S&S Children's pre-empts 'unmissable' YA romantasy from BookTok star Roberts

Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has pre-empted Lauren Roberts’ “unmissable” YA romantasy.

The global co-publication deal was led in the UK by Amina Youssef, senior commissioning editor, and in the US by Nicole Ellul, senior editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Simon & Schuster acquired world rights for three books from Roberts, brokered by attorney Lloyd Jassin at Law Offices of Lloyd J Jassin.

The publisher said “competitive and fast-moving international rights auctions are ongoing in several key territories” with the UK rights team managing translation. The book was originally self-published, and has taken BookTok “by storm” according to S&S. The first book, Powerless, will be published in the UK on 6th July 2023 and in the US on 7th November 2023, with book two following in 2024 and book three in 2025.

S&S has promised a “wide-reaching TikTok and digital-first campaign, with innovative and content-rich activity, building Lauren Roberts as a major new player in YA”.

Powerless is set in the kingdom of Ilya where those who possess powers are known as the Elites and those who don’t are Ordinaries, shunned from society. Paedyn Gray is an Ordinary posing as a Psychic to blend in with the Elites. When she unsuspectingly saves one of Ilya’s princes, Kai Azer, she’s thrown into the Purging Trials, a brutal competition showcasing the Elites’ powers. But if the Trials and the opponents within them don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for will if he discovers what Paedyn really is.

Roberts said: “Becoming an author was a dream I never considered a reality – that is, until I stumbled across BookTok. After creating content on the platform, the following I gained grew into a family, and it wasn’t long before I was writing Powerless.

"After years of advertisement, anticipation and an abundance of encouragement, I self-published the book. But when I captured the attention of Simon & Schuster, I squealed louder than ever. This is quite literally a dream come true. I am so excited to continue this crazy journey with such an incredible team.”

Youssef added: "There’s no doubt that S&S have struck gold. Lauren’s unmissable take on the YA romantasy genre delivers standout dual POV voices, enemies to lovers sizzling sexual tension, epic yet accessible worldbuilding, fascinating magic, high-stakes action and a cliffhanger ending unlike any other. S&S UK in partnership with our colleagues in the US are overjoyed to be publishing this trilogy on our bestselling YA list.”