The Church of God Awaiting controls the planet Safehold through luddite doctrine, deception and intimidation. Their reach is massive. Their rule is violent and merciless. And Charis, a single island realm, should have buckled under the sheer weight of the Church's expansive army. Should have. Charis is small, it will fight to the death to defend humanity's reintegration with technology. With the aide of Merlin Athrawes, the cybernetic avatar of a woman dead over a thousand years, Charis proves a formidable rebellion does not lie in numbers. Pushed to the brink of defeat, the Church desperately tries to maintain control, willingly embracing technology that jeopardizes the foundation of their religion. Safehold is poised for the final battle between freedom and subjugation.