Del Rey triumphs in five-way auction for Lynn D Jung's 'chilling and propulsive' debut
Del Rey, an imprint of Penguin Random House, has triumphed in a five-way auction for Lynn D Jung’s "chilling, propulsive and fantastical" dark academia debut.
Editorial director Sam Bradbury and editorial assistant Feranmi Ojutiku acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, to Mothsblood, from Laura Crockett at TriadaUS. North American rights were pre-empted by Kenli Manning at Bloomsbury US.
Mothsblood is set in modern-day Paris, and follows the ambitious alchemist Larkspur Lee as she strives for an esteemed position as the headmistress’ apprentice. Lark’s academic dreams are halted when she finds herself at the heart of an impossible murder and in the midst of chaos, she must discover the truth behind the crime.
The synopsis continues: "But the ghosts of her past keep coming back to haunt her and Lark must fight to keep her life from falling apart."
Jung said: "I am thrilled to be working with Del Rey UK on Mothsblood. It’s an absolute honour to contribute to their remarkable list and work alongside such a talented team."
Crockett said: "Lynn’s masterfully-written Mothsblood is a debut that will spin the genre on its head. She is a writer to watch, and I am so happy that Sam Bradbury, Feranmi Ojutiku, and the Del Rey team believe the same. Mothsblood is in excellent hands for its UK home."
Del Rey will publish Mothsblood as a lead title in October 2026 alongside Bloomsbury US.
Bradbury said: "There is something undeniably special about Mothsblood. I couldn’t believe it was a debut novel. The way Lynn writes, the characters she’s created, and the world she’s built are all perfect elements for an amazing story. We’re so looking forward to being a part of launching her career as an author."
Ojutiku said: "The moment I read Mothsblood, I knew we had to have it on the list. I raced through it, loving every bit of Lynn’s writing, the world and the incredibly nuanced characters. Everything about this book is intricate and atmospheric in the best way."
