A review by mysimas
The Wings Upon Her Back by Samantha Mills

dark hopeful sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This was ok. 

What I liked:

  • Lots of female characters, absolute equality of sexes, queer rep (polyamory, nb character)
  • Flawed, imperfect older female lead who nonetheless had some admirable qualities and whose journey was rendered with depth
  • The whole idea of sleeping gods, towers reaching to their sleeping places, winged warriors
  • Some of the fight scenes (the fight in the air and the fight against the Tooth were my favourites!)

What I disliked:

  • Who is Zemolai, our lead? What are her hobbies, why isn’t she shown having fun with any friends or lovers? All she does is work work work, her whole character is built around her one conflict. I read one similar book earlier this year (in themes, if not genre or setting) — Foxlowe, where the protagonist was shown in a way more humanising light.
  • The paper-thinness of literally every other character in this book. Even Vodaya who’s supposed to be Zemolai’s whole world — the scenes of support, tenderness, as well as cruel abuse are all there but I never quite ‘felt’ them. They were all the same, Vodaya pushing Zemolai beyond some physical or psychological limit, breaking her a little, then praising her. 
  • The shallowness of the worldbuilding. Zemolai scarcely leaves her sect’s tower and so do we. We know nothing about this world besides that there are sleeping gods, their towers and the warring groups of their followers. 

Might come up with more points eventually.

Overall, I think the idea of this book is worthwhile but I wish it was integrated in a story and characters’ relationships rather than worn straight on the sleeve. Give me things to feel and fangirl about and stop hitting me over the head with the preaching.
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