"The Bone Shard Daughter is one of the best fantasy novels I've read in a long time. With stunningly intricate world-building that leaps off the page and characters who are so vibrant that you wish they were real, it grabs you by the heart and the throat from the first pages and doesn't let go until long after it's over. This book is truly special."—New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas on The Bone Shard Daughter
"The Bone Shard Daughter is epic fantasy at its most human and heartfelt, concerned with the real lives caught in the gears of empire and rebellion. Inventive, adventurous, and wonderfully written."—Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"A fascinating world with characters who have deep foundations, and who will quickly capture readers' hearts ... Stewart's debut is sharp and compelling. It will hook readers in and make them fiercely anticipate the rest of the series."—Booklist on The Bone Shard Daughter
"Stewart gives us eerie, grungy bone magic that permeates through every layer of a fascinating and dangerous world. Strange monsters—some friendly, most not—unsettling rituals, and a cast of wonderful characters trying to fix a world on the brink of shattering, The Bone Shard Daughter is utterly absorbing. I adored it."—Emily Duncan, NYT bestselling author of Wicked Saints, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"There's a bold, ambitious imagination at work here - and this is a world you'll want to linger in."—M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"A triumph of fantasy and science fiction populated with memorable characters and bone-chilling secrets that keep you turning the pages."—K. S. Villoso, author of The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"The Bone Shard Daughter begins with a spark of intrigue that ignites into a thrilling adventure you cannot miss-with a unique (and painful!) magic system to boot."—Hafsah Faizal, NYT bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"Stewart etches this story into your heart, filling it with everything I love about fantasy: a well-realized world, dark magic that challenges your presumptions, and deep questions about identity. Highly recommended."—Marshall Ryan Maresca, author of The Maradaine Saga, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"The Bone Shard Daughter is intricate and expansive, incisive and thoughtful — a complex web of political and personal intrigue spun around questions of privilege, duty, and love. Stewart's debut is bound to have fantasy readers clamoring for the next installment."—Kerstin Hall, author of The Border Keeper, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"A complex and dark tapestry of a fantasy woven through with brilliant world-building, deep intrigue, and incredible heart."—Megan E. O'Keefe, author of Velocity Weapon, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"An unforgettable tale of magic and intrigue, and the start of a fascinating trilogy."—Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"The Bone Shard Daughter seized my attention and wouldn't let go. It's an unflinching examination of how people in power exploit and dehumanize those they are supposed to serve, but it also celebrates the uplifting power of love and friendship. It's a thoroughly fantastic read and I eagerly await the sequel."—Kevin Hearne on The Bone Shard Daughter
"A grand, ingenious and sweeping tale of power, magic and heart, The Bone Shard Daughter is groundbreaking epic fantasy for a new age."—Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand, on The Bone Shard Daughter
"The twisting turns of political negotiations, the desperation of each character to do what’s right, and the carefully written world building come together to power this compelling and suspenseful fantasy.... Stewart’s elegant planning and unspooling revelations will keep readers hooked from the first page, and fans will be impatient for the next and final volume in the trilogy." — Booklist on The Bone Shard Emperor—Booklist
"Stewart’s heart-pounding second Drowning Empire epic fantasy expertly picks up the pace from The Bone Shard Daughter, immediately putting the new leader of the Phoenix Empire to the test with multiple enemies gunning for her and the clock ticking for her to prove herself.... Stewart keeps the energy up across the many engrossing plotlines, with immersive battles aplenty to keep readers on the edges of their seats. This page-turning installment is sure to please series fans."—Publishers Weekly
★ 11/01/2021
In the sequel to Stewart's fantasy debut (The Bone Shard Daughter), Lin Sukai is now empress of an Asian-inspired kingdom, following a vicious struggle. Leading the Empire is a challenge, and no one trusts Lin as she tries to form alliances fraught with tension and resistance. Islands in the northern part of the Empire are being conquered by a rebel force, led by one who knows far too much about Lin's lineage. As islands continue to fall—some to the rebels; some by sinking into the ocean's depths—Lin is faced with another threat: the return of the Alanga, the powerful magicians forced into obscurity by the Empire long ago. Lin needs the Alanga's aid against the rebel army but can't be sure that they're as peaceful as they claim—might they have designs on the Empire? Relationships are created and torn apart and long-held secrets are revealed, narrated from multiple points of view, as plot lines broaden towards "The Drowning Empire" trilogy's final book. VERDICT Stewart expands the rich world of the Empire, where magic and political machinations are the keys to power.—Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton
