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The Sorceress of Sky Serpents
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26From the bestselling author of the Trickster trilogy comes a bold fantasy inspired by the Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest, set on a dangerous planet where monsters haunt the survivors of an apocalyptic sorcerers' war.
As the daughter of the Guardian of the Eagle Clan and the granddaughter of its shaman, Yuala longs to become a warrior or a healer or, if all else fails, to make a strategic marriage to cement an alliance that will help protect her village of Winter Haven. But in a world where her mother can rain down fire on their enemies and other fighters can move objects with their minds, Yuala’s only gift is her ability to connect with creatures regarded as warlike Forest People, giant, flesh-eating octopuses, dog-sized cave worms and other abominations let in after warring sorcerers broke open the world.
Misfit Yuala's one recognized talent is for getting into trouble. But just as she is giving up on her dreams, her powerful grandfather decides that her strangeness means she is destined to become the next Clan shaman. With fear and hope in her heart, Yuala plunges into a grueling supernatural apprenticeship, thrilled to be on a useful path at last.
Meanwhile far to the south, a new chief of a rival nation has seized power and is on the hunt for the Sorceress of Sky Serpents, whose coming seers have foretold. As a battle brews on the shores of Winter Haven, something fiery builds in Yuala, too—but will she come into her power and save her clan before it’s too late?
As the daughter of the Guardian of the Eagle Clan and the granddaughter of its shaman, Yuala longs to become a warrior or a healer or, if all else fails, to make a strategic marriage to cement an alliance that will help protect her village of Winter Haven. But in a world where her mother can rain down fire on their enemies and other fighters can move objects with their minds, Yuala’s only gift is her ability to connect with creatures regarded as warlike Forest People, giant, flesh-eating octopuses, dog-sized cave worms and other abominations let in after warring sorcerers broke open the world.
Misfit Yuala's one recognized talent is for getting into trouble. But just as she is giving up on her dreams, her powerful grandfather decides that her strangeness means she is destined to become the next Clan shaman. With fear and hope in her heart, Yuala plunges into a grueling supernatural apprenticeship, thrilled to be on a useful path at last.
Meanwhile far to the south, a new chief of a rival nation has seized power and is on the hunt for the Sorceress of Sky Serpents, whose coming seers have foretold. As a battle brews on the shores of Winter Haven, something fiery builds in Yuala, too—but will she come into her power and save her clan before it’s too late?
312 pages, ebook
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Eden Robinson
19 books1,305 followersEden Victoria Lena Robinson (born 19 January 1968) is a Canadian novelist and short story writer.
Born in Kitamaat, British Columbia, she is a member of the Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations. She was educated at the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia.
Born in Kitamaat, British Columbia, she is a member of the Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations. She was educated at the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 10, 2026
I barely know where to begin, but I can definitely say that no one else can write the way Eden Robinson can write. I received the ARC before I knew what the story was about, and after reading the synopsis, I thought it might be something I’d have to push myself through. I’m not a big fan of fantasy or speculative fiction, so I was a little wary. Obviously I shouldn’t have been, because apparently Eden Robinson can do no wrong.
There’s a lot going on in this book, lots of characters and clans to learn about, places and magics to remember. Yuala is a misfit coming into her own power, whatever that may be. Her world is dangerous and difficult, with clashes within clans, village hierarchies, and mystical and human attackers. Her own family doesn’t know quite what to make of her. Yuala, her mother, siblings and especially her grandfather are so well drawn, I was immediately immersed in the story, and hated when it ended- and it seemed to end abruptly.
Then I remembered that this is only the first book in what will be a trilogy, so we’re only at the beginning of this epic adventure. (As an aside, this would make an incredible movie, the visual imagery is incredible.)
Thank you very much to RandomHouse and NetGalley for the ARC! It’s been one of the best books of the year for me.
There’s a lot going on in this book, lots of characters and clans to learn about, places and magics to remember. Yuala is a misfit coming into her own power, whatever that may be. Her world is dangerous and difficult, with clashes within clans, village hierarchies, and mystical and human attackers. Her own family doesn’t know quite what to make of her. Yuala, her mother, siblings and especially her grandfather are so well drawn, I was immediately immersed in the story, and hated when it ended- and it seemed to end abruptly.
Then I remembered that this is only the first book in what will be a trilogy, so we’re only at the beginning of this epic adventure. (As an aside, this would make an incredible movie, the visual imagery is incredible.)
Thank you very much to RandomHouse and NetGalley for the ARC! It’s been one of the best books of the year for me.
September 12, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC!
My experience with The Sorceress of Sky Serpents didn't start out well. The opening of this book felt slow and confusing, especially as it focused on a character we only met for a scant few pages before switching to a completely different area. I almost DNF'ed this book at 15%, but I stuck on with it despite the technical issues. On balance, I think there are diamonds here - just very much in the rough.
What really kept me reading was the combination of characters and worldbuilding. The main cast are all very distinct and well-drawn, but it was the complex web of interactions and relationships that sold this book to me. Yuala, our main character, was also very charming, being very forthright and never one to not speak her mind, but never becoming irritating. I liked that she tended to solve her problems the smart way, and I really connected with her lack of patience with the way small-minded people or silly social rules would get in the way of what was practical and best for everyone. I loved seeing her grow throughout the book, and the slow exploration of her powers. The worldbuilding, with the setting of Yuala's home village and the way various magical powers work in this world, was also very interesting.
What's really holding this book back is the lack of flourish and care on the technical level of writing. The style is very simple, with a lack of variation in vocabulary and sentence structure that makes the prose a chore to read. Robinson also never injects enough rich detail into this setting to make the world come alive. We get the most basic of details - the village is on a bay, surrounded by mountains, and the people here spend their winters in caves - but that's it. What does the bay look like? How tall are the mountains? How extensive is the cave system? Is there anything distinctive about these places that makes Yuala feel at home? We never get any details. In the end, this leaves the novel feeling more like a fleshed out first draft, rather than a final product.
The narrative also feels rushed at times, with not enough page space dedicated to certain plot points, so that they feel like they haven't had enough focus. I'm also not entirely certain what the point was of occasionally jumping to Tky's perspective, as pretty much everything we got out of his sections was either irrelevant to the main narrative or was told to us via another character in Yuala's sections. The ending was also very abrupt - it made sense as an ending point, but we got so little of Yuala's thoughts and feelings that her decisions felt like they lacked impact, despite their gravity and importance to the story.
There are definitely interesting plot points and characters to love in The Sorceress of Sky Serpents; unfortunately, they're being badly let down by the quality of the writing on a technical level. In the end, this book was decent enough that I'm glad I finished it, though I don't know that I'll be interested in reading any potential sequel.
My experience with The Sorceress of Sky Serpents didn't start out well. The opening of this book felt slow and confusing, especially as it focused on a character we only met for a scant few pages before switching to a completely different area. I almost DNF'ed this book at 15%, but I stuck on with it despite the technical issues. On balance, I think there are diamonds here - just very much in the rough.
What really kept me reading was the combination of characters and worldbuilding. The main cast are all very distinct and well-drawn, but it was the complex web of interactions and relationships that sold this book to me. Yuala, our main character, was also very charming, being very forthright and never one to not speak her mind, but never becoming irritating. I liked that she tended to solve her problems the smart way, and I really connected with her lack of patience with the way small-minded people or silly social rules would get in the way of what was practical and best for everyone. I loved seeing her grow throughout the book, and the slow exploration of her powers. The worldbuilding, with the setting of Yuala's home village and the way various magical powers work in this world, was also very interesting.
What's really holding this book back is the lack of flourish and care on the technical level of writing. The style is very simple, with a lack of variation in vocabulary and sentence structure that makes the prose a chore to read. Robinson also never injects enough rich detail into this setting to make the world come alive. We get the most basic of details - the village is on a bay, surrounded by mountains, and the people here spend their winters in caves - but that's it. What does the bay look like? How tall are the mountains? How extensive is the cave system? Is there anything distinctive about these places that makes Yuala feel at home? We never get any details. In the end, this leaves the novel feeling more like a fleshed out first draft, rather than a final product.
The narrative also feels rushed at times, with not enough page space dedicated to certain plot points, so that they feel like they haven't had enough focus. I'm also not entirely certain what the point was of occasionally jumping to Tky's perspective, as pretty much everything we got out of his sections was either irrelevant to the main narrative or was told to us via another character in Yuala's sections. The ending was also very abrupt - it made sense as an ending point, but we got so little of Yuala's thoughts and feelings that her decisions felt like they lacked impact, despite their gravity and importance to the story.
There are definitely interesting plot points and characters to love in The Sorceress of Sky Serpents; unfortunately, they're being badly let down by the quality of the writing on a technical level. In the end, this book was decent enough that I'm glad I finished it, though I don't know that I'll be interested in reading any potential sequel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
received as a NetGalley arc
The Sorceress of Sky Serpents follows a young woman who is alienated from her clan when she doesn't share the powers they value or follow the wishes of her family. Instead, she befriends the creatures her family and friends shun and finds her own gifts.
The writing style is straightforward and much of this isn't explored in depth. Instead, the reader is left to fill in the details of the landscape and other physical descriptions. The inner lives of the characters are also treated this way since their arcs serve to test their beliefs, rather than transform them. However, the world Robinson has created is expansive and hints of its history and many conflicts are layered into much of the story.
The Sorceress of Sky Serpents follows a young woman who is alienated from her clan when she doesn't share the powers they value or follow the wishes of her family. Instead, she befriends the creatures her family and friends shun and finds her own gifts.
The writing style is straightforward and much of this isn't explored in depth. Instead, the reader is left to fill in the details of the landscape and other physical descriptions. The inner lives of the characters are also treated this way since their arcs serve to test their beliefs, rather than transform them. However, the world Robinson has created is expansive and hints of its history and many conflicts are layered into much of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a really strong opening book in a 1st person fantasy following an outcast girl who does not share her people's abilities to share thoughts, as she learns her place in the world. A strong exploration of how people are othered and how what makes you different doesn't make you weaker. The characters are extremely strong and the author expects you to pick up what is being put down. No hand holding, this is the world and this is how it works. Jump in for a wide range of magics and mythologies, but all conveyed on a very grounded level.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews