[1][2] It is the eighth book of The Southern Vampire Mysteries series featuring Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic cocktail waitress from Louisiana.

[1] After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the man-made horror of the explosion at the vampire Summit, Sookie Stackhouse is safe but dazed, yearning for things to get back to normal.

At the same time, Felipe de Castro, King of Nevada, begins a violent campaign to wrest control of the kingdoms of Louisiana and Arkansas from the injured Queen Sophie-Anne Leclerq.

Meanwhile, Sookie is upset to learn that she now has a very close blood bond with Eric, and can detect his feelings and know his location, and that she craves his company.

Publishers Weekly said that "Harris outdoes herself in this pivotal eighth Sookie Stackhouse novel", hinting at a "shock ending that will delight longtime fans".