This is book 3 of the Rift series and is not a stand-alone book. Warning: The synopsis contains spoilers.Cloelle Banderal begs the lord of the Ancient City to resurrect her grandfather, but instead the Maleficus holds her captive and steals her memory. Andrin Sethuel, now royal wizard, discovers that he cannot free her despite his newfound puissance. Magic is failing because of the necromancer’s necrotic influence, and Andrin must use the Rondural to go back in time in a bid to save Torvia. Consequently, an unlikely alliance is born, its goal the destruction of the necromancer. Although the sorceress is bound by astromantic enchantment, her necromancy, enhanced by the spirits of the dead she harbors and commands, confers on her the power to kill all those who bear an aluian—and this darkling magic gives her the might to bring the kingdom of Carvel to an end.