Ella Olsen was born to perform acrobatic feats in her father's circus, but as an Essentia who can manipulate fire, hanging from ropes at death-defying heights has kept her from her place in the spotlight. Witnessing her beloved father suffer after the financial crisis of 1929, she vowed to do anything to protect the Olsen Brothers' circus from the fate of so many other shows—including making a dangerous deal that could expose her magic to the wrong people. When Ella is involved in a tragic fire that destroys her circus and all her key memories, she's thrust into a new world that only slightly resembles the one she knew, with acrobats, animal tamers, and a charismatic ringmaster, but in the Cirque du Mystique, everyone is an Essentia like her. Maddock, a handsome con artist and fellow aerialist, has come to collect payment from the deal Ella can no longer remember making. She must join him in a deadly showcase called The Spectacle where she will be forced to push her powers to their limits. As Ella's memories return, her desire to survive transforms into a quest for answers. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more history threatens to repeat itself.