RJ Barker

We’re thrilled to share an excerpt from Mortedant’s Peril, the first volume in a new fantasy trilogy by RJ Barker, out from Tor Books on May 19th. Irody Hasp is a Mortedant, a cleric tasked with reading the last thoughts of the dead—though no one thanks him for it. No Mortedant is popular, but Irody is scarcely tolerated even by the other members of his own guild, and rarely selected for anything but the lowliest of jobs.

Irody can speak to the dead. But the living want him silenced. ‘An engrossing, ingenious story in a beautifully crafted world’ – Adrian Tchaikovsky The Sunday Times bestselling mystery of murder, magic and mayhem from RJ Barker, award-winning author of The Bone Ships. Mortedants can speak to the dead – and Irody Hasp is the greatest of them. Not that they’ll admit it. And not that anyone actually likes the Mortedants, or Irody in particular.

As the veil thins and we move towards All Hallows Eve, follow these mysterious authors down the rabbit hole of supernatural and folk horror inspired fantasy books. Bring your warding glyphs, and get ready for a night of weird tales and wild fun in this latest British Fantasy Society event. Marisa Linton has two writing identities. In one she’s a professor of history, a historical consultant for television series and the author of books about the French Revolution.