Desperation is a deserted mining town in the Nevada desert. It's not a place to visit by choice, and the few unhappy travellers who are forced to stop there witness the familiar-looking town undergo a terrible transformation. In the struggle between good and evil, sacrifice may be the only answer.
A boy, Lugh Lamfada, escapes the destruction of his home by sinister forces. Rescued by sea-god Manannan MacLir, Lugh is sent into Eire on a mission: to aid the Tuatha de Darnann, enslaved by monstrous pirates called Fomor. Lugh boldly invades the Fomor headquarters, a Tower of Glass, and discovers that the Fomor are the ones who destroyed his home. Through intrigues, battles, and the help of odd, new friends, Lugh challenges the Fomor and their giant, armored leader: Balor One-Eye. Manannan supplies Lugh with the Riders, a magical warrior troop. In a final confrontation, the Fomor's hold on the Dananns is broken. Balor and the Tower of Glass, however, are still a threat.