A young man possessing the ability to reforge the dead embarks on a quest for justice that crosses the line into revenge-and threatens to corrupt his soul.

For more than a decade, Earth has been plagued by black spheres known as Rifts that form in towns and cities without warning and transport people to alien landscapes where monstrous creatures hunt them mercilessly. Anyone lucky enough to escape returns home with an unusual side effect: supernatural powers coursing through their bodies from white crystal shards fused to their chests. With abilities ranging from uncanny agility and strength to immeasurable spell crafting, these Rifters are warriors and mages, battling extraterrestrials whenever a Rift appears.

Lance Turner was once a nurse at a hospital in London, England, dedicated to saving lives. Now, he is a particular kind of Rifter known as a Death Smith, capable of reforging and controlling the dead. It is a power he channeled when he tried to revive his best friend, Thomas Walker, only to create a barely sentient corpse who obeys his commands. Rechristening him Ash, Lance embarks on Rift missions to practice wielding his otherworldly talents, meanwhile training his undead companion to fight monsters.

Because Lance has a mission of his own. Forging Ash into an indestructible weapon, he will stop at nothing to see the three Rifters responsible for Thomas's death pay for their crimes. But as Lance resurrects more beasts to join his undead army, he risks losing his very humanity to the vengeful darkness consuming him . . .