Pahtal and his brother, Imul, have scraped a life together in pre-civil war Guatemala by finding and selling ancient relics from the Maya ruins. Their latest expedition uncovers a potentially life-changing find, a valuable tablet, etched with glyphs, hidden within the mouth of a sculpture of Nohochacyum, a god of creation – and destruction. But when they attempt to retrieve their prize, Imul is crushed beneath the stone carving.

Overcome with grief and guilt, Pahtal blames his state of mind for the uncanny events he begins to experience.

From an eccentric new lodger, to kitchen objects that move on their own, to encountering demons and creatures straight out of the ancient stories, Pahtal soon realizes that releasing the tablet has released the gods etched into its surface. Worse, two of the gods are determined to continue their ongoing war. A war prophesied to bring about an end of times.

Whatever the cost, Pahtal must find a way to imprison the gods once more... before the world burns.