A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril has returned to the noble household he once served as page, and is named, to his great surprise, secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is as assignment Cazaril dreads, for it must ultimately lead him to the place he most fears: the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions. but it is more than the traitorous intrigues of villains that threaten Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle here, for a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion and all who stand in their circle. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge -- an act that will mark the loyal, damaged servant as a tool of the miraculous ... and trap him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation, and death.</p>

路易丝·麦克马斯特·比约德是美国著名的科幻和奇幻小说作家。1986年，比约德以《荣誉的碎片》一书进入文坛，这是后来取得巨大影响的科幻小说“迈尔斯系列”的第一部。2002年开始，她又将主要精力转向奇幻小说的创作，著有：《精神指环》、《查里昂的诅咒》、《灵魂骑士》、《圣猎》等。

比约德从事科幻、奇幻小说创作二十余年来成就斐然，她产获得五次“雨果奖”、两次“星云奖”，这两个奖项一直以来被看作是世界上最高级别的科幻、奇幻文学奖。