It will take a god to awaken a god. The Heir to Essera's throne, Handurin Stauberg-Randolph, has escaped from Sordan and sought out the Kheld people of Amallar. He hopes to gain them as allies, particularly against the murderous sorceror Nammuor. Dorilian Sordaneon has also left the safety of Sordan—and stopped the Rill god-machine. Handurin doesn't know it yet, but Dorilian is hot on his heels. Which means Dorilian is in Amallar too, living in secret among Khelds who believe he killed, well, just about everyone. But Amallar isn't as welcoming as Hans thinks, or as backward as Dorilian believes.

The King is dead. Long live the Kheld King. The Triempery lies crippled, its godborn princes slaughtered by treachery, its ruling houses desperate to maintain their monopoly of the god-machine Entities. In the aftermath of the slaughter, Stefan Stauberg-Randolph inherits his grandfather's throne. Already an outsider because of his Kheld heritage, Stefan sees enemies around every corner—but he particularly fears Dorilian Sordaneon, sole surviving heir of the Rill Entity's power. Set upon conflicting paths by betrayal and suspicion, the animosity between the two young rulers could well threaten not only the Triempery's remaining houses, but the Entities themselves.