In 1990s Manila, young misfits Lenix and Elena are recruited to fight in a secret war against the cartel known as The Lords of Night, the shadowy organization controlling the trade of fantoma, a mysterious and highly addictive drug. Under the guidance of the anarcho-shaman Conrad White Crow, the pair must confront sinister creatures drawn from folklore―beings that oversee the manufacture and trafficking of fantoma. But defeating such monstrous enemies comes at a price, and Lenix and Elena must decide whether they can bear the cost of the power they need to survive. A gripping blend of crime and horror, this is the thrilling first novel in an ongoing series. Karl R. De Mesa is the author of the horror books News of the Shaman and Damaged People: Tales of the Gothic-Punk , as well as the non-fiction collections Report from the Abyss , Radiant Void , and Calling Out the Destruction . As a long reads journalist and photographer, De Mesa has reported on stories in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Myanmar, and Singapore. He also makes music as Dark Horse PH and ExGuerilla.