"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 Nebula and Locus Award-winning debut author is a complex, action-packed exploration of the costs of zealous faith, brutal war, and unquestioning loyalty.
Five gods lie mysteriously sleeping above the city of Radezhda. Five gods who once bestowed great technologies and wisdom, each inspiring the devotion of their own sect. When the gods turned away from humanity, their followers built towers to the heavens to find out why. But when no answer was given, the collective grief of the sects turned to desperation, and eventually to war.
Zenya was a teenager when she ran away from home to join the mechanically-modified warrior sect. She was determined to earn mechanized 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."
I got an ARC of this book.
Woah. This was everything.
That cover is gorgeous and only becomes better the longer I read. The wings are so fascinating and the way that there was this mixture of tech with gods was fascinating. The gods played large roles, but in the way of religions instead of direct action. There is some direct god action, but it is few and far between. There is no god that just appears and makes everything work out one way or another to save the author. Mills does not need saving.
The book opens with the first eample of a god interacting with the people. It was brutal and I was hooked immediately. Zemolai getting banished and left for dead. That is just the beginning. There is so much that happened before and after. Mills managed to have one of the most interesting parts of other stories be one of the least interesting parts. I am so impressed. How can a god literally crushing a body and ripping off parts be the least interesting part? Mills is wow.
Most of the books I read with alternating timelines don't line up just right. There is something off or it feels like one side is longer than the other. This was perfectly timed. Chapter for chapter I was able to stay excited and the momentum stayed high. It was the perfect balance of past and present. It made the story soar and kept everything just really polished and smooth. I really can't say enough about the skill of Mills in this one. I am not used to devouring a book with alternating timelines.
I could go on and on about this one. I don't even know where to start. I was fascinated by the ways the sects were set up. I was really into the clearly abusive relationship with her mentor, that she doesn't see as abusive. The way that rebellions sometimes use the same tactics, but feel superior. The way the gods existed. The way religion was questioned. There is just so much here. I can't wait for another book.
The book I can easily compare it to is Gideon the Ninth. Image that level of fascinating and cool, but with less of the circular logic and confusion that can make Gideon daunting for people. That is this. It is intense, it moves forward so fast. I caught myself reading faster and faster just so I could find out what was happening. I loved this book.
5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book.
You can buy the book here.
~Isaiah
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