My next novel – Serpent of Malice

The novel “Serpent of Malice” will be published soon in English. The  German version “Schlange des Bösen” will come out first, though, published by the wonderful Torsten Low.

I can’t give you a link for ordering yet. But I can give you a bit of information.

In German, “Serpent of Evil” will be published in two parts, the English version will presumably just be in one book, since English tends to be a much shorter language. Still, it’ll be “big” book. A lot of action, a lot of suspense, a lot of entanglements – it all needs its place, especially when the heart also plays a (not entirely minor) role.
And when have I ever been able to write short novels?

As requested by the publisher, there are three versions of the blurb:

1. ultra-short
2. medium short
3. more detailed

Blurb “Serpent of evil” – Ultra-short:
Cambridge University, England * 1887
Arcane science: magic is taught at the secret Royston College. Elinor with her magical talent is granted access: the first and only female student among men. Not all of the gentlemen like this. And they are all dangerous.

 

Blurb for “Serpent of Evil” – Medium short:
The year: 1887
The place: Cambridge University, England
Royston College is a secret university college specialising in arcane sciences: magic. Elinor wants to study at Cambridge and – as a magically gifted woman – suddenly finds herself the first and only female student among men. Neither all the professors nor all the students are in favour of this novel approach, and some of them turn out to be extremely dangerous.

In the face of considerable attempts at discrimination, Elinor has to prove (against an ossifed male world view) that she is at least as good as her male fellow students.
Soon a serpent monster is hunting her, while at the same time a group of inquisitors from a secret society of religious fanatics arrives in Cambridge to wipe out anything they deem demonic (fey) or heretical (magically gifted).

Cambridge seems entirely the wrong place for friendship and love. But then there’s magic…

Blurb “Serpent of Evil” – Detailed :
The year: 1887
The place: Cambridge University, England

Elinor is not one to hang out for a rich husband. She would rather go to university, an unusual step for women in 1887. Girton College in Cambridge is an early university institution for ladies only. There she wants to study.

However, a horrific encounter with a giant snake monster – invisible to most people – gives Elinor access to a completely different university college: Royston College, a wizards’ lodge disguised as part of Cambridge University. A place with many rules and even more secrets.

Elinor is the first woman to be offered an academic education in arcane science: Magic. Only people with a basic talent for magic are admitted to Royston. Some of Elinor’s fellow students are 100% human, but others are hybrid beings with some Fey heritage, enigmatic, thoroughly unpredictable and very dangerous, just like the Fey themselves, who roam the human world unrecognised as nightmare legends made flesh. But whatever the other students may be, they are all men.

Of course, among all those men there are also some that Elinor comes to like more than others. But as the only female student, she has to keep her distance. – Not always an easy task and sometimes impossible.

In the face of considerable attempts at discrimination by some of her professors and fellow students, Elinor has to prove within an ossified male structure that she is at least as good as her male fellow students. The academic demands are high: new languages, old languages, comparative history and religious studies, ethnology, philosophy, focus and the implementation of arcane power.
Soon she is hunted by a giant serpent summoned by an evil and unknown foe, while at the same time a group of inquisitors from a secret society of religious fanatics arrives in Cambridge to wipe out anything they deem demonic (fey) or heretical (magically gifted) – with the deadly precision of murdering zealots. By killing all those they deem sinful, they aim to turn humanity into their limited definition of “God’s children”.

Tropes:
– Strong FMC
– Dark Academia

Tackled themes / mix of themes:
– University novel
– Victorianism
– Magic as a science
– Women’s rights
– First opportunities for higher education for women
– Religious fanaticism
– (Racial) prejudice