Cirrus@Austlit

'The city of Silvershine is divided by a tall, concrete wall. On one side, live the wealthy and privileged humans. The occupants of the other side are curious and extraordinary monsters.

'Zach Morgenstern’s parents adopt Morton, a monster-boy, abandoned and discovered near the Wall. As the only monster on the human side, Morton faces challenges with fitting in. Especially when children of North Silvershine start to vanish, and it appears that the monsters are behind it.

'Zach and Monster-boy take matters into their own hands. Crossing the Wall, they discover the cause of the disappearances – an ancient monster, the Grelgoroth. Buried deep underground, it has, with the help of a human scientist, been gathering power by using the energies of the stolen children.

'Zach and Monster-boy must stop the Grelgoroth, rescue the kids, and escape back through the tunnels to safety before the mine collapses around them.

'What neither of them anticipate, however, is the terrible temptation that Monster-boy feels to unite with the monster Grelgoroth against his adoptive human family.' (Publication summary) 

'Silvershine has changed since Zach and Monster-boy made their daring escape from the Grelgoroth. Now the Wall is gone and the citizens of North Silvershine are preparing to welcome the monsters into their city. But when a prominent leader, the mysterious Wolf-monster, Mr. Snow, takes an interest in Monster-boy, Zack is suspicious.

'Zach’s father’s research into the ancient history of Silvershine has drawn the attention of Mr. Snow. And he isn’t the only one with his evil eye on the old artifiacts; Ms. Cutter is snooping around, too.

'And that’s not all. Weird, inexplicable things are happening to the kids who escaped the Grelgoroth’s lair. Lex is distant, and every kid at school is wearing odd silver badges.

'As tensions heighten between monsters and humans, a dark plot grips the two brothers. Zach will find himself embroiled in a dangerous mission, one with far-reaching consequences for Silvershine Island, and for him and Monster-boy both.' (Publication summary)

'Zach and Monster-boy are finally safe. The evil Ms. Cutter is in prison, the Abnormals have their powers under control, and the Ravens are disbanded. Silvershine is coming to terms with the presence of the monsters. Monster-boy is about to start at his new school, and things are looking promising for the Morgenstern family.

'But Monster-boy's past is about to catch up to him. A menacing masked figure is trailing him, and a continuous stream of accidents involving the Morgentern family seems suspicious to Zach. Monster-boy's reticence about his history means Zach will have to go behind his back and betray his brother's hard-earned trust. And Zach's not sure he'll like what he discovers.

'Zach has problems of his own – the cruel surgery Dr. O'Grady performed on him has left him with wounds that won't heal. In fact, they seem to be changing him... into something else.

'Meanwhile, the earthquakes on Silvershine Island are increasing in frequency and intensity, and no one knows why.

'The answer to these questions lies in an ancient story that will lead Zach, Monster-boy, and their friends deep within the winding tunnels of Jagged Peak – and bring them face-to-face with their enemies.' (Publication summary)