Zephyr snaps up Bex Hogan's dark YA fantasy novel Nettle

Zephyr, the children’s imprint of Head of Zeus, has acquired Nettle — a dark YA fantasy by Bex Hogan.

Publisher Fiona Kennedy acquired world rights in a two-book deal from Davinia Andrew-Lynch at Curtis Brown, and Nettle will be published in hardback, e-book and audio on 10th October.

The book is described as Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Wild Swans" meets "A Midsummer Night’s Dream", and the synopsis adds: "A wild misfit in the human world, Nettle is enthralled by the glamour of the faery realm, with its two moons and scarlet stars. She grows close to Conor, a human stolen centuries before, and she also falls under the spell of mysterious Ellion, a Shadow Faery. To try to help her beloved grandmother who is fading in her world, Nettle makes a pact with the faery king. He’ll heal her grandmother in exchange for Nettle completing three tasks. She agrees, not realising that deception lurks in this enchanted place and that she has been tricked."

Hogan said: "As a lifelong lover of fairy tales, it’s a dream come true to have spun my own in Nettle. Working with Fiona, who adores the dark beauty of fairy mythology and lore as much as I do, is a total thrill, and I’m so excited to be joining the incredible Zephyr family."

Andrew-Lynch added: "I am thrilled that Bex is joining the Zephyr list with her latest YA. She and Fiona are truly a match made in editorial heaven and in Nettle we have an absolute joy of a manuscript — I very much look forward to this fairy tale being out in the world."

Kennedy said: "I’ve watched Bex’s writing career with interest and was delighted when she agreed to write for Zephyr. The wild and dreamy characters and clever plot she has created in Nettle are everything and more than I could have wished for in this tale of beauty and cruelty and fairy ways that will always fascinate the human world. We are thrilled to welcome Bex to the list to publish alongside authors such as Finbar Hawkins, Kat Dunn and Clara Kumagai."