Tor acquires thrilling RJ Barker fantasy featuring murder, mystery and mayhem

The novel features Irody Hasp, a 'cleric' who can sense the last thoughts of the dead. When his apprentice is murdered, this talent draws him into a plot - one that threatens the corrupt yet wondrous city he calls home. And if he can't find the perpetrator, his own life will be forfeit. This is an inventive tale of murder and mayhem set in a fantastical city. And Tor UK will publish Mortedant's Peril alongside Tor US in summer 2026.

RJ Barker’s previous books have received praise from authors including Adrian Tchaikovsky, Robin Hobb, Tasha Suri and John Gwynne. Adrian Tchaikovsky called The Bone Ships ‘one of the most interesting and original fantasy worlds I've seen in years.’

RJ Barker says ‘I am so excited to be working with Bella, Stephanie and the great team at Tor to bring the irascible Irody and his friends out to the world. It feels like this has all the imagination and characterful work my readers enjoy, while at the same time being a fun way for new people to discover what I do. I’ve loved writing this and I hope people will love reading it just as much.’

Bella Pagan, Tor Publisher, enthuses: ‘RJ has created something incredibly special here. Irody is smart, curious and endearingly curmudgeonly. And the magical city of Elbay is so wonderfully full of mystery, wonder, bandits and ruffians. I was utterly hooked by this incredible adventure.’

Ed Wilson comments: ‘One of the most beloved figures on the SFF scene, RJ has been thrilling readers for almost a decade with his compulsive stories and meticulous prose. And with Irody Hasp, the ‘Mortedant’ of the title, we have met his most brilliant character yet. We're excited to begin this new chapter with Tor, and look forward to many more years of RJ bringing joy and mayhem to the publishing world.’

About the Author

RJ Barker is a critically acclaimed and award-winning author of fantasy fiction. He won the 2020 British Fantasy Society's Robert Holdstock award for Best Novel for his fourth novel, The Bone Ships. His debut trilogy The Wounded Kingdom (Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins) was nominated for the David Gemmel Award, the Kitschie Golden Tentacle, The Compton Crook and the BFS Best Debut and Best Novel awards. It was called ‘Thoroughly entertaining and constantly impressive’ by the Fantasy Hive, ‘One of the best fantasy series you will ever read’ by the BFS, and ‘A singular sensational new voice in epic fantasy’ by Kings of the Wyld author Nicholas Eames.

About Tor UK

Tor UK specializes in speculative fiction and is a destination for the best in imaginative storytelling. A sister company to Tor Books in the US, Tor UK publishes an impressive array of award-winners, bestsellers, household names and talented debut authors. Tor’s mission is to publish out-of-this-world genre fiction and bring readers books that spark joy. It strives every year to increase the diversity of its list, publishing authors from minority backgrounds and increasing positive representation of gender issues through fiction. (www.panmacmillan.com/tor). Tor UK has been shortlisted for Best Imprint at the British Book Awards three times in the last five years.

About Pan Macmillan

At Pan Macmillan we publish a broad and vibrant range of books for audiences of all ages from dazzling bestsellers to influential prize-winners; books to inspire lifelong readers and listeners to enduring classics for generations to come.
The fourth largest UK publisher, we pride ourselves on publishing successfully and sustainably and are committed to working together to positively impact culture and society at large.

Author photo credit: ©Dan Dummer