The Darklight occurs every thirteen years. The sister moons eclipse the mother sun, turning day to twilight, and intensifying the forces of magic. It was on a Darklight long ago that the Third Cleansing, the bitter war between man and beast, was brought to a decisive end. The Crown Mage unleashed magic of incredible power that decimated the enemies of men and secured absolute victory for the Crown. The peace compelled by those events has held for nearly two-thousand years.

That final battle, and the magic that ended it, are now distant memories kept alive only by scholars and tradition. Today, the Festival of Darklight is a time of celebration for man, and a time of mourning for beast.

In a sleepy borough of the capital city abuzz with preparations for the upcoming Festival, Un Fainbeld is attacked by a terrifying creature. Knocked unconscious, he wakes to discover that his infant twins and wife are gone. His recounting of the night’s events leads to many questioning his integrity, and others his sanity. His friends believe the story was a salve for his injured pride after an unwanted breakup.

Un’s relentless pursuit of the monster and desperate attempt to save his children brings him deep into the northern wilds, where he encounters fantastic creatures, experiences the terrible power of magic, and discovers a plot that threatens the very existence of mankind.