Honour & Heresy

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Publish date: 23 April 2026
Pages: 432
Language: English

Subjects: Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Dark Fantasy, Romance, Military

Instagram sensation Max Francis makes his highly anticipated debut with this atmospheric, gothic, dark academic fantasy of two scholars racing each other to find answers to an invasion in a haunted library, perfect for fans of Katabasis and A Study in Drowning.

'A stunning debut with all the lush, gothic atmosphere that I adore' Ava Reid, No.1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

'As twisting and turning as the shelves in an ancient library, Honour & Heresy will keep readers turning the pages to watch the mystery, and the tender romance, unfold' S. M. Hallow, author of The Halls of the Dead

Roy Dawnseve cares more for philosophy than battle. But, in a society that shuns literature in favour of their ongoing war, Roy must face a difficult choice: brave the front lines or investigate the identity of their foes in the Orphic Basilica, an ancient, abandoned library.

When Roy chooses to unravel the mystery, it soon becomes clear that the Orphic Basilica isn't without its own horrors. Strange voices echo down the halls, ghosts roam the bookshelves, and those who stepped foot in the library have either emerged insane or were driven to their own demise.

Roy's partner in the investigation is Percival Atherton, a manipulative, enigmatic and distractingly charming scholar who has no qualms about belittling Roy. As a fierce snowstorm isolates them from civilisation, Roy and Percival must grapple with their tormented pasts, an unexpected romance, and an age-old conspiracy whose secrets are certain to wipe Northgard from history.

Filled with all the yearning of a rivals-to-lovers romance, the intrigue and fear of a dark academia, and the wonder and discovery of an epic fantasy, Honour & Heresy is ultimately a story of self-discovery amidst the chaos of war and a long, cold winter.