The Rainshadow Orphans The must-read fantasy novel of 2026, from a captivating new voice in the genre

The first novel in a dazzling fantasy trilogy inspired by Japanese folklore and Studio Ghibli, set within a mythical archipelago brimming with dragons and Sun Spirits, high-tech hackers and bubble tea.

'The world is richly detailed, the stakes are high as a dragon flies, and the pace is addictive. Pick it up now' SAMANTHA SHANNON, internationally bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

'The Rainshadow Orphans shimmers with wondrous worldbuilding and sublime writing.' AF STEADMAN, internationally bestselling author of the Skandar series

Life is hard in Rainshadow City, a place where poverty and corruption are rife and where inhabitants are terrorized by an underground criminal organization known as the Lucky Crows.

Toshiko, Jun and Mei Kawakami are family, bonded through loyalty if not by blood. They live outside the city's increasingly corrupt law, and are seeking revenge on the Lucky Crows for the murder of their beloved 'aunt' Reiko. Haru is the son of the Emperor, destined to one day rule over the whole Rainshadow Archipelago and uphold his mother's ignoble legacy. Currently however, he seems more interested in making friends with magical Sun Spirits that only he can see. Theo, forced to leave his homeland, is a reluctant foot-soldier for the Lucky Crows. He doesn't want to be a gangster, but as an illegal immigrant to the city, his choices are severely limited.

When Toshiko steals a dragon pearl from the leader of the Crows, she begins a daring adventure that will put them all on a thrilling path to determine the future of Rainshadow City.

Tightly set across two days and peopled with unforgettable characters, The Rainshadow Orphans draws on the charm of anime like Pokémon and the works of Studio Ghibli, as well as on the gripping, fast-paced fantasy plots of series like The Legend of Korra, to explore what it means to stand up to corruption and take charge of destiny.