Picture a Canadian-born storyteller who conjured an empire of floating islands and bone magic—meet Andrea G. Stewart! A fantasy and science fiction author, Stewart has enchanted readers with her intricate plots and heartfelt characters, most notably in her Sunday Times bestselling Drowning Empire trilogy. Her unique blend of epic fantasy, diverse influences, and a knack for morally complex heroes makes her a standout in modern speculative fiction.
Raised by immigrant parents across the United States, Stewart’s love for storytelling was sparked by Star Trek marathons and the musty pages of library books. From dreaming of dragon-slaying to crafting worlds of rebellion and magic, she’s built a career that celebrates identity, justice, and the messy beauty of human connections.
The Making of Andrea G. Stewart
Born on August 3, 1982, in Vancouver, Canada, Andrea G. Stewart grew up in a household that prized education and science. Her parents’ emphasis on learning led her to devour fantasy novels and explore speculative worlds through shows like Star Trek. After studying economics and working a day job, Stewart pursued her true passion: writing. Her first professional story sale came at age 30, and after years of persistence, she signed with an agent and landed a deal with Orbit for her Drowning Empire trilogy.
Stewart’s journey wasn’t without hurdles. Balancing a demanding job, a micro-farm, and family life, she wrote tirelessly, facing rejections before her debut urban fantasy, Loose Changeling, hit shelves in 2015. Her resilience and love for crafting vivid, character-driven stories paved the way for her breakout success.
Andrea G. Stewart’s Unforgettable Stories
Stewart’s Drowning Empire trilogy, starting with The Bone Shard Daughter (2020), is her crown jewel. Set in an archipelago where bone shard magic powers animal-like constructs, the series follows Lin, the emperor’s daughter, as she navigates rebellion, forbidden magic, and her own fractured memories. Praised for its “eerie, grungy bone magic” and “brilliant world-building,” the trilogy earned nominations for the Goodreads Choice Awards and the British Fantasy Award.
Her second trilogy, Hollow Covenant, kicked off with The Gods Below (2024), a Sunday Times bestseller exploring a hollow world with toxic magical air and warring sisters. Stewart’s style shines through her multi-POV narratives, intricate plots, and themes of power, identity, and redemption. She also penned the urban fantasy Changeling Wars series under A.G. Stewart, starting with Loose Changeling, blending humor and magic. Her short stories, published in venues like Beneath Ceaseless Skies, showcase her versatility across speculative genres.
What sets Stewart apart is her ability to weave emotionally resonant tales. Her characters—flawed, determined, and often caught in moral gray zones—grapple with the cost of ambition and the weight of empire, making her stories both thrilling and deeply human.
Why Andrea G. Stewart Matters
Andrea G. Stewart’s impact lies in her fresh take on epic fantasy, blending Asian-inspired settings with post-colonial themes of agency and empire. Her Drowning Empire trilogy has been hailed as “groundbreaking” for its exploration of what happens after a rebellion, challenging simplistic fantasy tropes. Readers and critics, including Sarah J. Maas and Alix E. Harrow, praise her for crafting worlds that linger long after the final page.
As a mentor and writing coach at The Novelry, Stewart also uplifts new voices, sharing her expertise in building complex worlds. Her diverse background and commitment to emotionally immersive storytelling make her a vital voice in speculative fiction, inspiring readers to question power and embrace their own identities.
- Born: August 3, 1982, Vancouver, Canada
- Key Works: The Bone Shard Daughter, The Gods Below, Loose Changeling
- Awards: Finalist for Goodreads Choice Awards, British Fantasy Award
- Fun Fact: She’s an avid birdwatcher and runs a micro-farm!
Snag The Bone Shard Daughter and dive into Andrea G. Stewart’s spellbinding world of bone magic and rebellion!