A few years after the events of the first book, we find Yasnic as a prisoner of the Palleseen army, working as a conscripted medic. He was swept up for exfiltrating god's from Ilmar who would otherwise be decanted into tablethi to power Pal weapons. No longer a priest of God, but still a believer, he struggles to Do no Harm in an army camp, and try to heal soldiers without drawing too much attention to his ability to do so. Obviously these healed soldiers pretty promptly get instagibbed when they turn around and do harm themselves, violating the healing pact they made with God through the intercession of Yasnic who assumes the name Maric Jack. The characters are gritty, uncouth, and fun. I like the spotlight of putting our fav guy deep behind enemy lines to give some depth to the "bad guys" many of whom are themselves other conscripted people's of conquered territories.

Wish the book were a bit grittier still though. The highpoint was def when God is killed and Yasnic snaps:

You have destroyed the one thing keeping me from killing men like you

But Tchaikovsky pivots again. It's not quite plot armor, but the main characters seem to evade death conveniently.

Overall an enjoyable continuation of the world he's building.

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