A fabulous brand new Eddings standalone fantasy; set in an entirely new magical world. FROM THE MODERN MASTERS OF FANTASY A STAND-ALONE EPIC ON THE GRANDEST SCALE SET IN A NEW MAGICAL WORLD Althalus; burglar; armed robber; is paid to steal a book by a sinister stranger named Ghend. Althalus sets off to the House at the End of the World where the book is kept. There; in the same room as the book Ghend described; he finds a talking cat. What he can't find when he turns around is the door by which he entered. By the time he sets out again; Althalus can read. He's read the book and discovered that the evil god Daeva is trying to unmake the world. The cat; who Althalus calls Emerald; is in fact the god's sister; and she needs Althalus to prevent Daeva returning them all to primordial chaos. Althalus will teach her what she needs to know; which is how to lie; cheat and steal – 'Whatever works;' Emerald reflects. Althalus is the first and foremost of a band of colourful helpers who will battle Daeva and his bizarre; deadly minions. The existence of the world hangs in the balance in this gloriously epic fantasy.