Betrayed by those she hoped to aid, Tylidae finds herself trapped in the harrowing underbelly of the Crystal Vale, where the insatiable hunger of a mythical rukh threatens to consume the very essence of her being-a rare ether coursing through her halfblood veins. In a desperate bid for freedom, Tylidae wages battle against the divine ruler of the Vale: the Stranger, a monstrous entity that thrives on the suffering of the Vale's slaves, while bestowing dark magic upon its merciless worshippers. Haunted by memories of her past captivity, Tylidae hunts for the means to challenge a god and reclaim her freedom. But as she delves deeper into the Vale's mysterious depths, she uncovers unsettling truths and unexpected allies.

And the destinies of both the anthelai and the Vale's inhabitants hang in the balance.