Driven by grief after her adopted son's murder, T’Rayles—a half-god and daughter of the Indigenous Ibinnas—returns to the colonized city of Seventhblade, wielding a powerful ancestral sword and allying with a manipulative exiled god to seek justice amid shifting power dynamics and deep-rooted colonial tensions. The story explores themes of vengeance, found family, anti-colonial resistance, and the personal costs of trauma and loss, set in a richly imagined world shaped by complex magic, gods, and cultural conflict.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a colonized city rife with political tension, shifting alliances, and the scars of settler colonialism, the story follows T’Rayles, a half-god and daughter of the Indigenous Ibinnas, as she seeks justice for the murder of her adopted son, Jhune. Armed with her mother’s powerful sword and haunted by a supernatural bond to Jhune’s soul, T’Rayles navigates a world of corrupt organizations, manipulative gods, and fractured communities. The narrative alternates between T’Rayles and Elraiche, an exiled and morally ambiguous deity, as they become entangled in a quest for vengeance that exposes deep-seated grief, cultural loss, and the complexities of power. The book incorporates elements of high fantasy, Indigenous culture and language, and themes of grief, revenge, and anti-colonial resistance, with a focus on character-driven storytelling and intricate world-building.

Readers frequently praised the book’s depiction of complex team dynamics, highlighting how initially mistrustful and disparate characters gradually form a cohesive, if flawed, group. The emotional depth of T’Rayles’s grief and her evolving relationships, especially the haunting connection to her son Jhune, resonated with many. The inclusion of a middle-aged, Indigenous female protagonist and the exploration of anti-colonial themes were noted as standout aspects. The world-building, use of Indigenous languages, and the morally gray portrayal of gods and alliances were also appreciated, as was the book’s willingness to tackle heavy themes such as loss, cultural identity, and the effects of colonization. Several readers found the action scenes, character growth, and the nuanced handling of loyalty and forgiveness particularly engaging.

Some readers struggled with the pacing, noting that the narrative could drag in the middle and that certain sections—especially Elraiche’s point-of-view chapters—slowed the story or felt unnecessary. The world-building, while detailed, was sometimes described as confusing or insufficiently explained, with some readers finding it difficult to keep track of the various cultures, locations, and relationships. The use of Indigenous language (Michif) without sufficient context or glossary support was cited as a barrier to understanding for non-speakers. A few readers found T’Rayles initially unlikable or too abrasive, and some felt the revenge plot and character arcs were not fully resolved by the end. There were also comments about the lack of a map or relationship guide, which made navigating the story’s complexity more challenging.

The book is the author’s first solo novel and is published by ECW Press, with a release date of June 17, 2025. It is positioned as the start of a series, though the story stands alone with open threads for continuation. The narrative blends elements of fantasy, Indigenous storytelling, and high-stakes action, and is available in both print and audiobook formats. The average reader rating is 3.95 out of 5, based on 76 ratings and 47 full reviews. The author, Tonia Laird, has a background in video game and comic book writing, which some readers noted as influencing the book’s visual style and approach to world-building.