"The Darkness of Shadows" simply put is foundation of the series. It recounts Nightcat's origin story and introduces the reader to the main characters and also to Nightcat's world, which is not too different from our own.

Nightcat wasn't born, but rather created, by genetic mutation. Dana Harker, a normal hardworking individual was simply abducted on her way home from work and was put through a long, grueling procedure to turn her into Nightcat. We follow her on her journey of self discovery as she learns who was behind the experiment and as she meets up with future friends and foes.