Transworld buys 'electric reclaiming' of Andromeda by E S McLeod

Transworld has acquired Andromeda, the début adult novel by author E S McLeod, an "electric reclaiming of the white-washed woman in Greek mythology". 

Nicole Witmer, assistant editor, acquired world all language rights from Stephanie Thwaites at Curtis Brown. Andromeda will be published in hardback, e-book and audio in spring 2026.  

It follows the Aethiopian princess as she forms an unlikely bond with the sea-monster sent to follow her, until she is forced to make an impossible decision that will shape her legacy for the rest of time. Transworld called it an "electric reclaiming of the white-washed woman in Greek mythology". 

The synopsis reads: "When Queen Cassiopeia foolishly boasts that her daughter is more beautiful than Poseidon’s nereids, the sea god issues a challenge: if upon reaching womanhood Andromeda is the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, he will take her as his wife; if she is wrong, Cassiopeia will pay with her life. Poseidon assigns his most loyal nereid, the shape-shifter Cetus, to stay close to Andromeda until judgement day.  

"At first, the princess and the sea monster are wary of one another but as the years pass, the young women become drawn to each other. As the day of Poseidon’s desired pronouncement draws closer, they find themselves pulled into something that neither could have predicted."

Witmer said: "Andromeda is a powerful, electric reclaiming of a woman who has lost her identity through time. Ella breathes fresh life into the myth-reimagining space with her expertly crafted examination of loyalty and legacy, while thoroughly exploring both self- and queer love. I can’t wait for readers to fall in love with this stunning reimagining."

E S McLeod is the pen name of YA author Ella McLeod. She has written two YA novels, Rapunzella and The Map That Led to You (both published by Scholastic). She is also a poet and works in podcasting.