Much of Tharian society centers around keeping the city clean, spiritually and physically, as all death in Tharios is believed to be unclean.

Trisana (Tris) Chandler meets Kethlun (Keth) Warder, a glass mage with a dangerous power: lightning.

This ceremony is not only religious, but magical as well, effectively erasing all traces of the murderer, making it impossible for the authorities to track the killer, nicknamed the 'Ghost' by locals.

Her strong sense of right and wrong is sorely put to the test in this book, when she is faced with the choice of turning a serial killer (of whom she was the next intended victim) in to the law, or killing him herself.

He was struck by lightning, which contributed to the initial loss of his glass making ability, which eventually led him to travel to Tharios.

Despite being raised with mage relatives, Keth's Lightning and Glass magic was never recognized due to its ambient nature.

In a review for School Library Journal, Beth L. Meister states, "This fast-moving, action-filled story can stand alone, and is sure to be a hit with Pierce's many fans.

"[2] A review by Anita L. Burkam for Horn Book Magazine includes, "With a large number of plot elements, Pierce has quite a few balls to keep in the air for most of the book; that a few drop before the end won't bother fans of her cheeky, down-to-earth characters, earnest magical effects, and low-key mysteries.

"[3] According to a review by Shelle Rosenfeld in Booklist, "Kethlun and Dema's stories add depth to the plot, and there's plenty of suspense, as well as a social commentary simmering beneath the surface of the story (the human rights of the lower classes are being ignored by the city in an effort to maintain its beautiful facade).

"[4] According to Kirkus Reviews, "the pace is too leisurely and repetitive to create much suspense" but the "appealing, well-rounded characters" help compensate for this.