May 18, 2020
Stewart interweaves multiple perspectives on the failing reign of an emperor in this bleakly atmospheric but predictable epic fantasy debut, the first in the Drowning Empire series. The leader of the Phoenix Empire is more interested in carving magic symbols onto the skull shards of the dead to power Frankenstein-like “constructs” that do his bidding than he is in ruling his living people. His daughter, Lin, struggles to please her father, regain her memories, and master bone shard magic after her foster-brother, Bayan, infects her with an illness that might cost her the crown. Meanwhile, Phaule, the daughter of a governor, is drawn into a plot against her father by the Shardless Few, a resistance group. The Shardless Few also enlist scene-stealing smuggler Jovis, who accidentally becomes a folk hero while searching for his kidnapped wife. In between the dovetailing narratives, a woman known as Sand tries to discover why she’s imprisoned on an island without her memories. The magic system is well thought-out, and the Asian-inspired setting is a welcome break from European-esque epics, but the simplistic plotting and predictable twists put a damper on the inventive premise. Fans of grimdark epics will be drawn in but hope for more complexity in Stewart’s next offering. Agent: Juliet Mushens, Mushens Entertainment.
August 1, 2020
In the first book of the epic Drowning Empire series, Stewart writes of constructs powered by spirit and bone, and of a struggling kingdom and those who are entangled in its eventual fate. The characters are sharp: Lin, the emperor's daughter, vying for his trust and his knowledge; Jovis, the smuggler who finds himself saving children with a mysterious creature named Mephi at his side; and Phalue, a governor's daughter drawn into rebellion by Ranami, the woman she loves. The book gets off to a slow start in this complicated, magical world, but the pace quickly picks up, and the twists that readers think they can predict will be followed by completely unexpected realizations. Stewart has drawn a fascinating world with characters who have deep foundations, and who will quickly capture readers' hearts. From the compelling bone shard-powered constructs, magical tree bark, and mysterious creature companions, to the sapphic representation and explorations of privilege, Stewart's debut is sharp and compelling. It will hook readers in and make them fiercely anticipate the rest of the series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)