Lord of the Empty Isles

A heartwarming - gut-wrenching - and thrilling adventure. Arbeaux’s debut features a glorious cast of misfits that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure - even as they hold a gun to your head. They’re all my babygirls. And you better not come for them because they take a wicked pleasure in protecting their own. Found family at its very best! * Kate Dylan, author of Mindbreaker *Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, this story asks how far you’ll go for the person who is your whole world, when revenge is a knife that cuts the wielder just as much. A fantastic debut for fans of found family, queerplatonic relationships, and deeply human characters who are allowed to be monstrous: vulnerable and violent at once * Essa Hansen, author of NOPHEK GLOSS *I adore this book - it has complicated, prickly, tender characters that will win you over and break your heart, a fresh and fascinating world with a beautiful new take on soul-bond magic, and Arbeaux has a voice so crisp and compassionate that you can’t help but fall in love. Lord of the Empty Isles is an absolute delight * Sunya Mara, author of The Darkening *Guaranteed to break your heart and simultaneously mend it, Lord of The Empty Isles is an un-put-downable magical space adventure with a lovable found family cast as morally complex and clever as they are chaotic! * Rosie Talbot, author of A Taste of Darkness *Set in a vividly realized universe shaped by environmental devastation and soul-bonds, Lord of the Empty Isles brims with big, fascinating ideas - but even more than that, it is full to bursting with feelings. Amidst all the magic and space-faring adventure is a stunning, thoughtful treatise on grief and love in all its forms. A wonderfully cathartic experience * Julie Leong, author of The Teller of Small Fortunes *Lord of the Empty Isles by Jules Arbeaux is a fast-paced yet thoughtful debut novel, perfect for those who love reading deeply human imaginings of future societies * Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, author of The Principle of Moments *

Jules Arbeaux was born in Sacramento but raised reckless and barefoot deep in the Midwestern woods. When not writing, Jules paints, folds increasingly tiny paper animals, and artfully neglects a throng of thriving succulents.