Amidst the ensuing chaos, Will is saved from drowning by Violet, the illegitimate half-Indian daughter of a lord who seeks to follow in her brother Tom's footsteps and become a well-respected member of Crenshaw's crew.

[1][2] Publishers Weekly wrote that "Pacat uses fully fleshed-out, realistically flawed characters and a rich, if occasionally rote, mythology to explore issues of faith, fate, and free will.

"[3] Natalie Zutter, in a review for Tor.com, praised the setting but felt that the Stewards were too one-dimensional and pure, while the themes of temptation and darkness were underexplored compared to Pacat's previous work.

[4] Kirkus Reviews praised the complex characterization of the novel, but felt that the head-hopping between POV characters made it difficult to connect with the story.

[5] Carrie R. Wheadon of Common Sense Media wrote that, despite good worldbuilding, the characters were largely unlikeable with the exception of Violet.