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Invoker Trilogy #2
A Dance of Burning Blades
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26War rages on in the second novel in M. H. Ayinde’s relentlessly gripping 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, 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, 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?
782 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 9, 2026
7 people are currently reading
8059 people want to read
About the author
M.H. Ayinde
10 books236 followersM. H. Ayinde is the Sunday Times bestselling author of epic fantasy novel A SONG OF LEGENDS LOST (Orbit UK/Saga Press). Her short fiction has appeared in FIYAH Literary Magazine, F&SF, Fantasy Magazine, 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
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.
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
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
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
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, 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 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
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The ending wasn’t as explosive as book one, but I found the whole more satisfying.
Whilst there isn’t a summary (at least in my arc copy), the characters were introduced with clever background references.
The writing is easily readable which is tough when writing epic, high fantasy with many moving parts and pre-colonial African cultures.
‘We always have a choice,’ Seema said quietly. ‘Don’t you remember what you said to me? That our ability to choose is our greatest freedom. For so long, we did not get to choose.’
However, I still feel at a distance from all of our characters which makes me an unemotional observer rather than involved and invested.
I also wish we got more information. On the technology, the secrets, the past. I think it might have been easier to piece things together with a glossary or character guide, especially when trying to recall everything from a previous release.
Like I said in my review of book one, I want to love this. However, something is not clicking and I am not immersed in this world.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Whilst there isn’t a summary (at least in my arc copy), the characters were introduced with clever background references.
The writing is easily readable which is tough when writing epic, high fantasy with many moving parts and pre-colonial African cultures.
‘We always have a choice,’ Seema said quietly. ‘Don’t you remember what you said to me? That our ability to choose is our greatest freedom. For so long, we did not get to choose.’
However, I still feel at a distance from all of our characters which makes me an unemotional observer rather than involved and invested.
I also wish we got more information. On the technology, the secrets, the past. I think it might have been easier to piece things together with a glossary or character guide, especially when trying to recall everything from a previous release.
Like I said in my review of book one, I want to love this. However, something is not clicking and I am not immersed in this world.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
✨ Quick Summary & Tea Thoughts
The first book laid the groundwork with explosive battles, layered worldbuilding, and a cast of characters navigating rebellion, revenge, and the dangerous power of ancestral magic.
A Dance of Burning Blades takes everything that began in the first book and pushes it further into chaos. War spreads across the Nine Lands, rebellion ignites against the crown, and characters begin moving like pieces on a massive political chessboard. What makes this sequel exciting is how the tension continues to build rather than resolve. The mysteries around the Invokers, the stolen history of the realm, and the shifting alliances all feel like they are leading to something explosive. By the end, it very much feels like the story is sharpening its blades for the final installment, and honestly I’m already bracing myself for whatever the third book is about to unleash.
🫶 TYSM @sagapressbooks for sending me a copy! Talk about being a spoiled reader 😅🙂↕️💜
🗡️ Ancestor-summoning warrior magic
🔥 Rebellion against a ruling crown
🧠 Political intrigue and strategic power plays
⚔️ Clans at war across the Nine Lands
📜 Hidden history waiting to be uncovered
🌍 Epic trilogy building toward a massive finale
The first book laid the groundwork with explosive battles, layered worldbuilding, and a cast of characters navigating rebellion, revenge, and the dangerous power of ancestral magic.
A Dance of Burning Blades takes everything that began in the first book and pushes it further into chaos. War spreads across the Nine Lands, rebellion ignites against the crown, and characters begin moving like pieces on a massive political chessboard. What makes this sequel exciting is how the tension continues to build rather than resolve. The mysteries around the Invokers, the stolen history of the realm, and the shifting alliances all feel like they are leading to something explosive. By the end, it very much feels like the story is sharpening its blades for the final installment, and honestly I’m already bracing myself for whatever the third book is about to unleash.
🫶 TYSM @sagapressbooks for sending me a copy! Talk about being a spoiled reader 😅🙂↕️💜
🗡️ Ancestor-summoning warrior magic
🔥 Rebellion against a ruling crown
🧠 Political intrigue and strategic power plays
⚔️ Clans at war across the Nine Lands
📜 Hidden history waiting to be uncovered
🌍 Epic trilogy building toward a massive finale
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I need more books in series to have a review of where the story stands. There were still a couple elements that I forgot from book 1 that weren't covered, but having this reference for the essential info from book 1 made it so much easier to dive right into book 2.
I'm enjoying this series a lot so far. Its pace is definitely on the slower side, but I expect this from an epic fantasy with an expansive cast. Unlike book 1, we start to actually see the different perspectives intersecting here, and it improved the pacing in this book over the first one, because the different plot lines don't lose as much momentum in the perspective changes. I also felt like I gained a better grasp on the characters, because I spent less time reorienting myself in each perspective.
This was a very solid second installment in the series. I liked the first book a lot, but I think this one sucked me in in a way book 1 didn't quite. It's hard for me to imagine anyone who liked A Song of Legends Lost wouldn't find this a satisfying sequel. This world is just so fun and immersive, and I'm very excited to see where book 3 goes.
I'm enjoying this series a lot so far. Its pace is definitely on the slower side, but I expect this from an epic fantasy with an expansive cast. Unlike book 1, we start to actually see the different perspectives intersecting here, and it improved the pacing in this book over the first one, because the different plot lines don't lose as much momentum in the perspective changes. I also felt like I gained a better grasp on the characters, because I spent less time reorienting myself in each perspective.
This was a very solid second installment in the series. I liked the first book a lot, but I think this one sucked me in in a way book 1 didn't quite. It's hard for me to imagine anyone who liked A Song of Legends Lost wouldn't find this a satisfying sequel. This world is just so fun and immersive, and I'm very excited to see where book 3 goes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The first book in this series took me by surprise and blew me away with its creativity. Still, it did take me some time to get back into this world because it's been a while and the lore is beautifully dense. I just couldn't remember all of it anymore. But I got there, slowly, and once I remembered all the most important things again, I was fully engaged with this sequel. The writing is still absolutely superb, the world building intriguing on a grand scale and it's full of unique ideas that kept me from putting the book down.
I love the characters as well. They are all so complex and have so much agency within their part of the story. I'm so excited to see where the next book will take them because this one was just chef's kiss. Jinao and Temi remain favourites, but honestly, all the characters are absolutely masterfully written.
I did feel like the pacing was a bit off at times, and I wasn't quite as emotionally invested this time around, the ending didn't hit quite as hard as it did in book 1, but it's an amazing sequel to an amazing trilogy and I can't wait to read book 3.
Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the arc!
I love the characters as well. They are all so complex and have so much agency within their part of the story. I'm so excited to see where the next book will take them because this one was just chef's kiss. Jinao and Temi remain favourites, but honestly, all the characters are absolutely masterfully written.
I did feel like the pacing was a bit off at times, and I wasn't quite as emotionally invested this time around, the ending didn't hit quite as hard as it did in book 1, but it's an amazing sequel to an amazing trilogy and I can't wait to read book 3.
Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the arc!
March 26, 2026
3.5⭐️
I was so excited to dive back into this world after being floored by the ending of the first book. I’m still in awe of the pre-colonial culture infused with futuristic technology. However, this installment didn’t quite reach its full potential for me.
The worldbuilding is huge in scope, and I love every bit of it. This series has one of my favorite magic systems—channeling the spirits of ancestors to fight in battle. The story is layered and complex, weaving together political narratives and ancestral connections.
Similar to the caveats I mentioned in my review of book one, the structure doesn’t quite work for me. I need more of Temi’s POV! The constant back-and-forth and addition of multiple POVs really hinder the depth of the characters. I want to love this story so much, but it’s hard to fully connect when I don’t feel as emotionally invested in some of the characters.
A Dance of Burning Blades is definitely worth the read for its worldbuilding and magic system alone. I’m very intrigued to see how the story lines continue to connect and develop.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I was so excited to dive back into this world after being floored by the ending of the first book. I’m still in awe of the pre-colonial culture infused with futuristic technology. However, this installment didn’t quite reach its full potential for me.
The worldbuilding is huge in scope, and I love every bit of it. This series has one of my favorite magic systems—channeling the spirits of ancestors to fight in battle. The story is layered and complex, weaving together political narratives and ancestral connections.
Similar to the caveats I mentioned in my review of book one, the structure doesn’t quite work for me. I need more of Temi’s POV! The constant back-and-forth and addition of multiple POVs really hinder the depth of the characters. I want to love this story so much, but it’s hard to fully connect when I don’t feel as emotionally invested in some of the characters.
A Dance of Burning Blades is definitely worth the read for its worldbuilding and magic system alone. I’m very intrigued to see how the story lines continue to connect and develop.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley UK for the arc. I powered through this because the question of “What the frigging hell is going on?!” gave me all the energy surge I needed to get me to the end. Overall, I was gripped at another in-depth and immensely built world and story. It was rich in culture (in its writing, it’s exploration of song, rhythm and dance to literally invoke emotions and beings to life) and I love that at its core it was about those in power keeping themselves in that position at the expense of others, mainly through the control of fear. It was also a story about parent/child dynamics and seeing the world from differing perspectives because survival means different things for different people and in turn, affects how they react. The voices were unique and the story could be seen from differing povs. Personal favourite was Kipteni as I do love an overly enthusiastic intern! My only regret is not making notes as the immense storyline and sheer amount of characters have me sweating as I’ll never remember all of this when the next and last book is published.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 11, 2026After the explosive ending of the first book, I was curious about which direction A Dance of Burning Blades would take. It’s safe to say that it heightened the tension even further, like a pressure cooker ready to burst.
With war, not sparing a single corner like a plague, rebellion, everything moving like a complex chessboard. The most compelling aspect for me is the magic system, which has such a distinctive feeling and a unique vibe, and I love it. Another highlight is how complex the characters are, and the multiple POVs provide such a broad perspective on everything happening. Both the world and the plot expanded immensely and beautifully, with such creativity that you feel overwhelmed in the best possible way. Moreover, it was incredibly satisfying to see so many questions answered, and at the next moment, the author does that clever trick of pulling the rug from under your feet and hitting you with another ‘Wait, WHAT?!" moment. The Invoker trilogy is epic and grand in scale, with so much detail that it is a must-read for every fantasy-loving reader like me.
With war, not sparing a single corner like a plague, rebellion, everything moving like a complex chessboard. The most compelling aspect for me is the magic system, which has such a distinctive feeling and a unique vibe, and I love it. Another highlight is how complex the characters are, and the multiple POVs provide such a broad perspective on everything happening. Both the world and the plot expanded immensely and beautifully, with such creativity that you feel overwhelmed in the best possible way. Moreover, it was incredibly satisfying to see so many questions answered, and at the next moment, the author does that clever trick of pulling the rug from under your feet and hitting you with another ‘Wait, WHAT?!" moment. The Invoker trilogy is epic and grand in scale, with so much detail that it is a must-read for every fantasy-loving reader like me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of the most epic, complex and well written fantasy series that I've come across in the last few years .
The second book is as good as the first one and there is no middle book syndrome here. The tone gets a bit darker, the world expands as does the spirit-based "magic" system, our main characters go through a lot and the plot that Ayinde weaves reveals slowly a multi layered story that I really can't tell how it's going to conclude. It's a big book, but there are no wasted pages here. In fact this is one of this rare instances that I would welcome a few more chapters to delve more into this world.
The slow pace might discourage some readers but I really liked it, because this is a series that I felt needed my full attention to take in everything that was going on. My main problem was the lack of a recap of the first book. That would have helped a lot, even though Ayinde does a good job of getting the reader to remember details that the reader might have forgotten since reading the first one.
A great series that I feel definitely needs more attention from fantasy readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an e-Arc.
The second book is as good as the first one and there is no middle book syndrome here. The tone gets a bit darker, the world expands as does the spirit-based "magic" system, our main characters go through a lot and the plot that Ayinde weaves reveals slowly a multi layered story that I really can't tell how it's going to conclude. It's a big book, but there are no wasted pages here. In fact this is one of this rare instances that I would welcome a few more chapters to delve more into this world.
The slow pace might discourage some readers but I really liked it, because this is a series that I felt needed my full attention to take in everything that was going on. My main problem was the lack of a recap of the first book. That would have helped a lot, even though Ayinde does a good job of getting the reader to remember details that the reader might have forgotten since reading the first one.
A great series that I feel definitely needs more attention from fantasy readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an e-Arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.75/5 ⭐️
I genuinely feel like this series was made for me 😭 It has the scope, world-building, and mystery of James Islington’s The Will of the Many and Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive, but in a way that feels totally unique and incredibly well thought out. This second book starts to answer some of the questions I had after the first, like where the greybloods come from, what techwork has to do with the ancestral bond, and what role Clan Ahiki played in the destruction of the Scathed. But in true epic fantasy fashion, I’m left with even more questions than I started with. Still, I absolutely loved this installment and cannot wait for book three. If you enjoyed book one, you're in for a real treat cause the stakes are even higher now.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I genuinely feel like this series was made for me 😭 It has the scope, world-building, and mystery of James Islington’s The Will of the Many and Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive, but in a way that feels totally unique and incredibly well thought out. This second book starts to answer some of the questions I had after the first, like where the greybloods come from, what techwork has to do with the ancestral bond, and what role Clan Ahiki played in the destruction of the Scathed. But in true epic fantasy fashion, I’m left with even more questions than I started with. Still, I absolutely loved this installment and cannot wait for book three. If you enjoyed book one, you're in for a real treat cause the stakes are even higher now.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So I had loved A Song of Legends Lost, but A Dance of Burning Blades was so much more than I could have expected!!
Book One had me rooting for Temi all the way, but Jinao had me so invested and i definitely wasnt ready! Usually I get intimidated by books with multiple POVs since things start to merge together, but M.H Ayinde’s writing makes weaving through all these perspectives feel so seamless, and equally interesting!!
Once again, reading a story with rich ancestor magic, political intrigue and connecting characters arcs was such a fun experience and pulled me out of my slump!
The Invoker Trilogy is shaping up to become something amazing and I can’t wait for book 3! (shamelessly crossing my fingers that I can get an ARC for it too)
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit UK for the E-Arc!
Book One had me rooting for Temi all the way, but Jinao had me so invested and i definitely wasnt ready! Usually I get intimidated by books with multiple POVs since things start to merge together, but M.H Ayinde’s writing makes weaving through all these perspectives feel so seamless, and equally interesting!!
Once again, reading a story with rich ancestor magic, political intrigue and connecting characters arcs was such a fun experience and pulled me out of my slump!
The Invoker Trilogy is shaping up to become something amazing and I can’t wait for book 3! (shamelessly crossing my fingers that I can get an ARC for it too)
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit UK for the E-Arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Dance of Burning Blades is the second book in the Invoker Trilogy.
Wow! This is immense. The world building is expanding in new directions, and with each step, we are closer to finding out who the ancestors truly are.
We catch up with the four main protagonists, each with their own POV. There's also a couple of interludes with characters from the previous book to fill in some gaps.
I loved everything about this. At just under 700 pages, it's fast-paced with more political intrigue and plot twists that I didn't see coming. There's betrayal and secrets revealed. And those epilogues at the end, now I need book three more than ever. This deserved every one of those five stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the ARC.
Wow! This is immense. The world building is expanding in new directions, and with each step, we are closer to finding out who the ancestors truly are.
We catch up with the four main protagonists, each with their own POV. There's also a couple of interludes with characters from the previous book to fill in some gaps.
I loved everything about this. At just under 700 pages, it's fast-paced with more political intrigue and plot twists that I didn't see coming. There's betrayal and secrets revealed. And those epilogues at the end, now I need book three more than ever. This deserved every one of those five stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Enjoyed returning to this super interesting world, I am glad that some of it's mysteries were revealed while keeping enough back to me make eager for book 3! All of the POV characters, Temi, Runt, Jinao, Morayo and Father Boleo go through so much and looking back you really have to give the author credit for weaving these stories together so seamlessly and making sure that each character has room to shine. Highly recommended!
March 9, 2026
I did appreciate the list of dramatis personae and the recap of what happened last book, because it's been long enough since I read it that I didn't remember beyond broad strokes what had happened. This picks up the toss at the end of the last trilogy and runs even further with it, giving us new POV characters, more development and explanation of what's going on with our mains from last book, and what look to be some truly wild setups for the last book in the trilogy. In for the last one, and can't wait.
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