After T-Rayles' son is murdered, she decides to go after his killer. She's the daughter of a warrior, a member of the indigenous Ibinnas, and must deal with her colonizer husband's missteps, an exiled god, a organization founded by her warrior mother, but that has become corrupt, and the constant bigotry she encounters along her way and within Seventhblade, a colonized city.

The world is complex, as well as the relationships between characters, and the indigenous and colonizer cultures, and T'Rayles is sympathetic in her deep grief, and determination to get justice. Or revenge. The characters are flawed and occasionally frustrating, doing and saying things that only contributed to conflict, or exposed weaknesses and divisions.

I went back and forth between prose and audio, and liked Dani Cochrane's voicing of T'Rayles and others. The main character's grief and ferocity were beautifully invoked.

This is the sort of book that is catnip to me, and yet, I could not get into it, and kept finding my attention wandering. I badly wanted to enjoy this book, but could only appreciate it for its complexity and well-drawn characters.

I suspect this is a book that, when I eventually return to it, will work better on a reread.
Thank you to Netgalley, ECW Press and to Dreamscape Media for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

Give me more. I do not care. This had me hooked. I normally jump around in audiobooks as a mood reader, however this one, I listen straight through and I am so happy I did. 4.75 stars

From the outset, Seventhblade delivers a gripping and emotionally charged narrative centered on T’Rayles, a fierce Indigenous warrior and “halfsoul” driven by grief and a burning need for vengeance after the murder of her adopted son. Laird blends pulse‑pounding action with deep thematic resonance: settler colonialism, intergenerational trauma, and the healing power of ancestral memory.
World‑building that resonates

Laird creates a fractured fantasy world with dangerous magics and cryptic gods, where a colonised city teeters on the edge of chaos. The history of the Ecrelians’ subjugation of the Ibinnas is gradually revealed, grounding the spectacle in rich cultural and emotional complexities.

T’Rayles is a compelling lead character: wounded, determined, and powerful. Her arc from grief to purpose is grounded and affecting. Though some secondary characters—especially the deity Elraiche, who occasionally narrates chapters—feel less developed and borderline cartoony, T’Rayles’s presence more than carries the narrative.

Laird deftly weaves grief, Indigenous heritage, and colonial critique into an action‑driven story. Inspired by 20 years of personal reflection and Métis identity reclamation, the novel becomes more than a tale of revenge—it’s a protest and a reclamation through fantasy .
Pacing and structure

The pacing is brisk, with a well‑balanced mix of action, mystery, and quieter introspection. While a few POV shifts can feel jarring or slow down some readers, most reviewers agree the momentum stays strong and the payoff is rewarding .
Why it earns 5 stars:

-A visceral, emotional core anchored by a fierce and relatable protagonist.
- World‑building and magic that feel fully realized and infused with meaning.
- A bold exploration of Indigenous identity crafted through speculative fiction.
- An impactful fusion of personal, cultural, and political stakes.

Seventhblade is an extraordinary debut that stakes out new territory in Indigenous fantasy. Tonia Laird delivers more than revenge‑fueled swordplay; she offers an immersive world that pulses with grief, resilience, and deep cultural truths. With dynamic fights, powerful characters, and a message that lingers long after the final page, this novel promises even greater things ahead.

Audiobook experience : 4.75⭐ Initially, I was a bit thrown off by the narrator's youthful voice and found that it was a missed opportunity to hear an older one. But I quickly changed my mind because they definitely have the gravitas needed to portray this epic FMC ! The narrator's delivery is honest and compelling and the passages in another tongue (Northern Michif) were beautifully moving to hear.

Story 4.5⭐ Excellent Debut novel !! 😸

And the comp titles (N.K. Jemisin and Rebecca Roanhorse) are spot on, so if you like them, make sure you give it a try !

What shined the most here were the extensive world building, especially with its multilayered lore inspired by Indigenous culture, and the older female PoV. The years gave depth to the character and added a much needed perspective (as a mother-warrior-partner) to a somewhat classic revenge fantasy premise.

I'd like to read the next part of the adventure now, please ! 😇

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this audiobook ARC ☺️

I love seeing more and more Indigenous Fantasy coming out, much like A Broken Blade and To Shape of Dragons Breath Tonia Laird crafts an engaging fantasy that you can tell the inspiration from Indigenous story telling, specifically Metis as the author is Metis herself.

It great to read a fantasy where the main character is not only older but T'Raylees has a lot of lived experience, and then throw in the fact she now must find her sons killer will also dealing with the fact she has to deal the stigma of being a half breed, it creates an engaging story and I enjoyed the ride. Also, for people who don't know Tonia use to write for Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition so it's cool to have an author who is cut her teeth in various forms of fantasy media.

I look forward to see what she writes next, I will definitely keeping an eye out.

This book starts out swinging and does not slow down. If you are looking for a book that highlights a woman consumed with rage and grief this is the book for you. I found this book to be cathartic.

When T’Rayles discovers the death of her adopted son, she will stop at nothing to find out what happened and who is really at fault, including getting involved with a manipulative god. The author does such a great job at expressing her grief and frustration throughout the story that I could feel it too. There were a few moments I caught myself hitting the steering wheel when things got crazy.

My one criticism is that it was difficult to keep up with all the different groups and races, with the small amount of backstory we got. I really hope that side of the world gets expanded on in future stories.

I'm really excited to see where this series goes, and I was so glad it didn't end on a cliffhanger.


I received this audio book from the publisher via Netgalley for a honest review.

Jumps right in head first!!! Starts with the outcome and builds the plot around it. Keeps you wanting more. Character arcs are compelling and easy to keep up with. This book leaves you wanting more! Great job!!!

This is a wonderful revenge f around find out fantasy. I was drawn into an elaborate world with a strong FMC that is kicking butt and taking names. Hell have no fury like a mother's wrath.

Tonia Laird’s Seventhblade is a refreshing new release in fantasy fiction that will appeal to anyone who is tired of romantasy’s stranglehold on the genre.

There are no throbbing members, no lightning-struck wardrobes, and not a dragon in sight, and it’s all the better for it, frankly. Instead, there’s an intriguing plot, a brave heroine who can own her mistakes, and a goodly dose of moral greyness. There is also an inventive magic system, and a band of resourceful kids who are what you would get if you armed the Artful Dodger’s comrades to the teeth.

Starting with the murder of the heroine’s adopted son, the pace then eases off to introduce us to the wider world in which the story takes place, and to give some much-needed back-story. But it never slows for long: there are extended combat sequences and some interesting weapons, and no shortage of strong female characters. Indeed, one of the things that appealed even more as the book progressed was the glimpse of a distant matriarchal society, as well as a clan of female warriors descended from a god.

When the end of the book came, it did so rather suddenly, but it ends at the beginning of a new journey, with new dangers to encounter and more for our heroine to learn about her heritage, and her own powers, as well as her mysterious sword. I’m looking forward to that next instalment already. Five stars from me.

A superb audiobook for a tale that's not far off from standard fantasy fare. Dani Cochrane gives her all in this one. But I lost my way several times when the POV shifted between the main characters, Elraiche and T'Rayles. The anticolonial backdrop was lost on me. The apparent whiteness of the cover confuses me. I did love when T'Rayles had harsh words about the patriarchy and the inherent sexism in others complaining about her height. I'm struggling to articulate why exactly this one didn't draw me in. I wonder if the way it's written is just easier to grok in text form.

DNF at around 60% because the audio just wasn't clicking for me. However, I do think that's far enough to give a fair review, because I think this book would be a smash hit in the right hands.

Some notes:
-The main character’s name is T’Rayles which is pronounced “Tara-lees” (thank you audio, absolutlely no chance i woulda gotten that one right in print....
-There is a significant amount of fictional words such as titles, names, regions and languages, listening on audio does give this an advantage to the pronounciation. However I found it really hard to keep everything straight on audio, which is ultimately why i set it aside.
-Author is a Michif Canadian author, so she belongs to a very small group of indigenous people from canada.

This book really reminded me of the Children of Blood and Bone series, except the MC is an adult, not a teen. There are a lot of similar themes such as magic, racism, xenophobia, colonialism, and fighting back against oppressors. There is a lot of good stuff here and if you liked that, I would recommend this as well.

I received an ALC of the audiobook from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

I like the ideas behind this. Having an older woman main character dealing with grief and rage in the context of colonialism is promising.

However, this didn't do it for me. I don't think it was bad - I don't have particular issues with the prose, and I didn't find it objectionable or annoying. I just also didn't feel emotionally invested or connected to the characters.

I thought that I was going to like it a lot more than I did. There were a couple smaller issues like the pacing being off and character issues. But, the big issue I had was as I kept reading, the "high stakes" kept getting lower and lower. With each fight, there was always a mysterious out. During one fight, after the antagonist chased down the group, cornered them and then critically injured one of them, they decide to run away. They weren't chased off, pushed back or fought off, they just decided to run away. With all that being said, I still did really enjoy reading it. I like the way the world building was done, giving us info as it pertains to the story, but also giving us glimpses into the world beyond without info dumping. Because of that, I can't wait to see the next adventure T'Rayles goes on.