We are thrilled to help reveal the cover of Adam Bassett’s book, Rusty Throat, Burning Heart, book two in the Copper & Ash series!

About RUSTY THROAT, BURNING HEART:

For a thousand years, The Old Town has stood as humanity’s last bastion—until now. Beyond the deadly mists and terrors of the maalkonis, and across foreign waters, lights flicker in the distance. There are other survivors.

Anna, a skilled engineer and self-taught mage, is among the first to make contact with these strangers beyond the veil. When she discovers that they’ve managed to keep the mists at bay through a mastery of magic, she seeks answers from their mage, Valentín. However, the magic he wields comes at a terrible price. 

Anna’s copper machines represent an unexpected sense of freedom for both Valentín and future generations of mages. They present a future that he had thought impossible to reach. However, trust is hard-won and easily lost. Budding allies turn to bitter enemies as deep-rooted divisions within the realm rear their ugly head.

Rusty Throat, Burning Heart is a post-apocalyptic romantic fantasy that takes place ten years after the events of Copper Skin, Oaken Lungs. While it is recommended to read them in order, it is not required.

With gorgeous artwork by Silvia Gorchakova, Rusty Throat, Burning Heart, is a post-apocalyptic romantic fantasy novel which will be released March 27, 2027. An audiobook narrated by Veronica Rotar will be released mid to late 2027.

Be sure to support Adam’s work via Kickstarter, where you will find options for digital, print, and audio editions (as well as combination bundles) of Adam’s books!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adamcbassett/copper-and-ash-post-apocalyptic-fantasy

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! Adam’s book Copper Skin, Oaken Lungs, will be getting a second edition, which will be available September 12, 2026!

About COPPER SKIN, OAKEN LUNGS:

For a thousand years, The Old Town has stood as humanity’s last bastion against the maalkonis, malignant black mists that reduced the rest of the world to ash. They are kept at bay by rusty machines on the town’s walls. In order to survive, the dwindling population depends on one another.

Since a young age, Justīne has embraced the harsh responsibilities that accompanied her apprenticeship on the last farm in existence. Her younger sister, Anna, is beginning her own apprenticeship as well. Learning engineering was not Anna’s first choice, but the town’s last mage fell to the maalkonis years prior, leaving nothing behind but confusing books and strange runes.

When food runs low during a particularly harsh winter, distrust spreads like a plague, and Justīne is blamed for it. As hunger leads to violence, she and her siblings are forced to flee The Old Town, embarking on a perilous journey into the very mists that had formed their cage. Their fight to survive in the dark develops into a hopeful mystery as they follow the breadcrumbs of a mage’s efforts to save the world. Meanwhile something pursues them through the maalkonis…

About the author:

Adam Bassett is an author and illustrator originally from Northern New York. He is the author of the Digital Extremities and Copper & Ash series, as well as An Author’s Guide to Setting Design: Worldbuilding & Cartography.

His work has also been published in anthologies such as The Book of Spores (FanFiAddict), Rare (Alex Parker Publishing), and Nature Erupts (Two Doctors Media). He previously volunteered as the Editor-in-Chief at Worldbuilding Magazine.

Visit adamcbassett.com to see more of his work and subscribe to his newsletter for updates. You can also follow Adam on Bluesky, Instagram, or Threads.

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/adamcbassett.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@adamcbassett
Instagram: http://instagram.com/adamcbassett
Newsletter: https://adamcbassett.substack.com
Website: https://www.adamcbassett.com
Shop: https://adamcbassett.square.site/

Cover Illustration by Silvia Gorchakova (@gorchart):

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorchart
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gorchart
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gorchart.bsky.social

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