Claire McKade's "The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere": The Next Big Fantasy Obsession?

Oh, you know that buzz? That tingling anticipation you get when a new book series is announced, especially one that sounds like it was plucked directly from your very specific, genre-blending dreams? Well, get ready, because HarperCollins' Harper Voyager imprint just dropped some truly exciting news that’s bound to get fans of both Fourth Wing and Dungeon Crawler Carl absolutely buzzing.

Introducing Claire McKade’s upcoming trilogy, "The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere." Yes, it’s a bit of a mouthful, I know, but trust me, the concept behind it sounds absolutely phenomenal. This new series is being pitched as a thrilling fusion: imagine the high-stakes, dragon-riding intensity and undeniable romantic tension of Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing mixed with the brutal, floor-by-floor survival and televised absurdity of Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl. Honestly, who could resist that combination?

The first book in "The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere" is slated for release in Winter 2028, which feels like ages away, doesn’t it? But, if the early details are anything to go by, it’ll be worth every single moment of the wait. McKade is set to transport us into a post-apocalyptic dystopian world, one dominated by a colossal skyscraper that stretches, quite literally, into space. The government, in a move that feels both sinister and compelling, broadcasts a deadly competition from within this towering structure, claiming it's the only path left for humanity to escape a dying Earth.

Our protagonist, Monroe Becket, is a woman in STEM – a scientist, no less – who finds herself thrust into this terrifying, televised gauntlet. And here’s where things get really spicy: to survive, she’s forced to partner with Ryker Zahir, a morally gray character who just so happens to be responsible for her brother’s death. Talk about complicated dynamics! The series promises a single point of view, told in the present tense, which I’m already imagining will lend an incredible sense of immediacy and heart-pounding tension to Monroe’s journey. Characters will ascend floor by brutal floor, facing off against different challenges, all while chasing the elusive promises of fame and fortune – or, more realistically, just staying alive.

That chilling opening line? "The smallest body bags always come from Level 1." It immediately brings to mind the dark humor and unflinching brutality that Dungeon Crawler Carl fans have come to love, hinting at the deadly stakes involved from the very beginning. This isn't just a competition; it’s a meat grinder, broadcast for all to see.

Given the massive success and fervent fan bases of both Dungeon Crawler Carl and Fourth Wing, it’s no surprise that "The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere" has already caught significant international attention. Rights for the trilogy have been snapped up across the United States, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, Denmark, and France – truly a testament to the global appeal of this unique premise. McKade’s literary agent, Katrina Escudero at MGMT Entertainment, must be absolutely thrilled.

It's interesting, too, to see this announcement come at a time when both of its inspirational touchstones are making waves beyond the page. Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman, is currently in development for a TV adaptation by Seth MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door Productions, with Christopher Yost and Eric Heisserer co-showrunning and even Jeff Hayes reprising his iconic voice work for Princess Donut. And, of course, Rebecca Yarros's The Empyrean series, featuring Fourth Wing, is also getting the small-screen treatment, with Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society at the helm, Lisa Joy directing the pilot, and Meredith Averill as showrunner. So, clearly, the appetite for these kinds of epic, high-stakes narratives is absolutely enormous right now.

While we wait for Winter 2028, maybe it’s a good time to dive into Matt Dinniman’s standalone novel, Operation Bounce House, or pre-order Rebecca Yarros’s upcoming novella, Threshing Day, which is set to drop in just ten days from when this news broke. And hey, if you’re looking for another new release, Django Wexler’s The Only Way Out Is Up also hits shelves on September 29th. Plenty to tide us over, but I, for one, will be eagerly counting down the days until we can finally step onto "The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere." It sounds like it’s going to be an absolutely wild ride.