Earthflown: A Potable Study of Love and Collusion (The Anatomy of Water)

Featuring over 60 illustrations, Earthflown is "a mesmerizing blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and crime noir that transcends genres," (Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetary Boys).

Where there's desperation, there is profit.

When Ethan saves the life of a firestarter, it's nothing unusual. He's the only healer on call at the hospital – and that gunshot wound isn't going to regenerate itself. But his patient turns out to be Corinna Arden, heiress to a pharmaceutical empire controlling Britain's water supply. Her twin, Javier, is a man who (a) starts sending Ethan flowers at work, (b) seems terrified of a secret, and (c) has the cheekbones and earnestness to make up for both.

Ethan indulges in (what he thinks will be) a brief, harmless romance – but is swept up in a deadly collusion over Project Earthflown: the largest reconstruction tender since London clawed its way out of the rising sea.

Determined to follow the money, Ollie is a journalist who finds a corpse at the end of a too-convenient tip. The fate of water – and who profits – might depend on the perennial question: has Ethan lost his mind, or is he just an idiot?

Earthflown is a love story that tries – and fails – to leave the water crisis behind. Set in post-flood London, futuristic medicine meets a bit of magic in this bittersweet scifi-fantasy debut.

Frances Wren is a kiwi author based in Australia who lawyers during rent-paying hours and paints during sleeping hours. They specialised in antitrust before leaving big law. Earthflown is their debut novel: more illustrations and work can be seen at franceswren.com

Mia (they / them) is a self-taught, US-based illustrator with a background in bio-med. Growing up as a transient child, they spend much of the year in airports, en route to art conventions. They are inspired by liminal spaces and nature. Their portfolio can be seen at litarnes.com