New Treasures: Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace
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Tor.com has had some impressive success with their stellar line-up of Fall novellas. Their first title, Kai Ashante Wilson’s The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps, was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the Best Books of 2015, and after a strong critical response for the second novella, Witches of Lychford, Paul Cornell has already announced a sequel.
Their most recent release, Matt Wallace’s Envy of Angels: A Sin du Jour Affair, the first entry in a new urban fantasy series, was published on October 20. Matt Wallace is also the author of the futuristic sports thriller Slingers. The sequel to Envy of Angels, Lustlocked, has already been announced for January. (Click on the front and back covers above for bigger versions.)
Envy of Angels is the seventh title in Tor.com‘s debut publishing venture, which includes exciting new releases from K. J. Parker, Nnedi Okorafor, Alter S. Reiss, Daniel Polansky, and many others. Tor.com‘s Marketing & Publicity Manager, Mordicai Knode, talked about the genesis of the line in his first article for us, “Why Novellas? Tor.com‘s Stellar New Fantasy & SF Releases.”
See the complete list of Tor.com novellas we’ve covered so far below.
The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson
Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell
Sunset Mantle by Alter S. Reiss
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
The Last Witness by K. J. Parker
Of Sorrow and Such by Angela Slatter
Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace
The Builders by Daniel Polansky
Domnall and the Borrowed Child by Sylvia Spruck Wrigley
The Shootout Solution by Michael R. Underwood
The Drowning Eyes by Emily Foster
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
Check out the first ten Tor.com novellas (with sample chapters!) here, and see the complete line-up here.
Envy of Angels was published by Tor.com on October 20, 2015. It is 240 pages, priced at $12.99 in trade paperback and $2.99 for the digital edition. The cover was designed by Peter Lutjen.
See all of our recent New Treasures here.
I’m sure that the marketing people at Tor know their business. But from my old school mentality, the front cover of this book is confusing. What audience is intended for this book? Who are they trying to appeal to?
James,
I agree that the design-heavy cover is a departure from the art-focused pieces on Tor.com’s previous titles. But it sounds like the book is a departure as well. It’s an urban fantasy horror/comedy.
A lot of urban fantasy readers disdain traditional fantasy, and the covers on modern urban fantasies are usually photos (heavily Photoshopped, sure, but still photo-realistic.)
So if you’re trying to reach that audience, I think it makes sense to use a photo on the cover, and stay away from traditional fantasy art.
Thanks John! That’s good to know and gives insight to the marketing involved here. I wasn’t being critical of it–I’m sure it’s a good book–I just was confused.
I think it would be really helpful if you, or someone else knowledgeable in the Black Gate stable, would write a post on the state of book covers and marketing in this day and age. It would really help people stuck in the 80s or elsewhere, like me.