After returning from his first trip to Solandria, Hunter Brown finds himself deserted by his best friends, but with memories of his adventures and many unanswered questions. He returns to school in the fall, where his tendency to think he is being trailed by the Shadow lands him in a heap of trouble.

Soon, Hunter takes a wild ride to Solandria with new friends, only to find the Codebearers scattered and the Resistance weakened. Led by a mysterious Flame, Hunter, Trista and Rob begin their quest to find the seven mentioned in the Author’s Writ. But they face a brutal adversary, Xaul, who threatens to destroy all that remains of the Resistance.