Cello's Gate
- Author
- Maurice Africh
- Narrator
- Gary Furlong
- Publisher
- Hodder & Stoughton
- Publish Date
- 3 November 2026
- Run Time
- 18 hours 48 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
'THE VERY DEFINITION OF RIP-ROARING' RICHARD SWAN
'A LITTLE FIREFLY, A LITTLE DUNE, A HELL OF A RIDE' DAVE RUDDEN
ONE CREW OF SKY PIRATES
SEVEN MYTHOLOGICAL STONES
A RACE TO FIND THEM ALL
Captain Grey and his crew of sky pirates have a reputation for doing the impossible. From breaking into high-security military research facilities, to conning the iCity elite - there isn't a lock they can't pick, a safe they can't break, or a hidden treasure they can't find. Until now.
Returning from a harrowing heist, Grey and his crew are approached by Dalia, the immortal daughter of the infamous ArchGovernor - and she has an offer.
The job? Locate and steal the Stones of Indigo, seven fabled rocks invested with godlike power. The search for the first stone is a bona fide treasure hunt, guided by an ancient map to a deadly, uncharted island that's protected by a mysterious guardian. The score? One million credits per crew member, per stone. The catch? Well, that's where things get a little complicated.
The stones don't exist. They're a myth. A bedtime story told to little pirates to make them believe that power and wealth are attainable if you just work hard enough.
To make matters infinitely worse, Grey's never trusted immortals, and Dalia's definitely hiding something. Something bad. And if they don't figure out what it is, it might cost them their lives.
JOIN THE CREW WHO LOVE CELLO'S GATE
'The most fun I've had reading this year.' Smitty (Smitty1423)
'Cello's Gate truly was the wickedly wild and uniquely imaginative adventure I didn't know I needed in my life. It's epic yet intimate, dark yet light-hearted, playful yet emotional, and it's got a fun factor that just soars higher than the sky. Ghandammit frens, this is how you write one hell of a debut!'
- Esmay Rosalyne, Grimdark Magazine
'My absolute favorite book of the year. Africh is a lyrical wordsmith, a poet who can turn a phrase into a strand of gold.' Phoenix McDonald, Author of The Talent Continuum
'The world-building is dense and rich, a fusion of tech and magic; cities ruled by immortal tyrants, knights who fight like the wind, and monsters. The magic system is sparse, just enough to salt the story. The prose is witty. Occasionally poetic. Frequently unhinged. It feels like (Africh) dared you to laugh at tragedy, and then made you cry in the next paragraph.' Florian Armas, author of Chronicle of the Seer
'From the start, this book gripped me.' Jonathan Neves Mayers, author of Vevin Song
'I swear I've been WAITING for someone to write this book.' Ash, Readers Quadrant Art
Critics Review
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This stellar debut is exactly the kind of book I love to read. It's got scheming immortals, a perilous quest, and a ragtag band of eclectic, eccentric, exceedingly dangerous misfits setting out on a grand adventure. And did I mention the monsters? The skyships? The witty banter? Wait, are we sure I didn't write this myself? This one's a must-read, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld
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Fun and thrilling with a cast of memorable characters. It's hard to find a stronger debut novel.
Aaron N. Hall, author of The Legend of Uh
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A spellbinding blend of found family, epic heisting, and murder-full suspense!
Andy Peloquin, author of Darkblade
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The very definition of rip-roaring.
Richard Swan, Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Empire of the Wolf series.
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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"The pacing is brisk, like being chased through a collapsing cathedral... (Africh) clearly understands the balance between character development, creative bloodshed, and pitch-black humor... The world-building is dense and rich, a fusion of tech and magic; cities ruled by immortal tyrants, knights who fight like the wind, and monsters. The magic system is sparse, just enough to salt the story. The prose is witty. Occasionally poetic. Frequently unhinged. It feels like (Africh) dared you to laugh at tragedy, and then made you cry in the next paragraph.
Florian Armas, author of Chronicle of the Seer
-
Cello's Gate truly was the wickedly wild and uniquely imaginative adventure I didn't know I needed in my life. It's epic yet intimate, dark yet light-hearted, playful yet emotional, and it's got a fun factor that just soars higher than the sky. Ghandammit frens, this is how you write one hell of a debut!
Esmay Rosalyne, Grimdark Magazine
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Like any good pirate, Cello's Gate is hiding a ton of complexity, darkness and heart beneath it's swashbuckling grace. A little Firefly, a little Dune, a hell of a ride.
Dave Rudden, author of Sunday Times bestselling Sister Wake
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Maurice Africh
- Narrator
- Gary Furlong
- Duration
- 18 hours 48 minutes
- Release Date
- 3 November 2026
- ISBN
- 9781399763110
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Hodder & Stoughton
- Genre
- Fantasy, Epic fantasy / high fantasy, Adventure / action fiction, Science fiction, Science fiction: space opera
Synopsis
'THIS ONE'S A MUST-READ' <b>NICHOLAS EAMES</b><br>'THE VERY DEFINITION OF RIP-ROARING' <b>RICHARD SWAN</b><br><b></b>'A LITTLE <i>FIREFLY</i>, A LITTLE <i>DUNE</i>, A HELL OF A RIDE' <b>DAVE RUDDEN</b><br><b></b><br><b>ONE CREW OF SKY PIRATES</b><br><b>SEVEN MYTHOLOGICAL STONES</b><br><b>A RACE TO FIND THEM ALL</b><br><br>Captain Grey and his crew of sky pirates have a reputation for doing the impossible. From breaking into high-security military research facilities, to conning the iCity elite - there isn't a lock they can't pick, a safe they can't break, or a hidden treasure they can't find. Until now.<br><br>Returning from a harrowing heist, Grey and his crew are approached by Dalia, the immortal daughter of the infamous ArchGovernor - and she has an offer.<br><br>The job? Locate and steal the Stones of Indigo, seven fabled rocks invested with godlike power. The search for the first stone is a bona fide treasure hunt, guided by an ancient map to a deadly, uncharted island that's protected by a mysterious guardian. The score? One million credits per crew member, per stone. The catch? Well, that's where things get a little complicated.<br><br>The stones don't exist. They're a myth. A bedtime story told to little pirates to make them believe that power and wealth are attainable if you just work hard enough.<br><br>To make matters infinitely worse, Grey's never trusted immortals, and Dalia's definitely hiding something. Something bad. And if they don't figure out what it is, it might cost them their lives.<br><br><br><b><u>JOIN THE CREW WHO LOVE <i>CELLO'S GATE</i></u></b><br><br>'The most fun I've had reading this year.' Smitty (Smitty1423)<br><br>'Cello's Gate truly was the wickedly wild and uniquely imaginative adventure I didn't know I needed in my life. It's epic yet intimate, dark yet light-hearted, playful yet emotional, and it's got a fun factor that just soars higher than the sky. Ghandammit frens, this is how you write one hell of a debut!'<br>- Esmay Rosalyne, <i>Grimdark Magazine</i><br><br>'My absolute favorite book of the year. Africh is a lyrical wordsmith, a poet who can turn a phrase into a strand of gold.' Phoenix McDonald, Author of <i>The Talent Continuum</i><br><br>'The world-building is dense and rich, a fusion of tech and magic; cities ruled by immortal tyrants, knights who fight like the wind, and monsters. The magic system is sparse, just enough to salt the story. The prose is witty. Occasionally poetic. Frequently unhinged. It feels like (Africh) dared you to laugh at tragedy, and then made you cry in the next paragraph.' Florian Armas, author of <i>Chronicle of the Seer</i><br><br>'From the start, this book gripped me.' Jonathan Neves Mayers, author of <i>Vevin Song</i><br><br>'I swear I've been WAITING for someone to write this book.' Ash, <i>Readers Quadrant Art</i>
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