Only 2 weeks to go! You’re all invited to the launch of The Lore of Silver, sequel to The Book of Gold, in The Gutter Bookshop, Cow’s lane Dublin 2 on the 20th November at 6.30pm. All welcome. Please please please bring everyone you know!
There will be cake!
My Irish gothic romance Wildewood is now available to pre-order here.
And we can now reveal the beautiful creepy cover. The book itself is out in ebook, print and audio on the 9th January 2026.
You don’t need to run, my beloved. Not anymore. It’s time to come home to Wildewood…
The last of the de Wildes, scientist Alex point-blank refuses to believe the family is cursed – even though all her relatives died in mysterious circumstances at their ancestral manor, Wildewood. Now her twin brother has passed away there too. All she wants is to finally sell the old place and move on.
But Nick, the brooding, dangerously hot groundskeeper and her brother’s best friend seems determined to stand in her way. He was a suspect in her brother’s death. And Alex can find no records of him before he came to Wildewood 15 years ago…
Yet, when Alex nearly falls to her death restlessly pacing the shadowy halls in the dead of night, it’s Nick that saves her life. Cradled in his arms at the bottom of the winding staircase, Alex is barely able to stop herself kissing him as a sultry voice from seemingly deep within the house whispers, just give in.
But this near-death experience isn’t the last. Increasingly strange and potentially fatal accidents mount – each with striking similarity to those that claimed her relatives. Alex is forced to dig into her family’s wretched history, with Nick’s help. But are they ready to face just how dark the heart of Wildewood truly is?
This absolutely gripping and unputdownable gothic romance is perfect for fans of Grimstone, Gothikana and Karina Halle.
Today’s the day! The Book of Gold is out in hardback and trade paperback in North America!
To celebrate, here’s a guide to some of the locations in Amberes in the form of an interactive map. The map itself was created by Dewi Hargreaves for The Book of Gold, and the interactive part is thanks to the amazing Jeevani Charika. Photos are my own, and the text is from The Book of Gold.
Click on the links in the maps to find out more about the locations in the books.
Book of Gold Map by Ruth Long
Music is a really important part of my writing ritual and I invariably end up making a playlist for each book. Someone suggested I share the one for Feral Gods – it’s by no means complete and it can be subject to change on a whim, but as I’m deep in edits on The Lore of Silver (out in November 2025) and starting to write Book 3 (title TBA) I thought now was as good a time as any.
The Lore of Silver, Book Two of Feral Gods, will be out on the 20th November 2025 from Hodderscape.
Keep your eyes peeled for the cover reveal, coming soon.
They’re out in the wild.
If you see The Book of Gold on the bookshelves in your local bookshops, or on your bookshelf/reader, tag me with a photo on social media – #FeralGold
It’s finally November and so begins the month of The Book of Gold, Book one of The Feral Gods, my renaissance inspired fantasy heist book of my heart!
So I’d like to invite you all to come to the book launch on the 28th November, at 6.30pm in the fabulous Gutter Bookshop on Cow’s Lane in Dublin.
You can pre-order The Book of Gold from your favourite bookshop now and there’s also the Goldsboro edition to look forward to.
Buckle up for a heist for the ages!
I’m so delighted to finally share this news because I’ve had to sit on it for a while. Anyone who has seen me talk about rare books knows it’s an absolute passion of mine, especially when I get onto the subject of the wonderful Plantin Bible and all the stories of the wild west that was early western printing.
Well, that went somewhere. 🙂
From Bookbrunch:
Hodderscape signs Ruth France Long’s ‘brilliant’ historical fantasy trilogy, which kicks off with The Book of Gold, set in an alternate-Renaissance fantasy world
Hodderscape has signed a historical fantasy trilogy from rare-books librarian Ruth Frances Long after Publishing Director Molly Powell acquired World English rights from Sallyanne Sweeney of MMB Creative. The first, The Book of Gold, will be published this November.
Long (pictured) said: “Inspired by the wild and dangerous world of early western printing, my love of rare books, and a city at the turning point of modernity, all of which had been simmering away in the back of my brain for so long, writing The Book of Gold has felt like my own quest, alongside characters who are forever part of me, and I am delighted this book of my heart has found its home with Hodderscape.”
Powell said: “Trapped gods, found family, a magical book, a second-chance romance, and a royal heist for the ages – what isn’t to love? I’m so excited to be bringing Ruth’s brilliant historical fantasy trilogy to Hodderscape.”
Sweeney said: “The Book of Gold is the series Ruth was born to write. I’m thrilled to have the perfect publishing home for it in Hodderscape and can’t wait for readers to discover Amberes.”
According to the acquisition statement: ‘The Book of Gold is a part-historical, part-fantastical heist novel set in an alternate-Renaissance fantasy world and inspired by the early days of printing in Europe. When thief Lyta’s brother is arrested for sedition, she strikes a bargain with the king to steal the Book of Gold, a manuscript reputed to hold vast magical power, from his rival.
‘Ruth Frances Long writes young adult romance and fantasy from the heart which often strays into weird and wonderful liminal places. She works in a specialised library of rare books. In 2015, she won the European Science Fiction Society Spirit of Dedication Award for Best Author of Children’s Science Fiction and Fantasy for A Crack in Everything.
‘As Jessica Thorne, she also writes adult fantasy which wanders from space opera to time travel to epic fantasy, including The Water Witch, The Bookbinder’s Daughter, The Stone’s Heart and more. The Stone’s Heart was nominated for the RNA Romantic Fantasy novel of the year in 2020.’
The Water Witch, my beloved Brittany book, is finally out in the world. I have wanted to tell this story for so long that it doesn’t seem quite real just yet. I’m so excited.
So if you’re ready to be swept away on an adventure, check out The Water Witch, available now in ebook, print and audio.
The news is out. I will have a new book with Bookouture next year, The Water Witch.
We are also delighted to have re-signed contracts with fantasy author Jessica Thorne. Associate Publisher Ellen Gleeson has acquired World English Language rights, plus audio, from Sallyanne Sweeney at MMB Creative for The Water Witch.
Publishing in summer 2022, The Water Witch is set on the wild shores of Brittany and tells the story of how Ariadne, a young woman still grieving for her lost fiancé, becomes involved in an archaeological dig searching for the lost city of Ys — and awakes an ancient and dangerous power.
Jessica said,
‘I’m so delighted to be working with Bookouture on this wild and magical tale of Brittany, a place so very close to my heart. It’s always such a thrill to start a new adventure and to explore the mysteries of family dynamics, folklore handed down through generations and the human heart.’
Ellen said,
‘Jessica’s books are always guaranteed to sweep me away to whatever beautiful, beguiling and entrancing world is waiting! Her gorgeous descriptions and worldbuilding, intricate plotting, ability to create totally dramatic heart-in-mouth moments, and of course passionate romance arcs, all combine to create exactly the kind of contemporary fantasy fiction her fans adore. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to work with Jessica and I can’t wait to dive straight in to The Water Witch.’