"The next stage of our journey stretched out before us, menacingly beautiful, glittering with the light of a hundred thousand souls..." The Immortal Plane's capital is as dazzling as it is lethal. Without the security of a safe house or their Hive allies, Lyra, Dorian and their team must find sanctuary wherever they can - even if it comes from unexpected quarters... They must unearth the secrets of the forces threatening the balance of the universe - whatever the cost. Lyra can't forget the potential solution to her and Dorian's problems, either. But when the perfect opportunity to attempt it arises, the question remains: will the rewards outweigh the risks?