"Unusual . . . exotic . . . Well worth the read!"--Katherine Kurtz, author of Crusade of Fire

Raised by his protective mother in the sunny climes of the south, Gavril Andar knows nothing of his father--or of the ominous legacy that awaits him. But now the man who ruled the wintry kingdom of Azhkendir, a man infused with the burning blood of the dragon-warrior known as Drakhaoul--has been murdered by his enemies.

Expected to avenge his father's death--and still his unquiet ghost--Gavril soon learns that becoming Drakhaon means not only ascending to the throne of Azhkendir but slowly changing into a being of extraordinary power and might. A being that must be replenished with the blood of innocents in order to survive...

"Unusually complex [with] a smooth style, breathtaking atmosphere, and a fickle, impetuous plot."--Dave Duncan, author of Paragon Lost

"A splendid tale . . . Sarah Ash is destined to be one of the bright luminaries of fantasy."--Dennis L. McKiernan, author of the Mithgar series