From the author of the acclaimed Glasswright's series comes this chilling tale. Alana Woodsinger was not ready to accept the lifelong responsibility of being the singer, but the Great Tree chose her. In the seaside village of the Headland of Slaughter, the Tree is the keeper of the past and the guardian of the people. Now she must sing the day's events and return from the Tree with its wisdom. Her people count on her to give them hope for the future. During the spring celebration, two of the village children are kidnapped and Alana must find a way to use her unwished-for power to guide a trio of villagers in rescuing the children. But darker forces are at work, great sacrifices must be made, and things get worse when the children turn out not to wish to be saved . . .