War, intrigue, and uncontrolled black magic. Crokus Younghand returns to his homeland. But he is not the only one who has changed. Darujistan, the city of blue fire, is no longer what it once was, as damned gods now walk its streets. Crokus just wants to take care of his own business and disappear again. But can he leave his old companions from better days behind when the darkest of nights descends? Yet even before Crokus has made up his mind, the gaze of Anomander Rake, the son of darkness, turns towards the city of blue fire.