Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a graduate student, discovers a mysterious book in a library that includes stories from his own childhood. This discovery launches him on an extraordinary journey involving a masquerade ball, a secret club, and an ancient library buried beneath the earth where dead whisper tales and lovers pass notes through time. Alongside Mirabel and Dorian, Zachary explores a magical world filled with lost cities and starless seas, ultimately finding a purpose in this fantastical realm and his life.