Elver, guardian of the Jih Forest, continues to journey alongside the monk Artair, who, when he’s sleeping, shares his body with the soul of Lucian, previously a mage of the god the Bloody Claw. They’re accompanied by Sunay, a mage of the god of lies, Tisk, and Fleet, the keltraxia cub Elver rescued. The group must evade attacks by Mother Maura, who has absorbed and can wield some of the Bloody Claw’s power; she’s determined to hunt down and kill Lucian, who has absorbed the rest of it. Elver experiments with new powers after once again being killed and resurrected by the Queen of Serpents. Her newfound abilities and physical transformations make her a fierce enemy of Maura and the god of purity, Trilot, but they also force her to question who and what she is. Encountering strange characters and challenges along the way, the determined adventurers search for the First of Monsters, the only weapon rumored to be capable of killing a god, in order to finally defeat Maura. This volume resolves cliffhangers from the earlier entry. Fantasy readers will enjoy the comprehensive worldbuilding of Tlevrae, while romance fans will savor the complicated love triangle that develops among Elver, Artair, and Lucian. Characters largely present white.