ReadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2025

First Mage on the Moon

Cameron Johnston author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Watkins Media Limited

Publishing:14th Apr '26

£9.99

This title is due to be published on 14th April, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

First Mage on the Moon cover

Ella Pickering is drowning in debt. Once a Unity skymage trained to make aerial supply runs in the great war with the Ranneas Empire, following a crash she now uses a wheelchair and works gruelling shifts making magical weapons in the Unity workshops, thinking of better days. One night Ella witnesses an experiment by engineer Jackan Grissom go awry. His device morphs into a crude rocket blasting skywards before falling into the war’s spell-ravaged No Man’s Land. But this inspires a dangerous dream: could such a device reach the moon – the forbidden home of the gods? Could they go and beg them to stop the war? They will need help, but as more folk get involved in their blasphemous plot, can they keep it under wraps? Can magic get them to the moon? Or will their heresy lead them to the gallows?

"original, entertaining, and humane, braced with subversive wit."
– Ken MacLeod, author of Beyond the Hallowed Sky

"First Mage on the Moon contains notes of Full Metal Alchemist and Ed McDonald’s Raven’s Mark wrapped in an alchemical shell of brilliance from Johnston.”
– David, FanFiAddict

"A wild, brilliant blend of rocket science and madcap magic!"
– Andy Peloquin, author of Darkblade

"An absolute delight"
– Tina (@SoundFuryBookReviews, Instagram and YouTube)

"Grabbing the reader's attention from the very first line and holding on tight"
– Effy (@effy_reads, Instagram) / (Deep in the Marginalia, YouTube)

"A spectacular display of found family, reaching for new heights in the face of adversity, and not being afraid to defy those in power."
– Casey Bee (@caseybeebooks, Instagram)

"For anyone enamoured with the romance of the Space Race and a deep loathing of endless war at the whims of idiots."
– Dan (@dan.reads.it.all, Instagram)

" the most surprisingly unique SFF book that I have read this year."
– Amber (@seekingdystopia, Instagram and YouTube)

"Gripping, moving, and wholly original – I loved it."
– H.G. Parry, author of The Magician’s Daughter

"One of my favourite genre mashups I’ve read this year!"
– Rachel (@amodelwhosread, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok)

ISBN: 9781915998064

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

336 pages

New edition