Transworld has Andromedathe debut novel for adults by author ES McLeod, an “electrifying reclaiming of the whitewashed woman in Greek mythology”.
Nicole Witmer, deputy editor, acquired all language rights worldwide from Stephanie Thwaites at Curtis Brown. Andromeda will be published in spring 2026 as hardcover, e-book and audio.
It follows the Ethiopian princess who forms an unusual bond with the sea monster that is meant to follow her until she is forced to make an impossible choice that will shape her legacy for the rest of time. Transworld called it an “electrifying reclaiming of the white-washed woman in Greek mythology.”
The synopsis reads: “When Queen Cassiopeia foolishly boasts that her daughter is more beautiful than Poseidon’s Nereids, the sea god issues her a challenge: If Andromeda is the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, he will marry her; if she is wrong, Cassiopeia will pay with her life. Poseidon entrusts his most loyal Nereid, the shape-shifter Cetus, to stay close to Andromeda until Judgement Day.
“At first the princess and the sea monster are suspicious of each other, but over the years the two young women find themselves drawn to each other. As the day of Poseidon’s longed-for announcement draws closer, they find themselves drawn into something neither of them could have predicted.”
Witmer said: “Andromeda is a powerful, electrifying reclamation of a woman who has lost her identity over time. Ella breathes new life into the space of myth reimagining with her expertly crafted examination of loyalty and legacy, exploring both self-love and queer love in depth. I can’t wait for readers to fall in love with this stunning reimagining.”
ES McLeod is the pseudonym of the children’s author Ella McLeod. She has written two young adult novels, Rapunzel And The map that led to you (both published by Scholastic). She is also a poet and works in podcasting.
