A dark, gritty urban fantasy debut set in modern-day San Francisco, filled with gods, sinister government agencies, and worlds of dark magic hidden just below the surface.
When a secret government agency trying to enslave you isn’t the biggest problem you’re facing, you’re in trouble.
Erik, a former teen star living in San Francisco, thought his life was complicated; having his ex-boyfriend in jail because of the scandal that destroyed his career seemed overwhelming. Then Erik learned he was Blooded: descended from the Gods.
Struggling with a power he doesn’t understand and can barely control, Erik discovers that a secret government agency is selling off Blooded like lab rats to a rival branch of preternatural beings in ’Zebub—San Francisco’s mirror city in an alternate dimension.
Lil, a timid apprentice in ’Zebub, is searching for answers to her parents’ sudden and mysterious deaths. Surrounded by those who wish her harm and view her as a lesser being, Lil delves into a forgotten history that those in power will go to dangerous lengths to keep buried.
What neither Erik nor Lil realize is that a darkness is coming, something none have faced in living memory. It eats. It hunts. And it knows them. In The Root, the dark and surging urban fantasy debut from Na’amen Tilahun, two worlds must come together if even a remnant of one is to survive.
Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.
Industry Reviews
"Tilahun creates a fantasy world you'll want to get lost in, and fills it with fascinating, diverse characters. This is a whole new exciting kind of portal fantasy."
Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky
"An intense, emotional ride that combines libraries, monsters, fallen angels, magical powers, and secret societies fighting an ancient war. This is catnip for my reading soul."
Kate Elliott, author of Cold Magic and Black Wolves
"The Root is a grandiose feat of imagination and cross-dimensional storytelling . . . a story that's firmly rooted in human drama, exploring themes such as the nature of race, celebrity, the media and society's perceptions of sexual orientation, gender and class division . . . Tilahun has laid the foundations for a very promising trilogy."
Starburst
"A refreshing, diverse urban fantasy story that managed to stand out while still capturing the kick-butt, monster-fighting essence that I think many readers look for in the UF genre . . . I loved the diversity, the creativity of the magic and creatures, and the refreshingly different urban fantasy story, and I feel invested enough that I want to continue the series!"-Metaphors and Moonlight
"Tilahun creates a fantasy world you'll want to get lost in, and fills it with fascinating, diverse characters. This is a whole new exciting kind of portal fantasy."
Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky
"An intense, emotional ride that combines libraries, monsters, fallen angels, magical powers, and secret societies fighting an ancient war. This is catnip for my reading soul."
Kate Elliott, author of Cold Magic and Black Wolves
"The Root is a grandiose feat of imagination and cross-dimensional storytelling . . . a story that's firmly rooted in human drama, exploring themes such as the nature of race, celebrity, the media and society's perceptions of sexual orientation, gender and class division . . . Tilahun has laid the foundations for a very promising trilogy."
Starburst
"A refreshing, diverse urban fantasy story that managed to stand out while still capturing the kick-butt, monster-fighting essence that I think many readers look for in the UF genre . . . I loved the diversity, the creativity of the magic and creatures, and the refreshingly different urban fantasy story, and I feel invested enough that I want to continue the series!"-Metaphors and Moonlight
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