Amy can't decide which Lucian to trust – the cloying Isabel Kabra, or the serious, but deadly, Irina Spasky.

Amy's life is threatened by Isabel who holds her out to shark infested waters, but she escapes thanks to Hamilton Holt, who helped her because of their previous alliance in The Black Circle.

However, Isabel Kabra sets the house they are staying in on fire, and Irina Spasky chooses to save Amy, Dan, and Alistair at the price of her own life.

[1] On behalf of Booklist, Carolyn Phelan wrote, "The spy-versus-spy mentality will keep readers guessing as they try to separate deception from reality.

Although the complex backstory looms large, the series' fans will devour the breathless action scenes in this fast-paced adventure".