[1] Released on May 1, 2012 by Orbit Books, The Killing Moon centers on a series of murders and a potential magic war.

Years before the start of the novel, Prince Eninket assumes control of the throne by killing his father and most of his siblings.

In Gujaareh, Gatherer Ehiru attempts to collect the soul of a foreign visitor, but experiences a moment of hesitation.

Ehiru realizes that the Hetawa’s sacred mission has been compromised and that Gatherers have been used to eliminate political enemies rather than guilty citizens; he decides to join forces with Sunandi and investigate the corruption.

Sunandi brings the Ehiru and Nijiri before the leaders of Kisua, where they share information about the Prince’s plans for war.

Eninket plans to use a Reaper to gather the dreamblood of every soldier on the battlefield, transferring the substance to himself and becoming functionally immortal.

Das Indrapramit called the novel "refreshingly unique, evoking none of the generic medievalism of much Euro-centric fiction that dominates the fantasy market."

Indrapramit praised the narrative, the worldbuilding, and the characterization, particularly noting that that "relationship between Ehiru and Nijiri is as complex and rewarding a portrayal of mentor and apprentice as I've seen in a while.

"[3] A review in NPR stated that The Killing Moon "mixes ancient Egyptian magic and Jungian theory" and that the reader "won't regret" spending time with the novel.