When the only defence against the vampire horde is destroyed and the threat of another Blood War looms, new heroes must rise to save the world from an evil that refuses to die.

Long ago, the Lightbearers saved the Five Kingdoms from the undead, with a light - the Starstone Lamp - that was meant to shine forever, a beacon and barrier against the horrors of the night. But the Lamp has been broken, the Lighthouses that keep the undead at bay have all failed, and the Darkness has returned. New heroes must rise . . . Conlan Greylock has tainted blood, and the edict is clear: anyone infected with vampire blood must perish. Refusing to accept his fate, he places his soul in the hands of Rohina, with whom he shares a powerful supernatural bond. Rohina, and her genius son Timor, think they can save Conlan - and the rest of the world - from the vampire plague. But they're outlaws too, for creating the perfect golem, a man made of metal and stone who can think and feel . . . Together they must journey into the wilds, seeking the answers of riddles only they can unravel. Mohan and his daughter Dariana have their own reasons to haunt the margins: Mohan's beloved wife Shakti is lost among monsters, calling his name. While ambitious young sorceress Yarrow and her friend Emyl are on a quest of their own: to prevent a loved one from joining the undead. Thrown together by fate, they must save their world from an enemy beyond comprehension: the Vampire God, Varthak.