Where to Start Reading Andrea G. Stewart
If you are new to Andrea G. Stewart’s writing, the absolute best place to start is with the Drowning Empire trilogy, beginning with The Bone Shard Daughter. This is the series that established her as a major voice in modern epic fantasy, blending unique Asian-inspired worldbuilding with a dark, original magic system and a multi-POV narrative that is both grand in scale and deeply personal.
For readers who prefer a darker, post-apocalyptic science-fantasy setting with a focus on family rivalries and ancient ruins, starting with The Gods Below, the first book of the Hollow Covenant trilogy, is an excellent alternative. If you are a fan of urban fantasy featuring Fae politics, you should seek out her self-published works under the pen name A. G. Stewart, starting with Loose Changeling.
1. The Drowning Empire Trilogy
This completed epic fantasy trilogy is Stewart's signature work. Set in the Sukai Empire, a vast archipelago of floating islands, the story follows Lin, the emperor's daughter, who must master the forbidden art of bone shard magic to reclaim her birthright and stop a growing rebellion. The magic system involves carving commands onto bone shards taken from the skulls of the empire's citizens to power animal-like constructs, but this magic comes at a tragic cost to the citizens' life force.
The books should be read in strict publication and chronological order:
- The Bone Shard Daughter (2020)
- The Bone Shard Emperor (2021)
- The Bone Shard War (2023)
2. The Hollow Covenant Trilogy
This series moves away from floating islands to a hollow world where toxic air, magical anomalies, and long-slumbering gods define the landscape. The plot focuses on two sisters separated by fate: one working for the mysterious, god-like entities that rule the world, and the other fighting alongside human rebels. It combines elements of high fantasy, ancient technology, and cosmic horror.
The trilogy consists of:
- The Gods Below (2024)
- The War Beyond (2025)
- The Legend Eternal (Upcoming, expected late 2027)
3. The Changeling Wars Series (Writing as A. G. Stewart)
Under the pen name A. G. Stewart, the author self-published a contemporary urban fantasy series set in Portland. The series centers on Nicole, a young woman who discovers she is a changeling (a Fae raised in the mortal world) and is thrust into a dangerous underground world of magic and Fae politics.
The reading order for this series, including its companion novella, is:
- Loose Changeling (2014)
- Changeling on the Job (2015, intermediate novella)
- Spare Changeling (2018)
4. Short Stories and Anthology Contributions
Stewart has written numerous short stories, many of which can be read as standalones in various speculative fiction venues:
- Dragon Maiden (2012) – A fresh, fast-paced twist on the classic maiden-and-dragon trope.
- The Post-Apocalyptic Tourist's Guide to Sacramento (2018) – A sci-fi short story featured in the *Wastelands: The New Apocalypse* anthology.
A Note on "Writers of the Future": Many book databases list Stewart alongside the massive 40-volume run of the L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future anthologies. In reality, Stewart won first place in the prestigious Writers of the Future contest and had her winning story featured in Volume 29 (2013). She does not appear in, and did not write, the other volumes of this long-running series.
5. Non-Fiction and Side Projects
Outside of her speculative fiction, Stewart has also contributed to writing guides and published a unique culinary project:
- Recipe Shorts: Delicious Dishes in 140 Characters (2017) – A cookbook written during the era of short-form social media, featuring quick recipes condensed into micro-text format.
- Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding, Volume 2 (2022) – An essay anthology where Stewart, alongside other fantasy authors, shares professional advice on creating immersive, believable fantasy settings.
What to Know Before You Start
Stewart's epic fantasy works are notable for their multiple points of view (multi-POV). While the chapters are divided among different characters, they all contribute to a tightly woven narrative arc that converges toward the end of each volume. The tone of her books is characterized by a balance of wonder and grim stakes; characters are often forced into difficult moral gray areas, and magic systems always require a clear, often heavy physical cost.
Her works also explore post-colonial themes, exploring the consequences of power, empire-building, and what happens to a society after a revolution has succeeded rather than focusing solely on the rebellion itself.