Guerralaxia: An Epic Space Fantasy

by R.T. Eves

The Ciudastellan Empire spans nearly every corner of the Esparco Galaxy…and desires more.


On planet Ciudastella, many are born with extraordinary, even cataclysmic abilities. The most coveted are those passed down through generations, transferred down family lines, carrying the strength and prestige of the previous wielders.


As a Sioder—one born without or unable to inherit abilities—Touya Esyle is little more than an afterthought of society, living in the shadow of her legendary sister, the empire’s greatest fallen commander. When she’s summoned to Guerralaxia, the galaxy’s elite military academy, graduating at the top of her class becomes her only chance of survival.


Dozens of solar systems away, a team of upperclassmen cadets are attacked by a mysterious force with never-before-seen powers. Their apparent target? Renowned instructor Captain Gallark Orsos, who has his own dangerous agenda that he intends to see through. Before he can execute his goal, Gallark is tasked with keeping Touya and a noble, with a powerful military family history, alive—the first three-person team in the school’s history.


Now, Touya and Gallark are stranded far from home. Caught between an empire, secrets, and enemies they can’t yet see, they’re running out of time to decide what kind of warriors they’re willing to become—and who they’re willing to fight for.


Guerralaxia is the first book in an adult epic space fantasy trilogy that blends magic and technology. It's perfect for readers who love character-driven stories with layered world-building, a large ensemble cast, spice-free romantic subplots, and multiple interconnected storylines.


The novel is heavily influenced by themes of war, militarization, classism, and imperialism, including on-page depictions of atrocities associated with those systems, while still maintaining the emotional stakes and adventurous action beats you might find in Shonen anime like Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Demon Slayer or movies like the X-Men and Star Wars. Fans of the Poppy War Trilogy and the Sword of Kaigen may also enjoy this.


See the author's content note for more details.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 13, 2026

Reviews

[Adrielle Reina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best sci-fantasy book I’ve ever read. It’s a love letter to both genres, a call to action, and will leave you breathless. Engaging, phenomenal, with unforgettable characters and stakes higher than the stars. This is a book that knows what it’s saying and the author has done her homework with genre conventions. A perfect debut.

I’m so, so, so proud of you my friend! May all the readers who need this book find it. 🩶

[Kasey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, IRIS Influencer Society and the author for sending me a free copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Guerralaxia is the first book in an adult epic space fantasy trilogy that blends magic and technology and it does not disappoint! The world building in this book is phenomenal. It had me thinking this space fantasy was a normal way of current society and that I was a part of it. Nothing out of the ordinary here! No but really, it was immersive and detailed and didn’t skimp and the exploration. There is a lot of action in this book and it keeps you captivated. It is multi-POV so you get more than one perspective and an extra layer of the story. There was never a dull moment in this book and it kept my attention the entire time. I loved how different it was and how creative the powers were and how they were attained. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and how creative the plot is.

If you love epic space fantasy, war academy, magic x tech blend, secretive MMC in his 30s, anxious STEM FMC, spice free romantic subplots, elemental abilities/swords, layered world building, character driven plot, multi-POV, colossal robots, space travel and exploration, and inheritance magic system then I definitely recommend checking this out.

[Emma · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Thank you R. T. Eves for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Actual rating: 3.5/5

If you follow me on social media, you will know that this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. I LOVE sci-fi and the fact that this was being compared to so many anime/manga I love was what really sold it for me. (An older MMC who is a Gojo x Levi fusion??? Uhmmmm hell yes). I desperately wanted this to be a 5-star read, and it was so close to that. I think the issue was that this book was simply too long.

The first half or so was AMAZING. A powerless woman is drafted into the military--where her sister was basically a hero twenty years earlier--and has to work ten times as hard as the nobles enlisted alongside her. It had that military academia vibe that is so hard to get right but was done perfectly. Touya went from being a soft medical nerd to a badass who could wield a sword like she was Roronoa Zoro herself. And it wasn't just that! There were so many unique side characters who all got to be more than just random NPCs. Touya developed meaningful friendships with a whole array of characters. We got to see into the lives of the upper command (I loved Pinprick. Emphasis on the loved part) as well as that GojoxLevi mentor MMC as he worked on training a group of super powerful cadets. One of which was a lightning wielder, the only one of his kind, who straight up offered to marry his best friend so she could continue her illegal relationship with her girlfriend back home. When I tell you I was already picking out which voice actors I wanted for the anime adaptation of this book... (Hiroshi Kamiya as Gallark and no I will not take any feedback on that thank you very much).

I think if this book just ended with the reveal of the IGM teams this would have been perfect. A six star read, if you will. It would have set up the tension for the next arc and give us, the readers, time to transition from one part of the story to the next. Now, look. I love my books chunky. Sci-fi books usually are on the thicker side, too. But this book in particular seriously could've benefitted by being chopped smooth in two. And part of me wonders if the author thought the same because the last quarter was horribly rushed. What dropped this book down to three and a half stars can be chalked up into three sections: the characters, the pacing and plot, and the world building. (Please skip this next section as it will be very spoiler heavy. I'll mark when the spoilers start and end if you want to just skip over them).

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THE CHARACTERS
Like I said above, I loved the characters. I loved how unique they all were, and how they each got a bit to shine. They all had clear goals and desires and fears. The main character was Touya, so I'll focus on her the most. In the beginning, she was a doctor's assistant and recently accepted into medical school. Her elder sister was a war hero with an incredibly powerful ability. Touya, however, was powerless. Despite that, she's drafted into the military, where she's determined to be in the top 10% of graduates so she can get a job in the medical field and never see any real danger. As the story progresses, naturally, those goals change. Except they change abruptly (more on that later).
The problem for me was that the characters started out unique and diverse and realistic but slowly devolved into the same cut and paste NPCs as the story went on. Those super powerful cadets working with Gallark in the beginning? Never see them again. They're just gone. Pinprick, the badass leader who definitely has a story but hides it behind her tough persona? Straight up becomes a selfish, close-minded bitch. Characters that seemed important just vanish (Araeli, Touya's dear friend and roommate? Gone. Never to be developed further or mentioned again). I sincerely think Eves bit off more than she could chew when creating characters because they just became muddy background noise indecipherable from each other. Also, I legit thought Coyner was gay up until the kiss scene, and even then I'm not convinced. Chemistry? None. More like convenient proximity. Gallark started off as this badass mysterious captain but then just turned into a lying asshole. Again, this could've been two books and maybe then the side characters wouldn't've faded into obscure oblivion...

THE PACING AND PLOT
First half? Perfect. A bit fast, sure, but again, had it just been its own book those rushed parts could have easily been smoothed out and slowed down. But once the IGMs hit it all fell apart.
The story rushed badly. Like, BADLY badly. If you like anime you know One Piece is notorious for having horrendously slow pacing. Now imagine the opposite (500 episodes for a massive turning-point arc? Nah. Try five episodes max). That was this book. So much happened in such little time I found myself skimming simply because I knew I wouldn't miss anything. Genuinely, the second half felt like it had been written by a completely different person. The plot started getting funky, too, especially with the loss of characters I mentioned above. Touya and Coyner have to do research for their IGM, but Gallark wants to go to "no-man's-land" for reasons he keeps unclear at first. Suddenly Touya doesn't want to be a safe medical student anymore and she's charging head-first into danger and working hard to be like her sister. Her goals literally did a 180 with zero build up or reason. Gods, I cannot stress enough how much happened in such a short span of time. Let's see if I can try to narrow down what happened in about 100-200 pages.
Sister gave her powers to a random baby, baby doesn't have those powers and is also an adult now, Gallark is working for a rebellion, the Sunless and Eclipso and all them are killing people, Hana becomes the queen and is also a rebel, Araeli gets together with lightning-man despite his promise to lavender marry his bestie, oh yeah Gallark can time travel that's his deal, Coyner and Touya get together, a bunch of soldiers presumed dead are actually alive, Gallark and Touya's sister were lovers, the graduation ceremony happens but is interrupted, Gallark and co. go AWOL, there's a battle, a side character dies, the leader of the Eclipso is some big-wig guy, the followers are all missing soldiers, I'm definitely missing a lot, the end.
And again, missing characters. We got POVs of the First Sunless at first but then nope. Gone. Nothing.
Also, what the hell even were Touya's sister's powers? And where did the time travel thing come from, because that had exactly zero foreshadowing or anything.

THE WORLDBUILDING
I touched on this, but the main issue I had was the power system. All powered people had three gifts: teleportation, telekinesis, and another primary power that could go from levels 1-4 (4 being the best). Okay. Cool. Touya had no powers, Coyner could manipulate metal, Gallark had a super sense.
Nope, wait, he can time travel. Right.
Transferring powers is possible, only with a slim success rate and it's extremely painful and dangerous. Yet Touya's sister just did it with a random baby. Right. Again, if this book was two books I'm sure the world building and power system could've been properly expanded on and not just sloppily rushed.

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I don't think I'm going to continue this series, and that hurts to say because I so desperately wanted to love this book. It took me ten days to read. That's a LONG time for me, and it's because the second half rushed so bad I couldn't bring myself to read it. I wish this had been split into two books. Maybe I'll just go back and reread the first half and just pretend that's all it was.

[Nicole · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Magic, technology, a military academy, elemental abilities, and political intrigue? Oh, this was definitely an interesting one!

Guerralaxia by R. T. Eves is an ambitious adult epic space fantasy that blends sci-fi and fantasy while tackling some pretty heavy themes, including imperialism, classism, militarization, and the consequences of war.

One of the things I appreciated most was the exploration of power and privilege, especially in a society where your worth is determined by the abilities you inherit. Touya was an interesting FMC to follow because she’s trying to prove herself in a world that has already decided she isn’t worthy. I particularly liked that she’s an anxious, STEM-minded character who has to rely on more than physical strength to navigate her circumstances. Her perspective adds another layer to the conversations surrounding identity, expectations, and inherited privilege.

Now, let’s talk about the worldbuilding because BABYYYY, there is A LOT to unpack here! Between the multiple POVs, large cast, political dynamics, and intricate magic system, this is definitely a book that requires your attention. I appreciated the ambition behind such an expansive universe, but the amount of information introduced could feel overwhelming at times. There were moments when I wanted more time with certain characters or developments before moving on to another storyline. That said, this is the first book in a trilogy, and there’s quite a bit of groundwork being laid.

I also appreciated that the darker themes weren’t simply there for shock value. The story raises some interesting questions about loyalty, morality, and what it means to serve an empire that perpetuates the very inequalities its people experience. I love when fantasy gives us something to think about beyond the action, and this one certainly does.

The anime influences are evident, particularly in the combat, elemental abilities, and high-stakes moments. The blend of magic and technology was intriguing, and I liked that the romantic subplots didn’t overshadow the larger narrative.

Overall, Guerralaxia is a promising introduction to an ambitious trilogy. While the pacing and extensive worldbuilding occasionally made it difficult to stay fully immersed, I appreciated the complexity, underlying themes, and foundation being established. I’m curious to see how these characters and their interconnected storylines develop.

If you enjoy epic fantasy, morally complicated characters, political intrigue, and anime-inspired action, this one is worth checking out. Just be prepared for a large cast, multiple POVs, and some dark subject matter.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was instantly intrigued by the taglines: Star Wars x X-Men, space opera, sci-fi/fantasy blend. And I really feel like something unique was created with this book!

Touya is so easy to root for as an FMC. I thoroughly enjoyed her journey, and her character development was excellent. Her friendship with Araeli was lovely, and I really hope we get to see more of them in the future.

The exploration of imperialism and the impacts of war, was something that really built as you were reading. Much like The Hunger Games, where the people in the Capital were insulated and indoctrinated to believe that they were right. The Nobles in Guerralaxia believe that they are right, and that their military is doing good. But there are small hints that show just how wrong that is. The introduction of the masked villians and Gallark, show just how deep the wounds of war are.

From the beginning, we find out about Touya's sister, Tohnka. Tohnka had legendary power, and rose through Guerralaxia rapidly. But to Touya, she was just a distant figure. We take so many twists and turns throughout the story, but seeing how everything leads back to Tohnka, and how that impacts Touya was one of my favorite parts. This really looks at grief, and the impact of losing someone you have never known.

The found family in this story was so beautiful, and I really enjoyed getting to see each character find their people. The amount of POVs was a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get a feel for the characters, it really enhances the story to get to see things through so many different lenses.

The only small critique I have here is the length of the book is intimidating. It took me a while to get through, and the 50-70% mark was a bit slow going. I don't think splitting this up into two books would've hurt, but I think the right audience won't care much about the book length.

I am very much looking forward to the next installment of this! R.T. Eves has a very special gift, and should be exceptionally proud of this novel.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to be an ARC reader and providing an eARC of this beautiful book!

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a book promises to be epic, someone must be very confident. After spending the last three days reading it, I can gladly confirm that it delivered on everything that was promised. What I wasn't expecting was for it to feel exactly that: EPIC.
If you're like me and were initially very confused by the huge cast of characters, I can promise you that it becomes easier to understand who everyone is and how everything is connected. You just need to be patient, and if your brain needs a short break, take one. It certainly helped me get ready to absorb more and more of what was coming.

This book comes with a whole universe of planets, places to go, places to be, and people to meet. This aspect comes across extremely well, and I have to applaud the author for allowing me to fully immerse myself in the world presented on these pages. It offers so much potential through its different climates, histories, political environments, cultures, and overall storytelling possibilities.

Adding to this is a political climate that feels like a pressure cooker. Being different means being treated differently, like you're something lesser, and we all know how that tends to end. The story explores what happens when people are no longer willing to accept that status quo and the lengths a government is willing to go to in order to prevent society from rebelling.
The characters are introduced incredibly well, and learning about all of their connections bit by bit is handled so effectively that I felt an instant connection to them, some a little more than others.

I had high hopes for this book and can gladly confirm that it succeeded in making this a great read. With it being on the longer side, there are a few sections where the pacing doesn't feel completely balanced. Other than that, it gave me everything I wanted and more. If you're looking for your next sci-fi/fantasy highlight, put this one on your list. You won't regret it.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ivana Loustalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guerralaxia was such an intense sci-fi read, and I loved it! The book has more than 700 pages, and I still couldn't get enough! The story was so intriguing... and that final twist and mind-blowing cliffhanger are seared into my mind! I'm still not over it... not at all...
With multiple POVs, we get to experience a wide range of thoughts, personalities, and backstories. Most of them were heartbreaking and unfair. This is not a kind galaxy, and we quickly realize that. I really enjoyed reading about all of them, even if we didn't know who was who or what they were fighting for at the beginning. Honestly, even by the end, there are still so many secrets and unanswered questions. I'm more than ready to read the sequel!
In a world full of people with impressive powers, ruled by a caste-based society and powerful governing families, Touya must survive against the worst odds possible: being powerless. Her story was heartbreaking and fierce at the same time. I loved her personality. She was grumpy and furious at the world, but she had every right to be, many people treated her horribly from the very start. Then there are so many powerful characters with different personalities and goals that it was difficult to tell which side they were on and who the "real" villain was. There were so many hidden truths and so much action! Gallark was a green flag in disguise, and so were Kelsen and Soot. They were all so sweet and kind despite everything, and I would've loved to read more about their stories. Sorry, I know I always want MORE, but when you connect with characters, it's easy to want to know more about their lives.
This is the kind of story that excels at galaxy-building. Even though we don't learn everything about each planet they visit, there's a wealth of information about those worlds and the people who live there. I loved it.
If you enjoy sci-fi stories featuring impressive power-wielding characters, an intriguing plot, extremely high stakes, and a touch of romance, then Guerralaxia is definitely for you!

[Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to R.T. Eves for the chance to Arc Read. These are my own thoughts and review is my own.

If you're looking for a new take on high space fantasy, high risk, thick plot, multiple pov's, rebellion, space crafts, and inherited powers, space travel, plenty of action, and lots of world building then this book will be a great add to your TBR. Make sure to check your triggers before hand as there's definitely a few here.

Let me just say she is THICC I took some breaks to get through it. There's multiple character pov's, you get a lot of diversity, different personalities, and different reasons as to why they joined the military. Did I mentioned that they join in hopes of becoming someone in Ciduastella? No? What if your POV was flipped upside down and you realize what is actually happening might not be what you hoped? Did I mentioned there is a rebellion? You certainly begin to question everything and just exactly why are they doing what they are doing.

What I found intriguing was that powers were removed as an orb and transfered to the recipient. A risk of not even inherenting the power, and there's people that don't even have powers like Touya. Touya became my anchor in this book as I became invested in her life and felt the need to protect her due to her trauma. Seeing her growth from where she started was nice. Especially since she lives in the shadow of her older sister- Tonhka- who clings to everything she does.

While the book is thick, it takes a bit to get used to it and there are moments that are slow and drag a bit, there's plenty of action that keeps you hooked, and though the timing can be uneven at times, and the info can be a bit much, the world building definitely gives you enough to keep you fascinated to see where they explore next and what kind of people and creatures they will meet next.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a book by R.T. Eves, and Guerralaxia turned out to be a really impressive, massive space fantasy. The book centers on Touya, a regular person born without any special abilities, who is living in the shadow of her late sister's legendary military career. When she gets summoned to the galaxy's elite military academy, her only real shot at survival is to graduate at the top of her class. She ends up grouped with a secretive captain in his 30s named Gallark, and they get stranded together far from home while a massive rebellion starts brewing against the empire.

The combination of magic, technology, and anime-style elemental sword fights gave the setting a very cool, distinct vibe. The magic system where families pass down generational powers through physical orbs is a really interesting concept. Because the book is on the longer side and features a massive cast with multiple perspectives, the pacing does feel a bit uneven and drags in a few middle sections while it sets up the complicated politics and planetary histories. However, the action scenes keep you focused, and Touya makes a great, relatable main character as she deals with her anxiety and trauma. It balances a lot of heavy themes like classism and war atrocities with a completely spice-free romance subplot, making it a solid launch for a trilogy.

Thank you Iris Influencer Society for the gifted e-ARC! My review is my thoughts and my thoughts alone!

[India Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy from
The author. This is my honest review :)

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while - it is longgg but every page was relevant and I stayed up late a few nights reading it.

Vibe wise, think Hunger Games x Star Wars, with magical powers. It has excellent world building, flawed but generally really likeable characters, and a good plot with lots of bigger storylines going on in the background. I loved the writing!

The FMC Touya is summoned to the military academy despite having no magical powers, a fact which makes her seen as a second class citizen. The main purpose of the academy is to protect the veil, but really it’s about colonising the galaxy. A lot of the main characters have complex backgrounds and ulterior motives that we get to learn about through multiple POVs. The magic systems are complex and there’s a huge variety of powers, I love that having magic is actually not that great for most people and they are kinda forced to use it and it’s seen as prestigious, but at their detriment.

The only criticism for me was the amount of secondary characters and side scenes going on meant I didn’t always know what was happening. Some of this is definitely on purpose but I think some is because there are so many storylines and some of the names (especially when there’s a lot of captains and lieutenants) were hard to remember

[Christian · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I received a ARC copy of this book and here are my spoiler free thoughts.

Time is an ingredient, give it a moment to simmer and build and LET HER COOK 👏 because my goodness does R.T. Eves deliver. Once it builds up steam it’s a run away train in the best way possible, momentum, tension, action, plots and characters colliding and giving you page turning moments that demand you read more:

Tons of action
Characters to root for
Villains to hate and despise
Memorable locations
Pay offs to set ups and reveals that make you go “oooooh damn…”

100% worth your time and if you enjoy X-men, anime or just having a great time with an adventure that has you going “one more chapter” well into the night- this one is for you

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to R.T. Eves for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! I was so excited to get my hands on this. I’ve been craving a fresh sci-fi universe, and the combination of inventive magic, intergalactic travel, and intricate worldbuilding delivered. It gave major anime vibes, think The Apothecary Diaries set in deep space with some awesome action packed scenes! While the pacing was uneven at times, rushing out of the gate and later hitting a few dense, slow patches of info-dumping, the world was so compelling that I gladly stayed along for the ride. I'm eager to see where R.T. Eves takes this story next and will definitely be picking up more of her work! 😍

[Melissa Vlaskalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an advanced reader copy from the author.

Guerralaxia is the first book in an epic space fantasy trilogy that blends magic and technology. It's perfect for readers who love character-driven stories with layered world-building, a large ensemble cast, spice-free romantic subplots, and multiple interconnected storylines.

I give this book five stars! It was impossible to put down. Every chapter had me more engaged in each character than the last.

R.T. Eves has created a rich, descriptive, world full of powerful characters and scenery. If you love fantasy, sci fi, and romance this is a must read.

Preorder now! Release date Nov 13, 2026

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to R.T Eves for letting me be an ARC reader!

This was one of my most anticipated reads! It did not disappoint!

My reviews are usually pretty short, so I’ll just say if you love anime (such as AoT) then I think you will really love this.

The best part about this book, for me, was the multiple POVs. I eat multiple POVs up because there’s nothing like being able to see the story through each character’s eyes.

There’s a diverse cast of characters, unique world building/plot. Very much looking forward to book 2.

Oh, and make sure to read Latine authors all year round ❤️

[Kait · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Wow wow WOW! What a space odyssey. Guerralaxia absolutely exceeded my expectations. I mainly focus on reading books that have heavy romance, so this is my first book focusing on the journey.

I don’t read science fiction, but having it mixed with Fantasy was such a nice blend, and the end was not what I was expecting at all!

I am definitely anticipating Book 2, and I cannot WAIT.