Manhattan Book Group gives Gold to 'Antheia in the Thorns'

Manhattan Book Group named Marilynne Eichinger’s environmental thriller “Antheia in the Thorns: A Rightfully Mine Novel” a Gold winner in the 2026 Manhattan Book Awards. The recognition spotlights a second installment in the series as the third book is slated for early next year.

Why it matters: - The Gold win puts “Antheia in the Thorns” among the Manhattan Book Awards’ top honors for independent and hybrid-published books. - The award can increase visibility for Marilynne Eichinger’s “Rightfully Mine” series as the next installment moves toward release. - The recognition also reinforces the market for environmentally themed thrillers that mix suspense with real-world issues.

What happened: - Manhattan Book Group announced that Marilynne Eichinger’s “Antheia in the Thorns: A Rightfully Mine Novel” won Gold in the 2026 Manhattan Book Awards. - The announcement was made July 23, 2026. - Manhattan Book Awards judges evaluate titles on narrative strength, originality, production quality and overall impact. - Gold honors are reserved for books that show exceptional craft within their genre.

The details: - “Antheia in the Thorns” is the second novel in the “Rightfully Mine” series. - The first book in the series is “The Water Factor,” which focuses on the corporate takeover of water resources. - The third installment, “Kingdom of Greed,” is scheduled for release early next year and examines the sacrifice of America’s old-growth forests to corporate greed. - Eichinger previously served as president of Impression 5 Science Center in Lansing, Michigan, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. - Eichinger later founded the Museum Tour Catalog, which brought science kits and educational materials into homes nationwide. - Eichinger’s background in science education and environmental stewardship shaped the “Rightfully Mine” books. - Eichinger is now a public speaker and a member of the Community for Earth Committee in Portland. - The Kindle edition of “Antheia in the Thorns” is available on Amazon for $3.99, down from $6.95. - The book is also available in paperback, hardcover and audiobook formats. - The novel follows archaeologist Jennifer Russo after she discovers an ancient cave in Oregon and a toxic pond nearby. - The story also centers on her husband, an environmental attorney who works for oil tycoon Abdul Hammed Dillinger. - Dillinger’s refinery produces petcoke, a toxic byproduct that poisons land, air and oceans worldwide. - Jennifer joins Antheia, a network of young activists led by Brian Adakai, after uncovering illegal dumping and corporate corruption. - The plot expands into murder, kidnapping and a confrontation aboard Dillinger’s cargo ship. - Kirkus Reviews called the book “a fiction-filled, well-plotted yarn of industry vs. nature” and highlighted the central conflict between Jen and her husband’s employer.

Between the lines: - The award gives the series another layer of credibility as Eichinger blends environmental advocacy with commercial thriller pacing. - The book’s premise tracks with broader reader interest in climate, pollution and corporate accountability narratives. - The inclusion of a Kirkus quote adds outside validation that the book’s conflict-driven structure lands with critics.

What's next: - “Kingdom of Greed” is expected early next year. - Manhattan Book Group is likely to continue using the awards program to spotlight independent and hybrid-published titles. - The promotional Kindle price for “Antheia in the Thorns” is currently set at $3.99 on Amazon.

The bottom line: - Manhattan Book Group’s Gold award gives “Antheia in the Thorns” a timely boost as the “Rightfully Mine” series expands and its environmental message reaches a wider audience.