House Lamplighter was once amongst the greatest of the Great Houses of Shallot, but now it is a tumbling ruin. The once-great mansion is decaying, the vast network of clients have broken ties long ago and the remaining family scrabbles over crumbs as the last remnants of their fortune are spent repaying their debts. The family seems doomed, beyond all hope of salvation.

Lucy Lamplighter, returning to her home after her father's death, intends to save her family by any means necessary. Gambling everything she has left, she stakes it all on a desperate bid to rebuild House Lamplighter before the vultures begin to swoop. But she's playing with fire ...

... And those who play with fire often get burnt.