The epic second book in M. H. Ayinde's relentlessly gripping Invoker Trilogy, following the Sunday Times bestselling debut A Song of Legends Lost.

Tension simmers across Nine Lands. In the capital, the people of Lordsgrave seethe with resentment after the horrors of the greyblood attack. Clan Adatali are 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. Will the people of Nine Lands reclaim their stolen history and unlock the secrets that have been kept from them for centuries?

A Dance of Burning Blades is a sweeping epic of revenge and rebellion set in a richly drawn world of warring clans and ancestor magic.

Praise for A Song of Legends Lost:

'A relentlessly gripping, glorious epic fantasy - the exhilarating must-read fantasy debut of 2025'
Tasha Suri,

'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, author of Blood Song

'Stunning and vividly told . . . Ayinde is a master storyteller'
Andrea Stewart, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Bone Shard Daughter

M. H. Ayinde was born in London's East End. Her short fiction has been published in FIYAH Literary Magazine, Omenana, Beneath Ceaseless Skies and elsewhere, and she was the 2021 winner of the Future Worlds Prize. She is a runner, a lapsed martial artist and a screen time enthusiast. Modupe lives in London with three generations of her family and their Studio Ghibli obsession.