As always, I tried to jam in as many of my favourite things as possible, and as always, my agent, beta readers and editors forced me to relax my death grip and cut out the bits that didn’t serve the story. So, thanks, in turn, to Harry Illingworth of DHH Literary Agency, for the endless encouragement and insightful commentary; to Mike Brooks and Stewart Hotston for extraordinary beta reading and to Sam Hawke, who helped me rework the opening chapters (also, they all write awesome books you should definitely read); and to Jack Renninson and Natasha Bardon at HarperVoyager for taking on another series and doing such an amazing job at teasing out what exactly I was trying to say with this book.

Thanks to Richenda Todd, copy editor extraordinaire, who deserves all the cake for doing such an incredible job under very tight time constraints and saving me from terrible calendrical errors on three separate occasions – including pointing out that I’d miscalculated a historical reference by more than 1,200 years …

And thanks to Stephen Mulcahey and Nicolette Caven for the beautiful and evocative cover and map, which really tie the book together and bring it to life.

Thanks also to all the staff and alumni at Writing the Other; you’re doing great work and helping to deliver authentic and realistic diverse worlds and characters through your lectures and courses.

Special thanks to David Bowles – lecturer, translator, author and historian – who helped me ground my fantasy world in reality and add depth and truth to my characters. It was a privilege to work with and learn from you.

As always, to the Five – JP, Kareem, Laura, Mike, Sadir – for just being awesome and always supportive, even if we can’t meet up right now. And to the rogues’ gallery of everyone I’ve played RPGs with this year – you’ve been a source of endless fun and supreme frustration. My DM skills are not the best, but, to be fair, look who it is I’m working with. I love you all.

And to the authors of the Bunker – it’s a privilege to know you and share the worries and weirdnesses of this very peculiar industry with you. A special thankyou to the ANZ contingent, who first brought up the subject of writing your id, which has had a profound effect on how I approach my work now. Honestly, it’s a game-changer and I can’t thank you enough.

And, of course, my family and friends, for your endless love and support, and Mark, for giving me space and time when I need it, and distractions when I need those. There’s no way I’d be able to do this without you. I’m the luckiest idiot ever. I love you.

Black Lives Matter.

By Anna Stephens

Godblind

Darksoul

Bloodchild

About the Publisher

Australia

HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.

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Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Canada

HarperCollins Canada

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