Frantic to escape from danger, Joe is transported to another world... ...where he is plunged into the training regime of the Runners. Their mission is to protect the shield which keeps the Carcassians safe from their enemy, the Kanabians. Joe is instantly under suspicion: is he a terrorist, sorcerer or spy? When he is paired with Kaia of her Run, he realises how much is at stake. A Runner's destiny is death,but he can't let Kaia die. As they fight to escape, Joe needs to find a way to save them both...

The follow-up to The Crystal Run 'I know how much you love Carcassia. You were prepared to die for it. It must be terrible to realise that you have been betrayed.' Kaia is from a world in which blind sacrifice is a virtue, and a Runner's life expendable. It took Joe, an outsider, to show her that she must question the truth. Now, Kaia and Joe have been taken prisoner. Trusting her sworn enemies is the only way out. Kaia and Joe must risk their lives and return to Carcassia to prevent more Runners from racing to their death.