The rebellious son of a long line of pureblood
cartographers and diviners, Valen has spent years trying to
escape the life ordained for him. His own mother predicted
how he would meet his doom-and her divination is nearly
fulfilled when he winds up half-dead, addicted to an
enchantment that converts pain to pleasure and possessing
only a stolen book of maps. Offered sanctuary in a nearby
monastery, Valen discovers that his book-rumored to lead
men into the realm of angels-gains him entry into a world
of secret societies, doomsayers, monks, princes, and
madmen, all seeking the key to the doom of the world.