Publishers Weekly
02/20/2023
The impressive final installment of Stewart’s engrossing Drowning Empire trilogy (after The Bone Shard Emperor) puts Emperor Lin Sukai at her most head-spinning crossroads yet. Two years after the battle at Gaelung, Lin is doing everything she can to hold together a crumbling empire. A continued freeze on the mining of witstone means the supply’s nearly gone, a disease called bog cough rapidly spreads among the populace, and the cure runs scarce. As revolutionary sentiment spreads and the Shardless Few renew their assault on Lin’s reign, the power-hungry Ragan joins forces with Nisong to conspire for the throne. Against this tumultuous backdrop, Lin must put her future ambitions aside to focus on maintaining power in the present. Stewart does a masterful job juggling conflict and intrigue on multiple fronts, and she makes the fight scenes especially riveting with subtle character work interspersed throughout the action. This un-put-downable epic sends the series out with a bang. Agent: Juliet Mushens, Mushens Entertainment (Apr.)
From the Publisher
Praise for The Drowning Empire: "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." —Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author "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 "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 "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 "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, New York Times bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame "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
Hafsah Faizal
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.
Booklist on The Bone Shard Emperor
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 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.
M. R. Carey
There's a bold, ambitious imagination at work here - and this is a world you'll want to linger in.
Alix E. Harrow
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.
New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas on The Bone Shard Daughter
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.
Library Journal
★ 03/01/2023
The Phoenix Empire is on the precipice of falling, and Lin Sukai knows that her decisions as Emperor will make or break the Sukai dynasty. She is taxed on several fronts: the Shardless Few continue their attacks, while her governors have their own treasonous agendas. Ragan, the Alanga who seeks revenge for Lin's father's choices, has paired with the construct Nisong, and Lin's death is their only acceptable end. When the legend of seven swords is found to be real, all move to gather the mythical weapons, for the one who holds them also holds the power to rule. Lin must learn much more about the history of the Alanga, the islands, and her father—and then decide if legacy is more important than peace. The multiple points of view give readers a deep understanding of the different characters as they are given their moments to reflect and grow, and the action is dramatic and impactful. VERDICT Stewart's final book in "The Drowning Empire" trilogy (following The Bone Shard Emperor) is an epic and emotional end to the series.—Kristi Chadwick
