Even monsters can have human faces... When Lavinia Maycott's home is attacked by villainous pirates, she doesn't know how to find peace being a survivor. With her family murdered, she has only one place to go. However, her betrothed's estate isn't the safe haven she was expecting. Alone and running for her life, she finds acceptance with a small group of survivors intent on fleeing the island in search of safer territories. When that proves more difficult than any of them realize, Lavinia must chose between letting harm come to her new friends or sacrificing herself to save them. It will take all of the courage Lavinia didn't know she had to make it off the island alive, but even then, vampires and pirates roam the seas, making nowhere safe.

There are only two things Lavinia is certain of: she's not as human as she thought and her family's not quite as dead as she had been told. Captured and alone, Lavinia must find a way to free herself and Jameson from the clutches of the most treacherous vampire they've yet to encounter. She will be tested in everything she does, but nothing will prepare her for what they're about to face just when they finally think everything is going to be okay. Enemies lurk around every corner and nothing will come effortlessly as they fight their way toward freedom.

Darkness is growing within Lavinia and if she can't learn to control it, more than just her humanity will be lost. After receiving a cryptic message from the Sea Witch, Lavinia and Jameson must find the Obsidian Caves if they want a chance at stopping Prime. As more hunters arrive at their compound, they learn he's closer to victory than previously believed. Answers won't come easy for any of them, but an infuriating vampire will be the key to bringing everyone together, if only they can trust each other before it all falls apart. The prospect of triumph slips further away as the days pass, but unexpected allies come forward in the form of obvious enemies. Lavinia and crew will need to decide if the rewards outweigh the risks, or if they'll be doomed no matter what they choose.