The Wings Upon Her Back by Samantha Mills ISBN: 978-1-61696-414-6 (print); 978-1-61696-415-3 (digital) Published: April 23, 2024 Available Format(s): Trade paperback and digital [STARRED REVIEW] “A triumphant debut novel.” —Booklist [STARRED REVIEW] “An absolute must-read—fantasy fans will find themselves in literary heaven.” —Kirkus [STARRED REVIEW] “This cathartic adventure will stay with readers long after the final page.” —Publishers Weekly [STARRED REVIEW] “Complex and haunting, filled with beautiful prose and timely themes.” —Library Journal In this gripping debut novel from acclaimed Nebula, Sturgeon, and Locus Award-winning author Samantha Mills, a disgraced soldier fights to make sense of her world and the gods who abandoned it. The Wings Upon Her Back is an action-packed, devastating exploration of the brutal costs of zealous loyalty. Zenya was a teenager when she ran away to join the mechanically-modified warrior sect. She was determined to earn mechanized wings and protect the people of Radezhda, the city she loved. Under the strict tutelage of a mercurial, charismatic leader, Vodaya, Zenya finally 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 brutally cast out and loses everything she worked for. As Zemolai struggles for her life, she is must question her sect, their leader, and even the gods themselves.