A thrilling postapocalyptic tale of war, romance, and triumph. Malcom and Lyle escape their confines of slavery within a synthetic atmosphere built by monstrous creatures who call themselves angels. Now they must help humanity take Earth back from those monsters and their terrible black-eyed king, all while attempting to find meaning and some semblance of happiness within the New World and their underground home, Salutia.

Salutia is their only safe haven within a new world of nightmarish creatures around every corner. Malcom takes comfort within his new friends, including the silent Lyle. Within the New World, Malcom discovers how to survive the uninhabitable surface, even if some people would rather humanity remain slaves to the black-eyed king.