After a supernatural disaster destroys most of North America, Navajo monster-slayer Maggie Hoskie must navigate a world of monsters and gods.

In the 21st century, a worldwide flood caused by multiple earthquakes along the New Madrid fault line destroys most of the United States as magic returns to the world.

This traumatic event activates her clan powers, giving Maggie superhuman speed and a propensity for killing.

He asks her to work with his grandson Kai Arviso, who also possesses clan powers, to destroy the witch.

Furious at this revelation, Maggie kills him and returns to the battlefield, where Neizghání has defeated the monsters and is now threatening Kai, whom he considers to be a rival.

[1] Roanhorse has said that she is of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo descent through her mother's family, and African American on her father's side.

The Verge called it a "much-needed perspective to the larger canon of fantasy fiction", praising it for its portrayal of Native American characters.

[5][6] Locus called the novel "immensely readable and very enjoyable" and praised it for its worldbuilding; it also criticized the novel for shallow dialogue and a disjointed plot structure.

[3] They also criticized the way in which some book reviewers, based on the author's writings, have conflated different tribes of Native Americans into one identity.

He eventually concluded, "It is unethical for Roanhorse to be claiming Ohkay Owingeh and using this identity to publish Native stories.