The Splinter in the Sky

Starred review from May 1, 2023
Ashing-Giwa’s breathtaking space opera debut takes readers to the occupied province of Koriko, where Enitan Ijebu lives with her sibling, Xiang, under the cruel thumb of the Holy Vaalbaran Empire. Vaalbara and its neighboring nation, the Ominirish Republic, have finally signed a peace treaty after years of war, but when Xiang goes missing—one in a long line of disappearances from Koriko—Enitan realizes the empire is still plotting and maneuvers her way into Vaalbara’s capital, the Splinter, to investigate. Her goal is to find her sibling and get out, but matters are immediately complicated when both the nation of Ominirish and the newly appointed God-Emperor of Vaalbaran realize she could be an asset and ask her to spy for them. Caught between saving Xiang and using her newfound influence to alter the fate of all Korikese, Enitan dives into the world of political intrigue—and finds love in an unexpected place. While readers will undoubtedly be invested in this headstrong young tea expert playing spy, it’s colonialism and the effects of war on a populace that form this narrative’s hard-hitting emotional core. Delving into serious sociopolitical matters without ever losing the shine of hope, this tense adventure packs a punch. Agent: Tricia Skinner, Fuse Literary.

September 1, 2023

Tea expert Enitan wants a quiet life on her home moon of Koriko, but that becomes impossible when her older sibling Xiang is violently kidnapped. In the hope of finding them, Enitan agrees to become a prisoner of the Vaalbaran Empire. Stuck in the Empire's floating capital city, Enitan becomes a curiosity for her hosts. She starts performing "authentic" Korikese tea ceremonies at nobles' parties while eavesdropping for information about Xiang. Suddenly, the God-Emperor of Vaalbara, Imperator Menkhet, brings Enitan to her chambers to ask for something unthinkable--she needs a spy among her own people and would free Koriko if Enitan agrees to spy. Ashing-Giwa's debut joins the likes of N.K. Jemisin's Inheritance and Arkady Martine's "Teixcalaan" series as a refreshing take on colonization. Blending spy thriller, space opera, travelogue, shy romance, and rescue mission, the plot satisfies while defying convention. The lush description and history of the setting give a deep sense of place, and the languid pace belies the shortened timeframe of the plot. Narrator Soneela Nankani's experience is apparent in the skill she brings to giving every character their own voice. VERDICT A standout addition to the growing genre of anticolonialist, political SFF dramas.--Katherine Sleyko

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