Mad Mother. Faithless Father. Gretchen Thyrd, foster kid since birth, hides from the brittle memories of a relationship gone wrong-a life torched. Head down, but spirit unbroken, she rescues birds and the innocent to cope. Life isn't easy, but college and adulthood beckon-the dreamed of refuge from the bleakness of her social Siberia high school. Until she meets Hoom. Hoom-the spirit living in the wild of her favorite park in NY city. The perfect gentleman-trapped in a tree. Then the unthinkable happens, and Gretchen must make a choice to bear the greatest burden of her life-a burden that might get her killed. Or drive her mad. As mad as her mother. Pursued by winter freaks and ghosts, she abandons home, family, and her beloved bird Stop to follow the mysterious man-child Paladin deep into the belly of the Earth, seeking the Fae Realms and a key that will return Hoom to his true form for good... or bad.