The orphans of Halfer Home harbor little hope for the future. Despised by their human and elf minders alike, most will end up in prison or dead once they leave the orphanage. If they're among the few magical Mimics, the outcome could be grimmer still.

The enchanted Home loves them, but that can be as deadly as its hatred. It holds the key to an alternate reality known as dreamtime. There, entire lifetimes are lived within a few hours, and the "children" are more ancient than the elves. Still, not even the most powerful of the Mimics can remain in dreamtime forever.

The sudden appearance of a mysterious door offers hope where there was none before. It also spawns acts of shocking violence as loyalties falter and rivalries explode. When vengeful elves arrive, the halfers find themselves battling for freedom and their lives.

Time is running out for the Door to open before a growing number of enemies succeeds in destroying the Mimics. With the bloodthirsty Home determined to keep them and old scores to settle, can they escape before they tear each other apart?