This fourth novel in the Sword of Truth sequence takes the series on to much darker ground and into the realms of the psychological thriller without losing any of its powerful magic or mystery, any of its gripping storytelling quality. When the last of the Wizards were faced with defeat at the hands of the agents of the Dark, they locked their most precious artefacts inside the Temple of Winds for safekeeping. The Temple exists on a different plane of reality to either the Lands or the Dark Realm, but as a terrifying plague is unleashed on the world one of the Sisters of the Dark finds an unexpected gateway revealed to her. Richard and Kahlan will face their most difficult moments yet as they struggle to find a way to combat both the plague that is killing their people and the threat posed to the Temple of Winds. They will be forced to betray their dearest personal principles in order to right the wrongs of the Dark Realm and its denizens, and their love will be tested beyond the limits of the most compassionate, the most devoted of lovers. Already battered and bruised by fate, their love may not be strong enough to protect them any longer.