When Shade Darby s mother is killed, Shade swears she will never feel that powerless again. So when the opportunity arises to steal part of the meteorite that hit Perdido Beach years earlier, she seizes it with both hands. Shade wants powers - and she gets them. Not gradually, but with instant, horrifying and disturbing results. But the authorities cannot tolerate a superpowered teenager and, when they cannot capture her, they set out to kill her.