在北方的某個寒冷國度，主角「我」隸屬於一間私人醫療機構，他們世代培養醫生，試圖控制世界上所有醫療體系，致力於保護人類受到恐怖疫病的危害，但一名醫生卻在服務的地點離奇自殺，於是他被派到寒冷的北方，來到一座高聳入雲、被刺骨寒風包圍的高山城堡裡，調查城堡主人維爾帝拉伯爵的私人醫生之死，但他卻意外發現，背後有另一股勢力正與他們暗中抗衡…而更多黑暗的秘密尚未被揭穿。描述細膩精準，氣氛掌握得宜，在詭譎幽魅的城堡中，死亡與陰謀都蠢蠢欲動。 ‘A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms!’ – Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the Ninth ‘Highly recommended. I’ll be reading anything Hiron Ennes writes from now on’ – Tade Thompson, author of Rosewater In an isolated chateau, as far north as north goes, the baron’s doctor has died. The Interprovincial Medical Institute sends out a replacement. But when the new physician investigates the cause of death, which appears to be suicide, there’s a mystery to solve. It seems the good doctor was hosting a parasite. Yet this should have been impossible, as the physician was already possessed – by the Institute. The Institute is here to help humanity, to cure and to cut, to cradle and protect the species from the horrors their ancestors unleashed. For hundreds of years, it has taken root in young minds and shaped them into doctors, replacing every human practitioner of medicine. But now there’s competition. For in the baron’s icebound castle, already a pit of secrets and lies, the parasite is spreading . . . These two enemies will make war within the battlefield of the body. Whichever wins, will humanity lose again?