Lysander Mazee

Winner of the Jonge Jury Debut prize Lysander (1987) studied Theology in Leiden and Classical singing at the Royal Conservatory. However, after some detours in life he’s found his calling as a primary school teacher.
Lysander writes novels and stories wrought with magical realism, historical elements, Scandinavian folklore, queer main characters and psychological depth.

This year, his second novel, Wapenbroeders (Brothers in Arms), was published. In this queer high fantasy a courtly romance with a twist plays out against the background of a magical and technological battle between humans and Fey. Hemming, a knight of the royal guard, discovers a plot against his favourite nephew, the crown prince on the eve of a jousting tournament. But then the hired assassin turns out to have a conscience and the plot runs deeper than they ever imagined...

In 2023, his first novel, Wolventijd (A Time of Wolves), won the Jonge Jury debut prize. Main character Auke is kidnapped and transported a thousand years back in time after an ice hockey match against his big rival... but what exactly does a Viking warlord need him for?

Also by Lysander is Uit de Diepte (From the Depths). In this story, a Norwegian drilling platform technician unravels the secret of his family with the help of a selkie with a birth defect. This story is also available as a graphic novel. His novella Wisselkind (Changeling) tells a supernatural tale about a Swedish veteran who tries to settle in a cursed place at the beginning of the 18th century.