Black as Diamond

U. M. Agoawike is a Nigerian Canadian author from Calgary with a BFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia. The spark for their love of reading—and eventually writing—was born in their first-grade class, where they preferred devouring their teacher’s corner bookshelves over the mortifying ordeal of being known. When not conjuring speculative new worlds, they dubiously enjoy stressing over lines of code and geeking out over fictional characters with their best friend.

“A confident introduction to a vast epic fantasy world. ...overflowing with color, queerness, and magic.” —Publishers Weekly“Black as Diamond is haunting and ethereal, balanced with the warmth of found family. This is a cast of characters you are bound to fall in love with as they fumble their way toward one another, seeking connection in a world that is falling apart.” —Andrea Stewart, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Bone Shard Daughter“U. M. Agoawike combines truly epic world building and breathtaking action to create a wholly original, harrowing dark fantasy. Black as Diamond is a gut punch of a debut novel.” —Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief“With vivid prose, bone-rattling action, and a queer romance as tender as it is thunderous, Black as Diamond is a dark fantasy gem from the glittering heart of the genre.” —Sophia Slade, author of Nightstrider“This is the sort of fantasy I love. Layered, detailed world building, lush prose, lovable but flawed found family, and a central magical mystery tying it all together. Black as Diamond is a triumph!”—M. H. Ayinde, author of A Song of Legends Lost“A wickedly original epic fantasy bound by the familiar threads of friendship, family, and fate. Agoawike's masterful worldbuilding is in rare balance with characters who shine bright within a world where nobody quite fits, and nothing is as it seems. Dark but boldly hopeful, Black as Diamond is fantasy at its most brilliant!” —Fiona Fenn, author of The Crack at the Heart of Everything"Cast against a dark, lush world of intricate magic and dynamic characters, Black as Diamond is a fantasy of epic proportions.”—C. S. Pacat, author of the Captive Prince Trilogy