The precarious equilibrium among the four Londons has reached its breaking point Once brimming with the red vivacity of magic darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empire leaving a space for another London to rise Kell-once assumed to be the last surviving Antari-begins to waver under the pressure of competing loyalties Lila Bard once a commonplace-but never common-thief has survived & flourished through a series of magical trials But now she must learn to control the magic before it bleeds her dry Meanwhile the disgraced Captain Alucard Emery & the Night Spire crew are attempting a race against time to acquire the impossible as an ancient enemy returns to claim a crown & a fallen hero is desperate to save a decaying world