The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire #1) (Paperback)

The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire #1) By Andrea Stewart Cover Image

The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire #1) (Paperback)

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Other Books in Series

This is book number 1 in the The Drowning Empire series.

The Bone Shard Daughter is an unmissable debut from a major new voice in epic fantasy — a stunning tale of magic, mystery, and revolution in which the former heir to the emperor will fight to reclaim her power and her place on the throne.

"One of the best debut fantasy novels of the year." — BuzzFeed News
"An amazing start to a new trilogy." — Culturess
"It grabs you by the heart and the throat from the first pages and doesn't let go." — Sarah J. Maas


The emperor's reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire's many islands.

Lin is the emperor's daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people.

"One of the best debut fantasy novels of the year." —BuzzFeed News

"An amazing start to a new trilogy." —Culturess

"It grabs you by the heart and the throat from the first pages and doesn't let go." —Sarah J. Maas

"Epic fantasy at its most human and heartfelt . . . inventive, adventurous and wonderfully written."  —Alix E. Harrow

"Utterly absorbing. I adored it." —Emily Duncan

"A thoroughly fantastic read." —Kevin Hearne

"Stewart's debut is sharp and compelling. It will hook readers in and make them fiercely anticipate the rest of the series." —Booklist

"Groundbreaking epic fantasy for a new age." —Tasha Suri

"Begins with a spark of intrigue that ignites into a thrilling adventure." —Hafsah Faizal
Andrea Stewart is the daughter of immigrants, and was raised in a number of places across the United States. Her parents always emphasized science and education, so she spent her childhood immersed in Star Trek and odd-smelling library books.

When her (admittedly ambitious) dreams of becoming a dragon slayer didn't pan out, she instead turned to writing books. She now lives in sunny California, and in addition to writing, can be found herding cats, looking at birds, and falling down research rabbit holes.

Product Details ISBN: 9780316541435
ISBN-10: 0316541435
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: March 30th, 2021
Pages: 496
Language: English
Series: The Drowning Empire
"The Bone Shard Daughter is one of the best fantasy novels I've read in a long time. With stunningly intricate world-building that leaps off the page and characters who are so vibrant that you wish they were real, it grabs you by the heart and the throat from the first pages and doesn't let go until long after it's over. This book is truly special."—New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas

"Epic fantasy at its most human and heartfelt, concerned with the real lives caught in the gears of empire and rebellion. Inventive, adventurous, and wonderfully written."—Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

"[A] richly told, emotional, action-laced debut...Readers will finish this eager for the follow-up."—Library Journal (starred review)

"[An] action-packed, must-read epic fantasy...One of the best debut fantasy novels of the year."—BuzzFeed News

"A fascinating world with characters who have deep foundations, and who will quickly capture readers' hearts ... Stewart's debut is sharp and compelling. It will hook readers in and make them fiercely anticipate the rest of the series."—Booklist

"[The Bone Shard Daughter] deserves as much attention as it can get."—Locus

"Original and intricately written."—Ms. Magazine

"An absolute stunner of a fantasy debut...Simply awe-inspiring."—FanFiAddict

"Stewart gives us eerie, grungy bone magic that permeates through every layer of a fascinating and dangerous world. Strange monsters--some friendly, most not--unsettling rituals, and a cast of wonderful characters trying to fix a world on the brink of shattering, The Bone Shard Daughter is utterly absorbing. I adored it."—Emily Duncan, NYT bestselling author of Wicked Saints

"There's a bold, ambitious imagination at work here - and this is a world you'll want to linger in."—M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts

"A triumph of fantasy and science fiction populated with memorable characters and bone-chilling secrets that keep you turning the pages."—K. S. Villoso, author of The Wolf of Oren-Yaro

"The Bone Shard Daughter begins with a spark of intrigue that ignites into a thrilling adventure you cannot miss-with a unique (and painful!) magic system to boot."—Hafsah Faizal, NYT bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame

"A grand, ingenious and sweeping tale of power, magic and heart, The Bone Shard Daughter is groundbreaking epic fantasy for a new age."—Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand

"Stewart etches this story into your heart, filling it with everything I love about fantasy: a well-realized world, dark magic that challenges your presumptions, and deep questions about identity. Highly recommended."—Marshall Ryan Maresca, author of The Maradaine Saga

"The Bone Shard Daughter is intricate and expansive, incisive and thoughtful -- a complex web of political and personal intrigue spun around questions of privilege, duty, and love. Stewart's debut is bound to have fantasy readers clamoring for the next installment."—Kerstin Hall, author of The Border Keeper

"The Bone Shard Daughter seized my attention and wouldn't let go. It's an unflinching examination of how people in power exploit and dehumanize those they are supposed to serve, but it also celebrates the uplifting power of love and friendship. It's a thoroughly fantastic read and I eagerly await the sequel."—Kevin Hearne

"A complex and dark tapestry of a fantasy woven through with brilliant world-building, deep intrigue, and incredible heart."—Megan E. O'Keefe, author of Velocity Weapon

"An unforgettable tale of magic and intrigue, and the start of a fascinating trilogy."—Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer