A rich new tapestry of worlds from the acclaimed author of the Black Jewels trilogy. Long ago, in a time that has faded from memory, a mother's tears forged the bridge that, ever after, connected the power of the living, ever-changing world to the human heart. A story set in the world of Ephemera, in which the link between the land and the human heart is unbreakable, and the world is nothing more or less than a reflection of the people's fears and desires. Once, the Eater of the World caused great destruction and horror until it was able to be contained; now that horror is about to be unleashed again. And those who create the landscapes may not be strong enough to resist the evil. Sebastian lives in the Den of Iniquity, a town for demons created by the most famous landscaper of all, Glorianna Belladonna. Sebastian is restless and yearning for more in his life, but until he comes to terms with his father's hate and with his own latent powers, Sebastian will be of no use to anyone. An emotionally powerful story about the difference between the heart's truth and one's expressed desires - sometimes the outcome of this difference is not at all what we want ...