Shan introduces us to a new bad guy and a new good guy. In common with most of Shan's lead males, the lead is not the most well developed of characters, a likeable teen who encounters Lord Loss and his evil minions when he arrives home to find his parents and sister dead. He thinks that he will never again witness such a terrible night of death and darkness. Shan's job is to show us that he is wrong. He goes insane, learning three things along the way: the world is vicious, magic is possible and demons are real. So is Shan's gothic genius. "Inside the room, somebody giggles -- low, throaty, sadistic. There's a ripping sound, followed by snaps and crunches. My hand turns. The door opens. Hell is revealed."