Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about but haven’t yet read. Most of the time they’re books that have yet to be released, but not always. It’s based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme, which was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week my Can’t-Wait-For Book is The Wings Upon Her Back by Samantha Mills!
Genres: Science Fantasy
Published on: 23rd April 2024
Goodreads
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.
Who can honestly claim they’ve never dreamed of flying? I’m pretty sure wishing for wings is something humans have been doing since we figured out how to wish at all, so most of us can probably empathise with Zenya: getting wings AND getting to protect your loved ones in the process? That sounds like a pretty amazing deal to me!
But this is, by all accounts, a book about misplaced idealism; where ‘protecting your loved ones’ is really code for ‘being the enforcer of a police state’. Which would usually be a story I don’t want to read – too heavy, too grim – but every early review I’ve seen agrees that Mills does an amazing job of exploring what it’s like when you achieve your dream, only to find that you don’t want the reality of it. I may not be impressed that Zemolai gets kicked out of the fascist police, rather than, you know, leaving of her own volition because fuck that noise – but her being someone I might not be friends with in real life definitely makes her a more interesting character, and makes Wings Upon Her Back a (potentially) much more interesting story.
You know? I’m a little tired of characters who somehow magically know their world is Wrong despite being raised inside the messed-up system just like everybody else. I’m much more in the mood for someone who slowly realises it, who has a ‘crisis of faith’ – although it sounds like Zemolai’s crisis of faith may be related to her religious faith as well as her belief in her city’s system.
Also – let’s not pretend I’m not ridiculously excited by the sound of all this worldbuilding. A city established by gods! Who have now fucked off and gone to sleep! Only for each of their sects to build Babel-esque towers trying to reach their sleeping places (beyond the sky?)! For which they are rewarded with Voices, representatives of the gods who pass on commands and blueprints and whatever the gods feel like handing out when they occasionally wake up! WHAT?! YES, I WANT ALL OF THAT! That sounds like a powder keg about to go off any second! I AM HERE FOR IT!
Everything about this is just. Hitting all the spots for me! Especially after reading an excerpt on the publisher’s website! I am officially in love.
(And I’ve gotta know – does Zemolai get to keep her wings after she’s kicked out of her sect?! WHAT IF SHE DOESN’T?!)
This releases NEXT MONTH and I am very flaily about it!!!
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