Thousands of years ago the gods fought and fell in the deeps beneath
what is now Southmarch Castle, then were banished into eternal sleep.
Now at least one of them is stirring again, dreaming of vengeance
against humankind. Southmarch haunts the dreams of men as well as gods.
Royal twins Barrick and Briony Eddon, the heirs of Southmarch's ruling
family, are hurrying back home as well: Barrick now carries the heritage
of the immortal Qar inside him, and Briony has a small army at her back
and a fiery determination to recover her father's throne and revenge
herself on the usurpers. The cruel and powerful southern ruler known as
the Autarch of Xis wants the power of the gods for his own, a power he
can only gain if he conquers Southmarch. And nobody knows what the Qar
want, only that the mysterious fairy - folk are prepared to die for it
-- or to kill every living thing in Southmarch Castle and in all the
lands around. It will come to an apocalyptic conclusion on Midsummer
Night, when the spirits of the haunted past and the desperate struggles
of the present come together in one great final battle. Many will die.
Many more will be transformed out of all recognition, and the world will
be forever changed.
