Seventh Son is the first book in The Tales of Alvin Maker, a series of fantasy novels, and introduces the character of Alvin, the seventh son of a seventh son who has a powerful magical gift. The novel chronicles Alvin's discovery of his powers of "making," which enable him to transform the world around him, as well as his early attempts at mastery over those powers. The story concludes in a confrontation with the Unmaker, a dark force threatened by Alvin's abilities.