For centuries, Prince Maesa of the nomad clans has wandered the Mortal Realms. Exiled from his people for the crime of loving a human woman, Maesa's woes were compacted by bereavement – for human lives are but brief sparks compared to those of the aelves.

Ever since his beloved Ellamar's death, Maesa has quested tirelessly in search of a means to return her to his arms. Now, accompanied by his spite companion Shattercap, Maesa nears the end of his quest – single-mindedly daring the deserts of Shyish, the fury of slumbering demigods, and the wrath of daemons to revive his true love. Yet the souls of the departed are guarded jealously by the God of Undeath. To carry out a true resurrection would be to earn Nagash's undying contempt, and the Great Necromancer is the least forgiving deity in all the Mortal Realms...