Seventhblade

by Tonia Laird

For readers of N.K. Jemisin and Rebecca Roanhorse, a fast-paced, anti-colonial action-adventure fantasy that explores twisted power dynamics and the effects of settler colonialism

After the murder of T’Rayles’s adopted son, the infamous warrior and daughter of the Indigenous Ibinnas returns to the colonized city of Seventhblade, ready to tear the streets asunder in search of her son’s killer. T’Rayles must lean into the dangerous power of her inherited sword and ally herself with questionable forces, including the Broken Fangs, an alliance her mother founded, now fallen into greed and corruption, and the immortal Elraiche, a powerful and manipulative deity exiled from a faraway land. Navigating the power shifts in a colonized city on the edge and contending with a deadly new power emerging from within, T’Rayles must risk everything to find the answers, and the justice, she so desperately desires.

Loaded with complex characters and intricately staged action, and set in a fragmented, fascinating world of dangerous magics and cryptic gods, Seventhblade is a masterful new fantasy adventure from a bright, emerging Indigenous voice.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Adult, Science Fiction, Indigenous, Epic, Adventure

376 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2025

Reviews

[Kate Dash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventhblade completely threw me — in a good way. I picked it up expecting gritty sword fights and broody gods, and instead found myself hit by wave after wave of emotion. T’Rayles is not easy to love at first — she's sharp, angry, guarded — but watching her slowly unravel, piece by piece, made me care more than I expected. Her connection to Jhune (even though he’s already gone) is haunting, intimate, and absolutely heartbreaking. That sword tether? Oof. It gutted me.

The book does a fantastic job showing how grief can reshape a person — how love and loss can sit side by side in everything you do. I also loved the team dynamic — awkward, tense, and slowly evolving into something solid. Not every moment lands (the pacing lags mid-way, and a few internal monologues felt a bit too spelled-out), but overall it works. Elraiche was one of the most confusing and compelling god-characters I’ve read in a while — not good, not evil, just... complex. If you like emotionally-charged fantasy with a dark edge, found family, flawed gods, and a story that sticks with you, this is one to check out. And Jhune? I’m not over him.

Thanks NetGalley for that ARC in exchange of my honest review!

[E.M. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content warnings: Grief, death of an adult child (on page)

I enjoyed Seventhblade by Tonia Laird--it's a 4.5 for me, rounded up for GR's rating system.

I loved the world building. The secondary fantasy setting has a post-colonial lens informed by Laird's Indigenous perspective; she is a Michif writer from Treaty 6 territory, which covers parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Northern Michif, a language "developed as part of the fur trade with the arrival of Europeans to our lands" also informs the language of spoken by the Ibinnashae within the novel.

Seventhblade is the story of T'Rayles, a woman with a deeper past than we at first realize. She's found an uneasy peace in a remote outpost somewhat absented from colonial control, but that peace gets threatened with an unimaginable act in the book's opening pages.

We don't see a lot of parents in fantasy. T'Rayles and her partner Dellan are the adopted parents of Jhune, a character with his own mysteries that get unpacked as the story continues. I loved their found family, though we meet them on the doorstep of its dissolution.

The story becomes a revenge quest from that point forward as T'Rayles seeks justice in ways she's uniquely qualified to do. The action scenes are clear and the stakes are high as she enters the town of Seventhblade itself to find answers.

Allies and adversaries present themselves. We meet gods, spirit mediums, warring guild factions, street rats and ship captains. I particularly loved T'Rayles' relationship with Naeda, an elder in her family.

Laird's vision is vast and I found myself wishing for a bigger map (some of the countries mentioned are outside what we get) and a character index.

The book is marketed as standalone, but it clearly part of a trilogy. One aspect of T'Rayles' story gets resolved, but there are many dangling threads to follow. I look forward to learning more.

[Nerwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this one did not really hit the mark for me. I had trouble following the narrative and there were some POV shifts between Elraiche's view and T'Rayles that I missed from time to time that were even more confusing.
I usually don't mind a bit of confusion and not knowing what was going on, but here it was just too much.

The world seemed interesting though and it had some interesting concepts that I am sure other people would love to read about.

Thank you Netgalley and ECW Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Siavahda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been fighting with this one since June: read to 20%, put it down, come back to it and started over, made it to 34%…and I’ve run out of spoons for it.

I’m fascinated by the worldbuilding, and I don’t hate the main character. (I don’t love her, either, but that’s not necessary for me to enjoy a book.) But the prose is – deeply arrhythmic? I feel like I’m being smacked upside the head at random; every time it seems to settle, and the writing flows for a few sentences – SMACK! It’s exhausting, makes me feel rattled in a way that has nothing to do with tension in the story. Reading this book is taking so much more effort than it should, not because the prose is dense or Laird is using semi-obsolete words I need to keep looking up, but because the writing seems determined to kick me out and it’s a fight to stay in.

It doesn’t help that everything is extremely drawn-out; it takes chapters and chapters to get through a single scene, and there’s long stretches of exposition that, for once, didn’t interest me. I did like how Laird scattered the worldbuilding – we have to pick it up as we go along, paying attention to catch sneaky references or brief mentions of things – even if I was also kinda frustrated at how long it was taking to find out anything about this world. There’s a lot of abrupt transitions, with people seeming to change their mind or feelings without warning mid-conversation. I had a lot of trouble with character motivations; I often had no clue why characters were doing what they were doing. There were way too many moments where T’Rayles or other members of the cast were having emotional reactions, but we didn’t know WHY the thing in question was getting that reaction. (For example, T’Rayles is outraged by the suggestion they temporarily bring her murdered son back to life so they can find out what happened to him, but I have no idea WHY she was so mad. What beliefs of hers does this contravene? Are there laws against it? Do her people believe this will have a negative effect on her son’s soul? EXPLAIN IT TO ME!) And then there were the leaps in logic I couldn’t follow, T’Rayles or someone else reaching a conclusion that seemed like a WILD reach – something I really, REALLY hate.

TLDR: Every time I pick this up, it gives me brain-fog. So I quit.

[Nash Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️ This book gave revenge plot with a little mystery. I liked that our FMC was older and a mother. I think the plot was really interesting and I was invested in the story. What I will say is that the world building and overall lore just fell so flat. Like I had so many questions about the MCs background, plus the history behind this world. I just felt like there was no elaboration when it came to world building.

[Viking Jam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: A fairly fast paced novel with a grim beginning coupled with the rage of angst.

This is the authors first solo flight, and once seasoned, will be a force in the Fantasy Genre.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

[nana✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars!

Seventhblade follows T'Rayles, a half-god and daughter of the Indigenous Ibinnas, as she searches for her adopted son's killer in the colonized city of Seventhblade. Her son Jhune's soul is tethered to her through an inherited sword, and through him (his memories that T'Rayles can see) we come to understand the depth of her love and loss. Their bond is the heart of the book, and watching her endure so much in the name of love and justice broke me in the best way.

I didn't connect with T'Rayles at first. She's sharp, angry, and clearly in the thick of grief, but the further I read, the more I admired her. She's a strong, flawed, deeply compelling character, and her role as a mother is beautifully written. I also really liked Dellan, Jhune's adoptive father! He doesn't get a ton of page time, but what we do get is impactful, and I would have loved to see even more of his relationship with T'Rayles. The ending was my favorite part because of the glimpse we got to see of their relationship blossoming a litte! Elraiche, the exiled god T'Rayles is forced to ally with, is manipulative, arrogant, and clever, but also surprisingly layered. His POV chapters early on didn't feel necessary at first (they slow down the pace and involve a lot of internal analysis on his side) but he's still a very important character. My feelings on him are just very conflicted since he isn't evil but also not good; he's something in-between that I very much appreciated, but made me feel confused on who he actually is.

The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, full of gods, lore, scheming guilds, and cultural diversity. There's a strong anti-colonial throughline, handled with care, and a genuine sense of history and lived experience behind the cultures presented. I especially appreciated how the book explores grief, and not just T'Rayles' but Dellan's too. Even though Jhune is gone from the start, I could still feel his presence throughout the novel, and I truly got to know and love him through the memories and the little flashes of who he was (he may even be my favorite character).

Pacing-wise, the book starts strong, drags in the middle, and ends on a deeply emotional note. The writing style is overall well-suited to the story, but sometimes over-explains character thoughts and gestures in ways that slow things down. It just feels like the author doesn't trust the reader to read between the lines, and so she starts explaining things too much. Some of the action scenes could have used shorter sentences for urgency (there's one mid-book that felt long because of this).

If you're looking for a fantasy that tackles heavy themes with emotional nuance—grief, colonialism, revenge, and complicated gods—Seventhblade is absolutely worth your time! It's fierce, heartfelt, and left me thinking long after I finished (and made me tear up). Jhune, you deserved better :(

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Lorina Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seventhblade is Tonia Laird’s first novel, published by ECW Press, an indie publisher which champions under-represented voices. Laird is a Métis writer from Treaty 6 territory, with a background writing for literary, fantasy and comic book publications, as well as a lorekeeper, writer and world-builder for video games

But first, the marketing blurb:

After the murder of T’Rayles’s adopted son, the infamous warrior and daughter of the Indigenous Ibinnas returns to the colonized city of Seventhblade ready to tear the streets asunder in search of her son’s killer. T’Rayles must lean into the dangerous power of her inherited sword and ally herself with questionable forces, including the Broken Fangs, an alliance her mother founded, now fallen into greed and corruption, and the immortal Elraiche, a powerful and manipulative deity exiled from a faraway land. Navigating the power shifts in a colonized city on the edge and contending with a deadly new power emerging from within, T’Rayles risks everything to find the answers, and the justice, she so desperately desires.

Loaded with complex characters and intricately staged action, and set in a fragmented, fascinating world of dangerous magics and cryptic gods, Seventhblade is a masterful new fantasy adventure from a bright emerging Indigenous voice.

Despite glowing critical reviews from magazines and writers, I failed to find the exceptional merit in Seventhblade. Now, don’t get me wrong; it’s a good piece of commercial fantasy fiction, readable, entertaining, something to take to the beach, or a winter cozy. But, as is my wont, I wished for more in-depth and captivating character development, less in the way of exposition, more world-building (which is an irony given Laird’s background in video game development). I had little sense of place throughout the story, of the geography of the world T’Rayles inhabits. I wanted more by way of culture, an understanding of how and why the belief-system worked, some deeper understanding of the gods who walked among, and bred with, the mortals. Vengeance was the dominant, and often ham-fisted, theme of the story, and the sole, defining characteristic of T’Rayles.

Most of all I wanted to know more about the dark power of the sword T’Rayles unwittingly wielded. In addition, I did find some aspects of the story a bit derivative of The Witcher culture.

Navigating the sections written in Michif was difficult, in that there was most often no context for the phrases used. So, being a non-Michif speaking individual, I found myself adrift, lacking critical understanding of not only what was being said, but why, and the inevitable import of that dialogue. To use an old axiom: context is everything. And because of that lack of context, the flow of the story stuttered.

But I quibble and lean toward the hypercritical.

It remains Seventhblade is an entertaining work of commercial fantasy fiction from an emerging, Indigenous voice.

[Jahna]

DNF’d at 38%

I tried my best to see this out, but at the end of the day, I just don’t care to. The world isn’t well explained. There are many different cultures with interchangeable names and no explanation of their history, the land they’re from, or even what makes them unique. At most, there’s a discussion of different hair colors. There’s talk of coming to, and being from, other lands, but there isn’t an elaboration of what each place is like or how distant locations are. It’s disappointing because the world seems so involved, but I didn’t get to feel like I was part of it.

There’s a significant religious component and a magic system, I think(?), but I do not understand either at all. The connection to colonization and the forced adaption of Christianity is apparent, Howe er I don’t know much of anything, other than T’Rayles hates them (which….yeah, that’s extremely reasonable).

Character-wise, unfortunately I just really don’t like T’Rayles. She starts out mean, she acknowledges that she’s mean, she’s mean to people before they even get to speak to her. I KNOW she’s grieving, but she was like this before she had a reason to. She’s also SO rude to her partner, and obviously they’ve got some problems going on, but it really frustrated me. The antagonist? Annoying. I don’t get him. I also can’t remember his name.

I’ve never DNF’d a book before, so this was a tough decision. I just don’t think I’m going to fully appreciate this work, therefore we both deserve better.

[Ariadna]

DNF at 26%

Seventhblade tells the story of T’Rayles who is a woman who is half mortal, half god and when her son is murdered she goes on a dangerous quest to seek revenge by returning to the corrupt city of Seventh Blade to seek out her son’s killers. In the process, she accidentally awakens the power in the sword she inherited from her mother, which feeds off of her already barely contained rage. Her paths cross with her mother's allies and a god who wants the dangerous sword for himself.

Unfortunately, for all I’ve tried to push through this book, I just couldn’t do it anymore, and had to DNF if at 26% mark. I really struggled to follow the narrative and connect with the characters, and the chaotic switches between POVs didn’t help at all. There were a lot of different cultures involved, but there was no real explanation of their history or any information that makes them who they are. It just didn’t make any sense to me, to be honest. And I really struggled trying to swim through this story, especially when I didn't like the FMC. It actually gave me pretty strong vibes of The Fifth Season, which I also wasn't fond of, so maybe these types of books just aren't for me. The world did have pretty interesting concepts of colonialism and twisted power dynamics, so I’m sure that other people could find its appeal, but just not me.

Anyways, that you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for a free audio copy in exchange for an honest review. The narrator was pretty good.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

After T-Rayles' son is murdered, she decides to go after his killer. She's the daughter of a warrior, a member of the indigenous Ibinnas, and must deal with her colonizer husband's missteps, an exiled god, a organization founded by her warrior mother, but that has become corrupt, and the constant bigotry she encounters along her way and within Seventhblade, a colonized city.

The world is complex, as well as the relationships between characters, and the indigenous and colonizer cultures, and T'Rayles is sympathetic in her deep grief, and determination to get justice. Or revenge. The characters are flawed and occasionally frustrating, doing and saying things that only contributed to conflict, or exposed weaknesses and divisions.

I went back and forth between prose and audio, and liked Dani Cochrane's voicing of T'Rayles and others. The main character's grief and ferocity were beautifully invoked.

This is the sort of book that is catnip to me, and yet, I could not get into it, and kept finding my attention wandering. I badly wanted to enjoy this book, but could only appreciate it for its complexity and well-drawn characters.

I suspect this is a book that, when I eventually return to it, will work better on a reread.
Thank you to Netgalley, ECW Press and to Dreamscape Media for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of vengeance. For a mother who has lost her son and demands the retribution through those that have cause it. She gathers her allies of which she left behind decades ago, and her mothers sword of ancestors to bring it.

I wanted to DNF this at chapter 6. I didn’t understand why we were getting so many POVs of people I didn’t care about. I wanted a story of fighting, of justice. And I guess I did get it but in a different way.

The FMC I liked at the start, and then she faded a bit for me, her fighting spirit was there in words but not action and it kinda lost me. I’ve seen other reviews of a near found family and people coming together. I didn’t feel this. I felt like the FMC was alone most of the time with some help outwith but not truly with her, or with any loyalty (discount Kasanae because he was bloody great)

This is a 3 star to me because while I don’t always understand or like what was happening. I wanted it to succeed from the beginning because the start of the book provided so much that I wanted it to end well and if a place where I felt everyone get what they deserved (jhunes killers dead btw)

And if there was another book, then yeah I’d probably read it. I really do enjoy the FMC and her POVs. She just wants to fight for what’s right. Even if in my opinion she doesn’t fight as well as I thought she would.

>> Thank you to NetGalley for an Ecopy of this book to read and review.

[Paulina · Rating 4 out of 5]

T'rayles comes home to discover her son has been killed. She doesn't believe in the story she's being fed of how it happened so she decides to discover the truth on her own. This starts her on an adventure of revenge, grief and self discovery.

This book starts off on a brisk pace and it feels like it never really slows down. That's certainly not a bad thing, I felt like I didn't want to put this book down because there was constantly a new development throwing a spin into the whole thing. The initial mystery is really engaging and for me it worked a lot better than the more chaotic parts of the later story. That's not to say later parts don't have their own strengths. I really enjoyed how the book delves into a grief of a parent who lost their child, and how it breaks their whole world down.

We also get a second PoV of a god. I enjoyed how he brought a certain sarcastic and lighter tone to the story. And his interactions with T'rayles were always fun, leaving me wondering who truly had the upper hand in this situation.

I very much look forward to the potential sequel and more snappy interactions between our main characters.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the library's new ebook acquisitions that I picked up. In Seventhblade, half-god T'Rayles tracks her son's killer back to the colonial city of Seventhblade. But will her unfinished business from decades ago find her before she can take her revenge?

Seventhblade has a great concept--an older indigenous main character who has an eventful past before the story even begins, including the family cartel she abandoned, a mysterious sword, a husband she fought slavery with, and an unknown, forbidden godly heritage. But this book felt like a slog to me. There are extended (tiresome) villain POV chapters. T'Rayles spends most of her time either mired in grief or punching low-level thugs in the face. There's potential for a more complex and politically focused narrative in the tumultuous flow of power in the city, but T'Rayles is simply not interested in it. Probably one of the reasons she never ended up leading the family cartel.

Some of the hanging plot threads are juicy--it's clear that T'Rayles has barely begun to realize the extent of her power, and the novel ends as she's on a ship for a foreign country. But while this is a novel that I think other people might enjoy, I found the overall effect enough of a chore that I probably won't be reading the sequel.

[Raenor Spence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as an advanced copy & was so excited because I feel like we need more Indigenous fantasy books! Seventhblade had so much in what I appreciate in books like having an older protagonist who was an absolute badass and the world building was very interesting & stood out. Can’t wait to read what Tonia Laird writes next.

[2TReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really haven't enjoyed a fantasy novel in a while, and then came Seventhblade. with a strong yet vulnerable mother at the forefront, Laird builds a story of family, colonial scarring, community, and love as we follow T'Rayles on her avenging journey. I felt all the fury, pain, anguish, and grief that dogged T'Rayles as she pushes herself towards a path that could consume her.

But there are other players who are interested in her and what her heritage could mean for their own power plays and advancement. These elements added more meat to the story and further fleshed out T'Rayles and the choices we gave come to understand that she made and continues to make.

Grounding her story with a very understandable human traits such as love and loss really kept me immersed in this world and kept me squarely in T'Rayles' corner. The action scenes were satisfying, her questioning of her emerging abilities and her mother's own history only added deeper elements that enhanced my reading experience.

The conclusion made me cry, and the possibility of seeing more of T'Rayles and company has made me happy.

[Lis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out swinging and does not slow down. If you are looking for a book that highlights a woman consumed with rage and grief this is the book for you. I found this book to be cathartic.

When T’Rayles discovers the death of her adopted son, she will stop at nothing to find out what happened and who is really at fault, including getting involved with a manipulative god. The author does such a great job at expressing her grief and frustration throughout the story that I could feel it too. There were a few moments I caught myself hitting the steering wheel when things got crazy.

My one criticism is that it was difficult to keep up with all the different groups and races, with the small amount of backstory we got. I really hope that side of the world gets expanded on in future stories.

I'm really excited to see where this series goes, and I was so glad it didn't end on a cliffhanger.


I received this audio book from the publisher via Netgalley for a honest review.

[Kimberly Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway*

Seventhblade is everything I want in a fantasy book. The plot is unique and captivating. The FMC is a total bad ass, and the characters are intriguing. Seventhblade is full of action, grief, complex relationships, and found family. I honestly loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

[Richard Gresham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I just finished SEVENTHBLADE, and wow — this book seriously had me hooked. If you’re into action, friendship, betrayal, and characters that actually feel like real people, this one is for you.

What stood out the most to me was the team dynamic. At first, it’s like they’re just a bunch of people thrown together — they don’t really trust each other, and some of them even kind of hate each other. But as the story goes on, you see how they slowly become something more — a team that actually has each other’s backs.

I related to that a lot . It reminded me of how group projects or sports teams start off kind of awkward and frustrating, but once everyone figures out their role, things start to click. In SEVENTHBLADE, each character had their strengths and weaknesses, and they had to learn how to use them together. Nobody was perfect, and that’s what made it feel so real.

There’s one part (no spoilers) where everything basically falls apart — trust is broken, secrets come out, and it feels like the team might not make it. But instead of giving up, they choose to come back together, and that hit hard. It showed that teamwork isn’t just about skills — it’s about loyalty, forgiveness, and believing in people, even when it’s not easy.

By the end of the book, you’re not just cheering for the main character — you’re rooting for the whole squad. They’re flawed, brave, stubborn, and honestly pretty awesome. I’d totally read a sequel just to see more of them in action.

So yeah — if you like epic battles, strong character growth, and a team you’ll want to be part of, SEVENTHBLADE is definitely worth it.

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.75* of five

The author shared her maps: https://tonialaird.com/2025/06/18/the...
These are included in the final book.

The Publisher Says: For readers of N.K. Jemisin and Rebecca Roanhorse, a fast-paced, anti-colonial action-adventure fantasy that explores twisted power dynamics and the effects of settler colonialism

After the murder of T’Rayles’s adopted son, the infamous warrior and daughter of the Indigenous Ibinnas returns to the colonized city of Seventhblade, ready to tear the streets asunder in search of her son’s killer. T’Rayles must lean into the dangerous power of her inherited sword and ally herself with questionable forces, including the Broken Fangs, an alliance her mother founded, now fallen into greed and corruption, and the immortal Elraiche, a powerful and manipulative deity exiled from a faraway land. Navigating the power shifts in a colonized city on the edge and contending with a deadly new power emerging from within, T’Rayles must risk everything to find the answers, and the justice, she so desperately desires.

Loaded with complex characters and intricately staged action, and set in a fragmented, fascinating world of dangerous magics and cryptic gods, Seventhblade is a masterful new fantasy adventure from a bright, emerging Indigenous voice.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Losing your child is torturous. Losing him but not having a way to achieve closure on your grief? Never think that will not turn any parent into a giant ball of rage.

T’Rayles uses that rage, and a unique bond with her sword's beinghood, to hatch revenge plots involving a god, a world of hurt, and the end of her people's colonial subjection. She's going to do it all with the directed participation of Elraiche, cost her and the world what it may.

Proof to me, all that, that the most fun-to-read stories are those that center people with super-clear motives, goals that do not admit of defeat, and the rizz to command the help they need. T'Rayles is morally grey in her quest for revenge, in her need to make the world over so what happened to her never happens again. Her deal with Elraiche does not get made innocently, she expects damage, as much of it collateral as is not...but the goal is paramount: Revenge.

At times Author Laird, a most eloquent writer with a solidly developed command of evocative imagery, uses it more freely than the demands of plot can support. Her other work in the comics and games industry makes that unsurprising. There are some combat scenes halfway through that do not move at the pace one hopes to find in those times (surprisingly). The first third has more of Elraiche than seems needed, you might wonder why we're getting his PoV as much as I did but trust Author Laird. The way he is included pays off at the end.

The ending is...impactful. I found myself putting my device down and just thinking through what I'd read. Looking for my emotional teeth after Author Laird pounded 'em outta me. Whatever issues I'd had, particularly around Elraiche and around Dellan (the dead son's father, who had very little time with the reader), failed to diminish my impressed appreciation for the complicated but inevitable resolution I was offered.

I'd offer a full five stars had I had a map of the world created for this story, especially since it's ripe for a sequel; and had it felt...fresher...less like a beautiful cart but one in a line of the many traveling revenge road.

The Indigenous inflections of the anti-colonial message put that half-star back. This story might not break new ground but it builds a beautiful new home on the Earth it occupies.

[Kyle Emmerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Tonia Laird’s Seventhblade, T’Rayles (Teh-rah-lees), a sixty-something halfsoul—daughter of a human mother and an immortal father—returns to her village only to discover that her adopted son, Jhune, has been killed. Once she identifies the killer, she is compelled to return to the city of her youth, Seventhblade, the Ecrelian colonial city she abandoned long ago, ready to tear the streets asunder in search of those responsible.

The opening chapters lean heavily on exposition, which may initially challenge readers seeking a swifter entry to the narrative. However, Laird rewards patience. Near the end of the first act, T’Rayles confronts her son’s killer in a scene that perfectly encapsulates her loss and rage—a mother’s grief manifested into something both devastating and compelling. It is here that the protagonist changes from potentially unlikeable to utterly magnetic, and the novel’s emotional core coalesces.

T’Rayles must navigate a city teeming with merchants, mercenaries, and slavers while confronting the Broken Fangs, a once-benevolent mercenary group founded by her mother that has since fallen into greed and corruption. Meanwhile, Elraiche, an arrogant and manipulative colonial god, sets his sights on T’Rayles—or more precisely, on the mysterious sword she inherited from her mother. As her quest intensifies, T’Rayles struggles to contain her anger, blurring the lines between justice and revenge.

Where Laird really shines is in the worldbuilding. The physical settings are rendered with excellent descriptive detail, from the buildings that mark the streets of Seventhblade to the wilds traveled to get there. The world feels authentic (despite being one where gods walk among mortals and nashir priests manipulate the souls of the dead.) The ethnic variation among the peoples of Seventhblade—the indigenous Ibinnas and Iquonicha, and the Métis-like Ibinnashae, as well as the Ecrelian colonists themselves—mirrors the real-world colonial reality of North America, seamlessly crystallizing the European tradition of swords-and-sorcery with the experience and wisdom of indigenous peoples. The novel’s opening page uses terms from Northern Michif, one of the real-world languages of the Métis peoples, applying them masterfully to a fantasy setting.

That said, some of the deeper lore remains elusive. While the vivid locations ground readers in the immediate environment, the broader mythological and historical underpinnings of the world feel out of reach, requiring readers to piece together context from scattered references.

Laird employs a present-tense third-person narration, a stylistic choice that proves unconventional, yet effective for the subject matter, as though the future of this world is yet-to-be written. The immediacy of this perspective channels T’Rayles’ emotional turmoil and relentless dedication with striking intensity. The dialogue flows naturally, and the action sequences are intricately staged without sacrificing clarity.

At its core, Seventhblade explores the impact of generational trauma on colonized peoples while examining the dangerous ambiguity between justice and vengeance. T’Rayles embodies this tension—a mother driven by loss, navigating a world where colonial powers have fractured traditional kinship bonds and corrupted communities. The novel doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of colonization, yet Laird writes with nuance and compassion, creating a fantasy that is both escapist adventure and pointed social commentary.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for an advance copy of this fantasy book about a woman trying to get revenge for a wrong, set in a society that has no use for her, a society that this woman has no problem tearing down, no matter the cost.

My parents loved books and one day at a very young age I was looking for something to read. I was young but reading was, as is it pretty much is now, everything to me. I know I was reading the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, really anything I could get my hands on. This was an adult book, one my father found in his college cafeteria, and one I knew he enjoyed. The book was The Hobbit, and this combined with seeing Star Wars six or seven months later pretty much determined my reading habits for the next 15 years. I loved fantasy books, read everything I could find. Until in my 20's I found myself burned out. The books were getting all the same. Really long, no real endings, and all with the same kind of themes, and with rare exceptions, drawing on the same ideas. Over the last few years I have come back to fantasy stories, as the writing has changed immensely. There are fresh voices, fresh ideas, and these stories fill me with same wonder and awe that I felt when I was just starting out. Combine that with great writing, and one is going to have a time reading, just like I did with this book. Seventhblade by Tonia Laird is a story of revenge, with a people being held down by those who think they know best, and a woman who will destroy it all in memory of her child.

T’Rayles is returning to her village, a village that she has not felt welcome in due to heritage, but one in which she has found love with her husband and adopted son. The smell of smoke causes her to stop. This is not just a fire, but a funeral pyre for the friend of her son, who was killed by a forest creature. T’Rayles is told that her son also died in the woods, his body shredded by the creature, but T’Rayles has her doubts. Doubts that soon fade as she finds her son's body, with stab marks not made by a savage creature, but by humans. T’Rayles demands revenge, and her path eventually brings her to the town of Seventhblade a city built by the colonizers of her land to control and export resources from the native land. T’Rayles heritage is different from most, which makes her angry at the system that exploits so much. T’Rayles has ties to different groups, some that talk of rebellion, but are making too much money to really want trouble. There is an exiled God who through her husband's interference has taken an interest in her, but he has his reasons also. The more T’Rayles learns the more she realizes that things are a lot darker and deeper than she knows, and revenge might come with a savage cost.

A book that has a familiar theme of revenge, but from there goes into a lot of different places. I like how the story slowly unfolds. We don't even learn how to say the characters name until a few chapters in. Which I thought was good, as by then we are invested in knowing more. The language of T’Rayles is based on the language of Indigenous people of Canada, which seemed so novel I wonder why few had thought of that before. There are a lot of plots and subplots but Laird does a very good job of keeping things together, and the story moves well. There is a lot of sadness, loss, loss of culture, but I really enjoyed the story. This seems to be the start of a series, so I look forward to more.

[Johnsnowwasright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for the e-ARC!

After the murder of her adopted son, T'Rayles, a half-soul, returns to the corrupt city of Seventhblade to hunt down the woman who hired the murderers. During the journey, she accidentally awakens the sleeping power in her mother's sword, which heightens her already uncontrollable rage. As she fights to prevent the sword from taking over, she also has to contend with a mysterious god, Elraiche, and reconnect with her own adopted family. Can she get the revenge she seeks before she is consumed by her own rage?

This book was really, really good. At the beginning, I did struggle to get pulled into the story as it moved a little slow. However, by the time that I hit the 20% mark, the plot was firing on all cylinders, and I was here for it. The story was perfectly paced and crafted in a way that allowed for character development as well as steady plot progression.

Laird has created a diverse and layered cast of characters that truly elevated this story. I appreciate that our female lead was actually middle-aged aged (although she doesn't age since she's a demi-god). At first, T'Rayles can come across as unlikable, but the more time we spend in her head, the more relatable she becomes. Her rage and her grief are depicted so viscerally throughout the story that your heart will break for her at times.
Our other POV character, the god Elraiche, was also a delight. Kudos to Laird for making him use the very human tactics of strategy and manipulation to get what he wants instead of just relying on whatever powers he has.

The world building was fantastic and done with only a few exposition dumps towards the beginning. Laird pulls from Canadian First Nation cultures for our lead and her people, which is a welcome change from a Euro-centric fantasy genre.

All in all, a unique and well constructed fantasy revenge story with a lot of heart. We don't quite end on a cliffhanger, but the story is left open enough that I'm excited to see the next stage of T'Rayle's journey. Highly recommend for any fantasy fans.

[Enid Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

And this is why we never judge a book by its cover, or by its genre (of course we never…!!) I will tell you that I opened this one up firmly expecting that I would be dispensing with it in short order.

Well… was I wrong!!! WOW! This is Marrow Thieves good… Which is about as high praise as it gets for sci-fi/fantasy/dystopia for me.

It got a little bogged down in the middle - definitely needed some additional editing, and any failings it has are absolutely typical of the genre… pretty much standard fare in any fantasy.

I am discounting the score a little bit on account of the above.
Additionally while there was a Michif to English glossary included at the front of the book, I was surprised - especially as I got into reading it - that it did not have the obligatory “map” of the world at the start as well.
I also wish that it had had a mapping of relationships - communities/clans and kin - at the start, something else that is pretty common in a fantasy like this.
Both would be have been hugely useful while I was reading.

Lastly, this is clearly set up for a sequel but it is a complete story unto itself and stands alone as a singular title.

When I read the author Bio at the end, I see that she works in comic books and video games… which is abundantly clear when reading this.
The visualisation - of the fight scenes especially - are straight from the world of video gaming (as I imagine/understand it… I have never played a video game in my life, only watched my kid play).

I strongly recommend that you read the blurb before you start.
I also recommend that you consider keeping your own “map” or “web” of relationships as you’re reading… I did struggle to keep all the connections straight at times.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me access to an early digital review copy.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite novel this year, which is really saying something, because I don't particularly enjoy reading books written in present tense. I generally find it incredibly jarring and unpleasant to read, often taking me right out of the story and unable to get back in, as it never seems to be utilized effectively for the story. Seventhblade is written in present tense, and obviously Laird knows how to use this particular writing style properly because instead of being jarred and put off, I was drawn in and engaged right from the get go. The writing flow and tense melded together beautifully, and were not a problem for me at all in immersing myself in the story. And what a story!

The story, and the world it takes place in, is one that reminded me of my favourite fantasy novels of my youth—rich, intricate worlds and the people who inhabit them, the high stakes drama and intrigue, the twists, the turns, and of course the character arcs and growth along the way. This is a book written with intent and care, not cobbled together on tropes and shallow backdrops.

Laird deserves most praise however for writing a story that doesn't sand off its edges or pull its punches. It takes risks, and lets them pay off. It doesn't sugar coat and it doesn't trivialize. It's honest, and it's earnest. This is a story with a lot of heart beating at its center, and I cannot express what a pleasure it was to finally pick up a current year fantasy novel and find something meaty inside. This world feels real, and these characters feel real because they are allowed to be flawed and emotional, human. That alone makes this book an easy favourite for me.

I cannot wait to see more from this author.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to get into Seventhblade. The beginning felt a bit slow, and I found myself re-reading some pages to stay grounded in the world. (Also, not gonna lie - Google and I became real close friends trying to figure out how to pronounce half the names and terms.) But once things started clicking into place? I was hooked.

T’Rayles is such a fierce, layered character - driven by grief, fueled by vengeance, and carrying the weight of her people’s history on her back. I could feel her pain and rage, and I loved how unapologetically sharp she was. Watching her navigate a city teetering on the edge of chaos while unraveling the mystery of her son’s death had me flipping pages way past bedtime.

And the sword? The deeper the story went, the more intrigued I became. There’s something magnetic about that blade - its power, its history, the way it ties into T’Rayles’s identity and legacy. The way Laird wove in themes of colonialism, corrupted alliances, and divine manipulation gave the whole story so much weight beneath the action.

It’s gritty. It’s layered. And it’s not afraid to be uncomfortable or complex. I honestly can’t stop thinking about it, and now I desperately need the sequel. Please.

If you like your fantasy with morally complex characters, deep-rooted cultural tensions, and weapons with their own agendas, definitely give this one a shot. Just keep Google nearby for backup 😅

✧˖°. ⤷ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Jon Drum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tonia Laird's "Seventhblade" is a fantastic entry into the fantasy genre, offering a compelling blend of intricate world-building, engaging characters, and a plot that keeps you invested. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this rich and imaginative world.

The magic system in "Seventhblade" is particularly well-conceived, feeling both original and deeply integrated into the fabric of the society Laird has created. It’s clear a lot of thought went into its mechanics and implications, making for some genuinely exciting and innovative uses of power.

Our protagonist is a strong, determined individual whose journey of discovery and resilience is genuinely captivating. I found myself easily rooting for them as they navigated complex challenges and unearthed secrets. The supporting cast is also well-drawn, adding depth and personality to the narrative, and the relationships between characters feel authentic and impactful.

The pacing of the story is generally well-handled, with a good balance of action, mystery, and character development. There are moments of high tension and satisfying revelations that kept me eagerly turning pages. While the world is detailed, it's presented in a way that allows you to easily immerse yourself without feeling overwhelmed.

"Seventhblade" is a strong and promising start to a new series. It delivers on its premise with a vibrant world, memorable characters, and a story that leaves you eager for what comes next. Fans of intricate fantasy and character-driven narratives should definitely pick this one up!

[matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

four stars, considering this is the longest prologue i've ever read (: but seriously, this book appears to be the first in a series, though that hasn't been stated as far as i've seen. i highly recommend it for fans of thought-provoking fantasy series in general and/or girlboss fiction specifically. given the author's credits with the video games dragon age 2 and dai, i expect there will be many more interested readers.

the protagonist, a woman of mystic origins, is named t'rayles, "teh-rah-lees" (as introduced in chapter 7, but i had "trails" as my headcanon way before getting to chapter 7...reader beware).

the worldbuilding is excellent and worth the reader's time. the revenge plot for her adopted son's death wasn't satisfactorily resolved, in my opinion. neither was her character arc, but the groundwork appears to be in place for both in the next installment.

the story contains a number of character races with their own myths, religions, deities, and goals. racial tensions, racism, and discrimination are thematically prominent. who has power over whom, and for what reasons, make up a lot of the intrigue in the plot and worldbuilding. i found it to be thought provoking, in a good way. content spoiler alert for slavery, which cannot be minimized as a theme in any way, though it does not appear explicitly until the climax, and isn't treated in a positive way.

thank you to ecw press for the opportunity to read an advance copy!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Risking everything and allying herself with forces she’d rather not to be able to avenge the murder of her adopted son, an infamous warrior returns to a city she left years ago to navigate disturbing new power dynamics in Seventhblade by Tonia Laird.

To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.

After finding that her adopted son Jhune was murdered, T’Rayles is determined to seek justice for his death and is ready to do whatever she must to claim it; however, her partner Dellan knows they need proof before acting and reluctantly seeks out aid from a manipulative god, Elraiche, with whom he has a history, to bring Jhune’s soul back to determine whether some local boys were responsible for killing Jhune. The ceremony goes awry, and T’Rayles uses her mother’s sword, accidentally pulling Jhune’s soul into herself and begins sharing his memories, before she sets out for the city of Seventhblade, returning to seek out answers about the one who condemned her son to die so she can kill them. Reuniting with the Broken Fang, an alliance founded by her mother, T’Rayles finds it to be much changed from her younger, though long-lived, days, corrupted by a form of greed she vehemently fought against, but there are still those who share her more noble spirit and vision who fight by her side for justice amid the wide-reaching impact of the shifting dynamics of power taking root throughout the city.

Presenting a world with light elements of magic and gods interspersed throughout, with the presence of weapons imbued with power and gods or those with godsblood, a narrative of complex relationships emerges that’s filled with corruption, manipulation, action, and tender moments of emotional connection. The conflict between the populations of colonizers and Indigenous people demonstrated a realistic dynamic of power and prejudice, with the introduction of gods adding yet another layer, which made navigating the cultural and political landscape a challenge for the characters to face. The narrative primarily follows T’Rayles, though there are chapters that follows Elraiche, offering a glimpse into the manipulations of others he’s orchestrating for his own amusements and ends, which proves to tie the various characters together into the narrative’s larger arc; these shifts in perspective, while building out the world and offering context, do change the pacing of the story, slowing down an otherwise rather quickly-moving narrative. As a character, T’Rayles is strong and possesses a unique heritage, which has marked her as Other her entire life, with plenty of secrets within her background that have been kept from her, with only some of them revealed to readers, and T’Rayles, by the end of this story; when coupled with the journey undertaken at the conclusion and the various aspects left unresolved, there’s an openness that suggests that there’s more to this story and world that could be explored in the future.

Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at around 60% because the audio just wasn't clicking for me. However, I do think that's far enough to give a fair review, because I think this book would be a smash hit in the right hands.

Some notes:
-The main character’s name is T’Rayles which is pronounced “Tara-lees” (thank you audio, absolutlely no chance i woulda gotten that one right in print....
-There is a significant amount of fictional words such as titles, names, regions and languages, listening on audio does give this an advantage to the pronounciation. However I found it really hard to keep everything straight on audio, which is ultimately why i set it aside.
-Author is a Michif Canadian author, so she belongs to a very small group of indigenous people from canada.

This book really reminded me of the Children of Blood and Bone series, except the MC is an adult, not a teen. There are a lot of similar themes such as magic, racism, xenophobia, colonialism, and fighting back against oppressors. There is a lot of good stuff here and if you liked that, I would recommend this as well.