When Aideen, the most powerful witch in England, dies during childbirth, the passing of the powers from mother to daughter is disrupted.
Over the next three centuries, candidates have been considered, then rejected.
Until now.
It's 2017, and Emily Brentwood has recently completed her Master's degree. She is looking forward to some quiet time alone, researching her ancestry in the graveyards and sacred landscapes of Salisbury and the surrounding areas.
The holders of the powers, though, have other ideas.
Emily's life will change forever if she accepts the powers. But what if she declines? In fact, can she refuse, or are the holders simply too powerful? And if she accepts, how will she find her place amongst the spirits of the crones, witches and sorceresses that passed before her? And more importantly, what relevance will the powers have in the modern world?
Really, we don't believe in witches, Satan and the premise of The Divine Comedy anymore, do we? Although...... maybe we should.