The oba is dead. The Eight Great Houses are under attack ... and they are losing. What's worse than being ignored by your god? As the royal heir from House Crow, Anari is desperate to protect his people from a plague-driven war. Without the blessing of his god, he doesn't have the magical power to compete in the succession battle for the beaded crown of the oba. He is easy prey for the strongest heirs. To stay alive, he must be quick and clever. When his plans go wrong, he does the unthinkable. Worse is having your god owe you a favor. Particularly when he's a trickster. Anari might not become the ruler of his people, but he has won his god's undivided attention. If he can survive what he's put in motion, he will have one chance to save them all. Fortunately, Anari has a few tricks up his own sleeve ...