Tor scoops Huchu’s Scotland fantasy series in two-book deal

Tor has scooped The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle, the next book in T L Huchu’s Scotland-set fantasy series. 

Publisher Bella Pagan acquired world rights in a two-book deal from Jamie Cowen at The Ampersand Agency.

It will be published in summer 2023, with the second untitled novel to follow. Tor US will also be publishing both books. 

The first instalment in the series, The Library of the Dead, won Best Novel at the Nommo Awards, presented by the African Speculative Fiction Society, last month. The next novels in Huchu’s Edinburgh Night series will continue to follow “resourceful” magician-in-training Ropa Moyo, who is still stuck in “an irksomely unpaid internship”. The publisher continued: “So she’s thrilled to attend a magical convention at Dunvegan Castle, on the Isle of Skye, where she’ll rub elbows with eminent magicians. For Ropa, it’s the perfect opportunity to finally prove her worth. Then a librarian is murdered and a precious scroll stolen. Suddenly, every magician is a suspect, and Ropa and her allies investigate. Trapped in a castle, with suspicions mounting, Ropa must contend with corruption, skulduggery and power plays. Time to ask for a raise?” 

Huchu said: “Ropa Moyo’s adventures are a lot of fun to write, and in the next two we’re ratcheting up the stakes. Various series threads are coming together as our hero faces off against newer, badder villainous villains and makes even more surprising discoveries. Readers following the series will surely get certain questions answered as we round off quite a few arcs. It’s been so exciting working with Team Tor on this project, and I’m exhilarated we’re back together on the rollercoaster as we hurtle through demonic knots and headchoppers.”

Pagan added: “Tendai writes witty, fast-paced fiction packed with fiendish twists and turns. His magical world springs into vivid life on the page, and once you’ve met the whip-smart Ropa, you won’t ever want to leave. I’m thrilled to be publishing more of these wonderful books.”