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The Bookseller's most-read rights deals of 2025
From dragons to symbologists, to wizards and detectives, it has been a varied year for rights deals announced by The Bookseller. This year, a new graphic novel adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series was announced at this year’s London Book Fair, as well as new books by Dan Brown, Jacqueline Wilson and Jo Nesbo.
There were also a series of major deals made for debut novels, as well as returns of beloved characters.
As 2025 draws to a close, The Bookseller has put together a list of the top 10 most-read rights deals from the past year.
Graphic-novel adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series takes flight with Ten Speed Graphic, Piatkus and Entangled Publishing
Ten Speed Graphic (TSG), Piatkus and Entangled Publishing have inked a six-book deal to produce graphic novels of romantasy superstar Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling Empyrean series.
The graphic novels will cover the author’s three Empyrean titles published to date: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame and Onyx Storm. Yarros will be adapting the text, working with a soon-to-be-named team of comics creators.
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld to be launched as graphic-novel series by Transworld and Puffin
Transworld and Puffin have signed deals for three graphic-novel adaptations of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, marking the start of the “Discworld Graphic Novel Universe”.
Puffin acquired world rights to The Wee Free Men, to be adapted by Pratchett’s daughter Rhianna Pratchett, with an illustrator still to be announced.
Picador unveils China Miéville’s new novel, 20 years in the making
Picador will publish a new novel, 20 years in the making, from award-winning author China Miéville.
The Rouse will be Miéville’s first single-authored novel for an adult audience since 2011 and be published in September 2026. Del Rey will publish in the US.
Dan Brown’s sixth Robert Langdon novel to be published 22 years after The Da Vinci Code
Transworld has announced that the latest and “most ambitious” Robert Langdon novel to date from bestselling author Dan Brown will be published this year.
The sixth book featuring Harvard symbiologist Langdon – who first appeared in 2000’s Angels & Demons, followed by publishing sensation The Da Vinci Code in 2003 – The Secret of Secrets, will be published by Transworld on 9th September 2025.
Tor UK to publish four new science-fiction novels from Adrian Tchaikovsky
Tor UK, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, is set to publish four new science-fiction novels from Arthur C Clarke Award-winner Adrian Tchaikovsky.
Publisher Bella Pagan acquired world rights to Children of Strife and three more science-fiction novels from Simon Kavanagh at the Mic Cheetham Agency.
Children of Strife is the next volume set in the Children of Time universe, and the new book features “epic adventure, first contact and the nature of intelligence among the stars”.
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Bloomsbury Children’s Books unveils new illustrated Harry Potter series for 2025, Pocket Potters
Bloomsbury Children’s Books has announced the “first-of-its-kind” Pocket Potters: Little Guides to the Harry Potter Stories by JK Rowling from new illustrators, due August 2025.
The publisher described the series as “a highly collectable series of must-have, magical gift books featuring favourite witches, wizards and creatures from the wizarding world, illustrated in full colour by an exciting range of up-and-coming, international talent”.
Jo Nesbo’s ’explosive new thriller’ set for August 2025 from Harvill Secker
Jo Nesbo’s “explosive new thriller with unexpected twists, dark secrets and bubbling personal and political tension”, Wolf Hour, was due in August 2025.
UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, went to Harvill Secker publishing director Liz Foley in a deal with Niclas Salomonsson at the Salomonsson Agency.
HarperCollins signs Lucy Foley’s Miss Marple novel
HarperCollins will publish The Guest List author Lucy Foley’s book featuring Miss Marple, the first full-length continuation of Agatha Christie’s iconic sleuth. Foley’s currently untitled novel is slated to be released in autumn 2026, the 50th anniversary of the publication of Christie’s last Marple, Sleeping Murder.
The deal for world English-language rights was negotiated by former HarperFiction MD and publisher Kimberley Young (now Transworld MD) with Agatha Christie Limited, along with Curtis Brown’s Cathryn Summerhayes on behalf of Foley. The project will be overseen in the UK by HarperFiction publishing director Charlotte Brabbin and David Brawn, HC’s publisher for Estates; the US side will be handled by Morrow VP and editorial director Emily Krump and Jennifer Hart, the HC US division’s SVP and deputy publisher. Agatha Christie Limited is handling foreign rights.
Virago nabs Eleanor Davies’ "hypnotic" dark academia debut in six-figure deal
Virago Press, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, has pre-empted Once, I Was Fire, the debut novel by Eleanor Davies, in a six-figure, two-book deal.
Publishing director Carla Josephson acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to the novel, plus one more, from Lucy Balfour at WME. North American rights have been pre-empted by Cassidy Sachs, senior editor at Dutton, Penguin Random House, and Spanish rights have been pre-empted by Urano.
Jacqueline Wilson unveils adult sequel to her children’s novel The Illustrated Mum
Jacqueline Wilson has revealed that she will be releasing the adult sequel to her children’s novel The Illustrated Mum (Penguin Random House Children’s, 1999) in summer 2025. Wilson unveiled a statue of herself covered in tattoos to announce the new adult novel. Picture Imperfect will be published by Transworld in hardback, audio and e-book on 28th August 2025.
The statue will now reside at Waterstones Brighton, before embarking on a mini-tour of the UK later in the year.
