When a carnival rolls into the small North Carolina town of Henley-on-Hale, it brings more than just cotton candy and merry-go-rounds. Beneath the bright lights and cheerful facade lies the key to something ancient and terrifying. Something hungry.

Two local teens have vanished, and a series of brutal attacks in the nearby forests hint at something far more terrifying than Tula could ever have imagined. As Tula, Victor, and the sisters begin to peel back the layers of the carnival's mysteries, they find themselves facing new enemies and unexpected allies. The closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous their quest becomes. Tula must navigate a treacherous path, balancing the investigation with the emotional upheaval of her personal life.

Talk about a family reunion from hell . . . The sudden return of Tula's estranged mother, the introduction to a father she never knew, and the surprise reappearance of her formidable Aunt Ruby only add to the chaos. In a town where the line between reality and nightmare blurs, Tula must harness her growing powers and lean on her loved ones to confront the entity that threatens them all. Can they unravel the carnival's deadly mysteries before it's too late, or will the darkness swallow them whole?