“A daring debut.” - Booklist STARRED review

“Captivating.” - BookPage

“Clever and intricate” - Reactor

An Amazon Editor’s Pick

A Most Anticipated Title from Men'sHealth | Amazon | Kobo | Polygon | FanFiAddict | The Nerd Daily | Transfer Orbit

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A land filled with magic and dragons and wizards and warriors.
Thousands of people live and work within its borders, fearful of their enemies and loyal to their king.

The classic fantasy world of The Malicarn has been brought to life on the big screen in a series of phenomenally successful blockbuster movies, almost entirely populated by characters in total belief that their sham fantasy lives are real.

A fan-favorite actor finds himself doubting the studio's work, but this franchise has an almost unstoppable momentum, and bringing freedom to a population that already believes itself to be free won’t be as easy as he thinks.

“Fascinatingly entertaining Truman Show–like story... A daring debut.” —Booklist, starred review

“A stunning debut... Combining the gritty low fantasy of A Song of Ice and Fire with the trippy science fiction dystopia of the hit show Severance, the novel explores the intersection between art and profit in the age of reality television and mind-altering technology... Captivating.” —BookPage

“Offers sharp commentary on mainstream media’s endless obsession with sequels and spin-offs, along with the hazards of fans treating real people like beloved characters.” —Library Journal

“Elrod’s debut novel is diabolically clever. The conceit grows more intricate and menacing chapter by chapter, decade by myth-weaving decade. The Franchise offers wonderful (and darkly hilarious) insights into the momentum of seductive stories and irresistible lucre.” —Robert V.S. Redick, author of Master Assassins

“Wonderfully fantastical yet worryingly plausible - is it satire? Is it sci-fi or fantasy? Who cares when it’s such a diverting read. So many character and plot threads are woven together to form a remarkable tapestry of ingenious deception and heartless commercialism.” —Charlotte Bond, author of The Fireborne Blade