Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

Standalone Novels

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.

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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.

Deal announcement

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I’m delighted to announce that my sci-fi YA novel, Funeral For A Robot, has been accepted by my publishers at Fire and Ice YA.

Funeral For A Robot is due out in Spring 2026 and I can’t wait for you all to enter the year 3034 and meet Serena, Kristopher, Silver and Scorpio.

Here’s the blurb:

London, in the year 3034.

Seventeen-year-old Serena has just enrolled at a prestigious academy, staffed entirely by robots. When the headteacher is found destroyed, Serena crosses paths with Kristopher, the troubled son of a detective. Can she and Kristopher find out who would destroy a robot – before Serena becomes the prime suspect?

Deal announcement

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I’m thrilled to announce that my standalone YA sci-fi novel, The Boy With Wings For Hands, has been accepted by Evernight Teen.

The story

The Boy With Wings For Hands is set in London. Our main character, Sparrow, performs in an alien circus that tours the city. But the glitter and glamour hides a multitude of sins; all the performers are essentially prisoners, answering to a cruel alien called Obsidian.

When I was in London for YALC in November, I had lots of fun scouting real life locations for the story. Big Ben and the London Eye make quite a few appearances in ways you might not expect!

The Boy With Wings For Hands is one of the most ambitious novels I’ve attempted and I am really proud of it – and all the characters. I had immense fun inventing cool aliens.

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 details

Evernight Teen will publish the book and it should come out roughly before September 2026. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s available to pre-order.

Grab your paperback copy of January!

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I’m very excited to announce the paperback version of January is now available to buy!

GET YOURS NOW!

If you’re like me and enjoy having a physical book in your hands, then this is great news. And I’ve just been speaking with the lovely team at Evernight Teen and my author copies are on the way – which means I’ll be able to sign and send paperback copies if you wish to order one directly through me.

This also means I’ll be taking January to the various book festivals I’ll be attending this year, including one in Edinburgh and YALC in London.

So what’s January about?

January is my first YA sci-fi novel. Here’s the blurb:

Leon knows January is trouble. She has magical hair with a mind of its own – and powerful enemies on her trail. When they track her down, Leon is caught up in her fight to survive. But January’s past is unraveling – and it’s threatening to destroy everything. Is she ready for the truth about who she really is? And can she and Leon survive the fallout?

Like all of my books, it’s dark and twisted – so check the content warnings before you shop yours.

January contains:

  • Violence and death (including depictions of murder, gun use, blood, injury, threat and death of a loved one)
  • Human experimentation
  • Parental betrayal
  • Manipulation and gaslighting
  • Survival situations
  • Panic and anxiety
  • Confinement and captivity
  • Mild language
  • Medical trauma
  • Animal experimentation (but no animal death or injury)

Ready to dive into a fast-paced YA sci-fi? Grab your copy now.

GET JANUARY

What people are saying about January

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I’m always so pleased to see what readers think of the worlds and characters I create. It’s always interesting to see something so personal go out into the world for everyone to freely comment on. So I got a lovely surprise to read this amazing review today!

Okay, January by Roz MacLaren absolutely surprised me in the best way. I picked it up thinking I was getting a quirky fantasy with a dash of magic… and what I got was a whirlwind of mystery, danger, slow-burn connection, and the kind of chaotic magic that makes you feel like anything could happen.

From the moment January appeared on the page—with that wild, magical hair and secrets spilling out behind her—I knew she was going to stir up trouble. But it’s the kind of trouble I couldn’t get enough of. She’s stubborn, a little bit broken, and totally fascinating. There’s this haunted feel to her, like she’s trying to outrun more than just the people chasing her—and that hooked me fast.

Then there’s Leon. Oh, Leon. The reluctant hero who just wants to stay out of it but keeps getting dragged deeper. Their dynamic is so compelling—it’s not instant love or easy trust, it’s messy and earned, and I loved that. Watching him unravel her walls while being tangled in a magical mess he never asked for? Chef’s kiss.

The story has this almost surreal rhythm—like it exists half in our world and half in one that’s slipping out of control. Secrets come at you fast. The tension is thick. And when the truth about January’s identity started to crack through the surface, I felt that unraveling right along with her.

There’s something quietly emotional in how this book handles identity, trust, and survival. It’s not just about magic and bad guys (though those are very much present)—it’s about discovering who you are when the truth is dangerous.

If you like mysterious girls with powers they can’t control, morally gray protectors, and stories where you genuinely don’t know what’s coming next—I highly recommend January. I finished it feeling breathless and a little bit raw, and now I need more.

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January – coming soon in paperback!

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For those of you who like a physical book to read, I have some exciting news!

January is coming soon in paperback!

I’ve just spoken to my lovely publisher, Evernight Teen, who said that they’ll be working on it this week. So, hopefully, it won’t be long until the paperback version is ready to order!

January

Leon knows January is trouble. She has magical hair with a mind of its own – and powerful enemies on her trail. When they track her down, Leon is caught up in her fight to survive. But January’s past is unraveling – and it’s threatening to destroy everything. Is she ready for the truth about who she really is? And can she and Leon survive the fallout? 

The Kindle version is available to buy on Amazon now.

January is my first YA sci-fi novel, written and set in America (so you can expect American English!).

I’ll also be appearing at various book festivals throughout the year – and bringing January. More details to follow, but it would be lovely to see you there.