Overview

A loyal warrior in a crisis of faith must fight to regain her place and begin her life again while questioning the events of her past. This gripping science-fantasy novel from a Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, and Locus Award-winning debut author is a complex, action-packed exploration of the costs of zealous faith, ceaseless conflicts, and unquestioning obedience. Zenya was a teenager when she ran away from home to join the mechanically-modified warrior sect. She was determined to earn mechanised wings and protect the people and city she loved. Under the strict tutelage of a mercurial, charismatic leader, Zenya became Winged Zemolai. But after twenty-six years of service, Zemolai is disillusioned with her role as an enforcer in an increasingly fascist state. After one tragic act of mercy, she is cast out, and loses everything she worked for. As Zemolai fights for her life, she begins to understand the true nature of her sect, her leader, and the gods themselves.

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9781616964146

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Reviews

"""An intense, astute, and moving tale of redemption, by turns relentlessly grim and courageously hopeful."" --Kate Elliott, author of the Court of Fives trilogy ""I've been hoping for a novel from Samantha Mills for years, ever since first stumbling upon her short story 'Strange Waters.' The Wings Upon Her Back didn't disappoint, giving us a thoughtful, wrenching, and beautifully crafted story of disappointment, failure, and redemption."" --C. L. Clark, author of The Unbroken"

"""An intense, astute, and moving tale of redemption, by turns relentlessly grim and courageously hopeful."" --Kate Elliott, author of Servant Mage ""A frightening look at the cost of war and unquestioning loyalty against the backdrop of a gorgeous secondary world. Mills perfectly blends real-world horrors with the fantastic in this wonderful novel."" --A. C. Wise, author of Wendy, Darling ""A fierce, aching battle cry of a book, both cinematically epic and painfully intimate. Mills has crafted a striking world of sleeping gods, disillusioned revolutionaries, and metal wings--and from it, she wrenches equal amounts of love and pain."" --Julie Leong, author of The Teller of Small Fortunes ""The prose in Samantha Mills' The Wings Upon Her Back is truly incredible. Every sentence beautifully written, her worldbuilding is both refreshing and captivating."" --Charlie N. Holmberg author of Spellbreaker ""I've been hoping for a novel from Samantha Mills for years, ever since first stumbling upon her short story 'Strange Waters.' The Wings Upon Her Back didn't disappoint, giving us a thoughtful, wrenching, and beautifully crafted story of disappointment, failure, and redemption."" --C. L. Clark, author of The Unbroken ""A gripping, gorgeous exploration of the perils of worshipping gods and humans alike. It's a book that refuses to look away from the damage that can be wrought by misplaced faith, but one that simultaneously insists on the possibility of redemption."" --Emet North, author of In Universes ""Mills weaves a deft and jagged narrative of choices and consequences, raw and real and heartbreaking, as a girl fights to achieve her goal, and the woman she becomes has to live with the consequences to herself, her family, her society."" --K. Eason, author of The Thorne Chronicles"

"""An intense, astute, and moving tale of redemption, by turns relentlessly grim and courageously hopeful."" --Kate Elliott, author of Servant Mage ""A frightening look at the cost of war and unquestioning loyalty against the backdrop of a gorgeous secondary world. Mills perfectly blends real-world horrors with the fantastic in this wonderful novel."" --A. C. Wise, author of Wendy, Darling [STARRED REVIEW] The Wings upon Her Back is a triumphant debut novel. The complex narrative examines the intricacies of blind devotion, self-image, and the hidden motivations behind martial control."" --Booklist [STARRED REVIEW] ""VERDICT Mills's debut novel is complex and haunting, filled with beautiful prose and timely themes of political and religious upheaval and personal journeys."" --Library Journal [STARRED REVIEW] This cathartic adventure will stay with readers long after the final page."" --Publishers Weekly ""A fierce, aching battle cry of a book, both cinematically epic and painfully intimate. Mills has crafted a striking world of sleeping gods, disillusioned revolutionaries, and metal wings--and from it, she wrenches equal amounts of love and pain."" --Julie Leong, author of The Teller of Small Fortunes ""The prose in Samantha Mills' The Wings Upon Her Back is truly incredible. Every sentence beautifully written, her worldbuilding is both refreshing and captivating."" --Charlie N. Holmberg author of Spellbreaker ""I've been hoping for a novel from Samantha Mills for years, ever since first stumbling upon her short story 'Strange Waters.' The Wings Upon Her Back didn't disappoint, giving us a thoughtful, wrenching, and beautifully crafted story of disappointment, failure, and redemption."" --C. L. Clark, author of The Unbroken ""A gripping, gorgeous exploration of the perils of worshipping gods and humans alike. It's a book that refuses to look away from the damage that can be wrought by misplaced faith, but one that simultaneously insists on the possibility of redemption."" --Emet North, author of In Universes ""Mills weaves a deft and jagged narrative of choices and consequences, raw and real and heartbreaking, as a girl fights to achieve her goal, and the woman she becomes has to live with the consequences to herself, her family, her society."" --K. Eason, author of The Thorne Chronicles ""The Wings Upon Her Back is a masterful fantasy novel in which a powerful woman confronts the threats of fascism, zealous faith, and disillusionment."" --Foreword ""Samantha Mills has crafted a truly innovative world filled with deeply flawed, compelling characters. A thought-provoking and achingly beautiful story of faith, doubt, regret, and redemption."" --Amy Avery, author of The Longest Autumn"

Author Information

Samantha Mills is a Locus, Sturgeon, and Nebula Award-winning author who has published a dozen short stories since 2018. Her fiction has appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Strange Horizons, Escape Pod, and others. Mills has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, as well as the Hugo and Astounding Awards. She has a Master's Degree in Information and Library Science, and she is a trained archivist focusing on helping local historical societies and research libraries. Mills lives in Southern California. The Wings Upon Her Back is her debut novel.

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