This time Mark Taper faces his most volatile challenge yet. When the renowned rock star known as "e;27"e; becomes the target of a sophisticated golden bomb, Mark and his companion Glim are drawn into a deadly game of wits orchestrated by a faceless mastermind.As a stadium show for millions looms on the horizon, a new threat emerges... Queen Ember. Utilizing a mind-controlling "e;ash haze"e;, she turns the city's most dangerous criminals into a mindless army of "e;zombies"e; bent on carnage. From high-speed car chases through rain-drenched streets to a brutal showdown in a blood-marinated stadium lobby, Mark must navigate a city where the law has no answers for the rising tide of "e;Ember Children"e;.With the clock ticking toward a performance that could end in a fiery catastrophe, Mark is forced to decide how much of his own humanity he is willing to sacrifice to keep the peace.