It is a thousand years since Alantis fell, destroyed by three power crystals that had gone mad. Now one of those crystals, the Eye of Fire may have been uncovered by the priests of Pharr who want to use it to make themselves the rulers of an empire. If they cannot control the Eye of Fire they risk destroying themselves and the city of Pharr. The Old Man of Nerak who once forced the crystals to stop their destruction a thousand years ago, knows only one person who has some hope of controling the Eye and eliminating the danger it represents,the young Retief of the House of Talisien. Retief's assignment to find and steal the Eys of Fire seems impossible.To accomplish this feat Retief must become a Shadow Thief, a thief who steals without anyone knowing they have been stolen from. In his quest Retief is aided by a motley crew that includes a professor of history who can wield a sword, a smuggler who is also an astronomer and the head of a thieves guild among others. To add to Retief's complications while stealing the Eye of Fire, he finds a woman who is stealing his heart. If you like adventure, lots of action, unusual characters and having the main character die twice this story should provide you with an entertaining escape to another time and place.