Growing up at Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls, Rossamünd Bookchild–a boy with an unfortunate name–has led a life sheltered from the dangers of the world. But this all changes the day the man with the strange red-and-pale-blue eyes recruits him into the service of the Emperor. Rossamünd has been drafted into the ranks of the Half-Continent's "lamplighters"–soldiers who protect the empire's...

Accused of something worse even than being a monster-lover, Rossamnd Bookchild finds himself swept away from ruthless enemies and into the service of Europe, the Duchess-in-waiting of Naimes, employed as her personal factotum. But despite Europe's power and influence as a Peer of the Empire and as the most renowned monster-slayer in all of the Half-Continent, formidable forces move against them both, threatening to capture Rossamnd and destroy Europe...