Ophelia is a dark fairy who loves to dream, escorts souls to the kingdom of the dead, wears red rubber boots, and makes far too many mistakes. The Black Circle is a community of fairies that will no longer tolerate failures. Ophelia often loses her charges’ souls, and—most of all—she feels pity for them (which is strictly forbidden!). So the Black Circle gives her a test: the fairy must successfully escort a special soul into the kingdom of the dead. Otherwise Ophelia will be expelled from the world of magic. August Pinlin is a man fated to die. But August has an unfinished business—revenge. And a desire to get back his beloved. And he intends to do it with Ophelia. August offers the fairy a dangerous bargain from which it’s—oh-so-hard—to refuse. Ophelia will have to choose: follow the usual path everyone takes, or remain herself?