Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses physical abuse, sexual assault, and self-harm.

The narrative opens from Casteel (Cas) Da’Neer’s first-person perspective. He hunts and kills Ascended, who are vampire-like creatures known as vampry, with Penellaphe (Poppy) Balfour Da’Neer (his wife), Kieran Contou (his best friend, who is a wolven, or werewolf-like creature), Nektas (the leader of the draken, creatures who shapeshift from dragon to human form), and other trusted friends. Having just defeated the Blood Queen (Ileana/Isbeth), Cas and Poppy—the King and Queen of Atlantia—take the initial steps to eradicate Solis of all Ascended unwilling to realign with the Atlantian rulers. Cas feels aroused watching Poppy ruthlessly kill their enemies, though he respects Poppy’s belief that peaceful Ascended should be spared. The party searches for Ires, Poppy’s father and decades-long prisoner to the Ascended.

Cas and Poppy also search for Millicent (Millie), Poppy’s older sister and a Revenant (a human-like creature that cannot be killed), and Malik, Cas’s older brother and Millie’s heartmate (soulmate). More significant is the impending war with Kolis (the original and true Primal of Life and Death), for which the Atlantians must prepare. Primals are the most powerful gods.