Palace of the Damned is the third and penultimate book in the Saga of Larten Crepsley series. Larten is lost in the Arctic wastelands, carrying a baby – the one human he saves after savagely killing so many on the ship after the hanging of poor, loyal Malora. Larten, now a tortured soul, roams this hostile, alien and unforgiving landscape knowing this would be a fitting end for a savage killer. But he can’t wallow in his remorse; he has to find shelter for the child or he knows death will be imminent. Larten has decided this is a befitting place for them to die…but destiny has other plans.

We follow Larten’s life and that of the child still in his care, and his growing conscience of his vampire existence – how he becomes embroiled in corruption to be seen as human and the evil twist of fate amongst his own kind. The master of horror can’t let this be the end of Larten. We see a side that truly brings out the human feelings buried deep within and we learn more of the complex characteristics of vampires. Shan has given us a page-turner that will see many ardent fans desperate for the final book before this has had a chance to collect dust.