After the chaos of the summer solstice, Coven Blackthorn is catapulted from the shadows into the bright discerning gaze of the witch community - a powerful and complex society invested in safeguarding their secrecy. Luckily, elder hedgewitch Anne Sterling steps in to take Coven Blackthorn under her wing - and to enlist their to her cause. There’s damage control to be done as threats of a fairy war loom and the upheaval in Elphame spills into the human realm. Leo, now a prince of Elphame, finds himself uniquely positioned to influence the course of events. But Aziza's top priority is to rescue her oldest friend and former librarian, Meryl, a selkie whose mysterious captor may have closer ties to Blackthorn - and Aziza herself - than she ever realised. To find him, Aziza will venture into the secretive community of witches hidden beneath the surface of mundane society and confront her deadliest foe yet. Meanwhile, Tristan delves deep into the study of necromancy, certain it will be their best defense against the danger closing in on all sides. But mastery of the infernal arts is not without its own risks. And there are some things you can’t come back from.