The story begins with Alina Starkov, the Sun Summoner, recovering underground in the White Cathedral after her near-fatal battle with the Darkling. Weakened and hidden by the Apparat and her religious followers, Alina eventually escapes with Mal and her remaining Grisha allies. Her primary goal is to find the Firebird, the third and final of Morozova's amplifiers, which she believes is the only way to gain enough power to destroy the Fold and defeat the Darkling