This is the Fifteenth (#15) in an number of tie-in novels of Ravenloft Gothic horror tales dealing with the masters and monsters set in the Demiplane of Dread. Once a powerful human wizard, Firan Zal'honan is transformed into Azalin, the King of the Dead, an anguished undead ruler with limitless dark powers, who can neither gain his own freedom nor bring back to life his long-dead son....

By sending his minions to harvest the life force of the occupants of Darkon, Azalin hopes to become a demi-lich and escape the world of Ravenloft. His plan succeeds, but only partially, resulting in startling, permanent changes in the land of Darkon....