The bestselling Rebel of the Sands author is back with a glittering fantasy thriller duology, featuring a family obsessed with money, power, fame - and magic.
At sixteen, Honora ‘Nora’ Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in Gamanix; her family controls all the money – and all the magic – in the entire country. But when her mother is found murdered in an alley, the family throne and fortune are up for grabs, which means Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the deadly Veritaz trials to determine the rightful inheritor.
But there’s a surprise rival in the form of Ottoline, aka Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt, who was left with nuns as a baby. Thrown into the Veritaz, she is suddenly surrounded by a hostile family she never knew she had.
But as the Holtzfalls wage their battles of privilege, something bigger and more sinister bubbles beneath the surface, and revolution is in the air.
Incredible tests, impossible choices, and deadly odds await both girls. But there can only be one winner.
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‘Sparkling [...]. Hamilton is back and better than ever.’ – Samantha Shannon, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree
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‘More-than-magical . . . readers are sure to devour!’ – Alexandra Christo, author of TikTok sensation To Kill a Kingdom
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‘Irresistible!’ – Catherine Doyle, author of instant #1 bestseller The Dagger and the Flame
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‘A treat . . . had me in a chokehold.’ – Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen
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‘An absolutely intoxicating, irresistible read.’ – Katherine Webber, bestselling author of Twin Crowns
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‘Fabulous . . . had me hooked.’ – Katharine Corr, bestselling author of Queen of Gods
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‘An absolute triumph.’ – Roshani Chokshi, NYT bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves
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UK Publisher: Viking Children’s Books, March 2025
UK Editor: Jenny Bak
US Publisher: Faber Children’s Books, March 2025
US Editor: Alice Swan
Primary Agent: Molly Ker Hawn
Film/ TV agent: CAA (Dana Spector)
Extent: 90,000 words ****
Co-agents: Chinese Grayhawk Japanese Japan Uni
Rights sold: Brazilian Portuguese Companhia das Letras French Gallimard Jeunesse Hungarian Maxim Italian Mondadori Libri Polish Poznanskie Russian Alpina Spanish Hidra
A glittering fantasy thriller featuring a dazzling family obsessed with money, power, fame – and magic! Complete the duology with the highly-anticipated sequel to The Notorious Virtues.
Don’t go into the woods, little one . . .
The glamorous, powerful Holtzfall family are gone, their loyal knights turned to stone. The Grims rule over a new Walstad. One where money is worthless, everyone is equal, and magic is for all.
But if the Holtzfalls are gone, so too is the protection of their ancient pact with the Huldrekall, ruler of the woods – and as a sweltering summer arrives in this so-called utopia, there are strange sightings, attacks . . . as creatures that have gone hungry for a long time roam their city once more.
And what of Nora and Lotte, the Holtzfall heiresses, who fled into the woods the day their family was slaughtered? Are they really dead and gone? Or simply plotting their return?
As the struggle for power, magic and revenge continues, it soon becomes clear that the Veritaz Trials are far from over . . .
UK Publisher: Faber Childrens Books, June 2027
UK Editor: Alice Swan
US Publisher: Viking Childrens Books
US Editor: Jenny Bak
Primary Agent: Molly Ker Hawn
Film/ TV agent: CAA (Dana Spector)
Extent: 95,000 words
Co-agents: Chinese Grayhawk **** Japanese Japan Uni
Rights sold: Brazilian Portuguese Companhia das Letras French Gallimard Hungarian Maxim Italian Mondadori Libri Polish Poznanskie Russian Alpina Spanish Hidra
Alwyn Hamilton was born in Toronto and spent her early years bouncing between Europe and Canada until her parents settled in France. Alwyn’s New York Times-bestselling debut, the YA fantasy Rebel of the Sands, was published in 17 languages. Alwyn was named the 2016 Goodreads Choice Award winner for Best Debut Author. She lives in London.