Danso, who is supposed to be with his intended – Esheme – the daughter of Nem the Fixer, helps the yellowskin escape from Bassa with his Second – Zaq – through the Breathing Forest.

The Skopi gets on to Danso, thus activating the red ibor in his hand – giving him the power to control the bat.

NPR Books said of it: "Okungbowa's control of power, relationships, plot twists, and politics throughout gets high marks.

"[4] Library Journal, which gave the novel a starred review, highly recommended it for "fans of epic fantasy based on non-European mythologies...readers who enjoy protagonists on troubled journeys...or anyone who likes to chew on stories with complex shenanigans.

"[5] Tor.com's Alex Brown said it was "epic fantasy that breaks the rules,"[6] praising Okungbowa's worldbuilding and attention to detail.