The Wings Upon Her Back

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 novel from a Nebula, Sturgeon, and Locus Award-winning debut author is a complex, action-packed exploration of the costs of zealous faith, ceaseless conflicts, and unquestioning obedience.

[STARRED REVIEW] ＂A triumphant debut novel.＂ --Booklist

[STARRED REVIEW] ＂An absolute must-read.＂ --Kirkus

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.

Nebula and Surgeon Award winning author Samantha Mills has published a dozen short stories since 2018, appearing in Uncanny Magazine, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Strange Horizons, Escape Pod, and others. Mills has been nominated for the Hugo and Astounding Awards and the Pushcart Prize. She has also been on the Locus Recommended Reading List and the British Science Fiction Award longlist two times apiece. She was also included in the best-of anthology The New Voices of Science Fiction (Tachyon Publications). Mills has a Master’s Degree in Information and Library Science; she is a trained archivist specializing in primary documents, with a focus on helping local historical societies and research libraries preserve and manage their collections. Mills lives in Southern California.