This novel is an epic tale of power, romance, and tragedy set in a mythical land between ancient China and Mongolia, a land ruled by the Chow-Chows who are a hybrid breed of bear and dog. This land is coveted and invaded by the local warlord, Prince Prospero, who, using a group of mercenaries, manages to penetrate the chow heartland with the help of a renegade chow. The invasion results in the death of the Chow king and the mercenaries are forced to flee, pursued by the avenging chows. A full-scale war follows between the Chows and the humans. The Chows unite the whole of the four-legged animal world to their cause including wolves, lions, and tigers. There then follows an epic struggle between the two forces with the advantage swinging between both sides with the result uncertain until the very end.