If you’ve been following this blog for any amount of time, you already know that Emily Cooper rocketed her way to my auto-buy authors list with her debut last year, Season of Fear. A dark fairy tale set amidst the monstrous Bavarian Forest, it had all the makings of a gothic masterpiece; ancient saints who feed on women’s terror, sinister and bewitching unknown beings within the forest, and confronting our own inner monsters. But for once, Season of Fear is not what we’re here to discuss.
Today, I’m honoured to be helping Emily reveal the cover of her third book – yes, third. Her second, The Horrors We Harbour comes out in September (and I’m going to take this opportunity to unashamedly boast that I got my hands on an ARC, so keep your eyes peeled for a review in the coming weeks). But we are being fed, because Emily’s debut young adult romantasy What Makes A Monster will release in February 2027!
Before I get into the synopsis, let’s take a moment for the cover! Have you ever beheld anything as gorgeous?
Blurb: Heavenly Bodies meets Divine Rivals in this star-lit romantasy about a girl who tried to end the world – and now has to save it.
In Velandor, where magic is ruled by the constellations, Celestine Savareau rots in prison after a failed attempt to end the world. All she wants is destruction and domination. When she is offered a freedom deal, Celestine has little choice but to accept, even if it means going after her ex-lover and accomplice Aire. So Celestine joins the Nightguard, the protectors of Velandor, even as she plots to reunite with Aire and finish what they started.
Nightguard Kivessin would rather die than work with Celestine. His mother was killed during her arrest, and he’s not about to forgive and forget. But when he learns that helping Celestine means taking her down if she goes rogue, he manages to set his razor-sharp morals aside.
As they commence training, Celestine must exploit her relationship with Aire to stay one step ahead. If she fails, the world will end – and she’d hate to die without exploring the undeniable tension which lingers between her and Kivessin. In doing so, Celestine and Kivessin discover something neither of them wants to acknowledge: she might not be the monster they thought…
What Makes A Monster is publishing on the 11th February 2027 in the UK and the 16th of February in the US. It is the first book in a confirmed duology, with the second instalment releasing the following February. Are you as excited as me (impossible), and are you as in love with the cover (also impossible) 💫🌑
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