Rose Hathaway and Lissa Dragomir are best friends at a hidden boarding school for Moroi (mortal peaceful vampires) and Dhampir (half-vampire/half-human guardians to the Moroi). However, all is not as it seems at St. Vladimir's Academy and threats lurk both from within the walls of the academy and from the Strigoi (immortal, evil vampires) who ruthlessly hunt the Moroi.

Rose will do anything protect Lissa from those who intend to harm her and fearing for their lives, the girls escape from St. Vladimir's only to be quickly recaptured and plunged back into a world of danger which they must face head-on.