This story picks up after the events of Scorched Shadows. Layla is a part of a team sent on a rescue mission. The mission leaves the team with more questions than answers, and as things go from bad to worse for those opposing Avalon, Layla and her team must improvise to keep themselves alive. As Layla’s powers as an umbra grow she must also grow to cope with her past. And everyone must cope with betrayal. 

Throughout the book McHugh does an excellent job of painting a picture of how tyrannical Avalon has become. Additionally, one can’t help but despise those working with Avalon while also pitying those humans who believe Avalon’s lies. Layla’s growth throughout book is so well written, the reader feels like he or she is growing with Layla. 

Unlike most of the other books in this series, there is no build up to the action; it begins on page one. This is by far the fastest paced book of the series with the action not stopping until the last page of the book. I could not put the book down and am eager to read what happens next.

Avalon continues their war on Hades and the good guys with the forced merging of scrolls to amp up their army. Layla having accidentally merged with one, is coming to terms with her spirits and accelerating powers. Racing to evacuate their people from the falling cities, Layla and a team are entrusted with moving a prisoner from the area. An exceptional fast paced 2nd book. Unique scroll powers are a tribute to the authors imagination, with the mix of mythology and magic a close second. The action is glorious, the bloody death's feed our revenge seeking souls. Writing of the betrayals was the best I've read in a while. Onward to WAR, and the crushing of Arthur and Avalon. I cannot wait.