Lord of Alera i.e Gaius Octavian has gone through many tests and trials in the past and some think he has achieved the fruit of his hard work. But things are not always that easy as they look in the first glance. Although Gaius has remained successful in almost all the wars that he has fought in the past and he has been able to crush his enemies too but the danger still hangs on his head. Being the Lord of Alera now he has to think about the people of the land too because the war is coming and the whole nation depends on him. He has to plan in such a way that minimal damage comes to the people of the land. Jim Butcher i.e the author of this series puts his hero in serious situation here; he cannot fight freely because he has responsibility on his shoulders. The savage Vord is coming and it happens to be the biggest enemy the hero has ever faced.

He got to use all the skills that are present in his mind and body to get out of this one alive. Kate Reading narrates Gaius as a character who is ready to fight but there are doubts in his mind and heart which he wants to eradicate first. Storm Front and Fool Moon were about fights too but those books were less serious in plot, here there is a terrible situation at the hands of the new lord. Gaius never hoped that war would come to the land in such a quick succession but now it is upon him and his people so they have to fight.