After the Coming of the Dark, most immortals in the world have been killed. The religion of the Four Tribes has taken over the world, and any who resist it are crushed. They await the return of their prophesised One, who is both male and female, and neither. They have not been seen for fifteen years, but belief rules all.A few still fight. A handful of surviving immortals, once seen as gods, have hidden away. In each of the four lands of the world, there are mutterings of rebellion. And over the mountains, kept secret from the world, the One has grown into their adulthood. It is time for them to return and see what is being done in their name. And that means going to war.

'A brilliant epic fantasy debut from a master storyteller' Sebastien de Castell, author of the Greatcoat series including The Traitor's Blade

'Wonderful characters and great world-building, in Humphreys' special brand of addictive storytelling' Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series

'An intriguing premise... an intricate, fast-paced story... Humphreys packs gods, deicide, warring tribes and some impressive world-building into just over 300 pages' Guardian


Three lands, peopled by humans and immortals. In Corinthium a decadent endlessly-lived elite run the world for profit and power.

But when a poor, honest solider dies, and is reborn, everything changes.

In wintry Midgarth, where immortals are revered as deities, one of them has realized that something - or someone - is killing the gods.

And in Ometepe there is only one immortal, for he has murdered every other.

Until one woman gives birth to a very special baby.

Yet there is a fourth, hidden land, where savage tribes have united under the prophecy of 'the One': a child who is neither boy nor girl. Now they plan to conquer the world.

Unless a broken soldier, a desperate mother and a crippled god can stop them . . .