A dystopian crossover fantasy set in a fortress city where monsters lurk beyond the walls – sated by the nine drops of blood which each citizen must donate daily – and where a brother and sister witch find themselves plunged into a deadly competition.

THE BLOOD MAIDEN
by Chapel Vane
on submission in the UK and the USA
(via Mushens Entertainment)

Nine hearts to spare.
Eight for the monsters.
One for the heir.

In the fortress city of Narvall, each citizen must let nine drops of blood a day. A small price to pay the stave off the monsters beyond the steel wall. But for Vesper and her brother Rion, donating blood is anything but simple. For they are witches, and if the monsters ingested their blood they would become dangerously powerful. And if the Lord Protector and his bloodkeepers found out who they were? They’ll be put to death. Vesper’s ability to manipulate her appearance, and blood, and Rion’s magic which allows him to take blood from a lover during a poison kiss has kept them alive. So far. But the more Rion uses his powers the sicker he becomes, and Vesper is desperate to find a way to save him.

When the monsters break through the walls their fragile existence is shattered but with it a new opportunity comes: nine citizens will be picked for a deadly competition. Eight of them will donate their hearts to appease the monsters. And one will be picked to enter a life of luxury, married off to the heir: the dangerously attractive Lord Dellion. Vesper’s plan is to take on a new identity and win: accessing the wealth and medicine which can heal Rion. But when she tricks her way into the competition she is horrified to discover that Rion has also entered. And worst of all, why does her heart suddenly skip a beat whenever the heir is near?

Chapel Vane studied at London and Oxbridge. They work as the Editorial Director for a major Science Fiction and Fantasy imprint at one of the big five publishers. Chapel currently resides in England with their partner and fur babies. THE BLOOD MAIDEN is their debut fantasy novel.