Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger. The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. In the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. The highly anticipated third book in Sabaa Tahir's New York Times best selling Ember Quartet.