I first got my hands on work from Mark Lawrence back in 2011. He was pitched as the next George R.R. Martin (most authors are!).

What I read wasn’t that. It was something much different, but at least as good. A book I described at the time as, “Disturbing, Beautiful, Chaotic, Poetic, Haunting, Exhilarating…” and Mark’s writing has only improved since.

In the eight years that have passed, Mark Lawrence has published twelve books. His thirteenth (can’t think of a good unlucky joke; sorry!), The Girl and the Stars, is due out in April 2020.

We at F-F have made no secret over the years that Mark Lawrence is not only one of our favourite authors for the content of his books, but also the quality of his social media usage and interactions with readers. On top of that, Mark is known as having some of the best covers in the game. Now, I’m sure he would be quick to point out that this isn’t down to him. It’s a group effort to choose an artist and ultimately the incredible talents of the artist who produces the cover, but it’s still something we applaud Mark and those involved with his books for maintaining for a twelve count so far! Plus, Mark’s descriptions and character designs obviously spark something special for the artists who work on his books.

So, when Mark’s press team (he’s big and popular enough to have one of those now a days!) reached out and asked if we’d like to see and reveal the cover we immediately said, “YES!” (capitals, exclamation marks and all).

Without further chatter from me then, here is the cover for the hotly anticipated, The Girl and the Stars!

Beautiful, isn’t it? I love the gold and black. I think the stars and grey image work really well. The George R.R. Martin quote is a no brainer, really. High praise from one of the world’s most famous authors. It’s a book I’d pick up, because it stands out, and it’s a book I’d love to own in hardback, because it’s beautiful and would look awesome on my shelf.

For those who’ve not yet seen the book blurb, how keen does this leave you wanting to get your hands on it?

Only when it’s darkest can you see the stars. East of the Black Rock, out on the ice, lies a hole down which broken children are thrown. On the vastness of the ice there is no room for individuals. No one survives alone. To resist the cold, to endure the months of night when even the air itself begins to freeze, requires a special breed. Variation is dangerous, difference is fatal. And Yaz is different. Torn from her family, from the boy she thought she would spend her life with, Yaz has to carve a new path for herself in a world whose existence she never suspected. A world full of danger. Beneath the ice, Yaz will learn that Abeth is older and stranger than she had ever imagined. She will learn that her weaknesses are another kind of strength. And she will learn to challenge the cruel arithmetic of survival that has always governed her people. Only when it’s darkest can you see the stars.

I know, right? 🙂

So, all that’s left is for you to add this to your wishlist or pre-order it, ASAP. Here’s the link to do exactly that. It’s out in the UK on 30th April and in the US April 21st!

Only 134 days!