Acquisition Announcement: ENEMIES TO WORSE by Sarah Rees Brennan

Sarah Rees Brennan’s Time of Iron universe expands into short fiction. 

The author of the no. 1 Sunday Times bestselling Long Live Evil has sold a novella, set in the same world, to Orbit books. 

Editorial Director Jenni Hill bought World rights from Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary, and Editor Tiana Coven has acquired for Orbit US. 

The novella will be released in spring 2027: described as Heated Rivalry in a Game of Thrones setting, Enemies to Worse is set in the world of Time of Iron and features fan favourite characters, but stands alone and works as an entryway into the epic portal fantasy. 

Orbit will publish Kill Your Darlings, the final novel in the series, later next year. 

Sarah says: “What if Romeo fell for Tybalt instead of Juliet, where the fate of two great families depends on their heirs fighting to the death in a Norse-and-Scythian-inspired land of ice magic, sabre tooth tigers and intense cross-cultural conflict? I’m lucky my loyal fierce agent Suzie Townsend and fabulous risk-taking editors at Orbit, Jenni Hill and Tiana Coven, took a roll on this wild novella.” 

Suzie says: “Sarah Rees Brennan is one of the most distinctive voices in fantasy, and Enemies to Worse is her at her most irresistible: sharp, wicked, and full of heart. It delivers all of it in a story that stands on its own and pulls you straight into the world of Time of Iron. I’m so proud to work with her, and so excited for readers to discover this one.” 

Jenni says: “The Time of Iron universe enthrals me every time, and I’m overjoyed to be bringing readers more stories in that universe!”

About the author: Sarah Rees Brennan was born in Ireland by the sea. After world travel and surviving stage 4 cancer, she settled there in the shadow of a 300-year-old library. Writing young adult fiction, she was a Lodestar, Mythopoeic and World Fantasy finalist, Carnegie nominee and New York Times bestseller. Long Live Evil is her first adult work; it has been a no. 1 Sunday Times and no. 1 USA Today bestseller. 

About Orbit: Orbit is the science fiction and fantasy imprint of Little, Brown Book Group. Launched in 1974, it is one of the leading SFF imprints in the UK. Orbit authors include Sunday Times and international bestsellers Rachel Gillig, James S. A. Corey, N. K. Jemisin, Heather Fawcett, John Gwynne, Iain M. Banks, Jim Butcher, Andrea Stewart, Robert Jordan, Fonda Lee, S.T. Gibson, Hannah Whitten, M. R. Carey, Ann Leckie, Holly Race, Brigitte Knightley, Anthony Ryan and Brent Weeks.