"A complex and richly detailed world filled with elite soldier-assassins, mystic warrior monks, serpentine politics, and ancient secrets. Readers of Sara Douglass's Wayfarer novels and George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series should enjoy this opener." --Library Journal, starred review

"Will hold your attention until the last page. This intense novel is impossible to put down." --RT Book Reviews

"Filled to the brim with history, lore and potential...a modern epic fantasy mixed in with a nice dose of Lovecraftian weirdness." --io9

"Familiar ingredients come to life in the hands of a promising new master chef." --Locus

"Staveley creates a richly layered world that melds together elements of ancient magic, religion, political intrigue and battles large and small. The suspense is relentless and the moral compromises the protagonists confront, often accompanied by violence, are wrenching." --Shelf Awareness

"An enchanting union of old and new, Staveley's debut will keep you turning pages late into the night." --Pierce Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Red Rising

"Come for the intrigue, assassination, death priests, black-ops bird riders, and giant poisonous hive-lizards. Stay for Staveley's characters, his language, and his way-cool fantasy Zen." --Max Gladstone, author of the Craft Sequence

" Intricate characters, complex relationships, and plots within plots... these are the hallmarks of great fantasy and Staveley succeeds across the board. A brilliant debut!" --Jason Hough, New York Times bestselling author of The Darwin Elevator

"Takes a story of family, loss, conspiracy and revenge and gives it new legs. It's epic fantasy with a sharp, jagged edge to it, a modern sensibility, prose as tight as the leather wrapped around a sword's hilt, and characters that you can relate to and give a damn about. I look forward to the next installment of Staveley's chronicle." --R. S. Belcher, author of The Six-Gun Tarot