Immediately following the events in the previous books, steps are taken to avoid the assassination of two of the notorious pirate captains, Xavier and Leon, and the scholar Cephas. Between fights with monsters and assassinations thwarted, plans are made, relationships disrupted, and theories are laid out while everybody regroups in an attempt to understand the gods and just what sort of conspiracy Cephas accidentally stumbled upon with his speculative writings with other scholars and magic researchers.

Meanwhile, Felix comes to terms with his past actions and the role he played during the coup thanks to an unexpected ally and romantic entanglement. And Rory starts to understand the gravity of the situation she escaped when she refused to return to court.