A Dance of Burning Blades - (Invoker Trilogy) by M H Ayinde (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

War rages on in the second heart-pounding novel in M. H. Ayinde's relentless epic fantasy series The Invoker Trilogy, a sweeping epic of revenge and rebellion set in a richly drawn world of warring clans and ancestor magic.

Tension simmers across Nine Lands. In the capital, the people of Lordsgrave seethe with resentment after the horrors of the greyblood attack. Clan Adatali is in open rebellion against the king, and as war in the Feverlands rages on, a humble tree feller--who looks a lot like missing invoker Jinao Mizito--has not forgotten the promise he made to avenge his brother.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, the king's daughter Lyela continues to move her pieces across the board. Can the people of the Nine Lands reclaim their stolen history and unlock the secrets that have been kept from them for centuries?

Review Quotes

"A truly excellent debut, with a genuinely fascinating magic system, engaging characters and deep worldbuilding. A fantastic read."--James Islington, author of The Will of the Many

'An epic tale of conflict, betrayal, and intrigue . . . M.H. Ayinde weaves a rich and engrossing story through a unique and fascinating world.' --Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author

"A Song of Legends Lost is stunning and vividly told, an incredible blend of tech and magic in a world where the characters are rediscovering the truth. It is impossible not to be swept away, to yearn as hard as the characters do, to feel both dread and joy as the events unfold. Ayinde is a master storyteller."--Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

"A brilliantly original, genre-busting science fantasy epic. It blends a seemingly ancient world with spiritual magic and mysterious technology into a sprawling landscape of societal injustice and widespread conspiracy. The mysteries unravel at a gripping pace in a rich and elegant world. I've never seen anything like this before and I love it!" - Justin Lee Anderson, author of The Lost War

"Offers you everything you could possibly wish for from epic fantasy. You will gasp, you will cry, and most of all, you will not stop turning the pages."
- Annabel Campbell, author of The Outcast Mage

"A Song of Legends Lost is what I want to point to when we talk about why modern fantasy is so good. Do not miss this one." - Jen Williams, British Fantasy Award winner

"A Song of Legends Lost absolutely delivers on the promise of adventure. It's a fantasy of epic proportions, with an expansive world and complex characters that inhabit it. [A] sweeping and impressive debut." - Christina Orlando, Reactor Magazine

"An epic tale of ancestral summoning, complicated families and forbidden magic in the Nine Lands, rich with hidden histories, kinetic battles and immersive, Africa-inspired worldbuilding. It's Game of Thrones meets Jagun Jagun by way of Final Fantasy with a healthy dose of something new and unique that is entirely Ayinde's own!" - Wole Talabi, Author of Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon

"M. H. Ayinde's debut promises grand revelations, cutthroat intrigue, and desperate conflict, all in service of an ending fated to be as satisfying and definitive as the pressing in place of the final piece of an elaborate puzzle." - Evan Winter, author of Rage of Dragons


"A relentlessly gripping, glorious epic fantasy - the exhilarating must-read fantasy debut of 2025."
--Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

"A hugely ambitious science-fantasy epic, a whirlwind debut of ferocious talent and compulsive storytelling that lifts you up from the first page and never lets go. It's joyous from end to end - and highly recommended!"--Lavie Tidhar, World Fantasy Award-winning author

"M.H. Ayinde has layered a cast of instantly-compelling characters and a gripping plot over a setting that blends fantasy and sci-fi in fascinating ways."--Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

About the Author

M. H. Ayinde was born in London's East End. She is a runner, a lapsed martial artist, and a screentime enthusiast. Her debut novel is A Song of Legends Lost. Her short fiction has appeared in FIYAH Literary Magazine, F&SF, Fantasy Magazine, and elsewhere, and she was the 2021 winner of the Future Worlds Prize. She lives in North London with three generations of her family and their Studio Ghibli obsession.