Hot Key Books, an imprint of Bonnier Books UK, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of swoony, sapphic romantasy Season of Steel from talented debut author Maia Kane, alongside Gauntlet of Gold, a standalone M/M romantasy set in the same world.
Emma Matthewson, executive publisher, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Safae El-Ouahabi at RCW Literary Agency on behalf of Stuti Telidevara & Pete Knapp at Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management.
Described as ‘Bridgerton with bite meets Gladiator’, Season of Steel is set in an alternate Regency England where unmarried noblewomen – and their fortunes – are the grand prizes to be won in brutal giant mecha tournaments. The YA crossover novel follows Wilhelmina Applewhite, a defiant duke’s daughter who decides to win her own hand – and Thomasin Drake, the alluring, infamous female fighter she hires to help her do so. Together, the two women must navigate the Season’s high society balls and dangerous duels. But, if Wilhelmina isn’t careful, she might lose her most valuable possession – her heart – to Thomasin. And in a world where marriage is a matter of life and death, falling in love is the last thing she can afford.
Maia Kane said: “I’m so delighted to be working with Emma and the wonderful team at Hot Key Books to bring Season of Steel and Gauntlet of Gold across the pond. Their passion for these books absolutely blew me away, and I can’t wait to share this world with UK readers.”
Emma Matthewson, executive publisher at Hot Key Books, said: “I fell head-over-heels for the swoony, addictive, Regency-inspired Season of Steel from the talented Maia Kane. Her worldbuilding and creation of character are equally brilliant – a joyous and rare find, especially for a debut author – and I am so looking forward to publishing.”
Maia Kane is a hapa CHamoru writer, Shudokan black belt, and media studies graduate who completed her education in London. When not writing books or academic essays, she enjoys playing video games, reading comics, and backpacking around the world.Season of Steel will publish in paperback in March 2027, with the second book, Gauntlet of Gold, to follow in 2028. Publication will be simultaneous with the US, where North American rights were acquired by Charlotte Peters at Dutton from Stuti Telidevara & Pete Knapp at Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management.
