In a city divided into districts devoted to one of the five gods, fourteen-year-old Zenya, born to scholars who worship the Scholar God, longs to fly. Her ambition means leaving her home and family for the warriors who worship the Mecha God. Chosen by the great warrior Vodaya to join her team, Zenya devotes all her energy to be everything Vodaya wants. But now, after 26 years of doing anything Vodaya commands of her, Zenya, now Winged Zemolai, commits an act of mercy that leads to the loss of her wings and banishment. The past, showing how Zenya earned her wings is told in alternating chapters.

Zemolai is a fully developed character, and her fall from grace is well-told, including her gradual disillusionment especially when it comes to her charismatic leader, Vodaya.

The books makes for a quick read, one I enjoyed. However, the glowing reviews had me expecting something greater, something more complex or profound. It's a good book, just not the great one I'd been expecting. ( )

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

A unique science fiction setting provides the backdrop for winged warriors and religio-political intrigues in Mills's fantastic debut.

Zenya is in her forties. Constant aches and pains plague her, but even more, she's left bitter and disillusioned by decades of war on behalf of her mecha sect. When she extends mercy to a worker with an illegal religious icon, she's caught and quickly persecuted, stripped of her beloved wings and her very identity. Her 'rescue' by a band of rebels seems more a curse than a blessing as she's asked to betray everything she hold dear. Chapters alternate between the present and the past, highlighting the heartbreaking contrast between a young, hopeful Zenya and her embittered present self.

I could praise the depth of worldbuilding here and the gorgeousness of the winged battle scenes, but the most brilliant aspect is the psychological manipulation and warfare that is depicted through the book. Zenya is, truly, taken in by a religious cult with a charismatic leader, and is groomed to be a war machine who commits truly horrific deeds. There are a lot of books that depict the redemption of someone young, but that difficult path feels more real, more tragic, more beautiful, when through the eyes of someone who is older and utterly broken. ( )

[Name change before publication]

Announced by author, pre-publication record.

Told in two timelines, following one woman's rise to power and fall from grace, as she gives up everything to serve a charismatic leader and then unravels the truth of what really happened, in a city whose gods have got to sleep after bestowing technology like magic, leaving their followers struggling to understand why.

Screengrab from author's newsletter: https://gyazo.com/b578dc2dbea6f85f4caa89c5db427eb4