From her days as a simple servant, Meg has come a long way, driven by her desire to find out the truth about her parents' murder. She had since learned that they were part of the Secret Order of Modern Entertainers, an underground society of inventors. Determined to reclaim her heritage, she joined the Entertainers as an apprentice, but that brought her no closer to finding the one responsible for the death of her family: the man in the clockwork mask. Now he has his sights set on her. But Meg is tired of being a victim and intends to become a hunter herself. With the help of Will, the boy who has captured her heart, Meg embarks on an adventure that takes them far from the cold London winter and straight into the heart of France. But the City of Light is full of dark shadows. A conspiracy is brewing that could turn the tide of a terrible war and destroy millions of lives - unless, of course, it destroys the lives of everyone who is dear to Meg, including herself.