In 1990, Sen. Ariana Peters of the United States Shifter Council encounters an unusual sinkhole in California. It exudes a silver, tendril-like substance that interacts with her directly and raises concerns about general public safety. The senator, prioritizing containment, authorizes the use of a substance called oblivion tincture to wipe locals’ minds and then relocate them. In a parallel storyline set in 2000,Iris Bai struggles to control her magical power after she absorbs multiple abilities. Her attempts to return these powers from whence they came, using transfer stones, are unsuccessful, leaving her feeling disoriented and fragmented. Meanwhile, Nivi Dawan attends a boarding school for magically gifted Shifters, where she makes friends with fellow attendees Ai and Jorge, who help her to accept herself. Iris goes on to experience psychologically taxing situations, including ocean-like visions and the direct influence of external entities, and one character is overtaken by “the silver.” Later, Iris and her friends undertake a daring rescue. Hawthorne’s complex book masterfully intertwines high-stakes storylines, immersing readers in a world of magical powers in which characters struggle with difficult ethical choices. The tension between Ariana’s authority and Iris’ and Nivi’s personal struggles results in a compelling, fluid narrative. Nivi’s and Iris’ journeys, in particular, highlight feminist empowerment as they reclaim their agency, resist manipulation, and assert control over their own destinies. The integration of Chinese and Aztec mythology adds cultural richness and a sense of history to the narrative, even though the author only hints at the full background of the fictional world. Still, these glimpses will entice readers to imagine a larger history beyond the text.