When Artemis sends Thanatos out to kill Zarek, Ash can not allow this. Yes, Zarek appears dangerous, perhaps too dangerous to live, but Ash does not agree. As a compromise, more to calm Ash down than anything else, Artemis agrees to allow Themis' daughter, Astrid, the blind demi-goddess of justice, to consider the case. Astrid is known to have never ruled for acquital, but perhaps this will be different.

Ash agrees, and so Astrid is sent to Alaska where she meets Zarek, a hostile Dark Hunter who has been exiled to this frozen wilderness. Through his dreams, she gets to know him, to begin to fall in love with him, and, almost against his will, he with her. However, Thanatos refused to be called back from his mission, and now, Astrid and Zarek are in danger. Ash has sent his pet demon to protect them, but even the childlike yet powerful Simi might not be enough to save them from Death.

This is perhaps the most complex of the Dark Hunter novels so far. Zarek is a truly tortured hero who needs the light Astrid brings to his world. Simi is a very appealing character, infusing the story with humor. One quibble would be that sometimes Astrid seems to be sighted, though she is blind. However, this is minor.