ORION FICTION MAY

Pip Vaughan-Hughes The Fools’ Crusade

As medieval Europe tears itself apart, the Crusaders turn their eyes to the east King Louis of France is about to invade Egypt on his vainglorious Seventh Crusade. The Pope and the Emperor are at each other’s throats. And where greed and ambition cross, blood soon follows. Caught in the middle of this is Petroc of Auneford, or Patch to his friends. As the rulers of Europe crush lives like beetles underfoot, Patch knows if he and his loved ones are to stay alive, he must go to the blistering heart of the crusade, where zealot, infidel, mercenary and heretic fight to the death. Pip Vaughan-Hughes studied medieval history in London and worked as a reader for a literary agency. He lives in Vermont, USA.

Fiction Cased/Trade Paperback (export only) May £12.99/£12.99 352pp 234 x 153mm 978 0 7528 9717 2/978 0 7528 9708 0 Markets: World XUSA USA & Translation: Christopher Little Serial: Orion

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Rachel Billington The Break of Day A gripping and emotionally powerful family drama from the acclaimed author of Lies & Loyalties Every year over 100,000 children go missing in Britain; some are never found. Rufus is thirteen years old, clever and kind-hearted but also extremely troubled. When a school friend commits suicide, Rufus decides to run away from home. As the people who care for him grow more desperate, Rufus finds himself in a world that is becoming ever darker and more frightening. But Rufus is not alone. Someone close by is watching him... Rachel Billington has published many novels. A former President of PEN, she is co-editor of Inside Time, the national newspaper for prisoners. She lives in Dorset and London. www.rachelbillington.com

Fiction Cased May £18.99 320pp 234 x 153mm 978 1 4091 1137 5 Markets: W orld USA, T ranslation & Serial: Orion