Ever since his girlfriend left town to deal with her newly acquired taste for blood, Harry Dresden has been down and out in Chicago. He can't pay his rent. He's alienating his friends. He can't even recall the last time he took a shower.
The only professional wizard in the phone book has become a desperate man.
And just when it seems things can't get any worse, in saunters the Winter Queen of Faerie. She has an offer Harry can't refuse if he wants to free himself of the supernatural hold his faerie godmother has over him — and hopefully end his run of bad luck. All he has to do is find out who murdered the Summer Queen's right-hand man, the Summer Knight, and clear the Winter Queen's name.
It seems simple enough, but Harry knows better than to get caught in the middle of faerie politics. Until he finds out that the fate of the entire world rests on his solving this case.
No pressure or anything...
Plot points introduced
It is revealed that Elaine Mallory is still alive, having survived the fire that killed Justin DuMorne, and has been living under the protection of the Summer Court.
Harry's debt to Leanansidhe is sold to Mab, the Winter Queen, who says his debt will be repaid after he completes three favors for her; this book centers around the first favor, discovering the whereabouts of the mantle of the Summer Knight.
Harry is offered the mantle of the Winter Knight for the first time.
Lily becomes the new Summer Lady, and Fix is her Knight.
This is the first time we see the White Council and the Senior Council members.
Along with the Senior Council is Ebenezar McCoy, Harry's old mentor, who affectionatly calls Harry, "Hoss."
