Power. It is the ultimate ambition of the Underdark drow, the driving force of dark-elven society. Even Liriel Baenre - a free-spirited young wizard impressed by Menzoberranzan's striving after might and status - is lured from her ancestral home on a quest for magical power. When Liriel stumbles upon an ancient lore that enables her to wield her innate drow magic on the surface world, she sets off alone in search of excitement and adventure. But nothing in Liriel's upbringing can prepare her for the truth of power. With it comes terrible responsibility and unimaginable temptation.

From the dark tunnels of Skullport to the sacred places of Ruathym, Liriel and her human companion, the berserker warrior Fyodor of Rashemen, pursue their long-sought goal. Around them gathers the storm of battle as ancient enemies Luskan and Ruathym prepare for war. The mysterious Kraken Society lends its shadowy influence to the side of Luskan, and although the seagoing barbarians of Ruathym are legendary fighters, they cannot untangle the web of intrigue that encircles their island home. In desperation they turn to the conniving mind of a Menzoberranzan-trained drow and the might of her berserker companion.

War erupts amid the ice floes of the northern seas and in the hidden chambers of those who pull the strings of battle. Before it is over, Liriel must battle an old foe, accept a deadly power over her closest friend, and confront her own dark nature.