Ali Fisher at Tor Teen has won, at auction, National Book Award winner Kacen Callender’s debut YA fantasy, Infinity Alchemist. Featuring a cast of trans and queer characters of color in a polyamorous triad, the story follows a boy who illegally practices alchemy and is blackmailed into helping a college apprentice find the legendary Book of Source, said to make its reader all-powerful, pitting the two against dangerous rivals willing to kill for it. Publication is planned for Winter 2024 with Tor Teen in the US and Faber & Faber in the UK.
Beth Phelan at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency brokered the two-book World English rights deal. Ellen Greenberg is the contact for translation rights and Addison Duffy is the contact for film/tv rights.
From author Kacen Callender:
“I spend a lot of time thinking about empowerment, especially in a world where it feels like so many have the ability to decide who is worthy and who isn’t. In Infinity Alchemist, Ash’s story explores self-empowerment as Ash and his two new companions attempt a near-impossible heist to find and destroy a book that shouldn’t exist—a trio that ends up in a fun but complicated romance. It’s hard to put into words just how much I loved creating this world and these characters, and how completely consumed I was when writing the story. I’m so proud of this book, and I hope readers will love it as much as I do.”
From literary agent Beth Phelan:
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with Kacen for almost eight years now, and I’m always bowled over with every new story that they come up with. Infinity Alchemist is no exception. From the dynamic characters to the thrilling magic, every page is a delight.”
From editor Ali Fisher:
“Infinity Alchemist is an incredible, original take on magic schools and has one of the best fantasy love triangles of all time. I’ve been a huge fan of Kacen’s for years, so I knew this would be something special when I started reading, but even then, I was unprepared how much I would fall in love with this extraordinary story. And seeing a transmasc character centered, loved, and deeply self-empowered hits with an unparalleled level of joy.”
Kacen Callender is a bestselling and award-winning author of multiple novels for children, teens, and adults, including the National Book Award-winning King and the Dragonflies and the bestselling novel Felix Ever After. Kacen enjoys playing RPG video games, practicing their art, and doing their best to not kill their plant babies.
