Trial by Fire is the second "Tribe 8 Cycle", or collection of related adventures. It is the 3rd and final part of the main branch of the the larger Children of Prophecy story arc, though a number of later books are designated as "interludes", which are peripherally related to the main arc.

The book is organized into a prelude, four chapters each covering an adventure: "Spark of Innocence", "Fanning the Flames", Burnt Offerings", "Raising the Torch"; a fifth chapter dealing with the aftermath; and a sixth chapter of resources for the Weaver (GM). The adventures are centered around an Inquisition (the "trial") of the 8th tribe.