The High King Ronaston is dead, but his daughter, Echinni, survived the cull and performed a miracle, bringing someone back from the dead. She finds herself as the new High Queen of the Nine Nations, yet her reign may be short as the Kutsal Empire has taken the Narrows, a key stronghold in Salucia, and an even greater power, Kali, the god-machine, has awoken and destroyed Labran.

It is up to the new champions of the Nine Nations to find a way to save them all. Yet each of our heroes has problems of their own.

Wayran’s mind is crowded with artificial voices from the ancient past. Matoh is finally a Syklan, but also one of the Union’s greatest weapons, and his new responsibilities weigh heavily on his conscience. Naira has come back from the dead, and reality doesn’t feel the same as it used to. Kai was forced to kill, something which he thought he’d never have to do. Adel is the Arbiter, yet her incredible martial skill may be no match for the politics within the Faith. Stonebridge has somehow gotten himself promoted once again and now finds himself in the role of general with the task of ousting the invading Kutsal Empire from Dawn and the Narrows.

Jonah finally has a worthy cause to fight for, and all it cost him was his oldest friend in the world. He must find a way to make peace with Salucia, trying not to get killed in the process while also spreading the rebellion against his mother, the Empress.

Yet all of their worries may be for nothing, for the clock is ticking, and Kali has woken up. If Labran’s destruction is any indication, she is not pleased with what humanity has made of itself.