Senya, with her angelic healing powers, barely escapes a religious cult; Nell, the Crown Princess of Aesterland, flees an arranged marriage and the destruction of her country; and Siegfried the assassin travels with them, intent on avenging his family. The trio join forces against the Jenseiters, a growing political force spreading across their nations thanks to the powers of their soldiers, the Reinbann. At first, Senya, Nell, and Siegfried ally themselves with the inhabitants of the freezing Norogard. Then they meet the Neseveen Desert people, whose mythology hides an ancient secret. Meanwhile, the Jenseiters march slowly on, insidiously overpowering nations in an echo of the havoc they wreaked before being sealed away 400 years ago. Werbaneth fills in the main characters’ backstories, making this volume work well as a stand-alone read. This second entry offers more glimpses into a politically charged landscape populated by power-hungry people, weaving the leads’ storylines together into an intricate arc that contains many plot twists. The physically diverse cultures and climates reveal expert worldbuilding; each country has its own lore and value system. Magical creatures such as the bear cavalry and sand kraken add to the action. A somewhat abrupt, open-ended finale leaves room for a sequel.