The Islands of the Sun are blessed by Heaven, or so their inhabitants say. But a conspiracy that spans the islands threatens to put them all under the subjugation of eternal winter.

A merchant's son travels to the capital of Thalata, unaware that an encounter with a beautiful bard from Lhaursi will plunge them both into the dark schemes surrounding the murder of a priest. A shepherd seeks out the ancient magic that will lead him to challenge the king of Karei. An ambitious priest investigates a secretive society and takes his first steps down a troubled path. But all the magic of the Lords of Night is against them and enemies lurk on every side.