Nigerian author Marvellous Michael Anson recently revealed the stunning cover for her forthcoming book Firstborn of the Sun, which will come out October 23, 2025.

Anson credits Nigerian-born artist Juliet Nneka for contributing to the gorgeous illustration of the woman who is the focus of the book cover. With vivid fire and water imagery in motion, this cover perfectly sets up Firstborn, the first book in the trilogy, all to be published by Penguin Michael Joseph, a division of Penguin Books UK.

This debut novel incorporates elements of Yoruba culture and fantasy to craft a compelling narrative. From the publisher:

In Oru L’ore is the only one without agbára – the ability to harness power from the sun. And must conceal it from everyone. Including her best friend, Alawani. But when the gods declare Alawani an Àlùfáà, he must be stripped of his power in a brutal trial likely to kill him. Unwilling to bear his death, Lóre vows to rescue him. But in a desperate attempt to channel agbára an icy magic pours from her hands; a power she learns originated from a forbidden, secret land beyond the walls of Oru. One where she and Alawani must now seek sanctuary and discover a secret that could bring the Kingdom to its knees…

Marvellous Michael Anson is the author of the self-published thriller, His Dark Reflection. She was shortlisted for the Future Worlds Prize in 2023, the 2022 Jericho Writers Friday Night Live Competition and the 2022 Kit De Waal Bursary, was longlisted for the 2023 REVPIT competition, and won the 2023 Jericho Writers’ Self Edit Course Bursary. In addition, Marve is a filmmaker who wrote and produced an award-winning short film in 2016 and is a recipient of the 2017 AFRIFF Film School Scholarship Program. She is a member of the Society of Authors, the World Science Fiction Society and the British Fantasy Society. She is a mentor for Black Girl Writers.

Firstborn of the Sun is available for pre-order here!