Silent as stone, they increased the distance between them and the source of the smell. Not a twig cracked under their bare feet. Not a leaf fluttered as they passed. The darkness cloaked them, and their night vision shielded them from a surprise attack by bumbling humans. "Never hunt a human, Bog." Jeddal's growl was barely audible. Bog nodded at the familiar lesson. "They're not even good enough for the stew pot," he whispered.

They walked until the moon rose above the treetops. It was half-full, gleaming silver against a deep purple sky. "Why are they here?" Bog asked once they were far away from the weak human ears. "I thought they slept at night." Jeddal scowled. "Who knows?" He led Bog toward a rock outcrop -- Ymir's bones rising out of the earth. In a darkened hollow on its eastern side, Jeddal stopped, lowering his rucksack. "Humans aren't very smart, so much of what they do doesn't make sense.

" He pulled out a jug of broth, uncorked it, and hoisted it to his lips. "I trusted a human. One foolish time." Jeddal's eyes became unfocussed, as if he were recalling some distant memory from the black undergrowth of his mind. Deep in the forests, a cave troll named Bog has spent his young life hunting with his father, Jeddal, learning what it means to be a troll, and avoiding humans whenever possible-- until someone called the Troll Hunter begins turning trolls to stone, and teaching other humans to do it, too. When the Troll Hunter's followers turn Jeddal to stone, Bog learns a dark secret about his origins and sets out after the Troll Hunter to avenge his father. On his quest, he's joined by a large forest troll named Small and a human girl named Hannie, who would rather pretend to be a troll than return to her abusive father. As they venture deeper in to human territory, Bog learns of the legendary Nose Stone, a rock rumoured to bring a stone troll back to life.

When the Troll Hunter seeks to destroy both the Nose Stone and Bog, his quest becomes a race of cunning, trickery, and wits.