The Nightward

""The Nightward is a fascinating tale of royal politics, magic, and mayhem. R.S.A. Garcia expertly weaves a story that blends magic, technology, and mythology in the most riveting of ways. Set in a matriarchal society, The Nightward is a brilliant, timely read -- I blew through it in one sitting!"" — N.E. Davenport, author of The Blood Trials ""Get ready for an epic fantasy adventure with forbidden magic, high treason, and characters you'll fall in love with. Filled with shocking betrayals and gasp-worthy twists, The Nightward will leave you breathless. With action scenes that leap off the page, you'll want to keep reading long past your bedtime."" — Jodi Meadows, New York Times bestselling coauthor of My Lady Jane ""No one builds worlds like R.S.A. Garcia—intricate, beautiful, and dangerous. A science fantasy epic with a rich foundation of Caribbean folklore, The Nightward expertly blends both genre and culture. Balancing grief and loss with her signature humor and heart, Garcia continues to prove that she is a master at her craft."" — Kemi Ashing-Giwa, author of The Splinter in the Sky ""The Nightward takes off running and doesn't stop. Garcia has crafted a vibrant new science fantasy world filled to the brim with fabulous creatures, crackling action, and the persistent conviction that things are far stranger than they seem. Plus: war cats! Readers will be clamoring for the next volume in this exciting new duology from one of SFF's great talents."" — Samantha Mills, Nebula, Sturgeon, and Locus award-winning author of The Wings Upon Her Back ""The Nightward is a genre-defying epic that features intricate world building, a fast-paced plot, and characters who will quickly capture your heart. The story explores the meaning of equity and the corrupting influences of power, in a fantasy setting that is original yet feels ancient. With its clean prose, limitless creativity, and unexpected twists, this novel delivers on everything I’ve come to expect from R.S.A. Garcia in the best possible way."" — S.B. Divya, Nebula and Hugo finalist and author of Meru ""A book like rushing wind, whistling forward with action and wild discoveries. Garcia's world is richly imagined and has something for everybody who's ever loved either swords or sorceries."" — John Wiswell, author of Someone You Can Build A Nest In “Epic along every axis, The Nightward is a complex tapestry of myth, loyalty, history, and power. I dare any author working in the fantasy space to create a land as rich and real, as inhabited with multilayered characters and deities, as Garcia's Gailand.” — Premee Mohammed, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Aurora award-winning author of the Beneath The Rising series ""The balance leans heavily high fantasy, but the possibility of breaking out of genre standards might keep readers hooked for the sequel...An intriguing magi-tech high-fantasy series opener that paves the way for chaos in the follow-up."" — Library Journal “A new queen must learn the extent of her powers, and her relationship with her protector, as both are thrust into a world of science, magic, and a realm descending into chaos in this wildly imaginative, new voice in Fantasy. R.S.A. Garcia’s new novel is an adventure and a half that never loses its touch with humanity.” — Tobias S. Buckell, New York Times bestselling author of the Halo and Xenowealth series ""Spellbinding from the first word to the last. R.S.A. Garcia’s The Nightward is an expertly told genre-splicing story of a matriarchal society embroiled in political back-stabbing, dark magic and deception."" — Veronica G. Henry, author of The Canopy Keepers “A compelling, complex, and absolutely captivating thrill-ride! R.S.A. Garcia builds layer upon layer of emotion, intrigue and adventure in a debut that will capture your heart.” — Samit Basu, Locus Award Finalist for The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport ""Harkening back to the best of fantasy in world building and scope, Garcia writes a new page all of her own that will be sure to keep readers turning. Fantasy at its most fantastical!"" — Ryan Van Loan, author of The Sin in the Steel ""In a word, brilliant!"" — Shari Paul, author of Wild Meat and Bek, Ascendant