[1] In the aftermath of the Titan Ethniu's declaration of war against humanity, Harry Dresden returns from Demonreach with his lover Karrin Murphy and temporary allies, Lara Raith and Freydis Gard, when their ship gets attacked by a kraken, which they manage to kill with the help of Molly Carpenter before reaching Chicago.

Joined by several Wardens and Listens-to-Wind, Harry reaches Graceland Cemetery, where they find Drakul and several Black Court vampires, Mavra among them, trying to carry out a necromantic ritual, and they engage in a fight.

Lara manages to strike Ethniu in the back of the head, causing her to lose the Eye of Balor, which Marcone grabs and takes towards the lake, with Harry following to carry out his part of the plan.

Ethniu follows and nearly kills Marcone (who turns out to have been a Denarian since the events of Small Favor), but Harry manages to ensnare her and defeat her in a battle of wills, imprisoning the Titan within Demonreach.

Publishers Weekly wrote that "with this urban fantasy blockbuster, Butcher swiftly pays off on the major cliffhanger from Peace Talks, launching wizard Harry Dresden and the city of Chicago into a no-holds-barred battle".