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Invoker Trilogy #2
A Dance of Burning Blades
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26War rages on in the second heart-pounding novel in M. H. Ayinde’s relentless epic fantasy series The Invoker Trilogy, a sweeping epic of revenge and rebellion set in a richly drawn world of warring clans and ancestor magic.
Tension simmers across Nine Lands. In the capital, the people of Lordsgrave seethe with resentment after the horrors of the greyblood attack. Clan Adatali is in open rebellion against the king, and as war in the Feverlands rages on, a humble tree feller—who looks a lot like missing invoker Jinao Mizito—has not forgotten the promise he made to avenge his brother.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, the king’s daughter Lyela continues to move her pieces across the board. Can the people of the Nine Lands reclaim their stolen history and unlock the secrets that have been kept from them for centuries?
Tension simmers across Nine Lands. In the capital, the people of Lordsgrave seethe with resentment after the horrors of the greyblood attack. Clan Adatali is in open rebellion against the king, and as war in the Feverlands rages on, a humble tree feller—who looks a lot like missing invoker Jinao Mizito—has not forgotten the promise he made to avenge his brother.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, the king’s daughter Lyela continues to move her pieces across the board. Can the people of the Nine Lands reclaim their stolen history and unlock the secrets that have been kept from them for centuries?
688 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
M.H. Ayinde
11 books265 followersModupe H. Ayinde is the Sunday Times bestselling author of epic fantasy novel A SONG OF LEGENDS LOST (Orbit UK/Saga Press) and is an Ignyte, Locus, and British Fantasy Award finalist. Her short fiction has appeared in FIYAH Literary Magazine, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and elsewhere, and she was the 2021 winner of the Future Worlds Prize. She is a runner, a lapsed martial artist, and a screen time enthusiast. She lives in London with three generations of her family and their Studio Ghibli obsession.
Find her on Bluesky / Instagram / TikTok as @mhayinde
Find her on Bluesky / Instagram / TikTok as @mhayinde
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January 27, 2026Please go here for content warnings.
https://www.mhayinde.com/trigger-warn...
What to expect in Book 2 of The Invoker Trilogy:
* Battles. A lot of battles.
* Old faces, new faces, and faces that... change.
* A smattering of body horror. A smattering of psychological horror.
* Plants that are not quite plants and might be sentient.
* Even MOAR plucky underdogs.
* THE POWER OF AUNTIES.
* #BadDads
* Warrior monks.
* Cat AND dog.
This is a longer, darker, and slightly more violent book. Thank you to those of you who are continuing this journey with me, and to those who take the time to rate / leave a review. It really is the privilege of a lifetime to be able to share this world.
Modupe
x
https://www.mhayinde.com/trigger-warn...
What to expect in Book 2 of The Invoker Trilogy:
* Battles. A lot of battles.
* Old faces, new faces, and faces that... change.
* A smattering of body horror. A smattering of psychological horror.
* Plants that are not quite plants and might be sentient.
* Even MOAR plucky underdogs.
* THE POWER OF AUNTIES.
* #BadDads
* Warrior monks.
* Cat AND dog.
This is a longer, darker, and slightly more violent book. Thank you to those of you who are continuing this journey with me, and to those who take the time to rate / leave a review. It really is the privilege of a lifetime to be able to share this world.
Modupe
x
May 4, 2026
Review originally on JamReads
A Dance of Burning Blades is the second book in the epic science fantasy series The Invoker, written by M. H. Ayinde and published by Orbit Books. An absolutely brilliant sequel at the level of the previous instalment, A Song of Legends Lost, which continues building over the foundations that were previously laid, with a creative worldbuilding that is expanded, especially regarding the Greybloods and the ancient tech, serving as the perfect tapestry for an epic story about the importance of communities, the fight against the established system and the own identity.
Tension continues high across the Nine Lands. The truth regarding Invoker abilities and how it has been kept has sparked rebellion across the continent; Clan Adatali make their stand against the power system established by the king and his clan. Meanwhile, Lordsgrave still seethes with resentment after the horrors unleashed by the greyblood attack; a story that continues ramping up the stakes while it slowly unfurls many of the secrets about the Nine Lands' history and how the ancient tech works.
In particular, while all the character arcs are brilliant, there are two that shine with their own light. First of all, we still have Temi Baker, struggling to protect her family and her community by extension, trying to keep them safe, healthy, being dragged into the politics of other groups and her own bond with the ancestor; and Jinao Mizito's journey will be one that, despite he's being pushed to the limit of his mind, will also reveal a lot about how the Greybloods live and how they also form communities like us.
The rest of the arcs in A Dance Of Burning Blades paint an epic story, answering some of the questions that were already asked in the prequel, especially regarding the past of the Nine Lands, but also set the table for the third book.
While the worldbuilding was already memorable in the previous book, Ayinde goes a step further in this one: partly due to the already laid foundations, but also going deeper into the heart of the Nine Lands.
Despite this book being a chonker, it never felt too long; the pacing is pretty much on the spot, and the jump between POVs helps keep your interest high at all times.
A Dance of Burning Blades is simply excellent; a sequel that builds over what A Song of Legends Lost already created, reinforcing that epic science fantasy vibes on a story that doesn't forget about the individual characters. Can't wait to see what M. H. Ayinde has cooked with the third book!
A Dance of Burning Blades is the second book in the epic science fantasy series The Invoker, written by M. H. Ayinde and published by Orbit Books. An absolutely brilliant sequel at the level of the previous instalment, A Song of Legends Lost, which continues building over the foundations that were previously laid, with a creative worldbuilding that is expanded, especially regarding the Greybloods and the ancient tech, serving as the perfect tapestry for an epic story about the importance of communities, the fight against the established system and the own identity.
Tension continues high across the Nine Lands. The truth regarding Invoker abilities and how it has been kept has sparked rebellion across the continent; Clan Adatali make their stand against the power system established by the king and his clan. Meanwhile, Lordsgrave still seethes with resentment after the horrors unleashed by the greyblood attack; a story that continues ramping up the stakes while it slowly unfurls many of the secrets about the Nine Lands' history and how the ancient tech works.
In particular, while all the character arcs are brilliant, there are two that shine with their own light. First of all, we still have Temi Baker, struggling to protect her family and her community by extension, trying to keep them safe, healthy, being dragged into the politics of other groups and her own bond with the ancestor; and Jinao Mizito's journey will be one that, despite he's being pushed to the limit of his mind, will also reveal a lot about how the Greybloods live and how they also form communities like us.
The rest of the arcs in A Dance Of Burning Blades paint an epic story, answering some of the questions that were already asked in the prequel, especially regarding the past of the Nine Lands, but also set the table for the third book.
While the worldbuilding was already memorable in the previous book, Ayinde goes a step further in this one: partly due to the already laid foundations, but also going deeper into the heart of the Nine Lands.
Despite this book being a chonker, it never felt too long; the pacing is pretty much on the spot, and the jump between POVs helps keep your interest high at all times.
A Dance of Burning Blades is simply excellent; a sequel that builds over what A Song of Legends Lost already created, reinforcing that epic science fantasy vibes on a story that doesn't forget about the individual characters. Can't wait to see what M. H. Ayinde has cooked with the third book!
May 23, 2026
5⭐️Un second tome qui confirme à nouveau le talent de cette autrice. Cette trilogie ce n’est pas juste une fantaisie épique mais une représentation violente et à peine imagée de la réalité de notre société.
L’autrice dénonce l’impérialisme, le colonialisme ainsi que l’endoctrinement religieux avec une plume brillante. Elle met en lumière le drama de l’effacement des cultures au profit de celle de l’élite. Ici on ne parle pas juste des cultures noires, mais aussi asiatiques, Aztec, et encore bien d’autres.
La construction du récit est fascinante, on ne s’ennuie tout simplement jamais. Tous les points de vue apportent une nouvelle perspective à un but commun qui est de montrer que la réponse à l’oppression est toujours collective même si elle se crée par des destins individuels.
J’ai encore une fois adoré et j’ai hâte de découvrir le troisième tome.
L’autrice dénonce l’impérialisme, le colonialisme ainsi que l’endoctrinement religieux avec une plume brillante. Elle met en lumière le drama de l’effacement des cultures au profit de celle de l’élite. Ici on ne parle pas juste des cultures noires, mais aussi asiatiques, Aztec, et encore bien d’autres.
La construction du récit est fascinante, on ne s’ennuie tout simplement jamais. Tous les points de vue apportent une nouvelle perspective à un but commun qui est de montrer que la réponse à l’oppression est toujours collective même si elle se crée par des destins individuels.
J’ai encore une fois adoré et j’ai hâte de découvrir le troisième tome.
April 21, 2026
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I received a copy of the book from Orbit Books UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, gore, body horror, torture/mutilation, murder, death, child death, war, kidnapping confinement, emotional abuse, toxic relationships, suicidal ideation, PTSD, grief, classism, colonialism, alcohol, vomit
--
An absolutely brilliant sequel, A Dance of Burning Blades truly exceeded my expectations after the phenomenal debut that was A Song of Legends Lost.
The ever present threat of the Greybloods has kept tensions high across the Nine Lands however, the recent unrest in Lordsgrave as well as the slow unfurling of the truth with regards to Invoker abilities has sparked further rebellion across the continent, including inter-Clan conflicts as Clan Adatali make their stand against the lies and manipulative power system of Clan Ahiki.
The tensions just keep ramping up, the stakes get even more brutal, there are more sacrifices and betrayals. Ayinde exceptionally builds on the themes of identity, community and making a stand against colonial indoctrination and I was wholly invested in all of the POVs so was flying through this chunky tome.
Alongside the more political ‘power vs the people’ side of things I loved how the much more personal stakes were still so fundamental to the overarching story. We further explore how both the family dynamics that the lead characters are each a part of as well as the relationships they have with the different entities that they are bonded to shape them and steer their individual journeys.
Each perspective allows us to glean more information with regards to the ancestral magic, the techwork and all the lore that is at the heart of the series and as their arcs continue to meticulously come together, we get a wider picture of the history and knowledge of the world and how it has all been weaponised and continues to be for control.
The layers to the worldbuilding already amazed me in the first book but the way Ayinde has expanded and interwoven it with all the scheming that is going on just blew me away.
Epic fantasy fans you are truly missing out if you haven’t checked out this series yet, get on it!!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
**I received a copy of the book from Orbit Books UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, gore, body horror, torture/mutilation, murder, death, child death, war, kidnapping confinement, emotional abuse, toxic relationships, suicidal ideation, PTSD, grief, classism, colonialism, alcohol, vomit
--
An absolutely brilliant sequel, A Dance of Burning Blades truly exceeded my expectations after the phenomenal debut that was A Song of Legends Lost.
The ever present threat of the Greybloods has kept tensions high across the Nine Lands however, the recent unrest in Lordsgrave as well as the slow unfurling of the truth with regards to Invoker abilities has sparked further rebellion across the continent, including inter-Clan conflicts as Clan Adatali make their stand against the lies and manipulative power system of Clan Ahiki.
The tensions just keep ramping up, the stakes get even more brutal, there are more sacrifices and betrayals. Ayinde exceptionally builds on the themes of identity, community and making a stand against colonial indoctrination and I was wholly invested in all of the POVs so was flying through this chunky tome.
Alongside the more political ‘power vs the people’ side of things I loved how the much more personal stakes were still so fundamental to the overarching story. We further explore how both the family dynamics that the lead characters are each a part of as well as the relationships they have with the different entities that they are bonded to shape them and steer their individual journeys.
Each perspective allows us to glean more information with regards to the ancestral magic, the techwork and all the lore that is at the heart of the series and as their arcs continue to meticulously come together, we get a wider picture of the history and knowledge of the world and how it has all been weaponised and continues to be for control.
The layers to the worldbuilding already amazed me in the first book but the way Ayinde has expanded and interwoven it with all the scheming that is going on just blew me away.
Epic fantasy fans you are truly missing out if you haven’t checked out this series yet, get on it!!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story took me a while to get back into but once that finally happend I remembered why I liked the first book so much. The characters are complicated and I still adore everything about the ancesters. I really like that we learn a lot more about that in this book. Every secret makes me more curious and those epilogues!
Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group Uk for the advance copy. All my opinions are my own.
Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group Uk for the advance copy. All my opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
First book was my fave read last year. This is now not only my fave read this year, but my fave book ever! I didn’t want it to end and kept trying to read more slowly, which was a feat in itself. Marvellous.
June 15, 2026
Full review to come
June 16, 2026
I’m in absolute awe of this masterpiece. Truly the most original, complex, global SFF I’ve ever read. Proper RTC when I find the words to do it justice!
July 5, 2026
A recap of the 1st book at the beginning ? Feeling blessed ✨
4,5 ⭐
And here I thought that 2nd books better than 1st one were a myth.
4,5 ⭐
And here I thought that 2nd books better than 1st one were a myth.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With the new war in the Feverlands, the people of the Nine Lands are increasingly getting angrier living under the king's rule. Things are steadily getting more out of control as more people discover their stolen history, and they can't help but think they'll finally be able to rule themselves again.
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4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars
TW: Graphic Torture, Classism and Familial Abuse
------
OMG, I was so surprised I was approved for this arc?? My Netgalley ratio is absolutely awful, but I was so curious after A Song of Legends Lost that I still put in a request. And it was approved!! So, thank you guys so much!
Okay, back to the actual review
-----
I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than the previous one. I was hooked throughout and finished it in less than a week! I just really enjoyed how the overarching plot unraveled and the characters.
Unlike the previous book, most of the POVs were working towards their own specific goals with only a small layer of overlap between Morayo and Boleo (they were both actively trying to solve the same threat). I did like how they all were dealing with the same mystery of trying to learn their history and how a lot of the solutions to their current problems tied back to them losing their history/violent colonialism and the lack of knowledge.
This time around, I really enjoyed all the POVs. I liked Boleo and him desperately trying to figure out a way to win against impossible odds and trying to figure out how/why things worked the way they did. Morayo also wanted to figure out the best way to help, but he also had his own plotline about figuring out his place in the family and desperately trying to prove his worth. Jinao is trying to hunt down the Bairneater and ends up increasingly worse situations. It was fascinating being in Runt's head as she desperately worked to fit herself into her father's life and her slow realization of what was happening. Temi, just like in the previous book, is my favorite. I loved seeing her work to protect her family in any way she could. I really do like where her character is going. I can't figure out if Vunaji wants to help or if he's after his own ends. I like how morally grey he is tho and his dynamic with Temi. I don't know if it's because I read book 1 as an audiobook, and the voice the narrator did for him was really hot.
I really like how Ayinde used Lyela's POV as interludes between different parts, and I liked how they added to the worldbuilding.
I really love the parallelism between Temi and Runt. They had so similar of backgrounds/histories but went different ways. I was so excited that they finally met, and I really liked how Runt compared her family to Temi's. I really would've loved more time spent with them, however. It was essentially summed up in a paragraph, and I would've loved seeing another perspective looking in on the Bakers. I get why that wasn't the case because a lot was happening, and there's a bunch of POVs.
The worldbuilding was so interesting, and I loved seeing more and more of it. After the reveal in the previous book, I was able to work out most of it, but I liked how it wasn't straight sci-fi and incorporated a lot of fantasy elements.
I liked how fast-paced it was, and there really wasn't any moment that dragged? Tho I was startled to realize 2 years have passed by the end of it. It makes sense but still a little unexpected.
Overall, it's a really exciting sequel, and I can't wait for the next one! I'm going to preorder a copy of the physical and hunt down a copy of A Song of Legends Lost.
----------
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars
TW: Graphic Torture, Classism and Familial Abuse
------
OMG, I was so surprised I was approved for this arc?? My Netgalley ratio is absolutely awful, but I was so curious after A Song of Legends Lost that I still put in a request. And it was approved!! So, thank you guys so much!
Okay, back to the actual review
-----
I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than the previous one. I was hooked throughout and finished it in less than a week! I just really enjoyed how the overarching plot unraveled and the characters.
Unlike the previous book, most of the POVs were working towards their own specific goals with only a small layer of overlap between Morayo and Boleo (they were both actively trying to solve the same threat). I did like how they all were dealing with the same mystery of trying to learn their history and how a lot of the solutions to their current problems tied back to them losing their history/violent colonialism and the lack of knowledge.
This time around, I really enjoyed all the POVs. I liked Boleo and him desperately trying to figure out a way to win against impossible odds and trying to figure out how/why things worked the way they did. Morayo also wanted to figure out the best way to help, but he also had his own plotline about figuring out his place in the family and desperately trying to prove his worth. Jinao is trying to hunt down the Bairneater and ends up increasingly worse situations. It was fascinating being in Runt's head as she desperately worked to fit herself into her father's life and her slow realization of what was happening. Temi, just like in the previous book, is my favorite. I loved seeing her work to protect her family in any way she could. I really do like where her character is going. I can't figure out if Vunaji wants to help or if he's after his own ends. I like how morally grey he is tho and his dynamic with Temi. I don't know if it's because I read book 1 as an audiobook, and the voice the narrator did for him was really hot.
I really like how Ayinde used Lyela's POV as interludes between different parts, and I liked how they added to the worldbuilding.
I really love the parallelism between Temi and Runt. They had so similar of backgrounds/histories but went different ways. I was so excited that they finally met, and I really liked how Runt compared her family to Temi's. I really would've loved more time spent with them, however. It was essentially summed up in a paragraph, and I would've loved seeing another perspective looking in on the Bakers. I get why that wasn't the case because a lot was happening, and there's a bunch of POVs.
The worldbuilding was so interesting, and I loved seeing more and more of it. After the reveal in the previous book, I was able to work out most of it, but I liked how it wasn't straight sci-fi and incorporated a lot of fantasy elements.
I liked how fast-paced it was, and there really wasn't any moment that dragged? Tho I was startled to realize 2 years have passed by the end of it. It makes sense but still a little unexpected.
Overall, it's a really exciting sequel, and I can't wait for the next one! I'm going to preorder a copy of the physical and hunt down a copy of A Song of Legends Lost.
April 18, 2026
Firstly, thank you so much to Little Brown Book Group and M. H. Ayinde for the ARC!
I had to sit and digest everything that happened in the sequel to A Song of Legends Lost as Ayinde did not pull on any punches with this incredible sequel. The second instalment of the Invoker Trilogy increases the stakes as we see the incredible world of the Nine Lands expand and further chaos threaten the cast of beloved characters. The summary below will contain spoilers for book one! Stop reading now if you have not read A Song of Legends Lost!
We follow Temi as she roils in the aftermath of the attack in Lordsgrave and explores her bond with the chained man further. Runt as she tries to settle into her new family life after finding her father and releasing the Cloister. Jinao who hunts the Bairneater for revenge for his mother and brother. Father Boleo as he fights alongside Warlord Daloya as they oppose the King, and Morayo as he finds his feet within Clan Adatali.
This sequel does not suffer from the sequel curse and I would go as far as to say that I loved this one more than ASOLL! A gorgeous story, with each chapter leaving you wanting more. I could not put this book down. Ayinde writes with such beautiful prose and suspense with worldbuilding like no other. Temi is still my favourite character and I cannot wait to see where her story goes in the third installment of this series. Runt, oh Ayinde, you really did not hold back there. I also found myself having a soft spot for Jinao as we follow him into the world of the Greybloods. What an incredible sequel. I cannot wait for Book 3!
Once again, the epilogues to this book have me in a chokehold and will be stirring in my mind until the next book arrives. If you are looking for a truly epic fantasy series then please pick up the Invoker Trilogy by M. H. Ayinde!
I had to sit and digest everything that happened in the sequel to A Song of Legends Lost as Ayinde did not pull on any punches with this incredible sequel. The second instalment of the Invoker Trilogy increases the stakes as we see the incredible world of the Nine Lands expand and further chaos threaten the cast of beloved characters. The summary below will contain spoilers for book one! Stop reading now if you have not read A Song of Legends Lost!
We follow Temi as she roils in the aftermath of the attack in Lordsgrave and explores her bond with the chained man further. Runt as she tries to settle into her new family life after finding her father and releasing the Cloister. Jinao who hunts the Bairneater for revenge for his mother and brother. Father Boleo as he fights alongside Warlord Daloya as they oppose the King, and Morayo as he finds his feet within Clan Adatali.
This sequel does not suffer from the sequel curse and I would go as far as to say that I loved this one more than ASOLL! A gorgeous story, with each chapter leaving you wanting more. I could not put this book down. Ayinde writes with such beautiful prose and suspense with worldbuilding like no other. Temi is still my favourite character and I cannot wait to see where her story goes in the third installment of this series. Runt, oh Ayinde, you really did not hold back there. I also found myself having a soft spot for Jinao as we follow him into the world of the Greybloods. What an incredible sequel. I cannot wait for Book 3!
Once again, the epilogues to this book have me in a chokehold and will be stirring in my mind until the next book arrives. If you are looking for a truly epic fantasy series then please pick up the Invoker Trilogy by M. H. Ayinde!
June 29, 2026
Book 2 of The Invoker Trilogy absolutely exceeded all expectations. Ayinde is going to be a force in the fantasy genre for a long time if she is putting out novels of this magnitude at the beginning of her career.
The world she has crafted is epic, original, and highly ambitious. The second installment builds upon its predecessor and continues to turn up the heat with every chapter. I love these characters, and those I didn’t love in book one, are becoming favorites in book two. The character development is 👌🏻. If you love high fantasy please go check out this series. It deserves ALL the hype. Cannot wait for the conclusion!
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The world she has crafted is epic, original, and highly ambitious. The second installment builds upon its predecessor and continues to turn up the heat with every chapter. I love these characters, and those I didn’t love in book one, are becoming favorites in book two. The character development is 👌🏻. If you love high fantasy please go check out this series. It deserves ALL the hype. Cannot wait for the conclusion!
Follow me on Instagram @bradsunreliablereviews
Did Not Finish
July 6, 2026Maybe I will return to it once the last book is out and I’ll reread both books. I just can’t connect to the characters or comprehend the plot. I don’t why, I just started skimming through it and that’s when I know I should stop reading it.
I’m sure it’s a good book, and the plot is really intriguing and the worldbuilding as well, but it’s not for me atm.
I’m sure it’s a good book, and the plot is really intriguing and the worldbuilding as well, but it’s not for me atm.
April 6, 2026
4.5 rounded up. What a breakneck sequel - Exciting, inventive, blending sci-fi and epic fantasy with layers of worldbuilding and mysteries slowly revealed along with magic systems I’ve never encountered before. So riveting I didn’t mind being constantly confused (I think this is intentional).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With everything happening Temi's family decides it's time to leave Nine Lords, it seems everyone is to get them and while it would hurt to leave Temi knows she needs to protect her family. However, she does decide to leave them a gift, working with Vunaji they develop a votive that will clean the whole of the river Ae, that way even if the family is no longer there to give them individual votives the people she loves will still be safe. Unfortunately, there is an unexpected side effect and while the water certainly runs clean, Temi has accidentally released the very spirit of the river itself, something the Monks will not tolerate for long.
Jinao has escaped into a war camp, playing as a lowblood by the name of Janzen, determined to kill the Bairneater, the greyblood that took so much from him. The curse that has kept him from invoking is making everything that much harder though, he certainly can't go after the Baineater without being able to call upon his ancestors, but he can't just leave the warcamp either. In what appears to be a turn of luck for him one of the other lowbloods he now calls from takes him to a spirit witch who may be able to break the curse, unfortunatley whatever the spirit witch does while breaking the curse brings the greybloods straight to him and he becomes a captive of the Woodsmaiden.
The south has erupted in open rebellion, Daloya revealing to all of his people that Clan Ahiki has been lying to them for ages, that anyone can Invoke. The Ahiki respond immediately forcing both Boleo and Morayo to find some way to protect their people and their city.
In the meantime The Cloistered have made their move. While the Clans fight amongst one another and against the greybloods, they begin to take over thousands of souls with no one the wiser.
OMG this was absolutely amazing! Much like the last book I just don't even know where to start because we find out so much, like so much in this one that my mind is just reeling from the larger implications. And yet, at the same time, at the same time the last epilogue at the end of the book (yeah there are three epilogues guys!) added a new layer of WTF IS GOING ON!? not to mention WHO IS SHE!?, and OMG SHOULDN'T HE BE DEAD!? To be fair though much like FF X I have learned that no one in this series really dies perse, they just shuffle off to a different portion of the mortal coil. Also, pay attention to every character because the gods (or I suppose the ancestors in the case only know when it turns out that one side character you ignored in book one was actually super freaking important...maybe). That all said I am going to try to keep this very much in some semblance of order, there is simply so much overlap here and some people know some super important things and others don't with overlapping timelines and like I said it's a lot, but a good a lot!
So I suppose I'll start with I hate Runt's father with every fiber of my being and I hope when he eventually gets his (because he has too) it is absolutely brutal. I think by now we all know that the necklace Runt's dad gave her connects her to the Cloistered, what they actually are though and what their purpose is, other than chaos and utter destruction I am still not sure. But because any dad who would just take off and leave his family destitute while belonging to one of the richest families in the city he is basically just using Runt who he deigns to at least finally name Ohemah in this book. He is a run of the mill narcissist until you realize he is also just a tad bit insane. He is my favorite type of bad guy, the one who thinks he's the smartest in the room, who is the farthest thing from it and I look forward to watching him burn. And hopefully it's Ohemah who starts the fire because what he does to that poor girl throughout this whole book is not okay.
My respect for Jinao grew leaps and bounds in this book. Like leaps and bounds. He ends up stuck in a rock and a hard place, discovering that hey the greybloods weren't necessarily evil (what they are though I am not going to go into because it's a huge spoiler and while I think many readers may have clued into this into the first book I'm just going to say they are and aren't what most people probably think) but thanks to centuries of Ahiki bs the possibility of even creating the tiniest of bridge between them and the humans seems slim to none, which is really sad considering what Jinao goes through. Which is a freaking a lot (yes the word a lot will be used a ton in this review) the Woodsmaiden is far more cracked than we even saw in the first book and she essentially tortures him for weeks. However, and I almost feel bad saying this, it contributes greatly to his character growth. He becomes his own person not attached to his Clan name or his Mom or his brother's or anything else and I enjoyed seeing that.
Finally, Morayo and Boleo I will discuss together, because if these two morons had worked together from the beginning and listened to Kipteni, who I owe a huge apology too, they wouldn't have had half the problems they did in this book. Boleo is the smartest guy in the room, most of the time, and that's his biggest problem. He relies on himself so much that he ignores sound advice from those around him Kipteni, especially. Morayo is simply well Morayo, he's got chip on his shoulder that doesn't let him see the forest for the trees. They are both incredibly myopic in their own ways, however, if both had just simply stopped and listened to each other they would have probably figured out the big picture far faster than they did. Each of them had information the other needed but were too busy going off on their own tangents. This doesn't end well for Boleo which makes me incredibly sad because for all of that he is still one of my favorite characters.
Finally, in terms of characters, Temi and Vunaji. First of all, I don't think it's messed up that I want to ship them in the least. Even though he's dead, for probably centuries, and kind of a jerk most of the time. Don't care they have some good chemistry, which is probably why they bonded. Anyhoo, they don't figure as much into this one as the first book except to add to the world itself which is incredibly important in this book. We also find out part of how and why the spirit witch shackled them together although just enough to be frustrated that we didn't learn it all. Which is fine to be honest because like I said this book was a lot.
Alright, I think that's it for the characters. Moving on.
This world for as small as it is geographically, because it really seems very small is my gods so large and so complicated with a history that goes back millennia that I am genuinely surprised that Ayinde was able to fit it into just three books. I am going to use a Final Fantasy comparison here because hey it inspired her. Think of Spira, it's not really that big, a handful of islands, a couple of major cities but that's it. And yet this really tiny place has one of the most complicated, most messed up theocracies probably ever created. That's how I picture this world, and yet it's more. Final Fantasy had to fit into a handful of hours that allowed for gameplay that included grinding, side quests etc. This is just straight story which means Ayinde has the time to really flesh it out and flesh it out she does in this book. It's not just that the Ahiki are oppressors, it's how they carried out their oppression that is truly appalling and yet quite familiar. The Ahiki have taken the Clans own histories and warped it against them, literally rewriting their memories of who they are, how they came to be, and even how they worshipped their ancestors. The more you find out about how the world was before the more you infuriated you become. Especially when we find out what the underplane is and how it works or when Morayo has an epiphany and realizes that his ancestors aren't dogs to call but partners, people who do actually care for him and his people. All of this is told through just some of the most exceptional world building I have come across; it is all intertwined in the personal narrative of each of these characters. We learn their history of not just their people but their world with them and it is a bit heartbreaking given the circumstances.
And one last time; that was a freaking lot! But honestly, for those who read this series can write a quick review of it more power to them. Every time I think of something from it I discover a new aspect that I simply had not thought of while reading it. This is a brilliant series, Ayinde pulled off a masterful book two (not an easy feat) by giving us just enough information to know that we know absolutely nothing. I cannot wait for book three!
Also, I will be doing an interview with Ayinde in conjunction with this review! So please keep an eye out for that!!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eArc!
Jinao has escaped into a war camp, playing as a lowblood by the name of Janzen, determined to kill the Bairneater, the greyblood that took so much from him. The curse that has kept him from invoking is making everything that much harder though, he certainly can't go after the Baineater without being able to call upon his ancestors, but he can't just leave the warcamp either. In what appears to be a turn of luck for him one of the other lowbloods he now calls from takes him to a spirit witch who may be able to break the curse, unfortunatley whatever the spirit witch does while breaking the curse brings the greybloods straight to him and he becomes a captive of the Woodsmaiden.
The south has erupted in open rebellion, Daloya revealing to all of his people that Clan Ahiki has been lying to them for ages, that anyone can Invoke. The Ahiki respond immediately forcing both Boleo and Morayo to find some way to protect their people and their city.
In the meantime The Cloistered have made their move. While the Clans fight amongst one another and against the greybloods, they begin to take over thousands of souls with no one the wiser.
OMG this was absolutely amazing! Much like the last book I just don't even know where to start because we find out so much, like so much in this one that my mind is just reeling from the larger implications. And yet, at the same time, at the same time the last epilogue at the end of the book (yeah there are three epilogues guys!) added a new layer of WTF IS GOING ON!? not to mention WHO IS SHE!?, and OMG SHOULDN'T HE BE DEAD!? To be fair though much like FF X I have learned that no one in this series really dies perse, they just shuffle off to a different portion of the mortal coil. Also, pay attention to every character because the gods (or I suppose the ancestors in the case only know when it turns out that one side character you ignored in book one was actually super freaking important...maybe). That all said I am going to try to keep this very much in some semblance of order, there is simply so much overlap here and some people know some super important things and others don't with overlapping timelines and like I said it's a lot, but a good a lot!
So I suppose I'll start with I hate Runt's father with every fiber of my being and I hope when he eventually gets his (because he has too) it is absolutely brutal. I think by now we all know that the necklace Runt's dad gave her connects her to the Cloistered, what they actually are though and what their purpose is, other than chaos and utter destruction I am still not sure. But because any dad who would just take off and leave his family destitute while belonging to one of the richest families in the city he is basically just using Runt who he deigns to at least finally name Ohemah in this book. He is a run of the mill narcissist until you realize he is also just a tad bit insane. He is my favorite type of bad guy, the one who thinks he's the smartest in the room, who is the farthest thing from it and I look forward to watching him burn. And hopefully it's Ohemah who starts the fire because what he does to that poor girl throughout this whole book is not okay.
My respect for Jinao grew leaps and bounds in this book. Like leaps and bounds. He ends up stuck in a rock and a hard place, discovering that hey the greybloods weren't necessarily evil (what they are though I am not going to go into because it's a huge spoiler and while I think many readers may have clued into this into the first book I'm just going to say they are and aren't what most people probably think) but thanks to centuries of Ahiki bs the possibility of even creating the tiniest of bridge between them and the humans seems slim to none, which is really sad considering what Jinao goes through. Which is a freaking a lot (yes the word a lot will be used a ton in this review) the Woodsmaiden is far more cracked than we even saw in the first book and she essentially tortures him for weeks. However, and I almost feel bad saying this, it contributes greatly to his character growth. He becomes his own person not attached to his Clan name or his Mom or his brother's or anything else and I enjoyed seeing that.
Finally, Morayo and Boleo I will discuss together, because if these two morons had worked together from the beginning and listened to Kipteni, who I owe a huge apology too, they wouldn't have had half the problems they did in this book. Boleo is the smartest guy in the room, most of the time, and that's his biggest problem. He relies on himself so much that he ignores sound advice from those around him Kipteni, especially. Morayo is simply well Morayo, he's got chip on his shoulder that doesn't let him see the forest for the trees. They are both incredibly myopic in their own ways, however, if both had just simply stopped and listened to each other they would have probably figured out the big picture far faster than they did. Each of them had information the other needed but were too busy going off on their own tangents. This doesn't end well for Boleo which makes me incredibly sad because for all of that he is still one of my favorite characters.
Finally, in terms of characters, Temi and Vunaji. First of all, I don't think it's messed up that I want to ship them in the least. Even though he's dead, for probably centuries, and kind of a jerk most of the time. Don't care they have some good chemistry, which is probably why they bonded. Anyhoo, they don't figure as much into this one as the first book except to add to the world itself which is incredibly important in this book. We also find out part of how and why the spirit witch shackled them together although just enough to be frustrated that we didn't learn it all. Which is fine to be honest because like I said this book was a lot.
Alright, I think that's it for the characters. Moving on.
This world for as small as it is geographically, because it really seems very small is my gods so large and so complicated with a history that goes back millennia that I am genuinely surprised that Ayinde was able to fit it into just three books. I am going to use a Final Fantasy comparison here because hey it inspired her. Think of Spira, it's not really that big, a handful of islands, a couple of major cities but that's it. And yet this really tiny place has one of the most complicated, most messed up theocracies probably ever created. That's how I picture this world, and yet it's more. Final Fantasy had to fit into a handful of hours that allowed for gameplay that included grinding, side quests etc. This is just straight story which means Ayinde has the time to really flesh it out and flesh it out she does in this book. It's not just that the Ahiki are oppressors, it's how they carried out their oppression that is truly appalling and yet quite familiar. The Ahiki have taken the Clans own histories and warped it against them, literally rewriting their memories of who they are, how they came to be, and even how they worshipped their ancestors. The more you find out about how the world was before the more you infuriated you become. Especially when we find out what the underplane is and how it works or when Morayo has an epiphany and realizes that his ancestors aren't dogs to call but partners, people who do actually care for him and his people. All of this is told through just some of the most exceptional world building I have come across; it is all intertwined in the personal narrative of each of these characters. We learn their history of not just their people but their world with them and it is a bit heartbreaking given the circumstances.
And one last time; that was a freaking lot! But honestly, for those who read this series can write a quick review of it more power to them. Every time I think of something from it I discover a new aspect that I simply had not thought of while reading it. This is a brilliant series, Ayinde pulled off a masterful book two (not an easy feat) by giving us just enough information to know that we know absolutely nothing. I cannot wait for book three!
Also, I will be doing an interview with Ayinde in conjunction with this review! So please keep an eye out for that!!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eArc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the advanced e-book of A Dance of Burning Blades by M. H. Ayinde in exchange for an honest review.
Five stars. Easily.
Let me start by saying that A Song of Legends Lost's ending had me in an absolute chokehold. I spent days after finishing book one staring at my mental conspiracy board like a detective in a crime procedural, trying to connect every single thread. I was mad I had to wait for answers, which is how I knew I was completely hooked. A Dance of Burning Blades picks up with a quick recap that I honestly appreciated because—real talk—I didn't care about every character equally in book one. I knew they mattered to the plot, but my heart belonged to Temi and Jinao. Even Runt got under my skin despite her absolutely boneheaded choices in the last third of the first book. But that opening chapter? It pulls you right back in, reminding you why these systems of oppression matter and why you fell in love with these characters to begin with.
The writing is gorgeous. Strong, sharp, with quick bursts of humor that catch you off guard in the best way. And as always, I love the diversity here. Ayinde is comfortable recognizing sexual orientations, pronouns, and different identities, all woven in naturally. Representation matters, and it makes all the difference in this series. This book deepens everything introduced in book one. We get more context on the Nine Lands and the scathe, more hints about the apocalypse and the massive monarchy cover-up that followed. The way Ayinde explores how colonizers operate is razor-sharp and chilling: "They did not make us forget, Jinao. They simply changed what we remembered. That is what they do. Reduce us. Twist and twist the past until it is not completely gone, but until what we remember is quite different."
That's the insidious part, it's not erasure, it's replacement. "That's what conquerors do–take the beliefs of the conquered and twist them into something they can claim is theirs; something they can control." It's a theme that runs through every political maneuver, every clan tension, every attempt to keep people disconnected from their own power.
Because that's the real threat, isn't it? The book makes it clear that "wherever there is power, there are those who seek to control. People like me are a threat to those in power. And so they seek to control us." The oppressive systems in this world aren't just background; they're actively working to keep people small, scared, and separated from their histories. "It is all to distract us - to prevent us from seeing the truth."
But here's where the ancestor magic becomes revolutionary. The characters are fighting to reclaim something deeper than just political freedom; they're reconnecting to "the entirety of our past. We may not know it, but the connection is still there. Sometimes it comes out like this, in something so exquisitely beautiful you know it flows from a place beyond our ability." That reclamation of culture, of power that's been suppressed and twisted, is what makes this series so compelling.
Ayinde does something really impressive here: she blends sci-fi and fantasy so seamlessly that, as someone who does not typically read sci-fi, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Complicated family ties, cultural reclamation, and rogue assassins.
And just when I thought my head would explode trying to keep up with all the action, Ayinde throws in the mystery surrounding the death of Temi's brother and the true Vujani. It was such a nice touch—adding these layered mysteries on top of everything else happening kept me completely hooked, even when there was already so much going on.
The pacing is propulsive without losing the emotional core. The book juggles a huge cast and multiple POVs, and somehow every character feels distinct and necessary, not just the main crew, but side characters whose quiet choices reshape the entire world. The political intrigue, clan tensions, and battle scenes are vivid and cinematic, but they're always rooted in grief, loyalty, and the brutal question of what you're willing to sacrifice for freedom.
The last third moves fast and hits hard. I got emotional more than once. And that epilogue? A gut punch that recontextualizes so much of what came before. I'm still thinking about it. There are so many moving parts building toward what I can only imagine will be an explosive finale in book three, and I'm already a ball of anxiety waiting for it.
This is exactly what I want from a second book in a trilogy: bigger, sharper, and more devastating in the best possible way. The worldbuilding expands in fascinating directions, the stakes skyrocket, and somehow Ayinde makes you care even more deeply about everyone involved.
If you loved book one, you need this. If you're looking for epic fantasy rooted in ancestor magic, revolution, and history that feels both massive and intimately personal, you need this. I'll be first in line for book three, probably vibrating with anticipation the entire time.
Five stars. Easily.
Let me start by saying that A Song of Legends Lost's ending had me in an absolute chokehold. I spent days after finishing book one staring at my mental conspiracy board like a detective in a crime procedural, trying to connect every single thread. I was mad I had to wait for answers, which is how I knew I was completely hooked. A Dance of Burning Blades picks up with a quick recap that I honestly appreciated because—real talk—I didn't care about every character equally in book one. I knew they mattered to the plot, but my heart belonged to Temi and Jinao. Even Runt got under my skin despite her absolutely boneheaded choices in the last third of the first book. But that opening chapter? It pulls you right back in, reminding you why these systems of oppression matter and why you fell in love with these characters to begin with.
The writing is gorgeous. Strong, sharp, with quick bursts of humor that catch you off guard in the best way. And as always, I love the diversity here. Ayinde is comfortable recognizing sexual orientations, pronouns, and different identities, all woven in naturally. Representation matters, and it makes all the difference in this series. This book deepens everything introduced in book one. We get more context on the Nine Lands and the scathe, more hints about the apocalypse and the massive monarchy cover-up that followed. The way Ayinde explores how colonizers operate is razor-sharp and chilling: "They did not make us forget, Jinao. They simply changed what we remembered. That is what they do. Reduce us. Twist and twist the past until it is not completely gone, but until what we remember is quite different."
That's the insidious part, it's not erasure, it's replacement. "That's what conquerors do–take the beliefs of the conquered and twist them into something they can claim is theirs; something they can control." It's a theme that runs through every political maneuver, every clan tension, every attempt to keep people disconnected from their own power.
Because that's the real threat, isn't it? The book makes it clear that "wherever there is power, there are those who seek to control. People like me are a threat to those in power. And so they seek to control us." The oppressive systems in this world aren't just background; they're actively working to keep people small, scared, and separated from their histories. "It is all to distract us - to prevent us from seeing the truth."
But here's where the ancestor magic becomes revolutionary. The characters are fighting to reclaim something deeper than just political freedom; they're reconnecting to "the entirety of our past. We may not know it, but the connection is still there. Sometimes it comes out like this, in something so exquisitely beautiful you know it flows from a place beyond our ability." That reclamation of culture, of power that's been suppressed and twisted, is what makes this series so compelling.
Ayinde does something really impressive here: she blends sci-fi and fantasy so seamlessly that, as someone who does not typically read sci-fi, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Complicated family ties, cultural reclamation, and rogue assassins.
And just when I thought my head would explode trying to keep up with all the action, Ayinde throws in the mystery surrounding the death of Temi's brother and the true Vujani. It was such a nice touch—adding these layered mysteries on top of everything else happening kept me completely hooked, even when there was already so much going on.
The pacing is propulsive without losing the emotional core. The book juggles a huge cast and multiple POVs, and somehow every character feels distinct and necessary, not just the main crew, but side characters whose quiet choices reshape the entire world. The political intrigue, clan tensions, and battle scenes are vivid and cinematic, but they're always rooted in grief, loyalty, and the brutal question of what you're willing to sacrifice for freedom.
The last third moves fast and hits hard. I got emotional more than once. And that epilogue? A gut punch that recontextualizes so much of what came before. I'm still thinking about it. There are so many moving parts building toward what I can only imagine will be an explosive finale in book three, and I'm already a ball of anxiety waiting for it.
This is exactly what I want from a second book in a trilogy: bigger, sharper, and more devastating in the best possible way. The worldbuilding expands in fascinating directions, the stakes skyrocket, and somehow Ayinde makes you care even more deeply about everyone involved.
If you loved book one, you need this. If you're looking for epic fantasy rooted in ancestor magic, revolution, and history that feels both massive and intimately personal, you need this. I'll be first in line for book three, probably vibrating with anticipation the entire time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With everything happening Temi's family decides it's time to leave Nine Lords, it seems everyone is to get them and while it would hurt to leave Temi knows she needs to protect her family. However, she does decide to leave them a gift, working with Vunaji they develop a votive that will clean the whole of the river Ae, that way even if the family is no longer there to give them individual votives the people she loves will still be safe. Unfortunately, there is an unexpected side effect and while the water certainly runs clean, Temi has accidentally released the very spirit of the river itself, something the Monks will not tolerate for long.
Jinao has escaped into a war camp, playing as a lowblood by the name of Janzen, determined to kill the Bairneater, the greyblood that took so much from him. The curse that has kept him from invoking is making everything that much harder though, he certainly can't go after the Baineater without being able to call upon his ancestors, but he can't just leave the warcamp either. In what appears to be a turn of luck for him one of the other lowbloods he now calls from takes him to a spirit witch who may be able to break the curse, unfortunatley whatever the spirit witch does while breaking the curse brings the greybloods straight to him and he becomes a captive of the Woodsmaiden.
The south has erupted in open rebellion, Daloya revealing to all of his people that Clan Ahiki has been lying to them for ages, that anyone can Invoke. The Ahiki respond immediately forcing both Boleo and Morayo to find some way to protect their people and their city.
In the meantime The Cloistered have made their move. While the Clans fight amongst one another and against the greybloods, they begin to take over thousands of souls with no one the wiser.
OMG this was absolutely amazing! Much like the last book I just don't even know where to start because we find out so much, like so much in this one that my mind is just reeling from the larger implications. And yet, at the same time, at the same time the last epilogue at the end of the book (yeah there are three epilogues guys!) added a new layer of WTF IS GOING ON!? not to mention WHO IS SHE!?, and OMG SHOULDN'T HE BE DEAD!? To be fair though much like FF X I have learned that no one in this series really dies perse, they just shuffle off to a different portion of the mortal coil. Also, pay attention to every character because the gods (or I suppose the ancestors in the case only know when it turns out that one side character you ignored in book one was actually super freaking important...maybe). That all said I am going to try to keep this very much in some semblance of order, there is simply so much overlap here and some people know some super important things and others don't with overlapping timelines and like I said it's a lot, but a good a lot!
So I suppose I'll start with I hate Runt's father with every fiber of my being and I hope when he eventually gets his (because he has too) it is absolutely brutal. I think by now we all know that the necklace Runt's dad gave her connects her to the Cloistered, what they actually are though and what their purpose is, other than chaos and utter destruction I am still not sure. But because any dad who would just take off and leave his family destitute while belonging to one of the richest families in the city he is basically just using Runt who he deigns to at least finally name Ohemah in this book. He is a run of the mill narcissist until you realize he is also just a tad bit insane. He is my favorite type of bad guy, the one who thinks he's the smartest in the room, who is the farthest thing from it and I look forward to watching him burn. And hopefully it's Ohemah who starts the fire because what he does to that poor girl throughout this whole book is not okay.
My respect for Jinao grew leaps and bounds in this book. Like leaps and bounds. He ends up stuck in a rock and a hard place, discovering that hey the greybloods weren't necessarily evil (what they are though I am not going to go into because it's a huge spoiler and while I think many readers may have clued into this into the first book I'm just going to say they are and aren't what most people probably think) but thanks to centuries of Ahiki bs the possibility of even creating the tiniest of bridge between them and the humans seems slim to none, which is really sad considering what Jinao goes through. Which is a freaking a lot (yes the word a lot will be used a ton in this review) the Woodsmaiden is far more cracked than we even saw in the first book and she essentially tortures him for weeks. However, and I almost feel bad saying this, it contributes greatly to his character growth. He becomes his own person not attached to his Clan name or his Mom or his brother's or anything else and I enjoyed seeing that.
Finally, Morayo and Boleo I will discuss together, because if these two morons had worked together from the beginning and listened to Kipteni, who I owe a huge apology too, they wouldn't have had half the problems they did in this book. Boleo is the smartest guy in the room, most of the time, and that's his biggest problem. He relies on himself so much that he ignores sound advice from those around him Kipteni, especially. Morayo is simply well Morayo, he's got chip on his shoulder that doesn't let him see the forest for the trees. They are both incredibly myopic in their own ways, however, if both had just simply stopped and listened to each other they would have probably figured out the big picture far faster than they did. Each of them had information the other needed but were too busy going off on their own tangents. This doesn't end well for Boleo which makes me incredibly sad because for all of that he is still one of my favorite characters.
Finally, in terms of characters, Temi and Vunaji. First of all, I don't think it's messed up that I want to ship them in the least. Even though he's dead, for probably centuries, and kind of a jerk most of the time. Don't care they have some good chemistry, which is probably why they bonded. Anyhoo, they don't figure as much into this one as the first book except to add to the world itself which is incredibly important in this book. We also find out part of how and why the spirit witch shackled them together although just enough to be frustrated that we didn't learn it all. Which is fine to be honest because like I said this book was a lot.
Alright, I think that's it for the characters. Moving on.
This world for as small as it is geographically, because it really seems very small is my gods so large and so complicated with a history that goes back millennia that I am genuinely surprised that Ayinde was able to fit it into just three books. I am going to use a Final Fantasy comparison here because hey it inspired her. Think of Spira, it's not really that big, a handful of islands, a couple of major cities but that's it. And yet this really tiny place has one of the most complicated, most messed up theocracies probably ever created. That's how I picture this world, and yet it's more. Final Fantasy had to fit into a handful of hours that allowed for gameplay that included grinding, side quests etc. This is just straight story which means Ayinde has the time to really flesh it out and flesh it out she does in this book. It's not just that the Ahiki are oppressors, it's how they carried out their oppression that is truly appalling and yet quite familiar. The Ahiki have taken the Clans own histories and warped it against them, literally rewriting their memories of who they are, how they came to be, and even how they worshipped their ancestors. The more you find out about how the world was before the more you infuriated you become. Especially when we find out what the underplane is and how it works or when Morayo has an epiphany and realizes that his ancestors aren't dogs to call but partners, people who do actually care for him and his people. All of this is told through just some of the most exceptional world building I have come across; it is all intertwined in the personal narrative of each of these characters. We learn their history of not just their people but their world with them and it is a bit heartbreaking given the circumstances.
And one last time; that was a freaking lot! But honestly, for those who read this series can write a quick review of it more power to them. Every time I think of something from it I discover a new aspect that I simply had not thought of while reading it. This is a brilliant series, Ayinde pulled off a masterful book two (not an easy feat) by giving us just enough information to know that we know absolutely nothing. I cannot wait for book three!
Also, I will be doing an interview with Ayinde in conjunction with this review! So please keep an eye out for that!!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eArc!
Jinao has escaped into a war camp, playing as a lowblood by the name of Janzen, determined to kill the Bairneater, the greyblood that took so much from him. The curse that has kept him from invoking is making everything that much harder though, he certainly can't go after the Baineater without being able to call upon his ancestors, but he can't just leave the warcamp either. In what appears to be a turn of luck for him one of the other lowbloods he now calls from takes him to a spirit witch who may be able to break the curse, unfortunatley whatever the spirit witch does while breaking the curse brings the greybloods straight to him and he becomes a captive of the Woodsmaiden.
The south has erupted in open rebellion, Daloya revealing to all of his people that Clan Ahiki has been lying to them for ages, that anyone can Invoke. The Ahiki respond immediately forcing both Boleo and Morayo to find some way to protect their people and their city.
In the meantime The Cloistered have made their move. While the Clans fight amongst one another and against the greybloods, they begin to take over thousands of souls with no one the wiser.
OMG this was absolutely amazing! Much like the last book I just don't even know where to start because we find out so much, like so much in this one that my mind is just reeling from the larger implications. And yet, at the same time, at the same time the last epilogue at the end of the book (yeah there are three epilogues guys!) added a new layer of WTF IS GOING ON!? not to mention WHO IS SHE!?, and OMG SHOULDN'T HE BE DEAD!? To be fair though much like FF X I have learned that no one in this series really dies perse, they just shuffle off to a different portion of the mortal coil. Also, pay attention to every character because the gods (or I suppose the ancestors in the case only know when it turns out that one side character you ignored in book one was actually super freaking important...maybe). That all said I am going to try to keep this very much in some semblance of order, there is simply so much overlap here and some people know some super important things and others don't with overlapping timelines and like I said it's a lot, but a good a lot!
So I suppose I'll start with I hate Runt's father with every fiber of my being and I hope when he eventually gets his (because he has too) it is absolutely brutal. I think by now we all know that the necklace Runt's dad gave her connects her to the Cloistered, what they actually are though and what their purpose is, other than chaos and utter destruction I am still not sure. But because any dad who would just take off and leave his family destitute while belonging to one of the richest families in the city he is basically just using Runt who he deigns to at least finally name Ohemah in this book. He is a run of the mill narcissist until you realize he is also just a tad bit insane. He is my favorite type of bad guy, the one who thinks he's the smartest in the room, who is the farthest thing from it and I look forward to watching him burn. And hopefully it's Ohemah who starts the fire because what he does to that poor girl throughout this whole book is not okay.
My respect for Jinao grew leaps and bounds in this book. Like leaps and bounds. He ends up stuck in a rock and a hard place, discovering that hey the greybloods weren't necessarily evil (what they are though I am not going to go into because it's a huge spoiler and while I think many readers may have clued into this into the first book I'm just going to say they are and aren't what most people probably think) but thanks to centuries of Ahiki bs the possibility of even creating the tiniest of bridge between them and the humans seems slim to none, which is really sad considering what Jinao goes through. Which is a freaking a lot (yes the word a lot will be used a ton in this review) the Woodsmaiden is far more cracked than we even saw in the first book and she essentially tortures him for weeks. However, and I almost feel bad saying this, it contributes greatly to his character growth. He becomes his own person not attached to his Clan name or his Mom or his brother's or anything else and I enjoyed seeing that.
Finally, Morayo and Boleo I will discuss together, because if these two morons had worked together from the beginning and listened to Kipteni, who I owe a huge apology too, they wouldn't have had half the problems they did in this book. Boleo is the smartest guy in the room, most of the time, and that's his biggest problem. He relies on himself so much that he ignores sound advice from those around him Kipteni, especially. Morayo is simply well Morayo, he's got chip on his shoulder that doesn't let him see the forest for the trees. They are both incredibly myopic in their own ways, however, if both had just simply stopped and listened to each other they would have probably figured out the big picture far faster than they did. Each of them had information the other needed but were too busy going off on their own tangents. This doesn't end well for Boleo which makes me incredibly sad because for all of that he is still one of my favorite characters.
Finally, in terms of characters, Temi and Vunaji. First of all, I don't think it's messed up that I want to ship them in the least. Even though he's dead, for probably centuries, and kind of a jerk most of the time. Don't care they have some good chemistry, which is probably why they bonded. Anyhoo, they don't figure as much into this one as the first book except to add to the world itself which is incredibly important in this book. We also find out part of how and why the spirit witch shackled them together although just enough to be frustrated that we didn't learn it all. Which is fine to be honest because like I said this book was a lot.
Alright, I think that's it for the characters. Moving on.
This world for as small as it is geographically, because it really seems very small is my gods so large and so complicated with a history that goes back millennia that I am genuinely surprised that Ayinde was able to fit it into just three books. I am going to use a Final Fantasy comparison here because hey it inspired her. Think of Spira, it's not really that big, a handful of islands, a couple of major cities but that's it. And yet this really tiny place has one of the most complicated, most messed up theocracies probably ever created. That's how I picture this world, and yet it's more. Final Fantasy had to fit into a handful of hours that allowed for gameplay that included grinding, side quests etc. This is just straight story which means Ayinde has the time to really flesh it out and flesh it out she does in this book. It's not just that the Ahiki are oppressors, it's how they carried out their oppression that is truly appalling and yet quite familiar. The Ahiki have taken the Clans own histories and warped it against them, literally rewriting their memories of who they are, how they came to be, and even how they worshipped their ancestors. The more you find out about how the world was before the more you infuriated you become. Especially when we find out what the underplane is and how it works or when Morayo has an epiphany and realizes that his ancestors aren't dogs to call but partners, people who do actually care for him and his people. All of this is told through just some of the most exceptional world building I have come across; it is all intertwined in the personal narrative of each of these characters. We learn their history of not just their people but their world with them and it is a bit heartbreaking given the circumstances.
And one last time; that was a freaking lot! But honestly, for those who read this series can write a quick review of it more power to them. Every time I think of something from it I discover a new aspect that I simply had not thought of while reading it. This is a brilliant series, Ayinde pulled off a masterful book two (not an easy feat) by giving us just enough information to know that we know absolutely nothing. I cannot wait for book three!
Also, I will be doing an interview with Ayinde in conjunction with this review! So please keep an eye out for that!!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eArc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My brain, my soul, my very consciousness feels awed, a little overwhelmed, and just amazed at all M.H. Ayinde just filled me up with.
A Dance of Burning Blades (DBB) is undoubtedly a full 5 stars for me. The pages held mystery, betrayal, villains who do not know they are horrendous, hidden family histories, and conspiracies that made me wonder about us humans right now.
(Oh, full disclosure: this book is not a standalone. You must-read book 1 first, and these two books must be read in order.)
Both books in this Invoker series are what I like to call thickies. The first book was close to 600 pages, and this one is over 600. The reading is not complicated, nor is it overly simplistic or crammed with unnecessary details. These books will, however, absorb you and disappear you completely into the Nine Lands, with their intricate plots and devastating twists.
That said, I need other readers to understand that Ayinde uses every page to her advantage. Your brain is going to be swirling at a thousand miles per minute.
Whew! But so worth it!
A Dance of Burning Blades is told from multiple points of view, giving readers a 360-degree perspective of what is happening. There were times I wanted to scream at a character because I knew what was happening elsewhere and they were unknowingly walking into trouble. And other times I wanted two characters to see through the wall between them and just be friends!
Describing this book as a rich tapestry feels like an understatement, as the world we thought we knew in book 1 expanded exponentially in a way I did not expect. I cannot tell you how! So you have to read it and see for yourself, but expect your mind to be blown. The creativity here, the imagination, kept me operating on two levels while I read. Part of me focused on the expanding plot, and the other going, ‘Wow, what a world?!’ What else is she about to work into this story?!
This series is a feast for readers of epic fantasy. It reminded me of Game of Thrones in scope and detail, as well as Lord of the Rings. To me, A Dance of Burning Blades was at that level of depth, plot, and world-building. A BIPOC version of those, and yet to me, contained multitudes more because of the new, let me say, ‘levels’ Ayinde worked into it. With Thrones and Rings, I always felt that there was more that was left unsaid; by comparison, Ayinde is leaving nothing unsaid here.
Her epilogues, of course, shattered me, just as in book 1. I feel full, though. There is a deep sense of satisfaction with how this book unfolded. Many questions were answered, alongside revelations that satiated the ‘how did they do this’ puzzles of book 1.
Just like last year, I will be haunted by the thoughts of what will be in the next of this Invoker series. It will be worth it. I know that as an absolute truth.
Start this series, if you have not already; expect weight, depth, and a story that consumes you. This is not a popcorn read. This is an epic, multitiered fantasy feast of reading that will leave you satisfied but undone.
A Dance of Burning Blades (DBB) is undoubtedly a full 5 stars for me. The pages held mystery, betrayal, villains who do not know they are horrendous, hidden family histories, and conspiracies that made me wonder about us humans right now.
(Oh, full disclosure: this book is not a standalone. You must-read book 1 first, and these two books must be read in order.)
Both books in this Invoker series are what I like to call thickies. The first book was close to 600 pages, and this one is over 600. The reading is not complicated, nor is it overly simplistic or crammed with unnecessary details. These books will, however, absorb you and disappear you completely into the Nine Lands, with their intricate plots and devastating twists.
That said, I need other readers to understand that Ayinde uses every page to her advantage. Your brain is going to be swirling at a thousand miles per minute.
Whew! But so worth it!
A Dance of Burning Blades is told from multiple points of view, giving readers a 360-degree perspective of what is happening. There were times I wanted to scream at a character because I knew what was happening elsewhere and they were unknowingly walking into trouble. And other times I wanted two characters to see through the wall between them and just be friends!
Describing this book as a rich tapestry feels like an understatement, as the world we thought we knew in book 1 expanded exponentially in a way I did not expect. I cannot tell you how! So you have to read it and see for yourself, but expect your mind to be blown. The creativity here, the imagination, kept me operating on two levels while I read. Part of me focused on the expanding plot, and the other going, ‘Wow, what a world?!’ What else is she about to work into this story?!
This series is a feast for readers of epic fantasy. It reminded me of Game of Thrones in scope and detail, as well as Lord of the Rings. To me, A Dance of Burning Blades was at that level of depth, plot, and world-building. A BIPOC version of those, and yet to me, contained multitudes more because of the new, let me say, ‘levels’ Ayinde worked into it. With Thrones and Rings, I always felt that there was more that was left unsaid; by comparison, Ayinde is leaving nothing unsaid here.
Her epilogues, of course, shattered me, just as in book 1. I feel full, though. There is a deep sense of satisfaction with how this book unfolded. Many questions were answered, alongside revelations that satiated the ‘how did they do this’ puzzles of book 1.
Just like last year, I will be haunted by the thoughts of what will be in the next of this Invoker series. It will be worth it. I know that as an absolute truth.
Start this series, if you have not already; expect weight, depth, and a story that consumes you. This is not a popcorn read. This is an epic, multitiered fantasy feast of reading that will leave you satisfied but undone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for providing a copy of this novel!
While I enjoyed this book, I didn't like it as much as A Song of Legends Lost. I feel like there weren't as many revelations in this book. Even though the characters were learning information, it was typically something that another character already knew. So we, the reader, didn't really get to learn a lot of new information. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the book was repetitive, but it was pretty much just different characters learning the same information over and over. We did get some interesting reveals at the very end, but it's odd that we didn't really learn anything new until the very end of the book.
I mostly liked the characters. We only had one throughline character, Boleo, and his narrative was probably my least favorite. Followed shortly thereafter by Morayo. I personally just wasn't a big fan of what was going on in their narratives. Character-wise, Morayo is honestly fine, but I don't really like Boleo. If I remember correctly, I didn't really like Boleo that much in book one either, but he plays a bigger role in this installment. All the other characters were great though.
I had mixed feels about Runt/Ohemah in the last book, but really liked her in this one. I do not remember specifically what it was I didn't like about her, but according to my book 1 review, I found her decision frustrating. I didn't feel that way at all this time. I also really liked both Temi and Janzen/Jinao.
While we didn't really get to learn a lot of new information about the world or the Ahiki clan, a lot still happened in this novel. Mostly bad things, unfortunately. It was pretty much just watching bad thing after bad thing after bad thing happen to each of the main cast. Some of these stories were more interesting than others. I was really invested in Runt/Ohemah's story. It was the most daunting because of the cloistered and Chedu family. Of all the narratives, I found hers the most engaging. While we didn't really learn anything new, I liked the building suspense. I was also quite interested in Janzen/Jinao's story, well... at least the second half. The first half of his story was pretty much just seeing him get tortured over and over again and I was not a fan. However, I really liked the second half though, as it focused more on Janzen/Jinao learning more about the Greybloods. We, the reader, don't really get to learn new information, but I still liked seeing Janzen/Jinao's emotional journey. While I liked Temi, he story wasn't really that interesting. Mostly just bad things happening over and over. Pretty much the main theme here is that most of these narratives were interesting, but we don't really learn that much new information.
I did enjoy this book and like the characters (mostly), but I was disappointed by the lack of new information. Oh well though, I feel like a lot of 2nd books are mostly just there to set up the finale, and I would say this book fits into that category. Not my favorite, but I'm still looking forward to reading book 3.
While I enjoyed this book, I didn't like it as much as A Song of Legends Lost. I feel like there weren't as many revelations in this book. Even though the characters were learning information, it was typically something that another character already knew. So we, the reader, didn't really get to learn a lot of new information. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the book was repetitive, but it was pretty much just different characters learning the same information over and over. We did get some interesting reveals at the very end, but it's odd that we didn't really learn anything new until the very end of the book.
I mostly liked the characters. We only had one throughline character, Boleo, and his narrative was probably my least favorite. Followed shortly thereafter by Morayo. I personally just wasn't a big fan of what was going on in their narratives. Character-wise, Morayo is honestly fine, but I don't really like Boleo. If I remember correctly, I didn't really like Boleo that much in book one either, but he plays a bigger role in this installment. All the other characters were great though.
I had mixed feels about Runt/Ohemah in the last book, but really liked her in this one. I do not remember specifically what it was I didn't like about her, but according to my book 1 review, I found her decision frustrating. I didn't feel that way at all this time. I also really liked both Temi and Janzen/Jinao.
While we didn't really get to learn a lot of new information about the world or the Ahiki clan, a lot still happened in this novel. Mostly bad things, unfortunately. It was pretty much just watching bad thing after bad thing after bad thing happen to each of the main cast. Some of these stories were more interesting than others. I was really invested in Runt/Ohemah's story. It was the most daunting because of the cloistered and Chedu family. Of all the narratives, I found hers the most engaging. While we didn't really learn anything new, I liked the building suspense. I was also quite interested in Janzen/Jinao's story, well... at least the second half. The first half of his story was pretty much just seeing him get tortured over and over again and I was not a fan. However, I really liked the second half though, as it focused more on Janzen/Jinao learning more about the Greybloods. We, the reader, don't really get to learn new information, but I still liked seeing Janzen/Jinao's emotional journey. While I liked Temi, he story wasn't really that interesting. Mostly just bad things happening over and over. Pretty much the main theme here is that most of these narratives were interesting, but we don't really learn that much new information.
I did enjoy this book and like the characters (mostly), but I was disappointed by the lack of new information. Oh well though, I feel like a lot of 2nd books are mostly just there to set up the finale, and I would say this book fits into that category. Not my favorite, but I'm still looking forward to reading book 3.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My brain, my soul, my very consciousness feels awed, a little overwhelmed, and just amazed at all M.H. Ayinde just filled me up with.
A Dance of Burning Blades (DBB) is undoubtedly a full 5 stars for me. The pages held mystery, betrayal, villains who do not know they are horrendous, hidden family histories, and conspiracies that made me wonder about us humans right now.
(Oh, full disclosure: this book is not a standalone. You must-read book 1 first, and these two books must be read in order.)
Both books in this Invoker series are what I like to call thickies. The first book was close to 600 pages, and this one is over 600. The reading is not complicated, nor is it overly simplistic or crammed with unnecessary details. These books will, however, absorb you and disappear you completely into the Nine Lands, with their intricate plots and devastating twists.
That said, I need other readers to understand that Ayinde uses every page to her advantage. Your brain is going to be swirling at a thousand miles per minute.
Whew! But so worth it!
A Dance of Burning Blades is told from multiple points of view, giving readers a 360-degree perspective of what is happening. There were times I wanted to scream at a character because I knew what was happening elsewhere and they were unknowingly walking into trouble. And other times I wanted two characters to see through the wall between them and just be friends!
Describing this book as a rich tapestry feels like an understatement, as the world we thought we knew in book 1 expanded exponentially in a way I did not expect. I cannot tell you how! So you have to read it and see for yourself, but expect your mind to be blown. The creativity here, the imagination, kept me operating on two levels while I read. Part of me focused on the expanding plot, and the other going, ‘Wow, what a world?!’ What else is she about to work into this story?!
This series is a feast for readers of epic fantasy. It reminded me of Game of Thrones in scope and detail, as well as Lord of the Rings. To me, A Dance of Burning Blades was at that level of depth, plot, and world-building. A BIPOC version of those, and yet to me, contained multitudes more because of the new, let me say, ‘levels’ Ayinde worked into it. With Thrones and Rings, I always felt that there was more that was left unsaid; by comparison, Ayinde is leaving nothing unsaid here.
Her epilogues, of course, shattered me, just as in book 1. I feel full, though. There is a deep sense of satisfaction with how this book unfolded. Many questions were answered, alongside revelations that satiated the ‘how did they do this’ puzzles of book 1.
Just like last year, I will be haunted by the thoughts of what will be in the next of this Invoker series. It will be worth it. I know that as an absolute truth.
Start this series, if you have not already; expect weight, depth, and a story that consumes you. This is not a popcorn read. This is an epic, multitiered fantasy feast of reading that will leave you satisfied but undone.
A Dance of Burning Blades (DBB) is undoubtedly a full 5 stars for me. The pages held mystery, betrayal, villains who do not know they are horrendous, hidden family histories, and conspiracies that made me wonder about us humans right now.
(Oh, full disclosure: this book is not a standalone. You must-read book 1 first, and these two books must be read in order.)
Both books in this Invoker series are what I like to call thickies. The first book was close to 600 pages, and this one is over 600. The reading is not complicated, nor is it overly simplistic or crammed with unnecessary details. These books will, however, absorb you and disappear you completely into the Nine Lands, with their intricate plots and devastating twists.
That said, I need other readers to understand that Ayinde uses every page to her advantage. Your brain is going to be swirling at a thousand miles per minute.
Whew! But so worth it!
A Dance of Burning Blades is told from multiple points of view, giving readers a 360-degree perspective of what is happening. There were times I wanted to scream at a character because I knew what was happening elsewhere and they were unknowingly walking into trouble. And other times I wanted two characters to see through the wall between them and just be friends!
Describing this book as a rich tapestry feels like an understatement, as the world we thought we knew in book 1 expanded exponentially in a way I did not expect. I cannot tell you how! So you have to read it and see for yourself, but expect your mind to be blown. The creativity here, the imagination, kept me operating on two levels while I read. Part of me focused on the expanding plot, and the other going, ‘Wow, what a world?!’ What else is she about to work into this story?!
This series is a feast for readers of epic fantasy. It reminded me of Game of Thrones in scope and detail, as well as Lord of the Rings. To me, A Dance of Burning Blades was at that level of depth, plot, and world-building. A BIPOC version of those, and yet to me, contained multitudes more because of the new, let me say, ‘levels’ Ayinde worked into it. With Thrones and Rings, I always felt that there was more that was left unsaid; by comparison, Ayinde is leaving nothing unsaid here.
Her epilogues, of course, shattered me, just as in book 1. I feel full, though. There is a deep sense of satisfaction with how this book unfolded. Many questions were answered, alongside revelations that satiated the ‘how did they do this’ puzzles of book 1.
Just like last year, I will be haunted by the thoughts of what will be in the next of this Invoker series. It will be worth it. I know that as an absolute truth.
Start this series, if you have not already; expect weight, depth, and a story that consumes you. This is not a popcorn read. This is an epic, multitiered fantasy feast of reading that will leave you satisfied but undone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Saga Press and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
Last year when I read A Song of Legends Lost by MH Ayinde, it blew me away with the quality of writing and how well everything came together for a debut. I have been screaming about it non stop and requested the arc of the sequel the first chance I got. I was floored to get accepted but didn't read it right away because I don't want the wait for the last book to be too long. Thankfully there is a recap at the start.
I was immediately blown away by the prolog and chapter 1 with how they started things off with a bang. Sadly this frantic pacing does not stick around but the rest of the book is still just as well crafted as the first book. This is a series for those who love detailed world building. Like the first book it is broken into four parts and slowly builds before convergence happens in the last part. This is the style Steven Erikson uses for the Malazan Books as well.
What made it stand out was how the multiple points of view overlapped and the characters meet. We learn a lot more about the realm of the ancestors and the power of tech work. But both are still mysterious enough that we don't learn all the details. This has the typical trope of one character losing his power for a while and having to find a way to recover it and the action isn't always the easiest to follow. But I still really connected with the characters and their journey.
I could also see the parallels with the various areas of the world that are currently facing an occupying force, from ICE invading American cities to the war between Israel and Palestine. Many characters live in a similar pressure cooker as communities mix fear and anger with those trying to oppress them. This is described masterfully in chapter 1 as Ayinde describes an anger simmering beneath the surface of the town where Temi and Runt live.
This is a dark brutal world and the war seems never ending. The power of the en invokers to channel ancestral spirits makes it stand out. Many characters have access to this power but still feel like ordinary folk with access to this power trying to get by and provide for their families. The book ends with three intense epilogs that wrap things up and set the stage for the third and final book. A Dance of Burning Blades lives up to the first book and should not be missed.
Last year when I read A Song of Legends Lost by MH Ayinde, it blew me away with the quality of writing and how well everything came together for a debut. I have been screaming about it non stop and requested the arc of the sequel the first chance I got. I was floored to get accepted but didn't read it right away because I don't want the wait for the last book to be too long. Thankfully there is a recap at the start.
I was immediately blown away by the prolog and chapter 1 with how they started things off with a bang. Sadly this frantic pacing does not stick around but the rest of the book is still just as well crafted as the first book. This is a series for those who love detailed world building. Like the first book it is broken into four parts and slowly builds before convergence happens in the last part. This is the style Steven Erikson uses for the Malazan Books as well.
What made it stand out was how the multiple points of view overlapped and the characters meet. We learn a lot more about the realm of the ancestors and the power of tech work. But both are still mysterious enough that we don't learn all the details. This has the typical trope of one character losing his power for a while and having to find a way to recover it and the action isn't always the easiest to follow. But I still really connected with the characters and their journey.
I could also see the parallels with the various areas of the world that are currently facing an occupying force, from ICE invading American cities to the war between Israel and Palestine. Many characters live in a similar pressure cooker as communities mix fear and anger with those trying to oppress them. This is described masterfully in chapter 1 as Ayinde describes an anger simmering beneath the surface of the town where Temi and Runt live.
This is a dark brutal world and the war seems never ending. The power of the en invokers to channel ancestral spirits makes it stand out. Many characters have access to this power but still feel like ordinary folk with access to this power trying to get by and provide for their families. The book ends with three intense epilogs that wrap things up and set the stage for the third and final book. A Dance of Burning Blades lives up to the first book and should not be missed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rebellion in A Dance of Burning Blades doesn’t start with armies. It starts with memory - and Ayinde makes that feel dangerous.
This sequel leans hard into the idea that history itself has been weaponized, and the deeper the characters dig, the more unstable everything becomes. The world-building is doing serious work here, not just in scale but in intent. Ancestors aren’t just mystical flavor, they’re political leverage. Technology isn’t just forbidden, it’s suppressed on purpose. That tension between what people have been told and what’s actually true runs through every thread of the story, giving the whole book this constant undercurrent of unease. And then Ayinde layers in multiple POVs that don’t just expand the scope, they actively collide with each other in ways that feel inevitable and messy.
What really stood out to me is how little interest this book has in clean morality. No one is coming out of this untouched, and the cost of pushing back against power feels steep in a very physical, very real way. There is one arc in particular that is brutal, leaning into body horror and psychological unraveling without flinching, while the political maneuvering elsewhere carries its own kind of quiet violence. Even the spiritual elements feel unpredictable, almost indifferent, which adds to the sense that no one fully understands the forces they’re dealing with. It creates this pressure where every choice feels like it might make things worse - and sometimes it does.
And yet, for all that weight, there’s something deeply compelling about watching these characters move from surviving within the system to actively breaking it. The pacing builds toward convergence in a way that feels deliberate rather than rushed, tightening the threads until everything points toward something bigger on the horizon. It’s not a neat resolution kind of book, but it absolutely leaves an impression. If you like your epic fantasy with teeth, layered politics, and a world that feels like it’s actively resisting its own rulers, this one is going to stick with you 🔥
Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press, and M. H. Ayinde for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This sequel leans hard into the idea that history itself has been weaponized, and the deeper the characters dig, the more unstable everything becomes. The world-building is doing serious work here, not just in scale but in intent. Ancestors aren’t just mystical flavor, they’re political leverage. Technology isn’t just forbidden, it’s suppressed on purpose. That tension between what people have been told and what’s actually true runs through every thread of the story, giving the whole book this constant undercurrent of unease. And then Ayinde layers in multiple POVs that don’t just expand the scope, they actively collide with each other in ways that feel inevitable and messy.
What really stood out to me is how little interest this book has in clean morality. No one is coming out of this untouched, and the cost of pushing back against power feels steep in a very physical, very real way. There is one arc in particular that is brutal, leaning into body horror and psychological unraveling without flinching, while the political maneuvering elsewhere carries its own kind of quiet violence. Even the spiritual elements feel unpredictable, almost indifferent, which adds to the sense that no one fully understands the forces they’re dealing with. It creates this pressure where every choice feels like it might make things worse - and sometimes it does.
And yet, for all that weight, there’s something deeply compelling about watching these characters move from surviving within the system to actively breaking it. The pacing builds toward convergence in a way that feels deliberate rather than rushed, tightening the threads until everything points toward something bigger on the horizon. It’s not a neat resolution kind of book, but it absolutely leaves an impression. If you like your epic fantasy with teeth, layered politics, and a world that feels like it’s actively resisting its own rulers, this one is going to stick with you 🔥
Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press, and M. H. Ayinde for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars
Now this is how you write a sequel!
M.H. Ayinde is really onto something with this series. Book 1 was very promising but definitely had its flaws. This one was fantastic and was everything an epic fantasy should be. It has a rich, vast world to explore, a large, diverse cast of characters, a very complex magic system, and so much action!
This story was so rich in lore and African culture in a way that you don’t usually see in epic fantasy books. The story placed an emphasis on community, family, and the power of passed-down ancestral stories. While we spent most of this story in similar locations, I enjoyed being able to meet new characters and really become grounded in the familiar landscapes.
The plot lines were so interesting. I loved the new ones just as much as the ones that were being continued from Book 1. With a book this long and with so many characters, there was the chance that Ayinde could have been biting off more than she could chew. That didn’t happen here. The book flowed really well, and when the plot shifted to a different character, it felt intentional. I never for a second felt like the story was dragging or that certain details were unnecessary.
I loved how diverse the cast was. We have characters of different ethnicities, genders, ages, and cultures. It really impacted how they made decisions and reacted when confronted with obstacles. Characters were making decisions that directly impacted the other characters, while at other times certain things occurred that I have a feeling will be important going into Book 3. I was locked into all the plot lines, but Temi and Runt’s plots REALLY had me fully immersed in the story.
There were times when it felt like we were being told things rather than being shown them. I wish Ayinde trusted the reader more to reach conclusions because the threads are there to be connected.
This book didn’t succumb to the Book 2 slump at all. It was exciting, engaging, and has me so feral and ready to read Book 3!
Thank you so much to Saga Press for gifting me an early copy of this book ahead of its official release!
Now this is how you write a sequel!
M.H. Ayinde is really onto something with this series. Book 1 was very promising but definitely had its flaws. This one was fantastic and was everything an epic fantasy should be. It has a rich, vast world to explore, a large, diverse cast of characters, a very complex magic system, and so much action!
This story was so rich in lore and African culture in a way that you don’t usually see in epic fantasy books. The story placed an emphasis on community, family, and the power of passed-down ancestral stories. While we spent most of this story in similar locations, I enjoyed being able to meet new characters and really become grounded in the familiar landscapes.
The plot lines were so interesting. I loved the new ones just as much as the ones that were being continued from Book 1. With a book this long and with so many characters, there was the chance that Ayinde could have been biting off more than she could chew. That didn’t happen here. The book flowed really well, and when the plot shifted to a different character, it felt intentional. I never for a second felt like the story was dragging or that certain details were unnecessary.
I loved how diverse the cast was. We have characters of different ethnicities, genders, ages, and cultures. It really impacted how they made decisions and reacted when confronted with obstacles. Characters were making decisions that directly impacted the other characters, while at other times certain things occurred that I have a feeling will be important going into Book 3. I was locked into all the plot lines, but Temi and Runt’s plots REALLY had me fully immersed in the story.
There were times when it felt like we were being told things rather than being shown them. I wish Ayinde trusted the reader more to reach conclusions because the threads are there to be connected.
This book didn’t succumb to the Book 2 slump at all. It was exciting, engaging, and has me so feral and ready to read Book 3!
Thank you so much to Saga Press for gifting me an early copy of this book ahead of its official release!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay, I need everyone to sit down because I have feelings and they are LOUD.
I may have mentioned, once or twice, probably more, definitely more, that A Song of Legends Lost absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. I forced it into the hands of anyone who would stand still long enough. So yes, the expectations walking into book two were astronomical. Unreasonable, even. The kind of expectations that should statistically result in disappointment.
A Dance of Burning Blades looked those expectations dead in the eye and said: not today.
Middle book syndrome? Never heard of her. Ayinde somehow takes everything that made book one extraordinary. The rich Africa-inspired world of the Nine Lands, the ancestor magic, the layered lore, and makes it bigger, deeper, and more complex without ever losing the plot. The history of this world is doled out with such precision throughout, each revelation landing like a perfectly timed thunderclap, all of it building and building until that epilogue had me physically clutching my chest begging for book three.
Now. Jinao. JINAO. In book one, Temi was my girl, we love a badass woman in these parts and that has not changed, but Jinao absolutely steals the show in book two and I was not prepared for how much I would be invested in that journey. What a ride. What a character. What an author for making me care this much. And look, I'm usually the first to complain about multi-POV fantasy getting unwieldy, but Ayinde's structure is just clever, each section pulls in the relevant perspectives and nothing more, keeping everything tight and purposeful. I am all in on every single POV in this series. Every. Single. One.
The Invoker Trilogy is shaping up to be everything we love about epic fantasy and then some. It's the series I will be pressing into people's hands for years.
Now if you'll excuse me, I will be sat permanently refreshing NetGalley, manifesting an ARC of book three with my whole entire being.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I may have mentioned, once or twice, probably more, definitely more, that A Song of Legends Lost absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. I forced it into the hands of anyone who would stand still long enough. So yes, the expectations walking into book two were astronomical. Unreasonable, even. The kind of expectations that should statistically result in disappointment.
A Dance of Burning Blades looked those expectations dead in the eye and said: not today.
Middle book syndrome? Never heard of her. Ayinde somehow takes everything that made book one extraordinary. The rich Africa-inspired world of the Nine Lands, the ancestor magic, the layered lore, and makes it bigger, deeper, and more complex without ever losing the plot. The history of this world is doled out with such precision throughout, each revelation landing like a perfectly timed thunderclap, all of it building and building until that epilogue had me physically clutching my chest begging for book three.
Now. Jinao. JINAO. In book one, Temi was my girl, we love a badass woman in these parts and that has not changed, but Jinao absolutely steals the show in book two and I was not prepared for how much I would be invested in that journey. What a ride. What a character. What an author for making me care this much. And look, I'm usually the first to complain about multi-POV fantasy getting unwieldy, but Ayinde's structure is just clever, each section pulls in the relevant perspectives and nothing more, keeping everything tight and purposeful. I am all in on every single POV in this series. Every. Single. One.
The Invoker Trilogy is shaping up to be everything we love about epic fantasy and then some. It's the series I will be pressing into people's hands for years.
Now if you'll excuse me, I will be sat permanently refreshing NetGalley, manifesting an ARC of book three with my whole entire being.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Dance of Burning Blades takes everything M. H. Ayinde built in book one and sets it ablaze.
Bigger, darker and emotionally devastating, this is the kind of sequel that feels as though it has been sharpening its knives in the shadows the entire time. Every thread laid down in the first book tightens here, secrets gain weight, betrayals cut deeper and victory comes at a cost.
The world building remains phenomenal. The Nine Lands feel less like a setting and more like a living history unfolding in real time. Every ritual, political fracture and ancestral tradition feels shaped by generations of memory and conflict. Spending more time with the ancestor magic, ritual practices and various clans only deepens how vivid and lived in this world is.
The science-fantasy foundation is especially compelling. In book one, ancient technologies, buried knowledge and strange remnants of the past sat alongside the rituals and magic, making the world feel even larger and older than anyone within it fully understood. As rebellion, war, old grudges and long laid plans finally bear fruit, Ayinde digs deeper into the hidden histories at the heart of it all.
What makes it even more impressive is how rich and complex it is without ever feeling inaccessible. The politics are intricate, the stakes enormous and it's all interconnected, yet Ayinde writes with such clarity that you're never shut out. As nations shift and wars rage, the story remains deeply personal. Plotlines collide in ways that are both thrilling and devastating, while the emotional beats land one after another with ruthless precision. Every character is carrying wounds, fears, loyalties and impossible choices - I was deeply invested in each and every one.
And that ending. That epilogue. Explosive, heartbreaking and deeply satisfying in equal measure.
Some sequels hold the line. A Dance of Burning Blades storms straight through it.
If you're not reading this series yet, you should be.
My thanks to Orbit for the arc
Bigger, darker and emotionally devastating, this is the kind of sequel that feels as though it has been sharpening its knives in the shadows the entire time. Every thread laid down in the first book tightens here, secrets gain weight, betrayals cut deeper and victory comes at a cost.
The world building remains phenomenal. The Nine Lands feel less like a setting and more like a living history unfolding in real time. Every ritual, political fracture and ancestral tradition feels shaped by generations of memory and conflict. Spending more time with the ancestor magic, ritual practices and various clans only deepens how vivid and lived in this world is.
The science-fantasy foundation is especially compelling. In book one, ancient technologies, buried knowledge and strange remnants of the past sat alongside the rituals and magic, making the world feel even larger and older than anyone within it fully understood. As rebellion, war, old grudges and long laid plans finally bear fruit, Ayinde digs deeper into the hidden histories at the heart of it all.
What makes it even more impressive is how rich and complex it is without ever feeling inaccessible. The politics are intricate, the stakes enormous and it's all interconnected, yet Ayinde writes with such clarity that you're never shut out. As nations shift and wars rage, the story remains deeply personal. Plotlines collide in ways that are both thrilling and devastating, while the emotional beats land one after another with ruthless precision. Every character is carrying wounds, fears, loyalties and impossible choices - I was deeply invested in each and every one.
And that ending. That epilogue. Explosive, heartbreaking and deeply satisfying in equal measure.
Some sequels hold the line. A Dance of Burning Blades storms straight through it.
If you're not reading this series yet, you should be.
My thanks to Orbit for the arc
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Dance of Burning Blades, the second installment in the Invoker Trilogy, is an epic fantasy drenched in political intrigue, betrayal, blood-bound vows, and the brutal closeness of war, where magic serves as both a blade and a blight. As a rising political force challenges the crumbling old guard, the empire begins to splinter, and secrets long buried claw their way into the light.
The world of A Dance of Burning Blades feels ancient, burnished by centuries of ambition and memory. The strength of Ayinde’s worldbuilding rests in the palpable weight of history bearing down on every decision her characters make. It is layered with intricate ceremonial dress and unspoken social codes, with oral traditions that shape political ideology and customs steeped in ritual. This deep cultural foundation gives the setting a lived-in authenticity, elevating it far beyond the contours of a conventional medieval fantasy realm.
I found the magic system both elegant and restrained, ritual-based, exacting a steep cost, and grounded in deep historical tradition under strict regulation. It is not merely a tool but something interwoven with identity and sacrifice, heightening the tension and intensifying the inner conflicts of the central characters.
Yet the most compelling element of the novel is its politics. They are gloriously untidy. No one stands as wholly heroic, and no one is entirely monstrous. Watching the characters wrestle with inherited obligation, with their own complicity, and with the frightening promise of transformation feels uncomfortably intimate and achingly real.
Overall, if you’re drawn to morally tangled characters, magic systems that cut as sharply as the blades they conjure, and stories where power exacts a steep and personal toll, you will devour this book. It is not a gentle read. It asks for your full attention, your patience, your willingness to sit with discomfort. But in return, it offers something fierce and deliberate.
The world of A Dance of Burning Blades feels ancient, burnished by centuries of ambition and memory. The strength of Ayinde’s worldbuilding rests in the palpable weight of history bearing down on every decision her characters make. It is layered with intricate ceremonial dress and unspoken social codes, with oral traditions that shape political ideology and customs steeped in ritual. This deep cultural foundation gives the setting a lived-in authenticity, elevating it far beyond the contours of a conventional medieval fantasy realm.
I found the magic system both elegant and restrained, ritual-based, exacting a steep cost, and grounded in deep historical tradition under strict regulation. It is not merely a tool but something interwoven with identity and sacrifice, heightening the tension and intensifying the inner conflicts of the central characters.
Yet the most compelling element of the novel is its politics. They are gloriously untidy. No one stands as wholly heroic, and no one is entirely monstrous. Watching the characters wrestle with inherited obligation, with their own complicity, and with the frightening promise of transformation feels uncomfortably intimate and achingly real.
Overall, if you’re drawn to morally tangled characters, magic systems that cut as sharply as the blades they conjure, and stories where power exacts a steep and personal toll, you will devour this book. It is not a gentle read. It asks for your full attention, your patience, your willingness to sit with discomfort. But in return, it offers something fierce and deliberate.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Dance of Burning Blades is the kind of sequel epic fantasy fans hope for-bigger, bolder, and more emotionally powerful than the book before it. Ayinde successfully expands the scope of the story while deepening its mysteries and character arcs.
M. H. Ayinde creates a world that feels ancient, complex, and alive. The Nine Lands are more than just a fantasy setting, they are shaped by generations of conflict, cultural traditions, political struggles, and forgotten histories. Ancestor magic remains one of the most intriguing elements of the series The novel also expands the science fantasy elements revealing deeper layers of hidden technology and buried secrets.
The strength of this novel lies in its cast. Ayinde gives readers a wide range of perspectives, from rebels and warriors to schemers and rulers. Each of them with believable motivations. Lyela, in particular, stands out as a fascinating political player whose moves ripple throughout the story. Returning characters continue to grow in meaningful ways, while new additions add depth to the conflict. Even when characters make frustrating choices.
This is a larger and darker sequel that raises the stakes considerably. The story balances military conflict, political maneuvering, personal vendettas, and long-hidden conspiracies. While the novel is substantial in length, the pacing remains strong because nearly every storyline contributes to the broader narrative. Battles are intense, betrayals hit hard, and revelations continually reshape what readers think they know about its history.
The combination of rich worldbuilding, compelling characters, and escalating political and magical conflicts makes this an engaging read from beginning to end. Readers who enjoy sprawling fantasy series with intricate power struggles and unique magic systems will find a lot to love here. It not only advances the story of The Invoker Trilogy but strengthens it, leaving readers eager for the final book!
4.5/5 ⭐️
M. H. Ayinde creates a world that feels ancient, complex, and alive. The Nine Lands are more than just a fantasy setting, they are shaped by generations of conflict, cultural traditions, political struggles, and forgotten histories. Ancestor magic remains one of the most intriguing elements of the series The novel also expands the science fantasy elements revealing deeper layers of hidden technology and buried secrets.
The strength of this novel lies in its cast. Ayinde gives readers a wide range of perspectives, from rebels and warriors to schemers and rulers. Each of them with believable motivations. Lyela, in particular, stands out as a fascinating political player whose moves ripple throughout the story. Returning characters continue to grow in meaningful ways, while new additions add depth to the conflict. Even when characters make frustrating choices.
This is a larger and darker sequel that raises the stakes considerably. The story balances military conflict, political maneuvering, personal vendettas, and long-hidden conspiracies. While the novel is substantial in length, the pacing remains strong because nearly every storyline contributes to the broader narrative. Battles are intense, betrayals hit hard, and revelations continually reshape what readers think they know about its history.
The combination of rich worldbuilding, compelling characters, and escalating political and magical conflicts makes this an engaging read from beginning to end. Readers who enjoy sprawling fantasy series with intricate power struggles and unique magic systems will find a lot to love here. It not only advances the story of The Invoker Trilogy but strengthens it, leaving readers eager for the final book!
4.5/5 ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This was a great sequel after the Songs of Legends Lost.
I was super curious and excited after the ending of book one, so I was thrilled to receive this ARC, and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint.
The ending of this installment is just as promising for the third and final book!
The world-building expands significantly in book two, and it’s done brilliantly. Ayinde has a beautiful writing style. Her prose, descriptions of the world, characters, and action all feel complex, detailed and immersive. There’s so much depth to each character, and some of them have really deepened since book one. The magic system is especially impressive. It's unique, refreshing, and truly imaginative.
I do have to say, though, that I was more invested in the POVs of Temi, Jinau, and Father Boleo. I understand that the others are important to the story and how everything connects, but I didn’t always connect with them. At times, I found myself hoping those chapters would pass quickly so I could get back to my preferred characters.
My ARC didn’t include a glossary of characters or places, which made it a bit harder to fully immerse myself at first. It took me some time to remember who was who (aside from Temi, Jinau, and Father Boleo) and to recall events from the first book.
There were also moments where the pacing felt a bit slow, and my attention wasn’t as sustained as I would have liked. However, whenever the story picked up, I couldn’t put it down.
Overall, this book has everything you want in a science fiction/fantasy story: intrigue, political tension, secrets, treason, rage, and vengeance, but also loyalty, family connections, love, and resilience.
I Highly recommend if you enjoy epic fantasy with complex plots, political intrigue, complex world-building, and imaginative magic.
This was a great sequel after the Songs of Legends Lost.
I was super curious and excited after the ending of book one, so I was thrilled to receive this ARC, and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint.
The ending of this installment is just as promising for the third and final book!
The world-building expands significantly in book two, and it’s done brilliantly. Ayinde has a beautiful writing style. Her prose, descriptions of the world, characters, and action all feel complex, detailed and immersive. There’s so much depth to each character, and some of them have really deepened since book one. The magic system is especially impressive. It's unique, refreshing, and truly imaginative.
I do have to say, though, that I was more invested in the POVs of Temi, Jinau, and Father Boleo. I understand that the others are important to the story and how everything connects, but I didn’t always connect with them. At times, I found myself hoping those chapters would pass quickly so I could get back to my preferred characters.
My ARC didn’t include a glossary of characters or places, which made it a bit harder to fully immerse myself at first. It took me some time to remember who was who (aside from Temi, Jinau, and Father Boleo) and to recall events from the first book.
There were also moments where the pacing felt a bit slow, and my attention wasn’t as sustained as I would have liked. However, whenever the story picked up, I couldn’t put it down.
Overall, this book has everything you want in a science fiction/fantasy story: intrigue, political tension, secrets, treason, rage, and vengeance, but also loyalty, family connections, love, and resilience.
I Highly recommend if you enjoy epic fantasy with complex plots, political intrigue, complex world-building, and imaginative magic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A continuation of the dark, sprawling epic science-fantasy series. The worldbuilding deepens and the cast expands. It's still the multi-pov story that takes its time to show how everything connects. The downside of that approach is that every reader will have their favorite and least favorite povs and not always the favorite ones get the most focus. The world is still a unique mix of fantasy, sci-fi and African mythology, which is a breath of fresh air. We don't get many African epic fantasy, but this one can stand in line next to The Rage of Dragons, Son of the Storm and The Final Strife. The worldbuilding is lovingly crafted with its history, religion, politics, magic, and the plot and characters serve the world rather than the other way around. It's the biggest accomplishment of epic fantasy to make the world feel lived in and a character of its own. This one's for the fans of slower paced epics where you have to piece the full picture together from different sub-plots and povs. Solid middle book in a trilogy, they have to be read in order and to fully appreciate the vision, we have to wait for book 3.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is immediately gripping. From the opening prologue, the world feels alive with volatile magic, shifting loyalties, and the promise that something spectacular and dangerous is always just around the corner.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its magic system and fantasy concepts, which feel genuinely fresh. Ayinde’s magic is vivid, and unpredictable. It actively shapes the politics, the conflicts, and the choices the characters make.
The pov structure is a bit of a mixed experience. Jinao and Temi stand out as the clear highlights. Their chapters carry emotional weight and narrative momentum, and both characters feel distinct, driven, and compelling. Whenever the story returns to them, the book finds its strongest footing. Some of the other POVs, however, don’t quite reach the same level of engagement. They add necessary pieces to the wider puzzle, but a few of them feel less urgent and occasionally slow the pace.
Ayinde clearly has a large, complex story in mind, with political tensions, hidden histories, and intertwining character arcs. At times, though, the narrative seems to wander slightly as it juggles these elements. In parts I was just confused
Yet when the threads finally start to snap together, the effect is genuinely satisfying and the scale of the story starts to emerge in a way that makes the earlier groundwork feel worthwhile.
Looking forward to book 3
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its magic system and fantasy concepts, which feel genuinely fresh. Ayinde’s magic is vivid, and unpredictable. It actively shapes the politics, the conflicts, and the choices the characters make.
The pov structure is a bit of a mixed experience. Jinao and Temi stand out as the clear highlights. Their chapters carry emotional weight and narrative momentum, and both characters feel distinct, driven, and compelling. Whenever the story returns to them, the book finds its strongest footing. Some of the other POVs, however, don’t quite reach the same level of engagement. They add necessary pieces to the wider puzzle, but a few of them feel less urgent and occasionally slow the pace.
Ayinde clearly has a large, complex story in mind, with political tensions, hidden histories, and intertwining character arcs. At times, though, the narrative seems to wander slightly as it juggles these elements. In parts I was just confused
Yet when the threads finally start to snap together, the effect is genuinely satisfying and the scale of the story starts to emerge in a way that makes the earlier groundwork feel worthwhile.
Looking forward to book 3
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