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Indie Pick:
Character Art by @runarhall (IG)
Hessa
HALL OF SMOKE
"By turns gripping and poignant, Hall of Smoke is a compelling debut."
-The Guardian
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Featured in:
-Goodread's 45 Most Anticipated SFF of 2021
-Bookbub's 25 of the Best Books Arriving in 2021 and 14 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2021
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Epic fantasy featuring warrior priestesses and fickle gods at war
Hessa is an Eangi: a warrior priestess of the Goddess of War, with the power to turn an enemy's bones to dust with a scream. Banished for disobeying her goddess's command to murder a traveller, she prays for forgiveness alone on a mountainside.
While she is gone, raiders raze her village and obliterate the Eangi priesthood. Grieving and alone, Hessa - the last Eangi - must find the traveller and atone for her weakness and secure her place with her loved ones in the High Halls. As clans from the north and legionaries from the south tear through her homeland, slaughtering everyone in their path Hessa strives to win back her goddess' favour.
Beset by zealot soldiers, deceitful gods, and newly-awakened demons at every turn, Hessa burns her path towards redemption and revenge. But her journey reveals a harrowing truth: the gods are dying and the High Halls of the afterlife are fading. Soon Hessa's trust in her goddess weakens with every unheeded prayer.
Thrust into a battle between the gods of the Old World and the New, Hessa realizes there is far more on the line than securing a life beyond her own death. Bigger, older powers slumber beneath the surface of her world. And they're about to wake up.
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Available in print, ebook and audiobook formats, wherever books are sold.
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REVIEWS & PRESS
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‘Fantasy fans won’t want to skip H.M. Long’s epic Viking-inspired debut, which is packed with action and stars an unforgettable protagonist’
- Bookbub Best of 2021
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"Hall of Smoke is a breath of fresh air. The world is unique, the fights are top-notch, and the cast is unforgettable. A dazzling, fast-paced story with clashing civilizations, squabbling gods, and an indomitable heroine caught in the center of it all, Hessa's is a tale that will grab you from the very first line and won't let you go. I can't wait to see what Long comes up with next."
Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart
"Long gives us a flawed hero, a woman battling grief, rage and – perhaps most poignant of all – doubt. It is thrilling to stand beside Hessa as she stares into the abyss and begins to reassemble herself there. Long's writing is elegantly understated, filling out Hessa's complex world without ever stranding us – we are with her through every stumble and triumph. Hall of Smoke is ultimately a book about what it means to have your deepest illusions shattered and still scrape together the courage to begin again. A vivid and compelling debut."
Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong
"Hessa is a brilliantly written heroine, and I could easily have spent another 400 pages with her. The book's world-building is intricate and refreshingly original, and it all ramps up to a finale that is the dictionary definition of epic."
Allison Epstein, author of A Tip for the Hangman
‘Long refuses to play it safe and, in the process, brings something new to the epic fantasy genre’ - Beauty in Ruins
Available wherever books are sold, including...
Temple of No God
A companion novel to Hall of Smoke, and the second book in the planned Four Pillars quartet.
After a brutal war between the gods, Hessa—High Priestess of the Eangen—has brokered a fragile peace. Through great sacrifice, she has forged an alliance between warring tribes and introduced her people to the true god.
But a new threat is growing across the southern border.
In the remnants of the once-great Arpa Empire, three factions are vying for the imperial throne, and the vast well of raw magical power only accessible to the Arpa Emperor. Already beating back former Arpa legionaries at her borders, Hessa knows she cannot let this chance slip by. She must intervene, for the safety of her people.
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With the peace she has sacrificed so much for at stake, Hessa must venture into the heart of enemy territory, where warring Arpa factions are not the only danger she must face. A sinister new cult is on the rise, one with the power to absorb the life of everything it touches. With enemies on every side and her fragile alliance beginning to waver, Hessa must decide who to trust—no matter what it may cost her…
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PRAISE:
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Buy now wherever books are sold, including:
Thray
Art by @runar.hall (IG)
Barrow of Winter
Set in the world of Hall of Smoke and third in the overall timeline of The Four Pillars series, this stand-alone title follows Thray, daughter of Ogam.
Thray is the Last Daughter of Winter, half immortal and haunted by the legacy of her blood. When offered a chance to visit the northern land of Duamel, where her father once ruled, she can't refuse – even if it means lying to the priesthood she serves and the man she loves.
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In Duamel, Thray’s demi-god siblings rule under the northern lights, worshipped by arcane cults. An endless winter night cloaks the land, giving rise to strange beasts, terrible storms and a growing, desperate hunger. The people of Duamel teeter on the edge of violence, and Thray’s siblings, powerful and deathless, stand with them on the brink.
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To earn her siblings’ trust and find the answers she seeks, Thray will have to weather assassinations, conspiracies and icy wastelands. And as her siblings turn their gaze towards the warmer, brighter land she calls home, she must harness her own feral power and decide where her loyalties lie.
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Because when the spring winds blow and the ice breaks up, the sons and daughters of Winter will bring her homeland to its knees.
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Barrow of Winter is available in print, ebook and audiobook formats.
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PRAISE:
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"A beautiful, impressionistic, and engrossing tale that is reminiscent of a Mercedes Lackey title. It is a coming-of-age tale full of danger and adventure, set against an icy, winter backdrop that imbues itself into each sentence."
-Library Journal
"An intricate world tapestry with colorful threads of myth and magic...Readers will want to stick with this stalwart heroine through her chilly treks and blood-stained battles."
-Publishers Weekly
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“An epic fantasy set in a rich and wintry world of warriors, gods and monsters, with epic battles, dangerous magic, and complex family bonds. Thray is a heroine both powerful and vulnerable, and I loved her journey.”
Sue Lynn Tan, bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess
“Brimming with magic and intrigue, Barrow of Winter is a spellbinding read. Thray’s northern quest had me turning pages late into the night, as did Long’s beautiful winter-sharp prose. A vivid story that lingers long after the last word.”
Rebecca Ross, internationally bestselling author of A River Enchanted
"A world so vividly rendered you'll feel the ice on the pages"
Richard Swan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Justice of Kings
“Long's story of a woman caught between the mortal and mythical worlds is evocative, lyrical, and brimming with fierce magic. Another brilliant addition to this clever, Norse-inspired series.”
Sunyi Dean, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book Eaters
Available now from all major retailers, including:
Pillar of Ash
The fourth and final book in the Four Pillars series, Pillar of Ash is slated for release January 16th, 2024.
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Yske, a healer and daughter of the warrior priestess Hessa, holds the balance of power in a world-shattering war of the gods, in this thrilling, mythical and emotional epic fantasy saga.
The enthralling conclusion to the HALL OF SMOKE saga, perfect for fans of Ragnarok, Claire LeGrand, Margaret Owen, V. E. Schwab and Melissa Caruso.
Yske, daughter of the legendary warrior priestess Hessa, has dedicated her life to medicine and pacifism in service to Aita, the Great Healer. When her twin brother Berin, hungry for glory, gathers a party to investigate rumors of strange sightings in the Unmade - shadows in the darkness at the end of the world - Yske joins the mission, to keep him safe.
Their journey east takes them through primal forests, walking paths last trod when gods were at war and ancient, powerful beasts were defeated and bound. And the closer they get to the Unmade, the more strange and terrible things haunt them from the shadows, corruptions in nature and monstrous creatures of moss and bone.
Earning the respect of Berin and his warriors, Yske must forge a place for mercy and healing in a world of violence and sacrifice. She must survive murderous ambushes and brutal sieges and take her place at the center of the oldest war of all.
Thrust into a desperate conflict of survival, Yske and Berin will wage the final war with the gods - in the shadow of a vast and ancient tree, the fate of creation is about to be decided.
Featured Indie Bookstore:
Yske & Berin
Art by @runar.hall (IG)
THE WINTER SEA
DARK WATER DAUGHTER
-A Barnes & Noble Top 100 Bestseller
-One of Indigo's Most Anticipated Books (2023)
-An Amazon Editors' Picks for Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy
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Also featured in:
Paste Magazine's "Most Anticipated Fantasy Books of Summer 2023"
Goodreads' "The Big Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror Books of Summer"
Cosmopolitan's "Best Witch Books"
PopSugar's "This Year's Best New Fantasy Books"
Popsugar's "67 Best New Fantasy Books of 2023"
Literary Hub's "July's Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books"
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"A tale that deserves to rank alongside RJ Barker's The Bone Ships and Robin Hobb's The Liveship Traders in the top rank of maritime fantasy."
Anthony Ryan, internationally bestselling author of
Blood Song, The Wolf’s Call and more
The first book in a new swashbuckling high-seas adventure series, with a dark folktale twist.
Mary Firth is a Stormsinger: a woman whose voice can still hurricanes and shatter armadas. Faced with servitude to a deathless pirate lord, Mary offers her skills to his arch-rival in exchange for protection - and, more importantly, his help in sending the pirate to a watery grave.
But Mary's dreams are dark and full of ghistings, spectral creatures who inhabit the ancient forests of her homeland and the figureheads of ships. Her new ally has his own vendetta, complete with revenge and a lost fleet, locked in the eternal ice of the far north, and disgraced pirate hunter Samuel Rosser is close on their trail. Samuel will stop at nothing to restore his good name and claim the only thing that stands between himself and madness: a talisman stolen by Mary herself.
Finally, driven into the eternal ice at the limits of their world, Mary and Samuel must choose their loyalties and battle forces older and more powerful than the pirates who would make them slaves.
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PRAISE:
"H.M. Long's Dark Water Daughter is a deftly executed and highly entertaining combination of high seas adventure and flintlock fantasy, enriched by a duo of engaging leads and an original take on magic. A tale that deserves to rank alongside RJ Barker's The Bone Ships and Robin Hobb's The Liveship Traders in the top rank of maritime fantasy."
Anthony Ryan, internationally bestselling author of
Blood Song, The Wolf’s Call and more
“A wonderful adventure! Dark Water Daughter swept me to the high seas with its captivating story, rich original lore, fascinating characters, and slow-burn romance. Immersive from start till end, this is a hard one to put down.”
Sue Lynn Tan, Sunday Times bestselling author of
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
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"Outstanding naval fantasy; Robin Hobb meets Master and Commander."
Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones
"Intricately crafted, stunningly unique, and so vivid you can almost taste the frigid air of the Winter Sea, Dark Water Daughter is my favorite H.M. Long book yet."
Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart
“Dark Water Daughter is a unique and breath-taking slice of high seas fantasy"
Jen Williams, award-winning author of The Winnowing Flame trilogy
Buy now from all major booksellers, including:
Mary Firth
Character Art by
Alice Blake
BLACK TIDE SON
Following the events of Dark Water Daughter, Sam and Mary are thriving as privateers on the Winter Sea. As they navigate the complexities of their growing bond, in a world that would see Mary as chattels to be traded, the pair are forging a new, better way to live, under the sails of Hart.
But when their latest capture brings tales of Benedict’s capture by Mereish forces, they must make an impossible choice – to serve their nations, or save Sam’s brother.
Thrust into a mission of intrigue and infiltration, they seek to break into the most secure prison on the Mereish Coast. But as they sail deep into enemy territory they find themselves hunted by a cunning and mysterious new foe. An enemy who seems to know their every secret, and who will kill to keep their own.
As the Black Tide rises, and fleets take to the water, Sam, Mary and Benedict are on a desperate race for survival – both their own, and the free nations of the Winter Sea.
Buy now from:
Buy the audiobook narrated by Moira Quirk and Samuel Roukin
Buy SIGNED BOOKPLATE EDITION from:
Samuel Rosser
Character Art by
Alice Blake
RED TEMPEST BROTHER
Coming July 8th, 2025
The epic naval fantasy trilogy concludes as Sam, Mary and Benedict play a deadly game of war and espionage on the high seas. Perfect for fans of pirate-infested waters, magical bestiaries and battling empires, by authors such as Adrienne Young, L. J. Andrews and Naomi Novik.
In the wake of the events of Black Tide Son, Hart flees into pirate-infested waters to shelter on the island where former rogue James Demery and the Fleetbreaker, Anne Firth, now rule.
Reeling from their discoveries about the truths of the Mereish-Aeadine war, Mary and Sam hover on the precipice of a terrible, world-altering choice – they can stay silent and maintain their good names, or they can speak out, and risk igniting total war across the Winter Sea.
Meanwhile, Benedict captains The Red Tempest, a lawless ship of deserters and corrupted mages in search of an Usti spy with incendiary stolen documents. Benedict is determined to make the truth known, consequences be damned.
As rumours spread of a new Ghistwold sprouting in the Mereish South Isles, May and Sam sail once more into intrigue, espionage and an ocean on the brink of exploding into conflict. They must chart a course toward lasting, final peace, at the heart of the age-old battle for power upon the Winter Sea.
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Stand-Alone Works
ASHMARKED
Coming 2027
A stand-alone epic fantasy set in a world where necromancers rule and resurrected heroes are sold to the highest bidder.
More information to come.
The Entwined Duology
Character Art by The Moonborn Illustrations, Gabriela Romero Lacruz
Entwined
Coming March 10th, 2026 from Titan Books
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Three sisters join the hunt for a stolen magical artifact in the start of this Gilded Age fantasy duology. Perfect for fans of heists, skullduggery and stolen kisses, and authors such as Nghi Vo and M. A. Carrick.
Ottilie Rushforth hides from the mighty Sorcerer's Guild as secretary to a has-been detective. She is Entwined – threads of magic run beneath her skin, and the Guild would trap her in service.
But Ottilie has a plan to escape the Guild forever with her estranged fiancé, the enigmatic poet, soldier and smuggler Lewis Illing. All she must do is track down a mysterious artifact, claim the bounty, and leave the city forever.
But Ottilie's sisters – Pretoria, a quick-witted sorceress and thief, recently emerged from exile - and Madge – a guild mage to the core – appear to make equally unwelcome offers. A new life at the cost of everything she has ever wanted, or prestige and safety in a gilded cage.
With her life on the line, Ottilie must track down the artifact in a city torn apart by prejudice and violence, and choose between the two sides of herself – the fugitive and the Entwined.
Preorder now from:
Entwined Book 2
More information to come.