An original interpretation of the timelessly fascinating myth of vampires and a story of a father and son, by award-winning author Marcus Sedgwick. In the relentless winter, Thomas and his son, Peter, arrive at Heust. Despite the lack of hospitality from the residents, they settle there as woodcutters. However, there are many things Peter does not understand. Why does Thomas dig a channel with fast-flowing water around their cabin so they can live on an isolated islet? Why does Thomas carry an old, worn box everywhere - and refuse to reveal its contents to Peter? When a group of gypsies comes to the village, Peter's boring routine is disrupted. He is in love with the beautiful gypsy princess, Sophia, and captivated by the love for her community's life. He even experiences their dangerous quest - as these travelers are Vampire Hunters, and Heust is a community where the dead return to take revenge on the living. Written with style and set in the forbidding and remote landscapes of the 17th century, this is a story about a father and his son, about loss, redemption, and resolution.