It has been two years since The Book of the Crippling was destroyed, and the quest to find the last remaining copies of Orphism is nearing an end.

But the journey has not been without cost, both physically and financially, and the quartet of hunters--Gretel, Anika, Hansel and Petr--now find themselves on the last continent of the Village of the Elders' list.

And it is here where the real danger begins.

This final land of darkness presents a new type of Orphic magic, volatile and coveted, more powerful and perilous than Gretel ever could have imagined.

But Gretel is committed to erase from the planet the scourge of her dark heritage, and despite the evils in front of her, nothing will stop her from that goal, even if it costs her the lives of her family.