fans, letters from schools, fan-art of particular excellence—it’s been life-changing.
“And so I am beyond thrilled to be able to continue to tell stories, especially with Puffin Books, who’ve given me the most enthusiastic, caring publishing home. Arkspire is a very different world to Frostheart and yet in many ways it’ll feel familiar to readers of Frostheart for it’s a world of adventure, excitement and monsters. It’s a very personal story to me, one of two inseparable siblings who grow up to take very different paths in life and must search for the connections that still bind them. With the wizard-like editorial guidance of Naomi Colthurst and the passionate team at Puffin, Arkspire couldn’t be in better hands.”
Colthurst added: “Jamie is one of the most exciting author-illustrators working in the UK, and we are absolutely delighted to be launching another fantastic fantasy adventure series with him. Jamie’s brilliantly funny stories are always incredibly child-focused, with unforgettable characters, extraordinary world-building, and a pace that never lets up.
“It’s therefore no surprise that Jamie’s fans have turned him into one of the UK’s most beloved and bestselling middle-grade stars of recent years and we are thrilled not only to have the opportunity to sell Arkspire globally but also grow his potential to become one of the biggest middle-grade authors in the market.”
