Characters:

Talbot Uskevren: A young noble and the protagonist of the story. He is bitten by the werewolf, Rusk, and becomes a werewolf himself.



Stannis Malveen: The eldest of the Malveen house, and a vampire. He is bitter at the Uskevrens for supposidly dooming his house and recruits Rusk to hunt Talbot down.



Radu Malveen: The second oldest of the Malveens and a swordsman who was taught by the same master as Talbot. He is determined to help the Malveen family regain its past glories, but opposes in his brother's methods.



Rusk: A werewolf, priest of the feral god Malar, and leader of the People of the Black Blood, a cult of lycanthropes. He is assigned to kill Talbot by Stannis, but fails and loses his arm in the process.



Darrow: Originally a servant of the Malveens, but ends up as a lycanthrope himself.



Feena: A priestess of the benevolent Selune, the goddess of the moon, and the daughter of Rusk. Opposes Rusk throughout the novel, and attempts to teach Talbot how to control his bestial urges.


Taken From Back Cover Description:

Talbot Uskevren
The second son of the Uskevren family fights a deadly battle within himself.
Like most young men of his station, Talbot spends his days honing his swordfighting skills and, unlike the others, practicing the art of acting. Now, Talbot will put both of these talents to the test when a rival house comes looking for blood. The only way for Talbot to survive against the Black Brotherhood is to let the inner wolf loose, and the only way for him to live in Selgaunt's society is to keep the wolf chained.'