For many centuries, the continent of Kjertania has been bound by eternal ice, and the cities are surrounded by a deadly and alluring Cold. It is inhabited only by snithirs - extraordinary animals that live in two layers of reality at once, the World and the Soul. Body parts of the Snithir support life on the continent. Their hearts beat instead of the engines of trains and cars, and their eyes cut through the darkness instead of lanterns...Only preparators - people with special physical properties - can hunt snithirs. Three preparator recruits - Sorta, Ulm and Misse - are sent to train for this honorable service. But will each of them survive the tests prepared by fate? For a wide range of readers.