Gollancz snaps up Alice Trew's 'deliciously dark' fantasy debut
Gollancz has snapped up a two-book deal from Alice Trew for her "deliciously dark" fantasy debut, The Hungry Dark.
Assistant editor Millie Prestidge secured world English-language rights from Ciara Finan and Jess Molloy at Curtis Brown. The Hungry Dark will be published in summer 2027. Finan and Molloy called Trew a "truly special writer".
Trew was shortlisted for the 2024 Women’s Prize Trust Discoveries competition, a writer development prgramme, with the opening of The Hungry Dark.
The story follows Hesper Stornaway who is forced into a dangerous bargain with the ruler of the Shadowlands: she must retrieve a forbidden artefact to discover what happened to her lost sister.
The synopsis continues: "But soon the line between monster and man begins to blur, begging the question – what price would you pay to bring your sister home?"
Prestidge said: “Alice has concocted a dark but delicious fantasy rooted in monstrous folklore and the bonds of sisterhood – this debut demands to be devoured, and ferocious fantasy readers are set to be just as enchanted by Hesper and her plight to find her sister. Working with Alice, Ciara and Jess on such a special project is a dream come true, and I am beyond excited to launch The Hungry Dark as a must-have debut for Gollancz.”
Trew said: “I’m thrilled to be working with Millie and the brilliant team at Gollancz. Their support and encouragement have been incredible from day one and I can’t imagine a better home for my dark fantasy debut about family, monsters and the lengths we’ll go to for those we love. Thank you for venturing into the darkness with me. I’d also like to say a huge thank you to the team at the Women’s Prize Discoveries programme for starting me on this unbelievable journey."
