The roguish charlatan Astarion will free himself from a centuries-long fate of servitude or die (a second time) trying--in this decadently dark fantasy adventure by award-winning author T. Kingfisher.

You're too pretty to die.

Astarion Ancunin was supposed to be a magistrate, not a vampire spawn. He was supposed to serve the law, not the vicious vampire lord Cazador Szarr. And he was supposed to drink fine wine, not rat blood. Alas--the city of Baldur's Gate cares little for what's supposed to happen.

Though he has been powerless to resist his master's bidding, haunting the nighttime streets to fetch warm blood, Astarion has never surrendered his hope. One day, this nightmare must end. He just has to find out how.

When the vampire lord announces a twisted competition for his favor, an opportunity presents itself in the form of a rare prize . . . and an unlikely alliance. The blood of a dead god is buried deep beneath Baldur's Gate, and, to get it, Astarion will need the help of a handsome Aasimar paladin named Hahn den Suriel.

There are just a few problems. Astarion is not supposed to trust his fellow spawn. He's not supposed to go out into the city for his own ends rather than the vampire lord's. And he's certainly not supposed to strike a deal with a stranger whose golden eyes can snare even a blackened, undead heart.

But the city of Baldur's Gate cares little for what's supposed to happen.