In the bitter cold of an unrelenting winter Tomas and Peter, father and son, arrive in the remote isolated town of Chust and despite the unpleasantries of the villagers settle there as woodcutters. Tomas is violent and a pockmarked drunkard at the best of times.  

For reasons unknown to Peter, Tomas digs a channel of fast-flowing water around their hut so they are living on an island. Peter doesn't know why his father did this, or why; all his life they've been on the move. Why does his father carry a long battered box with an unknown content that he is forbidden to see? Al this will be made clear as the story unfolds.

However, later in the story, when a band of gypsies comes to the village Peter's dull lifestyle is plummeted upside down. He is head-over-heels in love  with the beautiful gypsy princess, Sofia, and drawn into their deadly quest. For these gypsies are no ordinary singing travellers. They are Vampire Slayers and Chust is a peculiar community – for the dead are coming back to wreak revenge on the living.

In the terrifying events that follow, Peter is stunned to see his father change from a fat drunk man, old and with difficulty moving, to the warrior hero he was, for once he had fought alongside the winter king, or King Michael, against the Turks and other much more deadly enemies.  

This is a mind-chilling adventure of the highest quality and unless you are utterly scared by vampires and a bit of blood then you should read it.