»Go back and rid the world of that book. Fill it with words before spring comes, or winter will never end for you. And I will take not only your life for the Adderhead's but your daughter's, too, because she helped you bind the book. Do you understand, Bluejay»? «Why two»? asked Mo hoarsely. «How can you ask for two lives in return for one»? Under the rule of the evil Adderhead, the Inkworld is in chaos, its characters far beyond the control of their author, Fenoglio. The fire-eater Dustfinger is dead, and Meggie fears losing her mother once more. Facing the threat of eternal winter, Mo inks a dangerous deal with Death itself. A faint hope remains of changing the cursed story...