Donald Hounam sa pôvodne venoval stredovekej histórii, pričom skúmal apokalyptické predstavy v raných križiackych výpravách. Po experimentovaní s maľbou v Oxforde sa presťahoval do Dublinu, kde sa venoval maľovaniu a filmovej kritike. Po nešťastnej udalosti sa vrátil do Anglicka, kde sa začal venovať literárnej tvorbe a vymýšľaniu príbehov. Jeho skoré akademické záujmy naznačujú hlboký záujem o históriu a špekulatívne myslenie, ktoré sa pravdepodobne prelína s jeho neskoršou rozprávačskou činnosťou.
Forensic sorcerer Frank Sampson reckons it's something to do with the bizarre magic symbols carved into his flesh. He thinks he knows the sorcerer behind it; Or not . . . Life can get confusing when your loyalties are divided, you're on the run, and the Inquisition are on your tail with a stack of dry firewood and a box of matches.
The Bishop of Oxford is very, very dead. At least the police think it's the Bishop - it's impossible to be sure, since someone has made off with his head. By the terror that he's losing his Gift - the ability to work magic. And by all those stupid rules which get in the way of proving that everybody is wrong about the case .