After the events of the previous book, Rowan Damisch has taken on the job of killing and burning scythes that he feels are a disgrace to the scythedom. Citra gleans people by letting them wrap up their lives, then allowing them to choose how to die, a choice which earns her respect in the scythedom. Greyson Tolliver, a new protagonist, starts working for the Thunderhead, who sends him on a mission to save Citra from explosives. After saving her, Greyson becomes an unsavory, and finds a member of the plot to kill Citra. The group tries again to kill Citra at one of her gleanings, but they fail.
At the next conclave of scythes, it is announced that the high blade of the scythedom is going to an island called Endura to help other scythes, and that Robert Goddard is alive. Goddard then runs against Marie Curie for high blade, but is accused of malfeasance by Citra. They are taken to Endura so that the scythes there can determine what should be done. Goddard loses the inquest unanimously, then sinks the entire island in an attempt to kill everyone. Rowan and Citra are locked in a box by Marie Curie, who then kills herself.
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