Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

Roz MacLaren

Deal announcements

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I am thrilled to announce that two more of my books are due out with Evernight Teen next year.

The Boy With Wings For Hands

The Boy With Wings For Hands is a YA sci-fi set in an alien circus that travels London, Earth. Here’s the blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Sparrow has never known freedom. An alien from the planet Mykzon, she’s caged and forced to perform in Obsidian’s Travelling Show of Rarities and Fascinations.

That is, until Felix crashes into her world. He’s human, reckless and has wings where his hands should be. And when Felix’s arrival attracts powerful enemies, Sparrow’s world is thrown into chaos.

As Sparrow is drawn into a rebellion she never asked for, she must choose between staying hidden or risking everything to fight back.

Because Obsidian doesn’t just want the spotlight.

She wants the world.

The Ruined Skye Trilogy

Evernight Teen have contracted Forgotten Skye, which is the first book in my Ruined Skye trilogy.

Here’s the WIP blurb:

The year is 2227, centuries after a radiation leak on the Isle of Skye wiped out thousands.

Survivors are divided into two groups; mutated, god-like beings called Radions and unmutated humans known as Blands. The Blands are relentlessly hunted by Queen Creyta, who is determined to drive them to extinction.

When seventeen-year-old Vesper, one of the last Blands, is chosen as a target, she doesn’t just want to survive; she wants to burn the system to the ground. She forms an unlikely bond with Prince Hunter, the Queen’s reluctant Blandhunter, who is just as trapped as Vesper – bound by duty and desperate to break free.

Vesper sets her sights on overthrowing Queen Creyta – and, if she fails, she won’t just lose Hunter.

She’ll lose the world. 

I can’t wait for you to meet Vesper, Hunter and Pep – and see the Isle of Skye like you’ve never seen it before. Also, I’m writing the third one as we speak and it has evil Highland Cows. I repeat, EVIL HIGHLAND COWS.

Character art: Venom and Blaze

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This breathtaking work of art is Venom and Blaze, brought to life by Abeer Malik.

I’ve wanted to commission character art for these two for a while – and I’m so pleased with the way Abeer brought my vision to life.

Venom is a princess, who discovers when she’s seventeen that she can communicate with spiders. As she develops through the story, she goes on to wear a ‘dress’ of live spiders. It was Abeer’s idea to incorporate gossamer and cobwebs into the dress, which actually wasn’t something I’d considered – and it worked beautifully. I actually think it makes Venom look a little scarier, as if her dress is melting slightly.

Blaze is a prisoner, who has been raised in a dungeon for his first seventeen years. I love how Abeer captured that dark and brooding background.

Abeer also went to great pains to capture Venom’s crown, as depicted on the cover image.

CHECK OUT ABEER’S WORK

Here’s a lovely review I received yesterday about Venom and Blaze.

The book hooked me from the start with the world-building legends, and the good vs bad theme. I felt for those five kids growing up in a dungeon for seventeen years, and honestly, I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what happened next. The royal intrigue was deliciously dramatic, and now I’m left with so many questions heading into the next book.

Reading Thoughts
📙 The legend at the start of the book explaining the world were brilliant to begin the story
📙 The concept of good and bad really has you thinking
📙 Seventeen years is as long time to grow up in a dungeon, really felt for those 5 kids
📙I couldn’t stop reading to know what happens next and next.
📙The royal intrigue and games were soo interesting
📙Ohh there is still a lot I need to know going into the next book.

Words that linger
🍷There exists a prophecy of a Good girl and a Mirror boy who pair. They destroy everything they touch, until, ultimately, they destroy themselves.
🍷Vaguely, Blaze is aware that his heart should be racing, there should be some kind of emotion in him. But there’s nothing. Not even excitement.
🍷“It doesn’t mean I’m not still furious with you. But yes. I love you.”
🍷“Let’s run away. Like you wanted. Let’s make our own destiny, Blaze.

Tropes
🕷️Animal companion
🕷️Good vs Evil
🕷️Royal Intrigue
🕷️Found Family
🕷️Princess/Commoner

If you’ve already read Venom and Blaze, does Abeer’s art match how you perceived the characters?

READ VENOM AND BLAZE

Psst. My Street Team were the first to see this character art revealed. Want to unlock exclusive access to the world of Mirrordom? Join us.

ENTER THE STREET TEAM

2026 author resolutions

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I’ve always made New Year’s Resolutions from a young age.

To me, the start of a new year is the time when I measure my growth and any achievements. I always look at the previous year’s resolutions, to see if I kept them or to ask what prevented me from meeting my goals.

And, of course, it’s the time when I decide what I want from the next year. What areas do I want to grow in? What do I want to get out of another year of life? What do I want to focus on over the next 365 days?

To me, New Year’s Resolutions aren’t always a vow to give up eating chocolate or to be nicer to other people (though those are worthwhile goals!) They’re a way of helping me focus my attention.

So what am I aiming for in 2026?

I try to mix up my resolutions between things I can control and things I can’t completely.

Complete my Ruined Skye trilogy

Forgotten Skye has found a home with Evernight Teen. Burning Skye is complete and ready to be edited. And the final book in the trilogy needs to be written. I’m currently just under 6,000 words with a basic plot idea – but my goal for 2026 is to finish that book and submit it and its elder sister to Evernight.

I am so proud of this trilogy and can’t wait for you to read it. Forgotten Skye will be out in Summer 2026.

Find an agent

Ah, the elusive, lesser spotted agent. I’m not sure how much control I have over the success of this resolution, but I’ll keep querying until I either get signed or die.

See all The Mirrordom Legends books published

If all goes to plan, 2026 will be the year that my series, The Mirrordom Legends, is published. I’m so thankful to my publisher, Fire and Ice, for helping me bring this series to life.

Flame and Phoenix and Quiver and Arrow are both due out in 2026. I’m especially proud of Quiver and Arrow – to me, it’s the most satisfying conclusion to the series I could imagine. It’s also the darkest and most brutal book yet, so make of that what you will.

Grow my Street Team

Oh, here’s one you can help me with!

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Return to YALC

YALC 2025 was phenomenal for me. I sold out of books for the first time and learned a lot. Also, it’s the one day of the year I get to meet up with my lovely friend, Marie Voinson. Together, we emerge from our introverted shells and do our best to resemble normal human beings*.

Treat my authoring as a business, not a hobby

I am fortunate enough to have a day job that funds my authoring – but advice from Helen Lewis of LiterallyPR made me decide to take this more seriously. Not that I don’t take it seriously – I absolutely do – but as less of an art and more as a business.

As a creative, I find the two don’t really go hand in hand. I write books because I can’t not write books and it’s forever a surprise and delight when A. they sell, B. other people say they enjoy them. This is not the mindset to bring into 2026 with me, so it’s staying behind in 2025.

Do you bother with New Year Resolutions?

*Marie does this much better than I do. But come and have a laugh as I struggle to remember how to vocalise basic sentences.

2025 in a nutshell

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[Insert some deeply insightful and completely original insights on the past year, without resorting to platitudes like “2025, what a year it’s been” and “Grateful for every moment of 2025.” Even though it has and I am.]

Joking aside, it’s hard to know what to say about a recap of the past year that doesn’t involve some trite cliché. So let’s just get straight into the facts and figures that nobody asked for.

2025 book releases

2025 saw three of my book babies emerge into the world. The latest two installments of my series, The Mirrordom Legends, and my standalone novel, January.

I had the honour of contributing to two very different anthologies this year. Bewitched Blooms was put together by New York Times bestseller, Briar Boleyn, as a fundraising anthology.

A Wild Run was imagined by Melanie Mar, whose vision to showcase human creativity over AI inspired incredible stories. I’m still very proud of my contribution, The Girl With The Glass Heart.

The story I wrote for Bewitched Blooms came off Kindle Unlimited in September, and I went on to release it exclusively for my Street Team members.

Here’s the blurb:

In a world where no one can steal, lie or kill, Myth can do all three.

She has spent her life hiding from those who would banish her. But when she discovers a letter from the father she never knew, Myth escapes into the outside world. Alongside her reluctant twin, Omen, and a trio of strangers with secrets of their own, Myth plunges headfirst into adventure. But not everyone can be trusted. When Myth’s life is on the line, is discovering where she belongs worth the price of betrayal?

JOIN MY STREET TEAM

Works in progress

I wrote five novels in 2025. I feel I’ve learned so much about the craft of writing this year and I hope that shows in my work. I’ve written two Middle Grade novels, two YA novels and one adult psychological thriller. Even if none of them are ever released, everything I write is practice for future work.

Author appearances

I’ve made appearances at two events this year – one on the Isle of Skye and one in London.

YALC is the literary highlight of my year and I’m forever grateful I took the plunge in 2024 to leave my comfort zone far behind.

Let’s make a deal

I’ve made five deals with two publishers for 2026.

  • Flame and Phoenix
  • Quiver and Arrow
  • Forgotten Skye
  • Funeral For A Robot
  • The Boy With Wings For Hands

I can’t wait for you to read the stories.

Not all work and no play

It’s not all been writing, though…

She’s been my number one artist on Spotify for as long as I can remember!

Like many other millennials, I’ve suddenly discovered the deep joy of gardening. I’m fortunate enough to have inherited a ready-made garden. I see myself as its caretaker, duty-bound to maintain the work and leave a lovely space for the next generation. This year, I’ve grown:

  • sunflowers (highly successful outdoors, not successful at all in the polytunnel)
  • green beans (do not recommend. Lots of leaf, little bean and the beans that did appear were nasty)
  • squash
  • lettuce
  • sweet peas (highly successful)
  • carrots (lots of top, very little carrot)
  • parsnips (not tried yet)
  • strawberries (completely dead)
  • sweetcorn (successfully grew leaves, not much else)

I find it relaxing and fulfilling – and it gave me a new appreciation of where my food comes from and how much time and effort goes into growing it!

What’s next for 2026?

I’m running an indie reading challenge. Join me for #IndieReads2026 and let’s discover a world of new characters and adventures.

JOIN IN

Cover reveal for The Boy With Wings For Hands!

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I’m thrilled to reveal the cover for my upcoming sci-fi novel.

The Boy With Wings For Hands comes out next year with Evernight Teen. I’m currently working through the second round of edits.

Here’s the blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Sparrow has never known freedom. An alien from the planet Mykzon, she’s caged and forced to perform in Obsidian’s Travelling Show of Rarities and Fascinations.

That is, until Felix crashes into her world. He’s human, reckless and has wings where his hands should be. And when Felix’s arrival attracts powerful enemies, Sparrow’s world is thrown into chaos.

As Sparrow is drawn into a rebellion she never asked for, she must choose between staying hidden or risking everything to fight back.

Because Obsidian doesn’t just want the spotlight.

She wants the world.

I can’t wait for you to meet Sparrow, Felix, Obsidian, Rhyolite and Nick… amongst others!

Cover sneak peek for The Boy With Wings For Hands

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One of my favourite parts of publishing is seeing the cover options for my books. It’s the visual representation of my story. It’s the shop window, that either attracts people in or makes them stay away.

Evernight Teen‘s awesome covers never disappoint – and I’m excited to say their proposal for The Boy With Wings For Hands is no exception.

The novel is set in London, with various story elements woven into the imagery.

Want to be among the first to see the full cover reveal? Join my Street Team and unlock exclusive access to the latest news, reveals, merch and more.

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An author’s guide to YALC

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YALC is one of my favourite literary events of year. But it can be overwhelming – particularly if it’s your first time going. Here are my top tips to get the most out of your YALC.

What to take

This is my list of YALC essentials:

  • Comfy shoes. I cannot stress this enough. YALC is essentially a great square and you’ll need to walk around (can you walk around a square??) several times to see everything. I wore boots this year. I regret it. Don’t be like me. Bring trainers!
  • Water. Hydration is key.
  • Bags/totes/trolleys/suitcases/receptacles for books. I usually bring two suitcases – pretty easy for lugging on and off the tube.
  • A printed map of the area. (See further down for map information). This isn’t super essential as there should be printed maps up on some of the screens for you to peruse if you need to, but it is quite handy to have.
  • Phone charger/battery bank. Absolutely essential. My recommendation is to go with a battery bank as wall sockets seem to be in short supply at YALC. In other words, you won’t be able to charge your phone very easily.

Getting there

I’ve only ever gone on the train – which I’ve found to be pretty easy. You want the Kensington Olympia station, which will drop you off directly outside Olympia.

When you arrive, just remember “Comicon go left, YALC go right”. You’ll walk through the street and round the building to arrive in a kind of warehouse-like area. This is where you’ll get your bags checked and queue.

At any point, the friendly members of staff are there to point you in the right direction (as they have had to do with me many times.)

What to do first?

My top tip is follow the publishers’ social medias prior to the event. They’ll often give you advance warning of giveaways they plan to run. You can then make a list of anything you absolutely don’t want to miss.

Comicon is at the bottom. YALC is at the top.

Be sure to follow YALC’s socials as well! They’ll post the map in advance so you can figure out who will be where.

Again, if you haven’t been before, it will be quite hard to visualise. But once you’re there, it should make sense.

2025 YALC map

What is there to do at YALC?

Shop books at bargain prices

I’m led to believe it’s a prerequisite of attending YALC that all books for sale have to be discounted from their RRP. So snag a bargain! There are lots of stands by big name publishers, as well as Fairyloot, Kingdom Book Designs and more.

Speak to agents

The agents will be at the 1-2-1 desks. Don’t be like me and think you can just rock up and speak to one; you have to sign up first. There should be a clipboard with a schedule on it somewhere near the 1-2-1 desks. Find it, add your name and be sure to set an alarm so you don’t get distracted by books and miss your slot.

Book signing events

Prior to YALC, they’ll publish the list of attending authors. Bring along your books and get them signed by your favourite writers. In my experience, it’s always at the area pictured above and is quite easy to find. (I have never done this so can’t offer any meaningful advice so let’s swiftly move on).

Meet indie authors

Just some of the indie authors

The second ever Inspiring Indies zone was even bigger and better than last year.

Top reasons to come and see us:

  • I can vouch for the fact that indie authors will be only too happy to sign and personalise your books.
  • There probably won’t be a massive queue to speak to us.
  • We write unconstrained by the fetters and whims of publishing trends. Which is basically a pretentious way of saying you might find something new and unexpected among our titles.
  • You’ll get to see my sparkly Rosa Bloom jumpsuit in all its shimmering wonder. (Probably not the one in the picture. It’s getting a little threadbare. Or sequinbare.)

The iconic YALC sign

You need to get your picture taken on the red carpet by the YALC sign. And, right next to the sign, is where you can buy YALC totes and merchandise.

Panels and workshops

Check out the YALC timetable for details of panels and workshops. You have my sympathies if there’s a clash.

I’m already excited for YALC 2026. Will you be there?

Gifts for the readers in your life

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As many people across the world contemplate what to gift their friends and loved ones, I thought it would be an appropriate time to suggest some presents for the readers in your life.

Books – of course!

If you’re not a reader yourself, however, it can be very hard to buy for your bookish friends. Even if you are a reader, your tastes may not match theirs! I’d recommend a quick squiz at their socials – sometimes people have their Amazon wishlist in their biography and you can use that to surprise them with something they’ll definitely want. Assuming they haven’t helpfully made a wishlist public, their socials may give you something to work with in terms of their tastes and preferred genres.

Books with sprayed edges

If your friend is into books that look pretty, sprayed edges might be the way to go. This means, even if you happen to get them a duplicate title they already have, the aesthetics will speak for themselves.

Perfectly Edged

When I was at YALC in 2024, I caught up with the amazing creatives at Kingdom Book Designs and Perfectly Edged. The work that goes into making these custom designs was phenomenal. I also bought a gorgeous copy of a book from Victoria Alyssa – I can’t even begin to describe how pretty her work is.

I also treated myself to the final installment in Vanessa Len’s Only A Monster trilogy. It’s currently winging its way to me from Fairyloot. They also do subscriptions, potentially a very lovely gift for your reader friends.

Book-related accessories

These don’t need to be as obvious as bookmarks (though bookmarks do tend to be a good shout and you can get some gorgeous custom bookmarks on Etsy). It could be something that makes reading more comfortable – like a heated blanket to snuggle up in or a cushion to cuddle up with.

If you know your friend has a favourite series, could you get them some related merchandise? Perhaps a T-shirt or hoodie with their favourite fictional character. Or maybe a keyring or customised water bottle. Check out the author’s website and see if they have a shop integrated into their website – you might be surprised what’s available.

If all else fails…

The first three books in my Mirrordom Legends series are available to order now. They’re the perfect gift for the dark and twisted reader in your life. (Just be sure to check the trigger warnings before gifting it to your friend – they’re not suitable for arachnophobes and contains violence, childhood trauma and death.)

Whatever you plan to get your friends, let me know in the comments.