The band of unlikely heroes must face their destinies—whether in victory or in death—in the fourth entry set in the "fascinating and original" world of The Book of the Black Earth (Publishers Weekly). The terrifying, cannibalistic ghul legions of the dread sorcerer known as the Manalish continue to ravage the lands with the goal of creating an empire of the undead. But those who oppose him, while conflicted and tormented by what they have already endured, are determined to stop the slaughter. Horace—the lowly prisoner of war who became a great magician—has already lost his great love to the struggle for freedom, but is still driven both by a desire for answers about his fate. At the same time, his rough-hewn companions Jirom and Emanon take a separate road, as well as join forces with former bitter enemies, to face the Dark King Astaptah for a final conflagration. But even as the army of the dead grows, the cities of the living fall, and those that remain struggle for both survival and dominion—an unthinkable power threatens to rise against them all...