In order to protect Jack from two of the most horrific Arcana, The Lovers, and the vast army they command, Evie leaves the comfort offered by Death and joins her allies in a frozen and perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland, but for her battle plan to succeed, she must persuade Death and Jack to work together.

Arcana means secrets.... These vignettes provide the beginning of the end, and the apocalypse, through the eyes of characters in the Arcana Chronicles. All over the world, those connected in some way to the lethal Arcana game-- like Death, Jack, and Fortune-- must first survive a horrifying night of blood and screams. Some will have to grapple with new powers; all will be damned to a hellish new existence of plague, brutality, desolation, and cannibalism....

"When even the gods hold their breath... To defeat the Emperor and Fortune, Evie, the great Empress of Arcana, must repair her bond with Death, despite the earth-shattering developments between them. And danger lurks in every shadow... Their allies--a sea witch, a band of roving warriors, and more than a couple of rogues--overcome terrifying obstacles to help them. But when Jack makes a shocking discovery, the fallout threatens to tear their alliance...