The Nightward, Book One of the Waters of Lethe By R.S.A. Garcia

R.S.A. Garcia’s scifantasy debut novel weaves Caribbean mythology into a richly imaginative world of warrior-magicians and treacherous power struggles. In the Queendom of Gailand, Gaiea’s Hand has protected against the Dark for 500 years, and the Goddess’s Blessing empowers the ruling Queens. But as a child of nearly ten, Princess Viella is more interested in escaping her tutors and testing the patience of Luka, her reluctant but loyal bodyguard, than preparing for her future as the Spirit of Gaiea.

On the night of her confirmation as the next Hand of Gaiea, Viella’s world is shattered by the brutal assassination of her mother, the Queen. Suddenly, the burdens of power fall on her young shoulders, and she must navigate a dangerous new reality.

Determined to protect her, Luka rushes Viella from the Court of Hamber, his duty outweighing his frustrations with his role in the matriarchal society—and his own hidden secrets. As they flee from those who seek to claim the throne and harness Viella’s untamed powers, they encounter a world where magic and technology intertwine in strange and deadly ways. A darkness is hunting them, sent to extinguish the last hope for the Queendom.

Now, Viella and Luka must outrun enemies and grapple with a legacy of magic that is both ancient and unfamiliar. In a journey fraught with peril, they must find a way to restore light and order, even as their bond is tested by forces beyond their control. 📚❤️