by Dan Simmons
First published 2009
Saul Laski faces death at the Chelmno extermination camp when he encounters something worse than the Nazis. He meets beings with psychic powers who can control minds, manipulate victims from a distance, and feed on human emotions. These creatures have secretly orchestrated history's bloodiest events for centuries. Saul survives and dedicates his life to hunting this hidden order. The most powerful members gather annually to plan their campaigns of violence and destruction. When their reunion goes wrong, Saul finally gets his chance for revenge. The confrontation draws him into a battle that will expose how deeply these parasitic beings have shaped human violence and determine whether they continue controlling the world's fate.
Genres: historical-fiction, horror, supernatural, thriller
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, revenge
Setting: Chelmno, Europe
Period: 20th-century
801 pages · Kindle Edition · St. Martin's Griffin
Content warnings: gore, violence