Publisher's Synopsis
In the frosty wastelands of the north, the Staglings have known nothing but peace for years. Yet these years now seem numbered. A creeping shadow of deep-seated hatred, born from the actions of their forebears, threatens to ruin all they hold dear. It falls upon the youngest scions of the clan - the cousins Brand, Alwyn, and Dreng - to confront the vengeful spirit head-on.
As they spend a winter delving into their family's past, a series of crimes and grotesque mockeries cruelly remind them of the looming menace. With the advent of spring, they set out on a daring expedition. Their goal: to lay bare their adversary and ultimately overthrow him. But what kind of creature, what kind of thing is he? This is where opinions are at odds. Brand regards him as nothing but a name - no more than a figment spun from legends and fancies. Dreng, on the other hand, perceives him as a tangible creature of flesh and flames. Faced with this clash of beliefs, Alwyn takes matters into her own hands and tacitly assumes the lead in their journey. But as their quest grows more perilous, the passionate and ever-more obsessive realities of her companions begin to catch up with them; they now pose the greatest threat. With twists and turns at every step, this epic tale serves as a poignant reminder never to disentangle words from things while the consequences are unknown.
